Shanghai #39;s gain might be Birmingham #39;s loss For Rover, a once revered but now sullied brand name, it represents what one insider calls  quot;the last-chance saloon quot;. For China, a nascent economic superpower, it could be the start of a new phase as a global player in the world auto market.


A Mogul #39;s Migraine When Rupert Murdoch arrived at the election-night party at his Fox News network in Manhattan, he was met by long faces. His executives worried that Murdoch, the president #39;s biggest booster


Virus chaos thwarted by poor social engineering The latest variant of the Sober virus was released on Friday and has been spreading over the weekend, but antivirus experts say the situation could have been much worse.


Victorious Wright has a nod and wink for Trinidad Ronald  quot;Winky quot; Wright confirmed his status as the world #39;s No1 light-middleweight when he scored a majority points verdict to retain the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council versions of the title against Shane Mosley at the Mandalay Bay in Las


WADA Sanctions \$1.47 Million Rise in Expenditure The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has approved a \$1.47 million increase in its expenditure budget for next year. The rise will lift WADA #39;s budget to \$21.7 million, the Montreal-based


Ageless Allen scores two TDs as Argonauts upset Lions 27-19 in <b>...</b> Twenty-year veteran Damon Allen ran in two touchdowns and passed for another as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the BC Lions 27-19 in the Grey Cup game on Sunday night.


Kiwis crumble to McGrath Australia, inspired by a rejuvenated Glenn McGrath, skittled New Zealand out for a paltry 76 in their second innings to win the first Test by an innings and 156 runs in Brisbane.


NBA Brawl Quote Box (AP) AP - Reaction to the suspensions handed down by NBA commissioner David Stern on Sunday, two days after a brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons:


Bush welcoming word of debt relief and elections SANTIAGO, Chile President Bush is welcoming word that Iraq will hold elections in January -- and that a big chunk of the country #39;s debt is being forgiven.


Talks set for China free trade TALKS on a free trade agreement with China will begin in March, opening a porthole to the world #39;s biggest market. An Asia-Pacific regional trade agreement, potentially worth more than \$190 billion, also looks more likely than ever before.


Woman hostage is released in Iraq: World News: A Polish woman held hostage in Iraq since late October has been set free and flown back to Warsaw reports BBC. BBC also says making a surprise appearance at a press conference alongside the Polish


Sikhs to mark anniversary ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of Indian Sikhs arrived in Pakistan yesterday to commemorate the 535th anniversary of the birth of the founder of their religion, officials said.


Australia migration focus shifts from Asia to Europe (AFP) AFP - Australia is now accepting more migrants from English-speaking nations than Southeast Asia for the first time since John Howard's Government came to power in 1996, new data shows.


Stocks Sink, Dlr Steadies Above 103 Yen  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Fears of further dollar weakness sent  shares in Asian exporters sharply lower on Monday, after a  meeting of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations said  nothing to arrest its fall.


Music Industry Is Trying Out New Releases as Digital Only Universal has signed a handful of artists to a digital-only record label. Starting Tuesday, it will release songs through online services like iTunes.


Upscale Flavors on Chicago's North Side Restaurants with laid-back style arrive on the North Side of Chicago.


US risks a downhill dollar disaster George Bush #39;s foreign policy is simple: don #39;t mess with America. The same, it appears, applies to economic policy as well.


Official Says Deferral Strategy Fails Amtrak Amtrak #39;s strategy of scraping by on limited budgets by deferring crucial capital investments  quot;is no longer workable, quot; according to the inspector general of the Transportation


Ambanis set up talks Nov. 21: A family meeting of the Ambanis is likely to take place tomorrow within hours of Mukesh Ambanis return from the US. In a TV interview aired a few days ago, Mukesh had said there were ownership issues within the family.


It #39;s a Family Affair In a boardroom struggle that is as much about legacy concerns as about control, media titans Rupert Murdoch and John Malone are sparring over the prized assets of News Corp.


Playing Games in Your 20 #39;s? Nintendo Is Onto You For the last several years, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have fought over an audience for console video games that is growing older and more mainstream.


NBA Gets Tough After Near-Riot NBA Commissioner David Stern handed down three of the stiffest suspensions in the league #39;s history after a wild fan-player melee Friday night in Detroit.


Boumsongs plea for peace JEAN-ALAIN Boumsong, who appeared an oasis of calm within Saturday #39;s maelstrom at Ibrox, has urged the Old Firm combatants to disregard any vendettas and restore sanity before the teams collide again.


Big Ben pressured, but responds Ben Roethlisberger knows he #39;s lived a charmed life. Of his first seven NFL victories, four of the games were at home. He #39;s worked with the lead so much that he only trailed for 14 minutes of the previous three games.


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


Leader of Peru group in standoff surrenders; troops mobilize ANDAHUAYLAS, Peru -- The leader of a paramilitary nationalist group that seized a police station, took 10 officers hostage and allegedly killed four more surrendered late last night as security forces launched an offensive against his followers, an Interior Ministry official said.


Iran promises to meet nuke deadline Iran has promised to suspend its nuclear enrichment program by Monday #39;s deadline, the BBC reported. The head of Iran #39;s nuclear energy organization said work would stop at two


Sorenstam Needs a Playoff to Beat Kerr The ADT Championship was an intense battle between Cristie Kerr and Annika Sorenstam, who won her eighth L.P.G.A. event this season.


NBA #39;s longest suspensions Here is the list of longest suspensions in NBA history for on-court incidents. Note: does not include the immediate suspension (one game) handed down today: 72 games-x - Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers, (for the


New systems success has let designer prove a point Opinion raged even before NASCAR chairman Brian France unveiled the Nextel Cup championship format in January. As the sun rises in South Florida, 1 of


NBA ROUNDUP Raptors Rally Late With Carter Sitting By The Associated Press. With Vince Carter playing the worst basketball of his career, Lamond Murray picked up the slack. Murray scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter yesterday


PLO to press Powell on road map Palestinian leaders will tell Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, who is visiting the occupied territories today, that they want the Bush administration to commit itself to the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of next year.


Federer Defends Master Cup With 13th Win (AP) AP - Top-seeded Roger Federer won a record 13th straight final Sunday, beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-2 in the title match of the ATP Masters Cup.


Pulitzer Hired Banker to Explore Sale  PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Newspaper publisher Pulitzer Inc.  confirmed on Sunday it hired a financial adviser to help it  explore strategic options, including a possible sale of the  company.


Pulitzer Hired Banker to Explore Sale Newspaper publisher Pulitzer Inc. confirmed on Sunday it hired a financial adviser to help it explore strategic options, including a possible sale of the company.


Amtrak Infrastructure On Brink, DOT Warns The national passenger rail service risks a  quot;major point of failure quot; if infrastructure needs remain unaddressed, the US Department of Transportation warned in a scathing report made public today.


San Francisco Hotel Workers to Return Unionized workers have reached an agreement with a group representing 14 luxury hotels to end an eight-week lockout, allowing about 4,000 maids, bellhops


Improved  #39;Halo 2 #39; has multiplayer mode The first Halo game sold quite a few Xboxes (we know a few Xbox owners who don #39;t appear to play any other titles on their consoles), and Halo 2 clocked \$125 million in sales on its first day in stores.


Yahoo doubles e-mail storage limits Yahoo Inc is more than doubling its limits on free e-mail storage in its latest move to combat two of its biggest rivals, Google Inc and Microsoft Corp.


NBA Meltdown Provides Blame Aplenty It began with Ron Artest, a player who has undergone anger-management counseling and who last season alone was suspended six times.


England win World Cup England have won the WGC-World Cup for the second time in 50 years, thanks to the heroics of former Walker Cup and current Ryder Cup stars Paul Casey and Luke Donald.


Yorke accuses Blackburn fans of racist abuse An otherwise wonderful advert for English football was blemished by racism yesterday. As Dwight Yorke, a second-half substitute for Birmingham, warmed up on the touchline of his former club two or, possibly


Eredivisie Wrap: Feyenoord Slip Up Three of the top four teams in the Erevisie recorded comfortable wins this weekend, with Feyenoord the exception after they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at home to FC Groningen.


Cavaliers Shock No. 10 Wildcats Throughout the last month, the Virginia Cavaliers told anyone who would listen that their goals this basketball season far exceed the low expectations outsiders hold for them.


Kings Rally Past Bucks for 5th Win in Row Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Strickland (20) shoots in a crowd of Sacramento Kings defenders Brad Miller, left, Darius Songaila (25) and Doug Christie, right, during the first half in Sacramento, Calif.


McNabb Tosses Aside Sluggish Start and Lifts Philadelphia For the first half of the Eagles #39; game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Donovan McNabb looked like a quarterback with a hangover from last week #39;s victory on


Dollar Near Record Low Vs Euro  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar dangled near a record low  against the euro on Monday after a meeting of the Group of 20  rich and developing nations produced no coordinated stance to  stem the U.S. currency's decline.


Bush hails Iraq debts reduction by Pairs Club The United States on Sunday applauded the decision by the Paris Club on slashing Iraq #39;s debts and urged other countries to follow suit.


Iraqi Premier urges Sunni Muslims to join elections BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi yesterday met the leaders of the Sunni Muslim Waqf (religious endowment) ahead of the country #39;s first free elections in decades.


Chavez calls for anti-terror plan after killing of state attorney Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the development of new anti-terror legislation, just days after one of the government #39;s top prosecutors was killed by a car bomb.


Ruling party retains Namibia presidency Namibia #39;s ruling party retained the presidency and its two-thirds majority in parliament in a landslide victory in last week #39;s elections, officials said Sunday.


Paul McCartney to Headline Super Bowl Show (AP) AP - Paul McCartney will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 6 as the NFL goes mainstream after the controversy over last January's show.


Kings Rally Past Bucks for 5th Win in Row (AP) AP - Peja Stojakovic scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the Sacramento Kings made a late rally for their fifth straight victory, 88-79 over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.


Some rely on boats in Maldives KOLHUFUSHI ISLAND, Maldives -- Residents of this low-lying atoll are being forced to seek refuge on the sea more than a week after it destroyed their homes.


Volcano Erupts in Southern Colombia, Ignites Fires (Reuters) Reuters - The Galeras volcano in\southern Colombia erupted on Sunday, spraying rocks and\starting short-lived forest fires, but no injuries were\reported, the government said.


More Than 60 Nations to Protect Sharks (AP) AP - More than 60 countries agreed Sunday to ban the killing of sharks for their fins in the Atlantic Ocean, a move that conservationists hope will increase protection of threatened species around the world.


N.B.A. Hands Tough Penalties to Players Involved in Brawl The Pacers' Ron Artest was suspended for the season, and two of his teammates must sit out for a combined 55 games.


Present Imperfect, Future Is Manning Eli Manning had a chance, after a shaky start and a resurgent second half, to drive the Giants to a winning touchdown, but fell short in the final minute.


Ugly Victory Redeems Carter in a Game of Second Chances Winning behind Quincy Carter - who completed 11 of 20 passes for 116 yards - might have assuaged the Jets' concerns about him as the backup quarterback.


New row threatens top EU body A new row engulfs European Commission over an undisclosed conviction of one of its members.


Bloody Sunday inquiry nearing end The Bloody Sunday inquiry enters its final phase as  the counsel to the inquiry begins his closing speech.


Giving the Law a Religious Perspective The Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University is part of a movement around the nation that brings a religious perspective to the law.


Mids Go Bowling Navy's football team will announce Monday whether it will accept a bowl bid from the Emerald Bowl or consider inquiries from four other bowls.


Grunfeld Backs Action Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld agrees with the NBA Commissioner David Stern's level of punishment for the Pacers-Pistons brawl.


Iraq Force Likely to Grow Officials say they will need a further increase in combat forces to put down remaining areas of resistance.


Iraqi Election Set for Jan. 30 The balloting, however, remains imperiled by calls for a Sunni Muslim boycott and a persistent insurgency that has roiled Sunni regions.


Connecticut Crashes Early North Carolina closes with a 16-5 run to upset Connecticut, 71-65, the three-time defending national champions' earliest loss since 1995.


Bush Signs Bill to Keep Government Going President Bush on Sunday signed a stopgap spending bill that keeps the government running while Congress sorts out remaining issues related to a more permanent federal spending package.


Justice Is Too Light It's too bad Stern stopped at 30 games for Ron Artest's Indiana teammate Stephen Jackson, who should have been kicked out for the rest of the season, too.


Microsoft Targets Older People for Web Via TV  SEATTLE (Reuters) - For people trying to get their aging  parents on the Web so they can read e-mail and get digital  photos of the family, Microsoft Corp. has a message: Don't give  up.


Iraq looks to world for approval An international conference aimed at supporting the Iraqi political process begins in Egypt.


Cable's Rivals Lure Customers With Packages Cables two hungry rivals  phone companies and satellite providers  are stealing cables disgruntled customers with cheaper all-in-one packages that bundle TV with Internet and phone services.


Silent bells For many of us, it just isn #39;t the holiday season until we see the bright red kettles go up and smiling bell ringers plying their trade outside local merchants.


Humans Well-Suited for Running It may be hard to believe in these days of driving the SUV to the corner store, but people are actually pretty fast on their feet, and endurance running may have played an important role in human evolution.


Lions #39; Printers sits and watches OTTAWA (CP) - In the end, Wally Buono #39;s decision to start Dave Dickenson at quarterback Sunday ahead of the CFL #39;s most outstanding player Casey Printers probably didn #39;t have much of an effect on the outcome of the 92nd Grey Cup.


Jets (Eventually) Down Browns, 10-7 For more than three quarters on Sunday, it appeared as if the Jets wouldnt find the end zone if it was loaded with uranium and Quincy Carter was armed with a Geiger counter.


Thousands Flee Clashes in East Congo - U.N. (Reuters) Reuters - Thousands of civilians have fled\their homes after clashes in the east of Democratic Republic of\Congo, the United Nations' humanitarian arm said on Friday.


Crawford Outshines James With His 24 Points and Long-Distance Shots Just as LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed ready to swipe the game from the Knicks, Jamal Crawford began to sink one shot after another.


Internet Retailers Reaching Out to Mailbox Surfers E-commerce sites have been dabbling in catalogs for the past few years, but now theyre getting more serious, with more sites mailing more catalogs than ever.


Playing Games in Your 20's? Nintendo Is Onto You Nintendo is hoping that the Nintendo DS will win over older, more sophisticated gamers.


Oracle Will Take Its Quest Back to Court Oracle will continue its pursuit of PeopleSoft this week, asking a judge to dismantle one of the last obstacles to a deal.


Computers as Authors? Literary Luddites Unite! A computer program known as Brutus.1 is generating brief outbursts of fiction that are probably superior to what many humans could turn out.


Radio One Makes Its Move  Radio One Inc. chief executive Alfred Liggins III agreed last night to buy a controlling stake in radio personality Tom Joyner's media company for \$56 million, furthering his attempt to turn the radio company his mother began out of a trailer 24 years ago into a diversified media group aimed at the black community.


Building a Medical Data Network Digital patient records could become building blocks in a nationwide biomedical computer network for assembling and distributing up-to-the-minute studies of disease.


Update 1: Pulitzer Inc. Says It #39;s Considering Sale Newspaper publisher Pulitzer Inc. said Sunday that company officials are considering a possible sale of the firm to boost shareholder value.


Update 1: AirAsia Makes Solid Stock Market Debut AirAsia Bhd., the first low-cost carrier to be listed in Southeast Asia, made a solid debut Monday on the Malaysian stock exchange, while company officials said they #39;ll decide within two months on plans to acquire 40 new aircraft.


Update 2: Tokyo Stocks Plunge; Dollar Trades Lower Tokyo stocks plunged more than 2 percent Monday morning and the US dollar traded just above its four-and-half-year lows against the yen, following a dollar selloff in New York on concerns over the swollen US trade deficit.


Suspensions greeted locally with outrage, suspicion Ryan Carrell of Carmel will be at Conseco Fieldhouse Tuesday night for the Pacers #39; game against Boston. He #39;ll have with him a petition he #39;d like Pacers fans to sign before sending it to NBA commissioner David Stern.


Burmese 'forgotten,' aid workers say BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai survivors of Asia's tsunami disaster have complained they are second-class victims, with foreign tourists getting the best care. Now aid officials say a third class of victims in Thailand has emerged: migrant workers from Burma.


Kings 88 Bucks 79 SACRAMENTO, Calif. Peja Stojakovic (PAY #39;-zhah stoy-AH #39;-koh-vich) scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the Sacramento Kings rallied for their fifth straight victory, 88-to-79 over Milwaukee.


North Carolina pulls shocker on No. 4 Connecticut Connecticut missed shots, made turnovers and struggled at the free throw line. None of the mistakes caught coach Geno Auriemma off guard.


Crawford #39;s hot hand halts Cavs #39; streak NEW YORK - Judging merely by the motion Jamal Crawford was using on his jump shot, it was clear he had leapt into the realm players call The Zone.


NBA-Raptors Produce Thrilling Comeback Win (Reuters) Reuters - Rafer Alston contributed 20 points, 11\assists and seven rebounds and Lamond Murray scored 13 points\in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Raptors rallied from a\huge deficit to upset the San Antonio Spurs 96-91 Sunday.


55 Killed In Chinese Plane Crash Beijing, Nov. 22 (NNN) : All the 53 people on board and two on the ground were killed as a plane crashed into a frozen lake in northern China.


Iraqis not interested in Sharm el-Sheikh conference The Iraqis, who still suffer from the worsening security situation, are hardly interested in an international conference on Iraq to be held in the Egyptian Red Searesort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov 22-23.


NBA-Raptors Produce Thrilling Comeback Win  TORONTO (Reuters) - Rafer Alston contributed 20 points, 11  assists and seven rebounds and Lamond Murray scored 13 points  in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Raptors rallied from a  huge deficit to upset the San Antonio Spurs 96-91 Sunday.


Japanese Banking Group Mizuho Reports Dip Mizuho, one of Japan #39;s four biggest banking groups, reported Monday that group net profit for the first fiscal half fell 8.4 percent from the previous year, despite some progress in getting rid of bad debts.


Retail #39;s Little Guys Come Back Who #39;s afraid of Wal-Mart? Specialty retailers and chains with unique lines are thriving by offering shoppers what the big-box stores can #39;t.


More corporate whistleblowers sing A 2002 congressional law adds protection for corporate tattletales, but few of them gain such status from US courts. By Adam Geller / Associated Press.


NASA HUNTS BLACK HOLES NASA has launched the fastest-swivelling space observatory ever built to hunt the cosmos for clues to violent celestial explosions that some astronomers believe mark the birth of black holes.


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


Federer wins epic tie-break to reach final Houston, Nov 22 - World number one and defending champion Roger Federer won an epic 20-18 tie-break to seal a 6-3 7-6 win over Marat Safin and place in the Masters Cup final.


Kerr #39;s career at crossroads WEST PALM BEACH - Cristie Kerr is about as good as any female golfer on the planet whose name isn #39;t Annika Sorenstam.  quot;I was born to do this, quot; Kerr said Sunday afternoon while walking across the parking


In The Fast Lane: Busch wins NASCAR title HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Kurt Busch got his first big break in NASCAR by winning a 1999 talent audition nicknamed  quot;The Gong Show. quot; He was selected from dozens of unknown, young race drivers to work for one of the sport #39;s most famous team owners, Jack Roush.


Fog delays start of play in Kanpur test Dense fog delayed the start of the third day #39;s play in the first test between India and South Africa on Monday. The visibility was improving but the groundsmen were busy mopping


Manning shows promise despite losing first NFL start EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- By their very nature, little brothers have a lifetime #39;s worth of experience coming up a little short, but you got the feeling watching Eli Manning on Sunday at Giants Stadium that he grew even in defeat.


Packers Sherman #39;s Theory: Practice Sherman #39;s theory: Practice Houston Mike Sherman eased back into his seat as the Green Bay Packers #39; charter flight waited on the tarmac preparing to depart the Buffalo airport, but there was nothing the least bit comforting about his situation.


AUSTRALIA TO FORGIVE IRAQI DEBT The deal is part of a new international agreement to forgive 80 per cent of Iraq #39;s international debt, amounting to a total of about \$150 billion.


Powell starts new Middle East peace efforts Outgoing US Secretary of State Collin Powell arrived in Israel late Sunday as part of the international efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process amid continued violence in the region.


Asia-Pacific leaders close summit Santiago (VNA) - The two-day summit meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum closed in Chile on Sunday, declaring their concerted efforts to ensure sustainable growth, trade and security.


Controversy over Arafat #39;s medical file Paris: The widow of Yasser Arafat has questioned the right of his nephew to receive a copy of the medical file of the late Palestinian leader.


Washington expects  #39;message of unity #39; on Iraq from conference WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (AFP) - Washington expects this week #39;s international conference on Iraq to send a strong and unified message of support for the country, according to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is to attend the meeting.


Stocks Sink, Dlr Steadies Above 103 Yen (Reuters) Reuters - Fears of further dollar weakness sent\shares in Asian exporters sharply lower on Monday, after a\meeting of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations said\nothing to arrest its fall.


Hardie boycotts start to bite BOYCOTTS of James Hardie building products over the company #39;s handling of asbestos liabilities were beginning to hurt sales in Australia, the company said today.


France #39;s Industrial Power Trip In so many ways, French politician and presidential aspirant Nicolas Sarkozy is a breath of fresh air in French and European politics.


Techbits: AOL security, Digital archives, Dual-network phones <b>...</b> America Online Inc. is packaging new features to combat viruses, spam and spyware in response to growing online security threats. Subscribers will be able to get the free tools


VICK SHATTERS ELI #39;S DEBUT DREAMS Michael Vick did enough to make sure that Eli Manning #39;s first start as the quarterback of the New York Giants did not have a fairytale ending.


Tiger #39;s swing clicks for first win in 20 attempts Tiger Woods yesterday won his first tournament since February and his first stroke-play event for 13 months, saying he feels the swing changes he has made are now starting to pay off.


NFL Game Summary - Green Bay at Houston Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Brett Favre engineered three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, the final one ending with a 46-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell as time expired, to lift the Green Bay Packers to a 16-13 victory over the Houston Texans.


Martin #39;s Presence Drives the Jets Knowing he was too hurt to be effective, running back Curtis Martin still wanted to be in the huddle as the New York Jets attempted to rally in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns.


Nowitzki Injures Ankle Against Nuggets (AP) AP - All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki had to be helped to the Dallas locker room after twisting his left ankle Sunday night against the Denver Nuggets.


Bush calls for broader Iraq debt relief SANTIAGO, Nov 21 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Sunday welcomed newly scheduled Iraq elections and a deal to shave billions of dollars off the war-torn country #39;s debt, calling on all creditors to follow suit.


Black box missing as investigators look into cause of China plane <b>...</b> BEIJING (AFP) - Investigators in China are searching for clues as to the cause of a plane crash that killed 54 people, but after more than 24 hours of efforts they have still not located the crucial black box.


Man to face trial in Hookes case A 22-year-old hotel bouncer has been ordered to stand trial over the death of former Australian Test cricketer David Hookes. Zdravco Micevic has pleaded innocent to charges of manslaughter and assault.


Thirty-Three Chinese Miners Dead in Blaze (AP) AP - A fire at a complex of iron mines in northern China killed at least 33 miners and trapped another 28, state media reported Monday.


Radio One Makes Move CEO Alfred Liggins III to buy a controlling stake in radio personality Tom Joyner's media company, furthering his attempt to turn the radio company into a diversified media group.
-The Washington Post


HGS Picks Watkins as New Chief Executive 20-year product development veteran from Abbott Laboratories will face the challenge of completing Human Genome Sciences' makeover from gene hunter to drug marketer.
-The Washington Post


BearingPoint Leader Plans Shake-Up Analysts speculate that company is a possible target to be acquired and that big operational changes are in store for the 16,557-person technology consulting firm.
-Ellen McCarthy


BearingPoint Leader Plans Shake-Up Analysts speculate that company is a possible target to be acquired and that big operational changes are in store for the 16,557-person technology consulting firm.


Mizuho 1st-Half Profit Falls 8 on Fewer Stock Gains (Update1) Mizuho Financial Group Inc., the world #39;s second-largest bank by assets, said first-half profit fell 8 percent after it failed to earn sufficient fee income to make up for reduced gains from stock investments.


Packers Oust Texans 16-13 Green Bay Packers #39; Donald Driver, left, catches a 50-yard pass next to Houston Texans #39; Marcus Coleman (42) in the second quarter Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, in Houston.


Let #39;s hear it for the Heels Well, I was wrong about North Carolina #39;s matchup with UConn ... and am happy to be wrong. This is not to say anything against UConn.


Utes Forcing Way In TAMPA - Just a few weeks ago, the Utah Utes were building an impassioned case for why they belonged in a Bowl Championship Series game.


Ex-presidents to lead aid effort WASHINGTON -- President Bush, seeking to highlight America's concern over the Asian disaster, named his father and his predecessor yesterday to spearhead a private fund-raising campaign to help victims of last month's tsunamis, calling on Americans to ''contribute as they are able to do so."


Paris Club agrees on Iraq debt reduction A French finance ministry spokesman said the Paris Club of creditor nations had reached a deal yesterday to write off 80 per cent of the debts Iraq owes them.


Tough new laws on terror HOME Secretary David Blunkett yesterday promised sweeping new anti-terror laws if Labour wins an historic third term. He revealed a raft of measures - from jury-less courts for terror trials to allowing wire tap evidence in major cases.


Hu tells Japanese leader his shrine visits are  quot;crux quot; of problem <b>...</b> SANTIAGO : Chinese President Hu Jintao has told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that his visits to a shrine honouring Japan #39;s war dead including war criminals are the  quot;crux quot; of the problem in Sino-Japanese ties.


An Exceptionally "EEVL" Search Resource One of the most respected engineering gateways on the web has just released four new databases providing free access to hundreds of online scientific and technical journals.


Whole Latta heart Geno Auriemma told his team in the locker room that it was a no-win situation. Sylvia Hatchell had been saying just the opposite to her players for weeks.


Raptors rally to drop Spurs TORONTO - Lamond Murray scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping the Toronto Raptors overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 96-91 yesterday.


Utah Enjoys BCS Celebration While It Can Utah Coach Urban Meyer is a man whose brown eyes boil with intensity. He subscribes to the football adage of taking one game at a time as if it were a directive from Scripture.


Stick-up becomes unstuck at Aussie restaurant Sydney - Bemused diners watched as three hapless thieves unsuccessfully tried to kick open a sliding door in a botched attempt to rob an Australian seafood restaurant, police said on Monday.


Advertisements You Didnt Demand Video-on-demand specials have so far appeared without advertisements. But Fox Cable Networks and Visa plan to try including ads in a show in January.


Pulitzer Inc. says it #39;s considering sale ST. LOUIS - Pulitzer Inc. said Sunday that company officials are considering selling the newspaper publisher to boost shareholder value.


Xstrata makes \$5.8B bid for WMC TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Swiss mining conglomerate Xstrata said Monday it offered to buy the entire issued share capital of major Australian mining company WMC Resources for A\$7.4 billion (\$5.79 billion) in cash.


Crude Oil Little Changed After Gaining on Heating Oil Concern Crude oil futures were little changed in New York after surging 5.4 percent on Nov. 19 on speculation falling temperatures in Europe will boost competition with the US for heating fuel.


Kmart-Sears merger not a cure Kmart Corp. #39;s cheeky proposal to acquire Sears, Roebuck and Co. for \$11 billion may be wowing Wall Street, but it doesn #39;t do anything to fix the serious problems afflicting two


Newton ranked safest city in America Camden, NJ, has become the nation #39;s most-dangerous city, while at the other end of the spectrum, Newton, Mass., ranks as the safest city, according to a company #39;s yearly ranking based on crime statistics.


Malaysia #39;s AirAsia rises sharply on debut KUALA LUMPUR : Shares in Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia rose sharply on their listing, doing well against a weaker broader market as investors bought into the low-cost concept, dealers said.


Gas prices drop 5 cents nationwide SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- National gas prices dropped 5 cents per gallon in the past two weeks, according to a survey. Free! Sign up here to receive our SiteWatcher e-Newsletter!


Wilbur Ross, Steel Winner, Bets on China Textiles as Quotas End Wilbur Ross used US government protection to merge four bankrupt steelmakers into a company so profitable he #39;s selling it for \$4.5 billion.


Video game re-creates slaying of Kennedy A new video game to be released Monday allows players to simulate the assassination of President Kennedy. The release of JFK Reloaded is timed to coincide with the 41st anniversary


Nintendo DS: Doubly good short for  quot;Dual Screen quot; -* * 1/2 out of four, \$150) was designed to bring innovation to the portable video game market, so far only developer Sega has completely caught on.


Nvidia, Intel Sign Agreement Intel has followed up its patent cross-licensing agreements with graphics processor maker ATI Technologies with a similar one with rival Nvidia.


The phenomenon of Xbox #39;s gem,  #39;Halo 2 #39;  quot;Halo 2 quot; is unquestionably the most eagerly anticipated video game of 2004. But that may be a bit of an understatement. Its predecessor became a religion, a staple to what seems like 99 percent of dorm room gamers.


Clash brings back bad memories for Tomjanovich Rudy Tomjanovich isn #39;t sure whether the TV images of the brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers affected him more deeply because of what he went through in another on-court brawl 27 years ago.


Sorenstam wins ADT Championship, Rosales 4th West Palm Beach, FLORIDA - Annika Sorenstam bogeyed the first hole of a playoff to win her third ADT Championship at Trump International Golf Club Sunday (Monday in Manila).


FOR ELI, LINE PUTS ON GOOD FRONT The Giants #39; fourth offensive snap yesterday provided the afternoon #39;s first obvious mistake. Its plot sounded frighteningly familiar.


Redskins Can #39;t Keep TO From Dancing in End Zone Wide receiver Terrell Owens found a vacant corner of the end zone and executed his pattern perfectly, a picture of fluidity with his feet planted firmly on the turf and both hands rising above his head.


Vikings 22 Lions 19 MINNEAPOLIS Daunte Culpepper engineered a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to lead Minnesota #39;s 22-to-19 win over Detroit.


U.S. to Help Rebuild Tsunami-Stricken Lives -- Powell  BANGKOK (Reuters) - The United States will help the  millions devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami, but an effort  on the scale of the post-World War II Marshall Plan is probably  not needed, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday.


Powell meets Israel #39;s Sharon US Secretary of State Colin Powell has met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for talks expected to focus on steps Israel could take to facilitate a Palestinian presidential election scheduled for January.


International conference on Iraq opening in Egypt SHARM EL SHEIKH (Egypt), November 22 (Itar-Tass) - An international conference on Iraq is opening in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh on Monday.


Date Set for Iraqi Elections; Violence Slows Registration Iraqi electoral officials on Sunday scheduled national and provincial elections for Jan. 30 and said that nearly 200 political groups had applied to take part.


Koizumi dismisses Chinese leader #39;s criticism of visits to Yasukuni <b>...</b> SANTIAGO -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Sunday dismissed Chinese President Hu Jintao #39;s criticism of his controversial visits to Tokyo #39;s Yasukuni Shrine where the war dead, including Class-A war criminals, are enshrined.


Gunmen Assassinate Baghdad Governor - Police  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Baghdad governor Ali al-Haidri was  assassinated by gunmen in the capital on Tuesday, police and  hospital sources said.


Marriage does not guarantee happiness In the world of retailing, there is no such thing as  quot;too big to fail, quot; as investors have often learned to their sorrow.


Wonky crime numbers benefit St. Louis Erroneous crime statistics propelled St. Louis to its best finish in recent years in a report to be issued Monday that ranks the nation #39;s most dangerous cities.


Upstart RCN faces second Goliath head-on In its seven years playing David to the Goliaths of Greater Boston cable television, upstart RCN Corp. has managed to secure a robust business, in a few communities


Federer wins rain-soaked Masters It rained Sunday, of course, and but another soppy, sloppy gray day at Westside Tennis Club did nothing to deter Roger Federer from his appointed rounds.


India v South Africa Andrew Hall #39;s highest ever first class score underpinned a fine South African batting effort as the tourists reached 459 for seven at stumps on day two of the first Test with India.


Jets: Carter keeps cool after a shaky start Jets quarterback Quincy Carter looked like a character in the movie  quot;Animal House quot; yesterday in Cleveland Browns Stadium.


Utah #39;s euphoria might not last long The fiesta hadn #39;t even begun, and already people were asking Urban Meyer, the life of the party, if it was over. That, as we #39;ve come to learn, is the price of success in college football these days.


Longwell barely makes game-winning field goal HOUSTON - Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre got a chance to work his fourth-quarter magic at Reliant Stadium for the first time in his career Sunday night -nd work it he did.


EU ponders sugar reforms EU agriculture ministers are to discuss urgent reforms to Europe's heavily subsidised sugar industry.


Major Creditors Agree to Cancel 80 of Iraq Debt The world #39;s leading industrial nations agreed Sunday to cancel 80 percent of the nearly \$39 billion debt owed them by Iraq, a critical step in rebuilding the country #39;s devastated


Clarke ends war of words with praisefor people #39;s prince CHARLES Clarke yesterday signalled a truce in the simmering row with the Prince of Wales which has soured relations between the Education Secretary and the heir to the throne.


Taking on No. 1  Say the name Verizon , and most consumers in America get some clear pictures in their mind. The phone company. The Bell System. The wireless test guy asking,  quot;Can you hear me now? quot;


Upstart RCN faces second Goliath head-on In its seven years playing David to the Goliaths of Greater Boston cable television, upstart RCN Corp. has managed to secure a robust business, in a few communities grabbing nearly 40 percent of cable television customers while bundling telephone and Internet services.


Alien aims to multiply and thrive MORGAN HILL, Calif. -- In the lobby of Alien Technology, giant statues of Robbie the Robot and Klaatu from  quot;The Day the Earth Stood Still quot; stand guard over the reception area. Hanging on one doorway leading to the inner sanctum is a sign that reads:  quot;Area 52. Restricted Area. Secret Research Facility. quot;


Firm reaches wide accord on lead paint A prominent Boston-based real estate company has agreed to test for and remove any hazardous lead paint from nearly 10,400 apartments nationwide, including more than 7,000 in Massachusetts, under a consent agreement that federal and state officials plan to announce today.


Firefox helping to make Web better for all This column gets results. A few months ago I suggested that Internet users would do well to give up on Microsoft Corp.'s buggy and insecure Internet Explorer browser and check out some well-crafted alternatives. And so you have, in a big way.


Merck offers Vioxx defense  NEW YORK -- Merck  amp; Co.'s campaign to defend itself in the wake of the recall of the pain reliever Vioxx intensified last week, as it placed a package of three full-page ads in seven prominent newspapers beginning last Friday. That follows several television appearances, as well as testimony before Congress by the company's chief executive.


Pulitzer Inc. says it #39;s considering sale Newspaper publisher Pulitzer Inc. said Sunday that company officials are considering a possible sale of the firm to boost shareholder value.


Thousands Queue for Water in Aceh, Aid Blocked  BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - Hungry and filthy,  Indonesians queued for water in their thousands on Tuesday as  aid deliveries to tsunami-ravaged Aceh province hit new snags.


Oracle seen closer in PeopleSoft bid  SAN FRANCISCO -- Bolstered by investors, Oracle Corp. appears destined to complete its long-sought takeover of PeopleSoft Inc. unless its rival becomes more profitable and proves it's worth more than the \$9.2 billion bid currently on the table.


Britain-JFK Game A spokesman for Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy is calling a new video game  quot;despicable. quot;. A British company says it #39;s releasing a game that recreates the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, the senator #39;s brother.


So much fun, it #39;s criminal Comedian Bruce Daniels once opened a show with a rant against the video game Grand Theft Auto:  quot;There #39;s this game that encourages you to pick up hookers, engage in sex, beat them then rob them


Pennsylvania School District Retreats from Evolution A Pennsylvania school district on Friday defended its decision to discount Charles Darwin #39;s theory of evolution and take a lead in teaching what critics say is a version of creationism.


Federer trounces Hewitt to take Masters title The 23-year-old Swiss dominated the final tournament of the season just as he dominated most of 2004, winning his second straight Masters Cup and breaking the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.


Apec pushes for free trade boost Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific states in the Apec grouping have ended a summit in Chile with a call for action to lower global trade barriers.


Arafat #39;s medical file handed over to Widow PARIS (France): French authorities have handed over the medical file on late President of Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat to his widow Ms Suha Arafat, who is studying it, her lawyer said in a statement.


Evolution still taught, regardless of debates Despite renewed controversies across the country over how the creation of the universe is taught, S. Blaire Hedges, Penn State biology professor, said the university will continue teaching the theory of evolution as it always has.


Tokyo stocks end flat TOKYO - Tokyo stocks ended Friday almost flat as earlier gains on buying of high-tech shares evaporated after selling of domestic demand-related issues accelerated later in the day.


SpaceShipOne is Time #39;s  #39;Invention of the Year #39; SpaceShipOne, the world first privately developed spacecraft that first entered the space in October, has been named  #39;2004 Invention of the Year #39; by Time magazine as a part of its annual  #39;Coolest Invention #39; issue.


Giants: Falcons impressed by first look at Eli To a veteran defensive lineman, there is a dead giveaway when a rookie quarterback is rattled. You can see it in the kid #39;s eyes.


Culpepper rallies Vikings MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings shut out Detroit in the second half and overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the sliding Lions, 22-19, yesterday, ending their three-game losing streak.


Blunkett plans tough new terror laws Tough new laws on terrorism could be passed if Labour wins a third term in power, Home Secretary David Blunkett has indicated. Mr Blunkett said officials were looking at a range of measures - from jury-less


Oil Extends Rally on Heating Worries (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices continued to rally on\Monday, clawing back more of this months' losses on heightened\concerns over low global winter fuel supplies.


Trump's Casinos File for Bankruptcy (Reuters) Reuters - Donald Trump's casino operations\filed for bankruptcy on Sunday in a long-expected move that\would allow the real estate maverick to restructure the\company's debt and overhaul its aging casinos.


Oil Extends Rally on Heating Worries  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices continued to rally on  Monday, clawing back more of this months' losses on heightened  concerns over low global winter fuel supplies.


Stocks Sink as Dollar Hovers Near Lows  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The dollar held near a record low  against the euro and a 4-1/2-year low versus the yen on Monday,  sending Asian shares sharply lower, after a meeting of rich and  developing nations said nothing to arrest its fall.


Trump's Casinos File for Bankruptcy  PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Donald Trump's casino operations  filed for bankruptcy on Sunday in a long-expected move that  would allow the real estate maverick to restructure the  company's debt and overhaul its aging casinos.


PeopleSoft Says Again Oracle Bid Inadequate, It Won #39;t Sell PeopleSoft Inc. said its board remains convinced Oracle Inc. #39;s \$24-a-share takeover bid is inadequate #39; #39; and said it will not sell the company for less than it #39;s worth.


Xstrata makes new bid for Australia WMC Swiss-based miner Xstrata says it will take its A\$7.4 billion (3.1 billion pound) bid for Australia #39;s WMC Resources directly to the company #39;s shareholders, effectively making a hostile bid after WMC #39;s management rejected its offer


Annual ranking of  #39;most dangerous #39; cities TRENTON, NJ Camden, New Jersey, has become the nation #39;s most-dangerous city, according to a Kansas company #39;s yearly ranking based on crime statistics.


AirAsia to make solid debut on Malaysian bourse next week <b>...</b> Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia #39;s budget carrier AirAsia is expected to make a solid debut on the stock exchange Monday, with gains to be made from its retail initial public offer (IPO) price of 1.16 ringgit (0.31 dollars) a share, fund managers and analysts said


New billboard beauty in London -- 96 years young (AFP) AFP - It's never too late to start a new career, even if you're 96 years old -- and the new job is modelling cosmetics.


Firefox helping to make Web better for all This column gets results. A few months ago I suggested that Internet users would do well to give up on Microsoft Corp. #39;s buggy and insecure Internet Explorer browser and check out some well-crafted alternatives.


NBA fans find extra security after brawl as shorthanded Pistons win (AFP) AFP - With security staffing levels raised 50 percent following Friday's melee between spectators and players, National Basketball Association champion Detroit beat Charlotte 117-116 here.


Fans stand behind suspended Wallace It might have been NBA Commissioner David Stern taking his chances had he tried to enter the stands at The Palace on Sunday after suspending Ben Wallace for six games.


Holland: PSV Eindhoven keeps lead PSV Eindhoven beat Vitesse Arnhem 2-0 to maintain a five-point lead atop the Dutch First Division on Sunday, earning its 10th straight shutout in a game that was suspended 15 minutes for unruly fan behaviour.


41-year-old QB lifts Toronto to 1st Grey Cup since 1997 OTTAWA - Damon Allen, a 20-year veteran, ran in two touchdowns and passed for another as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the British Columbia Lions 27-19 in the Grey Cup on Sunday night.


U.S. to Help Rebuild Tsunami-Stricken Lives -- Powell (Reuters) Reuters - The United States will help the\millions devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami, but an effort\on the scale of the post-World War II Marshall Plan is probably\not needed, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday.


#39;Identity problem #39; is not political Taiwan has a high level of consensus on the nation #39;s independent and sovereign status. According to a survey published by the Taiwan Thinktank on Nov. 8 about the public #39;s expectations


Celtics keep it together Once again down the stretch, there was the sound of 15,000 people squirming in their seats. The Celtics had led the hottest team in basketball from the first quarter last night. They'd been up by 22 points with 11:08 to play. And now, with the spread down to 10, everybody was thinking the same thing: Can these guys blow it ...


It's a group dynamic KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A group of six Patriots has played together since 1996, no small feat in the era of NFL free agency and constant personnel change.


Busch withstands pressure to win Cup HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Acknowledging the reputation he had earned as an aggressive young driver with a penchant for wrinkling a few car fenders and ruffling a few feathers along the way, Kurt Busch yesterday seemed to come of age.


1-2 punch is a hit for Colts CHICAGO -- Edgerrin James on the ground. Peyton Manning through the air. The Indianapolis Colts made it look easy.


McNabb heats up in 2d half PHILADELPHIA -- Rattled, hurried and battered for 2 1/2 quarters, Donovan McNabb kept his poise, stayed in the pocket and picked apart Washington's secondary.


McNair cures Titans' ills JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Steve McNair returned to the lineup, and the Tennessee Titans returned to form.


Droughns hits ground running NEW ORLEANS -- Reuben Droughns had his fifth 100-yard game to help the Denver Broncos stay atop the AFC West.


Jets get their timing down CLEVELAND -- This week, the New York Jets beat the clock. Quincy Carter threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Justin McCareins with 5:32 remaining as the Jets bounced back from an embarrassing loss with an ugly 10-7 win over the Cleveland Browns yesterday.


There was no stopping Goings CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nick Goings revived the Carolina Panthers' running game -- for a half, anyway.


It's Boulware to the rescue SEATTLE -- Rookie safety Michael Boulware saved the game for the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe the season, too.


Chargers zap Raiders again OAKLAND, Calif. -- Antonio Gates had eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 164 yards and a score on 37 carries, and the San Diego Chargers won their fourth straight game, 23-17, over the AFC West rival Raiders yesterday.


It's one for all for BC Matt Ryan had arrived at a conference room adjacent to the visitor's locker room at Lincoln Financial Field to meet the press Saturday after Boston College's 34-17 Big East victory over Temple in Philadelphia.


A tough playoff draw for UNH The University of New Hampshire football team is going dancing -- the Wildcats will be playing in the NCAA Division 1-AA playoffs for the first time since 1994.


After further review, half a title is better than no title WORCESTER -- BC High senior Greg O'Neil acknowledged his initial reaction to yesterday's 0-0 draw with Algonquin in the MIAA Division 1 state final was disappointment.


Six straight for Andover WELLESLEY -- For the sixth year in a row, Andover claimed the MIAA State Swimming  amp; Diving Championships.


Bush Touts U.S.-Backed Anti-Drug Efforts (AP) AP - President Bush aims to highlight the benefits of American drug-fighting aid in Colombia and boost a conservative Latin American leader with a brief, security-laden stop in the Andean nation.


Discipline of writing helped Dallaire beat Rwanda demons that haunted him (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Romeo Dallaire has stepped back from the edge of the abyss.


China Iron Mine Fire Death Toll Rises to 49  BEIJING (Reuters) - Rescue workers have recovered the  bodies of 49 Chinese miners killed when fire swept through an  iron mine complex in the northern province of Hebei, the State  Administration of Work Safety said on Monday.


Three held over Brazil land clash Police in Brazil arrest three men on suspicion of murder, following a violent confrontation over land rights.


Basketball: Season ban for brawl Indiana's Ron Artest is banned for the rest of the season after the brawl involving fans and players at Detroit.


EU ponders sugar industry reforms EU agriculture ministers are to discuss urgent reforms to Europe's heavily subsidised sugar industry.


Africa and its children Second of three parts URAMO BEACH, Nigeria -- It was just a shack made of cardboard and bamboo.


Ukraine prime minister takes lead in runoff KIEV -- Ukraine's prime minister was leading the nation's runoff presidential election, according to partial vote tallies released today, but his Western-leaning challenger held the advantage in an exit poll funded partly by the United States.


King frees convicted activist in Bahrain MANAMA, Bahrain -- Bahrain's king ordered the immediate release of a human rights activist who was convicted of inciting hatred of the government and sentenced to one year in prison yesterday in a case linked to criticism of the prime minister.


US forces kill four in suspected Al Qaeda compounds KABUL, Afghanistan -- US-led troops mounted overnight raids on suspected Al Qaeda compounds in eastern Afghanistan, killing four people and detaining several others, officials said yesterday.


National Assembly elections set for Jan. 30 BAGHDAD -- Iraq's electoral commission yesterday set Jan. 30 for elections to choose a National Assembly, a vote that could deliver power to Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority after decades of disenfranchisement. The balloting, however, remains imperiled by calls for a Sunni Muslim boycott and a persistent insurgency that has roiled Sunni regions.


Pacific Rim leaders vow antiterror efforts SANTIAGO, Chile -- Pacific Rim leaders pledged yesterday to shore up global security and push ahead with the World Trade Organization's negotiations on lowering global trade barriers.


S. Korea Weighs Support for the North Roh's move to do away with the security law has become the latest symbol of an ideological battle now raging in South Korea over whether detente with the North is happening too fast, too soon.


Oil prices climb on winter supply fears Oil prices climbed higher in Asian trade on Monday as fresh concerns over the possibility of energy shortages in the northern hemisphere winter sparked another wave of panic among investors, dealers said.


AirAsia Shares Gain in Malaysian Debut on New Routes (Update3) Shares of AirAsia Bhd., Southeast Asia #39;s biggest discount airline, rose about 16 percent on their first day of trading in Malaysia on expectation a drop in fuel prices and new routes to China and Indonesia will boost profit.


Gunmen Assassinate Baghdad Governor - Police (Reuters) Reuters - Baghdad governor Ali al-Haidri was\assassinated by gunmen in the capital on Tuesday, police and\hospital sources said.


Swift takes off The first space mission dedicated to gamma-ray bursts was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday. Gamma-ray bursts are the most energetic events in the universe, but they continue to


New Video Game Lets You Kill JFK  quot;JFK Reloaded quot; from Scottish videogame company Traffic Games lets you become Lee Harvey Oswald and recreate the assassination of JFK.


Play resumes in first Test Kanpur - South Africa resumed at their overnight score of 459 for seven after heavy fog held up play in the first session on the third day of the first Test against India here on Monday.


Busch withstands pressure to win Cup Acknowledging the reputation he had earned as an aggressive young driver with a penchant for wrinkling a few car fenders and ruffling a few


Rates mixed in T-bill auction Interest rates on short-term Treasury securities were mixed in yesterday's auction. The Treasury Department sold \$19 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 2.28 percent, up from 2.23 percent last week. An additional \$17 billion was sold in six-month bills at a rate of 2.560 percent, unchanged from last week's auction.


Iran carries out promised suspension: report Iran on Monday suspended its uraniumenrichment activities under a commitment in an agreement reached with the European Union, the state TV reported.


UPDATE 1-ING to sell Baring Asset Management Financial group ING (ING.AS: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to sell Baring Asset Management (BAM) to US groups MassMutual and Northern Trust (NTRS.


CAT in alliance with AstraZeneca Cambridge Antibody Technology has announced an alliance with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca after posting a slightly narrower annual loss before tax.


Swift roars to record the  quot;birth cries quot; of black holes Nasa #39;s fastest-swivelling space probe ever built -- Swift -- roared into the orbit aiming to explore the violent celestial explosions which may bestow black holes the birth cries.


ROVERS BOUNCE BACK IN EWOOD THRILLER Blackburn fought back from 3-1 down at half-time to earn a 3-3 draw with Birmingham in a pulsating Premiership clash at Ewood Park on Sunday afternoon.


Vick and the Falcons spoil Manning #39;s debut Michael Vick ran for 104 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler to lead the Falcons (8-2), spoiling Eli Manning #39;s first start.


Fancy moves on gridiron Call it Moving On week. Teams, players, and coaches all made their moves as the college football season #39;s last full slate of games was completed over the weekend.


Six bodies found in two group suicides in Japan Six people were found dead in two deserted cars over the weekend in Japan #39;s latest group suicides, police said Monday. A woman and two men in their 20s were found slumped over in a car parked


Markets fall on weak dollar fears Asia has seen its key markets slide in response to the likelihood of a relentlessly weakening dollar.


Xstrata Says Seeking WMC To Enhance Copper Profit Stream SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Xstrata Plc (XTA.LN) said Monday that its A\$6.35-a-share cash bid for Australia #39;s WMC Resources Ltd. (WMR.


Artest deserves blame, especially from Pacers INDIANAPOLlS - Imagine being an employee who must sit in a chair while, a few feet over either shoulder, crowds of observers loudly register their opinions, mostly negative and sometimes grossly profane.


Green Bay wins with golden Brett Trailing by 10 points and down to only one healthy tailback, the Packers were desperately searching for an offensive spark. They found the solution in a familiar place.


Early to rise? Not for UConn  quot;I think the game played out probably the way I thought it would play out, quot; he said.  quot;I can #39;t say that I #39;m really, really that surprised.


Broncos #39; rout frustrates Saints owner NEW ORLEANS -- Another blowout loss left New Orleans owner Tom Benson furious and wondering whether his team belonged in the NFL. Reuben Droughns rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown, Jake Plummer threw for


Green #39;s move has us fishing for answers Although the move was stunning, the outcome was predictable and the latest effort from our resident football/fishing genius may have finished off the Cardinals for good.


U.S., Afghan Forces Raid Homes in Kabul (AP) AP - American and Afghan forces searching for three kidnapped U.N. workers smashed their way into houses in downtown Kabul early Monday, officials and witnesses said.


U.S. Commander: More GIs Needed in Iraq (AP) AP - The United States will boost its forces in Iraq to a record number of 150,000 in coming weeks because inexperienced Iraqi troops cannot ensure security for next month's national elections, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Saturday.


Russia Agrees to Write Off Iraqi Debt to Paris Club Russia agreed on Sunday to forgive up to 80 percent of Iraqs debts to the Paris Club (about \$33 billion). A US Treasury official quoted by Reuters said they received this information from Russia.


killer quake rocks dominica, guadeloupe THE ISLANDS of Dominica and Guadeloupe were rocked by a massive earthquake killing at least one person and destroying numerous homes.


Sorenstam Ends the Year With Trophy (AP) AP - Despite 33 victories in the last four years, Annika Sorenstam keeps saying that winning is not as easy as she makes it look.


China plane 'flew like drunkard' A plane which plunged into a frozen lake in China killing 54 people was flying erratically moments before it crashed.


Camden tops dangerous cities list Camden has become the nation #39;s most-dangerous city, a national ranking company based in Kansas announced Sunday. Camden, which was ranked third worst last year, took the dubious honor from


Legal fees add to James Hardie #39;s troubles PETER CAVE: The disgraced building products firm James Hardie has revealed softer first half profits as a result of costs related to an inquiry into its asbestos compensation fund.


Cable #39;s Rivals Lure Customers With Packages For years, consumers who wanted to cut the cord with their cable company found that getting television and high-speed Internet service often meant the inconvenience of finding two new providers.


Lampert #39;s potent force in investing branches into retailing DreamWorks SKG co-founder David Geffen laughs when asked what it #39;s like to invest with Edward Lampert, the hedge fund manager and Kmart chairman who startled the


Tasteless JFK video game hits the Internet Just in time for today #39;s 41st anniversary of President John F. Kennedy #39;s assassination, a tasteless Internet game is being launched that lets players be Lee Harvey Oswald.


Sorenstam ends the year with another trophy Despite 33 victories in the last four years, Annika Sorenstam keeps saying that winning is not as easy as she makes it look. Not many could argue with her at the season-ending ADT Championship.


Another Manning controls a team #39;s future This is a rotten time for moral victories. Like it or not, the New York Giants received one Sunday. While their playoff hopes took another hit when their rally


UNC upends UConn  quot;I think the game played out probably the way I thought it would play out, quot; he said.  quot;I can #39;t say that I #39;m really, really that surprised.


Boulware returns interception 60 yards for TD With the game tied 17-17, the Dolphins stopped the Seahawks on downs and got the ball at their own 47 with 1:51 remaining. On third down, AJ Feeley threw a 7-yard pass to Chris Chambers for a first down at the Seattle 41.


McNabb throws four more touchdowns in ninth victory Putting the teams #39; records aside, quarterback Donovan McNabb knew this would not be an easy game to win. McNabb studied the films and he knew Washington would come with a defense that would


The Legacy of Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat, long-time leader of the Palestinian people, died in Paris on November 11 at the age of 75. He had been taken to France for medical treatment after falling gravely ill at the Palestine Authority


APEC shows power as primary regional forum The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has shown again its power as the primary economic forum in the Pacific Rim, as 21 top leaders from its member economies


Iraq election date announced Iraq #39;s Electoral Commission has announced that elections in the country will go ahead on January 30, not January 27 as previously suggested.


UK ; Prince Charles hits back UK News, The Prince of Wales is taking the unprecedented step of hitting back at criticism from senior politicians over his views on education.


Hookes: Bouncer to stand trial Melbourne - A hotel bouncer charged over the death of former Australian Test cricketer David Hookes will stand trial early next year on charges of manslaughter and assault, a court heard on Monday.


AstraZeneca Buys 20 Stake in Cambridge Antibody (Update1) AstraZeneca Plc, the UK #39;s second biggest drugmaker, bought a 19.9 percent stake in Cambridge Antibody Technology Group Plc, an unprofitable biotechnology company, for 75 million pounds (\$139 million).


Mike Wallace subpoenaed Richard Scrushy once sat down to talk with ''60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace about allegations that Scrushy started a huge fraud while chief executive of rehabilitation giant HealthSouth Corp. Now, Scrushy wants Wallace to do the talking.


Boston Capital hopes to raise \$1b in IPO Boston Capital Real Estate Investment Trust Inc., an owner of apartment complexes in Florida, Oregon, Washington, and Utah, boosted the size of its initial public offering to as high as \$1 billion. The Boston-based company plans to sell as many as 100 million shares for \$10 each, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In November, Boston ...


Bringing back conversion vans An automotive fad of the 1970s, customized vans, might be the next big thing coming out of Detroit.


Busch pulls out Cup title When his right-front tire went flying off early in the Ford 400, the final race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, Kurt Busch, it seemed, was destined to spend his offseason


Lelie-Plummer connection produces 6th TD of season Reuben Droughns scored a 51-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game and gained 11 more yards on first down to start Denver #39;s next drive.


Dollar sees gains against the euro The US dollar rose against the euro and other major currencies yesterday, recovering after some early losses as foreign exchange trading resumed in the new year.


FOOTBALL: BLATTER: I #39;LL BACK WALK-OFF FIFA president Sepp Blatter last night said he would have supported England #39;s players had they staged a walk-off in Madrid last week.


Man sues Brigham and Women's over death of his wife The widower of a woman who died at Brigham  amp; Women's Hospital while delivering her first child is suing the hospital, alleging that doctors accidentally damaged at least two arteries during the emergency delivery, then disregarded signs that she was bleeding to death.


Developer to sell rentals in Allston as condos Another developer plans to capitalize on a hot condo market by selling off its rental apartments to home buyers.


Future of Illini's Turner's at Hand (AP) AP - Illinois coach Ron Turner deflected questions about his future all season long, not wanting to be a distraction or take away from his players and the games they had left.


Powell: US will aid Palestinian elections Seeing a rare and probably fleeting opportunity to influence the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the Bush administration is preparing financial assistance to help Palestinians


Canberra forgives Iraq #39;s \$1.1bn debt CANBERRA will excuse Iraq \$1.1 billion that it owes Australia as the war-torn nation attempts to get back on its feet financially.


Genzyme banks its future on cancer drugs When Genzyme Inc. breaks down its revenue this year, there's a big hole: treatment of cancer.


57 die in China mine disaster 57 miners have died in a fire at five connected iron ore mines in northern China. The fire started last Saturday in a privately run mine in Shahe city, and rapidly spread to four other mines nearby, trapping 106 people working underground.


India cuts troops numbers in Srinagar A battalion of Indian Army soldiers has pulled out of Kashmir #39;s summer capital Srinagar, marking the first withdrawal from the urban hub of insurgency in the Himalayan state.


Iraq ; Iraq looks to world for approval Iraq News, The two-day conference in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh will start with a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iraq, its six neighbours and Egypt.


Security forces raid houses, detain suspects in Afghan capital KABUL, Afghanistan Officials and witnesses say foreign and Afghan security forces have raided houses in Kabul, smashing their way in and detaining several men.


Crude futures fall more than \$1 Crude futures fell more than \$1 a barrel yesterday amid mild weather in the US Northeast on the first trading day of the new year.


Wright is right again LAS VEGAS -- Shane Mosley gave Winky Wright his big chance. After beating Mosley a second time, Wright is now ready to cash in on it.


Two-for-one deal for Roush HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Greg Biffle gave his car owner, Jack Roush , a two-for-one special yesterday, winning the Ford 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on the same day Kurt Busch , Biffle's Roush Racing teammate, finished fifth to capture the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.


Sydney protesters get free travel Sydney commuters get a day's free travel after an unprecedented protest against the city's rail network.


PeopleSoft board once again spurns Oracle #39;s bid SAN FRANCISCO - Business-software maker PeopleSoft said Saturday its board had again unanimously rejected Oracle #39;s \$9.2 billion tender offer as inadequate, a day after 61 percent of PeopleSoft shares were tendered to Oracle.


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


Camden overtakes Detroit as most-dangerous city TRENTON, NJ A Kansas company #39;s yearly ranking has Camden, New Jersey, as the nation #39;s most dangerous city. The rankings based on crime statistics are detailed in Morgan Quitno #39;s  quot;City Crime Rankings, quot; an annual reference book.


AWB clinches  #39;tough #39; China deal Wheat exporter AWB has clinched the biggest sale to China in more than a decade. AWB will supply 1.5 million tonnes of wheat, a sale it values at around \$200 million.


BT chases after military action TELECOMS group BT will bid this week for a 4bn Ministry of Defence contract to stitch together IT systems for Britain #39;s armed forces.


Let's play hedge fund The requirements to start a hedge fund are pretty basic. You need a desk, a computer, and some rich clients to hand over lots of money to put at risk.


Search tools, music gadgets and e-mail, oh my The year #39;s biggest upset in sports has to be the Boston Red Sox #39;s improbable world championship. The biggest upset in politics: that choosing the president did not require Supreme Court intervention.


Golf: Playoff bogey enough to bring Sorenstam LPGA crown WEST PALM BEACH, United States : Annika Sorenstam captured her eighth title of the year here Sunday, beating Cristie Kerr in a playoff for the season-ending LPGA ADT Championship with a bogey on the first playoff hole.


Top 25 roundup: North Carolina upsets UConn  quot;I think the game played out probably the way I thought it would play out, quot; he said.  quot;I can #39;t say that I #39;m really, really that surprised.


Injury report; stars of the day Green Bay running back Ahman Green left last night #39;s game against the Houston Texans after aggravating a rib injury. Green had returned in the second quarter after leaving earlier with the rib problem.


Empty feelings For weeks, months - really for two years - Butch Davis has talked about little else but spilled guts, effort and heart in his postgame press conferences.


Times Co. to buy stake in free Boston paper The New York Times Co. , owner of The Boston Globe, said it will buy a 49 percent stake in Metro Boston, the free newspaper distributed to commuters.


Troops Raid Homes in Search for UN Hostages American and Afghan forces searching for three kidnapped UN workers smashed their way into a number of Kabul houses today. About 10 people were detained in the pre-dawn operation, but there was no indication the three foreigners had been found.


Nonprofit officer arrested in thefts Police had been hunting Scott Pfiel, a former director of Meals on Wheels Chicago, for months when they finally found their theft suspect -- holding down a high-profile job at an Indianapolis nonprofit.


First full planes, then full stomachs Passengers flying toward their Thanksgiving feasts can expect to find crowded airports and packed flights on the way. By JEAN HELLER, Times Staff Writer.


Outrage over JFK slay video game A British firm seeking to capitalize on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy #39;s murder today is issuing JFK Reloaded, #39; #39; a purportedly educational docu-game #39; #39; that lets players


New chip designs help AMD boost market share Design engineer Alan Lear has rolled up his sleeves. His lab is crammed with motherboards and oscilloscopes. He scans a screen showing the signal


In Spain, a missing link? NEW YORK Scientists in Spain have discovered fossils of an ape species from about 13 million years ago that they think may have been the last common ancestor of all living great apes, including humans.


Man hurt keeping his tiger from teen ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. - The owner of a wildlife sanctuary was injured by a 350-pound Siberian tiger that was startled by a 14-year-old boy at a county fair, officials said Sunday.


Minsheng sells stake to Temasek BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhuaent) -- China #39;s first private lender, Minsheng Bank, has won regulatory approval to sell a 4.55 percent stake to a Singapore government firm, clearing the final hurdle for the investment in a fast-opening financial arena.


Eagles wing it, win easily The Redskins fail to capitalize on scoring chances and fall to 3-7, the worst start in Joe Gibbs #39; coaching career. PHILADELPHIA -- Good teams score touchdowns when they have a first down from the opponents #39; 10-yard line.


Notebook: Mavs #39; Nowitzski out after ankle sprain All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki had to be helped to the Dallas locker room after twisting his left ankle last night against the Denver Nuggets.


Rusty McNair leads Titans over Jaguars McNair threw a touchdown pass, directed two other scoring drives as the Titans (4-6) beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) 18-15 Sunday.


Police arrest man on suspicion of murdering French student (AFP) AFP - Police arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of murdering a French student in August, Scotland Yard said.


Threats Delay Vote Preparations in Mosul (AP) AP - Death threats have chased away four elections officials in Mosul, stalling preparations for the vote in the northern city. Insurgents have torched election materials and a militant group believed to operate in Mosul has warned Iraqis not to participate in the election.


Eli earns  #39;E #39; for effort Some quarterbacks take weeks to get comfortable in the NFL. Sometimes it takes several years. Yesterday it took Eli Manning a mere 30 minutes.


England intent on revenge against Australia England vice-captain Mike Tindall insists the world champions will be motivated by a sense of payback when they tackle Australia at Twickenham next Saturday.


Colts Punish Bears 41-10 (AP) AP - Edgerrin James on the ground. Peyton Manning through the air. The Indianapolis Colts made it look easy.


Oracle claims mandate from PeopleSoft shareholders Oracle has announced that, as of midnight (US Eastern Standard Time) on Friday 19 November, 228,702,471 shares of PeopleSoft common stock, representing more than 60 per cent of the outstanding shares, had been validly tendered in support of its all-cash


Dollar hovers near record low The dollar sank Monday to within half a cent of last week #39;s record low against the euro after a weekend meeting of world finance chiefs ended with no agreement to stem the greenback #39;s decline.


Krispy Kreme Posts Loss, Scraps Sales Forecast (Update1) Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., the second-largest US doughnut maker, had a fiscal third- quarter loss of \$3 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with net income of \$14.5 million, or 23 cents, a year earlier.


Xstrata in new bid for mines firm Swiss mining firm Xstrata has relaunched an \$7.4bn Australian dollar (\$5.8bn) takeover bid for Australia #39;s WMC by appealing to its shareholders.


Hartford listed as nation #39;s seventh-most dangerous city _ Hartford has been named the nation #39;s seventh-most dangerous city, while Danbury and Stamford have been recognized for their safety, according to a company #39;s annual ranking based on crime statistics.


ING to sell Baring Asset Management Financial group ING has agreed to sell Baring Asset Management to US groups MassMutual and Northern Trust and says it will make a net gain of 250 million euros (176 million pounds) on the deal.


Econ Edge: The Economic Week This week will see the release of October new and existing home sales, a measure of strength in the housing industry. But the short holiday week will also leave investors looking ahead to the holiday travel season.


Mylan says Icahn talks not in co #39;s best interests Mylan Laboratories Inc. (MYL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said its board does not believe discussions with financier Carl Icahn #39;s about his unsolicited proposal to buy the company are in the company #39;s best interests.


James Hardie will miss forecasts MELBOURNE James Hardie Industries, Australia #39;s fourth-biggest maker of building materials, said Monday that full-year profit would miss analysts #39; estimates because of boycotts by unions protesting the handling of asbestos compensation.


Uphill battle for Sears/Kmart Twenty years ago, I wrote a report called  quot;Retailer or Realtor, quot; that argued retailers had huge hidden real estate values.


Swift blasts off on dying star mission Swift, a satellite space lab that will hunt and study the most violent explosions ever seen in the universe, has finally launched from Cape Canaveral.


JFK Assassination Video Game Technology brings a whole new light to history.Technology brings a whole new light to history.Technology brings a whole new light to history.


Dixons spells out the future - DVD Dixons is to phase out video cassette recorders in its namesake stores after revealing that DVD players are now outselling VCRs by a ratio of 40 to one.


AMD loses nVidia monopoly Intel users will be able to use nVidia graphics hardware in the future after a surprise announcement from the two companies. The deal will be welcomed by users who will be able to use nVidia #39;s nForce platform


Fossil find may be the father of us all Spanish anthropologists, intrigued by a single fossil tooth found near a Catalonian village, dug up more of the animal #39;s stony skeleton and announced they have discovered what may be the last common ancestor of all the world #39;s living great apes


RIAA sues filesharing US students The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is suing 761 people for alleged illegal filesharing. University students are a particular focus of the legal action with 25 people named for using university networks to distribute music.


New Sober variant spreading A new version of the Sober e-mail worm started spreading in Europe on Friday, according to antivirus suppliers, which have given the worm a mid-level threat rating.


#39;Half-Life #39; sequelenters excitingnew territory It #39;s been a long commute for Gordon Freeman. He nodded off on the train from Black Mesa six years ago, exhausted from his victory over the vile, slime-spewing aliens infesting the atomic research station.


India debates manned space flight BANGALORE (AFP) - India #39;s space agency is ready to send a man to space within seven years if the government gives the nod, while preparations have already begun for the launch of an unmanned lunar mission, a top official said.


3G mobile service set for take-off With most technical issues resolved and giants like Vodafone signing up customers, 2005 could be the year when third-generation (3G) mobile services finally gain a global audience.


US Air Force deploys Microsoft and Dell The US Air Force has awarded a \$500m, six-year contract to Microsoft Corp and Dell Corp, to update and consolidate 38 software licenses across multiple sites on more than 525,000 machines.


NBAs knockout punch Indiana #39;s Ron Artest yesterday was suspended without pay for the rest of the season for fighting with fans during a bench-clearing brawl Friday night in the final minute of a game against the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Mich.


Federer finishes in style Roger Federer, the top seed and world number one, has rounded off his outstanding year with victory in the Masters Cup over Australian Lleyton Hewitt.


UPDATE 2-India make impressive reply in first test India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir shared an unbeaten first wicket partnership of 185 on the third day of the first test on Monday.


Golf pair deliver another World Cup for England Luke Donald and Paul Casey are unlikely to be awarded MBEs but they have given England another World Cup victory to crow about. The pair will not be talked about in the same way as Jonny Wilkinson after his


NFL: Eli Manning loses debut but inspires Giant hopes After a shaky first half, Eli Manning showed why the Giants mortgaged their future on draft day. Manning led New York on two second-half drives that turned a one-sided game into a thriller in a 14-10 loss to Atlanta on Sunday.


Blues display Sunday best and worst For all but the two Blackburn Rovers fans who spoilt an otherwise thrilling afternoon #39;s entertainment by targeting Dwight Yorke for racist abuse, this was a classic to savour.


Where #39;s Benson been over past 20 years? Television reporters caught Tom Benson entering the New Orleans Saints #39; Superdome locker room Sunday afternoon after the Denver Broncos had cruised to a 34-13 victory.


Virginia 78, No. 10 Arizona 60 Just two games into his college career, Sean Singletary has helped Virginia beat the nation #39;s No. 10 team and created a buzz at University Hall.


Disputes cloud international gathering on Iraq #39;s future Countries taking part in a conference on Iraq differ on how to assist the nation but strongly support the interim government #39;s


Iraq Sets Election Despite Fresh Violence Gunmen on Monday assassinated a member of an influential Sunni clerics #39; group that has called for a boycott of national elections, just a day after Iraqi officials announced the balloting would be held Jan. 30 in spite of rising violence in Iraq.


German Muslims march against terror COLOGNE - More than 20,000 people, most of them Muslim, have demonstrated in Germany against terrorism and for world peace. The crowd held aloft a sea of Turkish, German and European Union flags during speeches in downtown Cologne at the end of a march.


Illegal traders 'go unpunished' Traders selling banned animal products in the UK cannot be arrested due to a government "slip-up", it has emerged.


Dixons ditches the video recorder High Street electrical retailer Dixons is ditching the VCR because of falling sales and the increased popularity of newer technology.


Black Watch troops return to Basra The Black Watch regiment has returned to its base in Basra in southern Iraq after a month-long mission standing in for US troops in a more violent part of the country, the Ministry of Defence says.


Struggling Sorenstam holds onto 1-shot lead WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Instead of running away, Annika Sorenstam had to catch up yesterday. Sorenstam lost her three-shot lead in five holes, then had to make three birdies during the final six holes to salvage


Golf: Delighted Woods demolishes field for first Japan tour win MIYAZAKI, Japan : Tiger Woods said he was on the way back to his world-beating best after demolishing the field at the Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament for his first title on the Japan tour.


TENNESSEE 18, JACKSONVILLE 15 The Titans won without running back Chris Brown, who missed the game with turf toe. They won with two rookies starting at defensive tackle.


Broncos 34, Saints 13 The Denver Broncos took a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 34-13 victory over the Saints on Sunday, setting off choruses of boos from fans and harsh words from team owner Tom Benson.


FAO Schwarz to Open on Thanksgiving in NY  NEW YORK (Reuters) - FAO Schwarz on Monday said it would  reopen its flagship toy store on New York City's Fifth Avenue  on Thursday.


Stocks Seen Weaker: Oil, Dollar Weigh  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a weaker  open on Monday as oil prices clawed back toward \$50 a barrel,  and investors concerns about a weak dollar grew after a meeting  of rich and developing nations said nothing to arrest its fall.


Oil Above \$49 on Heating Fuel  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rallied further on Monday,  clawing back toward \$50 a barrel on heightened concerns over  low supplies of winter heating fuels.


Starbucks Buys Stake in German Operations  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp. SBUX.O said on  Monday it now owns 100 percent of its German operations after  buying KarstadtQuelle AG's KARG.DE majority stake in the two  companies' coffee shop joint venture for an undisclosed amount.


Stocks to Watch on Nov. 22  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks to watch on Monday:  MARINEMAX INC HZO.N: Shares of the largest U.S. recreational  boat dealer could rally more than 20 percent in the coming  year, Barron's said in a report on Sunday.


Trump's Casinos File for Bankruptcy

 PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Donald Trump's casino operationsfiled for bankruptcy on Sunday in a long-expected move thatwould allow the real estate maverick to restructure thecompany's debt and overhaul its aging casinos.


Reliance denies any family row Share in India's Reliance Industries rally after the brothers at the head of the group deny any rift over leadership.


Government Uses Color Laser Printer Technology to Track Documents Practice embeds hidden, traceable data in every printed page.


\$149 million lottery winner:  #39;No idea #39; what #39;s next NEW YORK New mega-millionaire Juan Rodriguez hasn #39;t quit his job at a Manhattan parking garage -- at least, not yet. Rodriguez won the 149 (M) million dollar Mega Millions lottery jackpot.


India off to flying start against SA Kanpur: Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir struck half-centuries as India reached 185 without loss at stumps in reply to South Africa #39;s giant 510 first-innings score in first Test on Monday.


Chargers healthy returns San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is officially healthy. If there was any question, look at his season high 37 carries.


Blunkett #39;s plans for tougher terror laws HOME Secretary David Blunkett has signalled that a third-term Labour government would impose sweeping new anti-terror laws amid fears of an al Qaida attack on Britain.


Sliding dollar stokes a fire under the rand BERLIN - As the dollar plunges to record lows, Europe and the US kept up a war of words at the weekend, blaming each other for the currency #39;s fall and avoiding new steps to halt it.


Krispy Kreme won #39;t forecast Q4 results after Q3 loss WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD) posted a net loss of \$3 million, or 5 cents per share, for the third quarter ended Oct. 31, reversing the retailer #39;s year-earlier profit of \$14.5 million, or 23 cents.


ING sells Baring assets; to focus on core businesses LONDON, November 22 (newratings.com) - Dutch banking and insurance company, ING Group (INN.ETR), has agreed to sell its Baring Asset Management division in two separate deals, for collective net gains of about 250 million.


Thanksgiving travel heavy, AAA predicts Thanksgiving travel this year will be heavier than it was in 2000, the first time that has happened post-9/11, according to the American Automobile Association.


U.S. Raids Afghan Compounds in U.N. Hostage Search (Reuters) Reuters - U.S.-led troops searching for three U.N.\hostages blasted their way into compounds in Kabul early on\Monday and detained 12 people while militants claiming to hold\the U.N. workers warned the government against any tricks.


Artest suspended for rest of season The NBA has suspended Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest for the remainder of the season for his part in a brawl during the final minute of Friday #39;s win at Detroit.


SC grants bail to Zardari Pakistan Supreme Court today granted bail to husband of self-exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in connection with several cases of corruption against him.


Ukraine PM on Verge of Victory, Rival Cries Foul  KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's prime minister was on the verge  of victory in a presidential election on Monday but his liberal  rival accused the authorities of mass fraud and told thousands  of supporters to stay on the streets in protest.


Mylan Labs rebuffs Icahn takeover offer WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Mylan Laboratories (MYL) , responding to the latest in a series of letters from investor Carl Icahn, reasserted its position that acquiring King Pharmaceuticals (KG) is in the long-term interest of the generic drugmaker and its


Eli #39;s future up in the air Eli Manning will likely develop into an elite quarterback, maybe even a special one, and yet he will never, ever scare a defense quite like Michael Vick.


Tiger Attacks 14-Year Old Boy, Handler At Fair ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A 14-year old boy and a tiger handler are recovering after being attacked by a 350-pound Siberian tiger at a county fair in Florida.


Israel promises help for Palestinian vote Israeli leaders Monday promised US Secretary of State Colin Powell to help the Palestinians elect a president. The elections, in the wake of Palestinian president Yasser Arafat #39;s death, are scheduled for Jan. 9.


Terrorism ; Britain takes special steps to battle terrorism Terrorism News, London,Britain is drawing up far-reaching proposals to tackle terrorism, including allowing the use of phone-taps as evidence in trials and special anti-terror courts.


S/E EUROPE Under the banner hand in hand against terror, more than 20,000 Turkish immigrants and Germans marched through Germanys fourth largest city of Cologne yesterday to condemn violence by and against Muslims.


Huge poll protest grips Ukraine Ukraine's opposition leader urges thousands of supporters to defy the government, alleging massive poll fraud.


Arafat doctors found 'no poison' Medical tests showed no traces of poisons in Yasser Arafat's body, says the former  Palestinian leader's nephew.


Koizumi warned over war shrine China's President Hu Jintao tells Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi his war shrine visits are hurting bilateral ties.


Man arrested over Amelie murder A 36-year-old man is arrested in connection with the murder of French student Amelie Delagrange.


Bail granted for Bhutto husband Pakistan's Supreme Court grants bail to the jailed husband of former PM Benazir Bhutto and lawyers say he could be free soon.


Kabul vigilante appeal under way Three Americans jailed for up to 10 years for torturing Afghans and running a private jail in Kabul begin their appeal.


Faster frames for student animators Pay-as-you-go computer power could soon be helping computer animators finish films faster.


Hawks push deep cuts in forces in Iraq WASHINGTON -- A growing number of national security specialists who supported the toppling of Saddam Hussein are moving to a position unthinkable even a few months ago: that the large US military presence is impeding stability as much as contributing to it and that the United States should begin major reductions in troops beginning early next year.


File Sharing Growing Like a Weed Contrary to messages from the music industry, not all file sharing rips off artists. Weed, a peer-to-peer file sharing program, provides a way for people to share music and pay artists. By Katie Dean.


Making Portable Media Palatable If you're interested in taking your video with you, the Creative Zen and Datexx Pavio portable media players are worth a look. Product review by John Gartner.


It's Got a Z, It Must Be Edgy Take the Sims to the big city, let them mix with punkers, ravers and slackers, and The Urbz delivers an amusing, yet frustrating experience. By Lore Sjberg.


Sarasota Spams, Mends Evil Ways Sarasota county wanted to use e-mail to let people know the area was unharmed by the summer's hurricanes. People were quick to point out a word for such activity. By Daniel Terdiman.


Locust Plague Hits Israel Israeli ag officials are coping with huge swarms of locusts sweeping in from North Africa, the first such invasion since 1959. Residents report clouds of the insects munching palm trees bare, but some citizens are eating the bugs.


A Former Abbott Executive Hired as Human Genome Chief Human Genome Sciences plans to announce that H. Thomas Watkins, a former Abbott Laboratories executive, will be its new chief.


Robert Bacher, Manhattan Project Physicist, Dies at 99 Dr. Robert F. Bacher served as head of the Manhattan Project's experimental physics division before leading its bomb physics division in 1944 and 1945.


Security Dispute Dulls Luster of Bush's Trip to Chile The Chilean government disinvited more than 200 guests to a dinner with President Bush rather than let them be screened for weapons.


Reliance denies any family row The chairman of India #39;s Reliance Industries has denied any family dispute over the ownership of the country #39;s largest private company.


Hartford in top ten of  #39;most dangerous #39; cities (WTNH/AP, Nov. 22, 2004 6:55 AM) _ Hartford is the seventh most-dangerous city in the country, according to a Kansas company #39;s yearly ranking based on crime statistics.


Outgunned on copyright? At first blush, a lot of people might find that to be a laughable proposition. But a prominent architect of the Recording Industry Association of America #39;s legal strategy confided to me last week that his


Players likely to appeal New York, November 22 - The agent for one suspended Indiana Pacer is faulting the NBA for not considering the players #39; fear for their own safety.


Packers 16, Texans 13 HOUSTON There were two minutes left to play, and the Houston Texans #39; defense was in a find. The Texans were tiring, and Brett Favre (FAHRV #39;) had the ball.


PeopleSoft Chief Duffield Resists Pressure to Talk With Oracle PeopleSoft Inc. Chief Executive David Duffield resisted pressure to open talks with Oracle Corp. after shareholders voted to support Oracle #39;s \$8.8 billion takeover bid.


The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission Swift successfully launched today at 12:16 PM EST! Spacecraft separation occurred at about 80 minutes after launch as expected. Congratulations to the entire Swift team.


JFK Assassination Video Game Release 11/22/04- A British company is releasing a video game that recreates the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, on this 41st anniversary of the shooting.


Electrical giant hits eject on videos ONCE seen as the cutting edge of technology which would change the way we watch television, the video recorder has been usurped by another revolution in home entertainment, the DVD machine.


NFL roundup for Monday, Nov. 22, 2004 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Steve McNair returned to the lineup for the first time in a month, throwing a touchdown pass and directing two other scoring drives in the Titans 18-15 upset in Jacksonville.


Barrot overshadows new EU executive French transport commissioner Jacques Barrot is under pressure to explain to MEPs why he did not mention his involvement in a French political party funding scandal.


Oracle claims support of PeopleSoft shareholders PeopleSoft has remained defiant in the long-running hostile takeover bid by Oracle, despite  #39;over 60 #39; of its shareholders coming down in favour of its rival.


Krispy Kreme Posts Net Loss After Charges Struggling doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday reported a quarterly net loss because of impairment charges and store closing costs.


Xstrata sets hostile bid for WMC Xstrata on Monday launched a hostile bid for the Australian miner WMC Resources in what analysts predicted could turn into an international bidding war as the global hunt for inexpensive resources to supply China intensifies.


Starbucks Buys Stake in German Operations Starbucks Corp. (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it now owns 100 percent of its German operations after buying KarstadtQuelle AG #39;s (KARG.


ING ends link with Baring name Dutch bank ING, which paid 1 for Baring, the British investment bank brought to the brink by Nick Leeson, is to sell its remaining Baring division.


Absa Says Stake-Sale Talks With Barclays Progressing (Update4) Absa Group Ltd., South Africa #39;s fourth- biggest bank, said talks to sell a controlling stake to Barclays Plc, the UK #39;s No.


Pulitzer Inc. for sale? ST. LOUIS The newspaper publisher Pulitzer Inc. has said that company officials are considering a possible sale of the firm to improve shareholder value.


Mizuho, Sumitomo Mitsui Post Lower Profits Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui, two of Japan #39;s four biggest banking groups, reported Monday that their group net profits for the first fiscal half fell from the previous year, despite some progress in getting rid of bad debts.


US Air Force #39;s security to depend on Microsoft The US Air Force (USAF) is drafting Microsoft to help simplify its networks and software contracts, a move that could improve its computer security and deliver savings of \$100m.


Anglos win World Cup ENGLANDS Paul Casey and Luke Donald clinched the World Cup by one shot in Seville. The pair trailed Spain by one at the start of the final day but fired a closing alternate-shot 64 for 31 under to overhaul the local favourites.


McLeish hails duo at heart of Gers #39; derby resurgence RANGERS manager Alex McLeish has hailed Alex Rae and Dado Prso as the pillars of strength who have helped turn around the clubs derby-day fortunes.


Liberty likely for Bhutto A Pakistani court has granted bail to the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, which should result in his release after eight years in prison.


Federer Ends Brilliant Year with Masters Title  HOUSTON (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer capped  one of the finest seasons in tennis history by successfully  defending his Masters Cup crown with a devastating 6-3, 6-2  final win over Lleyton Hewitt on Sunday.


Federer Fills Space Left by Retirement of Sampras  LONDON (Reuters) - When Pete Sampras confirmed his  retirement at the 2003 U.S. Open, the phrase "we may never see  his like again" was heard around the tennis world.


Spurs Hang On To Beat Pistons The Spurs led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, but the Pistons stayed aggressive and San Antonio got sloppy. In the end, despite Detroit #39;s valiant comeback, the Spurs hung on for a 80-77 victory.


Iraq to Ask Iran, Turkey for Border Help (Reuters) Reuters - Iraq will ask Iran and\Turkey for border security arrangements to keep foreign\militants out, similar to measures already agreed with Syria,\the Iraqi Foreign Minister said on Monday.