NASA Orbiter Has Closest Encounter with Titan NASA #39;s Cassini orbiter began transmitting data and images from Saturn #39;s moon Titan on Tuesday, providing the closest look at the mysterious moon that humans have ever seen.


Giant pandas in China reserve get Wi-Fi Giant pandas may well prefer bamboo to laptops, but wireless technology is helping researchers in China in their efforts to protect the engandered animals living in the remote Wolong Nature Reserve.


State appeals pilot activated beacon LYNDON, Vt. The state Agency of Transportation is appealing a Lyndon Planning Board decision that requires pilots to activate a rotating beacon at the state airport.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Radio October 26, 2004 - Whether you #39;re a hardcore gamer or not, you #39;ve gotta give it up to the cats at Rockstar for their attention to sonic detail in their Grand Theft Auto games.


Deanna Favre expected to make full recovery The wife of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has been diagnosed with breast cancer, according to The Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald.


Edgar Martinez earns Clemente Award In his first month of retirement, Edgar Martinez today will be where he was unable to go in 17 years as a player - the World Series.


Brutal attack on Iraqis shows greater sophistication The level of sophistication it took to slaughter 48 newly trained Iraqi soldiers signals a new level of coordination among insurgents in Iraq.


Putin arrives in Kiev on working visit On Tuesday evening, Putin will answer questions from Ukrainian citizens, in a live broadcast by three local television companies. In the course of the three-day visit, the Russian leader will hold a number of meetings with the Ukrainian leadership.


South Africans Seized at Talks With Unionists in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe immigration officers seized 13 members of a South African trade union delegation on Tuesday as they met with their Zimbabwean counterparts in Harare, then


Hearing Will Be Long Supporters and detractors of a plan to bring baseball to the District are lining up to make their case before the D.C. Council.


Analysts agree with Jobs on iPod strategy (MacCentral) MacCentral - Joined on stage by legendary rockers Bono and The Edge from U2, Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs on Tuesday expanded Apple's hugely popular iPod line-up with two new models. During the event, held in San Jose, Calif., Jobs said that Apple didn't feel video was the right way to take the iPod, opting instead to add a color screen and allow users to sync photos with their device. Analysts agree with Jobs' strategy and feel the pricing the devices is right.


* Chief blames higher steel and services prices BP could be forced to raise capital spending by \$1.5bn (820,000) next year because of sharply rising steel prices and increased competition for drilling rig services as oil companies lift investment to record levels.


Court rules against Lexmark A federal appeals court yesterday lifted a ban that prevented a North Carolina company from selling chips that allowed Lexmark International competitors to refill toner cartridges for some of the Lexington manufacturer #39;s printers.


NASA claims supercomputing crown SAN JOSE, CALIF. - The US space agency unveiled a new computer Tuesday that it says is the fastest in the world. Project Columbia, named after the space shuttle that was destroyed early last year, is a cluster of 20 computers linked to work as one.


FOOTBALL: PEA SOUPER ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger last night insisted he didn #39;t have tunnel vision at Old Trafford but Ruud van Nistelrooy came clean over his part in Sunday #39;s Manchester meltdown.


Season of Hardships Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has played his last two games with the knowledge that his wife, Deanna, had been diagnosed with breast cancer this month and will undergo chemotherapy treatments over the next five months.


Needing a Win, Politics Makes Strange Fellas The Washington Redskins weren #39;t splintered by a four-game losing streak in which the offense sputtered while the defense flourished.


New Quake Rattles Northern Japan, Felt in Tokyo A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 jolted northern Japan on Wednesday, in the same region where a major quake killed at least 31 people and injured more than 3,400 five days ago.


78 die of suffocation after Thai riot Thai soldiers apprehend hundreds of men after demonstrators clashed with police outside the Tak Bai police station in Thailand #39;s Narathiwat Province, nearly 1150 km (715 miles) south of Bangkok in this picture taken October 25, 2004.


Putin #39;s Kiev visit  #39;timed to influence Ukraine poll #39; Vladimir Putin began a state visit to Kiev yesterday with a television interview in which he held out the possibility of favourable treatment to Ukrainians, a move thought likely to be helpful to the pro-Moscow candidate in next Sunday #39;s presidential


Marsh  amp; McLennan drops fees NEW YORK - A day after sacking its chief executive, Marsh  amp; McLennan (MMC) announced Tuesday it will stop accepting fees at the heart of a lawsuit by New York #39;s attorney general accusing the world #39;s largest insurance broker of rigging prices.


Europe blesses Oracle-PeopleSoft union European antitrust regulators ruled Tuesday that Oracle can proceed with its hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft, clearing the last regulatory hurdle in the protracted and sometimes tumultuous battle.


Update 6: Dutch Steelmaker Buying ISG in \$4.5B Deal Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal announced plans Monday to take over US steelmaker International Steel Group as part of a three-way merger to create a global metals mammoth.


No shadow of doubt: lunar eclipse is well worth a look ONE of natures greatest spectacles will be visible in the small hours of tomorrow morning - weather permitting - as the Moon passes into the Earths shadow, causing a total lunar eclipse.


Russian Cosmonaut Shargin Wants to Send Politicians to Space The top cosmonaut of Russias space defense troops lieutenant colonel Yuri Shargin has proposed sending politicians to space to discipline them.


Terry gives Papi first shot The Red Sox have made an astounding eight errors in the first two games of the World Series, so naturally, they plan to downgrade their defense for Game 3 tonight.


Carmakers to launch new series Formular One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone is facing strong challenge as leading carmakers are seeking to start their own World Grand Prix racing series by 2008.


Radcliffe to run New York marathon Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe will compete in the ING New York City Marathon next month. Radcliffe says she is looking forward to taking part in the race, especially after her disappointment in Athens.


Mets to interview Backman The Mets may reach back into one of their most successful eras in their manager search. Wally Backman, the sparkplug second baseman on the 1986 championship team


Good guy Martinez wins Clemente Award Retiring Seattle Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez won the Roberto Clemente Award for excellence on the field and in the community.


Consumer Confidence Slips on Job Worries (AP) AP - Worries about job prospects sent consumer confidence to a seven-month low in October and its third consecutive monthly decline. The steeper-than-expected drop raised questions about whether consumers will be in the mood to spend during the critical holiday shopping season.


Israeli parliament OKs  #39; #39;disengagement #39; #39; plan The Israeli parliament (Knesset) on Tuesday night upheld Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s  quot;disengagement quot; plan by a massive majority of 67-45.


Israel allows Arafat to leave his compound for medical treatment Israel gave Yasser Arafat permission Monday to briefly leave his compound to receive medical treatment in the West Bank city of Ramallah, heightening concerns the Palestinian leader is seriously ill.


Kashmir solution still far off despite Musharraf's gambit: analysts (AFP) AFP - President Pervez Musharraf declared he could see light at the end of the tunnel after proposing bold reforms to break Pakistan's deadlock with India over Kashmir, but analysts caution the journey is still painfully long.


FCC OKs Cingular, AT T Wireless Merger (AP) AP - Now that the purchase of AT amp;T Wireless is complete, Cingular Wireless' new status as the nation's biggest cell phone provider may prove fleeting if the merged company doesn't move quickly.


NASA: Bush Stifles Global Warming Evidence (AP) AP - The Bush administration is trying to stifle scientific evidence of the dangers of global warming in an effort to keep the public uninformed, a NASA scientist said Tuesday night.


New Quake Rattles Northern Japan, Felt in Tokyo  NAGAOKA, Japan (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a  magnitude of 6.1 jolted northern Japan on Wednesday in the same  region where the country's deadliest quake in a decade killed  at least 31 people and injured more than 3,400 five days ago.


Tokyo Shares Flat After Quake, Dollar Up Asian stocks bounced in early trade on Wednesday after the strongest rally in the Dow Jones index since June, but gains were trimmed after an earthquake jolted northern Japan and chip-related stocks slumped.


Apple Introduces iPod Photo Today Apple introduced the new iPod Photo. The new devices can hold 40GB or 60GB of data and are advertised as being capable of holding up to 25,000 digital photos and up to 10,000 or 15,000 songs.


Cassini beaming images of Titan PASADENA, Calif. The spacecraft Cassini has begun beaming close-ups of Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan to Earth. The first image was a low-resolution scene of part of Titan #39;s disk covered in hydrocarbon haze.


Moon Shadows Skywatchers are about to be treated to a total lunar eclipse, just in time for Halloween. For more than an hour Wednesday night, the Earth #39;s shadow will completely cover the moon -- making it glow orange like a pumpkin.


Russia #39;s Putin Lauds Ukraine PM in TV Appearance Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unprecedented television appearance in neighboring Ukraine days before presidential elections, endorsing the record of the prime minister, one of two top candidates.


Source: Westbrook Out With Rib Injury (AP) AP - Eagles running back Brian Westbrook has a broken rib and could miss up to two games, an NFL source said Tuesday night.


Martinez, Boston Cruise Pedro Martinez keeps the Cardinals down over seven innings as the Red Sox win, 4-1, in Game 4 to take a 3-0 lead in the World Series.


Cassini takes a close-up look at Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan The international Cassini spacecraft began beaming close-up images of Saturn #39;s moon Titan to Earth late Tuesday. Cassini reached the point of closest approach of about 279,000


#39;San Andreas #39; poised for big sales, big debate Video gaming #39;s most felonious franchise is back, and it #39;s threatening to hijack the holidays. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the latest in a line that has sold 32 million games and


Peru Striker Pizarro Gives Bayern Victory Over Leader Wolfsburg Peru striker Claudio Pizarro scored twice in the first half as Bayern Munich beat Bundesliga leader Wolfsburg 2-0 yesterday to move within a point.


Vogts Still Hanging on to National Job Berti Vogts made his reputation as a tenacious player and now the Tartan Army are finding him a difficult manager to shake off. It is now two weeks since the 2,000 fans who travelled


Knicks turn up defence to down Nets EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Stephon Marbury scored 14 points and Tim Thomas added 12 as the New York Knicks overcame a strong start by the New Jersey Nets to grind out an 86-79 preseason victory.


Jimmy Spencer, son arrested Nextel Cup Series driver Jimmy Spencer and his son were arrested Sunday night at he driver #39;s home in Cornelius, NC, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.


170 Sign Up to Speak At Baseball Hearing Like two teams before a big game, supporters and detractors of a plan to bring baseball to the District are preparing their lineups for tomorrow #39;s showdown before the DC Council.


Video games A cheaper alternative to playing games on a computer is to get a gaming console. These hook up directly to your television set. The Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube are the main players in the console market.


India and France to discuss range of issues during FM's visit (AFP) AFP - India and France will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues during this week's visit by French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, a foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday.


Delphi, XM Unveil Handheld Satellite Radio Receiver (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - XM Satellite Radio and radio manufacturer Delphi yesterday introduced the Delphi XM MyFi, a portable, handheld satellite radio receiver the companies hope will lure more consumers to a medium currently limited to car and home units.


Cellular Union Wins Final Approval (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Now Cingular Wireless LLC gets to reap the rewards -- and face the challenges -- of its new status as the nation's biggest cellular provider.


Delphi, XM Unveil Handheld Satellite Radio Receiver XM Satellite Radio and radio manufacturer Delphi yesterday introduced the Delphi XM MyFi, a portable, handheld satellite radio receiver the companies hope will lure more consumers to a medium currently limited to car and home units.


Apple introduces colour screen iPod Apple Computer Inc. has introduced a new larger-capacity iPod with a colour display as well as a first-of-its-kind digital compendium of the rock band U2 #39;s songs.


Cameras Ready, Spacecraft Gets Up Close to Saturn Moon The Cassini spacecraft cruised on Tuesday to within 745 miles of Titan, Saturn #39;s planet-size moon, for the first close encounter with it.


NASA: Bush Stifles Global Warming Evidence President Bush arrives off of Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House after a day of campaigning, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, in Washington.


Amnesty Condemns U.S. for War on Terror Torture (Reuters) Reuters - The United States has manifestly failed\to uphold obligations to reject torture and cruel, inhuman or\degrading behavior in the "war on terror" launched after Sept.\11, 2001, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.


Russia Ships Join NATO Anti-Terror Patrol (AP) AP - Two Russian navy ships will join NATO's anti-terrorist patrols in the Mediterranean later this week, but that doesn't make the defensive alliance an ally, Russia's defense minister said on Tuesday.


U.S. Keeps 11 Guantanamo Detainees Jailed (AP) AP - A U.S. military review panel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ordered 11 detainees to remain held as "enemy combatants," an official said Tuesday.


Search Online, Buy Offline: How to Tell? Many people do extensive product research online but end up buying from brick and mortar retailers.  How can you track the effectiveness of search marketing campaigns that result in offline purchases?


SAP taps HP for software-as-service push With help of longtime partner, German software maker dips toe in market it had downplayed.


Marsh to Make Payments More Transparent One day after Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. ousted its chief executive, the nation #39;s largest insurance broker said it will tell its clients exactly how much they are paying


ATA Is Latest Airline to File For Protection ATA Holdings Corp., parent of ATA Airlines, the nation #39;s 10th-largest carrier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization yesterday, becoming the third US airline operating under court protection.


McFarlane rewarded for record ANZ profit ANZ reported a record rise in post tax operating profit today, announcing a 20 per cent jump to \$2.8 billion for the year ending September 2004.


Lockheed Martin Profit Jumps 41 in Quarter Lockheed Martin Corp. yesterday reported a 41 percent increase in profit during its third quarter as fighter jet and information technology demand continued to drive growth.


SEC May Lift Information Restrictions The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday proposed changes to decades-old rules that would allow companies planning new stock offerings to share far more information with investors about the state of their businesses.


Robotic Craft #39;s Launch Delayed At Least 2 Days NASA postponed for at least two days the launch of its robotic satellite-chasing spacecraft because the target satellite temporarily lost reception of a key navigational signal, the agency said yesterday.


Michigan-Ohio State Is a Commercial Deal The tired old refrain of the sporting times has become: Is nothing sacred? Well, apparently not the Ohio State-Michigan football game.


Iraqi Rebels Threaten Japanese Hostage A video posted Tuesday on a militant Islamic Web site in the name of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi #39;s group showed what it claimed was a Japanese captive and threatened to behead him within


Oil Holds Above  #36;55, Braced for Winter (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices held firm above  #36;55 a\barrel on Wednesday as traders braced for the start of the\northern winter with thin heating oil supplies.


World oil trade to double in next 25 years LONDON - World trade in oil will double over the next 25 years, intensifying pressure on supply chokepoints which threaten security of international flows, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said yesterday.


ATA Airlines enters receivership ATA Airlines parent ATA Holdings Corp. filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy law late Tuesday, and two other airlines immediately showed interest in ATA assets.


Gators will respond strongly Since the Heisman Trophy will be handed out and a new national champion (or two) crowned before you know it, please send in your questions promptly using the form below to avoid a delay-of-game penalty!


Going Back for the Future, Mets to Interview Backman As the Mets round out their search for a new manager, the club is giving a last-minute nod to its past. Wally Backman, an infielder for the Mets from 1980-88 who played second base on the 1986


Sharon gets big win he wanted in vote on unilateral withdrawal Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won a historic victory yesterday when parliament voted to approve his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank - the first time that legislators have authorized the removal of Jewish settlements from


Thai Premier Creates Panel to Probe 84 Deaths in Southern State Thailand #39;s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he will set up an inquiry into the deaths of 84 people who suffocated after being taken to an army camp in the majority-Muslim southern province of Narathiwat.


Mubarak and Arafat discuss Israeli pullout plan Cairo: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held telephone talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat about Israel #39;s plan to pull troops and the 8,000 Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip next year, the Egyptian news agency Mena said.


Attacks Sharpen as Clock Ticks Down The Democratic presidential nominee accused the president on Tuesday of hiding embarrassments in Iraq, and Bush chastised Kerry for grasping at passing headlines instead of building a coherent proposal.


Campaign Trail Takes Clinton to South Florida It was, in short, a rock-star-scale reception as former president Bill Clinton made high-profile campaign appearances Monday evening and Tuesday in South Florida aimed at inspiring Democrats to elect Sen. John F. Kerry president next week.


Video Claims Threat to Japanese Hostage's Life Video posted Tuesday on a militant Islamic Web site showed what it claimed was a Japanese captive kidnapped by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group and threatened to behead him within 48 hours unless Japan pulls its troops from Iraq.


11 Iraqi Guardsmen Taken Hostage An Iraqi insurgent group said on a Web site it had taken 11 Iraqi National Guard soldiers hostage.


Colombian Military Kills Militia Leader A former U.S.-trained Colombian army officer who later joined an outlawed paramilitary group was killed in a clash with army troops Tuesday, the army said.


Suns Drop SuperSonics 103-93 in Preseason (AP) AP - Quentin Richardson has expressed his interest in being a starter, but was an effective sixth man Tuesday night, scoring 15 points in the Phoenix Suns' 103-93 preseason victory over short-handed Seattle.


Consumer confidence at seven-month low in US Washington - US consumers #39; confidence skidded for a third consecutive month in October as they fretted over jobs, a Conference Board survey showed yesterday.


Foster #39;s sells ALH shares into bid Global brewer and winemaker Foster #39;s Group has sold its remaining 10 per cent stake in former subsidiary Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality into the Woolworths takeover offer.


Gaffes Haunt Cardinals in Game 3 of Series (AP) AP - Tony La Russa grimaced, then pulled the bill of his cap down low.


iTunes launched in nine European countries Today nine eurozone countries (counrties using euro as their currency) have joined the Apple #39;s iTunes bandwagon when iTunes music store opened its doors in Finland, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.


Attacks Fly in N.J. County Sheriff Race (AP) AP - If campaign ads are any indication, Joel Trella is Sheriff Moonbeam, entranced with how the planets are aligned while inmates slip out of his county jail.


Cuba move triggers war of words Cuba and the US trade bitter words after Cuba announced it was banning the use of dollars on the island.


Cellular Union Wins Final Approval The company's \$41 billion merger with AT T Wireless poses it with the challenge of stitching together networks, billing systems and customer-care operations without inconveniencing customers.-The Washington Post


Handheld Satellite Radio Receiver is Unveiled XM Satellite Radio and radio manufacturer Delphi Tuesday introduced the Delphi XM MyFi, the latest entry in the battle over digital music, pitting XM against Sirius Satellite Radio and on-line music sources like Napster.\     -The Washington Post


E.U. Regulators Clear Oracle's Takeover Bid The decision by the European Commission, which initially opposed the \$7.7 billion deal, comes a few weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its challenge to the combination of the business software makers.


Three on Trial in Loudoun in Felony Spam Case Prosecutors say the trial is the nation's first felony prosecution of spammers and could lead to future litigation in the fight against spam, which experts say accounts for more than 70 percent of e-mails.


Outer Suburbs Booming Many of the region's outer suburbs are adding jobs faster than most other large counties in the nation, Labor Department data says.


Marsh to Make Payments More Transparent One day after ousting its chief executive, the nation's largest insurance broker said it will tell clients exactly how much they are paying for services and renounce back-door payments from carriers.


Ovitz Defends His Tenure  GEORGETOWN, Del., Oct. 26 -- Michael Ovitz said on Tuesday that Walt Disney Co. would have made a string of dazzling deals and shrewd strategic moves during his brief tenure as the company's president in the mid-1990s, if only chief executive Michael D. Eisner had not shot down his ideas.


Lockheed Martin Profit Jumps 41 in Quarter  Lockheed Martin Corp. yesterday reported a 41 percent increase in profit during its third quarter as fighter jet and information technology demand continued to drive growth.


US condemned over prison abuses An Amnesty International report criticises the US over its treatment of prisoners during the war on terror.


New CEO of Marsh rejects scandal label Apparently anyone who thought there was a major scandal at insurance brokerage Marsh  amp; McLennan is mistaken. That, at least, was the claim yesterday of new chief executive Michael Cherkasky.


Q amp;A on Cingular-AT amp;T merger A: Combining the two companies #39; networks should result in clearer calls, fewer dropped calls during peak hours and broader availability of coverage.


SEC: Tougher on Hedge Funds, Looser on Quiet Periods Washington (Oct. 27, 2004) - In two separate votes at a meeting today, one split and one unanimous, the Securities and Exchange Commission decided to require the registration of most hedge funds, and to propose


FDA approves Raynham firm #39;s artificial disc Patients with degenerative disc disease in their spines may have an alternative to getting their vertebrae fused, which alleviates pain but limits motion.


XM introduces portable satellite radio device XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday introduced a handheld portable version of its satellite radio, hoping to extend demand for its service


NASA: Bush stifles global warming evidence The Bush administration is trying to stifle scientific evidence of the dangers of global warming in an effort to keep the public uninformed, a NASA scientist said Tuesday night.


Yahoo and Adobe to boost search tool Yahoo and Adobe Systems have entered an alliance aimed at boosting Yahoo #39;s internet search tool while possibly turning more net content into PDF (Portable Document Format) documents, to the advantage of Adobe #39;s PDF Reader product.


Major League Notebook: Boston mourns death Hundreds of mourners paid their final respects yesterday to a college student killed when police fired pepper-spray pellets into a raucous crowd after the Boston Red Sox won the American League pennant.


Tapp Has a Firm Grip On Hokies #39; Lunch Pail When defensive end Darryl Tapp gets his hands on something, it #39;s almost impossible to get him to let it go. That includes quarterbacks, running backs and an important piece of Virginia Tech tradition.


Relatives claim bodies of 78 people who died in riots in Thailand Grieving relatives flocked Wednesday to an army camp to claim bodies of at least 78 Muslim detainees who suffocated or were crushed to death after soldiers packed 1,300 people into trucks following a riot in southern Thailand.


U2 Moves in Digital Ways Steve Jobs, Bono and the Edge Tuesday ushered in what Apple #39;s CEO and the two members of U2 called a new era of digital music.


Promising Ruling In Lexmark DMCA Case EvanKai writes  quot;Jason Schultz writes,  quot;This just in --- Static Control Corp. has won its appeal against Lexmark over the right to produce after-market replacement cartridges for Lexmark printers.


Putin to hold talks with Kuchma, attend Ukraine liberation events Astana - Kiev, October 27 KAZINFORM - Russian President Vladimir Putin, on a working visit in Ukraine, on Wednesday will hold talks with the Ukrainian head of state Leonid Kuchma.


After M amp;M reforms, Spitzer rules out most serious charge SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Insurance stocks rallied Tuesday as the threat of criminal charges being brought against companies in Eliot Spitzer #39;s probe of the industry abated.


Cingular keeps some AT amp;T execs Cingular Wireless, which yesterday finalized its purchase of AT amp;T Wireless, said the company will be governed from four regional centers -- one of them in Redmond -- by a combination of its executives and those from AT amp;T Wireless.


Home lending group reportedly bought for \$300 million TOKYO (CBS.MW) - General Electric Co. said Wednesday it will buy Australian Financial Investments Group, a holding company for home loan lenders, to boost its mortgage business in that country.


Independent Probe Sought in Abu Ghraib Case (AP) AP - Amnesty International on Wednesday renewed its call for the United States to set up an independent investigation of the abuse of prisoners in Afghanistan, at Guantanamo Bay and at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.


HENMAN BOOSTED BY FEDERER KO Tim Henman will begin his bid to win the Davidoff Swiss Indoors for the third time when he takes on Antony Dupuis of France in Basle today.


Sponsorship of football rivalry weakens meaning of tradition The Big Game has a new name and a fat contract to go with it. And corporate America has tarnished another great college football tradition.


Arrington #39;s status still uncertain LaVar Arrington #39;s right knee wasn #39;t aggravated enough to affect his status for Sunday #39;s game, but apparently it will be enough to keep him out of practice.


Suffocation cited in most deaths At least 84 Muslim protesters died, mostly from suffocation so severe their eyes bled, after being arrested and locked in army trucks following clashes with security forces in the south, officials said yesterday.


South African delegates arrested Zimbabwean police arrested a delegation from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) yesterday, prompting threats of a blockade at the main border crossing and raising tensions between the two countries #39; leaders.


Australians Said a Bigger Terror Target (AP) AP - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer conceded Wednesday that the Iraq conflict may have increased the threat of Australians becoming a terror target, supporting a claim by the country's top spy.


O #39;Neal might return tonight Center Shaquille O #39;Neal missed his third exhibition game Tuesday because of a strained left hamstring, but could play in tonight #39;s exhibition finale at Orlando.


Israel #39;s approval of Gaza withdrawal draws mixed reaction The United States onTuesday welcomed the approval by the Israeli parliament of a plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, while tens of


Another powerful quake jolts Niigata TOKYO - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 shook quake-devastated Niigata Prefecture around 10:40 am Wednesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.


Consumer confidence still strong Consumer confidence among Arizonans remained stronger in October than in the rest of the nation, but the outlook six months from now is much less promising, according to a statewide survey that was released today.


Delta labors to avoid bankruptcy, makes some progress With money pouring out of its jet engine exhausts, Delta Air Lines secured one union agreement, and worked toward another, which might yet allow the third largest airline delay or avoid bankruptcy.


Profit up, ex-CEO out at Scottsdale waste giant Allied Waste Industries Inc. on Tuesday reported a mixed profit picture amid sluggish revenues. On the same day, its former chairman and chief executive officer severed ties to the company.


Cassini Probes Saturn #39;s Moon The Cassini spacecraft has begun to beam close-up images of Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan to Earth. Cassini reached the point of closest approach, about 2,000 kilometres, Tuesday morning and transmitted to NASA #39;s deep-space network antenna in Madrid, Spain.


Total Lunar Eclipse: October 27/28 Full Story - Several key factors must be correct for a total lunar eclipse. First, we need a full moon. In October, the full moon occurs on the 27/28th.


Rebel F1 series  #39;doomed #39; A REBEL Formula One series planned by the  quot;big four quot; car manufacturers is doomed before it starts, according to Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker.


Azeri gets opportunity at history Like much of the country, trainer D. Wayne Lukas appears to have gotten caught up in watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN. On Tuesday, he pulled an ace out of his sleeve.


Heat shows shortcomings CHARLOTTE  The kids certainly were having fun, but for the Heat this hardly was child #39;s play. In front of a energetic, student-only crowd of about 13,000 middle-schoolers, the Heat received


White House hails Israel #39;s Gaza plan The White House praised the Israeli parliament #39;s approval of removing settlements from Gaza and part of the West Bank as a step forward in peacemaking with the Palestinians.


What #39;s Next for PeopleSoft? The last antitrust obstacle to Oracle #39;s takeover bid has been cleared. Now, one way or another, investors want this soap opera to end.


Apple unveils iPod Photo, rocks with U2 Apple rolled out on Tuesday a new iPod that allows users to view and share photos, a dramatic expansion that takes the most popular digital music player squarely into the multimedia realm, while spurring its rivalry with Microsoft and others.


Cassini beams images of Saturn #39;s moon This movie taken by the Cassini spacecraft shows the surface and atmosphere of Saturn #39;s moon Titan over a range of infrared wavelengths, from .


VIBE : Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas The wait is finally <b>...</b> One of the most anticipated games of the year Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, is now available for the PlayStation 2. Those of us who have played Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand


Blow as Federer quits home event World number one Roger Federer pulled out of the Swiss Indoors tournament on Tuesday with a thigh muscle tear, organizers said. The Swiss is expected to be out for at least


Gators riled up after word of Zook #39;s firing Florida coach Ron Zook was not fired on Monday without a fight. Several Gator players said the team was confrontational when UF athletic director Jeremy Foley told the team before


Thai PM offers regrets for deaths Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has expressed regret at the deaths in army custody of almost 80 Muslims as distraught relatives sought the bodies


Musharraf for identifying regions, demilitarization before <b>...</b> RAWALPINDI : President General Pervez Musharraf has called for identifying the regions, demilitarize them and change their status before a possible resolution of Kashmir issue.


Family rescued from Japan quake A Japanese mother and children survive for four days under a landslide triggered by Saturday's large earthquake.


N Koreans arrested in Beijing Chinese police are reported to have arrested 60 North Korean refugees in raids on safe houses in Beijing.


Kerry, Edwards Rarely Campaign Together (AP) AP - Sen. John Kerry and running mate John Edwards rarely campaign together, but they talk daily, swapping ideas on everything from policy to strategy to staffing. Kerry insists on it, aides say, even if it puts his campaign behind schedule.


Fla. Will Reject Incomplete Voter Forms (AP) AP - Florida election officials will not be required to process incomplete voter registration forms for the presidential election, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.


Apple announces online music store ITunes coming to Canada in <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Canadian music lovers who #39;ve been itching to get into the ITunes online music store will have the chance next month.


Boston #39;s dominant play has curse on life support They are suffering inexplicable breakdowns, and unaccountable disasters. This used to be the Boston Red Sox in October. Now it is the teams they are playing.


Centurion Fleming sets two records CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh -- Captain Stephen Fleming set two national records as New Zealand took control on the first day of the second test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.


Two records in one day for SGI supercomputer The public record has been eclipsed by a faster result yet to be announced, CNET News.com has learned.


Crunch vote for new EU Commission The threat of a constitutional crisis hangs over the EU as MEPs vote on whether to veto the new Commission.


Apple unveils photo-display iPod Apple introduces an iPod capable of storing and displaying photos in an effort to stay ahead in the market for digital music players.


Marsh  amp; McLennan will pay customers back Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. #39;s new chief executive said Tuesday the embattled firm will pay back any customers who were harmed by bid-rigging and other illegal activities uncovered by New York Attorney


Oracle gets Europe #39;s approval to buy PeopleSoft The European Commission on Tuesday cleared Oracle #39;s (ORCL) hostile \$7.7 billion bid for rival business-software maker PeopleSoft (PSFT), lowering the last antitrust hurdle to the contested deal.


Watch out:  #39;Grand Theft Auto #39; back on streets Get some earplugs:  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas quot; hit stores Tuesday, and the sound from cash registers ringing up copies of the video game could be deafening.


Yahoo, Adobe join hands Adobe Systems, the digital imaging, design and document technology platform provider and Internet service provider Yahoo will announce this week the launch of a co-branded Yahoo Toolbar.


Vikings #39; McCombs openly lobbying for move -- or maybe he #39;ll cash <b>...</b> His team has a 5-1 record, his franchise quarterback is having an MVP-type season and his fan base is energized by the prospect of a Super Bowl run.


China says confirmed death toll in mine explosion jumps to 129 (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - BEIJING (AP) - The death toll from China's worst coal mine accident in four years rose to 129 on Wednesday, the government said, as rescuers searched for 19 more missing miners.


At Least 78 Die After Riot in Thailand A Thai-Muslim woman bursts into tears after learning from the list that her family member is listed dead outside a military camp in Pattani province, southern Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004.


Bush Sued in Chile Over Prisoner Abuse Demonstrators protest against the upcoming visit to Chile by US President George Bush in front of the central courts building where a coalition of leftist groups sued Bush and other US government officials for the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq


Spinal Defect Forces Brezina From Football (AP) AP - Brad Brezina feels just fine, which might be the worst part of all.


Bush campaign website takes a dive (AFP) AFP - President George W. Bush's official re-election website was down and inaccessible for hours, in what campaign officials said could be the work of hackers.


T-Wolves Face Distractions As Season Nears (AP) AP - The Minnesota Timberwolves are among the favorites in the Western Conference, largely because all the key players are back from last season's team that nearly made the NBA Finals.


McGrath strike puts Australia on top (Reuters) Reuters - Glenn McGrath celebrated his 100th test by dismissing Virender Sehwag as India were reduced to 35 for two in reply to Australia's first innings 398 on the second day of the third test on Wednesday.


Lungs 'best in late afternoon' \Lung function fluctuates on a 24-hour cycle, reaching a peak for most people in late afternoon, researchers find.


Cingular, AT amp;T Wireless merger approved by FCC Cingular Wireless LLC #39;s \$41 billion buyout of rival AT amp;T Wireless Services Inc., approved Tuesday by the Federal Communications Commission, is expected to give customers


Apple unveils photo-display iPod Apple has unveiled an iPod with a photo display function aimed at maintaining the company #39;s lead in the market for digital music players.


Clouds may block lunar eclipse A total lunar eclipse expected to create views of a blood-red moon will be visible tonight throughout most of North America, weather permitting.


Gators deny contact with Spurrier The Florida Gators are set to renew their annual rivalry with Georgia on Saturday, but the talk around Gainesville continues to revolve around one man.


Knicks: Wilkens spells out goals, starting with  #39;D #39; or professional sports, for that matter -- the Knicks talk about wanting to have a good defense. The question is: Can they?


Mets: Backman, Leyland on Minaya #39;s list While Willie Randolph remains the leading candidate to become the next Mets manager, GM Omar Minaya hasn #39;t made a final decision.


Sharon #39;s political survival entwined with pullout vote JERUSALEM - Shattering decades of public policy, the Israeli Parliament has, for the first time in the nation #39;s history, approved a plan to uproot Jewish settlements from lands claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.


Thai PM: Mistakes made over riots PATTANI, Thailand -- Thailand #39;s prime minister has said security forces made mistakes handling a group of Muslim rioters and has expressed regret that nearly 80 people died of suffocation while in custody.


New quake hits Japan A powerful earthquake in Japan has struck the exact same region where at least 31 people were killed and more than 3400 injured five days ago.


UN envoy headed to Darfur A UN envoy to Sudan will visit Darfur tomorrow to check on the government #39;s claim that some 70,000 people displaced by conflict there have voluntarily returned to their homes, a spokesman said.


Thatcher back in court today to challenge subpoena Mark Thatcher, the British businessman, is back in the Cape High Court today to challenge a subpoena demanding answers about his alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.


Presidential campaign gathers steam in final stretch to November 2 (AFP) AFP - President George W. Bush and challenger John Kerry traded blows over Iraq and taxes as they scrambled for votes in the final week of their presidential race.


M A Industry Weighs Fees Against Size  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investment banks are in the midst of  the annual fight for bragging rights as the biggest dealmakers  of the year, but this time the rankings -- a key factor in  winning new business -- are under intense scrutiny.


India test-fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile (AFP) AFP - India has successfully tested a naval version of its Prithvi-III nuclear-capable medium range ballistic missile, defence sources said.


The Tax Man May Bite  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks may come under pressure this  week as investors sell shares at year's end to prepare for tax  season. But crude oil prices, earnings outlooks and moves in  the dollar will also be closely watched.


Oil Holds at \$55, Braced for Winter  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices held firm around \$55 a  barrel on Wednesday as traders braced for the start of the  northern winter with thin heating oil supplies.


Before big Disney trial, a modest meal The powerful Hollywood talent agent who walked away from The Walt Disney Co. with \$140 million in severance benefits had a meal at Friendly #39;s Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach


Shire gets US approval for key drug Shire Pharmaceuticals has won US regulatory approval for its long-delayed Fosrenol treatment for severe kidney disease. Fosrenol is Shire #39;s SHP.


Londoners have great seat for lunar eclipse Weather permitting, Southwestern Ontario residents will be treated to an enchanting celestial show tonight. Along with most of the rest of North America, the London region will be front-row centre for the


Apple Rolls Out IPod Photo, Rocks with U2 (Reuters) Reuters - Apple Computer Inc. rolled out\on Tuesday a new iPod that allows users to view and share\photos as it opened nine new iTunes music stores in Europe, \spurring its rivalry with Microsoft Corp. and others.


India lose early wickets Indian batting stuttered once again as they lost the two opening batsmen cheaply and handed Australia a slight advantage on the second day of the third cricket Test here today.


Israelis vote to pull out of Gaza Israeli politicians have voted for a plan for Jewish settlers to leave a piece of land called the Gaza Strip. Israel has occupied the Strip, which is home to millions of Palestinians, since a war in 1967, and


Optimism on Kashmir? By the Editor. WITH a zest for the birth of a durable peace and serenity, President Musharraf has reiterated his call for identification, demilitarization and change in the status of the seven regions of Kashmir


UN agency: Insurgents in Iraq may have missing explosives The UN nuclear agency has warned that insurgents in Iraq may have obtained nearly 400 tonnes of missing explosives that can be used in the kind of car bomb attacks that have targeted US-led coalition forces for months.


China shuns talks with Taiwan after Powell call for dialogue Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. BEIJING -- China Wednesday again rejected a call by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to engage Taiwan in dialogue


Apple Rolls Out IPod Photo, Rocks with U2  SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. rolled out  on Tuesday a new iPod that allows users to view and share  photos as it opened nine new iTunes music stores in Europe,   spurring its rivalry with Microsoft Corp. and others.


India test-fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile (AFP) AFP - India has successfully tested a naval version of its Prithvi-III nuclear-capable medium range ballistic missile, defence sources say.


Martinez Strikes for Red Sox in Game Three  ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Pedro Martinez made his World Series  debut a memorable one Tuesday helping the Red Sox to a 4-1 win  over the St. Louis Cardinals and moving Boston one win away  from capturing their first World Series since 1918.


Dollar Inches Up, Falls Seen Again  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar edged higher against the euro  on Wednesday, after a downbeat outlook for European growth  prompted investors to buy back the U.S. currency after heavy  falls.


Marsh to avoid criminal charges Giant insurance broker Marsh and McLennan is now expected to escape criminal charges over illegal payments. It has been the subject of legal action over the payments by New Yrok attorney general Eliot Spitzer.


US airline ATA files for bankruptcy The tenth-largest US airline, ATA Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection and sold off airport slots and other assets to AirTran Airways for \$ 87.


Abbey withstands takeover turbulence Third-quarter trading profit at Abbey National #39;s core retail banking unit was ahead of the first half trend despite uncertainty caused by Santander Central Hispano #39;s 9.1 billion pound swoop.


#39;QUIET #39; RULE MAY CHANGE The Securities and Exchange Commission wants to scrap a 1933 rule that forces a strict  quot;quiet period quot; on all talk about a company just prior to its stock being sold initially to the public.


Cassini tantalizes scientists with images of Saturn moon The Cassini spacecraft #39;s cameras revealed sharp but puzzling pictures of Saturn #39;s moon Titan that captivated planetary scientists Tuesday night as the first-ever close-ups


Blood moon to make its mark tonight during lunar eclipse Just four days before Halloween, the full moon will disappear from the sky tonight, likely leaving a bloody facsimile behind. Dont be alarmed; its just another lunar eclipse, the third visible in North America in the past two years.


Vole releases Instant Messaging Server WHILE the Mighty Vole drags its small paws over operating systems, it #39;s been far faster off the mark to release another version of its Office Live Communications Server.


NASA delays DART launch NASA and Orbital Sciences Corp. postponed Tuesday #39;s launch of a robot spacecraft after the satellite to which it was supposed to attach temporarily lost its global positioning reception.


UK troops in Iraq move north The 1st Battalion The Black Watch begins move north to take over operations from US troops in central Iraq.


West Brom begin search for boss West Bromwich Albion hope to make a swift appointment as they start the search to find a replacement for sacked manager Gary Megson.


Florida notebook: Focus on defense after loss After all, Florida is second in the Southeastern Conference and 17th nationally at 35.1 points per outing. And the Gators have put up 83 points in their last two games.


Separatist strike shuts down many parts of Kashmir Shops and businesses were shut and traffic was light in many parts of Indian Kashmir on Wednesday after separatists called a strike to mark the 57th


Taiwan accuses US of betrayal Taiwan accused the United States of a breach of trust after US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Beijing voiced support for cross-straits reunification.


Bloom: Veritas On Track For  #36;2B Year (TechWeb) TechWeb - Third quarter revenue from the company's two-tier distribution was up 18 percent from a year ago, despite rumored challenges from EMC and its Legato software unit.


Indymedia Web Server Takedown Called Speech Threat (TechWeb) TechWeb - Web sites for Indymedia, a Texas company, were knocked offline when the servers housing them were seized in Britain. Indymedia and civil libertarians are charging censorship.


Misgivings in New Jersey; Hope at the Garden The Knicks and Nets met again on Tuesday, but the scene would have been unrecognizable to anyone who watched their playoff rumble of last spring.


Radcliffe Competing for the Joy of Running Paula Radcliffe said she would run in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7, 77 days after dropping out during the Olympic marathon.


He gave command performance Not all of his teammates were happy with Pedro Martinez last night. Or maybe you didn't notice Derek Lowe, waiting at the top step of the visitors' dugout, after Martinez struck out looking to start the third inning.


One win to go for the crown It looks as if the planets really are in line for the Red Sox this time. A lunar eclipse is due to start less than an hour before the Sox and St. Louis Cardinals play the fourth game of the World Series tonight. If skies are clear, the moon over Busch Stadium will be blood red in ...


Friends feared worst It was always said about Ken Caminiti that the man had a big heart. But just two days after Caminiti was released from a Houston jail Oct. 5, the 1996 National League MVP's brother, Glenn, and good friend Aaron Crumpton shared their mutual fear that Ken's heart was going to fail.


Gunning to be BMOC Ralph Lauren's latest designs didn't debut on catwalks in New York or Paris but inside a narrow storefront on Newbury Street.


Limo wars So I am in New York reporting on two Boston limousine competitors -- one a national player, the other an ambitious upstart -- who are wrestling over turf in the biggest limo market in the world. My limo driver, Trevor Ingram, has found himself entangled in a nasty lawsuit along with his new employer, Commonwealth Worldwide.


Consumer confidence plummets Consumer confidence fell sharply in both Massachusetts and the nation in October, weighed down by concerns about jobs, rising energy costs, and the strength of the economic recovery.


It's a championship heavy wait They are like a big lobster pot on a piping hot stove, churning and bubbling, ready to boil over. The Red Sox have a 3-games-to-none lead over the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, and all of their dreams -- and yours -- are about to come true. The local nine is bursting with optimism, yet the ...


Business brisk as Americans stream to Canada for flu shots Americans are streaming into Canada -- in some cases by the boatload -- in search of flu vaccine.


Clutch performance by Nixon There was a time when they must have imagined sharing a World Series moment like this, but as teammates. Trot Nixon and Jeff Suppan. Both high draft picks of the Red Sox. Minor leaguers together. Their friendship blossomed when they each made it to the big club, promising talents for the folks at Fenway Park to cheer.


2 biotech giants seeking office space in Cambridge Two biotech giants are searching for office space in Cambridge in moves that may foreshadow the establishment of larger research facilities.


No raindrops on Arroyo The steady rain was getting to Bronson Arroyo, and not because it presented the clear and present danger of frizzing his cornrows.  quot;It's pretty slick out there, quot; he reported, 2 hours 10 minutes before the scheduled start of Game 3 last night.  quot;It's very difficult to get your footing. I don't like it. It will be tough ...


Mixed bag for Putnam Marsh chief's exit met with relief, concern For Putnam Investments, the end of the Jeffrey W. Greenberg reign at Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. is bittersweet.


It's a happy homecoming He said he did away with his inner fan in 1993, when he was signed by the San Francisco Giants. The team he adored, the St. Louis Cardinals, was still in his heart but almost out of his mind. That was tough for a kid who grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights, wanting ...


Mobile phone customers get connected Cingular Wireless marked the completion of its \$41 billion takeover of AT amp;T Wireless Services Inc. by immediately expanding unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling between the two networks. Subscribers of the original Cingular and AT amp;T Wireless who have had plans that gave them unlimited calls to fellow subscribers now also get free unlimited calls to subscribers of the other carrier. Cingular is now ...


With loss, these Birds on a wire They closed the locker room door quickly and didn't open it until Major League Baseball Director of Security Kevin Hallinan banged on the door, letting the St. Louis Cardinals know their 10-minute cooling off period had ended.


Fireman's Fund says it will keep insuring autos in Mass. Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., apparently swayed by recent meetings with a Massachusetts regulator, reversed course yesterday and said it now plans to continue writing auto insurance policies in the state next year.


Circuit City customer files bias complaint A Muslim man has filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination alleging that a Circuit City in Taunton contacted federal authorities and falsely accused him of threatening to rig a store-bought computer with a bomb.


Red Sox seek approval to expand Fenway capacity by 10 The Red Sox yesterday received preliminary approval from the Boston Landmarks Commission to expand Fenway Park's capacity by 10 percent, presenting the club's most specific designs yet on how it would add about 1,000 seats as well as extra standing room.


WordsWorth Books' final chapter is Saturday WordsWorth Books, a fixture in Harvard Square for nearly three decades, will be closing its doors Saturday after its owners failed to find an investor to help them refinance their bankrupt company.


Playoff joyride has built-in meaning for Duquette ST. LOUIS -- The man whose fingerprints are all over the '04 Red Sox was sipping a glass of ice water in the lounge area of the team hotel, where he's staying for the World Series. Former Sox general manager Dan Duquette said he wouldn't have missed this for anything, despite his bitter parting with the team he helped build.


Entrepreneur thinks disposable DVD technology a keeper To some consumers, the self-destructing DVD sounds like a device out of  quot;Mission: Impossible. quot; To Atlanta entrepreneur Jeffrey Arnold, it sounds like money.


Cowher the last word He fits. That, as much as anything, is why Bill Cowher has lasted. He is the right man in the right town, a hard-nosed guy for a hard-nosed place.


Broadcast news: McGahee to start Willis McGahee will get the second start of his Bills career Sunday when Buffalo hosts the Arizona Cardinals, the running back said on a national radio broadcast yesterday.


Optimism is rampant The University of Rhode Island football team, in pursuit of its first winning season in three years and just its third since 1992, took a step in that direction last Saturday with its 27-24 victory over Massachusetts in Kingston, R.I.


Mixed bag for Putnam Marsh chief #39;s exit met with relief, concern For Putnam Investments, the end of the Jeffrey W. Greenberg reign at Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. is bittersweet. His resignation on Monday was greeted with some relief


US consumer confidence falls as election race goes to the wire WASHINGTON - Americans are becoming increasingly glum about their economic prospects, as uncertainty over the outcome of the neck-and-neck presidential race grows.


Lakshmi Mittal builds empire from troubled assets Indian-born Lakshmi Mittal started out with a steel mill in Indonesia in 1976. By April of next year, the London-based entrepreneur will have bought Wilbur Ross #39;s International Steel Group


Merck profits beat forecasts German drugs and chemicals group Merck has reported quarterly earnings that have easily beaten forecasts thanks to strong sales of cancer drug Erbitux and a one-off payment for an alcoholism drug.


OPEC has asked US for oil help The president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries says he has asked the US to release some of its emergency crude oil stocks.


Newsom joins picket line, vows boycott of hotels  #39;Bad business <b>...</b> Mayor Gavin Newsom made good on his promise to join locked-out union members on the picket line Tuesday after a group of San Francisco hotels rejected his proposed 90-day cooling off period, extending a bitter labor dispute that has left 4,000 workers


Popular iPod adds picture capability Apple Computer yesterday introduced a new larger-capacity iPod with a color display, as well as a first-of-its-kind digital compendium of the rock band U2 #39;s songs.


Titan #39;s Drumroll Please Imagine an oil drum the size of a school bus with an antenna on top. That description paraphrases how Cassini points mechanically at Saturn and its moons.


Lunar eclipse visible tonight if clouds are absent A total lunar eclipse expected to create views of a blood-red moon will be visible tonight throughout most of North America, weather permitting.


Google #39;s new Desktop Search software may be too efficient Google #39;s new Desktop Search software is a muscle car among search engines, racing through personal data stored inside your computer to instantly find things you can #39;t easily locate.


BOSTON 4, ST. LOUIS 1: Red Sox one win to glory As Pedro Martinez left the mound for the final time Tuesday night, he looked and pointed skyward. He had done in his first World Series start what Babe Ruth did in his back in 1916


West Brom sack boss Gary Megson West Bromwich Albion have sacked their manager Gary Megson after he said he was planning to leave the club. Megson said he didn #39;t want to stay on as the club #39;s boss when his contract ended at the end of the season.


Fleming nears double ton Captain Stephen Fleming closed in on a double-century as New Zealand passed the 400 mark on day two of the second Test against Bangladesh.


Vogts stays in Scotland job The SFA had been expected to sack the German and end his two less than glorious years as national coach. But a meeting of the 11 board members did not materialise, leaving Vogts #39; future in limbo.


Union complicates negotiations The NFL Players Association wants major additions to the revenue pool used to determine player salaries, making negotiations to extend the current contract more difficult than in the past.


Phillies to meet with Leyland Jim Leyland, who led the Florida Marlins to the World Series title in 1997, will interview for the Philadelphia Phillies managerial vacancy.


Historic pullout approved by Israel JERUSALEM -- Shattering decades of public policy, Israel #39;s parliament -- for the first time in the nation #39;s history -- approved a plan Tuesday night that would uproot Jewish settlements from some of the land claimed by the Palestinians for a future nation


Allawi faults foreign troops in massacre In rare criticism of US-led forces in Iraq, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi yesterday blamed foreign troops helping secure the country for


Toll in China #39;s coal mine explosion reaches 129 Beijing, Oct 27 (PTI) The death toll in the coal mine tragedy in central China #39;s Henan Province has reached 129 but chances of finding the 19 missing miners alive are very slim, the state media reported today.


Zimbabwe Bans S.Africa Labor Chiefs' Visit (AP) AP - Zimbabwe authorities ordered a delegation from South Africa's main labor organization to leave the country on the first day of a scheduled four-day visit, labor officials said.


Sharon resists Gaza referendum Israel's prime minister confronts a divided cabinet after winning a crucial vote on his Gaza withdrawal plan.


78 detainees die in Thailand PATTANI, Thailand -- At least 78 Muslim detainees suffocated or were crushed to death after police rounded up 1,300 people and packed them into trucks following a riot in southern Thailand. Islamic leaders accused troops yesterday of overreacting and warned the deaths could worsen sectarian violence.


Arafat has gallstone, hospital official says RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Yasser Arafat has a large gallstone, a Palestinian hospital official said yesterday, as the weakened Palestinian leader broke his Ramadan fast and underwent more medical tests at the urging of his doctors.


India lukewarm on Kashmir proposal NEW DELHI -- One day after Pakistan's president proposed a demilitarization of the violence-racked Himalayan region of Kashmir, India's response was notably lukewarm, with an official making clear the proposal should not have been made first to reporters.


Next year's combat budget could total \$75b WASHINGTON -- President Bush plans to send Congress a request early next year to finance wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and operations against terrorism that could total \$75 billion, congressional aides said yesterday.


Timeline The UN Security Council reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday about the disappearance of nearly 400 tons of explosives from an Iraqi military base. Exactly when the explosives disappeared has become a heated campaign issue. Here is a chronology, based on information from the United Nations and from news reports:


Internet video says Japanese man taken captive, faces beheading CAIRO -- Video posted yesterday on a militant Islamic website showed what it claimed was a Japanese captive kidnapped by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group, and threatened to behead him within 48 hours unless Japan pulls its troops from Iraq.


Karzai is winner in Afghan presidential election, officials say KABUL, Afghanistan -- More than two weeks after Afghanistan's first presidential election, vote counting wrapped up yesterday and interim leader Hamid Karzai emerged with a resounding victory.


Russian House Ratifies Kyoto Protocol (AP) AP - Russia's upper house of parliament on Wednesday ratified the Kyoto Protocol and sent it to President Vladimir Putin for the final stamp of approval that would bring the global climate pact into force early next year.


Articles Highlight Different Views on Genetic Basis of Race A difference of opinion about the genetic basis of race has emerged between scientists at the National Human Genome Center at Howard University and some other geneticists.


First Saturn Moon Close-Ups Arrive After Spacecraft Flyby The moon, long an enigma wrapped in smog, has been described by one scientist as the "largest unexplored surface in the solar system."


Artificial Spinal Disk Gains Approval From the F.D.A. Johnson   Johnson will be allowed to market an artificial spinal disk in the U.S. as a new form of treatment for people with severe lower back pain.


NASA Expert Criticizes Bush on Global Warming Policy A NASA climate expert planned to say in a lecture that a Bush administration official told him not to discuss the consequences of global warming.


Newest iPod From Apple Holds Photos and Music The new iPod Photo, priced at \$499 and \$599, will be able to store up to 25,000 wallet-size images and up to 15,000 songs.


Madison Avenue Ponders the Potential of Web Logs Advertising agencies and communications professionals are using blogs to create discussion about ideas within their industries.


With F.C.C. Consent, Cingular Buys AT T Wireless The \$41 billion deal will create the country's largest mobile phone provider.


U.S. Thinks Explosives Vanished in Spring '03 Pentagon officials have identified the period during which nearly 400 tons of powerful explosives from an Iraqi military facility vanished, leading to speculation over should claim responsibility for the disappearance.


Small Minority Says Draft Could Happen Many military experts believe that reviving some sort of military draft is extremely unlikely, even impossible -- but not all of them.


US Steel reports 3rd quarterly profit PITTSBURGH -- US Steel Corp. swung to its third consecutive quarterly profit, helped by higher prices and a tax gain, to beat analysts #39; earnings estimates.


IBM Lends Software Support To EMC Servers After aggressively placing its new storage boxes in direct competition with storage giant EMC, IBM has now released new storage software to support EMC #39;s Symmetrix DMX Series.


Wenger keeps up Red Devils attacks Ruud van Nistelrooy #39;s apology to Ashley Cole does not look like ending his feud with Arsenal after Arsene Wenger launched another bitter attack on the Dutchman - and his club.


Leyland among Phils #39; candidates Jim Leyland, who led the Marlins to the World Series title in 1997, will interview for the Phillies managerial vacancy. Leyland, a scout for the Cardinals the past four seasons


Deanna Favre ready for cancer fight After recently being diagnosed with breast cancer, Deanna Favre has a simple, heartfelt message for women everywhere. I definitely, definitely, definitely think women should know how to properly


Paterno is still searching for answers both mental and physical -re taking a toll on the Penn State offense. Coach Joe Paterno said on Tuesday that starting quarterback Zack Mills sustained a concussion on


Sixers Scoop/Caryl Kauffman Iguodala earns spot in starting lineup PHILADELPHIA -- Apparently, one AI is much like another at least in one respect. Both will start as rookies. Like Allen Iverson in 1996-97, Andre Iguodala will be in the starting lineup when the 76ers open the season in Boston next Wednesday.


Moon to cast red glow; could it be an omen? Mother Nature will offer a special treat this evening: a blood-red moon, just in time for Halloween. A total lunar eclipse, the last visible in North America until 2007, will begin tonight at 8:06 and continue until about 2 am Thursday.


SGI claims supercomputing victory Although a victor won #39;t be declared for two weeks yet, Silicon Graphics has become the second computer maker to boast that its machinery is leading a competition for world #39;s fastest supercomputer.


Pizarro inches Bayern closer to Bundesliga lead Munich, Germany (Sports Network) - Claudio Pizarro returned from injury and scored twice in Bayern Munich #39;s 2-0 win over Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg.


Azeri makes this a more attractive race The \$4 million Classic, the feature event on Saturday #39;s Breeders #39; Cup card at Lone Star Park, just got tougher. Already loaded with talent


Fresenius Medical Care subpoenaed by US Justice Department (AFP) AFP - Fresenius Medical Care, the world's leading supplier of dialysis products and services, said that it had been subpoenaed by the US Justice Deparment in New York to provide a  quot;broad range of documents quot; relating to its operations.


Two down in India #39;s shaky start India lost two early wickets after polishing off the Australian tail on the second morning of the Third Test at Nagpur. Resuming on 362 for seven, the tourists lost their last three wickets for 36 runs after India had taken the second new ball.


Body of missing British tourist found near Australia's Ayers Rock (AFP) AFP - An investigation has been launched into the death of a British tourist whose body was found near Australia's famed Ayers Rock 36 hours after she went missing, police said.


Taiwan UMC's profit down 14 percent in third quarter (AFP) AFP - United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) earnings fell sharply in the third quarter and warned of a steep fall-off in wafer shipments and capacity utilization rates to come.


Barroso 'backs down' on EU vote The incoming EU Commission president is to call for a delay in a crucial vote on his new team, reports say.


It's a fancy move from ESPN Barely a year after an internal investigation into ESPN's boxing program led to the dismissal of its long-time boxing coordinator and a shakeup in its approach that left many small-time promoters losing money just to put a show on the network, ESPN has decided to fight for a niche in the sport long the property of HBO and Showtime.


Game time violence penalties proposed A city councilor is proposing stiffer penalties for crimes committed around Boston sports events, in a measure aimed at deterring game-related violence and vandalism.


'Perfect' opportunity Trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced yesterday he will enter champion mare Azeri against the males in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park, but she'll have to be better than good to defeat defending champion Pleasantly Perfect. A son of Pleasant Colony, Pleasantly Perfect overcame a serious illness to develop into a monster, and he ...


Azeri makes this a more attractive race The \$4 million Classic, the feature event on Saturday's Breeders' Cup card at Lone Star Park, just got tougher. Already loaded with talent, the Classic picked up another star attraction when owner Michael Paulson and trainer D. Wayne Lukas entered Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year, against powerful males in the Classic instead of fellow ...


Today's schedule Pro basketball: Exhibition: Celtics vs. Detroit at the FleetCenter, 6 p.m. College field hockey: Harvard at BU, 3 p.m.; UConn at Fairfield, 3 p.m.; Gordon at Framingham St., 3 p.m.; Keene St. at Endicott, 3:30 p.m.; Colby at St. Joseph's (Maine), 4 p.m.; Brown at Holy Cross, 5 p.m.; UNH at BC, 7 p.m.; Regis at Simmons, 7 p.m.


Crude Futures Hover Around \$55 a Barrel SINGAPORE - Crude oil futures hovered around the US\$55-a-barrel mark Wednesday on fears of a heating oil shortage ahead of the northern winter, and oil cartel OPEC urged Washington to release more oil from its strategic reserve to calm the market.


EU approves Oracle #39;s PeopleSoft bid STRASBOURG: The European Commission on Tuesday approved Oracle Corp. #39;s proposed \$7.7 billion hostile takeover of rival business software company PeopleSoft Inc.


New blow for Unilever SALES at consumer goods giant Unilever slumped 4 in its latest quarter, heaping yet more bad news on long-suffering investors. Just weeks after a devastating profit warning braced the markets for grim tidings


Ovitz says Disney dissed his dreams Once labeled the most powerful man in Hollywood, Michael Ovitz portrayed himself yesterday as a victim whose every move at Disney was thwarted by his boss, Michael Eisner.


Taiwan Semi Outlook Cautious The powerful chip rebound anticipated in stock prices last year materialized in the quarter reported Tuesday by Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM:NYSE - news - research), which said earnings nearly doubled on a 27 surge in revenue.


A cosmic picture gallery Images began streaming into the Cassini space mission #39;s imaging team Tuesday night, bringing detailed pictures of Titan #39;s surface.


Lunar eclipse due tonight Stay awake for long enough tonight and you will witness one of the sky #39;s most amazing natural phenomena - a total lunar eclipse.


Apple opens Euro iTunes stores Apple has launched the iTunes Music Store #39;s pan-Europe incarnation, as it promised to do last June when it opened UK, French and German online stores.


Players union seeks revenue NEW YORK - The NFL players union wants major additions to the revenue pool used to determine player salaries, making negotiations to extend the current contract more difficult than in the past.


Lukas goes  #39;all-in #39;; Azeri goes to Classic Azeri, the queen of thoroughbred racing for the past three years, could exit the game royally flush or as a royal bust in the Breeders #39; Cup World Thoroughbred Championships here Saturday.


Wally in the mix The Diamondbacks will interview Wally Backman for Arizona #39;s managerial position for a second time today. But Diamondbacks GM Joe Garagiola also granted the Mets permission yesterday to speak


Japan televises appeal for hostage #39;s release Japan #39;s Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura has urged Islamic militants in Iraq to release a Japanese hostage, in an interview with the Arabic satellite network Al-Jazeera.


British Military Begins Deployment in Iraq British Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington Regiment, move toward the center of Basra, southern Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, during clashes with armed gunmen.


Oil Holds at \$55, Braced for Winter  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held firm around \$55 a barrel  on Wednesday as traders braced for the start of the northern  winter with thin heating oil supplies.


Insurance Broker's Cozy Ties May Prove Hard to Untangle As scrutiny of the insurance industry intensifies, investigations are likely to underline the web of relationships between insurers and Marsh   McLennan.


New Hummer Is Slimmer and Cheaper General Motors will unveil a new Hummer on Wednesday that will be smaller, cheaper and less gas-hungry than its predecessors.


Surging Oil Prices Lift BP's Quarterly Profit 43 The world's second-biggest publicly traded oil company forecast that oil prices would stay above \$30 a barrel, and possibly higher, for years to come.


Glastonbury tribute to John Peel The new bands tent at Glastonbury Festival will be named the John Peel Stage to honour the Radio 1 DJ.


Muslims attend Bangladesh prayer About four million Muslims have ended an annual gathering in Bangladesh considered the faith #39;s second largest congregation after the Hajj pilgrimage.


Lawmakers Back Sharon on Plan for Leaving Gaza The vote, in an atmosphere of high drama and tension, with thousands of settlers demonstrating outside, was 67 to 45.


As Voting Rolls Increase, So Do the Wild Cards Many newly registered voters with uncertain allegiances are the focus of an intense tug of war in closely contested states.


Military Assault in Falluja Is Likely, U.S. Officers Say The military offensive would be the largest and potentially the riskiest since the end of major combat in May 2003.


Poor Lucene Ranking for Short Text \\I've never seen a solid explanation of why Lucene always prefers shorter\documents rather than longer documents.  This seems like a *major* problem but\I've never seen it addressed.\\For example lets assume you have 3 documents:\\Document 1.txt contains\\"foo"\\Document 2.txt contains\\"foo foo"\\Document 3.txt contains\\"foo foo foo"\


ATA bankruptcy a blow to local economy Our position is: ATA was caught in forces that are pounding the entire airline industry. Indianapolis-based ATA Airlines, which declared bankruptcy Tuesday, was caught in a convergence of business forces that


Glum #39;s the word for how it is now A sluggish job market and rising oil prices have dampened the public #39;s mood this month, pushing consumer confidence to its lowest point since March.


Unilever Sales Decline Accelerates on Competition (Update1) Unilever, the maker of Lipton tea and Dove soap, said its sales decline accelerated in the third quarter as demand in Western Europe fell and competitors cut prices.


Taiwan #39;s Key Index Falls Modestly Taiwan #39;s key stock index fell modestly Wednesday after the island #39;s top producer of made-to-order chips issued a gloomy outlook for the fourth quarter, indicating the technology sector could be in for tough times.


Titan #39;s First Close-Up This image is one of the closest ever taken of Saturn #39;s hazy moon Titan. It was captured by Cassini #39;s imaging science subsystem on Oct. 26, 2004, as the spacecraft flew by Titan.


Peace summit to end feud Directors at Arsenal and Manchester United are considering calling a peace summit to bring an end to the damaging feud between the two clubs.


F1 rivals line up on the grid FORMULA One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is in the tightest spot of his long career as leading Formula One car manufacturers plough ahead with threats to set up a rival series.


Massacre Of Iraqi Army Troops Investigated 27 October 2004 -- Iraqi authorities say an investigation has been launched into the massacre of 49 newly trained Iraqi Army recruits.


Oil to hit euro growth next year The European Commission yesterday cut its growth forecast for 2005 and warned that nearly half of euro zone members were set to breach their own budget rules, as surging oil prices hit a fragile recovery.


Martinez's Series Win Has Boston Buzzing (AP) AP - He has been loved and revered, maligned and smeared.


Laxman departs, India in trouble, 75 for four Nagpur, October 27: Laxman was out for 13. India were reduced to 75 for four in reply to Australia #39;s first innings 398 on the second day of the third Test on Wednesday.


Powell: US not to support Taiwan independence US Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterates that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is not a sovereign nation, China Radio International reported Wednesday.


VW Exec Says Job Cuts May Be Necessary (AP) AP - The head of personnel at Volkswagen AG said the automaker will have to make dramatic reductions in jobs in Germany if it doesn't get the labor-cost savings it wants in ongoing wage talks, a newspaper reported Wednesday.


TiVo, NFL Tackle Tech Discord (Reuters) Reuters - Television recording\technology company TiVo Inc. and the NFL have reached an\agreement on a potential new technology that the league feared\would endanger its regional schemes and multibillion-dollar TV\contracts.


EU clears Oracle-PeopleSoft (TheDeal.com) TheDeal.com - The approval after a year-long investigation clears the path for more software industry mergers.


Biotechnology Shaking Up the Pet World (AP) AP - The biotechnology revolution is shaking up the pet world.


EU clears Oracle bid for PeopleSoft The European Commission has given the green light to the proposed Oracle acquisition of PeopleSoft, European Union Competition commissioner Mario Monti said.


Unilever reviews earnings targets Unilever has reported a three percent rise in third-quarter earnings but warned it is reviewing its targets up to 2010, after issuing a shock profits warning last month.


Honda raises forecast on strong demand Honda Motor Co., Japans third-biggest car maker, reported a 9.2 percent rise in quarterly operating profit thanks to improved domestic and Asian sales and raised its full-year forecast by 7 percent.


Can EMC Find Growth Beyond Hardware? It has outgrown mere storage. Now it wants to manage every part of the corporate data flow. Has any computer company had a more dramatic reversal of fortune in the past three years than EMC Corp.


Teams threaten Ecclestone #39;s empire Bernie Ecclestone #39;s formula one empire was under threat last night after an alliance of car manufacturers announced they would set up a rival world championship series by 2008 to give a fairer financial deal to all the competing teams.


College Football Notebook: Florida #39;s players blast decision to <b>...</b> The decision to fire Florida coach Ron Zook was welcomed by Gator fans around the country. It didn #39;t get the same reception in the locker room.


India tests medium-range missile India successfully test-fires a naval version of its Prithvi-III nuclear-capable missile, defence sources say.


Missouri Home to Seismic Hot Spot Nearly 200 years ago, a Mississippi River town experienced some of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history. Today, scientists say it's hard convincing people that major shakers can hit anywhere but the West Coast. Michelle Delio reports from New Madrid, Missouri.


Phone Choices May Affect Polls Political polling outfits exclude cell phone users from this year's presidential surveys. But a new survey indicates that mobile phone users are a distinct voting group whose ballot preferences might not be reflected in traditional polls. By Elisa Batista.


Boomboxes Are Hip Again The portable stereos that ruled city streets in the 1980s aren't shipping in high volumes anymore. But some sound artists are finding new ways to incorporate the devices into performances and ad-hoc radio networks. By Elizabeth Biddlecombe.


Voter Polls Don't Count for Much Pollsters missed the mark in predicting the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. This year, with major polling groups forecasting significantly different results in the race for president, expect more of the same. By Adam L. Penenberg.


The Remix Masters Hip-hop pranksters. Pop culture giants. Digital music pioneers. A conversation with the Beastie Boys. By Eric Steuer from Wired magazine.


Advent of the Robotic Monkeys Researchers train a monkey to feed itself by guiding a mechanical arm with its mind. It could be a big step forward for prosthetics. By David Cohn.


Militants kill 11 Armymen in Kashmir blast SRINAGAR: Militants set off a powerful landmine in Kashmir killing eleven, including an Army Major, a civilian and nine soldiers in one of the biggest attacks in recent weeks, police say.


IPod Bloody IPod At a special event with two U2 band members, Apple introduces a U2-branded iPod and a color photo iPod. Leander Kahney and Katie Dean report from San Jose, California.


E-Vote Vendors Hand Over Software To help increase voter confidence in electronic voting systems, a federal agency establishes a voting software library. All of the major voting-equipment makers are submitting their software. The hope is the library will help ensure that no one alters voting code without it being detected. By Kim Zetter.


Lifting the Veil on Titan NASA scientists and their colleagues at the European Space Agency await the first reports from their spacecraft and probe, which will pass closer to Saturn's icy moon than ever before.


Black Watch prepares to fly home for Christmas Black Watch troops are preparing to fly home to Britain to be reunited with their families in time for Christmas. The 850 strong battle group pulled out of Camp Dogwood and returned to Basra yesterday, marking the end of their month long mission.


Camera phones are 'must-haves' Four times more camera phones will have been sold in Europe by the end of 2004 than last year, say analysts.


Blogger grounded by her airline A US airline attendant is fighting for her job after she was suspended over postings on her blog.


Genzyme CEO's pay was tops in biotech Genzyme Corp. chief executive Henri A. Termeer's salary of \$1.2 million last year was the highest of any in the biotechnology industry, according to a survey released yesterday.


Opec seeks US help to ease oil price THE head of oil cartel Opec today revealed that he had urged the United States to release crude stocks from its strategic reserve to bring down sky-high oil prices.


News Corp shareholders okay US reincorporation MUMBAI: The Rupert Murodch owned media conlgomerate News Corporation has announced that its shareholders and optionholders have approved the companys reincorporation in the US.


Unilever warns of extra costs Unilever has warned that restoring profitable growth will involve rising marketing spend and a big jump in restructuring charges in the fourth quarter.


Moon takes dark journey tonight For about three hours, the moon will traipse through Earth #39;s light and dark shadows, a lunar eclipse. At dusk, the moon will rise in the east.


Army waits for Bush to deploy missile defense At the press of a button, Army Maj. Gen. John Holly can look down on Fort Greely in Alaska through a fiber-optic-linked camera and a large, flat-screen, color monitor mounted on his office wall in Huntsville.


Rusty Ortiz #39;s play at first picturesque ST. LOUIS -- The long-awaited sight of David Ortiz playing first base for the Red Sox finally arrived in Game 3 of the World Series on Tuesday night.


Henman in Basel brush Tim Henman was due to began his bid for a third Swiss Indoors title in Basel today as the top-ranked player following the withdrawal of Roger Federer with a thigh injury.


UL solid pick as No. 1 Rick Pitino believes his 2004-05 Louisville Cardinals basketball squad can meet some lofty expectations this season - if the Cardinals stay healthy.


Liverpool Fans  #39;Sickened #39; by Millwall Taunts Liverpool FC supporters said they were sickened today after Millwall fans taunted them with chants about the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster.


Mugabe hints at woman successor Harare - Joyce Mujuru, who was elected vice president of Zimbabwe #39;s ruling party at the weekend, is the first woman to hold a post of high political office in the southern African country.


PE firms have palms out in Europe (TheDeal.com) TheDeal.com - A cadre of buyout shops are expected to try to raise a total of  #36;45 billion for new European funds in the next year and a half.


EU clears Oracle bid for PeopleSoft EUROPEAN antitrust regulators have cleared Oracle to pursue its hostile \$US7.7 billion bid to buy PeopleSoft, but the legal breakthrough wasn #39;t expected to end the stalemate between the bitter business software rivals.


Instability looms as currencies slide Economic instability looms as major currencies seem to be racing each other to the bottom of the pile. This is the flavour of the markets at the moment.


Oil prices: OPEC urges US to act OPEC president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Wednesday he had urged the United States to use its strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) to bring down oil prices.


Shire boosted by US approval of kidney drug Fosrenol is Shires biggest new drug hope as it looks to reduce its reliance on hyperactivity drug Adderall XR, which accounts for about 40 percent of revenues but could face cheap, generic competition from 2006 or 2007.


Update 5: Tokyo Stocks End Higher, US Dollar Lower Tokyo stocks edged higher Wednesday in cautious trading amid continued aftershocks from an earthquake that rocked northern Japan and news of a Japanese citizen kidnapped in Iraq.


Abbey notes progress as takeover looms The Abbey National turnaround plan which the board has been surrendered in favour of takeover by Santander Central Hispano was beginning to bear fruit.


Owen hails his best week at Real Madrid Michael Owen hailed his best week so far at Real Madrid after scoring his third goal in as many games in Tuesday #39;s 2-1 King #39;s Cup victory over third division Leganes.


Ross #39; fate still pending Senior tailback Lydell Ross resumed practicing Tuesday, but his full reinstatement to the Ohio State roster remains undetermined pending possible charges for theft by deception.


Black Watch troops move north Union flag-bedecked Land Rovers of the Black Watch regiment stand ready for deployment. Photograph: Warrant Officer Giles Penfound/PA.


Sudan atrocities need more than label The world was astounded when Secretary of State Colin Powell labeled the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, as genocide. While the United States elevated what the United Nations referred


Thai air force drops 97 million origami birds on southern Thailand HAT YAI, THAILAND - The Thai air force launched one of its biggest military operations in recent history on Sunday, dispatching 51 aircraft to drop 97 million origami paper cranes on Thailands troubled deep south to bring peace to the region.


Is AIG #39;s Hank Greenberg next? NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The recent federal and state investigations aimed at global insurer American International Group are leading investors to wonder if Chairman Maurice  quot;Hank quot; Greenberg may soon retire due to so-called regulatory fatigue.


AT amp;T, Cingular get OK to merge Northern Nevada customers of Cingular Wireless and AT amp;T Wireless will see no changes in existing rates after Tuesdays approval of their \$41 billion merger, officials said.


ATA CHECKED FOR DEPARTURE ATA, the biggest airline at Chicago #39;s Midway Airport, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and said it will unload its Midway hub to AirTran Airways.


Oil prices to cool off EU growth BRUSSELS The European Union #39;s executive arm issued a bleak economic report on Tuesday, warning that the sharp rise in oil prices would  quot;take its toll quot; on economic growth next year while the euro #39;s renewed climb could threaten exports.


Foster #39;s sells ALH shares to Bruandwo Global beverages firm Foster #39;s Group has sold its 10 per cent stake in pubs and bottleshops operator Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group Ltd (ALH) to Woolworths-led Bruandwo for \$3.


Cassini Snaps Photos of Saturn #39;s Moon The international Cassini spacecraft began unveiling Saturn #39;s mysterious sidekick Titan with a stream of increasingly sharp pictures of the surface taken during a flyby within 745 miles of the hazy moon.


Apple gears up for the holidays Gearing up for the holidays, Apple is coming up with new versions of its leading musical products. Its iTunes site with its online charging for downloaded music will become available in 10 new countries, including Canada and Belgium.


Wenger takes second swipe at Ruud DESPITE Ruud van Nistelrooy #39;s apology to Ashley Cole, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may be reluctant to let the dust settle on the second successive  #39;Battle of Old Trafford #39;.


Marsh  amp; McLennan  quot;underweight quot; NEW YORK, October 27 (newratings.com) - Analyst Jay H Gelb of Prudential Financial maintains his  quot;underweight quot; rating on Marsh  amp; McLennan Companies (MMC.


German Medical Company Receives Subpoena German medical equipment company Fresenius Medical Care AG said Wednesday it has received subpoenas from the US Department of Justice calling on it to hand over documents about hormone-level testing and vitamin D therapies.


Warner Chilcott agrees takeover Northern Irish drugmaker Warner Chilcott has agreed to a 1.62 billion pound takeover by the private equity arms of investment banks CSFB and JP Morgan, spurning two rival suitors.


Qaeda-Linked Militants Killed in Pakistan Shootout (Reuters) Reuters - Three al Qaeda-linked militants\were killed and three were wounded on Wednesday in a clash with\Pakistani security forces in a troubled tribal region near the\Afghan border, the military said.


Blunkett  quot;must go quot; if claims true Conservative politicians have stepped up the pressure on Home Secretary David Blunkett over accusations he abused his position by speeding up a visa for his ex-lover #39;s nanny.


Israel #39;s Knesset Approves Gaza Withdrawal After two days of discussion, the Knesset approved Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s withdrawal plan yesterday. The plan envisages the Israeli army #39;s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the West Bank.


Pakistan tribal deaths rise to 11 The death toll in a mortar attack on tribesmen in Pakistan's South Waziristan region rises to 11, officials say.


RP bet in top 5 in Miss World; Peruvian wins SANYA, ChinaMiss Philippines Maria Karla Bautista made it to the top five of the Miss World 2004 competition Saturday in one of the most respectable finishes of the country in the annual pageant.


iTunes, iTunes ain #39;t calling for Ireland Workers at Apple #39;s Irish operations in Cork remain gloomy this morning over one European country that remains outside the reach of iTunes Europe - Ireland.


Moon to turn blood-red on account of total lunar eclipse tonight A total lunar eclipse expected to create views of a blood-red moon will be visible tonight throughout most of North America, weather permitting.


Student Killed in Partying Mourned Hundreds of mourners paid their final respects Tuesday, in East Bridgewater, Mass., to a college student killed when police fired pepper-spray pellets into a raucous crowd after the Boston Red Sox won the American League pennant.


Thai PM apologizes for riot  #39;mistakes #39; BO THONG, THAILAND - Thailand #39;s prime minister has admitted that the army made mistakes dealing with an anti-government demonstration that left dozens of people dead.


Sharp net profit up 40 percent in first half on robust LCD TV sales (AFP) AFP - Leading electronics maker Sharp said interim net profit rose 40.7 percent to a record high on robust sales of liquid crystal display TVs and camera-equipped cellphones but it cautioned on the outlook due to the possible impact of high oil prices on global economic growth.


EU, Iran Deal Uncertain as Talks Resume  VIENNA (Reuters) - The European Union pressed Iran on  Wednesday to scrap its uranium enrichment program in exchange  for nuclear technology, but diplomats said it was unclear if  Tehran would agree.


Eagles' Westbrook Could Miss Some Time  PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Eagles running back Brian  Westbrook could miss some time with a broken rib, a  Philadelphia television station reported Tuesday night.


NRC Closes Web Library For Security Review The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has closed public access to its online document library to protect sensitive documents that might be useful to terrorists, the agency said Tuesday.


Robotic Craft's Launch Delayed At Least 2 Days NASA postponed for at least two days the launch of its robotic satellite-chasing spacecraft because the target satellite temporarily lost reception of a key navigational signal, the agency said Tuesday.


ATA Is Latest Airline to File For Protection ATA Holdings Corp., parent of ATA Airlines, the nation's 10th-largest carrier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization yesterday, becoming the third U.S. airline operating under court protection.


Russian President Putin left India for Turkey After winding up his three-day visit to India, Russian President Vladimir Putin left India #39;s southern city of Bangalore Sunday afternoon for Turkey.


Darfur families face food misery A World Food Programme survey says almost half of all families in Darfur are hungry, confirming aid agency fears.


Eagles' Westbrook Could Miss Some Time (Reuters) Reuters - Eagles running back Brian\Westbrook could miss some time with a broken rib, a\Philadelphia television station reported Tuesday night.


ATA seeks bankruptcy protection ATA Holdings Corp., the biggest airline at Midway Airport, sought bankruptcy protection Tuesday amid high fuel costs and losses, and agreed to transfer its Chicago operation and some other assets to AirTran Holdings for \$87.


EU clears way for PeopleSoft takeover The European Commission said Tuesday that it has approved Oracle Corp. #39;s \$7.7 billion bid for PeopleSoft Inc., removing the last antitrust obstacle to the hostile takeover attempt.


Delta #39;s Decision On Bankruptcy Expected Today Delta Air Lines Inc. hit a selfimposed deadline Tuesday for some of its debtholders to respond early to an exchange offer meant to give the carrier breathing room as it seeks to avoid bankruptcy.


Apple snaps at Vaio Pocket with iPod Photo Apple today peeled the wraps off its latest iPod, promising that the iPod Photo will allow customers to take their entire music and photo library with them wherever they go.


Fallen space explorers honored with superfast tribute Two years ago, scientists at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field were stunned when the Columbia space shuttle came apart as it returned to Earth.


If clouds part, blood-red moon will be seen during eclipse tonight A total lunar eclipse expected to create views of a blood-red moon will be visible tonight throughout most of North America -- weather permitting.


Expert says White House stifling global warming facts IOWA CITY, IOWA - A NASA scientist said Tuesday that the Bush administration is trying to hush up scientific evidence of global warming and keep the public uninformed.


Wireless network links researchers in panda preserve Giant pandas might prefer bamboo to laptops, but wireless technology is helping researchers in China in their efforts to protect the endangered animals in the Wolong Nature Reserve.


Australia #39;s Warne Strikes Early as India Slumps to 95-4 in Test Shane Warne took a wicket with his second ball as India #39;s cricketers, trailing 1-0 in the four-match series, slumped to 95-4 at tea after bowling out Australia for 398 on day two of the third Test at Nagpur.


Lukas gambles on another Breeders #39; Cup victory with Azeri GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has pulled off a surprise by entering Azeri in the four (M) million-dollar Breeders #39; Cup Classic.


CAL NOTEBOOK Mystery rushers, QB threaten Bears Cal coach Jeff Tedford knows Arizona State will run some in Saturday night #39;s game at Memorial Stadium. He #39;s just not sure who will carry the ball.


Fregosi wants to guide a winner The ex-Phillies skipper, 62, doesn #39;t want to manage a team that #39;s five years away. By Don Bostrom. That #39;s what the Phillies might decide to do if they hire Jim Fregosi for a second tour of duty as their manager.


Three Japan Quake Victims Found After Four Days In a drama that gripped Japanese watching on live television, a two-year-old toddler was pulled alive from a car that had been buried under tons of rock and mud for nearly four days after a deadly earthquake.


UK troops in Iraq start moving north A battle group of British troops began to roll out of southern Iraq Wednesday on a US-requested mission to deadlier areas near Baghdad in a major political gamble for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.


Cosatu defiant, enters Zim for talks The delegation from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), a partner in the ruling African National Congress government, was held up for nearly an hour by officials at Harare #39;s international airport on arrival for a visit Mugabe #39;s government


Intel bets on WiMax by backing Clearwire (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Intel and cellular phone billionaire Craig McCaw have joined forces to deliver a new high-speed wireless Internet service.


Mobile-device safety (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Downloading games, ring tones and screen savers to a mobile device can be fun. But like any Internet-connected gadget, a cell phone or a handheld computer can quickly become a target for viruses, worms and other bugs that wreak havoc.


HP joins radio-ID competition (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Hewlett-Packard has jumped on the RFID bandwagon, embracing the wireless tracking technology aimed at replacing the decades-old product bar code.


Symantec to wrap products in services (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Computer-security software maker Symantec today plans to unveil a new strategy for offering large businesses more services along with software for managing their computer networks.


Shrugging Off Mutiny, Sharon Rejects Gaza Referendum  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli leader Ariel Sharon rejected  calls from within his mutinous cabinet Wednesday for a  referendum on leaving Gaza after winning parliament's support  to uproot settlements from land claimed by Palestinians.


Democrat ad presses Iraq attack John Kerry accuses President George W Bush of incompetence over Iraq in a hard-hitting TV campaign ad.


One last mile to go before they sweep Pedro Martinez dazzles for seven as Boston takes a seemingly safe three games to none lead. By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer. ST.


Japan refuses to withdraw troops in hostage drama Japan today refused to withdraw its troops from Iraq despite demands by Iraqi militants who have taken a Japanese civilian hostage and threatened to behead him unless the soldiers left.


British Troops Head North for Mission Near Baghdad  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - British troops moved north from Basra  Wednesday to take over a deadly area near Baghdad and free up  U.S. troops for a possible attack on Falluja.


Middle East bid for UK water firm A unit of First Islamic Bank makes a 142m bid to take over South Staffordshire Water, company officials say.