Mac sees blue skies over ALH MACQUARIE Bank has had 55 people furiously working to stitch together the ALH deal -- underlining how significant an opportunity the bank regards securing a slice of the gaming and hotel businesses.


A amp;M names finalist for chancellor The Texas A amp;M University System Board of Regents in a special meeting Wednesday named Robert D.  quot;Bob quot; McTeer, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the sole finalist the chancellor position, the university system said Wednesday.


Oil rebounds on Mexico blast Crude oil futures have jumped back above \$53 on speculation and panic sparked by an oil line explosion in Mexico. Traders are also nervously monitoring developments in Nigeria #39;s national strike and recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.


Soaring Oil Prices Send Stocks Skidding Soaring oil prices trumped positive earnings news Wednesday, sending stocks skidding as investors rushed to take profits on new fears that the market is in the midst of a commodities bubble.


PayPal Battles Glitches Online-payment service PayPal on Tuesday sought to reassure customers that outages that had plagued the service since Friday finally had been resolved.


Red Sox Could Lose Schilling for Game Five The Boston Red Sox could be without starter Curt Schilling for the remainder of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees after their ace aggravated an ankle injury in a Game One loss.


Haitian ex-soldiers head for capital in confrontation with <b>...</b> Ex-soldiers who ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in a deadly revolt said reinforcements are advancing on the capital to halt violence that has killed at least 48 people - a move that threatens conflict with


Australian PM to visit Indonesia for presidential inauguration Australia #39;s Prime Minister, John Howard, has personally congratulated Indonesia #39;s President-elect, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on his recent victory.


Tokyo Stocks Weaker as Yen Weighs (Reuters) Reuters - Japan's Nikkei share average slipped 0.55\percent in early trade on Monday after a weak U.S. jobs report\pushed the dollar down against the yen, hurting the shares of\Japanese exporters.


Ecuador Seen Losing Glaciers to Global Warming (Reuters) Reuters - Global warming is melting\Ecuador's cherished mountain glaciers and could cause several\of them to disappear over the next two decades, Ecuadorean and\French scientists said on Wednesday.


A Daily Look at U.S. Iraq Military Deaths (AP) AP - As of Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, 1,081 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 825 died as a result of hostile action and 256 died of non-hostile causes. The figures include three military civilians.


Bush Defends Presidency Against Kerry (AP) AP - On the defensive over job losses and health care woes, President Bush sought Wednesday night to make the campaign a referendum on his rival  #151; casting Democratic Sen. John Kerry as out of the mainstream, a liberal whose rhetoric doesn't match his record.


Bush, Kerry Say Women Keep Them in Line (AP) AP - The final presidential debate brought together two candidates and a moderator who have something in common  #151; strong wives and two daughters.


Topics During the Presidential Debate (AP) AP - President Bush and Sen. John Kerry on the issues at Wednesday's debate:


Security Still Big Topic in Session Aimed at Domestic Issues President Bush and John Kerry clashed over the war on terrorism, the loss of jobs overseas and the state of health care.


In '04 Florida, Lawsuits Begin Before Election Florida is already teeming with lawsuits charging the state and its county elections supervisors with voter disenfranchisement.


Identity Badge Worn Under Skin Approved for Use in Health Care The F.D.A. cleared the way for a company to market implantable microchips that would provide easy access to medical records.


Crude-oil futures surge to over \$53 NEW YORK - Crude-oil futures rallied back above \$53 late on Wednesday on speculation and panic sparked by an oil-line explosion in Mexico.


Microsoft selling new Windows at cut-rate price Despite all the changes Microsoft is touting with the new version of Media Centre, the biggest change may be one that the company barely mentions: the price drop.


Sarin asserts control in shake-up of Vodafone management team Arun Sarin, the chief executive of Vodafone, moved to grab more day-to-day control of the world #39;s biggest mobile phone company yesterday by announcing a management shake-up which


Dinosaur slept in bird-like pose LONDON - Fossil hunters have gained a glimpse of a new species of dinosaur catching some zzz #39;s. The 130-million-year old Mei long, which means  quot;soundly sleeping dragon, quot; was found near Beipiao City in Liaoning province, northeastern China.


EMC buys Danz Development for less than \$50m The company produces Retrospect software, also included in Maxtor #39;s One Touch external back up disc, and has a vital hold on the small and medium-sized enterprise market.


Texas Police Want Briton over Internet Sex Claims Police in America have issued an arrest warrant for a British man who allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old girl he met in an internet chat room, it was revealed today.


Dollar Holds Near Lows (Reuters) Reuters - The dollar stayed in striking distance of\record lows against the euro and a 12-year low versus sterling\on Monday in the wake of disappointing U.S. jobs data.


UPDATE 4-Beckham apologises over deliberate booking England captain David Beckham has apologised to the Football Association (FA), his team mates and supporters after deliberately getting booked against Wales.


Cardinals 2, Astros 2 Woody Williams and Brandon Backe had shaky starts in Game 1 of the NLCS, each pitcher allowing a two-run homer in the first inning to the opposing team #39;s star.


Ganguly feeling the pressure Sourav Ganguly appears to be travelling incognito when he is blinking boyishly behind his Harry Potter specs, unrecognisable from the gnarled and uncompromising cricketer and captain who stared out Steve Waugh in India three years ago.


NHL Network programming: Lockout style Although the world seems more out of control than ever, it #39;s reassuring to know one thing has retained its original essence: the soul-sucking, creativity-crushing, black hole of brain cells we call TV programming.


Yankees Lead BoSox 1-0 in Game 2 of ALCS New York Yankees fans snatch up  quot;who #39;s your daddy quot; posters before game 2 of the ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in New York Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004.


Becks sorry, may still be punished England captain David Beckham has apologised for deliberately getting himself booked, and while coach Sven-Goran Eriksson wants the matter put to bed, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says disciplinary action may be taken against the midfielder.


Championship season For the city, the team #39;s WNBA championship was the first major professional title for a local franchise in a generation. It #39;s time tomorrow for a downtown civic celebration -- much like the one with the Sonics in 1979.


Jerry Rice Reiterates Call for Trade (AP) AP - Jerry Rice was scheduled to meet with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis on Wednesday night to discuss the receiver's future after he said he wants to be traded.


Iraqi prime minister warns Fallujah to give up al-Zarqawi or face <b>...</b> A suicide attack and roadside bombings killed six American soldiers, and Iraq #39;s prime minister Wednesday warned the people of major insurgent bastion Fallujah to hand over terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or face military action.


Iraq donors wrap up meeting with vows to speed funds for <b>...</b> Donor nations wrapped up a two-day meeting Thursday that Iraqi leaders hope will free up much-needed reconstruction funds that were pledged a


Finds  #39;show we were right to fight #39; Tony Blair yesterday seized on the discovery of the mass grave in northern Iraq as justification for removing Saddam despite the absence of WMD.


Bryant Shrugs Off Criticism From Ex-Coach (AP) AP - Kobe Bryant is shrugging off criticism of him by former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson.


Red Sox Could Lose Schilling for Game Five (Reuters) Reuters - The Boston Red Sox could be without\starter Curt Schilling for the remainder of the American League\Championship Series against the New York Yankees after their\ace aggravated an ankle injury in a Game One loss.


Chris Chelios Goes Bobsledding in Lockout (AP) AP - Chris Chelios grabbed his red helmet, listened to some last-minute instructions, and then hit the ice  #151; running.


Strong Field Ready for World Championship (AP) AP - Annika Sorenstam realizes winning her fourth Samsung World Championship won't be easy since the other 19 players are also among the elite of women's golf.


Red Sox Could Lose Schilling for Game Five  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox could be without  starter Curt Schilling for the remainder of the American League  Championship Series against the New York Yankees after their  ace aggravated an ankle injury in a Game One loss.


Johnson's Quickfire Hat-Trick Leads U.S. Past Panama  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eddie Johnson came off the bench to  score a hat-trick in 16 minutes as the U.S. thrashed Panama 6-0  in a CONCACAF zone World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.


Minaya's First Move With the Mets Is to Clean House Omar Minaya, the Mets' new general manager, fired or reassigned every coach on Wednesday except for Rick Peterson, the club's highly touted pitching coach.


Bryants Anger Hurt the Lakers, Jackson Says in a New Book In his new book, Phil Jackson, the former Los Angeles Lakers coach, describes a dysfunctional team hurt by Kobe Bryants petulant anger and his pending rape trial.


New Captain America Helps U.S. Move On The United States defeated Panama on two goals by Landon Donovan, advancing to the final round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.


Loaded for Bears Defensive coordinator Greg Blache spent the last five seasons in the same position in Chicago and has Washington prepared for Sunday.


Early Elimination Round For the loser of this Saturday's Maryland-North Carolina State game, both at 3-2, the bowl season may be an unreachable destination.


Race Is Wide Open As Howard prepares to play its final six games, all against MEAC opponents, the Bison find themselves in the thick of the conference race.


Jackson Is on a Mission Two days after senior Lane Jackson will be counted on heavily to lead Navy to its first victory over Notre Dame since 1963, the inside linebacker be interviewed by a panel of SEALs.


Game Day Is Mom's Day For senior guard Elton Brown, his Mom and late uncle are never more than an arm's length away.


Elite Field Hits Desert With only the game's top 20 women fending for the Samsung World Championship, Annika Sorenstam knows that in Palm Desert, the event truly is a survival of the fittest.


Mexican Rebels Withdraw From Reserve (AP) AP - Leftist Zapatista rebels announced Wednesday they will voluntarily withdraw seven squatter settlements from an endangered jungle nature reserve, a move that may mark the end a decade-long standoff with authorities.


Delta Amends  #36;680 Mln Debt Exchange Offer (Reuters) Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc., struggling to\cut costs to avert bankruptcy, said on Thursday it was amending\its offer to exchange up to  #36;680 million worth of its\outstanding  #36;2.6 billion of unsecured debt, asking holders to\submit tenders by Oct. 26.


Oil Firm Near  #36;54 on Heating Fuel Worries (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices rebounded to  #36;54 a barrel\on Thursday ahead of U.S. inventory data expected to show tight\heating fuel stocks ahead of winter.


Kerry rebukes Bush over 'Sopranos' tax lecture (AFP) AFP - President George W. Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry fought over who is the most wasteful spender in their televised election debate here.


Distributed Social Whitelists \\Sam blogs about his wiki spam problems  and implements a posting throttle.\\With new spam-capable zombie PCs and with wikis that aren't updated very often\this isn't a solution.  If I were to go back to my wiki after a month it would\be covered with spam links.\\One strong solution is emergent and distributed social whitelists (AKA my\FOAFKey  proposal).\\With a FOAFKey enabled wiki/weblog you could allow a whitelist of a few hundred\thousand users to post to the wiki without any problems.  All they would need to\enter is their email address for confirmation (or the SHA1 hash of their email).\\For the rare times when the user isn't within the original whitelist we can just\have the user uplo ...\\


Asian Shares Hit by Metals Tumble, Oil  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A sharp slide in global metals  markets hammered industrial and mining stocks such as JFE  Holdings and BHP Billiton Thursday, while oil prices crawled  back toward record highs.


Oil Firm Near \$54 on Heating Fuel Worries  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rebounded to \$54 a barrel  on Thursday ahead of U.S. inventory data expected to show tight  heating fuel stocks ahead of winter.


Canada #39;s competitiveness score mixed Canada #39;s rank has fallen in one competitiveness measure and improved in another, according to a Global Competitiveness Report from the World Economic Forum.


Final face-off is 20 days before voters head to polls WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry squared off in Arizona Wednesday for their third and final debate before the election, book-ending their remarks on domestic issues with pledges to keep the nation safer.


Try over-the-counter drug for arthritis People taking Vioxx may feel betrayed now that the popular painkiller and arthritis medicine has been pulled from the market. Merck, the manufacturer of the drug, and the US Food and Drug Administration knew


Stewart Company to Expand Furniture Line Martha Stewart #39;s media and merchandising company said Wednesday it plans to expand its furniture line amid strong demand from consumers.


Make that \$9.1 billion Only a few months after crying poverty, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale says last year #39;s surplus topped \$9.1 billion -- almost five times more than originally predicted.


Russian Rocket Takes New Russian-US Crew to ISS A Russian-US space crew set off for the International Space Station (ISS) on a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Thursday morning.


Hackers use Beckham bait SOFTWARE HACKERS are using snaps which they claim show David Beckham in a compromising position to infect people #39;s computers. Beckham, who apparently plays football, and is married to a member of a popular


Credit cards go mobile MOBILE PHONE giant Motorola is experimenting with putting credit cards and payment functions on their line of mobiles. Under the bonnet of the cunning plan is Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology which is a short-range wireless system.


Study finds technology could support mountain monorail New technology would make it possible to build a monorail connecting Denver to the state #39;s ski resorts and such a railway could carry six to eight times more people than two additional


BYTE OF THE APPLE Apple lost one war to Microsoft by not licensing its Mac operating system. It may repeat the error with its iPod and music software.


Child porn fight gets \$5M Ontario police forces will get \$5 million to develop a co-ordinated strategy to fight Internet child pornography, Attorney General Michael Bryant said yesterday.


SpaceShipOne a flight away from claiming \$10 million X Prize MOJAVE, Calif. -- SpaceShipOne is one flight away from clinching the Ansari X Prize, a \$10 million award for the first privately developed manned rocket to reach space twice within 14 days.


Arrest over internet sex claims Police in America have issued an arrest warrant for a North Yorkshire man who allegedly had sex with a teenager he met in an internet chat room.


Ultima Online: Samurai Empire is Golden October 13, 2004 - Electronic Arts announced that Ultima Online: Samurai Empire went gold today. The highly-anticipated expansion pack for Ultima Online is on schedule to release on November 2, 2004.


Frances ST to develop digital TV software in China FRENCH technology group STMicroelectronics (ST) had signed an agreement to create a joint venture in China to develop software for digital TV, the company announced Tuesday.


Els won #39;t bow to USPGA World no. 2 Ernie Els is fuming after receiving demands from the American Tour that he must play more tournaments in the US. Els has received a letter from USPGA Commissioner Tim Finchem regarding his commitment


Sub hits US hat-trick UNITED STATES, Mexico and Guatemala advanced to next year #39;s North American final round World Cup 2006 qualifying with shutout triumphs today, leaving seven nations to fight over three remaining spots.


Teenager joins the race for future NASCAR success Next October, Chase Austin will finally be old enough to drive to the grocery store by himself. By then, though, he #39;ll also have a full season of stock car racing under his belt.


No. 18 Louisville at No. 3 Miami TV - tvelwtvscwtvpcwtvnrw. Radio - WQAM (560 AM) WSUA-Spanish (1260 AM), WVUM (90.5 FM), WEFL (760 AM). Coaches: UM #39;s Larry Coker is 39-3 in his fourth season; Louisville #39;s Bobby Petrino is 13-4 in his second season.


Donors examine billions of dollars in aid for Iraq TOKYO: Donors to Iraq #39;s reconstruction are examining billions of dollars in aid pledges that have gone mostly unused amid an insurgency, as the interim government appealed for firmer world support.


Prince Sihamoni to be named new king of Cambodia Prince Norodom Sihamoni will be named king of Cambodia later on Thursday by the nine-member Throne Council, said the national assembly president in Phnom Penh.


Tata to invest \$2bn in Bangladesh Indian industrial group Tata agrees to invest \$2bn in Bangladesh, the biggest single deal agreed by a firm in the south Asian country.


Space Station Crew Blast Off from Kazakh Steppe A Russian rocket carrying a US-Russian space crew on a two-day flight to the International Space Station blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early Thursday.


Ontario Pledges New Actions Against Child Pornography And Child <b>...</b> The Ontario government has announced new measures today to tackle child pornography online and Internet luring. Research shows 40 percent of Canadian youth report that someone they met on the Internet, requested personal information.


OFFICER PROBE AS GIRL SHOT DEAD IN GAZA THE Israeli army has suspended a platoon commander accused by his soldiers of emptying an ammunition clip into a Palestinian girl of 13.


Election monitors weigh complaints in Afghanistan KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- Foreign election experts on Wednesday studied complaints from candidates in Afghanistan #39;s first-ever presidential election, setting aside suspect ballot boxes and further delaying the vote count.


GUS says Argos outperforms Retail group GUS says like-for-like sales at its key Argos chain outstripped the market in the first half as sales of consumer electronics and leisure goods shone.


Google gets Bangalored Google isn #39;t conventional and so aren #39;t its co-founders. Meeting them is pure fun. Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded this search engine and have been applying some really unconventional approaches to constantly


Topics during the presidential debate _ at a glance Kerry said he would not appoint judges who would overturn the Supreme Court #39;s 1973 abortion rights decision of Roe v. Wade. Bush said he had no litmus test for judges and reiterated his support for the ban on so-called partial birth abortion.


Martha Stewart Adds to Furniture Line, Including Turkey Hill She may be in a West Virginia prison, but Westport #39;s Martha Stewart is growing her business by adding to her furniture line, including new items to a collection based on her Westport home.


Bank says it #39;s gaining customers since merger Thousands of new customers across the Northeast are flocking to Bank of America Corp., chief executive Kenneth D. Lewis said yesterday, despite a wave of bad


Ottawa surplus swells to \$9.1 billion The federal government raked in billions more than it expected last year in personal and corporate income taxes, and slapped down all \$9.


Panthers #39; defense takes big hit before game with Eagles PHILADELPHIA  The Carolina Panthers #39; hopes of relying on their defense to help their injury-plagued offense took a big hit Wednesday when coach Jon Fox announced that defensive tackle Kris


State Street's lost shirt Investors losing their shirts in Hollywood is an old story. Stars get in their eyes and, before you know it, the money is gone.


Boston Scientific to skirt sanctions The Food and Drug Administration is unlikely to sanction Boston Scientific Corp. after reviewing its handling of safety recalls of its new cardiac stent system, an agency official said yesterday.


Rheumatoid arthritis drug market heats up The fight over the lucrative market for rheumatoid arthritis drugs is heating up. In the last five years, three similar drugs have been introduced that offer patients the promise of getting back on their feet. Now the manufacturers of all three are jockeying for market share so they can be the leader when Medicare's full prescription drug benefit takes effect ...


Bank says it's gaining customers since merger Thousands of new customers across the Northeast are flocking to Bank of America Corp. , chief executive Kenneth D. Lewis said yesterday, despite a wave of bad publicity over layoffs and other business decisions.


Profiteering seen with flu vaccine Amid an unprecedented shortage of flu vaccine, pharmacists at several Massachusetts hospitals say that suppliers have offered to sell them shots in recent days for as much as \$90 a dose, more than 10 times the normal price.


Crude futures rally over \$53 Crude oil futures rallied back above \$53 late yesterday on speculation and panic sparked by an oil line explosion in Mexico.


Finland, US ranked top economies Northern Europe and key Asian countries remained home to the most competitive economies worldwide, cementing their ranks among the top 10 in an annual survey of business leaders by the World Economic Forum. Finland retained the top spot for the third time in the last four years, followed by the United States.


Yawkey Center building dedicated Officials dedicated the Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, a 10-story, 400,000-square-foot addition to Massachusetts General Hospital that opened Tuesday with 1,200 patients being seen on the first day. The \$219 million glass and steel building on Cambridge Street, with underground parking for 725 cars, is the largest ambulatory care facility in New England. The project began more than two years ...


Ahold, executives settle fraud charges Global grocery retailer Ahold NV has agreed to a settlement of civil fraud charges over an alleged \$1 billion overstatement of earnings in a deal with US regulators that does not fine the company.


Analysts say debt is Delta's top woe As Delta Air Lines Inc. struggles to turn itself around, much of the focus has been on its call for concessions from pilots. But some analysts say Delta's massive debt is a bigger challenge -- and one that's more difficult to resolve outside of bankruptcy.


SEC proposes tighter IPO regulations Artificially boosting demand for initial public stock offerings and ramping up related commissions would be restricted under rules proposed yesterday by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.


Japan Fumes Over Whales as U.N. Meeting Winds Up  BANGKOK (Reuters) - Japan was fuming over the failure of  its bid to expand trade in whale products and Africa swapped  blows over ivory Thursday as a U.N. meeting on trade in wild  plants and animals wrapped up.


Merck: Successor pill safer than Vioxx   #151; Merck   Co., the US drug maker that recalled its Vioxx painkiller because of a link to heart disease, said short-term studies show the company's planned successor pill, Arcoxia, is safer.


Officials defend safety of mall Natick Mall officials are standing by their safety record, despite a recent reported rape of a teenager there.


Waltham sex boutique aims to attract couples On a recent Wednesday night at the Lifestyles shop on Moody Street, owner Gary Stone gestured toward a couple in their 40s who were perusing the store's lengthy wall of sex toys. They were dressed smartly, as if they had just dined at one of Waltham's fancier downtown restaurants.


Lawsuits filed by wait staff over tips A former waiter has filed a class-action lawsuit against a prestigious West Newton country club, contending that his employer illegally withheld thousands of dollars in tips from him and other servers.


Town presses state for sewer funds Town officials are hoping the state can unearth \$1.4 million to help bring sewers to the Medway 495 Business Park. Otherwise, they say, some 250 area jobs may be lost -- not to mention thousands of dollars in annual tax revenue.


Lock-in rates for heating oil a gamble for local suppliers LAWRENCE -- The 6,000 letters offering to lock in prices for a season's worth of heating oil were mailed a couple of weeks ago to customers of Haffner's Service Station Inc. But even though the prices being charged are about a third higher than last year, the contracts are a crapshoot for Peggy Willett.


Child-porn strategy pressures Web firms Ontario is prepared to force Internet service providers to blow the whistle on child pornography sites, Attorney-General Michael Bryant announced yesterday.


Mobile Phones Increase Tumor Risk, Study Says  STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Ten or more years of mobile phone use  increases the risk of developing acoustic neuroma, a benign  tumor on the auditory nerve, according to a study released on  Wednesday by Sweden's Karolinska Institute.


Armitage: US Not Yet Seeking Sanctions on Iran Iran should be  quot;brought to account quot; on its nuclear program, but Washington is open to ideas other than taking it to the UN Security Council for sanctions, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Wednesday.


Huge Explosion Rocks Gaza City A Palestinian schoolgirl runs past the rubble of a destroyed building next to a United Nations school in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004.


China sports star in Aids campaign Aids activists get help from Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, back in Shanghai for a promotional game.


Plane diverted in security alert A plane flying from Hong Kong to London's Heathrow airport is diverted to Stansted following a security alert.


New Crew Sets Off for Space Station American NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao, bottom, Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov, center, and Russian Yuri Shargin, top, wave just before their launch at the cosmodrome Baikonur in Kazakstan, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004.


Zook, Gators Get Involved In Brouhaha With Fraternity Florida football coach Ron Zook, right, couldn #39;t take down Tennessee or LSU this season. But, according to published reports, Zook threatened to  quot;take down quot; a University of Florida fraternity house, where


HAMAS FIEND SURRENDERS IN HIS SKIVVIES JERUSALEM - A terrorist commander who had sent homicide bombers to blow themselves up surrendered meekly in his underwear yesterday after Israeli paratroopers surrounded his West Bank hideout.


Taiwan said to conduct plutonium tests in '80s VIENNA -- The UN nuclear watchdog agency has found that Taiwan's experiments with plutonium extended to the mid-1980s, diplomats said yesterday, uncovering a key detail about the country's now-abandoned nuclear weapons program.


Worker rights, welfare demands fail HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's newly elected lawmakers, who promised last month to listen closely and fight for the less fortunate, threw out two motions calling for more workers' rights and welfare yesterday.


Narrow rule feared after Russia lifts leader limits MOSCOW -- The Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, voted yesterday to overturn a ban on political party leaders becoming ministers, raising fears that Soviet-style one-party rule could make a comeback.


China dismisses Taiwan overture BEIJING -- The Chinese government declared yesterday that a conciliatory proposal made Sunday by President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan was fraudulent, intended only to fool Taiwanese voters and international opinion.


Egypt eyes possible link of 17 arrests to Sinai bombings CAIRO -- Egyptian authorities are investigating whether 17 suspected Al Qaeda members arrested while illegally entering Libya have any connection with last week's coordinated bombings at Sinai tourist resorts that killed 34 people, an Egyptian official said yesterday.


Russian rocket blasts off for station BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan -- A Russian rocket carrying a new Russian-US crew to the international space station lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome early today.


Officials target support for foreign fighters BAGHDAD -- Six US soldiers were reported killed in Iraq yesterday, while the country's interim prime minister threatened a major offensive against the city of Fallujah unless its residents hand over Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian guerrilla leader thought to be hiding there.


Blair says he won't apologize for Iraq war LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair weathered yet another storm over the Iraq conflict yesterday, vigorously denying he misled Britain over Iraqi weapons and refusing to apologize for the war.


Sharp Contrasts for Candidates on Domestic and Social Issues President Bush and John Kerry clashed over the war on terrorism, the loss of jobs overseas and the state of health care.


A Crucial Test, but Not Final George W. Bush and John Kerry ended the debates as they began them, with starkly defined differences on most issues.


Justices Consider Executions of Young Killers The court appeared deeply divided over whether the death penalty for acts committed while a juvenile should be seen as "cruel and unusual punishment."


FDA Approves Use of Chip in Patients WASHINGTON - Privacy advocates are concerned that an implantable microchip designed to help doctors tap into a patient's medical records could undermine confidentiality or could even be used to track the patient's movements.   "If privacy protections aren't built in at the outset, there could be harmful consequences for patients," said Emily Stewart, a policy analyst at the Health Privacy Project...


Funding cuts threaten bee health Funding cuts to Britain's bee inspectors could worsen the effects of hive diseases, a lobby group says.


New Crew Sets Off for Space Station BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Russian rocket carrying two cosmonauts and an American astronaut to the international space station lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome on Thursday.    For Russians Salizhan Sharipov and Yuri Shargin and American Leroy Chiao, it was the first mission in a Soyuz spacecraft - breaking the nearly 30-year tradition of having at least one crewman with previous experience in piloting the capsule...


Australia elect to bat in second test v India Australia #39;s stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist elected to bat in the second test against India on Thursday. Australia, 1-0 up in the four-match series, retained the same eleven


Open Source: Balancing Innovation and Risk The world of software development traditionally was a clandestine one, where developers in the bowels of their institution were entrenched in writing thousands of lines of code to meet ever-changing business requirements.


Man arrested in England in sex assault on Austin teen AUSTIN, Texas A 36-year-old man has been arrested in England for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old Austin girl he met in an Internet chat room.


Beckham out for up to a month Following his idea of being  #39;clever #39; last weekend, David Beckham will be out of action for up to a month with the rib injury he suffered following his foul on Wales #39; Ben Thatcher.


Focus on SpaceShipOne #39;s creator Burt Rutan, creator of the first privately-owned manned spaceship, is a dentist #39;s son who tested model airplanes from the window of his mother #39;s car as a child.


English man accused of sex with Texas minor he met on the Web A 36-year-old man has been arrested in England and charged with having sex with a 15-year-old Texas girl he met in an Internet chat room.


Gates: Broadcast model faces irrelevancy Bill Gates, head of the world #39;s largest software company, predicts a future for the entertainment industry in which traditional broadcast television is rendered irrelevant.


Merck defends itself on Vioxx Faced with credibility questions about the Vioxx recall, Merck executives yesterday insisted the first clear signs linking the painkiller to heart problems emerged only last month.


Becks row rumbles on David Beckham is still in danger of facing disciplinary action for admitting he got booked on purpose - despite Sven-Goran Eriksson #39;s attempts to draw a line under the controversy.


Australia Chooses to Bat in Second Cricket Test Against India Australia captain Adam Gilchrist won the toss and chose to bat first against India in the second cricket Test in Chennai. Australia, which won the first Test by 217 runs after Gilchrist


Around Asia #39;s Markets: JPMorgan says shift in yuan is likely China may adjust its currency #39;s peg to the dollar within a year by fixing the yuan against a basket of currencies rather than adopting a floating exchange-rate regime, according to JPMorgan Private Bank.


US pushes Nato over Afghanistan The US is calling on Nato to take overall responsibility for peacekeeping and reconstruction in Afghanistan. US officials are proposing the separate US and Nato missions there should merge under Nato command


Israeli soldier suspended in girl #39;s death GAZA CITY, Gaza StripThe Israeli army yesterday suspended a platoon commander suspected of emptying an ammunition clip into a 13-year-old Palestinian girl from close range after she had collapsed under fire.


Goldcorp Agrees to Buy Wheaton River for \$1.8 Bln (Update3) Goldcorp Inc., Canada #39;s fourth-largest gold producer, has agreed to buy Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. for \$1.8 billion in stock, giving Goldcorp its first assets outside of North America, Chief Executive Robert R. McEwen said.


Apple posts highest Q4 revenue in almost a decade Apple reported revenue for the quarter of \$2.35 billion, up 37 from the \$1.72 billion recorded during last year's fourth quarter.


Pujols Gets Cardinals Off to Fast Start (AP) AP - Albert Pujols made sure the St. Louis Cardinals got off to another fast start.


Trail Blazers Clobber SuperSonics 92-73 (AP) AP - After a camp marred by trouble involving reserve forward Qyntel Woods, the Portland Trail Blazers opened preseason play Wednesday night with a 92-73 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.


Boston Sluggers Fall Silent for 2nd Game (AP) AP - Red Sox bats that knocked balls over fences all season flailed wildly at them in the first two games of the AL championship series.


Soccer World Cup: U.S. Beats Panama 6-0 (AP) AP - There'll be no last-minute pressure this time. The United States advanced to the next round of World Cup qualifying with a game to spare.


Win Over Miami Would Be Big for Louisville (AP) AP - The spectator with the brusque baritone, push-broom mustache and divided loyalties at Thursday night's game between the Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals will be Howard Schnellenberger.


Yankees Edge Red Sox to Take Command of Series  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jon Lieber pitched seven shutout  innings and John Olerud cracked a two-run homer as the New York  Yankees dumped the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Wednesday to take  command of the American League championship series.


Johnson's Sudden Hat Trick Leads U.S. Past Panama  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eddie Johnson came off the bench to  score a hat-trick in 16 minutes as the U.S. thrashed Panama 6-0  in a CONCACAF zone World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.


Lieber Tucks In Red Sox for the Night Jon Lieber subdued Pedro Martnez and the mighty offense of the Boston Red Sox, leading the Yankees to a 3-1 victory.


Down again in N.Y. NEW YORK -- Hold off on the traditional postseason, red, white and blue bunting draped over the rails at Fenway for the upcoming weekend series with the Yankees. After wicked Wednesday's double-barrel blast of bad news from the Bronx, Red Sox management might want to decorate with black crepe when the American League Championship Series resumes tomorrow night at the ...


Experience big in Phillies' search Former Red Sox manager Grady Little is among five former major league managers lining up to interview for the vacant manager's job with the Phillies. Former Cleveland Indians skipper Charlie Manuel, who has been serving as a special assistant and advisor with the Phillies, had his turn yesterday as the Phillies look for a replacement for Larry Bowa , who ...


They're holding all the aces now NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera picked up the save, the 32d of his illustrious postseason career. But you already knew that. You knew that back in March.


Johnson receives a message with benching Bethel Johnson remains in the dark on why Patriots coach Bill Belichick decided the second-year wide receiver out of Texas A amp;M should have been kept off the 45-man active roster for last Sunday's win over the Dolphins.


Disgruntled Rice keeps up pressure for a trade Jerry Rice was scheduled to meet with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis on last night to discuss the receiver's future after he said he wants to be traded.


European powers get back on track Order was restored in Europe, but South American leaders Brazil and Argentina couldn't find the net yesterday as both were held to 0-0 draws in World Cup qualifying.


Celtics learn a lot in loss to Pistons The Pistons returned to the scene of their most recent triumph last night, taking the floor at The Palace of Auburn Hills for the first time since capturing the 2003-04 NBA championship.


Gold helmet winners Shawn Brady, QB, Northeastern With four touchdown passes in Northeastern's 34-30 win over No. 14 Villanova, the Huskies' senior quarterback was awarded this week's Division 1-AA Gold Helmet Award. Brady connected on TD strikes of 26, 24, 13, and 9 yards as the Huskies edged the Wildcats. The winningest quarterback in NU history, Brady was 17 of 24 for 299 ...


BC stays in running When it comes to inexperienced, talented running backs, Boston College is suffering from an embarrassment of riches.


Former Framingham QB catching on as BC receiver Tony Gonzalez, a former Globe All-Scholastic quarterback from Framingham High School and the Globe's Division 2 high school Player of the Year in 2000, is now a sophomore on the Boston College football team that is off to a 4-1 start.


BC High shuts down the Prep Defense has been the theme for No. 13 BC High and 14th-ranked St. John's Prep for most of this soccer season. Yesterday, BC High was just a little bit better in a 1-0 win that assured the host Eagles at least a share of the Catholic Conference title.  quot;That's a top defensive battle, quot; said BC coach Billy Ryan.  quot;The players ...


With Help, Sea Turtles Rally to Escape Oblivion Olive ridley sea turtles are making a comeback, largely because of Mexican conservation efforts.


Yankees Take Lead Jon Lieber outduels Pedro Martinez as the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 3-1, Wednesday for a 2-0 lead in their ALCS rematch.


Cardinals Win Opener Larry Walker delivers three key hits as the Cardinals slug their way past the Astros, 10-7, Wednesday in Game 1 of a NLCS many feel is being unjustly overlooked.


WVU Clips Huskies Rasheed Marshall rushes for 110 yards and throws a touchdown pass Wednesday night to lead No. 17 West Virginia to a 31-19 victory over Connecticut.


Relief Crew Is on Its Way to Space Station A replacement crew for the International Space Station blasted off aboard a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia.


Japan #39;s Nikkei, Topix Fall, Paced by Canon on US Jobs Report Japanese stocks fell, paced by exporters such as Canon Inc. and Nissan Motor Co., after a US government report showed that the world #39;s largest economy added fewer jobs in November than some economists had expected.


Religious Meeting in Indonesia Aims to Blunt Radicals Indonesia #39;s president will open an international religious conference in the world #39;s most populous Muslim nation on Monday aimed at sending a message of moderation


Fitting Your PC in a Pocket OQO, a tiny 14-ounce Windows XP computer, may just be the most elegant and versatile miniature PC possible with current technology.


Smaller Can Be Better (Except When It's Not) Stores are stocked with an abundance of featherweight gadgets. But some of these tiny gadgets raise a new question: How small is too small?


4 European Nations Accused of Unfairly Favoring Intel The European Commission said on Wednesday that France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland had unfairly favored Intel in public contracts for computer equipment.


Merck: Successor pill safer than Vioxx Merck  amp; Co., the US drug maker that recalled its Vioxx painkiller because of a link to heart disease, said short-term studies show the companys planned successor pill, Arcoxia, is safer.


SEC Settles with Ahold, Execs The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed enforcement actions against Royal Ahold NV and three former executives, alleging fraud and other violations stemming from the Dutch food giant #39;s massive accounting scandal.


SEC probes papers #39; circulation figures The Securities and Exchange Commission has started an investigation into newspaper circulation reporting after several publications acknowledged exaggerating their sales.


Dallas Fed chief set to leave Dallas Federal Reserve Bank president Robert McTeer, the self-styled inflation  quot;lonesome dove, quot; yesterday said he would step down to lead the Texas A amp;M University


#39;Saucy Beckham pics #39; used as virus bait Virus writers have latched onto the publicity surrounding football star David Beckham and his sexual escapades and are luring unsuspecting web users to a site that offers a whole lot more than just a couple of Photoshopped pics of David Beckham and his


Soccer World Cup: US Beats Panama 6-0 The United States #39; DaMarcus Beasley (17), who plays for PSV Einhoven in the Netherlands, battles for the ball against Panama #39;s Jose Anthony Torres, left, during the second half of their World Cup qualifying match Wednesday, Oct.


Skipper Ponting blow for Aussies Australia could be without skipper Ricky Ponting for the whole of the Test series in India. Having missed the First Test victory in Bangalore and the Second Test, which started today in Chennai, Ponting has


He owns Manuel on managing The Phillies have decided to bring all of their managerial candidates in front of the media, where they undergo a quasi second job interview.


Costa Rica beat Canada 3-1 in WC qualifier Costa Rica overcame an early goal down to beat Canada 3-1 in Vancouver on Wednesday, ending the hometeam #39;s hopes of advancing to the next round of World Cup qualification.


Michigan #39;s focus strictly on Illinois Q. Are the Wolverines looking ahead to their game at Purdue in less than two weeks? A. It wouldnt be surprising if the Wolverines are sneaking a peek at the


Virgin Flight From Hong Kong Diverted (AP) AP - A Virgin Atlantic plane was diverted to land at Stansted airport north of London Thursday after receiving a bomb threat, police said.


Israel Presses Offensive in Northern Gaza (AP) AP - Israel's largest and bloodiest offensive in Gaza in four years of conflict moved into its third week, with missile strikes killing six Palestinians and Israeli troops digging into the northern end of the crowded territory.


Australian govt says pre-election economic forecasts too optimistic (AFP) AFP - Treasurer Peter Costello has been accused of preparing to break big-spending election promises by playing down official predictions of strong economic growth as the government moved towards outright control of both houses of Parliament.


Musharraf dual role backed by MPs Pakistan's parliament passes a bill allowing Gen Pervez Musharraf to remain as both president and head of the army.


Bush, Kerry Duel Over Domestic Policy TEMPE, Ariz. - President Bush and rival John Kerry vaulted into the home stretch of the race for the White House by trading blows on taxes, gun control, abortion and jobs, striving in their final debate to cement impressions in voters' minds...


Crude prices rise above US\$54 on supply fears Crude oil prices rose above US\$54 Thursday on speculation sparked by a pipeline explosion in Mexico and a continued work stoppage in Nigeria.


Silent night The New York Yankees are starting to rummage through their closet, looking for those brooms, just in case. The Boston Red Sox are trying to keep their closet door locked, before all those infernal ghosts get out again.


F1: Grand Prix hopes splutter into life The British Grand Prix has been given a stay of execution after being included on Formula One #39;s draft 2005 calendar. Silverstone owners the British Racing Drivers #39; Club have


Russian favourite Safin stumbles in Kremlin Cup Top seed and home favourite Marat Safin was bundled out of the Kremlin Cup in the second round 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 by unseeded Czech Radek Stepanek.


Israel kills five after renewed Hamas threat  quot;disengage quot; from conflict with Palestinians by evacuating all Jewish settlers from Gaza and a few from the West Bank in 2005.


Singapore govt fund may offer \$110 million -report TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Singapore #39;s state investment arm Temasek Holdings Pte may buy a stake in China Minsheng Banking Corp., according to a published report.


Bank of Montreal to acquire Indiana-based institution Toronto (Dow Jones) -- Bank of Montreal on Wednesday said it agreed to acquire Mercantile Bancorp Inc. for \$156.5 million as it moves to expand in the Midwest region of the United States.


Bryant shrugs off Jackson #39;s criticism Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss issued a four-point written statement. Rudy Tomjanovich offered words of praise outside the locker room.


FIA issue 19-race draft calendar The British Grand Prix is one of 19 races listed on the provisional calendar for the 2005 Formula One season, as released by the sport #39;s governing body, the FIA, on Wednesday.


Heatley approves Swiss-league deal Atlanta Thrashers forward Dany Heatley agreed to contract terms Wednesday with Bern in Switzerland to play with the club during the NHL lockout.


Falluja negotiator dismisses threat negotiator for the rebel-held city says its people are being asked to chase shadows. top enemy in Iraq, or face military action. told Arabic Al Jazeera television on Thursday, adding that the government had now halted peace talks.


I bankrolled Zuma - Shaik DURBAN - Businessman Schabir Shaik has acknowledged he bankrolled Deputy President Jacob Zuma, claiming that he did so to enable Zuma to stay in politics.


Program Links Diabetic Kids With Doctors (AP) AP - Diabetic 9-year-old Gabe Mathews had very low blood sugar before a test, but hours later at home his mother found it to be far too high.


First Look: OQO Handheld PC Fails to Excite (PC World) PC World - Design and performance issues hold back this very cool idea.


Adobe Ships Upgrade of Photoshop For Non-Professionals (TechWeb) TechWeb - Adobe releases an upgrade of its consumer-focused photo-editing software, which has been enhanced with new features for improving photo quality.


IPod Helps Lift Apple's Fourth-Quarter Profit (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - The iPod helped Apple's profit get up and dance.


FDA Approves Use of Chip in Patients (AP) AP - Privacy advocates are concerned that an implantable microchip designed to help doctors tap into a patient's medical records could undermine confidentiality or could even be used to track the patient's movements.


Spy freed as part of prisoner exchange An ecstatic Azzam Azzam, the Israeli Druze businessman held in an Egyptian jail for seven years on spying charges, was released yesterday in a prisoner swap seen as signalling a thaw in relations between the two countries.


US reveals anti-piracy proposals A new report calls for the creation of new anti-piracy offices across the US, Europe and Asia.


Sony Ericsson sees profits triple Japanese-Swedish mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson reports a tripling of its third quarter profit, driven by sales of new camera phones.


U.S. Forces, Insurgents Battle in Ramadi (AP) AP - U.S. forces traded fire with insurgents in the Sunni stronghold of Ramadi following a series of raids, residents said Thursday, and at least eight people were reported killed.


Putin Sets Veto Outcry at Rest NEW DELHI, 5 December 2004 - Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified his stand yesterday on Moscow favoring Indias membership of the UN Security Council.


New Somali leader to be sworn in Somalia's president-elect, tasked with setting up the first national government in 13 years, is due to take the oath of office in Kenya.


FACT CHECK As they traded charges and countercharges on the economy, health care and other domestic issues, President Bush mischaracterized who received the tax cuts that have been the centerpiece


Death of Bx. mom cited in 1st round of Vioxx suits A Brooklyn lawyer announced plans yesterday to file the first federal lawsuits against Merck  amp; Co. on behalf of New Yorkers who developed heart troubles using the arthritis drug Vioxx.


Federal surplus is good news The shouts of astonishment and outrage echoed from every part of the country yesterday as Canadians contemplated the newly announced federal government budget surplus: \$9.


Russia launches manned space mission to ISS MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - A Soyuz TMA-5 spaceship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome with a Soyuz-FG rocket at 7:06 am on Thursday, an


Microsoft Ups Ante Vs. iTunes NEW YORK - Microsoft #39;s new offensive in the digital music industry will seek to significantly alter the competitive landscape in a new market that until now has largely been dominated by Apple Computer and its powerful combination of the iPod portable


Ultima Online: Samurai Empire Gone Gold October 13, 2004 - EA sent word that Ultima Online: Samurai Empire has gone gold today and will be in stores Nov. 2nd.  quot;We are right on track to deliver this exciting new experience to our fans next month, quot; said


Solaris critically flawed TIM FIRM Sun has released details of a critical bug in both its Solaris operating system and the Java Desktop System. Affected systems are Solaris 7, 8 and 9 on both the Sparc and x86 platforms, and the JDS


Weary Rivera saves day for Yankees again Mariano Rivera smiled easily and talked about how yesterday was better, how the  quot;sun came up today. quot; But his eyes were still weary when he stopped to talk during batting practice before Game 2 of the ALCS last night.


Cards offense switches into gear it needs to win The constant pattering of the Thunderstixx and the Budweiser jingle further fueled the migraine-like misery sustained Wednesday night by the Houston Astros.


Kuznetsova wins, Safin loses at Kremlin Cup On the men #39;s side, top-seeded Marat Safin was upset by Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 6-3. Stepanek, No.


Microsoft patent-infringement case to go to trial A federal judge ruled against Microsoft on Wednesday in a patent suit challenging  quot;AutoPlay quot; technology included in recent versions of Microsoft Windows.


Study: Denver-to-Vail plan would cost less than I-70 growth Supporters of building a monorail from Denver to Vail released a study Monday that shows the project is technically feasible and can be done for less cost per mile than a planned highway expansion.


Falluja negotiator dismisses threat Iraq #39;s interim prime minister has threatened to attack Falluja unless it turns in foreign militants, but a negotiator for the rebel-held city says its people are being asked to chase shadows.


Afghanistan vote count gets go-ahead Afghanistan #39;s electoral commission gave the go-ahead for counting to begin today in the disputed presidential election after charges of fraudulent multiple voting forced a delay.


First Look: OQO Handheld PC Fails to Excite Design and performance issues hold back this very cool idea.


Israel, Europe Could Be on Collision Course-Report (Reuters) Reuters - Israel could end up on a collision\course with the European Union and face sanctions like\apartheid-era South Africa unless the Israeli-Palestinian\conflict is resolved, a confidential government report warns.


Bomb alert forces Virgin Atlantic plane to land at Stansted airport (AFP) AFP - A bomb alert forced a Virgin Atlantic flight from Hong Kong to London's Heathrow airport to land at Stansted airport, north of the British capital, as a  quot;precautionary measure quot;, officials said.


Israel, Europe Could Be on Collision Course-Report  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel could end up on a collision  course with the European Union and face sanctions like  apartheid-era South Africa unless the Israeli-Palestinian  conflict is resolved, a confidential government report warns.


Martha #39;s furniture line about to grow Martha Stewart may be living in prison cell basics, but outside her company soldiers on. Now, it sees a future in furniture. The jailed diva #39;s company rolled out additions to its Signature furniture


Sony Ericsson Profit Rises 45 on Camera Phone Demand (Update2) Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ltd., the mobile-phone venture owned by Sony Corp. and Ericsson AB, said third-quarter profit rose 45 percent on camera phone demand and forecast this quarter will be its strongest.


Vonage talks of 911 advancements Vonage, an Internet phone service provider, and emergency telecom specialist Intrado say together they #39;ve conducted successful trials of an advanced means of making emergency phone calls using the Internet.


Thierry finds his goal touch Thierry Henry scored his first international goal for four months to help struggling France snatch a badly needed 2-0 victory over Cyprus.


Tim has Nets in sights Tim Thomas was airborne one second and a chalk outline the next. That #39;s how quickly Jason Collins, the Nets #39; center, knocked Thomas out of last year #39;s playoffs and revealed a softer, gentler


Finland leads in economic competition for the second straight year According to the World Economic Forums ranking, for the second straight year the most competitive economy is Finlands one. Finland hit the top for the quality of its public institutions and the high


Evesham e-box Media Center 2005 PC Review Evesham #39;s first attempt at a Media Center PC, the eMedia, was, to be honest, far from perfect. But the UK PC maker learned from the mistakes it made, and went back to the drawing board.


BoA Profit Up 29 Percent on Lending Bank of America Corp. (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 3 US bank, on Thursday said third-quarter profit rose 29 percent, helped by its purchase of FleetBoston Financial Corp.


National City #39;s 3Q Profit Soars 72 Percent National City Corp. on Thursday said third-quarter profit rose 72 percent as the financial holding company benefited from its corporate and consumer businesses and recent acquisitions.


Sony Ericsson triples 3Q profits LONDON, October 14 (newratings.com) - Sony Ericsson posted robust profit growth for 3Q04, with the company #39;s quarterly pre-tax profits more than tripling from the one year ago levels.


EU charges countries favouring Intel over AMD France, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden are violating European Union law by favouring chips made by Intel over rival AMD when they buy computers, the European Commission has said in formal charges.


No receipts? IRS will provide sales-tax tables President Bush has yet to sign the corporate-tax bill that includes sales-tax relief for Washington state, and there are lots of details to fill in.


Halo 2 leaked onto the internet Microsoft has said it is trying to track down the people behind a pirated copy of the forthcoming Halo 2 game. A version of the eagerly awaited Xbox game has appeared on net piracy sites and newsgroups, almost a month before making it into the shops.


PayPal Getting Back to Normal after Outage PayPal began getting back to normal Tuesday afternoon and improved significantly on Wednesday after a 4-day intermittent problem left many users unable to access their accounts.


Sony execs -  #39;we fell asleep in portable music #39; Sony executives yesterday said they  quot;fell asleep quot; in the portable music market - but the company is awake now. Sony plans to improve its position in the market by next year, promising a range of products that aim at Apple #39;s iPod.


IBM unveils new Shark and midrange array IBM has unveiled two new enterprise-class storage arrays which, despite being aimed at different markets, can be managed through a single interface and data can be replicated between them.


Dell rides the wave to consumer gadgets Dell (DELL) will set out Thursday to conquer markets dominated by Apple (APPL), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and others with products that include its first small digital music player, photo printer and plasma TV.


Microsoft security updates Microsoft has released fresh security updates for Office, and an update to its MSN messenger application. The MSN Messenger update brings the product to version 4.0.


Yanks Go Up 2-0; Cardinals Win Opener New York Yankees starter Jon Lieber, center, hands off the ball to manager Joe torre, left, as he leaves the game against the Boston Red Sox in the in the 8th inning of the game 2 of the American League championship series at Yankee Stadium in New York


UPDATE 3-Kumble fells Australia, Warne equals record Leg spinner Anil Kumble captured seven wickets for 48 runs as Australia were dismissed for 235 on the first day of the second test on Thursday.


No room for complacency from table-topping England England head into a five-month World Cup qualifying break with top slot in Group Six and the knowledge they can ill-afford to be complacent next year.


Victory in Moldova Vogts pledges and predicted the victory would be more impressive than Italy #39;s. The German knows he could be sacked if Scotland


Nokia Says Profit Will Keep Falling as Prices Drop (Update2) Nokia Oyj, the world #39;s largest mobile- phone maker, said profit may drop for a second straight quarter after reporting a 20 percent decline in third-quarter earnings as it cut prices in a bid to regain market share.


\$9-billion surplus puts tax cuts on gov #39;t agenda OTTAWA -- Finance Minister Ralph Goodale says he #39;s looking at another round of tax cuts after revealing the federal government posted a \$9.


Cricket: Harbhajan #39;s dual strike halts Australia in second Test MADRAS, India : Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh grabbed two wickets in three balls to lead India #39;s fightback in the second cricket Test against Australia here.


Montoya  #39;poised for FIA summons #39; Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya could be summoned to a meeting of Formula One #39;s governing body, the FIA, to explain his conduct, according to reports.


Mets coaches axed The Mets made the expected changes to Art Howe #39;s former staff in announcing yesterday that only pitching coach Rick Peterson would be retained.


Wie is older, but still just 15 If we #39;re talking about 15-year-old kids and Game Boy video games, well, then, it must be time for another On Golf column. Michelle Wie is back in the news, fresh off her latest birthday last week, meaning


UPDATE 1-Davenport takes over top spot from Mauresmo Lindsay Davenport will take over the number one spot from Amelie Mauresmo when the rankings are released next week after reaching the Kremlin Cup quarter-finals


No. 17 West Virginia 31, Connecticut 19 West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez was more concerned about the 89 yards in penalties than the 300-plus yards of rushing offense piled up by his Mountaineers.


Baghdad Blasts in Green Zone Kill 8 Civilians, Military Says Eight civilians were killed and at least three were wounded in two blasts in Baghdad #39;s fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices, Lieutenant Colonel James Hutton, a US military


General Motors to cut 12,000 jobs in Europe General Motors Europe is to slash its workforce by around a fifth, cutting as many as 12,000 jobs in a bid to halt chronic losses in the region.


World ; Death Toll from Israel #39;s Gaza Offensive Rises to 100 World News, GAZA - Israeli air strikes killed five Palestinians in Gaza Thursday as the Palestinian death toll rose to 100 in a 16-day-old army offensive aimed at crushing militants behind rocket salvoes into Israel.


Germany Reiterates Opposition to Sending Troops to Iraq The German government has reiterated its opposition to sending troops to Iraq, after a top German official suggested otherwise. A spokesman for German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the German leader told


Afghan Officials Start Counting Presidential Ballots (Update2) The counting of ballots from Afghanistan #39;s Oct. 9 presidential election began after a delay caused by allegations of voting irregularities, the country #39;s electoral commission said.


EU Court Annuls EU100.8 Mln in Fines on German Banks (Update1) A European court struck down fines totaling 100.8 million euros (\$125 million) on HVB Group, Dresdner Bank AG and three German competitors for fixing European currency- conversion rates.


Southwest Airlines 3Q Profit Increases Low-fare carrier Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday that its third-quarter profit rose 12.3 percent to beat Wall Street expectations despite higher fuel costs.


Microsoft Issues Flurry of Fixes on Busy Patch Day Microsoft released a  quot;cumulative security update quot; for Internet Explorer (MS04-38) that plugs eight holes in the popular browser, as well as six other unique patches for vulnerabilities that the company rated as critical.


Fake Beckham pix in new virus scare Virus writers are attempting to take over computer users #39; PCs by enticing them to click on a malicious programme masquerading as lurid photos of England soccer captain David Beckham, according to a security firm.


Novell patents to protect more than open source Novell Inc has taken its new stance on software patents in order to protect innovation in the industry as a whole, not just the open source community, according to a European regulator.


Kumble claims seven, Australia collapse at 235 Chennai, Oct 14 (UNI) Leg spinner Anil Kumble #39;s devastating spell of seven for 48 helped India skittle out Australia for 235 runs in their first essay on the opening day of the second TVS cup series Test at the MA Chidambaram stadium here today.


Italy slips down competitive list while Nordic countries remain <b>...</b> Italy has sunk down the list of the world #39;s most competitive countries because of bureaucracy, infrastructures and high taxes, a report by the World Economic Forum has revealed.


Citigroup Profit Rises 13 Percent (Reuters) Reuters - Citigroup Inc.  on Thursday said\third-quarter profit rose 13 percent, topping most Wall Street\forecasts, as growth in consumer businesses offset declining\stock and bond market revenue.


GM Earnings at the Low End of Forecast (Reuters) Reuters - General Motors Corp.  on Thursday\posted slightly stronger quarterly earnings, but the results\were at the low end of its own forecast and the company cut its\earnings outlook for the year due to slower growth in\Asia-Pacific and mounting losses in Europe.


Import Prices Rise Less Than Expected (Reuters) Reuters - The cost of goods imported into the\United States rose by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent in\September, a government report showed on Thursday, as petroleum\import costs rose a modest 0.6 percent.


Bank of America Profit Up 29 Percent (Reuters) Reuters - Bank of America Corp. , the No.\3 U.S. bank, on Thursday said third-quarter profit rose 29\percent, helped by its purchase of FleetBoston Financial Corp.\and growth in deposits and credit card issuance.


Six Killed in Ghanaian Cargo Plane Crash - Company (Reuters) Reuters - Freight company MK Airlines confirmed on\Thursday that one of its Ghanaian-registered Boeing 747 cargo\planes crashed in Halifax, Canada, killing all six crew members\aboard.


Oil, China Push U.S. Trade Gap Near Record (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. trade deficit widened more\than expected in August to its second-highest level on record,\fueled by the highest oil import prices in 23 years and record\imports from China, the U.S. government said on Thursday.


Explosions in Baghdad's Green Zone Kill 8 (AP) AP - Two bombs apparently carried in by insurgents exploded at an outdoor market and a popular cafe in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone on Thursday, killing eight civilians and wounding a number of others, a U.S. military spokesman said.


GM Europe to Slash 12,000 Jobs by 2006 (AP) AP - General Motors Europe announced Thursday that it plans to cut 12,000 jobs on the continent by the end of 2006 in a plan aimed at saving  #36;617 million per year.


UN warns Africa of bleak future, telling it to brace for AIDS time bomb (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Africa must brace itself for an AIDS time bomb as 8,000 people are infected with HIV a day in the region worst hit by the pandemic, the United Nations warned Thursday.


Bush, Kerry trade shots on bin Laden, economy, health care (AFP) AFP - US President George W. Bush and Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry battled over Iraq, terrorism, health care, and jobs, hoping their final debate would break their deadlocked race.


GM to cut 12,000 jobs in Europe US car giant General Motors says it is to shed 12,000 jobs in Europe, with Germany bearing the brunt of the losses.


Sony Ericsson sees profits triple Japanese-Swedish mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson reports a tripling of its third-quarter profit, driven by sales of new camera phones.


Nigerian strike draws to a close A four-day general strike in Nigeria is expected to end shortly, with neither the unions nor government giving ground.


Eight dead in Iraq's Green Zone Eight people have been killed in two blasts in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, the US military says.


Hostage killed in Pakistan rescue One Chinese hostage held by Islamic militants dies and one is freed in a rescue mission by Pakistan's army.


Mobile phone 'ear tumours risk' Scientists have found using a mobile phone for at least 10 years increased the risk of ear tumours.


Sacked EU whistleblower defiant The European Commission's former chief accountant, who said the EU budget was open to fraud, will fight her dismissal.


Sierra Leone nabs S Korean boats The Sierra Leone navy seizes six South Korean trawlers after catching them fishing in their waters.


US diplomats baulk at Jewish bill The US State Department objects to a bill that would require it to set up an office on anti-Semitism.


Sacked India censor files lawsuit A sacked Indian film censor who refused to approve a movie on Gujarat riots sues a politician for defamation.


Barbarians 19 - 47 New Zealand Not since Australia beat South Africa in the 1999 World Cup semi-finals has there been such a southern hemisphere takeover of this stadium and the All Blacks took the opportunity to throw down a gauntlet to next year #39;s Lions.


FBI returns seized news servers Servers seized by the FBI from the Indymedia alternative media network have been returned.


Keep your eye on those surging Bills; Vick #39;s tough to figure out Well, well, well. The Redskins topped 20 points for the first time since The Restoration. Will wonders ever cease? Quickly now, who had Week 13 in the office pool?


Zeta 'stalker' bail plea refused A US judge refuses to lower the \$1million bail for a woman accused of stalking Catherine Zeta Jones.


MS PlaysForSure #8482; - GoneForNow #8482;? Those the gods wish to destroy, they first make really dumb


Nokia Reports 20 Percent Drop in Profit Nokia lost market share in the United States, its biggest market, but said it made "substantial gains" in Western Europe.


Reg online training offers 'try before you buy' Site offer Plus 10 off membership - while stocks last


Citigroup Profit Rises 13 Percent The \$1.02 per share reported was in line with estimates, as growth in consumer businesses offset declining stock and bond market revenue.


Devastating locusts spreading in Africa ROME -- Swarms of locusts that have devastated crops and pastures across West Africa may hit countries as far away as Pakistan, a UN agency said yesterday as it announced an intensified control campaign. The desert locusts are moving into southwest Libya, southern Algeria, and the borders of Morocco, the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organization said. Other swarms were ...


IT under threat, says Veritas Storage Expo It's 10pm, do you know where your DR plan is?


Europe's SAN avoidance strategy Storage Expo Do you want a SAN or a SANity check?


Removable disks back from the dead Storage Expo Iomega punts a hard disk autoloader


'Embrace digital' says film boss Hollywood must embrace digital technologies but also fight film piracy, says new US movie industry supremo.


Supreme Court Internet Privacy Decision Verizon attorney Sarah Deutsch and washingtonpost.com's David McGuire discuss the Supreme Court case allowing Internet service providers to keep their customers' identities secret, even if the recording industry suspects them of illegally sharing music online.


GM Europe to Slash 12,000 Jobs by 2006 RUESSELSHEIM, Germany - General Motors Europe announced Thursday that it plans to cut 12,000 jobs on the continent by the end of 2006 in a plan aimed at saving \$617 million per year.    The company said that 90 percent of the cuts would be made in 2005...


Israel Presses Offensive in Northern Gaza BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip - Israeli tanks and bulldozers pulled back from this Palestinian town Thursday, after tearing up roads, flattening strawberry greenhouses and knocking down walls of dozens of houses in what residents said was the most devastating raid in four years of fighting.    The two-day foray into Beit Lahiya was part of a major Israeli military offensive in the northern Gaza Strip, now in its third week...


Chicken Soup Replaces Flu Vaccine FERGUS FALLS, Minn. - People who went to a local clinic to get a flu shot didn't receive the vaccine they wanted...


Yanks Go Up 2-0; Cardinals Win Opener NEW YORK - Jon Lieber took a shutout into the eighth inning and John Olerud backed him with a two-run homer in the sixth off Pedro Martinez as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 3-1 Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in their AL championship series rematch. In the National League series opener Wednesday night, Albert Pujols homered early, Larry Walker delivered three key hits and the St...


Explosions in Baghdad's Green Zone Kill 8 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two bombs apparently carried in by insurgents exploded at an outdoor market and a popular cafe in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone on Thursday, killing eight civilians and wounding a number of others, a U.S. military spokesman said...


U.S. Pre-Ramadan Raids Net Insurgents BAGHDAD, Iraq - Stepping up raids before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, U.S. forces traded fire with insurgents in the Sunni stronghold of Ramadi, officials said Thursday, while troops detained 10 people, including two suspected insurgent leaders, in a sweep of Baqouba...


GM Europe to Cut 12,000 Jobs by the End RUESSELSHEIM, Germany - General Motors Europe announced Thursday that it plans to cut 12,000 jobs on the continent by the end of 2006 in a plan aimed at saving \$617 million per year.    The company said that 90 percent of the cuts would be made in 2005...


Hi-Def TV May Be PCs' Killer App It's been possible for years to watch television on a personal computer, but not many people do. The reasons are simple: mediocre picture and sound quality and the ergonomics of it all. TVs don't need to boot up.


TV Host O'Reilly Accused of Harassment NEW YORK - Bill O'Reilly, whose Fox News Channel show is the highest-rated cable news program, has been accused of sexual harassment by one of his producers. O'Reilly says the complaint is a politically motivated extortion attempt...


Scientists 'find key to hearing' Scientists pinpoint a protein they believe holds the key to hearing, and maybe new treatments for deafness.


Marine life booms in fishing ban A scheme which bans fishing east of Lundy Island is having a very beneficial effect on marine wildlife, says English Nature.


New Crew Sets Off for International Space Station By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV     BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) -- A rocket carrying two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut to the international space station streaked into orbit on Thursday, the latest flight of a Russian space vehicle to fill in for grounded U.S. shuttles...


Debating the Dinosaur Extinction At least 50 percent of the world's species, including the dinosaurs, went extinct 65 million years ago. While most scientists now blame this catastrophe on a large meteorite impact, others wonder if there is more to the story.


U.S. Making Flu Shots Priority for the Elderly By MICHELLE SPITZER     JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) -- Health officials are scurrying to secure flu vaccines so the elderly, who are most vulnerable to influenza, have first access to shots after the nation's supply was cut in half.    "We're begging, borrowing and stealing from every source we can come up with," said Paula Frank, a clinical consulting nurse for the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center...


Urban Smog: State of the World Based on 18 months of Envisat observations, this high-resolution global atmospheric map of nitrogen dioxide pollution makes clear just how human activities impact air quality.


Week in review: BCS fails again The BCS tried to spread joy and big bucks around the country Sunday and had its typical result. USC and Oklahoma came out the big winners and will play for the national champion in the Orange Bowl.


Vaughan and Jones to fore in another mismatch THE sight of Andrew Strauss delivering the penultimate over of this mismatch said more about the state of Zimbabwe cricket than any number of words.


Transit alternative would be costly SUMMIT COUNTY - The Colorado Intermountain Fixed Guideway Authority (CIFGA) has released its final report saying magnetic levitation could be a viable transit alternative from Denver to Eagle County.


McNair inactive; Volek starts against Colts Billy Volek made his fourth start of the season for the Titans and threw for 269 yards with three scores on 21-of-35 passing in a 51-24 loss to the Colts.


Henry helps Arsenal put faulty run behind them To paraphrase Basil Fawlty in the memorable sketch about Germans, Arsne Wenger did it once and got away with it. The Arsenal manager dropped Jens Lehmann for the


Gizmo shopping in Japan CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos travels to Tokyo to find out what might be winding up on U.S. shelves in the not-too-distant future.


Photo 5 of 5: Gadgets galore in old Tokyo CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos travels to Tokyo to find out what may soon be on U.S. shelves.


Photo 2 of 5: Gadgets galore in old Tokyo CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos travels to Tokyo to find out what may soon be on U.S. shelves.


U.S. Finally Holds Line on Weight Gain By MICHAEL HILL    (AP) -- Americans are more calorie-conscious and holding the line on weight gain after years of expanding waistlines, according to a market survey released Wednesday, but nutrition experts were wary of the findings.    The NPD Group's annual survey on eating habits found the portion of overweight Americans holding at 62 percent for a second year...


Update: EU asks four countries to justify call for Intel chips BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has asked four European Union (E.U.) countries to justify why they favor Intel Corp. processors in computers for public authorities, it announced Wednesday.


Real lose more ground to Barcelona after stalemate A lacklustre Real Madrid lost further ground to Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga table after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Villarreal last night.


Bank seeing unexpected customer gains The head of Bank of America says the banking giant is unexpectedly gaining northeastern customers just six months after its acquisition of FleetBoston.


Zen Micro to Take on iPod Mini The player lets the listener choose MP3 or WMA music, ripped from CDs or downloaded from online music sites. The Zen Micro provides intuitive vertical scrolling to allow users to move through easy-to-use menus


Microsoft issues patches for seven software flaws SEATTLE - Microsoft has warned of seven newly found flaws in its software that could allow an attacker to steal data and take over a personal computer running the Windows operating system.


Mauresmo pulls out of Kremlin Cup Amelie Mauresmo could lose her world number one status this week after pulling out of the Kremlin Cup because of a thigh injury. The Frenchwoman sustained the injury during the final of the Porsche Grand Prix


Sony Ericsson Quarterly Profit Triples Swedish-Japanese mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson more than tripled its third-quarter pretax profits, gained market share on booming demand for its camera phones and


I Love Firefox But Can #39;t Escape Explorer If I want to use the online banking services, I have to use IE. Why? No good reason I can fathom. Heaven knows IE isn #39;t more secure than Firefox (oh, were it so!


Throwing the book at final season effort of Jackson It #39;s no coincidence that Tracy #39;s Dodgers overachieved while Jackson #39;s last Laker teams will go down as underachievers.


Decision looms on high-speed access aloft (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - The Federal Communications Commission is set next month to decide how to auction spectrum to wireless carriers to bring high-speed Internet service to  airlines as early as next year. But, regulators have been boxed into a corner: promote low prices and great features, or ensure the service works reliably.


Trade Deficit Surges, Jobless Claims Up (AP) AP - The U.S. trade deficit, propelled by a record foreign oil bill, surged to  #36;54 billion in August, the second highest level in history. The politically sensitive deficit with China hit a new high as American retailers upped their orders for cell phones, toys and televisions.


Software exports from India's technology hub soar 34 percent (AFP) AFP - Software exports from India's technology hub of Bangalore shot up 34 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period the previous year, an official said.


I Want My Small-Biz TV! (BusinessWeek Online) BusinessWeek Online - It's safe to say that entrepreneurially inclined Americans have never had more help and encouragement in pursuing their dreams: Web sites, newsletters, chat rooms, and blogs supply a constant feed of information. Government and private agencies offer counsel, workshops, and networking. Scores of advice books targeted at entrepreneurs are published each year.


Apple Computer Rises After Net More Than Doubles on IPod Sales Apple Computer Inc. shares rose as much as 6.5 percent after the company said fourth-quarter net income more than doubled on surging demand for iPods and forecast profit and sales this quarter that will beat analysts #39; estimates.


Update 1: Sony Ericsson Posts 3Q Earns of \$111.1M Cell phone maker Sony Ericsson nearly doubled its third-quarter profit, the company announced Thursday, thanks to continued sales of its new feature-rich phones that boast bright colors, improved cameras and faster speeds.


Cards strike first: Overpower Astros in Game 1 victory Conventional wisdom said that when the Cardinals and Astros hooked up in the National League Championship Series, there might be a few runs scored.


Briefs: Plummer to remove sticker Plummer to remove sticker: Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer cut a deal with the NFL on Wednesday to remove the sticker memorializing former teammate Pat Tillman from his helmet in exchange for finding other ways to honor him.


A Mountain Too High Less than a week after a historic 29-17 victory over Pittsburgh - UConn #39;s first as a Big East Conference member -he Huskies were no match for the conference #39;s best team, West Virginia.


La Russa familiar with this scene The Cardinals' late-season acquisition of outfielder Larry Walker continues to reap dividends.


Being on sideline isn't sitting well with Pettitte The Astros lifted a 42-year-old hex when they eliminated the Braves Monday night and advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Houston lifers such as Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell were finally liberated from years of postseason futility, but former Yankee Andy Pettitte, already the owner of four World ...


New spin on rotation? If tired-armed righthander Orlando Hernandez continues to feel better, he may well get the call for Game 4 Saturday ahead of Javier Vazquez . Hernandez, who has not pitched this postseason, threw 40 pitches in the bullpen yesterday and came through it well, according to Yankees manager Joe Torre .


Closer makes short work in nick of time We try not to make assumptions, but can we all agree that Mariano Rivera's commute to work yesterday was a little bit easier and decidedly less stressful than the one the day before?


Jeter, Rivera a winning combination When Derek Jeter was a 19-year-old shortstop for Single A Tampa, manager Jake Gibbs watched him play a few games and gave Jeter the green light on the bases. Gibbs trusted Jeter's instincts so much that he was comfortable letting him decide when he should try and steal.


Olerud makes the list The man who delivered the knockout punch was picked up from the Seattle scrap heap just after the All-Star Game. Before that, John Olerud certainly hadn't figured on facing Pedro Martinez in Yankee Stadium in October.


Experts: Surgery only effective option The extent of Red Sox ace Curt Schilling's ankle injury virtually guarantees that he will not be in top form until surgeons repair his damaged right ankle after the season, according to medical experts.


Lowe ready to contribute in any role All the baseball world yesterday learned that a pitcher's ankle bone is connected to his pitching bone, but the late-afternoon revelation here at Yankee Stadium was the medical/anatomical bulletin that Curt Schilling's ankle bone is connected to Derek Lowe's pitching bone.


A rivalry that borders on obsession From the book,  quot;The Rivals quot; by the baseball writers of the Boston Globe and New York Times, published by St. Martin's Press.


Today's schedule College field hockey: Bryant at Stonehill, 3:30 p.m.; Bentley at Tufts, 4 p.m.; Fitchburg St. at Regis, 4 p.m.; Westfield St. at Framingham St., 4 p.m.; Franklin Pierce at Assumption, 4 p.m.; Babson at Amherst, 4 p.m.; Conn. College at Mt. Holyoke, 4:30 p.m.


Ashcroft Vows Piracy Assault Move over, terrorism. Attorney General John Ashcroft pledges to make fighting piracy a top priority for the Justice Department. By Katie Dean.


IndyMedia Gets Its Servers Back Critical hardware is back in hand, but websites run by the collective news organization remain offline after a mysterious seizure. Nobody seems to know who confiscated the servers or why. By Wendy M. Grossman.


All-Science TV Network Kicks Off The Science Network launches its first program in an effort to educate the masses about stem-cell research and other vital topics. Don't yawn -- you need this. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Water Filters Rely on Nanotech Advancements in nanotechnology are increasingly being applied in the water-purification industry, where keeping harmful microbes out of drinking water requires nano-scale innovation. By Michael Bradbury.


Diesels, Hybrids Fated to Wed Linking hybrid motors with diesel engines would create the most fuel-efficient mainstream vehicles to date, auto industry experts say. While the technology is already used for buses, automakers look to extend it to other vehicles. By John Gartner.


Dumbing Down Smart Objects Forget about cumbersome, multifunctional PDAs. The future is an open book. By Bruce Sterling from Wired magazine.


FDA Says Docs Can Chip Patients The Food and Drug Administration gives doctors the go-ahead to implant radio frequency microchips in patients. When scanned, the chips will release patients' medical information to doctors, speeding care.


Sun shines on interoperability progress with Microsoft Microsoft and Sun have declared some progress in their efforts to achieve interoperability citing co-operation on web services standardisation and deployment of Windows on Sun systems.


Team Wants to Clone Human Embryos Harvard scientists ask the school's ethics board to allow production of embryonic stem cells. If approved, the controversial procedure would boost research that could lead to cures for many diseases.


Study Shows Adolescence Affects Breast Cancer By LINDA A. JOHNSON     (AP) -- The way a girl grows during adolescence and even in the womb may play an important, if murky, role in her risk of breast cancer later in life, a study suggests...


iPod Mini gets new challenge from Dell roundup Pocket DJ 5 has bigger drive, smaller price tag. Virgin's got a tiny tunesmith, too.


Dell grapples with Apple in Mini arena Pocket DJ 5 undercuts price of iPod Mini music player. Consumer push also includes plasma-screen TVs.


Yahoo's 3rd Quarter Profit Nearly Quadruples By MICHAEL LIEDTKE     SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Things are going so well for Internet powerhouse Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) these days that even some of its toughest competition is helping to boost its profits...


Group Posts Surveillance Camera Locations By MARK JEWELL    CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- The surveillance cameras that keep watch over our daily activities are being watched...


Jets Hardly Miss a Beat With the Line So in Tune IN football terms, it #39;s simply known as an offensive line, but Jets right tackle Kareem McKenzie compares it to an orchestra. Call it the Meadowlands Pops.


Bank of America Profit Up 29 Percent Bank of America Corp. (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 3 US bank, on Thursday said third-quarter profit rose 29 percent, helped by its purchase of FleetBoston Financial Corp.


Microsoft unveils Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Microsoft has unveiled its Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005, its media-centric computing offering, which allows users to access the usual capabilities of a Windows XP-based PC but focussed on delivering media content such as music, digital photography


Coventry Health to Buy First Health Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it agreed to buy rival health plan First Health Group Corp.


European probe of Intel expanded The European Commission on Wednesday expanded its investigation to determine whether public institutions in Europe gave an unfair advantage to Intel Corp.


NIB and Northern jobs must be protected - IBOA Staff at National Irish and Northern Banks must be protected if the institutions are sold, a leading finance union warned today. Larry Broderick, general secretary of the Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA


Beckham virus: affair pics infect the net Virus writers are exploiting the publicity surrounding England football captain David Beckham, offering photos proving that he has been having an affair, to infect computer users PCs with the malicious Hackarmy trojan virus.


Davenport takes WTA top ranking WTA rankings, which is released on Monday, will see Lindsay Davenport taking over the top spot from France #39;s Amelie Mauresmo after the American reaching the Kremlin Cup quarter


Samsung boasts long history Annika Sorenstam has played in the Samsung World Championship every year since 1995, winning the title three times. So Sorenstam has as good of a perspective as anyone about what the tournament means to players.


Humans raise risk of Europe heat wave Human activity has raised the risk of more heat waves like last years, which gave Europe probably its hottest summer since 1500, scientists said on Wednesday.


German leader touts for business in rehabilitated Libya (AFP) AFP - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder travels to Libya to add impetus to the former pariah state's transition to democracy and finalise several major business deals.


Deepnet browser guards against phishing On the heels of a new Netscape preview release and the launch of Firefox 1.0, a UK company has released a web browser it claims is more secure than Internet Explorer (IE) or Firefox.


Blasts Kill Eight in Baghdad's Green Zone BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents set off explosives at an outdoor market and a cafe popular with Americans inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday, killing eight civilians and wounding others, officials said.    The attack appeared to be the first time insurgents have successfully infiltrated and set off bombs in the heart of the U.S.-Iraqi leadership of the country...


Apple beats 4Q forecasts with fivefold increase in iPod sales NEW YORK, October 14 (newratings.com) - Apple Computer (AAPL.NAS) reported its highest fourth-quarter sales in the past nine years for 4Q FY04, while the company #39;s quarterly profits more than doubled on ay/y basis.


Coventry Health Buys First Health Group DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - Coventry Health Care Inc. is buying managed health care company First Health Group Corp. for \$1.8 billion in cash and stock in a deal that would create a national health benefits company


Nexen reports higher Q3 earnings, cuts production forecast CALGARY - Oil and gas company Nexen Inc. posted higher third-quarter earnings on Thursday, but also lowered its production target for the year.


Sale considered for Northern Bank The owners of the Northern Bank have confirmed for the first time that it may be on the market. The National Australia Bank has said it will consider selling its operations on both sides of the Irish border.


Disney to cut crusading Miramax bosses free of contract : report Walt Disney Co. has given maverick Hollywood movie moguls Harvey and Bob Weinstein notice that it intends to end their Oscar-winning partnership after 12 years.


Allstate to reduce policies in Florida In the first major insurance fallout from four hurricanes that inflicted billions of dollars of damage in Florida, Allstate Corp. said Wednesday that it would restrict sales of insurance policies in the state.


Beckham is e-male of choice ENGLAND soccer captain David Beckham is at the centre of a fresh scandal, this time an innocent victim involving a Spanish prostitute.


India Rallies as Australia Slumps; Warne Ties Record (Update1) Anil Kumble led a fightback by India, trailing 1-0 in the four-match cricket series, as Australia slumped to 235 all out on the first day of the second Test.


Turkish Cypriot consortium intends to takeover Fulham Turkish Cypriot brothers Halil and Husnu Falyali have said they were close to buying Fulham football club and that if they took control would look to sign players of the calibre of England captain David Beckham.


Mauresmo withdraws from Moscow Mauresmo was a runner-up in Moscow and a winner in Philadephia last year while Davenport didn #39;t play at all due to injury. According to the new standings released today Mauresmo has 4395 points to Davenport #39;s 4380.


Van Nistelrooy fires Dutch GOALS in either half from Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy lifted the Dutch in this World Cup qualifier today. Marco van Basten #39;s blundering side got off to a slow start and were put to the test


GM to Cut 12,000 Jobs in Europe Revamp General Motors Europe will slash its workforce by around a fifth, cutting as many as 12,000 jobs in a bid to halt chronic losses in the region, the world #39;s biggest carmaker said on Thursday.


Israeli police chiefs tour Temple Mount ahead of Ramadan Police commanders toured the Al Aqsa Mosque compound Thursday, ahead of a final decision by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on whether to restrict access of Muslim worshippers.


Hollywood Embraces HD DVD HD DVD is gaining momentum with Hollywood studios. Several studios have announced their intentions to go with the Toshiba format, among them New Line Cinema, Paramount


NetSuite injects apps with 'upsell' features, improves analytics ASP NetSuite on Thursday unveiled the latest version of its hosted applications suite with a focus on "upsell" and e-commerce functionality.


Canadian fans celebrate ITunes launch TORONTO (CP) - ITunes finally launched in Canada on Thursday, bringing with it over 700,000 songs, exclusive tracks, celebrity playlists and multiple CD burning rights.


E-Voting Machine Crash Deepens Election Concerns A computer crash that forced a pre-election test of electronic voting machines to be postponed was trumpeted by critics as proof of the balloting technology's unreliability.


Comic Strip Spurs Surge in Internet Traffic By ELLEN SIMON    NEW YORK (AP) -- Need any proof that traditional media can send readers to the Web? Look no further than this week's Doonesbury.    The cartoon, which is in about 1,400 daily and Sunday newspapers and appears online at "Slate," this week features character Mark Slackmeyer as Mr...


Sony #39;s MP3 Walkman With its new Walkman music player, Sony has broken with its tradition of promoting its own proprietary formats. The NW-HD3 will let users import and export tracks in the


Kozlowski: Legal Bills In Tyco Case Top \$25M Justice may be blind, but it ain #39;t cheap: Tyco International #39;s (nyse: TYC - news - people ) former chief executive and chief financial officer say their legal bills have topped \$25 million and they want a second insurance company to pick up the extras.


Rugby-Gregan signs with Wallabies through 2007 World Cup Australia captain George Gregan has signed a three-year contract with the Wallabies which will take him through the 2007 World Cup in France.


Search Engines and The Meta Description Tag Search Engines and The Meta Description Tag\\The keywords and phrases you use in your Meta description tag don't affect your page's ranking in the search engines (for the most part), but this tag can still come in handy in your overall SEO campaigns. What Is the Meta Description Tag?\\The Meta ...


Study: Mobile phone use increases brain tumor risk (MacCentral) MacCentral - Ten or more years of mobile phone use can dramatically increase the risk of developing a benign tumor on the auditory nerve, according to a study conducted by the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.


Nokia Q3 Profits Drop; Sees Strong Sales (Reuters) Reuters - Nokia, the world's largest mobile\phone maker, reported lower third-quarter earnings on Thursday\after cutting handset prices to win back market share but said\sales volumes were strong as it moves into the key year-end\shopping season.


Ancient Fossil Is Found on Danish Island (AP) AP - A Swedish geologist has found what appears to be the oldest known fossil from a mammal ever found in Scandinavia  #151; a 145-million-year-old tooth from a prehistoric rodent, a Swedish university said Thursday.


Hoax bomb threat forces flight to Stansted (AFP) AFP - A Virgin Atlantic flight from Hong Kong to London was forced to divert to a less busy airport by what turned out to be a hoax bomb threat.


Video: Kidnapped Turkish Driver Beheaded (AP) AP - A man identified as a Turkish truck driver kidnapped in Iraq was beheaded in a video shown on an Islamic Web site Thursday.


Earnings alert: Nokia sees lower profit Plus: Adobe strong despite drop...Linux demand lifts Red Hat profit...Strong sales of phones, other gadgets boost PalmOne profit.


Apple #39;s IPod Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down Credit Suisse First Boston raised estimates on Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) and raised the target price. CSFB said the company #39;s latest fiscal fourth-quarter results were the strongest since


BofA meets Wall Street #39;s projections with third-quarter results CHARLOTTE, NC Bank of America #39;s third-quarter profit meets Wall Street #39;s expectations with a continued boost in business from the FleetBoston Financial merger.


Treasuries flat as jobless rise, trade worsens Treasury debt prices ticked higher briefly before turning flat on Thursday after jobless claims rose more than forecast and the US trade deficit balooned even wider than expected.


Sony Ericsson profits from mobile growth Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson has reported a steep year-on-year incline in revenues for the third quarter, as the public appetite for sophisticated handsets heightens.


Merck repeats: We didn #39;t know of Vioxx threat Merck (MRK) officials on Wednesday called a press conference to reiterate that they did not believe until last month that Vioxx raised users #39; risk of heart attacks or strokes.


MSN Music Falls Just Short of iTunes #39; High Marks MSN Music is a US-only shop, unlike iTunes, and doesn #39;t offer any gift certificates or purchase allowances, although those are planned for later.


Sun adds nVidia power to Java Workstations Sun Microsystems has added nVidia Quadro graphics technology to the Java Workstations it detailed last month. The vendor has included the technology in its W1100z and W2100z models, which are based on AMD


Rolen Breaks Out of Slump to Help Cards Win (AP) AP - Scott Rolen is contributing again  #151; and that's bad news for the Houston Astros. The Cardinals twice rallied from a two-run deficit in their 10-7 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the National League championship series on Wednesday night. Rolen was responsible for tying it the second time, ending a 3-for-32 slump with a line-drive single in the fifth inning.


Brown's Back and Grizzlies Are Happy (AP) AP - Hubie Brown is back the Memphis Grizzlies  #151; and nobody is surprised. Even after coaching the Grizzlies to the best season in franchise history, Brown declined to talk about his future with the team. He insisted he had to get a checkup and talk things over with his family  #151; all before deciding whether to return for another season.


Martinez can #39;t do much more for Boston, daddy-o For all of the fuss about Pedro Martinez #39;s genealogical assertions, the critical factor in the American League Championship Series has been Boston #39;s inability to provide for its pitchers.


Brown: Let Berti decide Former Scotland manager Craig Brown insists the only person who should be allowed to decide Berti Vogts #39; future is Vogts himself.


Service betrays Paradorn in Vienna American Robby Ginepri advanced to the quarterfinals of the CA Trophy in Vienna on Thursday with a 6-2 6-1 win over fifth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand.