Firefox gains hints browser wars may heat up Washington - The Internet browser wars, dormant for several years, shows signs of heating up again as a result of gains from a new program called Firefox, a research report showed on Monday.


Microsoft MSN Desktop Search Out Today? Microsofts MSN division will be holding a teleconference today at 1 pm EST to announce their newest addition to the MSN network.


Microsoft Updates Windows Server Roadmap: No WinFS for You On Friday, Microsoft alerted me to sweeping changes in the Windows Server roadmap, an update of sorts to the information that Microsoft Senior Vice President Bob Muglia gave me during an interview in May.


Soccer: Gunners held at Highbury the knockout blows on Judgment Day were restricted to Las Vegas as the capital #39;s contenders slugged themselves to a stalemate at Highbury.


#39;Kick up the backside for England, #39; says Vaughan after loss POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (AFP) - England captain Michael Vaughan admitted his team had received a  quot;kick up the backside quot; when they crashed to a seven-wicket defeat against South Africa A at Sedgars Park.


Turnovers cost Bengals in tough loss To beat the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots anywhere, let alone at Gillette Stadium, it takes a spotless effort.


Hollywood Story wins Bayakoa Handicap George Krikorian shows pictures at his eponymous movie theaters, but for the longest time, neither his best runner, Hollywood Story, nor his trainer, John Shirreffs, got their picture taken.


Palestinians not doing enough, says Sharon Israel accused the Palestinian authorities on Monday of doing nothing to prevent attacks after five soldiers were killed in the deadliest assault since the death of Yasser Arafat more than a month ago.


Poe condition turns for worst , Carlito Pablo. Editor #39;s Note: Published on page A1 of the Dec. 14, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. HIS PASS was good for three hours but former President


Hamas Member Escapes Damascus Bomb Blast A member of the Palestinian militant group Hamas escaped unhurt on Monday when a bomb blew up his car in the Syrian capital Damascus, a Palestinian source said.


Italian police accused of beating protesters to stand trial GENOA, ITALY - More than two dozen Italian police officers accused of beating protesters at the G-8 summit in Genoa must stand trial, a judge has ruled.


Cyprus wants Turkish  #39;normalisation #39; move by next March: FM BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (AFP) - Cyprus wants Turkey to demonstrate willingness to normalize its relations with the Cypriot government before an EU summit next March, Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said Monday.


Bombardier chief executive Tellier quits MONTREAL - Paul Tellier stepped down as as president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc., sending the train and plane maker #39;s shares down as much as 26 percent to a 10-year low on Monday.


Overseas Shipholding to buy Stelmar for \$843 mln Greek shipping Stelmar Shipping Ltd. (SJH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it agreed to be acquired by shipbuilder Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.


Some auto workers strike on eve of top Fiat-GM meeting ROME Some of Fiat #39;s auto workers struck for two hours a day ahead of a top-executive meeting. Tomorrow #39;s meeting could determine whether Fiat insists on an option to force General Motors to buy the struggling Italian auto group.


Test Confirms Second Canada Mad Cow Case  WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - A final laboratory test has  confirmed an Alberta dairy cow had mad cow disease, the second  case Canada has found in its herd, an industry source briefed  by veterinary officials said on Sunday.


Chile Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case (Reuters) Reuters - A Chilean judge on Monday\formally charged former dictator Agusto Pinochet with homicide\and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human\rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Oracle Finally Snags PeopleSoft After 18 months of rancor, Oracle makes PeopleSoft an offer it can't refuse.  Also: IBM, AMD find ways to boost the performance of silicon chips   hellip;.  Survey ranks the most IT savvy countries; U.S. slips to 7th place   hellip;. and more.


Volkswagen to Open Assembly Plant in UAE (AP) AP - German carmaker Volkswagen AG will begin assembling heavy trucks in the United Arab Emirates beginning in 2006, a spokesman said Monday.


Warriors Place Fisher on Injured List (Reuters) Reuters - The Golden State\Warriors have placed guard Derek Fisher on the injured list\with a sprained right knee.


Judge Indicts Chile's Ex-Dictator Pinochet (AP) AP - Gen. Augusto Pinochet was indicted Monday for the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 regime, and the former dictator was placed under house arrest.


College Sports TV Gets Cable Deals (AP) AP - College Sports Television announced distribution deals with cable operators Cox and Charter Communications on Monday that could make the channel available in more than 65 million households.


Andy Roddick Fires Coach Brad Gilbert (AP) AP - Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert this weekend after 1 1/2 years together that yielded a U.S. Open title and the No. 1 ranking.


Protesters Urge Delay for Ohio Electors (AP) AP - Congressional Democrats and dissident groups asked the Ohio Supreme Court on Monday to review the outcome of the state's presidential race, hours before the Ohio delegation to the Electoral College was to cast ballots for president and vice president.


Hamas Member Escapes Damascus Bomb Blast  BEIRUT (Reuters) - A member of the Palestinian militant  group Hamas escaped unhurt on Monday when a bomb blew up his  car in the Syrian capital Damascus, a Palestinian source said.


Jacuzzi A Little Too Soggy For a small cap, Jacuzzi has a megabrand. But it's probably not enough to excite investors.


OracleSoft At Last Oracle announces a blowout quarter and a deal for PeopleSoft at \$26.50 per share.


Which Medications Are Your Best Bets? Consumer Reports' effort to rate drugs offers a lesson to pharmaceutical companies.


Ford Fumbles First Hybrid SUV At the worst possible moment, Ford announces the worst possible recall.


European Shares Edge Upwards European shares edged higher on Monday bolstered by reassuring comments from UK bank Lloyds TSB on its earnings expectations for this year.


Jaguar Workers Reject Strike Action Jaguar workers have voted against striking in protest at the ending of car production at their historic factory in Coventry, it was announced today.


Cardinal Health Plans to Slash 4,200 Jobs Cardinal Health Inc., a medical products and services company, plans to cut 4,200 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan, the company said Monday.


SEC Drops Winnick Charges From Global Crossing Pact, People Say US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman William Donaldson rejected a staff proposal to sanction Gary Winnick as part of a settlement with Global Crossing Ltd.


Robert Laberge/Getty Images 1. According to published reports, the source of the recent feud between Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone is that Kobe is accusing the Mailman of making a pass at his wife, Vanessa, at a Lakers game last month.


Koskie, Blue Jays reach preliminary agreement on \$17 million deal Third baseman Corey Koskie plans to leave the Minnesota Twins for Toronto. Koskie and the Blue Jays reached a preliminary agreement last night on a 17 (m) million dollar, three-year contract.


Chile #39;s Pinochet Charged in Plot to Kill Opponents, Court Says Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator, was indicted on charges that he took part in a plot by Latin American military regimes to kill opponents in the 1970s.


The PeopleSoft vs. Oracle story A Register History The tale of Oracle #39;s attempt to buy Peoplesoft is a story of Larry Ellison #39;s relentless pursuit of his target in the face of implacable hostility from the PeopleSoft board.


London Stock Exchange rejects German takeover bid The London Stock Exchange today rejected a 1.35bn takeover approach from German rival Deutsche Brse, but held open the prospect of further talks.


Paul Tellier dismissed as chief executive of Bombardier MONTREAL (CP) - Paul Tellier was dismissed as president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. on Monday in a bombshell announcement that drove down the company #39;s stock to a record low.


Hilfiger to acquire Lagerfeld brands Tommy Hilfiger Corp. announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to purchase German designer Karl Lagerfelds brands for an undisclosed cash amount.


Strained silicon to accelerate transistors by 24 percent AMD and IBM have developed a strained silicon transistor technology which the firms believe will dramatically increase processor performance.


The Geminid Meteor Shower The 2004 Geminid meteor shower is underway. Midnight sky watchers this weekend sawbright meteors shooting out of the constellation Geminid--at least a few per hour.


Un-Weis Planning GameNight: Bob Davie says  quot;not intelligent quot; scheduling may have been the Irish #39;s downfall. And things don #39;t get easier the next few years.


Bashed by the Bus Comparing the Jets #39; 17-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to their loss to the New England Patriots seven weeks ago is like comparing a torn ligament to a broken bone.


Hollywood Story rallies from fourth to win at Hollywood Park Hollywood Story rallied from fourth turning for home to post a one-length victory Sunday over Royally Chosen in the \$150,000 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park.


EU to lift textiles quotas from next January The European Union (EU) said Monday it would eliminate from January 1, 2005 all quantitative restrictions on the import of textile and clothing products from World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries.


3Com to Buy TippingPoint in Cash Deal Networking hardware and software maker 3Com Corp. said Monday that it agreed to buy TippingPoint Technologies Inc. for \$430 million in cash in a move to strengthen its security offerings for business customers.


Such incidents won #39;t deter me: Shahrukh Hours after a bomb ripped through his concert at Colombo, Shah Rukh Khan, who returned to Mumbai with his team mates, said the incident will not deter him from holding similar shows.


Croatia Presidential Race Goes Into Second Round  ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia's pro-Western President Stjepan  Mesic narrowly failed to win re-election on Sunday, paving the  way for a second round run-off against the candidate of the  ruling conservative government.


Car explodes in  quot;act of sabotage quot; in Damascus DAMASCUS, Dec 13 (AFP) - A car belonging to a Palestinian exploded in a residential district of Damascus on Monday, in what the Syrian authorities said was an  quot;act of sabotage.


Twenty-eight police to stand trial for G8 violence A judge today ordered 28 police officers to stand trial for their alleged brutality in a raid against anti-globalisation protesters during the 2001 Group of Eight summit in Genoa, news reports said.


Cassini Express Pays Second Visit to Saturn #39;s Mystery Moon Launched in 1997, the Cassini Huygens mission is a cooperative US\$3.27 billion venture between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Italy #39;s space agency.


UPDATE 1-Celtic regain Premier League lead Celtic ditched Dunfermline 2-0 at East End Park on Sunday to reclaim top slot in the Scottish Premier League. Their bitter Glasgow rivals Rangers had gone top


No. 14 Arizona Defeats Arizona St. 97-79 (AP) AP - Salim Stoudamire had 15 of his 18 points in the second half, helping No. 14 Arizona turn a close game into a 97-79 rout of Arizona State in their Pac-10 opener Sunday.


Chinese-Made Cars to Be Sold in U.S. (AP) AP - The man who brought the Yugo and Subaru to this country has a new project  #151; becoming the first mass importer of low-cost Chinese-made cars.


Area Marine aids in Fallujah restoration What once was the thriving Iraqi city of Fallujah now is a virtual ghost town of bombed-out buildings and piles of rubble. Nearly five weeks after the fight for the city began, a fight in which more than 50


Blast Destroys Car in Damascus, Wounds Passerby A suspected bomb blew up in a car in a crowded district of Damascus on Monday, destroying the vehicle and slightly wounding a passerby, residents said.


CST Signs Deals College Sports Television announced distribution deals with cable operators Cox and Charter Communications on Monday.


Bombardier CEO Quits, Shares Plunge  MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier stepped down as president  and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. BBDsvb.TO BBDb.TO,  sending the train and plane maker's shares down as much as 26  percent to a 10-year low on Monday.


SEC Won't Punish Global Crossing Founder  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators have decided against  filing civil charges against Global Crossing Ltd. founder Gary  Winnick following a probe of its accounting practices, his  attorney said on Monday.


Stocks Higher on Retail Data, Mergers  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday following a  pickup in merger activity in the software and telecom sectors  and better-than-expected retail sales in November, which  signaled an uptick in consumer spending.


Vintner Chalone Spurns Rothchild,Stock Up  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Chalone Wine Group Ltd. CHLN.O a  U.S. winemaker, on Monday rejected an existing buyout offer  from French luxury wine maker Domaines Barons de Rothschild,  saying it was now entertaining a better offer.


Ford Expands Recall of SUVs to 600,000  DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. F.N has expanded its  recall of Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs to nearly 600,000  vehicles, according to the automaker and the U.S. National  Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


Oracle to Buy PeopleSoft for \$10.3B UPDATE: Oracle #39;s (Quote, Chart) dogged pursuit of PeopleSoft (Quote, Chart) was rewarded on Monday as PeopleSoft #39;s board of directors agreed to sell the company for \$10.3 billion.


China to Impose Duties on Clothing Exports China has decided to impose duties on its exports of textiles and apparel, a move that could ease worldwide fears that Chinese clothing makers will soon dominate the global market after its liberalization on Jan.


Vintner Chalone Spurns Rothchild,Stock Up The Chalone Wine Group Ltd. (CHLN.O: Quote, Profile, Research) a US winemaker, on Monday rejected an existing buyout offer from French luxury wine maker Domaines Barons de Rothschild, saying it was now entertaining a better offer.


Tuesday Morning tumbles on Monday Close-out retailer Tuesday Morning Corp. said Monday it expects fourth-quarter and full-year earnings and full-year sales to miss analysts #39; expectations due to poor sales of decorative


DaimlerChrysler, GM Join on Hybrids DaimlerChrysler and General Motors will jointly develop new hybrid motors to compete against Japanese rivals on the fuel-saving technology


Americans Enticed by Digital Cameras (AP) AP - At age 75, Marilyn Smith discovered a wealth of reasons this holiday season to switch to a digital camera.


High-Tech Roads Forecasting System Ready (AP) AP - A new high-tech computer system that provides pinpoint weather forecasts for specific stretches of highway, tested in Iowa over the past two winters, is attracting interest from transportation officials worldwide.


UK Amazon Boss Dreams of a Digital Christmas (Reuters) Reuters - Amazon.com's UK chief hopes sales of\digital music players and DVDs will propel the online retailer\to its best quarter ever as footsore shoppers abandon the high\street for their Internet terminals.


Sony #39;s PSP Launch Greeted by Long Lines of Buyers Sony #39;s first hand-held game machine is vying to give Nintendo a run for its money in Japan this holiday season. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata is taking the news with a grain of salt.


WENGER - LAPSES WILL COST US Arsene Wenger admits Arsenals title defence will fail if they do not sort out their costly lapses at set-pieces quickly. The Gunners twice led against Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea thanks to a double


Four Heavyweight Champs Is the Same as None OVER the last four decades, even the casual sports fan could usually name the accepted world heavyweight champion, beginning with boxing #39;s golden era of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George


SAP unfazed by Oracle, Peoplesoft merger (AFP) AFP - SAP, the world's leading maker of business software, said it was not concerned by the creation of a new number two in the sector via the merger of rivals Oracle and Peoplesoft in the United States.


Oracle buys PeopleSoft for 10.3 billion dollars (AFP) AFP - Oracle sealed a deal to buy rival business software firm PeopleSoft for 10.3 billion dollars after a bitter 18-month battle, the two firms announced.


Pakistan denies CIA has set up bases on its soil in hunt for Osama <b>...</b> Pakistan said Monday there is no evidence that al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden is hiding in the country, and denied it had allowed CIA agents to set up bases along its border to hunt the terror mastermind.


Fish Levels in Lake Michigan a Concern (AP) AP - On the surface, Lake Michigan is one of the world's biggest and wildest bodies of freshwater and a popular fishing destination.


British sufferer of madcow disease no longer 'terminally ill': dad (AFP) AFP - A British man suffering from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the human form of mad cow disease is no longer terminal ill, thanks to an experimental medical treatment, his father said.


Bombardier CEO Quits, Shares Dive  MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier stepped down on Monday as  president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. BBDsvb.TO  BBDb.TO, surprising investors and sending the train and plane  maker's shares down as much as 26 percent to a 10-year low.


India-Pakistan peace boosts trade Trade between India and Pakistan increases after the nations embarked on a peace process although it remains a tiny fraction of overall exports.


Cuba starts 'huge' military drill Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and "millions" of civilians take part in defence exercises in Cuba.


Turkey 'must admit WWI genocide' France's foreign minister says Turkey should acknowledge the 1915 genocide of Armenians before it joins the EU.


Dissecting flu's deadly weaponry Scientists hope the understanding of past flu pandemics can help us better prepare for future crises.


3Com to acquire TippingPoint for \$430 million 3Com Monday announced plans to acquire TippingPoint Technologies, a maker of intrusion prevention systems, for approximately \$430 million in stock.


Unocal to Settle Lawsuits Over Myanmar Abuse Unocal Corp. has agreed to settle two closely watched lawsuits accusing the US oil giant of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses that occurred during the construction


Sony PSP Flying Off Shelves - 200,000 First-Day Sales Sony #39;s handheld gaming device, the PlayStation Portable, reportedly sold more than 200,000 units on its first day of availability in Japan.


Pats #39; Weis Accepts Top Notre Dame Job BOSTON -- The University of Notre Dame has officially announced the appointment of its new head coach, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.


Roddick splits with Gilbert after 1 years Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert this weekend after 11/2 years together that yielded a US Open title and the No. 1 ranking. No specific reason was given for the surprising split in a statement Roddick released Monday through SFX Sports Group.


Wanadoo UK begins major broadband drive France Telecom makes 'substantial and significant' investment


The PeopleSoft vs. Oracle clash A Register History


FPJ placed on life support Philippine movie icon Fernando Poe Jr.s condition has deteriorated, prompting doctors to put him on life support following a massive stroke over the weekend, his spokesman said yesterday.


Malaysia, Singapore Work to Repair Ties Malaysia and Singapore on Monday made significant progress in repairing four decades of soured relations, agreeing to hold top-level talks on a range of disputes including


Wither The Dollar A weak dollar should be good for U.S. exports. But it's already causing pain overseas, and in the long run it could drive up the cost of living at home


The New Breed The TIME/CNN 25 Business Influentials/Setting the Global Standards for Management, Ethics, Marketing and Innovation


CalPERS: Corporate Reformer Under Fire The California Public Employees' Retirement System, a state agency that used its power to influence corporations


IBM Puts The PC In Its Past The computer giant hands off its personal-computer business business to a Chinese firm


Chile Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case

 SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A Chilean judge on Mondayformally charged former dictator Agusto Pinochet with homicideand kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to humanrights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


France Proposes Ex-EU Trade Chief Lamy to Head WTO

 By Timothy Heritage

 PARIS (Reuters) - France has formally proposed formerEuropean Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy as a candidate tohead the World Trade Organization (WTO), Lamy said on Monday.


"Of Course It Was Poisoning" Viktor Yushchenko talks to TIME's Yuri Zarakhovich about the attack on his life, who he believes did it, what he'll do if elected President of Ukraine, and what he thinks of Vladimir Putin's Russia


Poisoned. But Whodunit? The Ukrainian election takes a new twist after a stunning medical disclosure


Choking on Growth Rapid economic development has led to filthy air. The good news: this is a mess that can be cleaned up


PeopleSoft Ends Fight, Accepts Oracle #39;s \$10.3 Bln Bid (Update8) PeopleSoft Inc. capitulated to Oracle Corp., accepting a sweetened \$10.3 billion offer to end an 18- month battle that pitted PeopleSoft against its shareholders and led to the ouster of its chief executive.


IBM PC Users Face Uncertain Future DECEMBER 13, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Now that IBM plans to sell its PC division to Beijing-based Lenovo Group Ltd., the big question is whether the companies can keep users from defecting to other vendors -- which would put IBM #39;s once standard-setting PCs


Tuesday Morning Lowers 2004 Guidance Home accessories and gift retailer Tuesday Morning Corp. on Monday lowered its 2004 earnings guidance and forecast fourth-quarter results below Wall Street expectations on lower-than-expected seasonal sales.


Iraqi President Faults Army #39;s Dissolution The interim president of Iraq, Ghazi al-Yawer, says the US-led coalition made a big mistake when it disbanded the Iraqi armed forces after last year #39;s invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.


Stocks Climb; Retail Sales, Oracle Help  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, after he  government said retail sales in November were better than  expected, a sign of economic strength.


Import Cars Need Parts, Too Generic auto parts retailers benefit from the explosion in the popularity of import car culture.


Stocks Up on PeopleSoft Deal, Retail Data  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday after  software maker PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O accepted rival Oracle  Corp.'s ORCL.O buyout offer and a government report showed  better-than-expected retail sales in November, signaling an  uptick in consumer spending.


AMD, IBM Improve Processor Performance Companies will use strained silicon to boost transistor speed.


Battle ended with a single phone call Oracles 18-month hostile takeover battle for PeopleSoft came to an end on Friday evening with a single phone call. A PeopleSoft director, through an attorney, contacted Oracle with the lucky number: \$26.50


Honeywell to Buy Novar to Expand in Building Products (Update9) Honeywell International Inc., the world #39;s largest supplier of building controls, agreed to buy Novar Plc for 798 million pounds (\$1.53 billion) to expand its security, fire and ventilation-systems business in Europe.


Bombardier CEO Quits, Shares Dive Paul Tellier stepped down on Monday as president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. (BBDsvb.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) (BBDb.


Souness gets one-match ban for improper conduct Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has received a one-match touchline ban for imporper conduct, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday.


Baldini out at struggling Parma Parma, Italy (Sports Network) - Parma fired coach Silvio Baldini Monday after a loss to Livorno on Sunday left the club near the bottom of the table.


Chilean Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case A Chilean judge on Monday formally charged former dictator Augusto Pinochet with homicide and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Arab press roundup: December 13, 2004 Arab newspaper highlighted and commented on PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas #39; apology to Kuwait for the Palestinian position on Iraq #39;s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, angered by what it saw as the PLO #39;s support of the invasion.


New Florida Coach Meyer Names Coaches (AP) AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer nearly filled out his coaching staff Monday, keeping two assistants from Ron Zook's staff and bringing four with him from Utah.


Weis Introduced at Notre Dame  SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Sports Network) - Charlie Weis was  introduced as the new head football coach at Notre Dame on  Monday and said he intends to bring the program back to  national prominence.


Chilean Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case  SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A Chilean judge on Monday  formally charged former dictator Augusto Pinochet with homicide  and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human  rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Bomb Kills 7 Iraqis, Year After Saddam's Capture  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least  seven Iraqis outside Baghdad's government compound on Monday,  the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture.


Hamas Member Escapes Damascus Bomb Attack, 3 Hurt  DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A bomb blew up in a car owned by a  Palestinian in a crowded district of Damascus on Monday and a  Palestinian source in Beirut said the blast was an attempt to  kill a member of the militant Hamas group.


Jets and Rams Make Playoffs Jeff Wilkins made a 31-yard field goal with 3:02 left in overtime to give the St. Louis Rams a 32-29 win over the Jets as both teams made the playoffs.


German Stocks Gain, Paced by TUI, E.ON; Deutsche Boerse Slumps German stocks rose, led by TUI AG after the tour operator #39;s German low-cost airline unit said it plans to boost the number of passengers on its flights by about 40 percent next year amid higher demand.


New Computer Chip Built for Speed IBM and Advanced Micro Devices have announced that they have produced a silicon chip with a marked improvement in speed by using strained silicon technology.


NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe to Resign WASHINGTON Dec 13, 2004 - Sean O #39;Keefe, who has spent three tumultuous years running the nation #39;s space program, is preparing to resign, a government official says.


Apple PayPals Around Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) is making its iTunes service a little more user friendly, by teaming up with eBay #39;s (Nasdaq: EBAY) PayPal to facilitate payments.


Spidey slings into wireless Web with Mforma deal Those characters, as well as more familiar Marvel comics stars like Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, are going mobile. Publisher Mforma Group Inc.


England fans get first taste of SA With just two warm-up games prior to the Tests, Michael Vaughan and his men have had little time for relaxation. But for the supporters out here the opening games at Randjesfontein and Potchefstroom


Seven Marines die in Anbar fighting Seven Marines have died in combat in western Iraq. The fighting in Anbar, a vast province including Fallujah and Ramadi, was the deadliest for US forces since eight Marines


UN Calls For Cease-Fire As Congo Factions Continue Fighting The United Nations has called on all factions involved in several days of fighting in eastern Congo to agree to a cease-fire. Clashes continued Monday as the United Nations ordered the government


Darfur Mediators Demand Respect of Cease-fire African Union mediators at peace talks for Sudan #39;s Darfur region say there has been an escalation of cease-fire violations during the past three months, and that these must stop before a comprehensive peace accord can be reached.


Sprint and Nextel: A Done Deal? Rumors are swirling that the next massive wireless merger is in the works.


USA : Tommy Hilfiger buys Karl Lagerfeld brands US fashion company Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and German designer Karl Lagerfeld, in a surprise move, have teamed up to build Mr Lagerfeld #39;s brands on a worldwide basis.


US Economy: Retail Sales Rise 3rd Month in November (Update1) US retail sales unexpectedly increased for a third month in November, easing concern that consumers will be tight-fisted this holiday shopping season.


Bombardier Board Ousts Chief Executive Paul Tellier (Update3) Bombardier Inc. ousted Chief Executive Officer Paul Tellier after he failed to stem a decline in profit, shares and credit ratings during his two-year tenure.


DaimlerChrysler, GM to Team Up on Hybrid Engines General Motors and DaimlerChrysler are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid technology for a range of vehicles. The engines are expected to help them compete with hybrid-vehicle leaders Toyota and Honda.


Microsoft Set to Unveil Desktop Search, MOOL Microsoft on Monday morning will likely debut a beta version of its desktop search and unveil a new connection service to tie Hotmail and the Outlook mail client.


Geminid Meteor Shower Could Be Spectacular DENVER -- Coloradans willing to brave the nighttime cold and get away from the lights of the city could be in for a spectacular show Monday night.


Sun shows pleb-ready thin client At long last, Sun Microsystems has delivered a new set of thin client technology that could well push the slim computing devices into the hands of the average consumer.


Shevchenko Crowned as Europe #39;s Finest Arsenals Thierry Henry today missed out on the European Footballer of the Year award as Andriy Shevchenko took the honour. AC Milan frontman Shevchenko held off competition from Barcelona pair Deco and


NIGERIA-SUDAN: Violence pushes peace talks off track ABUJA, 13 December (IRIN) - Continuing violence in Darfur is derailing efforts to find a political roadmap out of a crisis that has pitted the Sudanese government against rebel groups for almost two years, delegates at AU-sponsored talks said on Monday.


Fatal stabbings raise concern over dangerous holiday party season for teens (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The fatal stabbing of a young man trying to eject unwanted party guests from his family home, the third such knifing in just weeks, has police worried about a potentially fatal holiday recipe: teens, alcohol and knives.


Retails Sales Up in November Consumers showed a bit of cheer in November, boosting sales at the nation #39;s retailers by 0.1 percent. The newest report on consumers #39; buying, issued by the Commerce Department today, turned out to be somewhat


Cardinal Health to Slash 4,200 Jobs DUBLIN, Ohio - Cardinal Health Inc., a medical products and services company, plans to cut 4,200 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan, the company said Monday.


Chipmakers Advance Transistor Technology IBM (Quote, Chart) and AMD (Quote, Chart) have devised a new silicon transistor technology they claim will boost the speeds of single- and dual-core chips.


Sony PSP Debuts To Strong Sales The fight for the top of the portable gaming mountain has begun in earnest in Japan. Following up Nintendo #39;s highly anticipated DS launch, Sony has launched their version of a portable gaming system, the PSP.


Online map of brain genes to be released It has been billed as one of the most massive information-crunching, gigabyte-gobbling research endeavors in history -- which might explain why after a year #39;s work, scientists have gotten through only about one-tenth of a mouse #39;s brain.


Iraq ; Car bomb kills seven in Baghdad Iraq News, A suicide car bomber killed at least seven people today next to the heavily fortified area in central Baghdad housing the interim government and US embassy, and eight US Marines died in combat in western Iraq.


Pakistan denies CIA has set up bases on its soil in hunt for Osama <b>...</b> Pakistan on Monday denied a newspaper report that the CIA has set up covert bases in the country #39;s remote tribal regions to hunt for Osama bin Laden and stop him from plotting another attack on the United States.


Almost 40 ceasefire violations in Darfur from October: official ABUJA, Dec 13 (AFP) -- An African Union ceasefire commission said about 40 ceasefire violations by parties to a conflict in Sudan #39;s Darfur crisis were recorded between October and early December, an AU spokesman said.


Malaysia, Singapore Propose Key Political Deal Malaysia and Singapore agreed Monday to work on a proposal to solve some of their long-standing bilateral disputes in what could be a milestone in relations between the two quarrelsome neighbors.


EU calls for 'free' Maldives vote The European Union calls for free and fair elections in the Maldives with a parliamentary vote due this month.


Top 10 in AP Women's Poll Stays Same (AP) AP - From LSU at No. 1 to Ohio State at No. 10, The AP women's basketball poll had no changes Monday.


Allen center to post first brain-map data The Allen Institute for Brain Science is making its first batch of scientific results available to the public today, through a map that shows where nearly 2,000 genes are actively operating in the mouse brain.


Tiger Wins Own Tournament Tiger Woods closed with a 5-under 66 to forge a two-stroke victory over Padraig Harrington of Ireland in the Target World Challenge.


Kansas City vs. Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Dick Vermeil and Jeff Fisher #39;s last meeting was one that will live in NFL lore. Vermeil and Fisher will oppose each other for the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV on Monday


Pennington shoulders blame in loss to Steelers Chad Pennington put yesterday #39;s 17-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers squarely on his own shoulders, but he is certainly not the only one to blame, as the Jets


Roddick splits with coach Gilbert Andy Roddick has sacked Brad Gilbert, the coach who guided him to world number one and the US Open crown in 2003. No reason has been given for the split.


Blue Jays bring Koskie home ANAHEIM -- Suddenly, being Canada #39;s undisputed National Team comes with a burden, the Toronto Blue Jays seem to understand. Getting prominent Canadian natives into a Toronto uniform is part of the responsibility.


U.S. Stocks Climb as Oracle Deal Lifts  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday after  software maker PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O accepted rival Oracle  Corp.'s ORCL.O buyout offer and data showed  better-than-expected November retail sales, signaling an uptick  in consumer spending.


Lockheed Martin to Buy Stasys Ltd. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. on Monday said it agreed to buy Stasys Ltd., a Britain-based technology and consulting firm specializing in network communications and defense interoperability.


Inquiring Minds at OmniVision The SEC begins an informal inquiry into the image sensor maker's restatement.


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


Retail Sales Edge Up as Car Sales Dip  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy showed signs of  strength with the release of stronger-than-expected retail  sales data on Monday that helped cement views the Federal  Reserve will raise interest rates again this week.


Retail Sales Rise a Surprise? Is today's big retail news a surprise? Only for those who weren't paying attention.


Stocks 2005: Make Sure Risks Are Compensated! Bill Mann looks back at the returns from the three previous years of our annual stock guide.


China to impose tariffs on some textile exports Bangladeshi garment exporters are poised to breathe a sigh of relief as China has decided to impose tariffs on some of its textile export items in preparation of the upcoming global textile quota phase-out.


The Logic Behind a Sprint-Nextel Deal The imminent deal underscores how rapidly wireless is displacing the traditional land-line phone business. If the merger goes through, Sprint plans to sell off its local-phone business, which


Eurostocks close higher Shares in the LSE jumped nearly 26 per cent to a new record at 540 pence after Deutsche Boerse made a 1.3-billion approach, which was rejected by Europe #39;s biggest equity market.


Cingular Sells IDEA Cellular Stake Cingular Wireless continues to meet its AT amp;T Wireless merger approval obligations to shed some assets. The latest: The carrier is selling its stake in IDEA Cellular.


3Com beefs up security with \$430M acquisition com December 13, 2004, 10:51 AM PT. TippingPoint makes an intrusion prevention appliance called UnityOne that sits on networks and quickly inspects incoming packets to determine whether they are malicious.


Tellier: Bombardier Tells CEO To Take Flight Planes, trains and no CEO: Bombardier fired its chief executive officer on Monday and its Toronto-traded stock dropped to a record low.


No SEC charges for Global Crossings ex-head Gary Winnick, the former chairman of Global Crossing, the Bermuda-based telecommunications group which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2002, will not be fined


Volkswagen enters close cooperation with Abu Dhabi the German vehicle producing giant Volkswagen will assemble trucks in Abu Dhabi and enter a car leasing joint venture with the Gulf emirate, it was announced Monday.


Franklin Funds Strikes  #36;20 Mln SEC Deal (Reuters) Reuters - Two units of mutual fund company\Franklin Resources Inc.  agreed to pay  #36;20 million in\civil penalties to settle charges that they used fund assets to\pay for marketing and failed to adequately tell investors,\federal regulators said on Monday.


IBM, AMD Find Way to Improve Chip Performance We #39;ve known about  quot;strained silicon quot; for a while--but now there #39;s a better way to do it. Straining silicon improves chip performance.


Micosoft Introduces MSN Toolbar Suite Beta Microsoft introduced a beta version of its new MSN Toolbar Suite, with desktop search functionality. The new MSN Toolbar Suite includes an updated version of the popular MSN Toolbar for Microsoft Internet


Sony Debuts PSP To Challenge Nintendo Sony began selling the new PSP Playstation Portable yesterday in Japan. The company says it will ship 500,000 units of the console, which plays music, videos and games by the end of the year.


NASA chief to resign NASA administrator Sean O #39;Keefe will resign his post, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday. NASA sources told CNN on Sunday that O #39;Keefe would announce his resignation Monday, but later said the announcement would come Tuesday.


Geminid Meteor Shower Could Be Spectacular WASHINGTON -- It #39;s a global celestial event, and scientists say the annual Geminid Meteor Shower is the best astronomy show of the year.


Samsung #39;s MMCmicro shrinks flash memory further Yet another card format is here, spun off of the venerable MMC format by Samsung. This one is small enough to fit on a key of a keyboard, or into the smallest device.


Report: Firefox Gains 34 Percent in November Firefox use around the world climbed 34 percent in the last month, according to a report published by Web analytics company WebSideStory Monday.


Worldwide Technology Consumers To Lose in DVD Standards War Blu-ray and HD DVD -- will be costly to everyone concerned, analysts say. The availability of two rival formats will raise prices and confuse consumers.


HP Targets China #39;s PC Market Hewlett-Packard has begun selling a Pavilion PC that runs on processors from Advanced Micro Devices and a FreeDOS operating system.


Allen Institute Debuts  #39;Google for Gene Activity #39; (12/13/04)The Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS) has released its first dataset of gene expression data in the brain for nearly 2,000 mouse genes - the first public release of the Allen Brain Atlas initiative.


Mforma Spins Spidey A Wireless Web Mforma has inked a multi-year, multi-level agreement with Marvel Enterprises to bring the likes of Spider-Man, X-Men, Blade, Ghost Rider and more to the world of wireless.


An ATM approach to renting movies Most people are accustomed to automatic tellers at the mall that spit out cash and stamps. Eduardo Alvarez wants to persuade you to use an automatic teller at the grocery


Moon that mimics early Earth revisited Saturn #39;s haze-shrouded moon Titan gets a second look today from the international Cassini Huygens spacecraft. Cassini #39;s planned flyover altitude of 746 miles above the moon is the same as its October flyby.


Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko wins Golden Ball award CBC SPORTS ONLINE - AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko was named the Ballon d #39;Or (Golden Ball) award winner on Monday as European soccer player of the year.


Souness gets one-match ban Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has received a one-match touchline ban for improper conduct, the Football Association (FA) says.


Neeskens sacked as NEC Nijmegen coach Johan Neeskens has been sacked as coach of NEC Nijmegen, the struggling Dutch first division club said in a statement on Monday. NEC are 14th in the standings


Cavaliers activate Wagner CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday activated guard Dajuan Wagner from the injured list. Wagner, 21, missed the last five games with soreness in his right foot.


Gaza violence dents peace hopes depends on whether they can rein in militants, who killed five Israeli soldiers in Gaza in an attack on Sunday. drew missile strikes in a swift reprisal and dimmed hopes for an end to decades of conflict in the post-Arafat era.


Pinochet indicted on human rights charges A Chilean judge has ordered the house arrest of the country #39;s former dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, on human rights charges.


Iran nuke talks launched Three European powers and Iran have begun talks on a long-term agreement on nuclear, economic and security cooperation with both sides seeking to build trust amid continuing suspicion over Tehran #39;s atomic programme.


Holiday Tech Buying Guide Fast Forward columnist Rob Pegoraro hosts the third in a series of discussions on The Washington Post's holiday tech buying guide and answer your personal tech questions.


New Strained Silicon Server Chips in  #39;05 Thanks to a new  #39;Dual Stress Liner #39; strained silicon manufacturing technique, AMD and IBM today announced that new Athlon64 and Power processors, set to debut in early 2005, could offer a performance boost of up to 24 percent.


Airborne Cell Phone Ban Like To Remain in Effect Hopes -- and worries -- that U.S. regulators will soon end the ban on using wireless phones during U.S. commercial flights are likely at least a year or two early, government officials and analysts say.


Former dictator Pinochet ordered to stand trial for murder <b>...</b> SANTIAGO (AFP) - A Chilean judge ordered former dictator Augusto Pinochet to stand trial on murder and kidnap charges linked to his role in Operation Condor, a conspiracy of 1970s South American dictatorships to eliminate opponents.


The Military Family Network One year after US forces found him hiding in a spider hole near his hometown of Tikrit, former dictator Saddam Hussein remains imprisoned at an undisclosed location awaiting his trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.


Retail Sales Rose an Unexpected 0.1 Percent in November In the latest snapshot of the holiday shopping season, the government reported a better performance than Wall Street had been expecting.


Sony Launches Playstation Portable An initial 200,000 of the consoles went on sale in Tokyo on Sunday as thousands of shoppers lined up overnight to buy the first devices.


Bettis Is Key to Surprising Steelers (AP) AP - Jerome Bettis is often a broken-down Bus by now, weary and worn out after all those games of 20-plus carries and all the contact that goes with being an NFL power running back.


Miller skis to another World Cup win CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Bode Miller continued his impressive 2004-05 World Cup skiing season by winning a night slalom race in Sestriere, Italy on Monday.


Cavs activate Wagner from injured list Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers activated guard Dajuan Wagner from the injured list Monday. Wagner has missed the last five games because of soreness in his right foot.


Red Sox Replacing Team Physician Morgan (AP) AP - The Boston Red Sox are replacing team physician Bill Morgan, who helped stitch together a World Series title by suturing Curt Schilling's ankle and allowing him to stay in the postseason rotation.


Dinosaur Tales Argentina is a great place for a confab on catastrophic climate change, only Buenos Aires isn #39;t the city for it. The delegates to this tenth Conference of the Parties to


Military signs deal to develop anti-anthrax inhaler (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Defence officials have signed a  #36;2.9-million deal with a U.S. firm to develop an anti-anthrax inhaler that could be available for civilian as well as military use.


McCain: 'No Confidence' in Rumsfeld (AP) AP - U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday that he has "no confidence" in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, citing Rumsfeld's handling of the war in Iraq and the failure to send more troops.


'Grand Theft Auto': Keeping America safe from crime Turns out that "Grand Theft Auto," the game that many of America's moral watchdogs fear will turn the nation's youth into a vast gang of pimp-smacking, carjacking hoods, actually prevents crime in some cases. Missing Links


Bombardier chief to leave company Shares in train and plane-making giant Bombardier have fallen to a 10-year low following the departure of its chief executive and two members of the board.


ST Telemedia, TM International to acquire 48 per cent stake in <b>...</b> Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) and TM International, the international investment arm of Telekom Malaysia (together as a Consortium), have entered into definitive agreements to acquire a 47.7 per cent stake in IDEA Cellular (IDEA


Networking, Security Integration Reaches  #39;TippingPoint #39; The trend of merging network and security technologies continued today as 3Com (Quote, Chart) bought TippingPoint Technologies (Quote, Chart) for approximately \$430 million, the companies said.


Terps Rally Falls Short Maryland nearly comes all the way back from a 17-point defecit but it is unable to complete the rally as it falls, 77-67, to Virginia Tech.


Real to complete bomb threat match Real Madrid will play the final seven minutes of their Primera Liga match against Real Sociedad next month after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of their Bernabeu stadium yesterday.


Miller routs rivals for sixth win Bode Miller added another triumph to his sparkling season on Monday, claiming his sixth World Cup win of the campaign in a slalom and a new entry in the record books.


Cole fears backlash from his old mates FULHAM #39;S United old boy Andy Cole fears his former team are poised to leave their critics red-faced. The Reds haven #39;t lost in the Premiership since defeat at Portsmouth six matches ago when they were being written off in the title race.


Neeskens sacked as NEC coach Johan Neeskens has been sacked as coach of NEC Nijmegen, the struggling Dutch first division club said in a statement on Monday. NEC are 14th in the standings following a 3-2


Roddick Fires Coach Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert this weekend after 1 1/2 years together that yielded a US Open title and the No. 1 ranking. No specific reason was given for the surprising split in


Steelers Backups End Bills' Playoff Hopes The Pittsburgh Steelers are so good that they ended Buffalo's playoff hopes with their backups. Fourth-string running back Willie Parker had 102 yards rushing and backup linebacker James Harrison returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown, helping seal the Steelers' 29-24 win over Buffalo on Sunday. The Steelers won their 14th straight to match the record set by Miami in 1972 and became just the fourth team in NFL history to finish 15-1.


Oracle Clinches PeopleSoft PeopleSoft Inc. has agreed to a sweetened US\$10.3 billion buyout by rival software maker Oracle Corp., relenting after a 18-month takeover saga marked by personal insults, courtroom battles and the ouster of PeopleSoft #39;s chief executive.


MMCmicro - New Samsung #39;s Tiny Removable Memory Cards for Mobile <b>...</b> Memory cards are made by a variety of manufacturers, and come in different sizes. Prices among capacities and types of memory cards also vary.


Peru Says No Attack Planned; 4 Police Dead  LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - The Peruvian government on Sunday  denied planning an imminent offensive after urging residents  living near a captured police station in the southern Andes to  leave their homes.


NEWSMAKER-Shevchenko #39;s goals and hard work earn reward Andriy Shevchenko believes the European Footballer of the Year award crowns a  quot;beautiful year quot; and the Ukrainian has every right to get a little emotional.


Runaway Miller equals record BODE MILLER of the United States equalled Marc Girardelli record when he won the men #39;s World Cup alpine slalom race today. He has now won a race in all four disciplines (downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super-giant slalom) in the same World Cup season.


Garcia taken first in Rule 5 Draft ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - With everyone seeking the next Johan Santana, major league teams took their chances during Monday #39;s Rule 5 draft.


Devil Rays Acquire Angel Garcia  ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sports Network) - Pitcher Angel Garcia was  picked first overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in baseball's  Rule 5 Draft on Monday, but moments after it was over he was  traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash considerations.


Willingham Lands in Washington  SEATTLE (Sports Network) - Tyrone Willingham was not  unemployed for very long, as he was named the new head coach at  the University of Washington on Monday just two weeks after  being fired at Notre Dame.


Miller Wins Slalom World Cup leader Bode Miller won a slalom Monday to join Marc Girardelli as the only men to win races in all four disciplines in a season.


Dollar weakens despite better-than-expected US retail figures (AFP) AFP - The dollar weakened against the euro as dealers were unimpressed by better-than-expected US retail sales and focused instead on the likelihood that Tuesday's trade figures will show a record deficit.


Bombardier Shares Dive as CEO Quits  MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier stepped down on Monday as  president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. BBDsvb.TO  BBDb.TO, surprising investors and sending the train and plane  maker's shares down as much as 26 percent to a 10-year low.


Stocks Rise, Mergers, Retail Sales Help  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks added to earlier gains on  Monday after software maker PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O accepted  rival Oracle Corp.'s ORCL.O \$10.3 billion sweetened buyout  offer and data showed better-than-expected November retail  sales.


Calpers to Press Carmakers on Lawsuit  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - Members of the board of  Calpers, the biggest U.S. pension fund, voted on Monday to  demand that major car makers meet with them to defend their  lawsuit against California's new air quality regulations to  reduce exhaust emissions from cars and trucks.


Oracle acquisition of PeopleSoft brings customers into focus Oracle #39;s agreement to buy PeopleSoft for \$26.50 per share, or approximately \$10.3 billion, means a new era for users of PeopleSoft #39;s enterprise applications.


Online Gift Guide for Kids' Books Offered (AP) AP - Thousands of children's books are published in the United States each year, so finding the perfect book for that favorite niece or nephew won't be easy. It wouldn't hurt to have a little help. With that in mind, the Center for Children's Books at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has created an online guide to help make choosing the right children's gift easier.


Oracle Softens up PeopleSoft (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - After 18 months of lawsuits and very public wrangling, Oracle Corp. finally roped software rival PeopleSoft Inc., proof positive that Larry Ellison's hardball tactics would get his company just what it put at the top of its Christmas list.


Massive queues in Japan as PSP sells out Queues over a thousand people long formed at some retailers in Japan yesterday as Sony #39;s PlayStation Portable went on sale, with fears of a shortage realised as stocks sold out within hours at some major outlets.


Firefox gains suggest browser wars may heat up (AFP) AFP - The Internet browser wars, dormant for several years, shows signs of heating up again as a result of gains from a new program called Firefox, a research report showed.


Microsoft introduces new desktop search tool (AFP) AFP - Microsoft said that it had launched a new desktop search tool that allows personal computer users to find documents or messages on their PCs.


Bomb threat raises security concerns; evacuation could set bad <b>...</b> Spanish authorities won praise Monday for clearing Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in just minutes after receiving a bomb threat - but Real Madrid #39;s president said it set a bad precedent to suspend the match.


Pacers sign Curry Curry, a 10-year veteran, should help the Pacers deal with a roster that has been depleted due to suspensions and injuries. Last season he averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 70 games for Toronto.


Report: Sexson, M #39;s agree on four-year deal ANAHEIM, Calif. (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners, desperate to add pop to their anemic lineup, reportedly have come to terms on a four-year contract with slugger Richie Sexson.


Report: NHL to reject union proposal Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League will reject last week #39;s National Hockey League Players #39; Association proposal on Tuesday, according to The Sports Network of Canada.


On the Horizon: The Global Wireless Web (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - Verizon recently announced plans to roll out its new wireless BroadbandAccess service in 14 American cities, with more to follow.


Sharon will not talk to Palestinian leaders until the fighting <b>...</b> Israeli helicopters fired eight rockets in Gaza City in response to an earlier attack by Hamas movement against an Israeli army post on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.


Bomb kills 13 in Baghdad A suicide car bomber linked to al-Qaida killed 13 people just outside Baghdads Green Zone today, the first anniversary of Saddam Husseins capture.


Kashmir talks end with hopes of more such efforts The first ever direct talks between politicians and intellectuals of Indian and Pakistani Kashmir over the Kashmir dispute concluded here today with both the organisers and the participants stressing the need to continue dialogue.


Developing Giants Under Pressure on Climate Change (Reuters) Reuters - While developing\nations China, Brazil and India grow at break-neck pace with\their burgeoning industry and farming, industrialized countries\want them to clean up the dirty practices that have made them\some of the world's biggest polluters.


Life-Swapping Scenarios for Earth and Mars (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - Evidence is mounting that \  the time-weathered red planet was once a warm and water-rich world. And a Mars \  awash with water gives rise to that globe possibly being fit for habitation \  in its past - and perhaps a distant dwelling for life today.


Prometheus Pre-empted? New Nuclear Fission Missions Evaluated (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - NASA is reviewing a list of nbsp;fission-powered missions \that could pre-empt nbsp;the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) effort now being \eyed for space travel no sooner than 2015.


France pulls plug on Arab network A French court upholds complaints of anti-Semitism against a Lebanese TV station and orders it off the air.


Stocks Rise, Mergers, Retail Sales Help US stocks added to earlier gains on Monday after software maker PeopleSoft Inc. (PSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) accepted rival Oracle Corp.


Report: Global Crossing Founder Winnick Won #39;t Face Charges com. Global Crossing founder Gary Winnick, who sold hundreds of millions of dollars of the firm #39;s stock as it headed towards bankruptcy, won #39;t be charged with civil violations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it was reported Monday.


Dog Rescues 7-Year-Old in India (AP) AP - "Run away!" her husband screamed from a rooftop after he spotted the colossal waves.


Would You Stand in Line for a Playstation? A large crowd did during a chilly night in Tokyo--but this one was different. This one was Sony #39;s first handheld game machine, a PlayStation Portable, and about 200,000 sold when it went on sale Sunday morning.


Israel can #39;t detect Palestinian tunnels Israel #39;s mighty military acknowledged Monday that it has no high-tech answers to the latest crude method of warfare used by Palestinian militants - explosives-packed tunnels dug under heavily fortified army outposts.


Chilean judge indicts Pinochet Augusto Pinochet was president of Chile from 1974 to 1990 Chile #39;s former President Augusto Pinochet pictured has been placed under house arrest on human rights charges.


Seven killed on Saddam anniversary At least seven people have been killed and 17 wounded in a suicide car bomb attack in Baghdad, a year to the day since Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces.


Giants Are in Another Free Fall Somewhere in their latest indignity in a six-game losing streak, the Giants stepped into a rabbit hole and found themselves reliving last season all over again.


Microsoft Debuts Desktop Search Tool  SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O on Monday  unveiled a new, preliminary version of its search tool for  finding documents, e-mail and other files stored on personal  computer hard drives.


Canada to Set Up Do-Not-Call Telemarketing List  OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian families could soon enjoy a  measure of peace and quiet at dinner time as the result of  legislation introduced on Monday to limit the right of  telemarketers to make unsolicited calls.


Motorola stock rises; company to realign businesses Motorola Inc. #39;s shares bounced back Monday after falling sharply at the end of last week amid conflicting views on how the telecommunications equipment supplier would fare if Sprint Corp.


Bombardier chief executive Paul Tellier resigns Train and plane maker Bombardier Inc. said on Monday that Paul Tellier, its president and chief executive officer, had resigned. The surprise resignation of Tellier and two board of directors comes one year


Cardinal Health to Cut 4,200 Jobs Drug wholesaler Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it would cut 4,200 jobs, or 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 facilities


CORRECTED - UPDATE 1-Franklin Resources in \$20 million SEC <b>...</b> In NEW YORK item, please read headline as UPDATE 1-Franklin Resources in \$20 million SEC settlement, not \$21 million. A corrected version follows.


No. 12 Minnesota Women Beat Indiana 61-47 (AP) AP - Janel McCarville had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 12 Minnesota beat Indiana 61-47 on Sunday.


IBM, AMD Team On New Strained Silicon Advanced Micro Devices and IBM have collaborated on new strained silicon technology, which stands to boost transistor speed. In a statement ahead of the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting in San Francisco


Sony #39;s PSP nearly sells out on debut SONY, the electronics and gaming giant, said its long-awaited PlayStation Portable (PSP), which can play movies, music and games, had virtually sold out on its home debut today.


IBM plans foray into local home PC market NEW DELHI: IBMs PC business sale could rock the Indian PC market. Virtually missing from the consumer PC market till now, IBM India is already drawing up a blueprint to sell PCs to households.


Amazon UK starts DVD Rentals The worlds most popular online shopping store Amazon has launched DVD rentals on their UK based portal. In addition, to lure customers they are offering an early bird discount of 10 to the members on DVD purchased from the website.


Bhoys bounce back Celtic sent out a chilling winter message to rivals Rangers by responding to their European failure by returning to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table with a 2-0 win at Dunfermline.


Chelsea closing on Premiership title If money can indeed buy happiness, then Chelsea may celebrate its first league title since 1955 when the Premiership season ends next May.


Weis says winning is bottom line at Notre Dame Charlie Weis says his job as Notre Dame #39;s new football coach is to raise expectations and win games. It #39;s as simple as that.


Garcia done for the season with knee injury Berea, OH (Sports Network) - Cleveland Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia will miss the remainder of the season after being placed on injured reserve Monday with a knee injury.


Suicide bombing claims 13 lives in Baghdad on anniversary of <b>...</b> An al-Qaida-linked suicide bomber blew up his vehicle Monday near cars waiting to enter the Green Zone, home to the US Embassy and Iraq #39;s interim government, killing 13 Iraqis on the anniversary of Saddam Hussein #39;s capture.


Pinochet charged with murder A Chilean judge has formally charged former dictator Augusto Pinochet with murder and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human rights abuses during his 17-year rule.


Market bomb kills 13 in Philippines At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured yesterday when a large explosion ripped through a Christmas market in the southern Philippine city of General Santos.


Sri Lanka probes concert bombing The Sri Lankan authorities have promised a full investigation into a bomb blast during a concert in Colombo on Saturday which killed two people.


U.S. Stocks End Higher After Oracle Deal  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rallied on Monday after  software maker PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O accepted a sweetened  \$10.3 billion buyout by rival Oracle Corp.'s ORCL.O and other  big deals raised expectations of more takeovers.


Top Ten National Geographic News Stories of 2004 Cicadas, a possible flooded future, and the discovery of a hobbit-like human were the most popular National Geographic News stories in 2004. Read the full list and "vote" by clicking on the stories.


"Year's Best" Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight Attention skywatchers: Grab a lawn chair and bundle up, because what experts believe will be this year's best meteor shower peaks tonight.


Does Extinction Loom for Australia's Wild Dingoes? Wild populations of Australian dingoes may go extinct within 50 years unless steps are taken to prevent crossbreeding with domestic dogs, scientists and conservationists say.


Ancient and Modern Tattoos Celebrated in Photography Book Since ancient times people have marked their bodies as a form of cultural spiritualism. A new book of photographs looks at tattoos, scarification, and other traditional and modern body markings in more than 30 countries. <b>Photo gallery included.</b>


PDL Rakes It In A robust revenue stream combined with an exciting drug pipeline is the recipe for success.


Microsoft releases desktop search suite to testers Microsofthas joined the desktop search fray with its release Monday of the beta test version of a suite of tools designed to let users find information stored in their PCs.


3Com to buy Tippingpoint  3Combecame the latest company to scoop up technology for preventing attacks on computer networks, announcing on Monday that it was acquiring TippingPoint Technologiesof Austin, Texas, for \$430 million in cash.


IMAX's Stocking Stuffer The company ups its 2004 guidance after the record-breaking success of Polar Express.


AMD and IBM collaborate on strained silicon AMD and IBM said today they will begin using a strained-silicon transistor technology designed to augment processor performance and power efficiency.


Superhero Gaming NEW YORK - Comic-book villains like Magneto and The Green Goblin typically only blow up imaginary buildings and the occasional costumed crusader.


Left-handers likely to generate the most interest com. Trying to predict who #39;ll be taken in the Major League phase of Monday #39;s Rule 5 draft is about as easy as finding your car in the mall parking lot during the holiday shopping season.


Car bomb in Baghdad kills at least seven At least seven people, all understood to be civilians, have died when a car bomb exploded at a military checkpoint in Baghdad today.


Marlins Sign Todd Jones to One-Year Deal (AP) AP - Reliever Todd Jones agreed to a one-year,  #36;1.1 million contract with the Florida Marlins on Monday, finalizing a deal that was struck in principle late last week at baseball's winter meetings.


Hamas Activist Survives Damascus Blast (AP) AP - A Hamas activist survived a bombing Monday that destroyed his vehicle on a Damascus street shortly after he and his family stepped out, the Palestinian militant group said.


MSN Joins the Desktop Search Fray Microsoft has launched its long anticipated desktop search application, and it's packed with promising features and tools that make it a strong contender coming out the gate.


Poe, Philippine Actor Who Ran for President, Dies  MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine movie legend Fernando Poe  Jr., who came close to unseating Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in  May's presidential election, died on Tuesday after suffering a  stroke, his family said.


MSN Unleashes Desktop Search Microsoft on Monday released its promised desktop search application, focusing on adding local e-mail and file search into MSN #39;s browser toolbar, Outlook and the Windows operating system.


Online Shoppers Vulnerable to Pop-Up Phishing Scam Danish security firm Secunia has issued warnings about a vulnerability in most Web browsers that could allow hackers to hijack pop-up windows on trusted Web sites to launch phishing attacks.


Cassini #39;s Titan Data Awaited from Saturn The Cassini spacecraft zoomed past Saturn #39;s largest moon early Monday, its radars and other science instruments piercing Titan #39;s thick atmosphere in search


Deal is pending a physical ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Seattle Mariners, desperate to add some pop to their anemic lineup, coming to a preliminary agreement on a four-year contract with slugger Richie Sexson, pending a physical on Sexson #39;s left shoulder.


Fight for Fallujah continues CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq After the deadliest day for US forces in Iraq in more than a month -- commanders are making it clear that the work in Fallujah (fuh-LOO #39;-juh) isn #39;t yet coming to an end.


UnitedHealthcare Settles Medicare Charges  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group's UNH.N  UnitedHealthcare Insurance Co. has agreed to pay \$3.5 million  to settle charges that it defrauded the Medicare program, the  Justice Department said on Monday.


Gas Price at 3-Month Low, Diesel Below \$2  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline prices fell to  their lowest level in three months and the cost of diesel fuel  dropped below \$2 a gallon for the first time in 12 weeks, the  Energy Department said on Monday.


Fed expected to deliver fifth quarter-point rate hike With a fall in oil prices easing inflation concerns, the Federal Reserve is expected to continue its easy-does-it approach to raising interest rates, boosting a key rate by a moderate quarter-point at its final meeting of the year Tuesday.


Supreme Court to Hear File-Sharing Case We knew P2P would get its day in court, but did we think it would go this far? The key issue to be decided is whether file-sharing networks should be held responsible when their users copy works protected by copyright without permission.


Red Sox part ways with longtime team physician The Boston Red Sox are replacing team physician Bill Morgan, who helped stitch together a World Series title by suturing Curt Schilling #39;s ankle and allowing him to stay in the postseason rotation.


Marlins sign Jones to one-year contract Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Florida Marlins made the signing of right- handed reliever Todd Jones official Monday by announcing a one-year contract.


Iran nuclear chief hails  #39;new chapter #39; with Europe after talks Iran #39;s top nuclear official Hassan Rowhani hailed Monday a  quot;new chapter quot; in relations between Tehran and Europe, after talks with key EU ministers on rewards Iran is to receive for suspending uranium enrichment to show it is not making atomic weapons.


Debate On Turkey #39;s Prospects Dominates Run-Up To Summit At a summit this week, European Union leaders must decide when and how to begin membership talks with Turkey. That the summit will approve opening entry talks with Ankara is a forgone conclusion.


US, China taking action on textile trade WASHINGTON, DEC 13: The United States said on Monday it would continue to restrict imports of some textile and clothing products after a decades-old quota system expires in a few weeks, while China, under pressure from Washington, said it would slap a tax


Global Crossing Founder Escapes SEC Charges Reports said that the SEC felt that Global Crossing founder Gary Winnick #39;s role as non-executive chairman, which is often a position that has limited knowledge of day-to-day operations of a


Tuesday Morning revises 4Q guidance Closeout retailer Tuesday Morning Corp. (Nasdaq:TUES) on Monday cuts its fourth-quarter earnings per share to 83 cents, well below the \$1.05 a share estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call.


O #39;Keefe to meet on Thursday with LSU chancellor search committee The head of the nation #39;s space program will interview for the job as chancellor of LSU this week. NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe, who has ties to Louisiana, has been recruited by LSU officials


US top court to weigh in on file sharing It #39;s a key argument in the use of file-sharing services -- and it #39;s one that the United States Supreme Court says it will take up.


Bet on Tiger Woods  he is brilliant It was an impressive home victory, even though the tournament, which Woods hosts, doesn #39;t count as an official victory. After the triumph at the Target World Challenge at Thousand Oaks in California, Tiger


Darfur Peace Talks Resume in Abuja The fourth round of the African Union sponsored peace talks on Darfur to find a solution to the 22-months old crisis resumed in Abuja yesterday amidst continued violence in the Sudanese region.


Iran, Europeans Launch Nuclear Talks Seeking Trust Three European powers and Iran began talks on a long-term agreement on nuclear, economic and security cooperation on Monday with both sides seeking to build trust amid continuing suspicion over Tehran #39;s atomic program.


OracleSoft at Last Plus, IBM enters 21st century, Apple PayPals around, and Will Sprint and Nextel get together?


Tuesday Morning Headache on Monday The company lowers its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings guidance.


Two Internet Domain Names Get Preliminary Approval The Internet's key oversight agency gave a preliminary nod Monday to new domain names targeting mobile services and the jobs market.


China Detains Two Dissident Writers Chinese police detained two prominent dissident writers Monday night in an apparent campaign by the government to reassert authority over liberal intellectuals who have been increasingly outspoken in their criticism of the governing Communist Party, friends and family members said.


Chile's Ex-Dictator Pinochet Is Indicted Gen. Augusto Pinochet was indicted Monday for the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 regime, and the former dictator was placed under house arrest.


Finally, Oracle Nails PeopleSoft Eighteen months after it began, the bitter and bizarre takeover battle is over. The new challenge: Make this \$10.3 billion deal work.


Honeywell in \$1.5 Bln Takeover of Novar US manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. (HON.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday bid \$1.5 billion in cash for Britain #39;s Novar Plc


PepsiCo Buys General Mills Joint Venture PepsiCo Inc. (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will pay \$750 million for General Mills Inc. #39;s (GIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 40.5 percent stake in their Snack Ventures Europe joint venture, the companies said on Monday.


3Com buys Net phone business 3Com, which makes switches that run corporate data networks, said Monday that it would buy TippingPoint Technologies for \$430 million to add products that bolster security for Internet-based telephone networks.


Boeing Board Approves Dividend Increase Aircraft maker Boeing Co. on Monday said its board approved a 25 percent dividend boost, raising its quarterly distribution to 25 cents per share from 20 cents and its yearly payout to \$1.


Haji-Ioannou:  #39;Easy #39; Win Versus Stelmar Board Former billionaire Stelios Haji-Ioannou loves winning the good fight, whether battling US movie studios, the car rental industry or travel agents.


Krispy Kreme Delays Filing with SEC Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday delayed filing its quarterly financial report with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, citing an ongoing analysis of its accounting practices.


Microsoft launches software for searching desktops Microsoft Corp. on Monday became the second tech-industry giant to offer software for searching through computer desktops - a technology it claims is vastly superior to that launched by Google two months ago.


New Technology From AMD And IBM Boosts Chip Performance The manufacturing technology can result in faster chips without increasing power requirements, say the companies. By Darrell Dunn.


NASA boss prepares to take off NASA #39;s top official, Sean O #39;Keefe, is preparing to resign to pursue a job leading the main campus of Louisiana State University, agency officials confirmed on Monday.


The Geminids are coming It #39;s the end of the year and what better way for stargazers to close it out than by viewing the best meteor shower of 2004? The Geminid meteor shower occurs mid-December every year.


Globus Toolkit Founders Form Company The de facto standard for grid computing will be licensed to companies, and the new venture will contract for technical support of the software and services that can help companies design and run computing grids.


Lockheed to Launch Rocket; Boeing Gets New Date Lockheed Martin Corp. on Monday announced that it will launch its Atlas V rocket on Dec. 17 as planned, while Boeing Co. waited to reschedule a launch of its Delta


UPDATE 2-Late Bouba Diop strike denies United A late equaliser from Pape Bouba Diop gave Fulham a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Monday and prevented Alex Ferguson #39;s team from moving back into to the thick of the Premier League title race.


Tiger finds his swing at Target We #39;ve seen the smile more lately on Access Hollywood or the Today Show than walking up a fairway, but last week at Sherwood Country Club, it was different.


Belichick adjusts as coordinator takes Notre Dame job Bill Belichick took a few minutes Monday to convey his congratulations to his offensive coordinator on becoming Notre Dame #39;s head coach.


Report: Owners reject players #39; offer, will make counterproposal <b>...</b> TORONTO (Ticker) - The prospects of an NHL season look to be growing bleaker with each passing day. The Sports Network of Canada reported on its Web site Monday that the NHL will reject the latest proposal


Nationals sign Cordero to one-year contact Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals have signed free-agent first baseman Wil Cordero to a one-year contract, and also agreed to terms with outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.


Bomb scare for Spanish fans ABOUT 70,000 people were forced to evacuate Real Madrid #39;s Santiago Bernabeu stadium minutes before the end of a Primera Liga match yesterday after a bomb threat in the name of ETA Basque separatist guerillas.


Lewis Waits For His Rival NEW YORK: Lennox Lewis was the main topic here when it was announced that Vitali Klitschko, the World Boxing Council No. 1 heavyweight contender, will fight Kirk Johnson over 12 rounds at Madison Square Garden on December 6.


Giants ink Matheny to three-year deal SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The San Francisco Giants on Monday signed free agent catcher Mike Matheny, who likely will replace AJ Pierzynski behind the plate.


White Sox trade Carlos Lee to Milwaukee for Podsednik, Vizcaino Carlos Lee was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for outfielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named.


Romanians Elect Mayor of Bucharest as New President Romanians have elected Traian Basescu as the country #39;s next president in a surprise victory over Prime Minister Adrian Nastase that will also almost certainly prevent his


Israel blamed for Damascus attack Palestinian source in Beirut says was a failed attempt to kill a member of the militant Hamas group. utility vehicle owned by the unidentified Palestinian, who escaped unhurt.


Patriots Buckle Down Before Weis Moves (AP) AP - Bill Belichick took a few minutes Monday to convey his congratulations to his offensive coordinator on becoming Notre Dame's head coach. Now it's time for Charlie Weis to get back to work for the New England Patriots. Weis will finish the NFL season  #151; at least six more games if the Patriots reach the Super Bowl  #151; and Belichick doesn't expect his impending move will be a distraction.


Group Leader Ends Irish Gov't Relations (AP) AP - Northern Ireland's major Protestant party broke off relations with the Irish government Monday after Prime Minister Bertie Ahern indicated he had accepted the IRA's refusal to provide photographs of disarmament.


Harris to Coach Stanford Football Team (AP) AP - Walt Harris was officially introduced as Stanford's new football coach Monday, given the task of resurrecting a program that struggled in three seasons under Buddy Teevens.


LSE says no to Deutsche Borse takeover offer The London Stock Exchange (LSE) today rejected an offer from Deutsche Borse, its bigger German rival, valuing it at about 1.35 billion (\$2.6 billion), or 530pence per share, a significant premium to Fridays closing price of 430 pence.


General Mills sells Snack Ventures Europe stake for \$750 million MINNEAPOLIS - General Mills announced Monday that it is selling its stake in a European snack operation to PepsiCo for \$750 million.


Tiger casts off paw form TOURNAMENT host Tiger Woods shot a five-under 66 yesterday to overtake a fading Colin Montgomerie and win the \$7 million Target World Challenge in California.


Scoop: King Vitali Spectacular. Again A major statement was made to the heavyweight division on Saturday night: The Klitschko  quot;world domination quot; has officially begun.


Sox get Podsednik, Vizcaino for Lee When White Sox general manager Ken Williams walked briskly through the Anaheim Marriott lobby on Monday, it wasn #39;t because he was excited to inform chairman Jerry Reinsdorf


Nationals Sign Cordero The Washington-bound team also agreed to terms with outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds on a minor league contract and selected outfielder Tyrell Godwin and third baseman Tony Blano in the Rule 5 draft.


Hamas Member Escapes Damascus Attack, Israel Blamed Syria blamed Israel #39;s Mossad intelligence service for a bombing in Damascus on Monday which a Palestinian source in Beirut said was a failed attempt to kill a member of the militant Hamas group.


Weary Taliban coming in from the cold Some Afghan fighters talk of being duped by bin Laden and pledge to work for his capture.


In Philippines, a renewed bid to drive out terror factions A market bombing in the southern Philippines Sunday killed at least 15 and injured dozens.


Jury says wife killer should die A California jury recommends that Scott Peterson should be executed for murdering his wife and their unborn son.


Nationals Sign Cordero First baseman Wil Cordero agreed on Monday to a one-year contract with Washington.


UAL Sets Salary Cuts; Aims for Savings (Reuters) Reuters - UAL Corp.  on Monday\announced new cuts in employees' salaries as the parent of\United Airlines looks to make  #36;112 million in annual savings\and emerge from bankruptcy protection.


Dollar weakens as market braces for new deficit figures (AFP) AFP - The dollar softened as traders looked past better-than-expected US retail sales and focused on the likelihood that Tuesday's trade figures will show a record deficit.


UAL Sets Salary Cuts; Aims for Savings  NEW YORK (Reuters) - UAL Corp. UALAQ.OB on Monday  announced new cuts in employees' salaries as the parent of  United Airlines looks to make \$112 million in annual savings  and emerge from bankruptcy protection.


US Air Flight Attendants Ready for Strike  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Flight attendants at bankrupt US  Airways Group Inc. UAIRQ.OB have authorized their union to  authorize a strike should a federal court permit airline  management to void their contract, the Association of Flight  Attendants said on Monday.


Boeing Wins \$928 Mln Missile Defense Deal  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chicago-based Boeing Co. BA.N has  won a \$928 million contract to field the ground-based midcourse  defense part of a planned U.S. missile defense shield, the  Pentagon announced on Monday.


Bombardier Shares Dive as CEO Quits  MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier stepped down as president  and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. BBDsvb.TO  on Monday,  surprising investors and sending the train and plane maker's  shares down as much as 26 percent to a 10-year low.


US brash buys French flash IT IS hard to think of two designers more different in their work, taste and general sensibilities than Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld.


Microsoft debuts beta version of Desktop Search tool Microsoft today launched a beta version of its desktop search tool. This tool is ment to find documents, e-mail and other files stored on your own HDD.


Update: AMD, IBM Announce New Power-Saving Tech AMD and IBM said Monday that they had developed a new strained-silicon process that offers more performance at the same power levels, a technology that will enter production in mid-2005.


NASA #39;s O #39;Keefe Turns In Resignation WASHINGTON -- NASA #39;s director has turned in his resignation, ending three years marked by a space tragedy and extra scrutiny of the space agency.


MS browser gets beating Everyone knows that Microsoft is probably the single most powerful software company in the world. How strange it is therefore, to discover that the mighty giant is being shamed by a group of geek-like programmers


ITunes Now Accepting Payment Through PayPal ITunes, Apple #39;s online music store, will now accept payments through PayPal. The payment service, which is owned by eBay, allows any individual or business with an e-mail address to send and receive payments online.


Sun Unveils Upgrade Of Thin-Client Platform Sun Microsystems Inc. on Monday unveiled an upgrade of its thin-client platform, which enables access to corporate applications and data through broadband-enabled home and satellite offices.


White Sox deal Lee to Brewers for Podsednik Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired slugging outfielder Carlos Lee from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for speedy outfielder Scott Podsednik, pitcher Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named later.


A Year After Capture, Saddam #39;s Trial Date Uncertain BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A year ago Monday, Saddam Hussein was pulled out of a spider hole in Iraq and hustled off to a secret location. Since then, the former Iraqi leader has undergone a hernia operation, taken


Pakistan Turns Up No Signs of Bin Laden Pakistan said Monday there was no evidence Osama bin Laden is hiding in the country, and denied it allowed CIA agents to set up bases along the border to search for the al-Qaida leader.


Ahern apologises to Paisley Irish Premier Bertie Ahern has apologised to Ian Paisley in a bid to halt a new row over IRA disarmament turning into a political crisis, it has been claimed.


UAL Cuts Salaries, Makes \$112 Mln Savings UAL Corp. (UALAQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) , parent of United Airlines, said on Monday it would cut employees #39; salaries as it looks to make savings and emerge from bankruptcy protection.


People Wait Overnight To Buy Sony #39;s New PSP Game Console They lined up and waited for hours, and in some cases camped out overnight to be the first to own one of Sony #39;s new handheld PlayStaion Portable devices (PSP) in Japan on Sunday.


No. 11 UConn Women Beat St. John's 60-32 (AP) AP - Mel Thomas led No. 11 Connecticut with 12 points, snapping St. John's 11 game-winning streak with a 60-32 victory on Sunday.


Seattle DE May Return if Playoffs in Cards (AP) AP - Seattle defensive end Grant Wistrom has ligament damage in his left knee and will miss up to six weeks, though coach Mike Holmgren said Monday he could be available if the Seahawks reach the playoffs.


White Sox Trade Carlos Lee to Milwaukee (AP) AP - Carlos Lee was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for outfielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named.


Tall lefty was second-round pick of Cubs in 2002 Allard Baird would have liked to leave the 2004 Winter Meetings with a little more than the potential for trades in the rearview mirror.


Football; Game 13: the Bengals; History Hard to Shake FOXBORO - Old stereotypes don #39;t die easily, particularly in the age of the Internet. Yesterday, the Bengals became the Patriots #39; 12th victim of the season.


LSE rejects bid from Deutsche Boerse LONDON: Europes top equity market, the London Stock Exchange, has rejected a 1.3bil cash bid from Deutsche Boerse to create a dominant European exchange, but held the door open to talks.


UAL Slashes Salaries United Airlines parent UAL (UALAQ:OTC BB - news - research) set plans to cut nonunion workers #39; pay as part of an effort to slash costs and emerge from bankruptcy protection.


Pedro Martinez Picks Mets Over Red Sox (AP) AP - Pedro Martinez closed in on a four-year deal with the New York Mets, and the Boston Red Sox resigned themselves Monday to losing the three-time Cy Young Award winner.


Judge Hears Geico, Google Trademark Case (AP) AP - A federal judge heard arguments Monday in a trademark dispute that could threaten millions in advertising revenue for search engine Google Inc.


Meteor showers put on a show WASHINGTON, DC - Meteors will shoot across the sky in all directions on Monday night, the peak of the annual Geminid meteor shower.


Mozilla Released Thunderbird 1.0 The Mozilla Foundation (www.mozilla.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving choice and promoting innovation on the Internet, today announced the worldwide availability of the Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0 email client.


Bird Extinctions May Impact Environment WASHINGTON Dec 13, 2004 - About 10 percent of all bird species face extinction by the end of the century and 15 percent more are on the brink, according to researchers who say such extinctions would have a widespread impact on the environment


Mforma Wins Valuable Marvel Deal The Marvel deal calls for Mforma to work with the comic book giant to develop a variety of mobile applications based on Marvel content.


ChiSox trade Lee to Brewers for Poz, Vizcaino Lee, who batted .305 with 31 homers and 99 RBIs last season, gives the Brewers a right-handed slugger in the middle of the lineup to complement Geoff Jenkins and Lyle Overbay, both left-handed hitters.


Man U concedes late equalizer in 1-1 draw with Fulham Senegalese international Papa Boupa Diop scored on a 30-yard shot with two minutes remaining, earning Fulham a 1-1 tie Monday with Manchester United that kept the Red Devils #39; from gaining ground in the Premier League title race.


ICANN Gives Preliminary OK to 2 Domains (AP) AP - The Internet's key oversight agency gave a preliminary nod Monday to new domain names targeting mobile services and the jobs market.


Pinochet indicted, arrested for murder, kidnapping SANTIAGO (AFP) - Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, 89, was indicted and placed under house arrest and may, for the first time, face trial for murders and kidnappings of opponents to his 17-year rule.


Captured: Saddam Hussein, One Year Later One year ago today, the ace of spades in the infamous deck of 55 cards representing the most-wanted people in Iraq, was taken into custody.


Microsoft Debuts Desktop Search Tool (Reuters) Reuters - Microsoft Corp.  on Monday\unveiled a new, preliminary version of its search tool for\finding documents, e-mail and other files stored on personal\computer hard drives.


Summary: Oracle Acquires PeopleSoft (AP) AP - TAKEOVER TUG OF WAR: Oracle Corp. ends 18 months of acrimony, boosting its bid for software maker PeopleSoft Inc. by 10 percent to  #36;10.3 billion.


Ten Percent of Bird Species to Disappear - U.S. Study (Reuters) Reuters - Ten percent of all bird species are\set to disappear by the end of this century -- and with them\the services they provide such as cleaning up carcasses and\spreading seeds, U.S. researchers said on Monday.


Vaccinating Mice Could Reduce Lyme Disease (Reuters) Reuters - Vaccinating mice against Lyme\disease may help protect people against the infection, which is\often spread from mice to humans, U.S. researchers said on\Monday.


Portland Head Coach Cheeks Receives Fine  NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Portland Trail Blazers head  coach Maurice Cheeks was fined \$7,500 by the league on Monday  for his behavior during this past Friday's game against Utah.


NASA Chief's Resignation Letter to Bush (AP) AP - NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe's resignation letter to President Bush:


Climate Experts Confer on Post-Kyoto Steps (AP) AP - International experts, searching for ways to break a deadlock with the United States over climate change, consulted on an array of ideas Monday to lure that No. 1 polluter into a joint effort to control "greenhouse gases," along with such second-rank emitters as China and India.


Spain's Zapatero pins bombs blame on Islamists, calls for anti-terror pact (AFP) AFP - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero blamed Islamic radicals linked to Al-Qaeda for the March 11 train bombings and called for a cross-party pact against international terrorism, while insisting Spaniards had not been "cowards" to vote for him.


Ad agencies charged hefty fees for no work, sponsorship inquiry told (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Four ad agencies that charged taxpayers more than  #36;350,000 in commissions for a controversial TV series about hockey legend Maurice Richard actually did no work on the series, a public inquiry was told Monday.


Zapatero Says Aznar Deceived Spain Over Train Bombs  MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's prime minister accused the  previous government of deceiving the public about who carried  out the March 11 train bombings and of erasing computer records  for the crucial three days between then and elections.


Ukraine Speaker: Keep Poisoning Out of Campaign  KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's influential parliament speaker  called on Monday for a scandal over the poisoning of opposition  leader Viktor Yushchenko to be kept out of the country's  presidential election campaign.


Napier's Chessboard Calculator Isn't Napier the logarithm guy? Yes indeed. A man of varied  talents, he popularized the modern decimal point notation and argued  that the Pope of 1593 was the Antichrist.    And created one of the first devices to automate binary  arithmetic. Using nothing more than a chessboard and some counters, he  developed ways to multiply, divide and even find the square roots of  binary numbers.


Oracle buys PeopleSoft; Denver jobs might be affected Oracle Corp. #39;s acquisition of PeopleSoft Inc. on Monday means about 2,000 Denver-area jobs hang in the balance. An analyst said Denver-area sales and marketing positions within the former JD Edwards line are among the most vulnerable.


Tommy Hilfiger buys Lagerfeld trademarks Tommy Hilfiger Corp. - whose once-hot preppy clothing business has cooled - is making a play to rekindle growth by buying luxury brand Karl Lagerfeld.


Parents Waiting for Waves to Return Kids (AP) AP - As dawn breaks over Sri Lanka's coast, dozens of parents come to the beach where huge waves seized their children a week ago. "They believe their kids are alive and the sea will return them  #151; one day," UNICEF chief Carol Bellamy said on Sunday, after touring this island country's tsunami-devastated shore.


3Com to buy TippingPoint Officials at 3Com said today they have signed an agreement to acquire TippingPoint Technologies, a maker of intrusion-prevention systems.


UnitedHealthcare to Settle Fraud Charges WASHINGTON - UnitedHealthcare will pay the federal government \$3.5 million to settle allegations of fraud stemming from mishandling of telephone calls involving the Medicare program, the Justice Department announced.


Microsoft Enters Desktop Search Fray Microsoft (Quote, Chart) officials announced the release of its own desktop search application Monday, hoping to make up Google ground established two months ago.


Ten Percent of Bird Species to Disappear - US Study Ten percent of all bird species are set to disappear by the end of this century -- and with them the services they provide such as cleaning up carcasses and spreading seeds, US researchers said on Monday.


A three-for-one swap ANAHEIM, Calif. Carlos Lee has been traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Scott Podsednik (pahd-SEHD #39;-nihk), reliever Luis Vizcaino (loo-EES #39; vihs-ky-AY #39;-noh) and a player to be named.


Video Games Go Live for Annual Awards Show  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A felon will host, a Playboy model  will work the red carpet, and "the most destructive band in  history" will play on the first major live video game awards  show, airing on Spike TV on Tuesday.


Jets Struggle Once More Against Elite Team (AP) AP - After another loss to a winning team, the New York Jets tried yet again to explain why they always come up short in big games. Reserve running back LaMont Jordan was quick with an answer.


VoIP: Find Out More About 'Net Phone Calling Express features editor Holly Morris discusses Tuesday's special report about local providers of VoIP -- services that let you talk over the Internet with a regular phone and a broadband connection.


Survival of software's fittest In the flat enterprise software market, the message is clear: It's time to hunt or be hunted.


Security's disorderly mess Jon Oltsik explains why a new computing security conundrum presents CIOs with a problem that's not given to an easy solution.


Borland details latest on JBuilder The software company reveals details of update to its flagship Java development tool, JBuilder 2005, available next month. \


Start-up salaries get reality check Honchos at new tech firms have to do more than show up to get the big bucks now, a new study says.


Microsoft cuts OneNote price Software giant knocks \$100--half the original price--off its note-taking application.


Open Text to acquire Artesia The planned buy is only the latest shakeup in the market for content management products.


Found in translation: Microsoft tool talks pretty New Microsoft program smoothes transition from Chinese to English.


Photos: Inside Dell's Austin assembly plant The 300,000-square-foot facility begins to buzz around 8 a.m. and churns continuously for a 10-hour shift (12 on the weekend).


Mets Attract Martinez The New York Mets and free agent Pedro Martinez are close to finalizing a four-year contract for the 33-year-old pitcher.


Nanosys yanks IPO Volatile capital markets cited as nanotech firm--losing money and with no products yet--withdraws initial public stock offering.


Nobel laureate joins solar-cell firm Arno Penzias, who won a Nobel Prize for physics, is now a scientific adviser to Konarka.


Mayo Clinic logs on to Blue Gene IBM supercomputer drafted to help do the math on genes connected to cancer, other diseases.


Start-up to use genes to build better chips Can food-poisoning bacteria E. coli make chips better than humans? Start-up says yes, but primordial soup will take time to steep.


White Sox Trade Carlos Lee to Milwaukee ANAHEIM, Calif. Dec 13, 2004 - Carlos Lee was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for outfielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named.


Coleman happy to mix with big boys Fulham boss Chris Coleman insists Monday night #39;s clash with Manchester United holds no fear for his Premiership strugglers. The Cottagers registered a stunning 3-1 victory over Sir Alex Ferguson #39;s men at Old


Intel awaits government move on expensing options Figuring it's had enough of fighting over options, the chip giant is waiting to see what Congress comes up with.


Update: Darfur peace talks suspended as rebels pull out The third round of peace talks aimedat ending a 22-month-old crisis in Sudan #39;s troubled Darfur region has been suspended after the rebels accused government forces of continuing attacking them.


Sun shuffles sales execs Executive vice president of sales becomes Sun's executive vice president for strategic development and Sun financing.\


Gateway returns to PC roots Company discontinues many consumer electronics lines to focus on PCs--and profitability.


Internet threats a bleak picture of human future Biological and genetic weapons should take cue from online viruses and worms, British doctors say.


U.S. boosts homeland security budget in 2005 President Bush signs the 2005 budget for funding the Department of Homeland Security, allocating some \$40.7 billion to that agency, an increase of 6.6 percent over 2004.


Report: ZigBee wireless set to swarm The wireless automation technology will see explosive growth over the next few years, a new study predicts.


Honor your sysadmin...be quiet Did you feel that extra jolt of electricity in the air when you arrived at work today? Yes, it's...


Juniper poaches Cisco execs Juniper Networks lands two top Cisco Systems executives to lead a newly developed channel program.