Australian zone widens  #39;deputy sheriff #39; net

Australia #39;s plans to create a maritime surveillance zone reaching into Indonesian waters is an example of its insensitivity to Asia and will bolster the view of Australia


Teenage surfer ripped in half by pair of sharks

An Australian teenager was killed by a pair of great white sharks yesterday in the country #39;s second shark fatality in less than a week.


Philips sells PC screens arm to TPV Technology

By Francesco Guerrera in Hong Kong and Ian Bickerton in Amsterdam. Philips, the Dutch electronics company, on Thursday said it had sold its personal computer screens business to the Taiwanese group TPV Technology


Governor Pledges to Ban Violent Video Games for Minors

Governor Rod Blagojevich wants Illinois to be the first state to make it illegal to sell violent video games to minors. Currently the law does not prohibit selling or renting violent and sexually explicit games to children younger than 18.


The Undiscovered Monkey: Researchers Identify New Species of <b>...</b>

Scientists in India have found what they believe to be a new species of macaque monkey. The simian was first observed on Aug. 19, 2003 in the extreme northeastern area of India s Arunachal Pradesh territory


A #39;s Trade Pitcher Tim Hudson to Braves

Oakland Athletics pitcher Tim Hudson smiles during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles, Aug. 23, 2004, in Oakland, Calif.


Manning Helps in Developing Giant Game Plan

As if the last four weekends have not been disheartening enough for Eli Manning, along comes another rookie quarterback, only this one has a terrific record and has charmed an entire city.


Hudson Joins Braves, Mariners Sign Beltre (AP)

AP - The Atlanta Braves made another huge pitch for success, getting Tim Hudson from Oakland. And the Seattle Mariners added another slugger, grabbing Adrian Beltre off the free-agent market.


Call for Demonstrations Falls on Deaf Ears

JEDDAH, 17 December 2004 - A call by London-based dissident, Saad Al-Faqih, to his followers to stage anti-government demonstrations across the Kingdom fell on deaf ears yesterday.


A's Trade Pitcher Tim Hudson to Braves (AP)

AP - Tim Hudson was traded from the Oakland Athletics to Atlanta, a blockbuster deal Thursday that further bolstered the Braves' revamped rotation.


Cuban M.D. Staying at Argentine Embassy (AP)

AP - A prominent Cuban doctor who was denied permission to travel to Buenos Aires to visit relatives was staying at the Argentine Embassy on Thursday, but her son said she does not plan to seek asylum in a case that has raised tensions between the two nations.


Alleged Bin Laden Tape Praises Attack (AP)

AP - A man identified as Osama bin Laden, speaking on an audiotape posted on an Islamic Web site Thursday, praised the men who attacked a U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia earlier this month and called on militants to stop the flow of oil to the West.


Competition in sight for Clement

The Red Sox are one of seven teams that have an offer on the table to righthander Matt Clement , who came up in the Padres' system with Theo Epstein and remains one of the most attractive pitching options left on the market despite a career record under .500.


Mariners, Beltre reach agreement

com. One day after signing a right-handed hitter with two 45-home run seasons on his resume, the Mariners are on the verge of signing the current Major League home run champion.


19-year veteran slated to get bulk of action in 2005

com. The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired veteran catcher Benito Santiago on Thursday from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league right-hander Leo Nunez.


16 die in fresh Nepal clashes

Sixteen Maoist rebels were killed in clashes with Nepalese security forces Thursday in the western district of Dailekh, Royal Nepal Army spokesman Deepak Gurung has told CNN.


Symantec to Buy Veritas for \$13.5 Billion

Symantec Corp., the top global security software maker, on Thursday said it will buy data management software company Veritas Software Corp.


Philips sells PC monitor and flat TV manufacturing unit

Taiwan #39;s TPV Technology Ltd. has agreed to buy the unbranded computer monitor and entry-level flat-screen television manufacturing operations of Dutch consumer electronics giant Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV.


Goldman #39;s record revenues fail to meet expectations

Goldman Sachs yesterday reported record full-year earnings, following record results from Lehman Brothers earlier in the week and setting the pace for the rest of Wall Street.


Software Giant Buys Giant Software

Microsoft today announced that it will buy Giant Company Software, a developer of anti-spyware and Internet security offerings. The Redmond, Washington, firm will use technology from the acquisition


#39;Pirate #39; network can block porn: court

A COMPANY involved in the Kazaa file-sharing system approached the FBI with a proposal to block child pornography from being distributed on the network, the Federal Court has heard.


Edu waves goodbye to Highbury

Arsenal midfielder Edu has confirmed he will leave the Premiership champions next summer and move to La Liga. Edu, whose contract with the London club expires at the end of the season, says he has yet to make


Ask Vic: Philly #39;s pass-happy philosophy

The Eagles have a shifty back with a nose for the end zone in Brian Westbrook, but it seems like they pass on every down, even when they #39;re up big.


Twins sign Mulholland to minor league deal

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins and 41-year-old left-hander Terry Mulholland agreed to terms Thursday on a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.


Annan pledges to cooperate in oil-for-food probe

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, making his first trip to Washington since members of Congress called for his resignation over allegations of fraud in


SA orders destruction of killer shark

The South Australian Government has authorised police and wildlife officers to destroy the shark which killed 18-year-old Nick Petersen off West Beach in Adelaide yesterday.


Three linked to IRA jailed in Colombia

Three Irishmen linked to the IRA have been given long prison sentences in Colombia, having their had earlier acquittals overturned for supplying explosives training to anti-government guerrillas.


Saddam allowed to meet with lawyer

AMMAN - Saddam Hussein, Iraq #39;s jailed former dictator, was allowed to meet with a lawyer on Thursday for the first time since his arrest a year ago.


N.Koreans Seek Refuge at Japan School in China (Reuters)

Reuters - Seven people claiming to have defected\from North Korea sought refuge in a Japanese school in Beijing\on Friday, Japanese government officials said.


N.Koreans Seek Refuge at Japan School in China

TOKYO (Reuters) - Seven people claiming to have defected  from North Korea sought refuge in a Japanese school in Beijing  on Friday, Japanese government officials said.


Bush Immigration Plan Meets GOP Opposition (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - President Bush's plan to liberalize the nation's immigration laws to allow millions of undocumented workers the opportunity for legal status appears to be on a collision course with newly aroused sentiment among House Republicans pushing for a crackdown on illegal immigration.


Newcastle Tops UEFA Cup Group, Parma Advances to Round of 32

Newcastle drew 1-1 against visiting Sporting Lisbon to finish atop its group in European soccer #39;s UEFA Cup, while two-time champion Parma won its final match to advance to the next stage of the competition.


Iran, Syria and the Iraqi quagmire: rein in manipulation before <b>...</b>

On Wednesday, Iraqi interim Defense Minister Hazim al-Shaalan accused Iran and Syria afresh of supporting the insurgency against both the interim government in Baghdad and US-led occupation forces.


After Looking Up to Sky, a Star Is Transplanted

After his introductory news conference with the Mets, Pedro Martnez appeared as vulnerable as any man who had just bought a house or entered a marriage.


Martnez's Value Goes Beyond Mound

The Mets are hoping to use Pedro Martnez as a tool for marketing, recruiting free agents and expanding their appeal in the Caribbean and South America.


Yankees See New Chance to Make Deal for Johnson

Two agents said that the Yankees were on the verge of acquiring Randy Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Symantec to Buy Veritas Software in Deal Worth \$13.5 Billion

Symantec, a leader in security software, will acquire Veritas, a maker of data storage programs, to create the world's fourth-largest software company.


What's Wrong With Jets? Not Enough Points

Frustrated members of the Jets' offense have been venting all week about their shortcomings after Sunday's 17-6 loss to Pittsburgh.


3 Years After Enron, Resistance to New Rules Grows

The issue that is contentious is a rule that is meant to assure that if an investor offers to buy a share for \$25, no stock will be sold for less until his order is filled.


Judge in Grasso Trial Was Suggested for Post at Big Board

A headhunter for the judge who will preside over Richard A. Grasso's trial sent a copy of the judge's resume to the stock exchange promoting him as a possible board candidate.


Trade Data Show Another Record Deficit

The broadest measure of the country's trade and investment flows registered a record deficit of \$164.7 billion in the third quarter.


The Symantec Corporation, a leader in security software and one of Silicon Valley #39;s oldest companies, announced early Thursday that it would acquire Veritas Software


Goldman Sachs Says Earnings Rose 23 for Quarter

Goldman Sachs reported a 23 percent increase in earnings for the fourth quarter, driven by robust gains in investment banking, asset management and trading.


Parmalat sues 45 banks over bust

Parmalat has sued 45 banks as it tries to reclaim money paid to banks before the scandal-hit Italian dairy company went bust last year.


US Airways flight attendants OK possible strike

The more than 5,000 US Airways flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants overwhelmingly voted in favor of possible strikes against the carrier.


Uefa optimistic over quota system

UEFA, European footballs governing body, remains confident of success in its efforts to introduce a revolutionary quota system that would transform the face of football by forcing clubs to


Pitino might bring back Farley

Louisville announced Wednesday night that the little-used Farley had been dismissed but did not specify the reason. Farley had only seen six minutes of action in two games this season.


Report: Solich lands Ohio job

BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - It appears that Frank Solich #39;s hiatus from coaching will be one year. According to an ESPN.com report Wednesday night, Solich - who was fired from Nebraska despite going 9-3


French Court Jails 10 for Al-Qaeda-Linked Plot in Strasbourg

A Paris court gave 10 suspected Islamic terrorists jail terms of up to 10 years for a plot to bomb Strasbourg #39;s cathedral and the city #39;s Christmas market in December 2000, a clerk of the court said.


AU pledges to increase ceasefire observers in Darfur

The African Union (AU) pledged Thursday to increase its ceasefire observers from the current 1,000 to 3,320 in the troubled western Darfur region of Sudan.


Philips switches strategy pictures through flat screen disposal

AMSTERDAM (AFP) - The Dutch electronics group Philips said that it is selling its low-brand flat screens business group to TPV Technology of Taiwan as part of a strategic change of direction, and in line with a trend by big groups to use Asian partners to


Israeli Forces Launch New Gaza Operation (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli tanks rumbled into the\northern Gaza Strip on Sunday to try to stop cross-border\rocket attacks described by front-running Palestinian\presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas as useless.


Kidde succumbs to 17m  #39;sweetener #39;

By Alistair Osborne, Associate City Editor (Filed: 17/12/2004). United Technologies Corporation clinched the acquisition of Kidde yesterday after sweetening its 165p-a-share offer for the fire protection group with a final dividend of 2p per share.


Adobe patches Acrobat Reader

Security flaws in Adobe Acrobat Reader that could allow an attacker to take over a user #39;s system have been dealt with, as Adobe has patched the software.


Gronkjaer to wear number 11 with Atletico Madrid

Danish midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer is about to join Atletico Madrid from English premier league side Birmingham next week, the Spanish club announced on Thursday.


FA punish Wenger with record 15,000 fine

Arsenal made an ignominious piece of history yesterday when Arsne Wenger was fined 15,000 - a record for a manager - and severely reprimanded by the Football Association


A #39;s Trade Pitcher Tim Hudson To Atlanta Braves

Gone from the 2004 East Division winning Braves are Jaret Wright, Paul Byrd, and Russ Ortiz. The voids have been filled with a couple of former 20-game winners.


Montreal Expos Will Not Move to Washington

Major League Baseball #39;s plan to move the former Montreal Expos franchise to Washington DC appears to be falling apart. Washington Mayor Anthony Williams said Wednesday the deal was almost dead after the city


Lack of Courtesy From ADs Miffs Osborne

Tom Osborne has been out of college football for seven years, and now he can #39;t even get a phone call returned. The Nebraska coach-turned-congressman on Thursday bemoaned the lack


Albanian Bus Hijacking Raises Unpleasant Issue for Greeks

Television viewers around the world watched a drama unfold in Athens on Wednesday morning, when two unknown hijackers took hostage 26 Greek bus passengers and threatened to detonate the bus.


BoSox Game 4 Lineup Card Draws Record Bid (AP)

AP - The Boston Red Sox lineup card from Game 4 of the 2004 World Series brought a site-record bid of  #36;165,000 on MLB.com.


William   Mary QB Wins Payton Award (AP)

AP - William  amp; Mary quarterback Lang Campbell won the Walter Payton Award on Thursday night as the top offensive player in Division I-AA.


Wrapping Up  #39;National Assets #39;

Recent developments in Russia all point in one direction: The Kremlin #39;s energy sector policy has shifted to more aggressive efforts of direct control.


New head coach clear on goals for Rebels

New Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, speaking for the first time since his hiring, made clear the goal of his football program.  quot;The goal of this program will be to go to the Sugar Bowl, quot; Orgeron said.


Sharon gives Blair #39;s Middle East summit an unexpected boost

Israel is prepared to back a Middle East conference convened by Tony Blair early next year despite having expressed fears that the British plans were over-ambitious and designed


Law Lords blow to anti-terror rule

The indefinite detention without trial of foreign nationals under emergency terror laws is incompatible with European human rights laws, the Law Lords have ruled.


PM sets up Blunkett return

who quit as Home Secretary on Wednesday evening -fter next Mays General Election. Sources say he could return as


Violence greets Iraq election campaign.

Baghdad: An Italian hostage was reported killed in Iraq, adding to the violence around the start of campaigning for the first post-Saddam Hussein elections, while for the first time since his capture a year ago the ousted president met his family


Braves Acquire Hudson; Beltre and Mariners Agree

The Braves added pitcher Tim Hudson and the Seattle Mariners improved their offense when Adrian Beltre agreed in principle to a five-year, \$64 million deal.


The Smaller the Better

Division I transfer quarterbacks Justin Rascati and Craig Ochs will lead James Madison and Montana, respectively, in the I-AA final Friday.


Big Unit Deal in Works

Randy Johnson was on the verge of joining the Yankees in a three-team, megadeal that also includes Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez, a source told the AP on Thursday.


Kremlin Reasserts Hold on Russia's Oil and Gas

A judge in Houston tried to temporarily halt Russia's planned auction of the most profitable unit of oil giant Yukos.


Regulators Adopt Tighter Rules on Accounting for Stock Options

Accounting regulators adopted rules yesterday requiring publicly traded companies to treat the stock options they give to employees as normal business expenses.


Fidelity Disciplines 16 Traders Over Gifts From Brokers

The mutual fund giant Fidelity Investments disciplined 16 traders yesterday, two of whom have left the firm, as part of an extensive investigation into whether employees improperly accepted gifts and entertainment from brokers.


Panel Sees Shuttle Flights Resuming Soon

NASA should be able to meet all requirements for resuming space shuttle flights next spring, but some solutions, like repairing damage to heat shields, will be open


Australia #39;s Dish ready to for another brush with fame

For Australians, the  quot;Dish quot; as they like to call the giant antennae of the Parkes radio telescope is nearly as well known as the Sydney Opera House.


BT to offer Blackberry-enabled Siemens handsets

British telco BT has reached agreements with German mobile handset maker Siemens and Canadian wireless solutions provider Research In Motion (RIM) to offer UK corporate customers the Siemens SK65 handset with Blackberry Built-In technology.


Almost done: Johnson to Yankees, Green to Arizona, Vazquez to <b>...</b>

Randy Johnson was on the verge of joining the New York Yankees in a three-team, megadeal that also includes Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez, a source told The Associated Press on Thursday night.


It had become obvious for several weeks that the Oakland Athletics would trade Tim Hudson, but when and where remained a mystery until yesterday.


Receiver expected to miss game

Pittsburgh Steelers: Wide receiver Plaxico Burress (hamstring) was downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday #39;s game at the Giants.


Europe Invites Turkey to Hold Membership Talks Next October

Despite widespread public opposition, the European Union #39;s political leaders said late Thursday that Turkey had made sufficient progress in political and economic reforms


UK Verdict May Jeopardize Blair #39;s Terror Policies

British Prime Minister Tony Blair #39;s security strategy, a central plank in his re-election bid, looked in trouble on Friday after a landmark legal ruling against a vital part of his anti-terror policy.


Iceland Offers Asylum to Jailed Fischer

TOKYO, Dec. 16 -- Iceland has agreed to offer asylum to Bobby Fischer, the former chess champion who is being held in a Japanese jail while fighting extradition to the United States, Iceland #39;s Ambassador to


Italian President Vetoes Justice Reform (AP)

AP - Italy's president dealt a blow to the center-right government Thursday by vetoing one of its centerpiece reforms, an overhaul of the justice system.


Saddam Meets Lawyer, Aides Due in Court (AP)

AP - Saddam Hussein met with a defense lawyer Thursday for the first time since his capture a year ago, days before several of his top aides are due to appear in court for hearings on alleged war crimes.


Seven presumed North Koreans seek refuge in Beijing Japanese school (AFP)

AFP - Seven people believed to be North Koreans rushed into a Japanese school in Beijing seeking refuge, the latest in a steady stream of defectors from the Stalinist state.


Yukos seek US court order to block forced sale in Russia

The crisis-hit Russian oil company Yukos sought refuge in a United States bankruptcy court yesterday, telling the presiding judge it had no recourse within Russia #39;s judicial system.


J amp;J takes heart from 13bn deal

Johnson  amp; Johnson announced a \$25.4bn (13.1bn) deal yesterday to buy Guidant Corporation, giving the healthcare company a stake in the fast-growing market for devices that regulate heartbeats.


Oil futures stabilize above US\$44 a barrel after jump in prices

Oil futures stabilized Thursday after a jump in prices the previous day that reflected a drop in US crude and heating oil stocks even as demand was rising with cold weather spreading across the US Northeast and Midwest.


UTC to buy Kidde in 1.4bn deal

Kidde, the UK fire and safety products company, said yesterday it had accepted a cash offer from United Technology Corporation that values the group at 1.442bn.


Turkey Keeps EU Waiting for Reply on Talks Offer

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkey's Prime Minister kept the EU  waiting on Friday on whether he would accept the terms of its  historic offer to start accession negotiations, leaving  late-night talks with the bloc's presidency without a deal.


Zafi virus hits e-mail

by di-ve.com. The latest e mail virus to hit local Internet users is cleverly masked as a Christmas Greeting -- unfortunately, unsuspecting users who open the e mail attachment, end up infecting their computer with a virus, known as Zafi.


NASA Spacecraft Tracks Global Air Pollution

A NASA spacecraft has begun the first-ever daily tracking of how air pollution moves across the globe, a scientist at NASA #39;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Wednesday.


Three-way deal in making that finally sends  #39;Unit #39; to Yanks

The endgame of Randy Johnson #39;s maneuvering to be traded to the New York Yankees, an issue in Arizona since June, is close to being written in blockbuster-trade fashion.


Mets challenge intrigues Martinez

The former Red Sox ace formalized a 53 (m) million dollar, four-year contract with the New York Mets today (Thursday) and embraced the idea of helping rebuild a team that has fallen on hard times.


Pistons Top Cavaliers 81-69 (AP)

AP - Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and the Detroit Pistons held Cleveland to a six-point third quarter and almost held LeBron James scoreless in the second half in an 81-69 win Thursday night.


S.Korea and Japan Keep Up Summit Shuttle on North

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun was  leaving for a two-day official visit to Japan on Friday for  summit talks that will focus on the North Korean nuclear  problem and Japan's deteriorating ties with the communist  state.


A Couple of Davids Team Up in Queens

For 43 years, the Mets have been a relatively white team reflecting the suburbs. Now, with Omar Minaya and Pedro Martinez, talent and desire speak Spanish.


Guard Reports Serious Decline in New Recruits

The Army National Guard has failed for two months to meet its recruiting quotas, falling about 30 percent below its overall target.


Indian, Twice Removed

Indo-Caribbeans, who have not felt particularly embraced by Indians in Flushing and Elmhurst in Queens, have cobbled together their own community in Richmond Hill.


NASA spacecraft tracks global air pollution


Report: Yanks acquire Big Unit in three-team trade

New York, NY (Sports Network) - According to a published report, the New York Yankees have finally landed ace lefthander Randy Johnson.


Turkey on brink of joining EU

EU LEADERS were poised last night to open accession talks with Turkey, giving a massive boost to Ankaras four decade long bid to join the European Union.


Hussein Sees Attorney Before Aides' Hearings

Saddam Hussein met with a defense attorney Thursday for the first time since the former Iraqi president was captured a year ago and days before several of his top aides are due to appear in court for hearings on alleged war crimes.


Hussein, Defense Lawyer Meet for 1st Time

Saddam Hussein met for the first time since his capture a year ago with a defense lawyer Thursday, two days after Iraq announced it will soon bring top figures of the fallen regime to court, the chief of the former dictator's legal team said.


NBA ROUNDUP Yao Leads Early All-Star Voting

By The Associated Press. Shaquille O #39;Neal, who was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat in the off-season, leads the Eastern Conference in early voting for the All-Star Game, and Yao Ming is No.


Colombia Won't Extradite Top Warlord (AP)

AP - President Alvaro Uribe pledged Thursday not to extradite the country's top right-wing paramilitary leader to the United States to face drug trafficking charges provided he ceases all illegal activities and stays in peace talks.


Update 4: Companies Told to Start Expensing Options

The nation #39;s accounting rulemaker decided Thursday that companies will have to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, reigning in a cheap way to compensate workers that had been abused by executives and clouded earnings.


Microsoft Consumes Little Giant

Strange that it should take so long for something like this to happen. After all, it #39;s been years since those of us using Microsoft #39;s (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows OS have had to put up


IBM steps up grid partner plan

WALTHAM, Mass.--IBM is ramping up its recruitment efforts with application companies in an effort to make an emerging distributed computing technology, called grid computing, pervasive in corporations.


Tabloid tales and the downfall of a minister

14 AUGUST: The News of the World reveals he is having an affair with a married woman. 15 AUGUST: The Sun names the married woman as Kimberly Fortier - who has since changed her name to Quinn.


World stars support Asian tsunami charity match (AFP)

AFP - Cricket's world stars signalled their support for victims of the overwhelming Asian tsunami by agreeing to play in the first of two benefit matches in Melbourne next week.


Nikkei Up 1.61, Buying in Futures Noted

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.61 percent  by midsession on Friday on a wave of short-covering after some  players bet the country's economic slowdown wouldn't last long  and bought stock futures while selling bond futures.


FASB Orders Options Counted as Expenses

Accounting standards setters yesterday issued a long-awaited plan requiring companies to treat stock options as expenses on their books, even as lobbyists vowed to derail the initiative before it takes effect in June.


US Airways, Flight Attendants Closer to Deal

The lead negotiators for US Airways flight attendants reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that will save the carrier about \$94 million a year, officials from both sides said yesterday.


3Com Posts Wider-Than-Expected Loss

3Com Corp. (COMS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday posted a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss, amid stiff competition from Cisco Systems Inc.


Microsoft enters anti-spyware fray

Computer users already associate Microsoft Corp. software with spyware and viruses. But the company hopes to someday be better known for eradicating them, not attracting them.


New species of monkey discovered in Northeastern India :

India News  gt; Hyderabad, Dec 16 : A species of monkey previously unknown to science has been discovered in the remote northeastern region of India, according to the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).


Cassini Craft Spies Saturn Moon Dione

The Cassini spacecraft #39;s close flyby of Saturn #39;s mysterious moon Titan this week revealed clouds that will give clues to its weather, but the pass left scientists still puzzled about its surface.


IBM Launches New RFID And Sensor Software

The software, developed by IBM #39;s new Sensors and Actuators business unit, is designed to help businesses collect and act on data from RFID and other sensor-based technology.


CMU grad hopes to turn Skype #39;s fast-growing Internet phone service <b>...</b>

To say that Skype may be one of the fastest-growing software programs in history may sound like a lot of dot.com hype, but consider this: Since the program that turns


Yankees reportedly to get Johnson in blockbuster trade

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The New York Yankees are poised to add five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson to their rotation in a blockbuster three-team trade, New York Newsday reported on its website.


McLeish on wrong side of the thin blue line

TWO weeks ago, Alex McLeish was posing for the photographers at Murray Park with the Bank of Scotlands Manager of the Month award for November, savouring a period which had turned Rangers season around and seemed to have discarded any short-term


Hudson sent to Braves with Meyer, Thomas, Cruz going to the <b>...</b>

Tim Hudson was traded from the Oakland Athletics to Atlanta, a blockbuster deal yesterday that further bolstered the Braves #39; revamped rotation.


Cavs smothered by Pistons #39; defence

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Ben Wallace and the Detroit Pistons displayed the type of suffocating defense that led them to the NBA title last season.


Revealed: why refs get it wrong

A STUDY has confirmed what football fans have suspected for years - referees get offside decisions wrong because they cannot see whats happening on the park.


Wizards: A Magical Season or an Illusion?

Don #39;t look now, but the Washington Wizards have one of the best records in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association, with 12 wins and 8 losses.


Thai Tsunami Survivors Pray for Dead, Look Ahead (Reuters)

Reuters - A week after a deadly tsunami\swept away thousands of lives along Thailand's tropical\coastline, people prayed for the victims in special church\services Sunday and spoke of putting the tragedy behind them.


UK Home Secy rules out release of terror suspects

Taking a tough stance, the new British Home Secretary Charles Clarke ruled out release of 12 overseas terror suspects, even after Law Lords ruled detention without trial as a breach of human rights law.


Italian hostage among 12 killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD: At least 12 people, including an Italian hostage, were killed in Iraq on Thursday as violence continued. An Islamist group claimed that it had killed an Italian hostage identified as Salvatore Santoro


Internet calls can trim festive costs

ONE Christmas ritual should be a lot cheaper this year for anybody with broadband. Calling friends and relatives just about anywhere in the world now costs nothing, or just over 1p a minute (0.02 to be exact


Judge Orders Halt to YUKOS Unit Auction

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A U.S. bankruptcy court on Thursday  stepped into the battle between YUKOS and the Russian  government, issuing an order to block Sunday's auction of the  company's main oil-producing arm for 10 days.


Oil Creeps Higher, Eyes New US Cold Front

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices resumed this week's upward  march on Friday, driven by worries that a new U.S. cold spell  might erode already low winter fuel inventories.


Nikkei Up 1.5 Pct, Year-End Rally Eyed

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo stocks posted strong rises by  Friday afternoon as hopes for a seasonal year-end rally and the  imminent inclusion of oil and gas developer INPEX Corp. into  the TOPIX index, spurred buying in a wide range of stocks.


Adobe Profit Up, Shares Fall on Outlook

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Software maker Adobe Systems  Inc.ADBE.O on Thursday posted a quarterly profit that rose  more than one-third from a year ago, but shares fell 3 percent  after the maker of Photoshop and Acrobat software did not raise  forecasts for fiscal 2005.


3Com Posts Wider-Than-Expected Loss

CHICAGO (Reuters) - 3Com Corp. COMS.O on     Thursday posted  a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss, amid stiff  competition from Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO.O and others in the  telecommunications networking market.


FASB Orders Options Counted as Expenses

Accounting standards setters Thursday issued a plan requiring companies to treat stock options as expenses, while lobbyists vowed to derail the initiative.


Radio One Considers Return to D.C.

Radio One Inc.'s chief executive said Thursday he is lobbying District officials to support a plan to move his company's headquarters from Maryland to the District.


The lead negotiators for US Airways flight attendants reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that will save the carrier about \$94 million a year, officials from both sides said yesterday.


New Rule May Help Business-Lobby PACs

A  rule change  proposed by the Federal Election Commission yesterday could substantially enhance the clout of the nation's business lobbies, campaign-finance lawyers said.


Housing Starts Took Plunge in November

The number of housing units on which builders began work plunged 13.1 percent in November from the previous month, the biggest monthly drop in nearly 11 years, according to the Commerce Department.


Merger Activity Hits Record High

Johnson   Johnson's \$25.4 billion takeover of Guidant Corp. and the \$35 billion union of Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. are leading the busiest quarter for mergers in more than four years. -The Washington Post


Auxerre puts Rangers out of UEFA Cup

Scottish giants Rangers bowed out of the UEFA Cup in humiliating fashion on Wednesday as they went down 2-0 at home to French side Auxerre with Bonaventure Kalou grabbing a double to ensure the visitors progressed to the last 32.


NBA Wrap: Hamilton Guides Pistons to Win Over Cavs (Reuters)

Reuters - Richard Hamilton posted 21 points to\propel the Detroit Pistons to an 81-69 triumph over the\Cleveland Cavaliers at Auburn Hills, Michigan Thursday.


NBA Wrap: Hamilton Guides Pistons to Win Over Cavs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Richard Hamilton posted 21 points to  propel the Detroit Pistons to an 81-69 triumph over the  Cleveland Cavaliers at Auburn Hills, Michigan Thursday.


Yankees Nearing Deal to Acquire Johnson

Two agents said that the Yankees were on the verge of acquiring Randy Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks.


The Collapse of Kobe

Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers' star guard, got everything he wanted. Isn't that what everyone said last summer?


Martnez's Value Goes Beyond Mound

The Mets are hoping to use Pedro Martnez as a tool for expanding their appeal in the Caribbean and South America.


Notebook: Burress, Kriewaldt ruled out for Sunday

Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress (hamstring) and linebacker Clint Kriewaldt (hamstring) have been downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday #39;s game at the New York Giants.


Powell Says UN Is Doing Enough for Iraq Elections (Reuters)

Reuters - Secretary of State Colin Powell said\on Thursday that U.N. plans to help with the upcoming election\in Iraq appeared to be on track, despite months of pressure for\the world body to increase its staff.


U.N. Says Bugging Device Found at Its Geneva HQ (Reuters)

Reuters - The United Nations said on Thursday a\secret listening device had been found in a posh meeting room\of its European headquarters in Geneva.


Teamster Death Probe Sought in El Salvador (AP)

AP - International union and activist groups published an ad Thursday in a Salvadoran newspaper calling for an independent investigation into the death of a U.S. union leader who was shot in the back while working here.


Shark That Killed Australian Teen Hunted (AP)

AP - Authorities said Friday they would kill the shark that tore apart a young surfer near a popular south Australian beach as his friends reportedly tried to save him by beating the animal with oars.


Bhutan forbids all tobacco sales

A ban on the sale of all tobacco products comes into force in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.


Big Pharma #39;s Rx to Rise and Shine

Investors and insomniacs can rest easy: The Food  amp; Drug Administration approved Lunesta, Sepracor #39;s (SEPR ) new drug for sleeplessness, on Dec. 15.


Latest worm attack prompts call for increased antivirus vigilance

Online security experts urge computer users to update their systems #39; antivirus measures, after a wave of attacks by the Zafi.d worm that have swamped thousands of e-mail servers.


Richard Hamilton posted 21 points to propel the Detroit Pistons to an 81-69 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Auburn Hills, Michigan Thursday.


Rice finally stops Lamar

It takes an audacious arrogance to persevere through the kind of shooting slump Rice senior guard Brock Gillespie endured in the first half Thursday night against Lamar.


quot;Bin Laden quot; tape slams Saudi govt

BEIJING, Dec. 17 -- An Islamic Website has posted an audiotape message, attributed to terror mastermind Osama bin Laden, bitterly criticizing the Saudi government.


Guard Reports Serious Drop in Enlistment

The Army National Guard has failed for two months to meet its recruiting quotas, falling about 30 percent below its overall target.


Colombia Won't Extradite Top Warlord

President Alvaro Uribe pledged Thursday not to extradite the country's top right-wing paramilitary leader to the United States to face drug trafficking charges provided he ceases all illegal activities and stays in peace talks.


Nikkei Surges to Highest Close in 4 Weeks

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average surged to its  highest close in four weeks on Friday as hopes for a seasonal  year-end rally and the imminent inclusion of oil and gas  developer INPEX Corp. into the TOPIX index spurred buying in a  wide range of stocks.


Houston court rules on suspending sale of Yukos subsidiary

Russia #39;s oil giant Yukos requested to block the auctioning off of its main production unit Yuganskneftegaz in Moscow on Sunday.


Cell phones in the air: Convenience or curse?

Just when air travel seems to have become our national gripe, along comes a possibility to make us appreciate flight as we now know it: A cabin full of people talking, loudly and simultaneously, on their cell phones.


SEC Orders Fannie Mae to Restate

Securities and Exchange Commission chief accountant Donald Nicolaisen has requested that the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) restate its financials from 2001 through mid-2004 to eliminate the use of hedge accounting.


eBay buys Rent.com for \$415 million

eBay announced late Thursday that it had acquired the apartment rental service Rent.com for \$415 million, the latest move in its expansion beyond Internet auctions.


Carey #39;s Career-High Carries Longhorns

DENTON, Texas -- Texas coach Jody Conradt told Jamie Carey to shoot more, and it worked out very well. Carey scored a career-high 30 points to lead the fourth-ranked Longhorns to a 79-54 victory Thursday night over North Texas.


For These Quarterbacks, The Smaller the Better

The starting quarterbacks in tonight #39;s NCAA Division I-AA football championship at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga thought they would be playing for a trophy on a much bigger stage.


Mary Hardin-Baylor, continuing rapid rise, poised to win first <b>...</b>

Make no mistake. The players and coaches on the Mary Hardin-Baylor football team are making every effort to win Saturday #39;s NCAA Division III championship game in Salem, Va.


Saddam has first meeting with his lawyer

Preparations to put Saddam Hussein on trial intensified on Thursday with a first meeting between the ousted Iraqi president and a member of the defence team appointed by his family.


EU Expects Turkey to Initial Deal on Cyprus Friday

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union expects Turkey to  initial an accord Friday giving Cyprus de facto recognition and  sign it before Ankara opens EU membership talks on Oct. 3,  2005, a draft summit statement said Friday.


Euthanasia seeker dies in India

A terminally-ill Indian chess champion who has been the focus of a euthanasia debate, dies in hospital.


Irish trio 'have fled Colombia'

Three Irishmen convicted of training rebels in Colombia have fled the country, its attorney general tells Reuters.


Agreement offers flexibility and cash to bankrupt airline

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- ATA Holdings, the bankrupt parent of ATA Airlines, took a key step Thursday toward salvaging more of its struggling operations.


No. 6 Stanford Advances To NCAA Championship With 3-1 Win Over <b>...</b>

Senior Ogonna Nnamani leads the team with 33 kills, 21 digs and five blocks on the night. Long Beach, Calif. - Senior outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani had 33 kills, 21 digs and five blocks to lead the sixth-ranked


7 North Koreans take refugee at Japanese Embassy in North Korea

BEIJING -- Seven men and women, apparently North Korean defectors, sought refugee at a Japanese school early Friday morning. Japanese diplomats in Beijing said that they were two men, four women and a girl.


Property Fund Says to Hold YUKOS Auction (Reuters)

Reuters - Russia's Federal Property Fund said on\Friday it intended to go ahead with an auction of oil major\YUKOS' main unit Yuganskneftegaz despite a U.S. court decision\to freeze the state-imposed sale.


Property Fund Says to Hold YUKOS Auction

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Property Fund said on  Friday it intended to go ahead with an auction of oil major  YUKOS' main unit Yuganskneftegaz despite a U.S. court decision  to freeze the state-imposed sale.


EBay to Buy Rent.com for \$415 Mln in Cash and Stock (Update2)

EBay Inc., the world #39;s largest Web auctioneer, agreed to buy privately held Rent.com for \$415 million in cash and stock to expand in the online real-estate market.


Microsoft Software to Remove Spyware (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. disclosed plans Thursday to offer frustrated users of its Windows software new tools within 30 days to remove spyware programs secretly running on computers. But it might cost extra in coming months.


AN AMAZIN #39; DAY

What you realized very quickly yesterday was that this was not just the celebration of a marquee signing or pristine ace. What you realized was that the new face of the Mets arrived yesterday.


UNIT ABOUT TO LAND IN BRONX

If LA #39;s Shawn Green waives a no-trade clause and agrees to land in Arizona and Johnson gives his OK to work in The Bronx, the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Yankees will have put together a blockbuster


Controversy continues to follow Bryant

Seldom has someone insisted on privacy more while behaving in ways that guaranteed him less. There are places we #39;re not supposed to go, but we #39;re continually being dragged


Lakers 115, Kings 99

When the Lakers were dismantled last summer, the Sacramento Kings thought their biggest rivalry was finished. Turns out Kobe Bryant and his new teammates are ready to start it up again.


Apple's IPod in Short Supply at Holidays (AP)

AP - Retailers expected Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod music player to be a hot item this holiday season but are still struggling to keep up with demand.


Computer Users Sued for Swapping Music (AP)

AP - Recording companies filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 754 computer users Thursday, the latest round of legal action in the industry's effort to squelch unauthorized swapping of music online.


Ill. Gov. Seeks Ban on Violent Video Games (AP)

AP - Gov. Rod Blagojevich is proposing to make it a misdemeanor for businesses to sell violent and sexually explicit video games to minors, a step that other states have tried with little success.


Alabama Troopers Issue Electronic Tickets (AP)

AP - Alabama state troopers are getting on the information highway. Fifty state trooper cars are already equipped with laptop computers, scanners and printers that allow them to issue traffic tickets electronically, and the goal is to have the equipment in all 325 patrol cars within two years, state Public Safety Director Mike Coppage said Thursday.


After Merger, Gradual Changes (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Cell phone shoppers looking for new deals and features didn't find them yesterday, a day after Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. announced a merger that the phone companies promised would shake up the wireless business.


Adobe Profit Up, Shares Fall on Outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - Software maker Adobe Systems\Inc. on Thursday posted a quarterly profit that rose\more than one-third from a year ago, but shares fell 3 percent\after the maker of Photoshop and Acrobat software did not raise\forecasts for fiscal 2005.


Cassini Craft Spies Saturn Moon Dione (AP)

AP - The Cassini spacecraft's close flyby of Saturn's mysterious moon Titan this week revealed clouds that will give clues to its weather, but the pass left scientists still puzzled about its surface.


Wash. Orcas Get Feds' 'Threatened' Status (AP)

AP - Two years after denying Endangered Species Act protection to killer whales that live much of the year near Washington's San Juan Islands, the federal fisheries agency said Thursday it plans to list the struggling population as a threatened species.


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union expects Turkey to  initial an accord on Friday giving Cyprus de facto recognition  and sign it before Ankara opens EU membership talks on Oct. 3,  2005, a draft final summit statement said on Friday.


Los Alamos Laser to Be Launched to Mars (AP)

AP - A laser developed by a Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist will be aboard the Mars Science Laboratory to be launched to the red planet in 2009.


Group Urges Doable Shuttle Repair Method (AP)

AP - NASA needs to supply astronauts with a "reasonable, doable and practicable" way to plug space shuttle holes in orbit before resuming launches, an advisory group said Thursday.


Nikkei Surges to One-Month High

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose to its  highest close in four weeks on Friday as hopes grew for a  seasonal year-end rally.


More Thumbnails Please

\\Using images to denote context has been within UIs for year.\\When Internet Explorer ipmlemented support for favicons I was really impressed.\Gravatars  provide images for users and even FOAF provides support for\associating an image with a profile.\\Rojo has a cool feature where we thumbnail blogs that don't provide images\within their RSS feed.\\Here are two examples:\\My question is why can't I have Linux show me a thumbnail for processes while\I'm switcing between them with Alt-Tab in KDE?  \\OS X can do it!  Windows XP can do it!\\


Nikkei Surges to Highest Close in 4 Weeks

Japan #39;s Nikkei average surged to its highest close in four weeks on Friday as hopes for a seasonal year-end rally and the imminent inclusion of oil and gas developer INPEX Corp.


Young counters O #39;Keefe, saying the culture at NASA hasn #39;t changed

A day after outgoing NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe said the space agency #39;s broken safety culture has vastly improved since the Columbia accident, legendary astronaut John Young begged to differ.


Marion Jones wants BALCO founder to take lie detector

Continuing efforts to clear her name that includes a \$25 million lawsuit filed this week against Victor Conte, Olympic sprinter Marion Jones on Thursday challenged the Bay Area Laboratory


Johnson bound for Yankees: report

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Arizona Diamondbacks, who made a big splash before and during baseball #39;s winter meetings, soon could be facing life without the Big Unit.


NBA Game Summary - LA Lakers at Sacramento

Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant tallied 31 points, 12 assists and six rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 115-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena.


Stanford wins, to play for title

Long Beach -- Stanford will make its third appearance in the NCAA women #39;s volleyball final in four years after defeating Pacific-10 Conference #39;s champion Washington 3-1 Thursday night.


Colombia judges order arrests, but whereabouts of trio linked to <b>...</b>

A court on Thursday convicted three IRA-linked men of training Colombian rebels in terrorist tactics and sentenced them to up to 17 1/2 years in prison.


Gaza Strip Mortar Attack Injures 11 Israeli Soldiers (Update3)

A mortar attack on an Israeli military post in the southern Gaza Strip injured 11 soldiers, the Israel Defense Forces said. Israeli troops hours later raided the Khan Younis refugee camp, the Haaretz newspaper reported.


U.S. Army Aims to Halt Paperwork with IBM System

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - No more passing the buck.


Gradual Changes to Come for Sprint, Nextel

Cell phone shoppers looking for new deals and features didn't find them Thursday, a day after the phone companies announced a merger that they promised would shake up the wireless business. -The Washington Post


Settlement Includes Tight Controls for AOL

America Online Inc.'s settlement with the Justice Department imposes a strict new set of controls on the company, including requirements that the Internet giant hire a corporate monitor and disclose serious wrongdoing discovered internally to the government. -The Washington Post


Merger Activity Hits Record High

Johnson   Johnson's \$25.4 billion takeover of Guidant Corp. and the \$35 billion union of Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. are leading the busiest quarter for mergers in more than four years.
 -The Washington Post


BearingPoint Warns of Continued Turmoil, Acknowledges Subpoena

BearingPoint Inc. disclosed more troubles yesterday, saying that it will take a restructuring charge of as much as \$67 million and may not be able to report that it has adequate procedures in place to prevent accounting fraud.


Russia to Hold YUKOS Auction

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday it would go ahead  with an auction to sell the key asset of embattled oil company  YUKOS YUKO.MM despite a U.S. bankruptcy court decision to  block it for several days.


Microsoft fixes 'critical' XP firewall issue

Microsofthas quietly released an update to Windows XP to fix a potentially serious configuration problem in the firewall that ships as part of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).


Borland folding CBuilder into Delphi

Borland Software in 2005 plans to fold its CBuilder developer tool line into the companys Delphi IDE tool family for Windows application development, thus answering the question about what the company had planned to do with the technology.


Legal questions dog Microsoft antispyware buy

With the ink barely dry on Microsoft's acquisition of antispyware company Giant Company Software questions have arisen about the ownership of the antispyware code Microsoft bought.


P-to-P backers propose new distribution models

WASHINGTON - A complete rewrite of the U.S. copyright system was just one proposal aired Thursday during a contentious series of panel discussions at a U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) workshop on peer-to-peer technology.


Multicore designs might force Intel off its bus

As Intel moves in step with the rest of the chip industry toward the multicore design era, it is preparing to overhaul the memory bus architecture that has served it well for so many years, according to company executives and analysts.


RIAA files 754 new file-trading lawsuits

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed 754 new lawsuits against alleged file-traders using peer-to-peer services, the trade group announced Thursday.


HP drops Itanium development

SAN FRANCISCO - Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) is getting out of the chip-making business. The Palo Alto, California, company on Thursday announced that it reached an agreement with Intel Corp. that would see HP's Itanium processor design team move to Intel in January. The agreement effectively puts an end to the last microprocessor development effort within the company.


W3C publishes Web architecture

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) this week published a final version of its Architecture of the World Wide Web, Volume 1 document, looking to set forth codified principles for the Web itself.


More questions than answers in Symantec, Veritas deal

Security company Symantec's acquisition of Veritas Softwarehas the potential to benefit customers and shareholders of both companies, but details of the \$13.5 billion deal leave some important questions unanswered, according to interviews with executives and industry experts.


Microsoft Fixes 'Critical' XP Firewall Issue

Fix prevents users from sharing their files and printers with the entire Internet.


Symantec Will Buy Veritas

Deal will merge antivirus vendor with maker of backup and archiving software.


Technology

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Retailers expected Apple Computer Inc. #39;s iPod music player to be a hot item this holiday season but are still struggling to keep up with demand.


Russia to Hold YUKOS Auction (Reuters)

Reuters - Russia said on Friday it would go ahead\with an auction to sell the key asset of embattled oil company\YUKOS  despite a U.S. bankruptcy court decision to\block it for several days.


Gazpromneft Will Not Pull Out of Auction (AP)

AP - The oil wing of Russia's state-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom does not intend to pull out of this weekend's auction of the main production unit of the embattled Yukos oil company, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Friday.


Wenger puts ticking-off behind him

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has pledged to put his Football Association misconduct charge behind him and keep his side #39;s title challenge on track at Portsmouth on Sunday.


Feeling jilted, DC? We #39;ve been there, done that

One minute, you feel as if you have won the lottery. The next, the bully down the street swiped your ticket. You have been conned, swindled, taken.


Montana keeps tradition going despite youth

No players are pictured on the front or back covers of the Montana football media guide. Displayed instead are images of the two NCAA championship trophies the Grizzlies have won


AP: Colombia Troops Being Sought for Iraq (AP)

AP - Recruiters working for U.S. contractors are hiring former Colombian soldiers  #151; and luring away active-duty ones  #151; for security jobs in Iraq, according to a former army officer who met with the recruiters.


Turkey Agonizes on Cyprus as Last EU Hurdle

Turkey agonized over pressure to recognize Cyprus in the last hurdle to an historic agreement as EU leaders held a crucial summit on Thursday on opening membership talks with Ankara.


Hunters pursue killer great white stalking Australian death beach (AFP)

AFP - A great white shark that killed a teenage surfer off the South Australian capital Adelaide will be hunted down and destroyed after it returned to stalk the city's beaches, authorities said.


Australian Party Leader to Join Hunger Strike (Reuters)

Reuters - The leader of a small Australian\political party will begin a hunger strike on Saturday in\support of about 20 Iranian asylum seekers held at a rural\immigration detention center who have refused food for almost\two weeks.


Ask Jeeves Launches Desktop Search

Ask Jeeves has launched a beta desktop search application, capping off a very busy year in the desktop search space.


States #39; Pocketbooks Are Fuller, but Health Costs Stall Recovery

The fiscal condition of the states improved this year, but soaring health costs have made it difficult for them to recover from the worst fiscal crisis in six decades, the National Governors Association said Thursday.


.mobi domain approved

ICANN, the body that oversees the core functionality of the Internet and is responsible for regulating top level domains or TLDs (such as .


Pistons stop James and Cavaliers

Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, United States of America -- National Basketball Association champions Detroit held LeBron


Greg Paulus named Gatorade National Player of the Year

Despite heading to Duke to play basketball, Greg Paulus of Christian Brothers Academy is the 2004 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year.


Website audiotape believed bin Laden

CAIRO, EGYPT -- A man identified as Osama bin Laden, speaking on an audiotape posted on an Islamic website yesterday, praised the men who attacked a US consulate in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, earlier this month and called on militants to stop the flow of oil to


Australians vow to destroy  #39;killer shark #39;

Sydney - Australian police and wildlife officers were ordered on Friday to destroy a large shark which killed a teenage surfer in a savage attack as his horrified schoolfriends looked on.


Russia to Hold YUKOS Auction

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday it would go ahead  with an auction to sell the key asset of embattled oil company  YUKOS despite a U.S. bankruptcy court decision to block it for  several days.


Historic buildings to be sold Boston Wharf offered \$97m

Boston Wharf Co. today is set to sell about half of its remaining portfolio of historic brick buildings in the Fort Point Channel area to Berkeley Investments Inc. for \$97 million, Berkeley executives said yesterday.


Boston sampler

Citizens Energy boss Joe Kennedy, like his famous uncle Ted, opposes the huge wind farm proposal in Nantucket Sound, his backyard. But the "Call Joe-4-Oil" Kennedy is working hard to also become "Joe-4-Wind" elsewhere.


IPod demand white-hot

Many holiday shoppers are struggling to find one of the most explosively popular gifts in years: Apple's iPod digital music player that stores 5,000 songs in a device no bigger than a deck of cards.


Gillette hopes to create a buzz with vibrating women's razor

Gillette Co. yesterday unveiled its newest razor -- one that promises to make a buzz in women's shaving.


Symantec to acquire Veritas

Computer security giant Symantec Corp. is buying storage and backup program specialist Veritas Software Corp. to create the world's fourth-largest software maker, marking the latest merger in an industry trend that's expected to compress the competition to a few juggernauts.


Board rules options be counted as expenses

The nation's accounting rule maker decided yesterday that companies will have to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, reining in a cheap way to compensate workers that had been abused by executives and clouded earnings.


US deficit widens to \$164.7 billion

The deficit in the broadest measure of trade climbed to a record high of \$164.7 billion in the third quarter of this year, reflecting Americans' hardy demand for imported oil and foreign-made goods.


Banknorth-TD Bank merger gets backing

Banknorth Group's largest shareholder, Private Capital Management, said it plans to vote in favor of the merger with Canada's TD Bank Financial Group after expressing reservations several months ago. The change increases the likelihood the merger will go through. Several of Banknorth's major shareholders had reservations because of the deal's structure. TD plans to acquire a majority stake in the ...


Ex-Pennichuck CEO settles

In an unusual settlement to a lengthy investigation of the former chief executive of one of New Hampshire's largest utilities, state and federal regulators yesterday said Pennichuck Corp. will make a special payment of \$280,000 to its shareholders.


The Dollar Extends Gains

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar extended gains on Friday after  a positive batch of U.S. economic data prompted speculators to  buy the currency before trade trickles down during the year-end  holiday season.


Harvard cardiologist a key player in Guidant deal

Beverly H. Lorell took a leave from her academic job last year to become chief medical and technology officer for Guidant Corp. The post puts her at the center


The nation #39;s accounting rule maker decided yesterday that companies will have to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, reining


Braves sign Smoltz to 2-year deal

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - John Smoltz will open Spring Training 2005 in the Atlanta Braves #39; rotation and armed with a new contract. General manager John Schuerholz spent a busy Thursday coming to terms on a two-year pact with his former closer.


NBA: LA Lakers 115, Sacramento 99

Kobe Bryant made all six of his field-goal attempts in a big third quarter Thursday night as the Los Angeles Lakers rolled past Sacramento, 115-99.


Dravid, Gambhir blast Bangladeshi bowlers

Gautam Gambhir scored a half century in his second consecutive innings after India suffered an early setback on the first day of the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong today.


Stanford stops Huskies

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The University of Washington #39;s magical volleyball season unraveled long before it ended with Oganna Nnamani #39;s strong, graceful swing slamming a ball to the floor to give Stanford the


SADDAM MEETS HIS LAWYER

December 17, 2004 -- AMMAN, Jordan - Saddam Hussein met yesterday with a defense lawyer for the first time since his capture a year ago, said the chief of the tyrant #39;s legal team.


Eurotunel plans to reduce its freight shuttle service (AFP)

AFP - Eurotunnel, the French-British group that operates rail traffic under the Channel linking France and Britain, plans to reduce its freight shuttle service by 15 percent from January 1, the company said in a statement.


Growth was key to J amp;J, Guidant deal

Guidant Corp. #39;s 10-year run as one of Indiana #39;s most successful public companies will end with a \$25 billion sale to health products giant Johnson  amp; Johnson.


Time Warner pays \$510m to settle fraud probe

Time Warner said yesterday that it had agreed to pay the US government \$510 million (R3 billion) to resolve criminal and civil charges that its America


Fannie Mae whistle-blower feels vindicated by SEC decision

Roger Barnes, a former Fannie Mae accounting manager, leaped onto the national stage this fall when he accused the mortgage-finance giant of cooking its books


AirAsia ordering 40 Airbus planes

Airbus won an order to sell 40 planes to AirAsia, Southeast Asia #39;s largest discount airline, beating out Boeing. The Kuala Lumpur-based airline said in a statement to the Malaysian stock


ATA sees Southwest as a savior

ATA Airlines founder J. George Mikelsons was driving to Chicago from Indianapolis when the life-saving phone call came through for his troubled airline.


Omni BioTech to pay penalty and halt sales

The state has effectively shut down a Marysville-based company that allegedly misled consumers about the effectiveness of breast-enlargement, weight-loss and sexual-dysfunction products it marketed through Web sites.


Five Killed in Al Qaeda Jailbreak in Kabul (Reuters)

Reuters - Three Afghan prison guards and two\prisoners were killed in a jail break attempt by al Qaeda\inmates Friday and a shoot-out was going on between police and\another two, the chief of Kabul's Pul-i-Charki prison told\Reuters.


Noble taps Patina Oil

Houston-based Noble Energy Inc. agreed Thursday to acquire Denver #39;s Patina Oil  amp; Gas in a deal that highlights the Rocky Mountains #39; stature as an energy center even as Denver loses another headquarters.


AOL Settlement Includes Tight Controls (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - America Online Inc.'s settlement with the Justice Department imposes a strict new set of controls on the company, including requirements that the Internet giant hire a corporate monitor and disclose serious wrongdoing discovered internally to the government.


European Shares Little Changed (Reuters)

Reuters - European shares were little changed at\29-month highs on Friday, with Germany's Ifo survey expected to\be an early focus.


Making Widener Digital

Harvard is one of a handful of institutions in a joint venture with Google that could be the biggest development to hit the library since the card catalog went digital.


Discovery of water on Mars tops scientific achievements of the <b>...</b>

The discovery of water on Mars was the scientific breakthrough of 2004, according to one of the world #39;s leading science journals.


HP Closes Chip Unit; Designers Move To Intel

HP today announced a complete overhaul of its server strategy, with plans to terminate its involvement in the co-production of Itanium processors with Intel.


New Zafi-D Worm on the Prowl, Alerts MicroWorld

MicroWorld Software has cautioned Internet users about a new malicious worm known as the W32/Zafi-D. According to the antivirus and content security software provider, W32/Zafi-D behaves in a typical worm manner.


Peter Berg to Direct Splinter Cell

Paramount has acquired film rights to Tom Clancy #39;s video game Splinter Cell and hired Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) to direct.


Pistons pound Cavaliers

(12/17/04)-- The Detroit Pistons must have learned something after allowing LeBron James to score a career-high 43 points in their last game against Cleveland.


#39;Big #39; blockbuster has big obstacles

Several obstacles remained in the way of a blockbuster trade being discussed Thursday night, a three-team mega-deal that would reportedly send Arizona ace Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees and would also include fellow All-Stars Shawn Green and Javier


Officials working behind the scenes

Mayor Anthony A. Williams isn #39;t giving up on Major League Baseball in Washington, saying Thursday that District of Columbia officials are working hard behind the scenes to get an acceptable deal done by the Dec.


Bulls 96, Grizzlies 88

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Eddy Curry scored 20 points, and Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon each added 15 points to lead Chicago past Memphis. Chicago won for the only the second time on the road this season and Memphis


Aussie wins title by KO

HOLLYWOOD  There were plenty of fireworks in and out of the ring Thursday night when Aussie Vic Darchinyan knocked out Colombian Irene Pacheco in a battle of unbeaten left-handers for the International Boxing Federation flyweight title.


Huskies #39; season over after 3-1 loss to Stanford

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Washington #39;s first visit to the NCAA volleyball Final Four turned out to be a short one. The magic carpet ride that had included the school #39;s first Pac-10 title and a No.


Lakers jump Kings; two in row for Bulls roundup

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- When the Lakers were dismantled last summer, the Sacramento Kings thought their biggest rivalry was finished.


QB ROUNDUP: Cowboys return Henson to 3rd-string

IRVING, Texas -- Drew Henson lasted just two quarters as the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Three weeks later, he #39;s not even their top backup.


Experts think bin Laden tape authentic

(12/17/04)-- A newly released audio recording sounds like Osama bin Laden, and the intelligence community has  quot;high confidence quot; that it is.


White House Takes Cool Stance Toward Annan (AP)

AP - The Bush administration, cool to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as he copes with calls for his resignation, has a track record of trying to oust heads of U.N. agencies.


Lawyers Call on U.N. to Shield Whistle-Blowers (Reuters)

Reuters - Two lawyers for U.N.\whistle-blowers urged the United Nations on Wednesday to\protect staffers who want to disclose corruption at the world\body, including the oil-for-food program for Iraq.


Tennis Player Draper to Join Australian Golf Tour

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian tennis player Scott Draper  qualified Friday for Australia's secondary golf tour and said  he planned to play both sports next year.


Report: Yankees to sign Johnson

The Red Sox were already braced for the likelihood that Randy Johnson would wind up in pinstripes, a coup the Yankees were on the verge of pulling off last night in a three-team deal with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, according to a report in Newsday.


He'll let the words speak for themselves

So now we know the reasons why he left. And more. Pedro Martinez was hurt the Red Sox didn't act more quickly in their efforts to sign him. He didn't like the Sox sending more than one person to the Dominican Republic to negotiate. He doesn't like Curt Schilling. He doesn't need the money because he's been a millionaire since ...


Rising star

His hair is Manny-style, and his bedroom here is a shrine to the Red Sox left fielder, who gave him bats, spikes, a No. 24 wristband, and hugs.


Tranghese offers new BCS plan

Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese is pushing a plan to change the way teams are selected for the Bowl Championship Series and make the process, which has been marked by controversy since its inception in 1998, more in line with the way the NCAA picks teams for its basketball tournament.


Millar will not play second fiddle at first

Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar , making an appearance at Modell's Sporting Goods at the Westgate Mall yesterday, said he told general manager Theo Epstein there isn't room for both him and Doug Mientkiewicz at first base.


Announcers cross-checked by NHL lockout

Someday, after the NHL lockout ends, there will be stories to tell about how this hockey hiatus changed the direction of people's careers. Because things will never be the same.


Sigalet public about illness

At first glance, the question of whether the Bruins should sign 2001 draft pick Jordan Sigalet at the end of his senior season seems to be a no-brainer.


Read all about it, Rebels tough

When a newspaper dubbed Walpole little more than a speed bump for Oliver Ames in the Division 2 state tournament last season, there was no one giddier to read that than Walpole coach Stacy Bilodeau.


Bumpy road ahead for Andover

When Ashley McLaughlin's 3-pointer skipped off the rim, concluding last year's MIAA Division 1 state championship game, gone were Andover's chances at back-to-back titles. Gone, too, are more than half the players.


Sandwich gymnasts off to fast start

In its first meet in the program's history, the Sandwich girls' gymnastics team proved to be quick learners, defeating Carver, 130 3/4-105.


Report published on Gaul's fate

The 30-year mystery of how a Hull trawler sank off Norway may be solved when a new report is published.


This weekend on TV, radio

TODAY PRO BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. -- Celtics vs. Utah at the FleetCenter, FSN, WWZN (1510) 8 p.m. -- Denver at Miami, ESPN 10:30 p.m. -- Phoenix at Seattle, ESPN BOXING 11 p.m. -- Ebo Elder vs. Courtney Burton (lightweights) at Santa Ynez, Calif., SHO COLLEGE FOOTBALL 8 p.m. -- Division 1-AA championship: James Madison vs. Montana at Chattanooga, Tenn., ESPN2 ...


Pistons burn Cavaliers

Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and the Detroit Pistons held the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 6-point third quarter and almost held LeBron James scoreless in the second half in an 81-69 win last night in Auburn Hills, Mich.


Today's schedule

College basketball: Men -- Hofstra at Dartmouth, 7 p.m. Pro basketball: Utah vs. Celtics at the FleetCenter, 7:30 p.m.


Transactions

BASEBALL Anaheim (AL): Added INF Kendry Morales to 40-man roster; designated P Bobby Jenks for assignment. Atlanta (NL): Signed P John Smoltz to a two-year contract. Boston (AL): Named Jason McLeod director of amateur scouting, Amiel Sawdaye assistant scouting director, Dave Finley national crosschecker, Mike Rikard East Coast crosschecker, Fred Peterson West Coast crosschecker, and Jon Lukens and Danny Watkins ...


A passing reference

Patriots coach Bill Belichick wanted to get one thing straight about the Miami Dolphins. As woeful as their offense has been in this 2-11 season, Miami's defense has been an entirely different matter.


Big East makes a stand to keep its bid secure

Give the Big East credit for survival tactics, if nothing else. In what must be considered a major victory, the Big East has convinced its Bowl Championship Series partners to count incoming members Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida in this year's BCS standings and exclude outgoing members Boston College and Temple.


Vinatieri not kicking himself

The last time Adam Vinatieri faced the Miami Dolphins, in a 24-10 victory Oct. 10 at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots kicker missed a 47-yard attempt wide right to end a string of seven consecutive successful field goal tries.


Voice, Said to Be bin Laden's, Criticizes Saudis

A recording broadcast Thursday accuses the ruling dynasty in Osama bin Laden's Saudi homeland of being the "agents of infidels."


Lott Criticizes Rumsfeld

The former Senate majority leader joined a growing chorus of Republicans criticizing the Pentagon chief's failure to call for more troops in Iraq and to properly equip troops.


Iceland Offers Asylum to Jailed Fischer

Iceland has agreed to offer asylum to Bobby Fischer, the former chess champion who is being held in a Japanese jail while fighting extradition to the United States.


Turkey Pressed to Move on Cyprus for EU Deal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union spelled out tough  conditions Friday for Turkey to start membership talks next  October ahead of final bargaining with the Turkish prime  minister at a landmark summit.


eBay buys Rent.com

Internet auction firm eBay agrees to buy Rent.com for \$415m (214m), giving it access to more of the online property market.


RUSSIA * US * YUKOS * LAWSUIT * YUGANSK * AUCTION

MOSCOW, December 17 (RIA Novosti) - Yesterday, a Houston court started hearing Yukos #39;s petition for bankruptcy. The company filed the petition to contest the December 19 auction of a 77 stake in its main


London higher as Bunzl confirms targets

Londons main equity market opened in positive territory on Friday on a quiet day for corporate newsflow. On the senior index, gains from Bunzl, which confirmed it expected full-year results


U2 iPods now in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: If youre still undecided on that long-contemplated iPod purchase, Apple Malaysia is hoping that its latest iterations - the iPod Photo and iPod U2 Special Edition -ill help you make up your mind.


Pistons hold LeBron to 11

When LeBron James shot two airballs on a single possession in the first quarter, it was a sign of things to come. Richard Hamilton scored 21 and the Pistons almost held


Three-way deal close

Randy Johnson was on the verge of joining the New York Yankees in a three-team, megadeal that also includes Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez, the Associated Press reported on Thursday night.


Notebook: Overrated? Urlacher aggravated by article

The Bears added sportswriter Dennis Dillon to their 2005 training-camp roster yesterday. Brian Urlacher confirmed the transaction.


Key to the deal was respect

When bouncing back and forth between offers from the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets, Pedro Martinezs decision to come the Big Apple over


Bulls book first back-to-back victories

Kirk Hinrich and the Bulls are starting to play in a relaxed fashion, and it #39;s resulting in victories. Kirk Hinrich scored nine of his 28 points in a 15-0 run, and the Chicago Bulls beat the


Hope and risk in Middle East

The recent rhetoric from the Middle East - hopeful and constructive from both sides of the divide - provides a glimmer of hope that Palestinians and Israelis may agree on new and peaceful borders in the coming new year.


Violence greets Iraq poll campaign, Saddam meets lawyer, hostage <b>...</b>

BAGHDAD (AFP) - An Italian hostage was reported killed in Iraq, adding to the violence as campaigning started for the first post-Saddam Hussein elections, while for the first time since his capture a year ago the ousted president met his family-appointed


Drilling update hits Cairn shares

Shares in UK oil company Cairn sink 20 after a disappointing drilling update and worries over possible tax demands.


HCA to let employees cash in stock options faster

Hospital chain HCA said yesterday it will allow employees and its executives to cash in certain stock options earlier than was originally scheduled, a move that could be a financial plus for


ATA OKs \$117 million Southwest deal

INDIANAPOLIS - ATA Airlines has accepted a \$117 million offer from Southwest Airlines that would forge close ties between two of the largest US discount carriers.


Vinatieri's Field-Goal Streak Reaches 21 (AP)

AP - The only way to stop Adam Vinatieri from making field goals might be to keep him from kicking them.


Microsoft makes Net security move by acquiring Giant

In a move to quell rising consumer frustrations, Microsoft on Thursday announced it has acquired Giant Company Software, maker of well-reviewed but little-used anti-spyware software, for an undisclosed sum.


Governor keeps dirty video games away from minors

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has taken an aggressive stand on exposure of Illinoiss minors to violent and sexually explicit video games, by proposing a ban on the sale of the video games.


Turkey  #39;disappointed #39; by EU talks

Turkey has said it is  quot;disappointed quot; at the conditions set out by the EU for opening accession talks. EU leaders have offered to begin membership talks with Turkey next year, with 3 October given as a start date.


North Korea under the spotlight

It #39;s the latest in a series of defections and attempted defections from the communist country. Seven people, believed to be North Korean refugees, have entered a Japanese school in Beijing.


Five Killed in Al Qaeda Jailbreak in Kabul

KABUL (Reuters) - Three Afghan prison guards and two  prisoners were killed in a jail break attempt by al Qaeda  inmates on Friday and a shoot-out was going on with another  two, the chief of Kabul's Pul-i-Charki prison told Reuters.


S amp;P may raise Veritas Software ratings

Standard  amp; Poor #39;s Ratings Services said on Thursday it may boost the ratings of Veritas Software Corp. after the firm announced a merger with Symantec Corp.


Dutch candour

Rijkman Groenink has learnt the hard way. The ABN Amro chief executive admits frankly that his  quot;inexperience as a leader quot; lay behind over-ambition and mistakes when he took over at the Dutch bank 4years ago.


Some bank credits included on Parmalat list

An Italian judge has included some of Parmalat #39;s debts owed to banks on an official list of creditors but excluded some others, court documents showed on Friday.


HP hands Itanium to Intel

HP has ended its development of the Itanium chip and handed the work back to Intel. The chip giant has taken over HP #39;s 300-strong Itanium development team, based in Colorado, in a move that brings to an end


Open Source Software Licensing and the Law to be Featured at <b>...</b>

The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), a global consortium dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Linux in the enterprise, today announced the creation of a Open Source Software Licensing  amp; Legal education track at its upcoming Enterprise Linux


Splinter Cell Chaos Theory sneaks onto the Web

Ubisoft has launched the official Web site for its upcoming third-person stealth title, Tom Clancy #39;s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory.


McLeish guilty of unsettling tried formula

Twenty-four hours on, Rangers #39; removal from the UEFA Cup seemed no less of an embarrassment at Ibrox. The 2-0 defeat to Auxerre on Wednesday night revealed a multitude of failings, and not all of them were


Fans are thinking spring after Mets #39; coup de grass

The ink is barely dry on the four-year, \$53 million contract that lured star pitcher Pedro Martinez to the Mets and excited fans of the woebegone franchise are wishing the frigid December


Buckeyes Step it Up Against Red Raiders and Knight

Ohio State (7-2) handled Texas Tech #39;s (5-2) pressure defense and overcame anemic foul shooting to hang on for their first road win of the season, 77-71 over the Red Raiders.


Sharon Optimistic About Peace Prospects While Violence Continues <b>...</b>

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has sounded a note of optimism about peace prospects in the coming year provided Palestinians stop violence against Israel.


Myanmar junta putting Aung San Suu Kyi #39;s health at risk: Oppn

Myanmar #39;s Opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party accused the military regime of endangering party leader Aung San Suu Kyi #39;s life by restricting her access to a doctor and non-junta security.


Fischer wants to go to Iceland

TOKYO - Former world chess champion Bobby Fischer, who is currently being detained in Japan over a passport dispute, wants to live in Iceland, his lawyer told a news conference in Tokyo on Friday.


Cairn plunges after drilling disappointment

Shares in Cairn Energy plummeted 20 per cent on Friday after the oil explorer announced it had failed to strike oil in a new field in the Indian state of Rajasthan.


Companies must expense stock options, standards board says

ACCOUNTING:The new rules, which can be struck down by Congress, will force companies to subtract the option expense from earnings.


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Rebound on Bargain Hunting

Tokyo stocks rebounded Friday on bargain-hunting in select blue chips, real estate and banking issues. The US dollar was higher against the Japanese yen.


Time to Dump IE?

Internet Explorer is a hacker #39;s dream. Can you (and should you) drop it right now? Internet Explorer is the Swiss Cheese of softwareit #39;s full of holes.


Tanks closing in on Unit

Finally, Randy Johnson is close to becoming a Yankee. The Yankees yesterday reached agreement on the players in a three-team blockbuster that would land the coveted lefthander, Newsday learned last night.


Akhtar faces misconduct charge

Shoaib Akhtar has been charged with level one misconduct for pointing Matthew Hayden towards the dressing room when he trapped him lbw in the first Test at the WACA yesterday.


Kingsway grad dealt to Oakland by Braves

Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane must like former Kingsway Regional High School left-hander Dan Meyer an awful lot. The highly-regarded GM traded ace right-hander and two-time American


Surfer  #39;torn to pieces #39; by shark

Authorities in Sydney said today they would kill the shark that tore apart a young surfer near a popular beach as his friends desperately tried to save him by beating the animal with oars.


Rebels to meet Mbeki again

Johannesburg - Ivory Coast rebels were on Friday due to hold a second day of talks with South African leader and mediator Thabo Mbeki on their proposals for a new peace plan after a very encouraging start, according to Pretoria.


Ukraine Contenders to Visit Same City (AP)

AP - Ukraine's two presidential contenders scheduled campaign trips to the same eastern city on Friday, raising fears of more tension ahead of the Dec. 26 repeat of their fraud-marred runoff. Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko hinted his rival was trying to disrupt the vote.


Indian state-run gas giant eyes 10 percent stake in China Gas (AFP)

AFP - India's state-run Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) said it is considering buying a 10 percent stake in China Gas Holdings Ltd, which has sole rights to distribute gas in 42 Chinese cities.


J amp;J biggest acquisition in its history will reshape the medical <b>...</b>

Johnson  amp; Johnson has made a deal to buy Guidant Corp. a producer of medical equipment for patients with heart and circulatory illnesses, for \$24 billion in stock and cash.


Moto Touts PTT Upgrade

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - message board) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Nextel Communications Inc.


TPV buys Philips PC monitor business

LONDON, December 17 (newratings.com) - Dutch electronics company Royal Philips Electronics NV (PHI1.ETR) announced yesterday that it has entered into an agreement to sell its PC monitor and flat TV businesses to Taiwans TPV Technology Ltd for \$358


Silicon Valley loses fight on stock options

Silicon Valley lost a decisive round in a long and hard-fought battle Thursday when the organization that sets corporate accounting standards served notice that companies would have to deduct the value of stock options when calculating profits.


EBay to Pay \$415 Mln for Rent.com

Ebay Inc. (EBAY.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it would buy Rent.com, an Internet housing rental listing service, for \$415 million in a deal that gives it access to a new segment of the online real estate market.


Canada #39;s Inflation Rate Unexpectedly Picks Up to 2.4 (Update1)

Canada #39;s inflation rate unexpectedly accelerated in November to a 2.4 percent rate, reflecting a jump in prices for new cars, gasoline and houses from a year earlier.


Euro firms on upbeat IFO report

The euro edged higher in European morning trade on Friday as Germanys influential IFO survey beat expectations. The index of business sentiment rose to 96.2 in December, the highest


Indian tax dispute send Cairn shares lower

Shares in Britain #39;s Cairn Energy, which have soared on a series of oil discoveries in India, plunged by one-fifth on Friday on worries about a tax dispute with the Indian government and a lack of new finds.


Murdoch #39;s \$44M New York pad?

Report: News Corp. chief agrees to buy a Fifth Avenue penthouse apartment for a record price. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of media giant News Corp.


Zafi.D virus - A  quot;Merry Christmas quot; email Santa didn #39;t send!

The latest email virus  quot;Zafi.D virus quot; is certain to bring sadness and not joy to many surfers over the next few days/weeks.


Motorola Apple iPod phone imminent?

Apple and Motorola  quot;could soon show us quot; their co-developed solution. A report on Forbes cites Apple vice president of applications


Microsoft buys spy-fight firm

MICROSOFT has moved to shore up its defences by acquiring a small anti-spyware company that makes security products to detect and remove unwanted software from Windows-based computers.


Task force should clear shuttle for launch

NASA appears on track to return the space shuttle to flight in May or June 2005 as planned, says an influential oversight panel. The independent task force - set up to oversee NASA #39;s efforts following the


HP  amp; Intel end Itanium chip alliance

17 December 2004 Computer giant Hewlett-Packard and processor maker Intel have ended their costly 10 year partnership to develop Itanium chips for server computers, following lacklustre sales.


Gov bets video game ban can survive courts

With five youngsters in the house, state Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago) already uses a blocking mechanism on his television to protect little eyes and ears from inappropriate material.


Tantalizing clues in pictures of Saturn #39;s moons

com December 17, 2004, 4:51 AM PT. Titan and Dione, two of the moons orbiting Saturn, apparently aren #39;t exactly what researchers had previously believed.


Adobe patches Acrobat, Reader flaws

Adobe Repairs Reader, Acrobat Flaws <nobr>Information Week</nobr>


Critical hole found in Windows XP SP2 firewall

A critical hole in Windows XP firewall in Service Pack 2 makes computers accessible to anyone on the network. The configuration problem only affects dial-up users: some dialling software mistakes the entire


Linux goes mainstream

Sales of the open source operating system Linux will reach \$35 billion by 2008, according to analysts at IDC, with \$10 billion of that accounted for in desktops.


Cisco to open R amp;D centre in Japan

Cisco will open a Tokyo-based research and development centre focusing on internet software and routing technologies in February 2005.


ZigBee low-power wireless standard ratified

The ZigBee Alliance, an industry standards group dedicated to promoting low-power wireless networks, ratified the first ZigBee specification this week.


Intel expands core concept for chips

com December 17, 2004, 4:00 AM PT. Intel plans to come out with chips containing two processing cores next year, but that #39;s just the start.


Kasprowicz makes tourists pay

Australia are in firm control of the first Test with Pakistan after bowling the tourists out for 179 on the second day in Perth. Michael Kasprowicz took five wickets to give Australia a lead of 202 after the


High-Flying Germany look ahead to South Korea test

BUSAN - A VfB Stuttgart quartet arrived in Busan on Friday to further strengthen a confident German national team ahead of their friendly with South Korea.


India in command

Chittagong, Bangladesh - Opener Gautam Gambhir slammed his maiden Test century and Rahul Dravid notched his 18th hundred to put India in command Friday on the opening day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh.


Stanford wins, Minnesota upends champion USC in volleyball semis

Led by All-American Ogonna Nnamani, the Stanford women #39;s volleyball team defeated Washington 3-1 in the NCAA semifinals at Long Beach Arena last night.


James struggles as Cavaliers fall apart

Kirk Hinrich and the Bulls are starting to play in a relaxed fashion, and it #39;s resulting in victories. Kirk Hinrich scored nine of his 28 points in a 15-0 run, and the


UK terror suspect detention law overruled

ISN SECURITY WATCH (17/12/04) - Britains House of Lords ruled yesterday that the indefinite detention of foreign terrorism suspects was incompatible with the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), in a decision Human


3 Palestinians killed in Israeli incursion

At least three Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli army who invaded the southern Gazatown of Khan Younis at dawn on Friday, medical sources said.


Colombia hunts for Irish  #39;terror #39; trio

Colombian police have launched an international search for three Irishmen who were convicted of training Marxist rebels in the South American country, it was reported today.


SURFER TORN IN TWO BY GREAT WHITE

TWO Great White sharks ripped a schoolboy surfer in two off a packed beach yesterday. Nick Peterson, 18, was being towed on his surfboard behind his grandmother #39;s dinghy when a shark began attacking the boat.


Japan and US agree to co-operate in missile defence programs

Japan and the United States on Friday agreed to boost co-operation in their missile defence programs - an important first step in carrying out new defence guidelines that ease Tokyo #39;s strict postwar pacifism.


ANALYSIS-Saudi thwarts protests but reformists demand change

Saudi rulers may have breathed a sigh of relief when protests calling for change were thwarted this week but reformists, scholars and even royal family members say the challenge will not go away.


Saddam Hussein finally talks to his lawyer

Former dictator, who remains in an undisclosed detention center, was described as being in good spirits and health. Rush to start trial splits cabinet.


Circuit City Quarterly Loss Narrows (Reuters)

Reuters - Circuit City Stores Inc.  on\Friday reported a narrower quarterly loss from continuing\operations as sales of higher-margin warranties and improved\distribution helped offset weak merchandise sales.


Court Seen Lifting YUKOS Block -- Lawyers (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.S. bankruptcy court is likely to\revoke its temporary ban on the sale of Russian oil group\YUKOS's main production unit, lawyers said on Friday.


Circuit City Quarterly Loss Narrows

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Circuit City Stores Inc. CC.N on  Friday reported a narrower quarterly loss from continuing  operations as sales of higher-margin warranties and improved  distribution helped offset weak merchandise sales.


Stocks Set for Flat Start, Data Awaited

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat  open on Friday, with investors awaiting November inflation  numbers due before the opening bell and oil prices hovering  around a two-week high.


The Dollar Loses Ground

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar lost ground on Friday after a  stronger than expected German business sentiment survey boosted  the euro, but thin pre-holiday trade made moves erratic.


Before the Bell: Genentech, ImClone Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Genentech Inc. DNA.N, OSI  Pharmaceuticals Inc. OSIP.O and ImClone Systems Inc. IMCL.O  surged before the bell on Friday after rival AstraZeneca Plc  AZN.L said its lung cancer drug Iressa failed to show  survival benefits in a major clinical study.


European Stocks Ease

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares eased from fresh 2-1/2  year highs on Friday after drugmaker AstraZeneca said clinical  studies found its Iressa lung cancer drug did not help patients  survive, sending its shares sliding.


Marsh Plays An Inside Hand

NEW YORK -- Michael G. Cherkasky, the longtime prosecutor now running embattled financial services giant Marsh   McLennan Cos., says he has figured out the main difference between investigating corporate wrongdoing and taking charge of a company targeted by a white-collar probe:


French boss steps down from EADS

Philippe Camus announces that he will  leave Franco-German defence group EADS, bringing the company's power struggle to an end.


Microsoft sets sights on spyware

Following the takeover of anti-spyware firm Giant, Microsoft said it would soon release a toolkit that strips machines of the irritating programs.


Mars water tops science honours

The discovery by Nasa #39;s robotic rovers of a watery past on Mars has topped a an eagerly awaited list of the 10 key scientific advances of 2004.


NASA May Not Have New Chief Until January

WASHINGTON -- Though President Bush wants to move quickly to replace outgoing NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe, it could be at least a month or longer before the Senate confirms a new space chief.


England strike early in first Test

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AFP) - South African batting kingpins Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis were both out for nought as England made a strong start on the first day of the first Test at St George #39;s Park.


Microsoft splashes cash on anti-spyware firm

Microsoft said it plans to offer tools based on Giant #39;s technology that will help protect Windows PCs from spyware and other deceptive software.


Linux Is Now Mainstream, Says IDC

In a private study conducted by IDC for Open Source Development Labs, Inc (OSDL), IDC predicted that the overall Linux marketplace revenues for server, PC hardware and packaged software on Linux is expected to reach \$35.7 billion by 2008.


Castro back on his feet after fall

Havana - Less than two months after an accidental fall shattered his left kneecap and broke his right arm, Cuban President Fidel Castro is back on his feet, attending to visiting leaders and making public appearances.


Randy Johnson on Verge of Joining Yankees

NEW YORK Dec 16, 2004 - Randy Johnson was on the verge of joining the New York Yankees in a three-team, megadeal that also includes Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez, a source told The Associated Press on Thursday night.


US Judge issues restraining order on Yukos unit auction

NEW YORK, December 17 (newratings.com) - A US bankruptcy court yesterday granted the beleaguered Russian oil giant, OAO Yukos Oil Co (YUSA.


The Future of Calamity

In seven hours last week, great ocean waves exacted a terrible price in wealth and human lives. Future catastrophes may be far grimmer.


German business confidence rebounds

MUNICH - German business confidence recorded a surprise jump in December, a survey of 7,000 executives released on Friday showed, rebounding to its highest level in eight months and underscoring optimism that Europe #39;s biggest economy will remain on a


Nike #39;s 2nd-Quarter Earnings Jump

Nike Inc. on Thursday said its second-quarter earnings rose a surprisingly large 46 percent on strong sales in the United States and in emerging markets like China


Apple Fights Back Against RealNetworks

No longer only a war of words, Apple Computer Inc. has quietly started to block the technology that RealNetworks Inc. created to get around the iPod music player #39;s copy-protection armor.


Rockets #39; red glare

NASA SCIENTISTS are poised to blast a hole in a faraway comet to get a look at its innards. It #39;s an innovative feat of scientific daring, but why not take a second shot at NASA itself?


Ask Jeeves Previews Desktop Search Tool

Ask Jeeves will launch a test version of its desktop search tool on Wednesday, following the launch of similar tools by rivals Microsoft on Monday and Google in October, and ahead of expected entries from America Online and Yahoo.


Sox Ace Heads To Shea

BOSTON -- Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez will hold a news conference Thursday after he accepted a four-year, multimillion-dollar deal with the New York Mets earlier this week.


UPDATE 4-Pakistan crumble for 179 as Woolmer fumes

Australia, buoyed by Justin Langer #39;s 191, skittled Pakistan for 179 on the second day of the first test in Perth to take total control of the match.


India seizes initiative, on course for big total

Chittagong (Bangladesh), Dec. 17 (PTI): India put themselves in a commanding position after centuries from Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid ensured the visitors another huge total against Bangladesh in the second and final cricket Test here today.


Seoul, Tokyo Agree to Sign FTA by 2005

South Korea and Japan on Friday agreed to conclude negotiations to sign a free trade deal by the end of 2005. President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi came up with


Giving peace a chance?

M ahmoud Abbas may have done more for the Palestinian people in a few weeks than Yasser Arafat did in four decades -- or, at least, four years.


Russian officials, business disagree on relevance of US hearings <b>...</b>

Presenter Hearings on the Yukos case are to resume in a Houston court in a couple of hours. The court is expected to look today at the possibility of temporary suspension of all transactions involving the


Firms told to omit options from profit

The nation #39;s accounting rulemaker decided yesterday that companies will have to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, reining


Golkar Party congress to see  #39;sharks #39; fight for control

This week #39;s Golkar Party congress will feature rich, deceptive and powerful people bidding to win the chairmanship of the party, which controls the most seats in the House of Representatives.


With Panama in control, canal runs swimmingly

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- When the United States gave Panama control over its canal, many observers predicted that the international waterway would be plagued by problems at best and chaos at worst.


Rocks could hold early secrets of life

Nearly 4 billion-year-old rocks from Greenland could hold the earliest evidence of life on Earth, University of Chicago and Field Museum scientists say.


Speculation about N. Korea resurfaces

SEOUL, South Korea -- How long can the North Korean regime survive? A decade ago, it was taken as a matter of faith that it would soon be relegated to the same historical dustbin as the Soviet Union. But Kim Jong Il defied predictions of his political demise, and embarrassed pundits stopped even broaching the topic of the regime's life ...


U.S. companies ordered to expense options

In a move that may be seen by some in corporate America as an early lump of coal in many Christmas stockings, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) will require companies to report the cost of stock options in their financial statements beginning next year, it announced Thursday.


November Consumer Prices Rise Moderately

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices rose modestly  in November as energy costs that had shot up a month earlier  and fanned inflation fears posted only a small gain last month,  the Labor Department said on Friday.


10,000 Mozilla Donors Get A Very Public Thanks

It #39;s a thing of beauty: a two-page  quot;advocacy ad quot; in The New York Times featuring, among other things like quotes from satisfied Firefox users, all 10,000 names of those who donated to The Mozilla Foundation so that it could take a NYT ad that it hopes


Yankees May Get Johnson As Deals Continue

On a day of big movement in baseball, the New York Yankees are on the verge of claiming the biggest prize of all. The Yankees closed in on completing a blockbuster three-team trade that would send Randy Johnson