Liberia curfew lifted temporarily Liberia #39;s interim leader announced on Saturday a temporary lifting of a curfew imposed after religious riots gripped the capital Monrovia to allow residents to venture out to buy food.


Boy rescued from earthquake rubble wants mom The 2-year-old boy rescued after being under rubble for four days after an earthquake in Japan, keeps asking about his mother.  quot;When will my mom come?


Recording Industry Files 750 More File-Sharing Lawsuits The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has revived its long-running crackdown on file-swapping through legal action, suing 750 alleged filing copyright infrigement suits again


Forsyth grabs lead in Spain Cadiz, Spain (Sports Network) - Alastair Forsyth shot a four-under 67 on Saturday to grab the lead after the third round of the Volvo Masters Andalucia.


Martin in strong position to win Catalunya Rally com staff writers. Markko Martin still has a full day and six special stages to go, but he is now the clear favorite to win Catalunya Rally and follow up his win in the last round of the World Rally Championship, in Corsica a fortnight ago.


Anti-China protester at Cambodian king #39;s address A man waving a placard denouncing  #39; #39;Evil China #39; #39; protested today in front of Cambodia #39;s new king, who is expected to maintain his father #39;s warm personal and diplomatic ties with Beijing.


8 US marines killed in Iraq NEW YORK - Eight US marines have been killed west of Baghdad in a region that has become a flashpoint of anger over the US occupation of Iraq.


The Times of London to becone a tabloid Beginning Monday all editions of the venerable Times of London will be printed in tabloid format, just as the Sun and other not-quite-so-venerable newspapers.


ATP chief says players to blame for burnout Men #39;s tennis chief Mark Miles says players have only themselves to blame for the fitness problems that have led to a wave of withdrawals from recent tournaments.


Eight Marines killed in fighting A car bomb killed eight US Marines outside Fallujah on Saturday, the deadliest attack against the US military in nearly six months.


Liberians Venture Back Onto Streets After Riots Liberians ventured back onto the streets of Monrovia on Saturday during a temporary lifting of a round-the-clock curfew imposed after at least seven people were killed in religious riots.


Flexibility needed to resolve Kashmir issue: Musharraf Islamabad, Oct 30 (UNI) Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf today said Pakistan and India would have to move beyond their stated positions to find out a solution to the Kashmir issue.


The papers consider a future without the Palestinian leader  quot;With uncertainty surrounding the health of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian president, the question ... being asked in the Middle East, and probably the corridors of the White House is: what of the future?


Forsyth takes over at Valderrama VALDERRAMA, Spain (Ticker) - Alastair Forsyth may be 120 places lower in the world rankings, but the Scot clearly won his duel Saturday with local favorite Sergio Garcia at the Volvo Masters.


NALBANDIAN FACES NOVAK SHOWDOWN Argentina #39;s David Nalbandian booked his place in the final of the Swiss Open for the third successive year on Saturday. The fourth-seed saw off Olympic gold medal winner Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-3 6-4 in the semi-final.


Sweet Catomine takes BC Juvenile Fillies Sweet Catomine overcame traffic problems on the turn for home and posted a 3-length victory in the \$1 million Breeders #39; Cup Juvenile Fillies on Saturday.


Lehman Brothers settles Enron shareholder lawsuit HOUSTON Wall Street brokerage Lehman Brothers has agreed to pay 222-and-a-half (M) million dollars to settle an Enron-related class-action lawsuit.


Tom Online Cuts Revenue Guidance Tom Online (TOMO:Nasdaq - news - research) sank Friday after slashing its third-quarter revenue guidance. The company warned that it expects sales for the third quarter ended Sept.


RIAA targets students in new file-swapping suits The Recording Industry Association of America filed on Thursday another round of lawsuits against alleged file-swappers, including students on 13 university campuses.


Forsyth leads the way at Volvo Masters Alastair Forsyth will take a three-stroke lead into the Volvo Masters final round on Sunday after overshadowing tournament favourite and playing-partner Sergio Garcia.


Body found in Iraq Iraqi officials said the decapitated body of what appears to be a young Asian male has been found in northwestern Baghdad. Civil defense officials said they retrieved the body Saturday in the fields of a Baghdad


US forces launch airstrikes in Fallujah The American military launched new airstrikes against suspected militant bases in Falljuah Saturday. They also carried out probing attacks on the city #39;s outskirts, as they prepare for a major operation here.


Thai probe announced in deaths of detainees Facing new violence and harsh criticism, the prime minister yesterday said he would set up an independent commission to investigate the


Ukraine Steps Up Security On Eve Of Election 30 October -- Ukraine #39;s Interior Minister warned police will use force if needed to uphold security in tomorrow #39;s presidential elections.


Ashado wins Breeders #39; Distaff Ashado bulled her way into contention on the turn for home and went on to win Saturday #39;s \$2 million Breeders #39; Cup Distaff by 1 1/4 lengths in track-record time.


Democrats Favored in Botswana Election Botswana chose a parliament Saturday, with the ruling Democratic Party favored to keep the lock on power it has had for 38 years. Soome voters said they feared the party #39;s loss would undermine AIDS treatment


The secret world of marsh mac When Jeffrey W Greenberg took the helm of notoriously secretive Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos., a \$12 billion financial-services company, on Nov. 18, 1999, analysts were happily buzzing that Greenberg was a gregarious, outgoing executive.


Singletary surprise winner of Breeders #39; Cup Mile Singletary, a 4-year-old colt named for former Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary, broke away from the back at the top of the stretch and won the Breeders #39; Cup Mile on Saturday, setting off a boisterous celebration.


United give FA food for thought Manchester United are to report Mr Arsene Wenger to the Football Association for his verbal abuse of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Sir Alex Ferguson in the bitter aftermath of Arsenals 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford last Sunday.


Tennis: Nalbandian to meet Novak in Basel final BASEL, Switzerland : Former champion David Nalbandian of Argentina will bid to claim his second Basel ATP title here on Sunday when he faces Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic for the first time in his career.


Ouija Board surges to Filly and Mare Turf win English and Irish classic winner Ouija Board (GB) more than justified the hype surrounding her presence in the \$1-million Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1), surging past Grade 1 winner Film Maker in the lane to capture the 1 3/8-mile contest at


Illinois Fighting Illini Tate connected with Ed Hinkel on a pair of 19-yard touchdowns and scored on a five-yard run as 24th-ranked Iowa handed Illinois its 14th consecutive Big Ten Conference loss, 23-13.


Peterson Gains 249 Yards as No. 2 Oklahoma Tops Oklahoma St. STILLWATER, Oklahoma (Sports Network) - Jason White threw three first-half touchdown passes to Mark Bradley and Adrian Peterson ran for a career-high 249 yards with a score, as second-ranked Oklahoma held on for a 38-35 victory over 20th- ranked Oklahoma


I did it, Ill do it again: Osama DOHA, Oct. 30. - Claiming responsibility for 9/11, Osama bin Laden has threatened the USA with more such attacks. The Al-Qaida chief also accused President George W Bush of misleading his people, in


Mauresmo, Bovina advance to Linz final Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo rallied past Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to advance to the Generali Ladies Open final against Elena Bovina.


Singletary Wins Breeders #39; Cup Mile Jockey David Flores, right, celebrates his win aboard Singletary in the Net Jets Breeders #39; Cup Mile turf race over jockey Jamie Spencer and Antonius Pius (7) in Grand Prairie, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004.


Wildcats offense will give Boilers a good challenge Northwestern characterizes its offense as a spread formation, but dont expect to see too many familiarities with the kind of spread offense Purdue uses.


No. 15 West Virginia 35, Rutgers 30 Chris Henry caught a 39-yard scoring pass and set up another touchdown with a long catch before being kicked out of the game, leading No.


First steps toward peace Any Israeli withdrawal from land that may one day be a Palestinian homeland is long overdue. For that reason, we should all applaud Prime Minister Ariel Sharons recent victory in the Knesset that will close Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.


Rain expected across much of nation Rain was expected to dampen much of the nation on Saturday, with snow falling in mountainous areas of the West. Widespread showers were forecast for the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and the central Tennessee Valley.


SUPER SINGLETARY HOLDS EUROPEANS AT BAY Antonius Pius #39;s waywardness and a troubled passage for Six Perfections cost the European team dear as Singletary hung on grimly to land a dramatic NetJets Breeders #39; Cup Mile at Lone Star Park today.


British judge OKs lawsuit by TV host who says Schwarzenegger <b>...</b> A British television host who saids she was groped by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger four years ago and then libelled by his aides can take legal action in a British court, a judge ruled.


Kenseth holds off Kyle Busch to win Aaron #39;s 312 Nextel Cup regular Matt Kenseth held off an emotional Kyle Busch in a two-lap sprint to the finish, winning the Busch race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.


Polish hostage in Iraq calls for troop pullout The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV channel on Saturday aired footage of a Polish woman held hostage by a militant group in Iraq calling for the withdrawal of Polish troops from the


Iraqi president on landmark visit to Kuwait KUWAIT CITY : Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar was received by Kuwait #39;s ruler after arriving in the oil-rich emirate on the first ever official visit by an Iraqi head of state.


#39;Hobbit #39; Skeleton Could Rewrite Prehistory The tiny humans may have been hunted by large lizards -- bigger versions of the Komodo dragons that still roam the island and which have been known to eat people.


Ouija Board lives up to hype in Fillies  amp; Mare Turf GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS -- After answering questions to where she would run on Breeders #39; Cup day, Ouija Board left no doubt about her performance.


Costly win for Lyon Lyon, France (Sports Network) - Olympique Lyon #39;s start to the season could not have been much better, until it came to a screeching halt Saturday in a French Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg.


Tiny cousins The discovery of the skeletal remains of hobbit-size humans on a remote island in Indonesia has set anthropologists atwitter. The bones appear to belong to a new and unexpected species of humans, little more


Taliban group claims hostages and vows: We will chop them up <b>...</b> PARTIES were cancelled and the restaurants were deserted in Kabul this weekend. The Delhi Durbar, usually heaving on a Friday night with aid workers, United Nations staff, diplomats, and inter national consultants


Poulter reins back to rise Ian Poulter might just have to reassess his year if he wins the Volvo Masters in southern Spain today. The flamboyant Englishman might have to raise his previous mark of self-estimation from one out of 10


Youzhny too hot for Greg Greg Rusedski missed out on reaching consecutive Russian finals when he lost 3-6 6-3 6-4 to Mikhail Youzhny in their semi-final at the St Petersburg Open.


Valencia lets opportunity slip away Valencia, Spain (Sports Network) - Valencia missed a chance to gain ground on La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. The struggling Valencia squad did not take advantage, as they finished in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla.


Matt Kenseth Busch Aaron #39;s 312 Kenseth finished 0.119 seconds ahead of runner-up Kyle Busch for his third victory of the season and 17th of his Busch career. At the 100-lap mark, Atlanta area native Reed Sorenson


Michigan State #39;s Stanton out with shoulder injury Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton left the Michigan game Saturday with a strained shoulder, cutting short a strong performance.


Al-Arabiya tv bombed in Baghdad A car bomb has destroyed the Baghdad offices of Arabic, Al-Arabiya television station leaving at least seven people dead and scores wounded.


Ghostzapper dominates field in \$4 million Classic GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- Ghostzapper made the rest of the field in North America #39;s richest horse race disappear. In resounding fashion, front-running Ghostzapper romped to a three-length victory in Saturday #39;s


Newman earns fourth straight pole at Atlanta HAMPTON, Ga. -- Ryan Newman won his fourth straight pole position at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday during Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night.


Kutaragi comments on PSP pricing, prospects SCE #39;s outspoken president speaks out on the PSP for the first time since the price announcement this week. TOKYO--Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi revealed a great deal of additional information


Sooners respond to Cowboys #39; challenge For those who think Saturday #39;s narrow victory over Oklahoma State proves that No. 2 Oklahoma isn #39;ta championship-caliber team, Sooners coach Bob Stoops has a message for you.


Bagle Is Still Biting New versions of the Bagle worm are rolling onto the Internet, prompting antivirus companies to warn customers about the threat and to push out software updates to spot the new worms.


Fair Play Once a cult among geeks, it has now sold 32 million copies and provoked global debates on violence, but has Grand Theft Auto elevated video games to art?


What next for Mutu? Romanian press ponder sacked strikers <b>...</b> BUCHAREST: The sacking of Romanian striker Adrian Mutu by English Premiership giants Chelsea for a failed drugs test made the front page of all national newspapers here Saturday, as the press pondered the future of their fallen idol.


Pacers veteran Miller breaks hand INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana shooting guard Reggie Miller broke a bone in his left hand Friday in the first quarter of Fridays National Basketball Association pre-season finale against Denver.


Arafat aides say initial tests have ruled out leukemia as cause of <b>...</b> Initial results from a battery of tests on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat found no signs Saturday of leukemia, Palestinian officials said, but blood doctors are still trying to find the cause of the leader #39;s dramatic


Buttiglione resigns to ease EU crisis ROME: Calling himself an innocent victim, Italys Rocco Buttiglione withdrew as a candidate for the incoming European Commission on Saturday to help ease an unprecedented crisis for the executive.


Taliban threat to kill Briton A HARDLINE faction of the Taliban that claims to be holding Annetta Flanigan, a hostage from Northern Ireland, has threatened to kill her and two other captives if British troops do not pull out of Afghanistan, writes Tom Coghlan in Kabul.


Princess Alice, the oldest royal of all, dies at 102 PRINCESS Alice, the Queens aunt who once described herself as a pre-beatnik, has died at the age of 102. She was the oldest member of the British royal family in history.


US to seek ouster of IAEA chief WASHINGTON: The Bush administration, unhappy with what it sees as his interference in the US election on the Iraqi explosives issue, would actively seek to oust the UN nuclear watchdog chief if the president is re-elected, a senior official said on Friday


Lord Black keeps the e-mails flying in adversity To hear Lord Black tell it, from a business perspective at least, all was proceeding according to the master plan. We exchanged e-mails in late August as I was toiling


Disney pay-off case sets a precedent for US firms THERE was room for only 50 people in the tiny Georgetown, Delaware, courtroom last week to hear Walt Disneys former president describe bitterly how his 14-month tenure ended.


This Kansan Made Good, Maybe Too Good, Some Say David Wittig #39;s spoils from his tenure as chief executive of Kansas #39; largest electric utility, a company once brash enough to be called the Enron of the Midwest, are the talk of Topeka.


European Commission crisis averted as Buttiglione dumped Italy #39;s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has bowed to the inevitable, abandoning his push to make Rocco Buttiglione a European Commissioner and opening the way for a solution to an unprecedented EU crisis.


Musharraf could be a bridge to democracy, says Jugnu Mohsin WASHINGTON: If General Pervez Pervez Musharraf succeeds in his declared intention of rolling back political Islam and normalising relations with India, he could prove to be a bridge to democracy


Last man standing And lo, the hawk begat the dove. At least that is how one imagines Private Eye might soon be recording the remarkable events unfolding in Gaza in The Book of Sharon, its inimitable account of the travails of the modern Holy Land.


Report Sounds Alarm on Pace of Arctic Climate Change The most comprehensive international assessment of Arctic climate change has concluded that Earth #39;s upper latitudes are experiencing unprecedented increases in temperature


Ecosse: Big game hunter It started with optimism, even innocence. One minute we were guiding cute suicidal lemmings down the path to nemesis. The next, thanks to hurtling technological advances, we were cruising the  #39;hood in a stolen


Rossi out to end on a high The Spaniard has been on the receiving end of some harsh treatment from Rossi, who began a well-publicised spat after he was penalised for an indiscretion by his team during the recent Qatar round


No. 2 Oklahoma 38, No. 20 Oklahoma St. 35 Adrian Peterson rushed for 249 yards and Cowboys kicker Jason Ricks missed a 49-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, giving the second-ranked Sooners a 38-35 victory over their pesky instate rivals on Saturday.


Mile: Singletary sacks field Singletary stormed to the lead at the top of the stretch and won Saturday #39;s \$1.5 million Breeders #39; Cup Mile at Lone Star Park.


Northwestern 13 (17) Purdue 10 EVANSTON, Ill. Noah Herron #39;s three-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left pushed Northwestern past 17th-ranked Purdue 13-to-10.


US Military in Afghanistan Dismisses Bin Laden Tape The US military in Afghanistan dismissed a new videotape featuring Osama bin Laden as  quot;propaganda, quot; and insisted that bin Laden would be caught, but it acknowledged having no fix on the Al-Qaeda leader #39;s whereabouts.


The Times Moves to Compact Format Monday Through to Saturday LONDON, October 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Times has today announced that from Monday November 1 2004 it will be compact-only six days a week.


Golden, Park share lead at Nine Bridges Classic Kate Golden rolled in a long eagle putt on 18 to cap a bogey-free 8-under 64 Saturday and move into a tie for the lead with Grace Park after two rounds of the CJ Nine Bridges Classic.


Maryland 20 (5) Florida State 17 COLLEGE PARK, Md. The Red Sox won a World Series, so why can #39;t Maryland beat Florida State. The Terrapins got their first victory over FSU, holding off the fifth-ranked Terrapins 20-to-17.


Another week, another lead for Singh Palm Harbor, FL (Sports Network) - Vijay Singh, the top-ranked player in the world, moved a step closer to his ninth victory of the season on Saturday as he posted a four-under 67 to take the 54-hole lead of the Chrysler Championship.


Britons Prefer Kerry to Bush for World Safety A large majority of Britons think a US election victory for John Kerry is the best outcome for global security, according to a poll in a Sunday newspaper.


Circulation drops will pull down ad revenue, analyst says NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Goldman Sachs downgraded Tribune Co. Friday, saying the media company #39;s circulation woes will soon translate into lower advertising revenue.


#39;Yukos saga just the start of the battle #39; MOSCOW - A top Kremlin official said Thursday that the Yukos affair was  quot;just the beginning quot; of the state #39;s battle against tax offenders, but should not inhibit foreigners from investing in Russia.


Strange world of island species On one island visited by Sinbad during his travels, he found a giant bird with the wingspan of a whale, while Odysseus, according to Homer, discovered an island race of one-eyed giants who ate humans.


LondonTimes goes tabloid after 216 years The venerable Times of London published its final edition as a broadsheet newspaper yesterday. Tomorrow, it relaunches as a tabloid.


Forsyth holds on as season reaches a thunderous end Scotland #39;s Alastair Forsyth will take a three-stroke lead over Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter into the final round of the Volvo Masters today.


Michigan St. Spartans ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- The longest game in Michigan history had many heroes. None was bigger than Braylon Edwards. Edwards caught two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, then added another in triple


As Fans Await Spurrier, Gators Fall Again Their successful siege of Ron Zook over with his firing earlier this week, the glum Florida fans sat in the descending darkness Saturday as Georgia ran out the clock on a 31-24 victory.


Trainer Enjoys Breakthrough Day Wherever he has gone, the trainer Todd Pletcher has had no problem winning races or earning money. He has established records for the most victories at meets at


Maryland 20, No. 5 Florida State 17 Fifth-ranked Florida State was in the process of completing another comeback on the road, and Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen could think of only one course of action.


WEST VIRGINIA 35, RUTGERS 30 Mountaineers Embarrassed but <b>...</b> As he was ushered off the field Saturday, West Virginia receiver Chris Henry gestured belligerently toward the stands until he reached the tunnel.


Ukraine poll marred by fraud and unrest Ukrainians vote for a new president today against a backdrop of explosions, predictions of massive ballot-rigging and fears of widespread violence.


Princess Alice, oldest ever royal, dies Princess Alice, the Royal aunt who lived through the abdication crisis, two world wars and the turn of the millennium has died at the age of 102, the oldest member of the British royal family in history.


Black Watch soldier #39;s death mourned Relatives of the Black Watch soldier killed during the deployment from Basra to an area near Baghdad said last night they were devastated at the news of his death.


Good riddance to tarnished paradise island of Pitcairn It was the closest that Pitcairn had ever come to civil insurrection. The spark was the Clipper Odyssey, an American cruise ship that anchored offshore so that passengers could tour the island immortalised by the Bounty mutineers.


Police terror sweeps across Haiti The bodies had been whisked away but the dried pool of blood covering the dirt-floor dead end of a twisting alley was a chilling sign of what happened here last week.


12th-Ranked Michigan Beats Michigan St. in 3rd OT ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Sports Network) - Braylon Edwards caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in the third overtime to lead 12th-ranked Michigan to a 45-37 win over Michigan State in Big Ten action at Michigan Stadium.


Better Talk Now beats Kitten #39;s Joy in Turf Better Talk Now got the best of a rough race to win Saturday #39;s \$2 million Breeders #39; Cup Turf by 1 3/4 lengths over the favorite, Kitten #39;s Joy.


Singh Turns Chrysler in His Direction Vijay Singh made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that changed everything yesterday at the Chrysler Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.


Spanish leader Barcelona draws 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao on <b>...</b> Samuel Eto #39;o took his scoring total to eight this season as FC Barcelona drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league on Saturday.


Rusedski happy to be back It is almost the end of term and the report cards are due. With only a couple of weeks to go before the season #39;s end, some (Tim Henman) are still busting their buttons to earn their gold star


Economic growth rate falls short The economy grew at an annual rate of 3.7 percent in the summer as a big rebound in auto sales offset weakness from an exploding trade deficit, soaring oil prices and the


Northwest Airlines to recall 600 flight attendants EAGAN, Minn. -- Northwest Airlines plans to recall about 600 flight attendants who have been furloughed. The Professional Flight Attendants Association said in a message to union members Friday that the flight


China closes 1,600 Internet cafes in campaign to stamp out online <b>...</b> China has closed 1,600 Internet cafes and fined operators a total of 100 million yuan (US\$12 million) for letting children play violent games and for other violations, the government said Saturday.


Ashado Wins Opening Breeders #39; Cup Race Ashado grabbed the lead in the stretch and got the Breeders #39; Cup off to a rousing start for trainer Todd Pletcher by winning the \$2 million Distaff at Lone Star Park on Saturday.


COL FB: Maryland 20, Florida State 17 Joel Statham passed for for 333 yards Saturday as Maryland posted a 20-17 upset of No. 5 Florida State -- its first victory over the Seminoles.


79 Haiti Deaths Tallied in Violent Month The executions of four young men in a slum stronghold of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide brought to at least 79 the number killed in a month of violence in Haiti #39;s capital.


Fuel prices likely to be hiked The Government, which has already secured a line of confirmation on increasing prices from its key allies - the Left parties - is likely to moderate the hike in petrol and diesel prices that has become necessary due to a surge in crude oil prices.


Ferguson urges Henry punishment Sir Alex Ferguson has called on the Football Association to punish Arsenal #39;s Thierry Henry for an incident involving Gabriel Heinze.


Botswana elections to hand victory to party in power since <b>...</b> GABORONE (AFP) - Queues of voters in diamond-rich Botswana waited patiently to cast their ballots in elections that are expected to hand victory to the party in power since independence in 1966 in one of Africa #39;s most stable countries.


Happy Halloween: Ghostzapper scares up a Classic win Undaunted by the presence of eight millionaires in the field, Ghostzapper blazed to a wire-to-wire win in yesterday #39;s \$4 million Breeders #39; Cup Classic at Lone Star


Not a Huge Game, but a Huge Catch JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Fred Gibson promised Georgia fans a really big game. He didn #39;t deliver. The Bulldogs will have to settle for the biggest catch of Saturday #39;s 31-24 win over Florida.


FSU notebook: Bowden: No decision on QB Bowden replaced starting quarterback Wyatt Sexton with Chris Rix at the beginning of the fourth quarter, with FSU trailing 20-10.  quot;I definitely wasn #39;t expecting it, quot; Sexton said,  quot;but I understood


Wolverines win triple-OT thriller, 45-37 Michigan State often complains that Michigan doesnt respect the rivalry -- especially when the games are played in Ann Arbor. Well, the Spartans finally might have won the Wolverines respect.


Boy, 12, is shot dead by Israelis JERUSALEM: Israeli soldiers shot dead a 12-year-old Palestinian boy yesterday during confrontations with protesters in a refugee camp in the West Bank town of Jenin, medics said.


NASA Picks May 2005 Shuttle Launch Date NASA (news - web sites) is aiming for a mid-May launch of the first shuttle flight since the Columbia tragedy almost two years ago.


The Pods Just Keep on Coming Steve Jobs is feeling rather vindicated these days.  quot;The iPod is three years old, quot; says the Apple CEO.  quot;When we started this, nobody knew what it was, or they didn #39;t believe it


North Carolina 31, No. 4 Miami 28 Conner Barth booted a 42-yard field goal on the final play of the game, giving North Carolina a shocking 31-28 upset of the fourth-ranked Hurricanes on Saturday night.


Army Tactics Anger Thai Muslims Razee Dorloh, 22, left his house built on stilts near the riverbank on Monday morning without a word, his family recounted. He headed for the district police station


Ukraine #39;s Crucial Election THIS IS NOT a good weekend to hold a presidential election if you are not American and would like to have the attention of the United States and its major allies.


US Stocks Advance in Week, Lifting S amp;P 500 for 1st Week in 4 US stocks gained this week as a plunge in oil prices allayed concern that higher fuel costs will slow earnings and economic growth.


Petrol price hike: Decision tomorrow New Delhi: The Government on Saturday deferred a decision on the issue of raising the retail prices of petrol and diesel prices. A decision is likely to be taken tomorrow.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas; Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 The year is 1992, and life stinks for Carl Johnson. His mom #39;s been murdered, his family is in disarray, his childhood friends have turned against him, and corrupt cops are framing him for a murder somebody else committed.


USC can #39;t afford to relax in upcoming football contests Better come focused, not drift. Remember the last visit here and recognize exactly what could be at stake. It #39;s the new USC theme -- win or else.


North Carolina Stuns No. 4 Miami 31-28 Barth #39;s 42-Yard Field Goal on Final Play of Game Gives North Carolina 31-28 Upset of No. 4 Miami. North Carolina #39;s Scott Brumett (87) runs past Miami players Greg Threat (5) and Tavares Gooden (52) for a 18


For Statham, Sweet Vindication By the time Joel Statham walked into the Gossett Team House cafeteria around 8 pm last night, the delirious crowd had dispersed from the Byrd Stadium field.


Japan Vows to Stay in Iraq After Hostage Beheaded A Japanese hostage has been beheaded in Iraq, Japanese officials said on Sunday, but Tokyo vowed it would keep its troops in the country on their reconstruction mission.


Taliban Faction Threatens to Kill 3 UN Workers A breakaway faction of the Taliban movement on Saturday provided the first direct proof that it was holding three UN workers who were abducted last Thursday at gunpoint.


Poisonous gas gush kills 15 miners A miner survived is examined at a hospital in Fushun, city of northeast China #39;s Liangning Province, Oct. 30, 2004. A sudden poisonous gas gushed at an operation platform of the Xilutian Mine of Fushun Coal Industry Corp.


Communists in India oppose fuel price increase NEW DELHI: A key communist ally of Indias Congress party-led coalition urged the government on Friday not to raise retail prices of petroleum products if possible despite soaring global oil prices.


Apple shares show no signs of falling Apple Computer #39;s stock has continued to soar along with sales of its iPod digital music player, topping \$50 a share for the first time in four years.


Liga Sat. Wrap: Barca Draw As Valencia Crisis Continues Barcelona were unable to completely rebound from their midweek Copa del Rey fiasco as they were held to a 1-1 draw in Bilbao. Sameul Etoo had given the Catalans the lead on 11 minutes with a nicely taken shot that hammered in the net at the far post.


No Going-Away Party JACKSONVILLE - University of Florida football players went to Alltel Stadium on Saturday to win one for their coach. Florida #39;s 31-24 loss to 10th- ranked Georgia featured everything the Gators #39; frustrated


Nalbandian vs. Novak in Swiss final David Nalbandian of Argentina reached his third straight Swiss Indoors final, setting up a title match against Jiri Novak and keeping alive his chance for a spot in the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Houston.


Terps Catch Seminoles By Surprise COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden had seen enough trouble the previous two times his Seminoles strayed from home this season to know they weren #39;t invincible.


US Airways Watch US Airways Chief Executive Officer Bruce Lakefield acknowledged in a message to employees yesterday that there is  quot;anger, quot;  quot;fear quot; and  quot;a lot of sadness quot; among workers forced to take a 21 percent pay cut over the next four months.


Study Finds Warming Trend in Arctic Linked to Emissions The first thorough assessment of a decadeslong Arctic warming trend shows the region is undergoing profound changes, including sharp retreats of glaciers and sea ice, thawing of permafrost


Moon puts on total spectacle BALTIMORE - Astronomy buffs and amateur skywatchers turned out to watch a total lunar eclipse Wednesday night -he last one Earth will get for nearly 2 1/2 years.


Yankees sort through wreckage Three things all Yankees baseball people were on the same page about at their Tampa meeting with George Steinbrenner: 1) Going for Carlos Beltran.


Nine Marines dead, deadly explosion rips Baghdad NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq - Nine Marines killed in Iraq Saturday, eight of them in a car-bombing near Fallujah. That #39;s the heaviest toll on American fighters in about six months.


Rwanda sends reinforcements to African Union mission in Darfur EL FASHER, Sudan, Oct 30 (AFP) -- Sixty-five Rwandan troops arrived in the the Darfur town of El Fasher as part of a growing African Union (AU) military mission charged with monitoring a shaky ceasefire in the troubled region of western Sudan, an AFP


Funeral held for mother, daughter killed in landslide NIIGATA - About 200 mourners attended the funeral Saturday for a mother and daughter killed in a landslide following powerful earthquakes Oct 23 in Niigata Prefecture.


Japan Confirms Japanese Hostage in Iraq Beheaded Japan #39;s government on Sunday said it is now certain that a 24-year-old Japanese backpacker taken hostage in Iraq has been killed.


Anwar supporters defy police ban to welcome him home to Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR : Hundreds of supporters defied a police ban to welcome former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim at the airport on his arrival home after back surgery in Germany.


Checking system going all-electronic Changes are bringing Americans closer to a checkless society -- changes that could be costly if you aren #39;t careful. The first checks in the United States were


Paterno second-guessing field goal COLUMBUS - Penn State coach Joe Paterno has had his share of second-guessers of late. And after a 21-10 loss to Ohio State, he added his name to the list.


Schilling makes pitch on behalf of president Apparently Curt Schilling doesn #39;t regret his endorsement of President Bush related, bio after all: The Sox hero has recorded automated phone calls backing Bush that will be made until Election Day.


Third quarter was good Do you want to see healthy economic growth, with low inflation and low unemployment rates? Then look outside your window. According to the scorekeepers at the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the


Wall Street:  #39;Cheap oil age #39; may be at end The world #39;s oil supply is expected to be stretched thin for another two to three years, even as demand tapers off and the industry gears up for an exploration and production spending spree in 2005.


China cracks down on Net CHINA has closed 1,600 internet cafes and fined operators a total of 100 million yuan (6.5m) for letting children play violent games and for other violations, the government revealed yesterday.


North Carolina stuns unbeaten Miami 31-28 on last-second field <b>...</b> When it mattered most, when Miami needed one defensive stand to force overtime, the Hurricanes simply couldn #39;t do it. That fact, perhaps as much as a loss that might have taken them


Mauresmo, Bovina set to meet in Generali final  Generali Ladies Open: Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo rallied past Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 yesterday to advance to the final in Linz, Austria, against Elena Bovina.


Los Angeles Advances to MLS Western Final Los Angeles Galaxy #39;s Cobi Jones, top, and Colorado Rapids #39; Ricky Lewis watch Jones #39; shot on goal during the first half of a playoff match Saturday night, Oct. 30, 2004, in Carson, Calif.


Beheaded Japanese hostage found Japan #39;s Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura has confirmed a headless body found Saturday in Baghdad is that of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda.


In Uruguay, leftists hope for historic presidential election win MONTEVIDEO : Uruguay #39;s leftist parties for the first time are heavily favored to end a 179-year conservative lock on the presidency in Sunday #39;s elections in this South American nation plagued by growing poverty.


Riding China #39;s Rising Boat Brad Kinkelaar, whose mutual fund ranks among the top 15 percent in the United States this year, is depending on dividends from shipping port operators in China to help propel his investment returns.


Wal-Mart same-store sales up 2.8 Wal-Mart Stores said Saturday that shopping traffic dropped in the past week as it estimated October same-store sales growth at 2.8 percent.


Berkshire Hathaway plans to write \$1 billion in premiums SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Warren Buffett, the world #39;s second-richest man, is targeting California workers #39; compensation insurance; betting recent reforms will make the ailing market more profitable.


No decision on price hike of fuels: Aiyar: Business India: New Delhi, Oct 30 : The government Saturday deferred a decision on the issue of hiking prices of petroleum products.


Private pension firms find Asia a draw, with risks Insurers and fund managers are set to cash in on Asia #39;s private pension industry, which is expected to grow nearly four-fold in 10 years as the world #39;s most populous region grows older.


Courses to help teach you BOSTON (CBS.MW) -- Total assets of the 143 US-listed exchange-traded funds were \$180.8 billion in September, the Investment Company Institute reported on Friday.


5th China air show to open next week Thirty-two countries and regions will participate the Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, opening Nov. 1 in Zhuhai, a city in south China #39;s Guangdong Province.


Football: Barcelona held 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao Barcelona were held to a one-all draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, but the result still increases their lead at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga to six points - for a day at least.


Canes blow into Chapel Hill Teams around the Atlantic Coast Conference are getting to know about first-place Miami in a hurry. This week, the Hurricanes take their act to North Carolina, returning to the Triangle a week after defeating North Carolina State.


Buttiglione bows out from EU commission line-up ROME (AFP) - Rocco Buttiglione, who brought EU affairs to a halt with his views that homosexuality is a sin and that women should stay home looking after children, said that he was stepping down as candidate to become the new European commissioner for


Joy and tragedy of oldest ever royal THE oldest British Royal in history, Princess Alice, the Duchess of Gloucester, has died at the age of 102 after a life that mixed both adventure and personal tragedy.


Botswana election results delayed Results from Botswana #39;s parliamentary election on Saturday will emerge later than expected, officials said on Sunday, but the poll is still expected to return President Festus Mogae #39;s party to power.


Union urges OK of accord Delta Air Lines can shift more flying to regional jets but also will have to give furloughed pilots first crack at any new jobs that result, under the tentative agreement union members begin voting on Monday.


Petrol, diesel prices likely to be raised Public sector oil companies have in the first seven months of the current fiscal lost Rs 3,646 crore on selling petrol and diesel below the imported cost.


Money Funds Fell in Latest Week Assets of the nation #39;s retail money market mutual funds fell by \$4.03 billion in the latest week to \$828.98 billion, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday.


China May Need More Rate Increases to Contain Economy Economists say China may need to raise interest rates again in the coming months as it struggles to cool its economy and move toward free-market banking reforms.


China to showcase military might in air show China will showcase a range of advanced military hardware, including missiles and satellites, at a major air show and exhibition in southern China next week, state media reported Saturday.


Golf: Vijay Singh leads Chrysler Championship Vijay Singh, in his quest to surpass ten million dollars in winnings this year, leads the Chrysler Championship by one stroke over Tommy Armour III after three rounds.


Mauresmo and Bovina advance to Generali final Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France came back from a set down to beat Serb Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Saturday and reach the final of the \$585,000 Generali Ladies Open at the Intersport Arena.


Heels shock Miami CHAPEL HILL - It took less than three minutes for the goalposts to come down and on the eve of Halloween, the Tar Heels served a special brew to the Miami Hurricanes.


No. 2 Sooners survive scare, top Oklahoma St. Bob Stoops grinned. Because that #39;s what you do when you #39;re holding all the aces. His No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners survived a gripping 38-35 decision over Oklahoma State on Saturday


Bombs Hit Marines, Iraq TV Office Description: Separate car bombs kill eight Marines near Fallujah and at least seven people at the Al Arabiya television office in Baghdad.


Cambodia Crowns Former Dancer New King King Norodom Sihamoni, right, prays to Buddhist monks after the bathing ceremony at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh Friday, Oct. 29, 2004.


Pakistan, India must step back on Kashmir: Musharraf: World News: Islamabad, Oct 30 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Saturday said a solution to the dragging Kashmir dispute could be found only if India and Pakistan agreed to move beyond their stated positions on the issue.


UN sends nuclear inspectors to S. Korea SEOUL, South Korea -- The United Nations nuclear watchdog will send a group of inspectors to South Korea this week to help it complete a report in November on Seoul #39;s secret past nuclear experiments, a South Korean official said Sunday.


Canada foresees record drilling CALGARY, ALBERTA - The number of oil and gas wells to be drilled in Canada next year could climb 8 percent to a record because of a surge in coal-bed methane activity, the oil-field service industry predicted last week.


Eight Marines killed in bombing in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq - In the bloodiest day for the US military in Iraq since May, eight Marines were killed and nine more were wounded yesterday outside Fallujah, where a major US assault on the rebel city seemed imminent.


Rebels threaten to kill kidnapped election workers A militant group claiming to have kidnapped three foreign election workers in Afghanistan told news agencies Saturday that the hostages would be killed unless all Taliban


Shell is doing things by halves in going Dutch ROYAL Dutch Shells dual structure has been blamed for troubles ranging from poor management to dodgy oil reserve accountancy. So its decision to meet shareholder criticisms by unifying its two holding companies


Titan #39;s complex and strange world revealed Two days after Cassini #39;s close encounter with Titan captured the first ever close-up images, it is becoming clear that Saturn #39;s giant moon is a complex and strange world.


New tech tricks caller ID New technology can trick a caller ID box into displaying the name and phone number of an entirely different person or company than the one actually calling.


Parade of idiots I hate parades. Hate em. I guess I never really got the point. On the excitement scale theyre right up there with walking through your average suburban mall.


Instant Analysis: Upsets  amp; more When a huge upset happens, the easy tendency is to assume that the game was a fluke, that if repeated several times, the result would be drastically different.


Expect a Classic shootout The \$14 million Breeders #39; Cup at Lone Star Park today shapes up like a  quot;Texas shootout, quot; according to the Daily Racing Form.


After decades of longing, generations can rejoice At 11:33 am yesterday, in a mist of rain and confetti, a boy and his father watched history being made. The boy was 45 years old, his dad 77.


Fly me to the moon  Titan that is Trina Ray admitted she was kind of a science geek back at Corvallis High School. But now, at 37, she #39;s getting the payoff for spending much of her teenage years in the lab.


Bush #39;s bold space policy The election on Nov. 2 will have many far-reaching implications, not the least of which is mankind #39;s fledgling reach into space.


Galloping  #39;Ghost #39; brightens Frankel #39;s view of Breeders #39; For Bobby Frankel, the melancholy prince of New York adrift in a strange place called Texas, the day was neither sunny nor gray. Bobby was neither in heaven nor hell, but in something akin to purgatory.


Statham finally comes through Joel Statham #39;s midseason woes were forgotten yesterday after he led Maryland to a 20-17 victory over Florida State. By becoming the first Terrapins quarterback to beat the Seminoles in 15 meetings


#39;He Believed He Was Everything #39; During most of last Thursday Yasir Arafat wouldn #39;t hear of leaving his West Bank headquarters for medical treatment abroad. Though he #39;d lost consciousness the day before and couldn


Anwar kicks off political comeback with vow to fight for democracy <b>...</b> Malaysia #39;s most charismatic opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim _ released two months ago from jail _ kicked off his political comeback effort Sunday by vowing to restart a campaign for democratic reforms.


NYSE seat not what it used to be A New York Stock Exchange membership was sold at the lowest price in nine years and a one-year lease on a seat dropped to a 13-year low, reflecting the decline in income on the floor.


NASA to relaunch space mission The United States is to resume its space shuttle program next year after the Columbia shuttle tragedy in 2003. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, announced


ASHADO WINS FOR PLETCHER Horseplayers started the Breeders #39; Cup with a bang heard round the nation #39;s betting parlors when Ashado, the unwavering favorite, trounced a smart field to win the \$1 million Distaff.


NCAA Game Summary - Arizona State At California Berkeley, CA -- JJ Arrington ran for 188 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries to lead seventh-ranked California over 20th-ranked Arizona State, 27-0, at Memorial Stadium.


Ukraine faces milestone election It was a carefully scripted moment when Russian President Vladimir Putin began quoting Taras Shevchenko, this country #39;s 19th-century bard, during a live television


NOT PLAYING GAMES IT #39;S that time of year for beautiful autumn foliage, crisp air and violent carjackings. Don #39;t adjust your PS2 or Xbox for the next few months, because video games are giving a whole new meaning to the word  quot;fall.


Greene hooks up with Pope for big plays When Leonard Popes 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame is running down the field, Georgia quarterback David Greene cant resist. Thatsa big weapon, Greene a South Gwinnett said.


UPSET WIN IS  #39;TALK #39; OF TRACK In one of the biggest upsets -nd most controversial finishes  -the year, a 27-1 betting orphan named Better Talk Now won the \$2 million Breeders #39; Cup Turf


Indira Gandhi remembered New Delhi - Indians from all walks of life led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ruling Congress party president Sonia Gandhi Sunday paid tribute to former premier Indira Gandhi on the 20th anniversary of her assassination.


ISS positive on Harmony and Gold Fields merger Harmony Gold Mining Co. (HMY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (HARJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday said Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.


AMD Introduces Low-Cost Net Access Device in India US chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has introduced a low-cost Internet access device that could cost just a few hundred dollars, aimed at first-time technology users in the developing world.


Google Buys Digital Mapping Company Google Inc. has bought digital map maker Keyhole Corp., extending the search engine leader #39;s bid to fend off rivals with a toolbox that can catalog almost anything in the world.


ASU offense is a no-show vs. Cal BERKELEY, Calif. - Arizona State rediscovered its defense Saturday night only for the offense to go AWOL. Losing four fumbles, after coughing up none in its first seven games, the 20th-ranked Sun Devils lost 27-0 to No.


DETTORI-LED WILKO RUNS PAST YOUNG FIELD AT 28-1 Roger, wilco and out went enough Breeders #39; Cup Pick 6 tickets to burn down Lone Star Park yesterday when Euro-invader Wilko, dismissed at 28-1 in a field of eight, rolled


Koda #39;s wrapped in US flag BAGHDAD - The decapitated body of 24-year-old Japanese backpacker Shosei Koda was left discarded in a field near what is known as a stronghold of anti-American insurgent forces in central Baghdad Saturday night, according to local police.


Caller ID spoof masks real callers New technology can trick US caller-ID services into displaying someone else #39;s name and telephone number, the Washington Post reported Saturday.


China air show to begin Thirty-two countries and regions are scheduled to participate in the Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition Monday in Zhuhai, China.


Saturn #39;s moon Titan may offer huge clues to Earth #39;s evolution With a whole universe to explore and dozens of potential targets in the solar system to examine in closer detail, spending \$3.3 billion on an 11-year


PSP price drops Sony had some welcome news for consumers this week, announcing the Japanese price for its new PlayStation Portable system will be a lower-than-expected 19,800 yen (\$228 Cdn).


VSNL And AMD Launch The Personal Internet Communicator VSNL, Indias largest telecommunications service provider, a member of TATA group of companies and AMD (NYSE: AMD) today launched the Personal Internet Communicator (PIC), a high-quality, affordable, and easy-to-use, consumer device that will help


Roundup: Singh overcomes bogeys, takes lead The final full-field event of the PGA Tour season is supposed to be all about money. It is fitting that the player with the most of it -ijay Singh  -in control at the Chrysler Championship.


Agassi advances to final of Stockholm Open STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) - Top seed Andre Agassi advanced to the final of the Stockholm Open on Saturday. Seeking his second title of the year, Agassi edged No.


South Korea #39;s Grace Park wins CJ Nine Bridges Classic Grace Park shot a 7-under 65 Sunday to win the CJ Nine Bridges Classic, beating top-ranked Annika Sorenstam by five strokes. Park, the South Korean star coming off a final-round collapse two weeks ago in the


California Blackout Sure, California quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back JJ Arrington get the lion share of the publicity for the Golden Bears.


9 MARINES SLAIN Nine Marines were killed yesterday and nine injured when their convoy was hit by a car bomber in the deadliest attack on US troops in Iraq since May.


Ukraine #39;s presidential election begins Ukrainians began casting their ballot Sunday in the presidential election to choose a successor to President Leonid Kuchma. A total of 24 candidates were on the ballot to succeed


Terps snap Seminole hex COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Joel Statham threw for 333 yards and ran for a score, and Maryland held on to beat fifth-ranked Florida State, 20-17, yesterday.


Eight Marines dead in suicide car bombing A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb yesterday next to a US military convoy west of Baghdad, killing eight Marines and wounding nine.


Relatives, Muslim groups appeal for release of Sri Lankan hostage <b>...</b> COLOMBO : Relatives of Sri Lankan truck driver Dinesh Dharmendran Rajaratnam appealed to his captors in Iraq to free him, saying he had been forced to work there by his Kuwaiti employer.


Insurance probe doesn #39;t frighten Century Shares Lanny Thorndike, whose Century Shares Trust mutual fund has about one-third of its assets in insurance stocks, is keeping his investments in Marsh  amp; McLennan and American International Group


Judge OKs settlement in AT amp;T Wireless case A judge has approved a \$3.75 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit challenging billing practices at AT amp;T Wireless Services, the Redmond-based company that was acquired last week by Cingular Wireless of Atlanta.


Tough lessons shape Ford #39;s  #39;green #39; vision Ford Motor Co. #39;s push to polish its blue oval green amounts to more than launching the nation #39;s first hybrid SUV and planting grass on an assembly plant roof.


MSU med school plan to move has flaws, study says MSU #39;s plan to move its medical school to west Michigan is impractical and too costly, according to a report that lays out an alternative arrangement.


Fuel Prices Likely To Go Up From Tomorrow New Delhi, Oct. 31(NNN): As international oil prices continued to soar, petrol and diesel prices are likely to be hiked from Monday (November 1).


Good Times, bad Times? We #39;ll soon find out Tomorrow, in a sudden sweep of decision-making, the Times waves goodbye to broadsheet life forever. No more two-version publication, no more broadsheets on Saturday.


Broussard gives LSU leg up BATON ROUGE, La. -- Alley Broussard ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, spearheading a strong game by No. 19 Louisiana State in a 24-7 victory over Vanderbilt last night.


Yanukovych votes  quot;for Ukraine #39;s future quot; KYIV. Oct 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukrainian presidential candidate, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said he has  quot;cast his ballot for the future of Ukraine.


Polish hostage in Iraq pleads for life-Video The Polish woman held hostage in Iraq appeared in a new video, aired on Al-Jazeera satellite channel, pleading her nation to withdraw troops from the country and the release of women prisoners to save her life.


Pilots #39; pact may benefit Comair If Delta Air Lines #39; pilots approve contract concessions, they will be letting the company #39;s regional subsidiaries and affiliates operate almost three times as many 70-seat regional jets as before.


Presidential election effect on stocks is stuff of legends Throughout history, who moves in and who moves out of the White House has moved stocks on Wall Street. With the neck-and-neck presidential race between President Bush and John Kerry nearing the


For ATA, it all boils down to cash While the entire airline industry #39;s finances are under water, ATA Airlines will have to hold its breath longer than its competitors to keep from going belly up.


Dow Industrial Stocks Fall in Europe; Exxon Slips (Correct) (Corrects to show two-day gain was most in more than a year in first paragraph.). By Margo Towie. Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks fell in Europe after the index #39;s biggest two-day gain in almost a year and a half.


GOING OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT PULLMAN - Last week, in studying USC game film, Cougar coaches thought they found a chink in the national champions armor. And not just any chink - one with the potential, right from the get go, to


Three and out JACKSONVILLE - The players pinned buttons to their Gator blue wind suits that read:  quot;Another level. quot;. They wore gray T-shirts with the words  quot;Pride Out quot; on the front and  quot;Coaches, Team, Family, quot; on the back.


MARYLAND 20, NO.5 FLORIDA STATE 17 UM - Nick Novak 43-yard field goal, 5:39. Maryland 3, Florida State 0. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:37. Key play: Joel Statham connected on consecutive passes to Josh Allen for 29 yards and Danny Melendez for 39 yards.


Edwards catches MSU Twelfth-ranked Michigan, trailing 27-10 with a little less than nine minutes left in the game, stormed back to win in thrilling, edge-of-your-seat fashion, 45-37 in triple overtime Saturday at Michigan Stadium.


Japan vows troops will stay in Iraq after 24-year-old hostage <b>...</b> TOKYO - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed on Sunday that Japanese troops would continue their domestically unpopular mission in Iraq after Islamic militants demanding a pullout killed a 24-year-old Japanese tourist.


Eight US marines killed in Iraq Eight US marines are reported to have been killed and at least nine are said to be injured during an attack west of Baghdad. The US military gave no details on the deaths, which it said occurred in the western


Agassi on track for 60 Local favourite Thomas Johansson is the last man standing between Andre Agassi and the 60th title of his career as the pair head into the final of the Stockholm Open.


Mental miscues hurt the Gators Flinching in the trenches, holding around quarterback Chris Leak and even a late hit by punter Eric Wilbur plagued Florida throughout the game.


Ashado stakes claim as top 3-year-old filly Ashado for 3-year-old filly champion. No doubt about it, after her winning the Breeders #39; Cup Distaff here yesterday. The Kentucky Oaks heroine had gone through a summer


The masters of spin win again with point system Given the proper amount of time, NASCAR would not only have convinced the emperor of the fineness of his new clothes but also have sold him a matching handbag and a pair of six-inch heels.


Palestinians meet, show solidarity Senior Palestinian figures gathered at Yasser Arafat #39;s battered West Bank compound on Saturday to show that the Palestinian leadership was still functioning.


Anwar thanks Malaysian PM for release The former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, has addressed hundreds of supporters who gathered outside his home after he returned from surgery in Germany.


Philippine envoy in Kabul to seek release of hostage The Philippine government said on Sunday that the Philippine envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Jorge Arizabal, is now in Kabul to coordinate with UN officials and Afghan authorities


New law: Check 21 speeds up check processing It is two days before payday and you are almost out of gas. To pay for it, you write a check. You hope it takes two or three days before it hits your bank, and by then, your paycheck will be deposited.


Park takes victory in South Korea South Korea #39;s Grace Park shot a seven-under-par 65 to triumph at the CJ Nine Bridges Classic on Sunday. Park #39;s victory made up her final-round collapse at the Samsung World Championship two weeks ago.


Buttiglione bows out to resolve EU crisis Rocco Buttiglione, the Italian nominee to the European Commission whose views on homosexuality resulted in an impasse with MEPs, yesterday decided to step aside.


Pitcairn Island mayor sacked PITCAIRN Island mayor Steve Christian has been sacked after being sentenced to three years #39; jail for sex abuse crimes, British High Commission spokesman Bryan Nicolson said in Wellington today.


China opposes US import limits on cotton trousers Beijing, Oct. 31. (PTI): China has asked the US not to  quot;sabotage quot; booming bilateral trade ties by limiting imports of cotton trousers made by manufacturers of the Communist nation.


Singh poised for history The No. 1 player takes the Chrysler lead and is in position to tie Tiger Woods for victories in a season. By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer.


Job is gone, but pride isn #39;t Battered and beaten, Ron Zook jogged away from another disappointment Saturday evening. Once again, the ache was chiseled into the lines across his face, from the tightness


QB controversy? Give Bowden few minutes Florida State coach Bobby Bowden didn #39;t play along when asked after Saturday #39;s game if there is a quarterback controversy brewing in Tallahassee.


Stargazers Enjoy Total Lunar Eclipse The full moon turns red and orange as it passes the Space Needle in Seattle during a total lunar eclipse Wednesday evening, Oct. 27, 2004.


Thai officials placate south with release of prisoners Thailand #39;s prime minister announced yesterday that hundreds of Muslims detained after a riot in the country #39;s restive south would be freed, in a bid to ease tensions over the deaths of 85 accused rioters - including 78 who died in military custody.


CPM asks govt to delay fuel price hike The CPM has reportedly told the government to delay the decision to hike petrol and diesel prices till after the US elections. However, the Left has already indicated that it is not averse to a hike since there is no real alternative.


China closes 1,600 Internet cafes China closed down 1,600 Internet cafes between February and August and imposed 100 million yuan, or 12 million US dollars, worth of fines for allowing children to play violent or adult-only games and other violations.


Park wins CJ Nine Bridges in a rout Jeju Island, South Korea (Sports Network) - Local favorite Grace Park birdied three of her final four holes Sunday to pull away and win the CJ Nine Bridges Classic by five strokes.


Zook #39;s Gators didn #39;t give up This will go down as another tough loss for Ron Zook, the beleaguered Florida head coach who was fired on Monday. Another punch in the gut.


Jayasuriya gets his ton as Lankans battle on Karachi - Sanath Jayasuriya hit his 14th Test hundred as Sri Lanka reached 234 for two at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan on Sunday.


French doctors check Arafat for virus French doctors are checking Yasser Arafat for viral infection after tests ruled out leukaemia and any other life-threatening illness, aides to the Palestinian leader said today.


Parents of beheaded man in shock NOGATA, Fukuoka -- The elder brother of the Japanese man found murdered in Baghdad said his parents were unable to respond when a city official visited on Sunday due to shock.


Polish Hostage in Iraq Pleads for Her Life, Al-Jazeera Reports A Polish hostage kidnapped in Iraq this week pleaded the Polish government comply with her captors #39; demands to withdraw its troops from Iraq to save her life, al- Jazeera reported, citing a videotape.


15 People Wounded in Chechen Car Bombing Fifteen people were wounded early Sunday outside a hospital in the Chechen capital in a car bombing that apparently targeted the security service headed by the


Iranian parliament passes bill backing uranium enrichment TEHERAN - The Iranian parliament on Sunday passed a bill backing the resumption of uranium enrichment, just as the international community is pushing Tehran to end the practice permanently.


Humans are getting taller, but we still weigh too much How interesting it is that scientists have discovered another species of human - an 18,000-year-old skeleton named Homo floresiensis that has been described as  quot;hobbit-sized.


Japan mourning the death of Iraq hostage Japan on Sunday denounced the beheading of a Japanese hostage in Iraq after a day that saw the heaviest United States casualties for six months and the bloodiest attack on a media organisation since the start of the war.


Kidnapped Briton gets Afghan deadline Militants holding a Briton and two other foreign UN workers in Afghanistan have threatened to kill them unless all Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners are released from US


Blair launches ad blitz for early polls British Prime Minister Tony Blair is planning to call general elections in February, ahead of schedule, to maximise his present opinion poll advantage over his opponents.


New Net domains near approval com October 29, 2004, 10:41 AM PT. This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web Services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.


Voting opens in Ukraine election (12:20 PST) KIEV: Voting began Sunday in Ukraine #39;s presidential elections, seen as a critical test for the future of democratic development in the former Soviet state, a foreign news agency reported.


Video Shows UN Hostages in Afghanistan Three people believed to be the UN hostages seized by militants in Afghanistan have appeared in a video shown by Arabic TV Al-Jazeera.


It #39;s never too early to be thinking about retirement -- just ask <b>...</b> Banks can destroy checks: The new law, known as Check 21, allows banks to destroy original paper checks and to convert them into digitized equivalents.


Aon sees profit dip in 3Q Aon Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter earnings fell because of  quot;softening market conditions quot; that, along with the halt of contingent commissions, led it withdraw its guidance for the full year.


China #39;s rate rise not enough: expert An economist has warned that China did not raise its interest rates enough to curb inflation, the China Daily reported. Tang Min, chief economist with the resident mission


China Closes 1,600 Internet Cafes In Crackdown China shut 1,600 Internet cafes between February and August and imposed \$12.1 million worth of fines for allowing children to play violent or adult-only games and other violations, state media said.


Nano-Engineers in Singapore Create Drug-Delivery Contact Lenses To <b>...</b> Thanks to a group of nano-engineers in Singapore who have created contact lenses that release controlled doses of drugs, you may be able to treat your glaucoma or other eye diseases simply by wearing their lenses.


Chelsea have destroyed me complains Mutu Disgraced Romanian striker Adrian Mutu on Sunday blasted Premiership side Chelsea for their haste in sacking him after testing positive for a banned substance.


NEXTEL CUPCHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP HAMPTON, Ga. - With an eye toward a tight championship battle and hopes for added interest as the racing season wound down, NASCAR introduced a new points format to decide its Nextel Cup title this year.


Peacekeepers airlifted into Darfur The first Rwandan peacekeeping troops have been airlifted into the Sudanese region of Darfur aboard two US transport planes. Sixty-five Rwandan officers and soldiers arrived with their supplies.


Pakistan has not given up stand on Kashmir: Musharraf Islamabad, October 31: In the face of strong domestic criticism over his new formula to resolve Kashmir problem with India, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan has not given up its principled stand on the issue and a solution could be


AROUND THE HORN This season on the PGA Tour, there #39;s Vijay Singh and everyone else. Singh-who shot a 4-under 67 yesterday for a 201 total and leads Tommy Armour III by one shot at the Chrysler Championship- already has won


Owners turn Singletary into party animal Singletary #39;s owners didn #39;t wear their Chicago Bears jerseys to Lone Star Park to watch the colt run in the \$1.5 million Breeders #39; Cup Mile on Saturday, trainer Don Chatlos


Japanese troops to stay in Iraq The Japanese government says it is undeterred in its fight against terrorism, following the killing of a Japanese hostage in Iraq.


Ukrainian Voting to Be Closely Watched Ukrainians voted Sunday in a presidential election viewed as a test of democracy in the former Soviet republic and an indicator of whether it will move closer to the West or cultivate its historically close ties to Russia.


Iranian Lawmakers OK Uranium Enrichment Iranian lawmakers stand up to show their  quot;yes quot; vote to approve the outline of a bill that requires the government to resume uranium enrichment - an issue of national pride that provides a rare point of agreement between conservatives and reformers in


Deadliest day for US in 6 months Eight Marines were killed and nine others wounded west of the capital on Saturday when a suicide car bomb rammed into their convoy, military officials said, making it the deadliest day for the US forces in half a year.


Online companies facing huge losses in battling Web extortion So when he got an e-mail from gangsters threatening to bring his online sports betting operation to its knees, he paid up. Before long, though, the thugs wanted \$40,000.


Info.com: Consumer Focused Meta Search Recently, a new meta search engine was launched under the name of Info.com. For those unaware, meta search engines pool the results of other search engines (Google, Yahoo) into a single result set.


Forsyth leading Volvo Masters SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Alastair Forsyth shot a 4-under 67 to open a three-stroke lead over Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia after three rounds at the Volvo Masters.


Sri Lanka edge ahead against Pakistan Sri Lanka erased a 270-run deficit against Pakistan and took a lead of 25 runs with seven second-innings wickets still in hand on the fourth day of the second and final Test on Sunday.


Gators, Zook Never Quit After Ron Zook was fired Monday as the University of Florida #39;s football coach, he agreed to stay on until the end of the season.


Seminoles Finally Fall Off Upset #39;s Edge The Maryland offense finally found its rhythm. Its fans found the field. The unranked Terrapins (4-4) dominated No. 5 Florida State #39;s ninthranked defense and held off the


Japan to maintain troops in Iraq Japan has said it will keep its troops in Iraq, despite the beheading of a Japanese hostage by Islamic militants. Officials had earlier confirmed that a body found in Baghdad yesterday was that of Shosei Koda


Iranian MPs approve uranium bill The Iranian parliament has passed the first stage of a bill which would force the government to resume its uranium enrichment programme.


Iranian bill backs nuke energy drive has passed a bill obliging the government to go on trying to develop a civilian nuclear energy programme. uranium enrichment or end snap UN inspections of atomic facilities as some lawmakers had called for.


Thumbthing For Everyone Thumbs. For centuries, they have conveyed the simplest of messages. Up/down, good/bad, salvation/lion chow. But look at the folks in the elevators, the checkout lines, even crawling along in traffic jams.


Japan vows to stay in Iraq despite killing BAGHDAD, Iraq - Japanese leaders on Sunday insisted they would not cut short their troops deployment in Iraq despite the discovery of the body of a Japanese backpacker killed by Islamic militants.


Hostage murder to hurt Koizumi JAPAN #39;S troop deployment in Iraq beyond December is at risk as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi braces for a wave of public anger over the nightmare ending to the country #39;s second Baghdad hostage crisis.


Putin holds key to fate of Yukos The founder and chief executive of the largest private equity fund in Russia has said that the fate of Yukos stands entirely at the whim of President Vladimir Putin, but that


AT amp;T Wireless Settles Lawsuit Over Billing Practices DENVER -- A Denver judge has approved a settlement in a class-action lawsuit challenging billing practices at AT amp;T Wireless. The settlement affects up to 3 million current and former subscribers, most of whom


What we learned Oklahoma: The Sooners really miss Antonio Perkins. It #39;s an oversimplification, but one could argue that the absence of their star cornerback/punt returner, who #39;s out with a strained MCL, cost OU 21 points on Saturday.


Another chapter in TO saga When he sought to overturn the trade that sent him from San Francisco to Baltimore last March, Terrell Owens said there were several factors that led to his decision.


Mortars hit British army camp TWO mortars hit a military base in a restive region south of Baghdad today where a battle group of British soldiers has recently arrived, causing no casualties, a spokesman said.


Agassi Reaches Semifinals at Stockholm STOCKHOLM, Sweden Oct 29, 2004 - Top-seeded Andre Agassi beat Spain #39;s Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (4), 6-2 Friday to reach the Stockholm Open semifinals for the first time.


Eight Marines Killed as Fallujah Assault Looms BAGHDAD, 31 October 2004 - US troops prepared for a major assault to capture the rebel towns of Ramadi and Fallujah as eight Marines were killed yesterday in the bloodiest attack on American forces in Iraq in almost seven months.


European Leaders Sign EU Constitution EU Commission President designate Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, top left, delivers his address in Giulio Cesare hall at the opening ceremony of the EU Constitution signing in Rome #39;s Capitoline Hill, Friday, Oct. 29, 2004.


Iranian parliament approves uranium enrichment Iran #39;s parliament approved on Sunday an outline of a new bill obliging the government to resume uranium enrichment activities - which the country views as a national.


Philippine Govt to monitor UN hostage negotations in Afghanistan The Philippine government is sending a team to Afghanistan, to monitor United Nations efforts for the release of a Filipino and two other foreign nationals abducted in the capital, Kabul.


Airport stands to lose big if ATA departs With ATA Airlines having crash-landed into bankruptcy court last week, the future of the airlines Fort Wayne-to-Chicago air service isnt the only thing up in the air.


No increase in petrol, diesel prices New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices will not be increased this fortnight. The government has decided to wait till the US presidential elections are over, official sources said.


President sees lead shrink on U of I Electronic Markets Iowa City, Ia. - President Bush #39;s lead in the University of Iowa-run Iowa Electronic Markets has shrunk in the past week with Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry making a comeback among online investors, according to markets data on Friday.


Buttiglione Bows Out From EU Commission Line-up ROME, October 31 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - Italian Rocco Buttiglione, whose remarks on homosexuality and the role of women sparked an uproar, said Saturday, October 30, he withdrew his candidacy as new European commissioner for justice


Youzhny wins St Petersburg title Mikhail Youzhny won the second title of his career with a straightforward victory over Karol Beck in the final of the St Petersburg Open on Sunday.


Palestinian leaders give show of unity in Arafat #39;s absence Ramallah, West Bank - The Palestinian leadership held its first meeting Saturday since the departure of the ailing Yasser Arafat, putting on a show of unity to dispel concerns about possible chaos and infighting in his absence.


Japan says decapitated body is that of kidnapped tourist BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A decapitated body wrapped in an American flag and found in an insurgent-controlled section of Baghdad was that of a Japanese man kidnapped by Islamic militants, a Japanese official said Sunday.


Park Claims Title at CJ Nine Bridges CHEJU (Yonhap) - South Korean golfer Grace Park gave the home crowd exactly what they wanted at the \$1.35 million CJ Nine Bridges Classic on Sunday as a storming final round gave her a comfortable win.


Singletary executes Chatlos #39; plan, wins Cup race as 16-to-1 <b>...</b> When trainer Donald Chatlos brought Singletary to Bay Meadows to win the San Francisco Breeders #39; Cup Mile on April 24, it was part of a much bigger plan.


Sharon says ready to negotiate with new Palestinian leader Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that he was prepared to start negotiations with a new responsible Palestinian leader after Arafat #39;s departure, the Ha #39;aretz daily reported.


Shell bosses in a charm offensive THE senior management of Royal Dutch/Shell is starting a whirlwind tour of shareholders and staff. They aim to boost morale and explain plans to unify the company ahead of the vote on the shake-up at next May #39;s annual general meeting.


A Rising iPod Lifts All Boats the price is US\$29 for the six-pack, by the way -- to make much of a dent in the \$8.3 billion company #39;s bottom line. But dozens of


UPDATE 1-Kenyon refutes criticism over Mutu sacking Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has rejected criticism of his club #39;s decision to sack Romanian striker Adrian Mutu after he tested positive for cocaine earlier this month.


Steelers set their sights It usually comes down to one or two plays each Sunday, and for the last 13 months, the New England Patriots have made them all. Its an incredible feat, but one the Pittsburgh


Iraq #39;s Patience Running Out in Fallujah Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, left, is seen during a meeting with Sunni Muslim clerics at his offices in Baghdad #39;s  quot;Green Zone quot;, Saturday Oct. 30, 2004.


Kaneria spins through Lankans Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria has ripped through the Sri Lankan order taking five wickets on the fourth day of the second Test in Karachi.


Lessons Of The  #39;29 Crash ENTITLEMENT IS SOMETHING that investors today need to get over. Just because they #39;ve lost money on stocks in recent years doesn #39;t mean markets are destined to return soon to ever-higher levels.


China purge closes 1,600 net cafes China shut 1,600 Internet cafes between February and August and imposed 100 million yuan (\$12.1 million) worth of fines for allowing children to play violent or adult-only games and other violations, state media has said.


Online extortionists cripple e-commerce So when he got an e-mail from gangsters threatening to bring his online sports betting operation to its knees, he paid up. Before long, though, the thugs wanted \$40,000.


Grace Park leads them a merry dance in Korea Grace Park might have made a shaky start on day three of the CJ Nine Bridges event in Korea today, but by the time she had finished the only ones shaking were those who had to follow in her wake.


COL FB: California 27- Arizona State 0 JJ Arrington ran for 188 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries as the California Golden Bears shut out Arizona State, 27-0, in Berkeley, Calif.


Iran approves bill requiring government to resume uranium <b>...</b> TEHRAN, Iran - Parliament unanimously approved the outline of a bill Sunday forcing the government to resume enriching uranium, legislation likely to deepen an international dispute over Iran #39;s nuclear activities at a time when its chief negotiator gave


Mauresmo powers to Linz victory Top seed Amelie Mauresmo won her fourth title of the year with a comprehensive victory over Elena Bovina at the Generali Open in Linz, Austria.


Spitzer A guerrilla fighting corruption Investors shrugged when state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Dec. 10, 2001, that he was investigating research at Merrill Lynch  amp; Co.


Scientists hope to find more tiny hominids SYDNEY: Australian scientists who found a new species of hobbit-sized humans who lived about 13,000 years ago on an Indonesian island yesterday said they expect to discover more new species of hominids on neighbouring islands.


Kicker Treat: Heels boot Miami It was meant to bring a little levity to a potentially uncomfortable situation, a joke that John Bunting trotted out from time to time this fall.


Maryland football: Terps stun fifth-ranked Florida State As the Boston Red Sox buried decades of futility and anguish this week, the Maryland football program has slain its own mighty dragon.


NY voters react to bin laden video As Osama bin Laden surfaced on videotape for the first time in more than a year, New Yorkers responded to his blurry image with emotions ranging from fear to ambivalence.


Markets up when Democrats win A win by Democratic challenger John Kerry in next week #39;s US presidential election may give stocks a lift, if history is any guide.


Health Highlights: Oct. 31, 2004 A drug currently prescribed to combat advanced breast cancer can now be used to help prevent the disease from recurring in women who have been treated for early forms of the disease, the US Food and Drug Administration ruled Friday.


Space shuttle Enterprise takes center stage, at last CHANTILLY, VirginiaSpace shuttle Enterprise was born to be an astronautical bridesmaid, never a bride. Built in 1976 as one of the first trio of US shuttles, Enterprise never


Newest GTA is sure to please and outrage Get some earplugs Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is hitting stores, and the sound from cash registers ringing up copies of the video game could be deafening.


China Closes 1,600  quot;Internet Bars quot; Kujila writes  quot;According to a Chinese Reuters article, China has closed close to 1,600  quot;Internet Bars quot; (probably the equivalent of  #39;Internet Cafes #39; stateside) and inflicted up to \$12.


High solar activity to last for few decades only: Technology India: London, Oct 31 : Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany, who have reconstructed the sun #39;s activity over the last 11 millennia, have forecasted decreased activity within a few decades.


Vegetarians see red over Smarties colouring THERE are green ones, yellow ones and even blue ones. But how many beetle-coloured Smarties have you tried? Red Smarties get their bright colour from a dye made from dried and crushed insects.


Wenger ends Fergie war of words The United manager has claimed Wenger has a mental problem with Ruud van Nistelrooy and the striker says he is ready to sue the Arsenal boss for labelling him a  quot;cheat quot;.


Mauresmo thrashes Bovina to win Linz title France #39;s Amelie Mauresmo thrashed Elena Bovina 6-2 6-0 to win her fourth title of the year at the \$585,000 Linz Open on Sunday.


Read #39;s mega Diva dare OUTSPOKEN Darwin bookmaker Mark Read has challenged local bookmakers to bet him to win \$1 million on Makybe Diva at today #39;s Call Of The Card at Crown casino.


Zook, Gators frustrated again If you don #39;t care to wait for CSI: Gainesville to autopsy the career of Florida football coach Ron Zook, grab a tape of the Gators #39; 31-24 loss Saturday to archrival Georgia.


Local media turn on Ganguly INDIAN captain Sourav Ganguly has had his integrity questioned in an unsavoury aftermath to the series loss to Australia. Ganguly has worn continual allegations that his withdrawal


Palestinians, Israelis meet to plan for Arafat #39;s absence Senior Palestinian and Israeli leaders held separate meetings Sunday to plan a path forward in the absence of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who was being examined in a French hospital for an unknown ailment.


Rebels vow to use chemical weapons AS the US reeled from the death of nine marines in Iraq at the weekend, insurgents in Fallujah claimed to have obtained chemical weapons and threatened to use them in any battle for control of the rebel stronghold.


Newspapers report Blair may call election earlier than expected? <b>...</b> Prime Minister Tony Blair may call general elections in February 2005 instead of in May, as had been widely expected, two newspapers reported Sunday.


Wake-up call on terrorism AUSTRALIA needed to be doing more than giving out fridge magnets in the war against terror, Labor #39;s foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said yesterday.


Dow winds blow in favour of Kerry INVESTORS and traders lean to the Republicans, but the Dow is sending a signal that George W. Bush is going to lose office. Since 1904, the incumbent has failed to win re-election if the Dow falls by 0.5 per cent or more in October.


Kaneria gives Pakistan the edge Sri Lanka were 361 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 91, at close of play on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan at Karachi on Sunday.


Cruel Britannia as Rooney delivers WAYNE BENNETT thought it would take the Kangaroos 70 minutes to put Britain away in their Tri-Nations rugby league Test early yesterday morning (AEDT).


9 Marines killed in Iraq fighting NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq - A car bomb killed eight US Marines outside Fallujah on Saturday, the deadliest attack against the US military in nearly six months.


Weld plays waiting game The Melbourne Cup is known as  #39;the race that stops a nation #39;, owing to its standing as Australia #39;s most popular horse race.


15 Iraqis, 9 US Marines killed in one of Bloodiest Day HILLA (Iraq): In a bloody day in Iraq, at least fifteen Iraqis died and another 20 were wounded in an exchange of gunfire south of Baghdad, hospital sources said, while the US military reported killing five suspected rebels during clashes.


Tokyo TV: Beheaded Japanese Hostage Found In Iraq TOKYO -- A report says the Japanese government has confirmed that a decapitated body found in Iraq is that of a Japanese man taken hostage by Islamic militants earlier this week.


Non-legendary little people We have grown taller and heavier since the 1960s, according to a new study, but compared with a newly discovered human species, we are really, really huge.


CRICKET: Pak in with chance to level series Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria claimed six wickets today to effect a Sri Lankan batting collapse and put Pakistan in a strong position heading into the final day of the second cricket Test.


Video shows UN Afghan hostages Three UN hostages seized by militants in Afghanistan have appeared in a video shown by the Arabic television channel al-Jazeera. The three seemed in good health in the video, in which their kidnappers called


China continues internet crackdown Fines worth more than \$12 million US were imposed on those establishments that allowed children to play violent or adult-only games and for other violations.


Sudan, Darfur Rebels Fail to Agree on Security ABUJA, 31 October 2004 - Sudanese government delegates and Darfur rebels failed to reach agreement early yesterday on a draft security protocol aimed at breaking a deadlock at peace negotiations in Nigeria.


Japan denounces Iraq hostage death As Tokyo Correspondent Mark Simkin reports, the remains of Shosei Koda were found in Baghdad.  quot;The decapitated body was wrapped in an American flag.


Video of UN hostages telecast A video shown on Arabic television Sunday shows three people believed to be UN hostages who were seized by militants in Afghanistan.


17 Injured in Chechnya Car Bombing A car bomb exploded outside the Chechen capital #39;s main hospital Sunday, injuring 17 people in an attack apparently targeting members of a Chechen security force bringing in wounded from an earlier explosion, officials said.


Govt postpones fuel price hike A hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices was postponed yet again by the government today. The decision was taken after pressure from the Left, which wanted the price hike to be put off till after the


Johansson upsets Agassi to win Stockholm Open Sweden #39;s Thomas Johansson overcame the odds to beat top seed Andre Agassi 3-6 6-3 7-6 in a thriller to take his first title since the 2002 Australian Open.


Martin Triumphant in Catalunya Markko Martin won his second event in succession as he held off a late charge from Marcus Gronholm to come out on top in Rally Catalunya.


Is the Mainstream Ready for Linux? Research: Businesses are going open source, but OS may still be too technical for most users. The open-source operating system Linux may be gaining a lot of ground in the enterprise space, but Windows will


Arafat: Doctors to Carry Out New Tests Having ruled out leukaemia, French doctors were trying for a third day to determine what was causing the dramatic deterioration in Palestinian leader Yasser Arafats health.


Prime Minister Says Japan Remains  quot;Resolute quot; Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Sunday vehemently condemned the beheading of a young Japanese backpacker by Muslim extremists in Iraq while vowing that Japan would remain


China closes 1,600 Internet cafes (OfficialWire) -- 10/31/04 -- Authorities in China have ordered more than 1,600 Internet cafes closed since February 2004, imposing more than 100 million yuan, or


Compact format sign of Times The Times of London has published its final edition as a broadsheet newspaper. Today, it relaunches as a tabloid. The Times is the second British newspaper to move to a smaller, more commuter-friendly format in a bid to reverse slumping sales.


Americans on nerves #39; edge at risky post FALLUJAH - Any motorist who slows down is seen as a suspected suicide bomber. Fingers squeeze triggers at the slightest movement around nearby houses.


Shells Land Near Black Watch Base British soldiers in central Iraq and Basra came under renewed attack from insurgents yesterday, as British commanders set out in detail the role which the Black Watch regiment will play in the forthcoming assault US assault on Fallujah.


Car bomb targeting Chechen security force injures 15?(updated PM5 <b>...</b> A car bomb exploded outside the Chechen capital #39;s main hospital Sunday, wounding 15 people in an attack apparently targeting members of a security force headed by the son of Chechnya #39;s slain Kremlin-backed president, emergency officials said.


Outage stops Kuwaiti oil flow Kuwait City - A power failure on Sunday affecting most of Kuwait forced a shutdown of the country #39;s three oil refineries, which could take two or three days to restart, but the nation #39;s energy minister said oil production would not be affected.


Apple Introduces the U2 iPod U2 and Apple Partnership Fuses Art <b>...</b> Apple introduced the iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG) to create innovative new products together for the new digital music era.


Rossi wins Valencia MotoGP Valencia, Spain - World champion Valentino Rossi of Italy won the MotoGP at the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday, adding more glory to a fabulously successful year.


Cricket: Aussies crowing, Indians deathly quiet NAGPUR - The Indian dressing room was empty after stumps as the hooting and hollering from the Australian shed drifted over the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground.


Afghan Militants Threaten to Kill Foreign Hostages The kidnappers of three foreign election workers in Afghanistan say they will kill their hostages by Wednesday if a list of demands is not met.


Blair spokesman denies snap election report Downing Street has brushed aside reports that British Prime Minister Tony Blair has ordered a snap general election for February. The BBC reported Sunday a spokesman for Blair


From black coffee to a green cause This makes all kinds of sense, for despite decades of hard work crunching numbers for movers (two transportation companies), shakers (two governors) and, since 1990, Starbucks, Orin Smith doesn #39;t have any plans to stand still.


Summer growth carries economy The economy grew at an annual rate of 3.7 percent in the summer as a big rebound in auto sales offset weakness from an exploding trade deficit, soaring oil prices and the Florida hurricanes, the government reported Friday.


New game from Wideload, Alex Seropian named, dated Stubbs the Zombie being built on top of the Halo engine; Aspyr pegs summer  #39;05 as day the bloody demon arrives. Exclusive screens, developer video inside.


Agassi loses Stockholm Open final Andre Agassi lost the Stockholm Open final in a third-set tibreaker to Sweden #39;s Thomas Johansson, who won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) Sunday to capture this tournament for the second time.


Mutu  #39;Lied #39; - Chelsea Chief Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today insisted his club had no option but to sack Adrian Mutu over his failed drugs test and denied there was any vendetta to force the Romanian striker out of Stamford Bridge.


Garcia and Poulter in play-off Ryder Cup team-mates Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter went into a play-off for the Volvo Masters at Valderrama today after a tie on the seven-under-par mark of 277.


Surging Molik in another decider ADELAIDE-born Alicia Molik has reached her second WTA final in two weeks by thrashing third-seed Silvia Farina Elia in the semi-finals of the Luxembourg Open.


Apple introduces the U2 iPod Apple today introduced the iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG) to create innovative new products together for the new digital music era.


Zombie Wideboy When Wideload Games - set up by Bungie founder Alexander Seropian - made themselves known, all they revealed was that they are working on a  quot;wildly innovative game quot; using the Halo engine.


Poulter celebrates at Valderrama Ian Poulter captured the Volvo Masters at Valderrama with a play-off victory against local favourite Sergio Garcia. Alistair Forsyth, three strokes ahead overnight, bogeyed the first two and was caught by an early Poulter birdie.


In-form Molik storms to second title in a week LUXEMBOURG (AFP) - Australia #39;s Alicia Molik, the second seed, stormed to her second title in a week with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian Dinara Safina at the 225,000-dollar (175,000 euro) WTA tournament here.


Iran backs enrichment as government demands commitments from <b>...</b> TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran #39;s parliament passed a bill backing the resumption of uranium enrichment, as the government left the door open for further negotiations with Europe over the controversial practice.


No oil price hike, says Aiyar: Sports India, Cricket: New Delhi, Oct.31 : The Centre has decided that it will not hike oil prices inspite of the spiralling international cost of crude.


Titan: Where #39;s the Wet Stuff? One of NASA #39;s goals in sending Cassini on its 2-billion-mile journey to Saturn was to search for lakes of liquid hydrocarbon that scientists believe may exist on the surface of the planet #39;s moon Titan.


Baseball Beat: Red Sox just played much better Bee Staff Writer. hanks to all the emotion expended and frustration released by Boston finally shedding  quot;The Curse of the Bambino quot; and winning a World Series, the dubious quality in baseball #39;s


Mauresmo dominates Linz final LINZ, Austria (Ticker) - Amelie Mauresmo will return to the top spot in the world rankings after breezing to her fourth title of the year Sunday.


Park hangs on to win Nine Bridges Entering the final round tied with Kate Golden with a two-stroke lead over the rest of the field, Park birdied eight holes to hold off Annika Sorenstam and defending champion Shi Hyun Ahn and win the \$1.


quot;February election quot; report played down Downing Street has played down reports that the Prime Minister may call an early election in February. Most political commentators expect Mr Blair to seek a new mandate in May 2005 since to go to the polls


Poulter pips Garcia in a play-off VALDERRAMA, Spain -- Britain #39;s Ian Poulter beat Ryder Cup team mate Sergio Garcia at the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Volvo Masters in Valderrama.


Martin, the asphalt master ominant in Corsica, Markko Martin confirmed the Ford Focus #39; dominance on asphalt. The Estonian wins the 40th edition of the Rally Catalunya, followed by Marcus Gronholm in second place and Carlos Sainz in third position.


Schilling back in game for Bush The Red Sox right-hander has recorded automated phone calls that will be made in New Hampshire, Maine, and Pennsylvania through Tuesday, Election Day.


Wake Forest #39;s chances could rest on player with  #39;cat burglar #39; <b>...</b> One mention of the term  quot;crunch time quot; is enough to twist some players #39; stomachs into knots.  quot;That #39;s when it #39;s fun to me, quot; he said.


Iranian bill backs drive for nuclear energy (updated AM 00:29) To cries of  quot;Death to America quot; and  quot;God is Greatest quot;, Iran #39;s hardliner dominated parliament passed a bill on Sunday obliging the government to press ahead with efforts to develop a nuclear energy programme.


AMD rolls out low-cost Net access device in India BOMBAY - US chip maker Advanced Micro Devices has unveiled a low-cost Internet access device that could cost just a few hundred dollars, aimed at first-time technology users in the developing world.


Palestinian officials say Arafat #39;s condition is curable, stable PARIS, Oct 31 (AFP) - Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat #39;s condition is curable and stable, officials said Sunday as French doctors tried to determine whether he is fit to stay on as Palestinian Authority president.


Stike threatens oil exports NIGERIAN workers would disrupt their country #39;s key oil exports of 2.5 million barrels per day with an indefinite general strike from November 16, the country #39;s top labour leader warned today.


S and P watching Shell for possible debt downgrade LONDON : Standard and Poor #39;s Ratings Services said it had its eye on Royal Dutch/Shell for a possible downgrade of the oil company #39;s debt rating in case of a further restatement of its reserves.


Indian Government moves to cushion oil shock for consumers The Indian government says it #39;ll keep the retail cost of petrol and diesel steady despite rising global crude oil prices. The announcement follows a series of weekend meetings between Prime Minister Manmohan


Sunspots leave telltale marks in trees The Sun is in the thick of one of the longest and stormiest periods in 8000 years, say researchers who have tracked down an 11,400-year record of stormy sunspot activity in tree rings.


ATP St. Petersburg Sunday results *Mikhail Youzhny became the 10th champion of the St. Petersburg Open after an impressive win over Karol Beck on Sunday. *In a baseline battle, the crowds favorite Youzhny needed one hour and two minutes to close out the match 6-2, 6-2.


Rangers wins convincingly to hold on to second Glasgow, Scotland (Sports Network) - Rangers and Aberdeen finished up weekend play in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday at Ibrox.


Poulter defeats Garcia in playoff at Valderrama Cadiz, Spain (Sports Network) - Ian Poulter parred the first hole of a playoff on Sunday to win the Volvo Masters Andalucia over Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia at Valderrama Golf Club.


Martin wins Rally of Catalonia ESTONIA #39;S Markko Martin won his second successive world championship rally today as he took the Rally of Catalonia in a Ford Focus.


Lions WR Roy Williams misses game in Dallas Detroit Lions receiver Roy Williams missed Sunday #39;s game against the Dallas Cowboys because of an ankle injury. Williams leads the Lions with 24 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns, having taken over


Ukraine PM to meet challenger in poll run-off Ukraine #39;s prime minister and a liberal challenger have taken the top spots in a presidential election and will take their debate over the country #39;s future through to a run-off next month, exit polls say.


Iran bill backs drive for nuclear energy Iran #39;s parliament has passed a bill obliging the government to press ahead with efforts to develop a nuclear energy programme.


Thai PM promises independent probe into protesters #39; deaths Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has again said he wants a thorough, independent inquiry into last week #39;s deaths of 87 Muslim protesters, most whom died in military custody.


AU Mission Expands in Sudan #39;s Darfur More African Union troops from Rwanda have deployed in western Sudan to help monitor a cease-fire in the region. Rwandan military officials say 100 soldiers arrived Sunday in the North Darfur capital