Confederations Cup to kick off

The Confederations Cup will kick off with Olympic champion Argentina taking on African champion Tunisia on June 15, China Radio International reported Tuesday.


Afghan kidnappers offers to negotiate with UN

Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Afghan militants threatening to kill three foreign hostages yesterday offered to negotiate with a United Nations envoy, but warned that any rescue attempt would end in bloodshed.


Oil slips back below USD50 a barrel

Crude oil prices slipped below USD 50 a barrel in Asian trade overnight as the market waited for the outcome of the US presidential election.


Oil surge to cause  #39;bloodbath #39;, says Ryanair

The strength of oil prices is poised to exacerbate an airline  quot;bloodbath quot; long predicted for this winter, Ryanair has said, announcing a profits ahead of City forecasts.


VC funds rake in \$5.5b in quarter, prompting alert

Venture capital funds raised \$5.5 billion in fresh capital in the third quarter, 78 percent more than in the prior quarter, prompting a warning by the head of


Storm #39;s blitz snarls Front Range

Fall #39;s first significant flurries dusted much of Colorado overnight Sunday, making Monday a mess for many people along the Front Range.


Cuba signs food deals with US companies

HAVANA -- Cuba on Monday signed contracts to buy \$10 million of US wheat and meat products, and \$300,000 of American dairy cattle, launching a new round of deals for US farm products projected to reach \$150 million.


Lakers to see early returns

The rest of the nation can monitor the presidential election tonight, to see which states go red and which states go blue, to count up electoral college votes, to watch for a concession speech that may not come for days.


It could be Steel Curtains for rest of NFL

Patience is less a virtue in the NFL than a vice. Thirteen coaches have been with their teams for two seasons or less. Check most rosters, and the same ratio applies to the players.


Gilbertson to step down

Washington coach Keith Gilbertson, above, will step down at the end of the season and end a difficult two years as Rick Neuheisel #39;s replacement.


Rural China reels from violent protests

extent of unrest in rural China, fuelled by corruption and a growing gap between rich and poor. the Hui Muslim minority sparked rioting through the weekend.


Market Roundup

Merck shares dropped 10 percent Monday to the lowest level since 1995 after a published report said the drugmaker tried for years to stop safety concerns from hurting sales of its Vioxx painkiller.


Intel Takes on Gamers with  #39;Extreme #39; Chipset

Following a similar chip announcement from AMD in mid-October, Intel this week has released a chip targeting the gamer segment. The Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition supporting Hyper-Threading (HT) technology


UK MARS MISSION BLASTED

BRITAIN #39;S Beagle 2 mission to Mars was last night blasted as a shambles done  quot;on the cheap quot;. The lander was scheduled to touch down on Christmas Day last year and search for past and present life.


Monday Night Football: Jets soar to 6-1 in AFC East

Curtis Martin and LaMont Jordan each rushed for 115 yards and a score to help the New York Jets rout the hapless Miami Dolphins 41-14 last night.


ABUSE IS TO BLAME SAYS BERTI

and then claimed he was driven out by personal abuse.  quot;The major factor in this decision has been the disgraceful abuse I have suffered, quot; said Vogts.


Finish line, November 2

The New York City medical examiner #39;s office reported Monday former major league third baseman Ken Caminiti died from a drug overdose.


What #39;s next? West coaching pool deep for UW

The search to replace Keith Gilbertson at Washington will be national, athletic director Todd Turner indicated yesterday. But Gilbertson #39;s successor could come from a handful of promising candidates in the West.


Sixers prepared to trade Robinson

The Philadelphia 76ers placed 11-year veteran Glenn Robinson on the injured list Monday with left ankle tendinitis and will try to trade the former No.


Arizona to get ready for Wally-world

Their hiring of former JetHawks manager Wally Backman out of Single-A ahead of two finalists with significant major-league managerial and coaching experience to manage their big-league club is as much a risk as it is a statement.


Cal makes move in BCS

California made a big leap Monday in the Bowl Championship Series standings, giving the Rose Bowl a sigh of relief and possibly dashing Utah #39;s hopes.


Suicide bomber #39;s house destroyed

JERUSALEM Israel #39;s army has destroyed the homes of the suicide bomber and those of two men Israel says were behind yesterday #39;s attack in Tel Aviv.


Baghdad car blast kills at least five as first British female <b>...</b>

A car bomb went off outside the Iraqi Education Ministry in central Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least five people and injuring four, Reuters reported.


OVITZ: I WANT MY PROPS

Michael Ovitz hopes getting his day in court fixes his battered career and tarnished image. Ovitz testified for the fifth day in the trial that has Disney shareholders shooting


MIKE WENDLAND: Pricey iPod upgrade worth every dime

Apple #39;s latest addition to its hugely popular iPod line, the iPod Photo, has moved the bar even further as the digital lifestyle continues to converge.


Vinnie Roe caught out by weight

Irish stayer Vinnie Roe #39;s top weight of 58 kilograms was a telling factor as he finished second to favourite Makybe Diva in the rainswept Melbourne Cup, according to trainer Dermot Weld.


Oracle makes last bid for PeopleSoft

Oracle has dangled its  quot;best and final quot; offer of \$24 per share in front of PeopleSoft shareholders. Oracle #39;s latest bid for the software maker is a \$3 hike over a previous offer and values PeopleSoft at just less than \$9bn.


Vogts driven out by fans

Berti Vogts admitted last night he had little option but to quit as Scotland coach, blaming what he called  quot;disgraceful abuse quot;.


Blowout eases Giants #39; minds

Kurt Warner #39;s thing is about the locker room learning what it #39;s like to win together. Michael Strahan #39;s thing revolves around a want of respect and the importance of the next game in gaining that commodity.


Volkswagen workers walk out in Hanover, wage talks to continue

FRANKFURT : Hundreds of workers at German auto maker Volkswagen #39;s Hanover plant walked off the job, as management and union representatives readied to resume deadlocked wage and job talks.


Europe awaits US poll verdict

European shares edged higher Tuesday, with easing oil prices underpinning market sentiment, but investors were cautious ahead of a neck-and-neck race in the US presidential elections.


Penny stock scammer tried

A self-proclaimed stock guru was alternately described as a crusader and a crook yesterday in opening arguments of his federal racketeering trial in Brooklyn.


Achilles injury forces Campbell out of north London derby

Arsenal defender Sol Campbell will miss the big north London derby against his old club Spurs and England #39;s clash in Spain. The England center back is struggling with an Achilles


It #39;s back to work for Pistons Pistons return from banner season

The Detroit Pistons will open the season tonight with a ring ceremony at the Palace. The joint will be packed. Members of the championship team will take their bows, pack their rings away and face one of the


Newspaper says Merck tried to protect Vioxx sales

Merck  amp; Co. #39;s shares (MRK) fell 9.7 percent to the lowest price in almost nine years after the Wall Street Journal said yesterday the drugmaker tried for years to stop safety concerns from hurting sales of its Vioxx painkiller.


AT amp;T upgrades Internet Protect

AT amp;T on Monday announced it will add virus and worm protection features to its Internet Protect service. It helps businesses to protect themselves from a variety of security threats without deploying firewalls at each location.


Smith and Strachan in Scotland frame

The search for a new Scotland manager is under way today after Berti Vogts resigned as national coach following the country #39;s poor start to the World Cup qualifying campaign.


All signs point to victory

PRESIDENTIAL PREDICTIONS: We were an idiot on Sunday, believing, suddenly, in the power of nonsense as the Washington Redskins mounted a horrifying drive to beat the Green Bay Packers.


Vieira: I #39;ll be Cesc #39;s minder

Patrick Vieira knows exactly how Francesc Fabregas feels. Just 17 years old, a long way from home in a foreign country with a new culture and language to which he must adapt.


Isiah points to backcourt in rebuilding Knicks

Isiah Thomas #39; blueprint for building a team is to start with the backcourt and work his way forward. As vice president of the Toronto Raptors, Thomas #39; first significant move was to draft a guard, Damon Stoudamire.


Pistons send NBA back to drawing board

There #39;s going to be a ring ceremony in an NBA city tonight, and by now you probably know it #39;s not going to be in Los Angeles.


Break-in Twist in Olympic Horse Dope Test Probe

The offices of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland were broken into in another twist in the Irish Olympic gold medal controversy, it has emerged today.


Texas rises to No. 7 in latest BCS rankings

and not only on the political spectrum. Another November - another BCS college football quagmire looming. With the release


Tourism in Egypt declines since attacks

SHARM EL-SHEIKH - The number of tourists visiting Egypt has fallen by just under 5 since the deadly car bomb attacks on Red Sea resorts last month, the deputy tourism minister said.


Stock picker fraud trial begins

Stock picker Anthony Elgindy profited from illegal tips supplied by an FBI agent who told him about probes of companies Elgindy would then sell short while spreading negative information to clients of his online newsletter, a prosecutor said.


Beagle Mars mission spoiled by amateurism

THE failure of the Beagle 2 space mission to Mars has been blamed on the lack of government funding and an  quot;amateurish quot; gentleman #39;s agreement that allowed a key backer to pull out of the project.


Nokia, Philips and German Public Transport Network Operator RMV <b>...</b>

SAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 2, 2004 -- Nokia, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG)(AEX:PHI) together with Rhein-Main Verkehrsverbund (RMV), public transport authority for Frankfurt #39;s greater


KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF IT, FERGIE

ARSENE WENGER last night told bitter rival Sir Alex Ferguson to mind his own business and leave the FA to deal with the fall-out from the Battle of Old Trafford.


CAR BOMB ROCKS CENTRAL BAGHDAD

A suspected car bomb has exploded outside the Education Ministry in central Baghdad killing at least five people, two of them women.


Internet Explorer loses browser market share to young pretender

Open Source browsers are continuing to eat into the market share of Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer. According to market analysts WebSideStory, Internet Explorer held 92.


Cell Phones Do Broadband

If waiting for e-mail to download onto your cell phone drives you nuts, try dialing in with one of the new devices available that tap into a speedier, next-generation network.


Shuttle Enterprise takes center stage

Space shuttle Enterprise was born to be an astronautical bridesmaid, never a bride. Built in 1976 as one of the first trio of US shuttles, Enterprise never left Earth #39;s atmosphere


Kiwis too strong for Bangladesh

Bangladesh #39;s batting problems continued as they slumped to a 138-run defeat in the first of three one-day matches against New Zealand.


Car bomb kills five at Iraq education ministry

Cameraman working for Reuters killed in Ramadi clashes, US war planes bomb insurgent-held Fallujah. BAGHDAD - At least five people were killed when a car comb exploded outside Iraq #39;s education ministry in Baghdad on Tuesday, hospital sources said.


China Plays Down Election Eve Barb Against Bush

China sought to play down election eve criticism of President Bush by a leading architect of its foreign policy, saying Beijing had clarified the issue with Washington.


VW and union resume wage talks

Senior negotiators from Volkswagen and its main union have met to seek a deal on cost cutting that could head off the first full-blown strike at the carmaker #39;s western German factories.


Ryanair beats forecasts

No-frills airline Ryanair RYA.I has posted a forecast-beating jump in first-half profit after its low fares drew passengers over the summer, and it is more upbeat than


Shaq #39;s move to Miami won #39;t weaken West

When competing sides fall out of balance on shows such as  quot;The Apprentice quot; or  quot;Survivor, quot; they usually mix up the teams to even things out.


NHL players to meet; could  #39;cap #39; come into favor?

With the NHL lockout now at 48 days, all eyes will focus on Toronto today for the meeting between Players #39; Association executive director Bob Goodenow and player representatives from all 30 teams.


Pak to sell arms to Nepal

Pledging cooperation with Nepal in its fight against terrorism, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today said his country would supply arms to the Himalyan kingdom on a credit basis.


Election jitters send oil lower

Oil prices have fallen further below \$50 a barrel as, with the result of the US presidential elections still difficult to predict, traders cashed in positions.


National trims sales expectations

National Semiconductor has lowered its revenue expectations for its second business quarter. The new guidance for the quarter calls for revenues to range from \$445m to \$450m, down about 18 per cent to 19 per cent sequentially.


Wal-Mart Plans as Many as 15 New China Stores in 2005 (Update2)

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world #39;s largest retailer, plans to open as many as 15 new stores in China next year, competing for a foothold with Carrefour SA and Metro Group as the government lifts curbs on foreign retailers.


Yamaha Offering Free Authoring Tools for Adding Dynamic Graphics <b>...</b>

quot;Whether it #39;s the professional content developer or the casual mobile phone user, creating dynamic, SMAF-Multimedia content is simple and intuitive through our authoring tools, quot; says Kazunari Fukaya, Marketing Division Manager of Yamaha #39;s Semiconductor


Illinois, Michigan both want new federal isotope lab

CHICAGO Lawmakers from Illinois and Michigan are competing to convince the federal government that their state is the best location for an isotope lab.


Appearances of wickets are deceptive: Dravid

Mumbai: The appearance of a match wicket doesn #39;t make the Indian team comfortable or uncomfortable, stand-in captain Rahul Dravid emphasised today.


Overdose played role in death of Caminiti

Former Padre Ken Caminiti died of a drug overdose, coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart, according to the New York City Medical Examiner.


Safety sidelined by stress fracture

As the Broncos hope to learn more about the return of one standout defensive player this week, they will have to deal with the loss of another defensive leader.


McGrady receives a three-year extension

The Rockets made McGrady smile Monday, giving him a three-year contract extension worth \$63 million. That, coupled with the three years he had remaining on his existing


AU reaches highest BCS ranking

AUBURN - Ah, easy street. No game this week. Light practices. And now Auburn is being touted as the No. 3 team in the Bowl Championship Series standings.


Sasol partners with Malaysia #39;s Petronas

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia #39;s national oil and gas company Petronas on Tuesday announced its Petronas International unit has signed an agreement with Sasol to create South Africa #39;s largest liquid fuels business.


Makybe Diva wins Melbourne Cup

MARK COLVIN: The track was dead, the weather was atrocious, but today #39;s Melbourne Cup produced one of the great results, and rewrote the history of the race.


Vikings star Moss might get week off

Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss might miss a game for the first time in his NFL career because of a strained right hamstring that hasn #39;t gotten worse but isn #39;t getting a whole lot better.


Japanese point guard makes NBA history

PHOENIX -- A 5-9 point guard who mixes off-court humility with an on-court flair for no-look, fast-break passes is the first Japanese-born player to make an NBA roster.


Ryanair H1 Profit Rises 18 Percent

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair posted an 18 percent jump in first-half net income on Tuesday as passenger traffic grew 24 percent, and said yields should not decline by as much as first thought.


Weak trading hits UBS profit

Banking giant UBS is cautious over prospects for the rest of the year after a lull in trading hurt its third-quarter profit, despite a strong showing by its blockbuster wealth management operation.


Hong Kong Shares Close Higher

Prices on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange closed slightly higher Monday on bargain hunting, traders said. The key Hang Seng Index rose 39.


Union leaders weigh latest contract offer

Union leaders representing more than 10,000 Atlantic City casino hotel workers in a monthlong walkout met into the night yesterday, considering the latest in a series of contract offers by the casinos.


Nokia unveils first NFC phone

Mobile phone giant Nokia has unveiled its first product to incorporate the NFC (Near Field Communication) shell. Backed by Nokia, Philips and Sony, NFC is a new wireless communications function which is hoped


Ex-baseball star #39;s death ruled drug overdose

NEW YORK - A drug overdose killed former baseball star Ken Caminiti, who tested positive for cocaine in the weeks before he died at age 41 and had admitted using steroids during his playing days, the city medical examiner ruled Monday.


Bangladesh crash to Mills pace

Chittagong - Fast bowler Kyle Mills grabbed four wickets in a dream spell as New Zealand thrashed Bangladesh by 138 runs in the opening one-day international here on Tuesday.


Dutch filmmaker shot dead: report

Police confirmed a fatal shooting occurred outside a city government office Monday morning (Monday evening AEDT), but could not confirm the identity of the victim.


US Seeks Clarification From China on Election-Eve Criticism

An unprecedented election-eve attack on Bush administration policies by a senior figure in the Chinese government suggested that, despite undeniable


Parliament yells  quot;Death to America quot;

Once again, Iran has sent out a clear signal that it intends to become a nuclear power, presenting President George W. Bush or his successor with the next major foreign policy dilemma.


Oracle makes \$9.2 billion take-it-or-leave-it PeopleSoft offer

The Oracle-PeopleSoft takeover battle may have finally entered its endgame, with Oracle Corp upping its bid and for the first time imposing a deadline for PeopleSoft Inc shareholders to accept it.


Merck shares dive on Vioxx fears

Shares in US drug maker Merck tumbled nearly 10 on Monday after a press report suggesting the firm may have ignored problems with one of its drugs.


UBS Says Net Profit Slips 1 Percent

Swiss banking giant UBS AG said Tuesday its third quarter net profit slipped 1 percent to 1.67 billion Swiss francs (\$1.39 billion; euro1.


Sweden to Boost Infrastructure for Saab

The government on Tuesday moved to bolster Saab Automobile AB #39;s lure to parent General Motors by agreeing to use state money to improve road and rail access to the company #39;s last automotive plant in Sweden.


Intels extreme step for Gamers

AMD released two extremely powerful chips recently after Intel had to back down from the plan of manufacturing a 4GHz version of their Pentium 4 processor.


Up Close and  #39;Awesome #39;

Matthew Seu and his two sons yesterday became the first to boldly go where no tourist had been before: within a few feet of the spaceship Enterprise.


Yamaha Offering Free Authoring Tools for Adding Dynamic

HAMAMATSU CITY, Japan - (BUSINESS WIRE) -ov. 1, 2004  -aha Corporation, the worlds largest manufacturer of musical instruments and an established leader in digital audio, is today offering free


Crisis talks over tennis no-shows

Organisers of the European ATP Masters Series events are holding a meeting in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the current wave of withdrawals by leading players.


No al-Qaeda hand in Sinai bombings

Egypt #39;s interior minister affirmed on Sunday that Al-Qaeda played have no hands in Sinai bomb attacks in October. Israeli officials claimed earlier that Al Qaeda prepared the three blasts that hit the Egyptian Red Sea resorts, killing at least 34 people.


Mac version of Google desktop not planned - O #39;Reilly

Reports that Google is planning a Mac version of its Desktop Search tool, recently released in beta for Windows, are not entirely accurate, according to publisher Tim O #39;Reilly.


CA supports open source Ingres for Linux and Windows

Computer Associates International Inc has announced that the open source version of its Ingres database management system is now available with enterprise-level support options for Linux and Microsoft #39;s Windows.


Nokia adds Smartner email and hints at more

Nokia Corp has unveiled plans to bring Smartner Information Systems Oy #39;s mobile email and personal information management offering to its latest Communicators.


Arsenal #39;s Edu misses Panathinaikos clash

Brazilian midfielder Edu will miss Arsenal #39;s Champions League Group E match at home to Panathinaikos on Tuesday. Arsenal #39;s website said Edu was suffering from a calf problem sustained in Saturday #39;s 2-2 draw with Southampton.


Hundreds flee Fallujah after night of US air strikes

FALLUJAH, Iraq : Hundreds of people fled the Iraqi rebel-held Fallujah after a heavy night of US air strikes, while an Iraqi cameraman working for Reuters was killed during clashes in the nearby hotspot of Ramadi.


Oracle raises bid, sets Nov. 19 deadline

Oracle Corp. raised the stakes in its hostile bid for PeopleSoft Inc. Monday by increasing its offer to \$24 per share, boosting the value of the proposed merger to \$9.


Southwest expands Oakland Airport destinations

On Oct. 31, eastbound Southwest Airlines customers out of Oakland International Airport were treated to a new nonstop daily flight to Philadelphia International Airport.


Ryanair sees profits rise 15 percent

Ryanair, the Irish no-frills airline, said net profit rose 15 percent for the quarter to September, adding it was well-placed to combat the threat of record high oil prices and fierce competition.


Chalone to sell, pending other bids

Chalone Wine Group has completed an unusual agreement to sell to France #39;s Domaines Barons de Rothschild in a deal valued at \$160 million, while retaining the right to shop itself to other bidders.


Apple Intros iPod Photo, iPod U2, and Euro iTMS

Apple last week fulfilled the wish of every Internet discussion-forum enthusiast who #39;s longed for the capability to view photos on a tiny color screen.


Nations 1st space shuttle lands in aviation museum

After plugging woodpecker holes in the tail and a little touch-up paint, original space shuttle Enterprise and hundreds of other spacecraft and artifacts from human efforts


PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)1er Novembre 2004--

Un groupe de socits leaders dans le domaine de l #39;lectronique grand public et des semi-conducteurs, parmi lesquelles figurent notamment Samsung Electronics Co.


CA releases wireless Lan management software

Computer Associates International (CA) has released a new tool for managing and securing wireless networks that attracted significant customer interest when it was previewed earlier this year.


VSNL, Cisco to make broadband cheaper

Tata group company Videsh Sanchar Nigam and global networking major Cisco Systems Inc on Tuesday signed a Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) agreement to deploy broadband metro Ethernet solution, that will offer broadband services at less than Rs 1,000 per month


Europe lags behind rest of world on IT spend

IT spending in Western Europe is lagging behind the rest of the world, according to figures unveiled at Gartner #39;s annual Symposium IT Expo in Cannes this week.


Edu out of Arsenal #39;s CL clash with Greeks

The Gunners #39; website said Edu was suffering from a calf problem sustained in Saturday #39;s 2-2 draw with Southampton. Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes was also substituted in that match with a hand injury but is expected to be fit to face the Greeks.


Tendulkar could open bowling in final test v Australia

India are considering the high risk strategy of asking Sachin Tendulkar to open the bowling for the first time in his career and selecting three spinners for the


Cal up to 4th in BCS Rose Bowl or national title game possible for <b>...</b>

The absurd notion of Cal playing in the national championship game does not seem so absurd today. Thanks to losses by Miami and Florida State and a significant rise in the Bears #39; computer ranking, Cal rose four spots in this week #39;s BCS standings to No.


Wilkens #39; defense on trial

Neither did 95 percent of the other coaches. But in the case of Lenny Wilkens, this particular flaw became part of his legacy, along with the NBA title, the record numbers of wins and losses and the trademark crossed arms and cold stare.


Brother of Pinoy hostage appeals for his release (5:15 pm)

MANILA -- The brother of a Filipino diplomat kidnapped in Afghanistan appealed for his release Tuesday, calling his sibling  quot;a very good man quot; who respects all Muslims.


Northwest to Expand in Indianapolis

Northwest Airlines plans to expand in Indianapolis, a move that will knock ATA from its No. 1 spot on its home turf by offering more flights than the bankrupt carrier.


Microsoft, ISPs launch anti-spam offensive

Microsoft, America Online (AOL), Yahoo and Earthlink have filed a handful of lawsuits against spammers, allegedly targeting some of the world #39;s largest unsolicited mail offenders.


France condemns Tel Aviv suicide bombing

PARIS, Nov 1 (AFP) - France condemned the Palestinian suicide attack Monday in Tel Aviv that killed four people, including the bomber, and called on all sides in the Middle East conflict to avoid a new cycle of violence.


Car Bomb Explodes in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Nov 2 - A car bomb exploded Tuesday in the busy commercial district of Azamiyah in northern Baghdad, causing casualties, the Interior Ministry said.


Oracle announces final PeopleSoft offer

Oracle has put up its  quot;best and final quot; offer for PeopleSoft at US\$24 per share. The new price is up \$3 from Oracle #39;s last offer, and is in excess of PeopleSoft #39;s 52-week closing price high.


San Diego Financial Analyst Accused of Bribing FBI

NEW YORK -- A San Diego financial analyst is on trial for bribing an FBI agent and making millions of dollars. Prosecutors claim Anthony Elgindy bribed FBI agents for information on publically traded companies.


Deal in Casino Strike

ATLANTIC CITY-November 2, 2004 - The month-old strike by thousands of Atlantic City casino and hotel workers may soon be over. Late Monday night, union leaders tentatively approved a new contract, ending


IE alternatives continue to gain

News abounds for Firefox and other Open Source Internet browsers. According to WebSideStory results, both Mozilla and Firefox saw their marketshare grow in the last month.


Athletes to train in Beijing

AUSTRALIA #39;s Olympic athletes will train and compete regularly in Beijing over the next three years after an historic co-operation agreement was signed today by the Australian and Chinese Olympic Committees.


Kidnappers Release 2 of 4 Iraqi Guards

A US Embassy spokesman said Tuesday that an American, a Nepalese, a Filipino and an Iraqi remain hostages after a kidnapping raid Monday night in Baghdad.


Pak, India have opened many channels for talks: Aziz

Pakistan and India have opened many channels for talks and Islamabad wanted to settle all issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, with New Delhi on the basis of mutual respect, said the country #39;s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.


Toyota catching up on GM

Toyota, already the world #39;s most profitable carmaker, is set to draw level with General Motors as the world #39;s biggest in terms of sales.


Ryanair profit beats forecasts

No-frills airline Ryanair has beat forecasts with an 18-percent jump in half-year profit after a strong summer and it has cheered investors with a surprisingly upbeat take on the full year.


Retail sales rebound

Retail sales rose more than expected in October and at their sharpest pace in three months, a survey has shown. The Confederation of British Industry said on Tuesday 37 percent of firms


FireFox, Safari gain as IE loses favour

The percentage of Americans using Web browsers Mozilla and Firefox is on the up as Internet users turn away from Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer due to perceived risks with that application.


Spansion Enters Serial Flash Memory Market

Spansion and Fujitsu today announced an entirely new Flash memory family designed to reduce costs and dramatically simplify system design of Flash-enabled consumer electronics, PC peripherals, and in-cabin automotive electronics.


Hackett admits to Athens injury

Olympic 1500m freestyle champion Grant Hackett has revealed that he defended his title in Athens despite suffering from a collapsed lung.


Car Bomb in Northern Baghdad Kills Five

News reports from the area Tuesday say at least five people were killed and several others wounded in the blast outside the Education Ministry building in the Azamiyah district of the capital.


Israel razes home of teenage suicide bomber

NABLUS, WEST BANK - Israeli troops Tuesday destroyed the home of a 16-year-old Palestinian suicide bomber who blew himself up in a Tel Aviv market a day earlier.


Pakistan ready to provide military aid to Nepal: Aziz

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here Tuesday that Pakistan is ready to provide military assistance to Nepal if Nepal demands.


UK retail sales growth rebounds

British retail sales rose more than expected in October and at their sharpest pace in three months. The Confederation of British Industry said 37 of firms in its monthly distributive trades survey saw sales


Nokia adds RFID to latest handsets

Nokia has introduced its Near Field Communication (NFC) shell system which incorporates Radio Frequency Identification technology.


Who will be PGAs first \$100 million man?

At first glance, Vijay Singh and Harry  quot;Lighthorse quot; Cooper might not seem to have much in common with each other, except that both were fairly successful golf professionals during their eras.


Bowden to head Expos

The Washington-bound Montreal Expos have found someone to take one of the most tenuous jobs in sports. Jim Bowden, the Reds #39; general manager in 1992-2003, will be announced as Washington #39;s GM today, a league


Oracle makes  #39;final offer #39; for PeopleSoft

ORACLE chief executive Larry Ellison has increased his companys offer for rival software company PeopleSoft, and set a deadline for the first time since the hostile takeover bid began in June 2003.


Trading slump hurts UBS profit

Bank #39;s 3Q profit dips, but it says  #39;04 will be better than  #39;03; wealth management stays strong. ZURICH (Reuters) - Banking heavyweight UBS remained cautious about prospects for the rest of the year after a


Tributes to  #39;distinguished #39; businessman

Tributes were being paid today to the  quot;enormously distinguished quot; Lord Hanson after the millionaire businessman died of cancer at his home in Berkshire last night.


Online ad provider exploring a sale

DoubleClick Inc., the online advertising provider whose one-time soaring share price made it one of Manhattan #39;s most well-known faces of the dot-com era, said late Sunday that it has hired an investment bank to explore a possible sale.


AOL Reportedly Cutting Jobs

Time Warner #39;s (TWX:NYSE - news - research) America Online division reportedly plans to cut 700 jobs next month in a concession to declining subscription rates at its flagship Internet unit.


Lack of cash killed Beagle 2

If there had been as many people taking care of the Beagle 2 project as there have been reports into why the lander got lost, we #39;d have reams of data on the composition of the Martian soil flooding back from a perfectly functioning vehicle, right now.


Wanna know who #39;ll win the title?

Winning the NBA title in dominating fashion apparently earns you the respect of one-third of your peers. The results of the league #39;s annual survey of its 30 general managers was released last week, and 33 of


Knicks put Houston on injured list

All of the other Knicks either had left the court or were doing television interviews. But backup point guard Moochie Norris remained, practicing his long-distance jumpers.


Intel Express Reply to AMD

A fortnight after AMD launched its super fast 64-bit processors, FX55 and 4000, Intel has responded with the launch of a chipset for power PC users and gamers.


Funding problems led to Beagle failure

A new report into the failure of the Beagle mission to Mars has concluded that the failure can be linked to the Government #39;s failure to commit money early enough.


Mazda Plans Hybrid Version of Tribute SUV Using Ford Technology

Reuters. Mazda intends to launch a hybrid SUV using technology from Ford, which owns 33.4 of the Japanese automaker. Through our partnership with Ford, we are now proceeding with the development of a hybrid


Baghdad car bomb kills five

A car bomb explosion killed five people and injured 10 others outside the ministry of education in the al-Azamiah neighborhood in northern Baghdad Tuesday.


Dutch PM leads tributes to Van Gogh

AMSTERDAM - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has led tributes to film director Theo van Gogh, who was assassinated in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning.


Australia mulls Telstra bulk sale

CANBERRA Australia #39;s government wants to sell its 51 percent stake in Telstra in a single public offering, Finance Minister Nick Minchin said.


Nokia, Philips to Test German Bus Fare Payment System (Update1)

Nokia Oyj, the world #39;s biggest maker of mobile phones, and Royal Philips Electronics NV, Europe #39;s third-largest semiconductor maker, will next year test a system in Germany allowing people to pay for bus fares using handsets.


Mazda will make a hybrid SUV

TOKYO Mazda Motor, Japan #39;s fourth-largest carmaker, said Tuesday that it was entering the market for fuel-efficient gasoline-electric vehicles, sharing technology with Ford Motor to catch up with its larger rival, Toyota Motor.


Development of Shenzhou VI makes headway

A general director of China #39;s space program says the development of the Shenzhou VI, which is to be launched next autumn, is progressing smoothly.


Chinas Muslims to the rescue of Henans Hui minority

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Unconfirmed reports say that Muslims from across China are trying to get to Nanren where minority Hui Muslims have clashed with majority Han Chinese.


Asia ; Local Buddhist chief beheaded in Thailands restive south

They left a leaflet in handwritten Thai saying this was in revenge for the innocent Tak Bai victims, an officer said of the attackers.


VW and unions begin a new round of talks

HANNOVER, Germany Senior negotiators from Volkswagen and its main union entered another round of negotiations on Tuesday as they worked to reach a cost-cutting contract and head off the first comprehensive strike at the automaker #39;s factories in western


US audits find fewer business tax cheats, data show

The push by the head of the US tax agency for quick completion of audits of big corporations - a move criticized by many longtime agency auditors - has led to a sharp drop in the discovery of tax cheating at the 11,000 largest businesses, according to new


CA ships Ingres r3 database for Linux

As expected, Computer Associates (CA) is now shipping the Ingres r3 database for Linux following last summer #39;s announcement it would be available under an open source license.


Aston Villa charged over Beattie approach

Aston Villa have been charged with allegedly making an illegal approach for Southampton striker James Beattie. The Premier League said on Tuesday the charge relates to comments made by Aston


Ukrainian CEC announces results of presidential elections

RBC, 02.11.2004, Kiev 15:55:11.Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich has won 40.22 percent support during the recent presidential elections, according to the results announced by the Ukrainian Central Elections Commission after 95.


Car explosion in Baghdad kills at least five Iraqis

A car bomb exploded on Tuesday outside the Education Ministry in central Baghdad, killing at least five people, including two women.


Yahoo executive to head up Blinkz

Mark Opzoomer, former head of Yahoo Europe, will be the new CEO of Blinkx, a San Francisco company whose search engines scout the Net and the desktop alike.


Macromedia contributes to eBay Stores

Macromedia has announced a special version of its Contribute website editing application designed to simplify the creation and customisation of eBay Stores.


Glen proves he #39;s the Boss on magic mare

EMOTIONAL Glen Boss admitted he put too much pressure on himself talking up Makybe Diva #39;s chances before the Melbourne Cup yesterday.


Aston Villa Football Club charged over Beattie approach

Aston Villa Football Club have been charged by the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach for James Beattie. Southampton lodged a complaint over the approach which was believed to have come in the summer from the Midlands club.


NBA Rundown - Coach stands up for player

There aren #39;t many NBA coaches who would publicly side with a player, as opposed to management, in a contract dispute. But then, there aren #39;t many coaches like San Antonio #39;s Gregg Popovich, who has the luxury


Downturn hits UBS earnings

A SLIDE of 20 in revenues from equity and bond trading knocked UBS #39;s third-quarter financial earnings back sharply. Only a strong performance by its 56-owned Swiss industrial holding company Motor-Columbus


Ex-ABC Exec to Head Yahoo Media Division

Yahoo Inc. (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday named Lloyd Braun, a former chairman of Walt Disney Co. #39;s (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) ABC Entertainment Television Group, as


Report: AOL to cut 700 jobs

Time Warner #39;s America Online unit is getting ready to fire more than 700 workers next month as part of a cost-cutting effort to combat declining subscriber numbers, according to a published report.


Diamondbacks pick Backman

The Arizona Diamondbacks and new manager Wally Backman know that sometimes you have to go backward to go forward. The rebuilding Diamondbacks, coming off a 51-111 season, hired Backman on Monday, completing


Norway #39;s Riga embassy to reopen after alert

Norway plans to reopen its embassy in Riga on Wednesday after a two-day closure spurred by security fears that spread across the Nordic and Baltic region, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.


First female British soldier dies in Iraq

Britain has reported the first death of one of its female soldiers in Iraq, although the circumstances remain unclear, Sky News reported Tuesday.


Singapore #39;s investment in Radio Frequency Identification paying <b>...</b>

SINGAPORE : A government-initiated plan to upgrade the technology used by logistics players is paying off. The plan involves getting industry players to develop tags using Radio Frequency Identification or RFID technology.


Hoddle to Join West Brom This Week, Papers Say: Soccer Roundup

Glenn Hoddle will this week succeed Gary Megson as manager of West Bromwich Albion, the Sun and Daily Mirror reported. Hoddle, who was fired by Tottenham in September 2003, will take


Family  #39;Devastated #39; by Woman Soldier #39;s Iraq Death

The brother of the first British female soldier to die in Iraq since the war began said today her family were trying to come to terms with her death.


AOL employees get fired for Christmas

Washington - America Online is preparing to fire over 700 workers in early December, with many of the cuts coming from its northern Virginia headquarters, The Washington Post newspaper said Tuesday.


BAA Reports Strong Net Profit in 1st Half

BAA, the world #39;s largest airport operator, said Tuesday it is on target for strong annual passenger growth after reporting a 17.


Shares fall 7.1 percent in Tuesday #39;s pre-open

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of National Semiconductor fell more than 7 percent in pre-open trading Tuesday after the analog chipmaker lowered its fiscal second-quarter financial targets due to weak demand and high inventory.


Tree ring study links warming to drought

TUCSON - A new study shows a possible connection between a past climate warming and drought in what is now the US West. The width of tree rings over the past 1,200 years show that western  quot;megadroughts quot; between


Europeans want portable music, not video - survey

Only 13 per cent of Europeans are interested in portable video players, according to a survey from Jupiter Research. The market research group surveyed 5,000 consumers in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden


Beijing plans tough doping regime

China is promising the toughest Olympic drug testing regime yet when Beijing hosts the 2008 Games. An Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) delegation including John Coates, Grant


Cal jumps into fourth in new BCS rankings

While USC remained comfortably atop the Bowl Championship Series standings released Monday, the bigger news involved movement in Northern California.


American, several others kidnapped

BAGHDAD - An American civilian, a Nepalese man and at least two Arabs were abducted Monday by a band of gunmen who stormed a Baghdad home with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a machine gun mounted atop a pickup truck.


Liberals retable pot bill

Adding a dash of cash to sweeten the pot, the Liberal government has retabled its much-maligned marijuana bill. Justice Minister Irwin Cotler reintroduced the cannabis reform package


UPDATE 1-Slot machine maker IGT beats estimates

Slot machine maker International Game Technology (IGT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said adjusted quarterly earnings beat Wall Street estimates, but net profit fell on charges for the early repayment of debt.


CA Airs Wireless Manager

Officials at Computer Associates (Quote, Chart) announced the availability of an application aimed at simplifying and strengthening Wi-Fi networks.


Farina fears tough draw will hurt Socceroos

AUSTRALIA has been drawn against Germany and Argentina in what looms as the last FIFA Confederations Cup. Socceroos coach Frank Farina, who was at yesterday #39;s draw in Frankfurt, expressed mixed emotions about being drawn in the tougher of the two groups.


India hoping for consolation win

India go into the final Test against Australia desperate to restore pride after losing the series in Nagpur. Captain Sourav Ganguly is still missing for the home side, who may ask Sachin Tendulkar to take


Ukrainian CEC announces elections results: Yushchenko overtakes <b>...</b>

Ukrainian PM Viktor Yanukovich has received 40.03 of the vote (10,807,068 votes), and Viktor Yushchenko has 39.16 (10,572,530) in the Ukrainian presidential election.


Reports conflict about Arafat #39;s illness

PARIS - Conflicting reports emerged Tuesday about the seriousness of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat #39;s illness, as a fifth day of medical tests began at a French military hospital that specializes in blood disorders.


Talks Could Again Boost Oracle #39;s PeopleSoft Bid

Wells Fargo Securities raised the target price on PeopleSoft (nasdaq: PSFT - news - people ) to \$26, following Oracle #39;s increased bid of \$24 per share for the enterprise software company.


PG amp;E Profit Falls in Third Quarter

PG amp;E Corp. said third-quarter net income declined from the year-ago period, when earnings were boosted by revenue collected by its key unit to repay costs related to the California energy crisis.


Lord Hanson: a swashbuckling risk-taker

For a man whose name hung above the door, James Hanson was remarkably unsentimental about the company he had built from scratch. As a champion of shareholder value, he believed that all assets were up for sale (or at least, should be).


Forest Says Drug Trial Misses Goal

Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said its experimental hypertension drug failed to meet all its goals in an effectiveness study, an outcome that will delay development and may lead to a new trial.


Philips, Nokia trial contactless payments

An RFID-based trial involving Philips, Nokia and a Frankfurt-based public transport authority hints of a future where ticketing is merely a matter of swiping ones handset.


Firefox up, IE down

p2pnet.net News:- The Firefox 1.0 browser, slated for release on November 9, has been given yet another boost by news that it #39;s continuing to lay heavy pressure on Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer.


Messaging Anti Abuse Working Group

Just how much is spam and malicious email attempts costing you and your staff, clients and partners? That is a big question. And for many who run their business solo -- difficult to assess the true costs to themselves and their customers.


Makybe Diva becomes first mare to win Australia #39;s biggest horse <b>...</b>

Defending champion Makybe Diva won the \$4.2-million Cdn Melbourne Cup on Tuesday to become the first mare in the 144-year history of Australia #39;s most famous horse race to win twice.


Van Nistelrooy certain to face Sparta Prague - Ferguson

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will definitely return to the starting line-up for the Champions League Group D clash at home to Sparta Prague on Wednesday.


Rush rules himself out of race for Welsh job

Ian Rush has ruled himself out of becoming the new Wales manager, instead opting to stay on as boss of English League Two side Chester City.


Eight dead in Iraq car bombing spree on US election day

BAGHDAD, Nov 2 (AFP) - At least eight people were killed in a car bombing spree across Iraq Tuesday that targeted symbols of the US-backed government, while hundreds of residents fled the rebel-held city of Fallujah after a night of air raids.


Dutch filmmaker who criticized Islam slain in Amsterdam

A filmmaker who is a relative of the painter Vincent van Gogh was slain in an Amsterdam street Tuesday after receiving death threats over a movie he made criticizing the treatment of women under Islam.


Baghdad Car Bomb Kills at Least 5 and Leaves Up to 29 Wounded

A car bomb exploded today near the Ministry of Education in a busy Baghdad commercial area, killing at least five people and wounding up to 29, officials said.


Iran could agree to six month uranium enrichment suspension

TEHRAN, Nov 2 (AFP) - Iran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment for a maximum of six months during negotiations with European countries, but will never agree to permanently halt the practice, one of its top nuclear negotiators said on Tuesday.


Verizon Wireless Won #39;t Oppose Nextel Swap

Verizon Wireless said on Tuesday it would not oppose a plan that would give Nextel Communications Inc. (NXTL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) valuable new wireless airwaves, sending Nextel #39;s shares up more than 3 percent.


NHL players meeting to discuss lockout

Members of the NHL Players Association are meeting in Toronto today to discuss the seven-week-old hockey lockout. Some 70 to 80 player reps are expected at the meeting, who will then brief their teammates back home.


Like a Rolling Stone, Tabuse makes Suns roster

Its official: Yuta Tabuse is the first Japanese player to make an NBA team. The Suns put the 5-foot-9 guard on the active roster, part of the 14-man roster submitted to the NBA on Monday afternoon.


Yahoo Hires Former ABC Programmer for Post

Online giant Yahoo Inc. has hired a former ABC television programmer to head its media and entertainment division. Lloyd Braun, who was behind shows such as  quot;The Sopranos quot; on HBO and  quot;Lost quot; on ABC, will try


Nextel, Verizon Set Aside Differences

Nextel agreed not to oppose Verizon Wireless #39; use of the term  quot;push-to-talk quot; when marketing a competing walkie-talkie service.


Google Apple desktop search

p2pnet.net News:-  quot;We intend to do it, quot; Google chief executive Eric Schmidt told a University of California-Los Angeles conference, recently.


Samsung, Philips, HP form group to devise consumer APIs

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Samsung, Philips, HP, the Digital TV Industry Alliance of China (DTVIA) and Access on Monday (Nov. 1) announced the formation of the Universal Home Application Programmer Interface (UHAPI) Forum.


Ponting eyes winning finish

Ricky Ponting is confident of his team winning the Mumbai Test and ending the series as it began -- on a victorious note. Australia #39;s skipper himself has a point to prove in India, where he scored 17 runs


Mystery thickens over Irish gold medallist

Offices of Ireland #39;s equestrian governing body were broken into overnight after the theft in England of a doping test sample from the horse that helped Ireland win its only Olympic gold medal in Athens.


Idle Badgers move up in polls

Madison, WI (U-WIRE) -- Despite not playing this weekend, the Wisconsin football team (5-0 Big Ten, 8-0 overall) moved up in both the Associated Press Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.


Analysts: Arafat Treatment Seen as Sign of France #39;s Friendship <b>...</b>

Palestinian officials say Yasser Arafat #39;s health has improved since Friday, when he arrived in France for treatment for a still-mysterious illness.


Conrad Black resigns as chairman, CEO and director of Hollinger <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Conrad Black stepped aside Tuesday as chairman and chief executive of Hollinger Inc., the Toronto holding company which has voting control over newspaper operating company Hollinger International.


The Fox Cometh

For the sixth month in a row, the market share of open source browsers Mozilla and FireFox and Apple #39;s Safari browser have grown, slowly eroding Microsoft Internet Explorer #39;s (IE) market share in the process.


Singh set to join golfing greats

Vijay Singh will become the first player since 1950 to win 10 titles in a year if he triumphs in the elite 30-man Tour Championship in Atlanta.


Volkswagen workers stage marches as  #39;difficult #39; pay talks continue

Automaker Volkswagen AG and Germany #39;s biggest industrial union said Tuesday they have made some progress in difficult pay negotiations, but were cautious on prospects of a quick deal in talks that were marked by worker protests.


Hollinger Inc. Chief Executive Conrad Black Resigns (Update1)

Hollinger Inc., the company that controls the publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, said Conrad Black quit as chairman, chief executive and a director.


AOL Cutting More Than 700, Most in Virginia

America Online (website - news - quote) reportedly is preparing to fire more than 700 employees in early December - mostly at the company #39;s Northern Virginia headquarters.


Walgreen posts higher Oct. sales, Rite Aid lags

Walgreen Co. (WAG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the top US drugstore chain, on Tuesday reported higher October sales, but growth at rival Rite Aid Corp.


Emerson #39;s profit, sales grow in fourth quarter, fiscal year

Growth in its network power and industrial automation businesses contributed to a 28 percent jump in profit in the fourth quarter for Emerson, the company said Tuesday.


Rush rules himself out of Wales manager #39;s job

Former Wales and Liverpool striker Ian Rush has ruled himself out of succeeding Mark Hughes as manager of Wales. Rush was only appointed manager of English fourth division side Chester


Indians to play for pride

The fourth and final Test match between India and Australia begins in Mumbai on Wednesday. The Indians will be playing for some pride, while the Australians are hoping to sweep the series 3-0.


Irish Equestrian Body #39;s Office Burglarized; Horse Sample Stolen

Ireland #39;s Equestrian Federation said its offices were broken into last night, hours after the International Federation for Equestrian Sports said a sample from the horse Waterford Crystal


Controversial columnist, gifted filmmaker

quot;A professional adolescent, a die-hard reactionary, quot; is how Theo van Gogh (47) used to characterise himself. The Dutch film director and newspaper columnist who was


Verizon, Nextel Resolve Legal Disputes

Verizon Wireless said Tuesday it won #39;t oppose the Federal Communications Commission #39;s decision to grant Nextel Communications Inc.


Playboy Posts a Profit for Latest Quarter

Playboy Enterprises Inc. on Tuesday said it rebounded to post a third-quarter profit as advertising rose sharply at the company #39;s flagship magazine.


Dynegy to Acquire Exelon Power Assets

Energy company Dynegy Inc. on Tuesday said it will by some of the power generation assets of Exelon Corp. for \$135 million in cash plus debt assumption.


UBS Net Falls on Investment Banking; Fund Unit Gains (Update1)

UBS AG, Europe #39;s biggest bank, said third-quarter profit fell 1 percent as gains from managing funds for millionaires cushioned a drop in investment-banking earnings.


Dealing Unit becomes more likely

Still five months shy of opening up their eighth major league campaign, the Arizona Diamondbacks are already working on their fourth manager.


League not expected to act immediately

The long-awaited missive from erstwhile tailback Ricky Williams, officially seeking reinstatement to the league, arrived Monday at NFL offices.


Albion deny Hoddle offer

West Brom have not reached agreement to offer Glenn Hoddle the manager #39;s job despite reports of high-level talks. The former Tottenham and England boss was said to have spoken with Albion chairman Jeremy Peace over the weekend and been offered the post.


Intl Game Tech Posts Lower 4Q Profit

International Game Technology, the world #39;s largest designer and manufacturer of casino slot machines, said Tuesday that fourth-quarter profit declined year-over-year due to a \$77 million charge for the early redemption of the company #39;s senior notes


Europeans favour music for portable gadgets

Music will continue its reign as the prime mover of European gadgets, according to Jupiter Research. A survey of 5,000 consumers from Britain, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain and Italy, revealed that devices


Makybe Diva repeats Melbourne Cup win

Makybe Diva became the first mare to score a repeat victory in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, after which her trainer Lee Freedman said that she could be pointed to


Cuper appointed Mallorca coach

Argentine Hector Cuper signed a three-year deal with struggling Spanish first division side Real Mallorca. Cuper #39;s task is to turn around the fortunes of the club currently second from bottom of the Primera Liga.


Pistons open new NBA season

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Detroit Pistons begin defending their title on Tuesday when they kick off another NBA season with a home game against the Houston Rockets.


Gateway to Buy Back Shares From AOL

Computer maker Gateway Inc. on Tuesday said it agreed to buy back about \$316 million of its stock from Internet provider America Online Inc.


Exelon to sell power generation assets to Dynegy

Exelon Corp. (EXC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said it would sell some of its Sithe power generation assets to Dynegy Inc.


Chalone to Go Private

Yesterday, shares of Chalone Wine Group (Nasdaq: CHLN) rose some 13 following the announcement that 46 owner Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), after months


Not Everyone Likes Those Do-It-All Gadgets

When it comes to digital gadgets, Europeans are not impressed by do-it-all devices that play songs and films, keep track of appointments and play video games, a new survey on Monday said.


UPDATE 1-Cuper returns to take charge of Mallorca

Primera Liga strugglers Real Mallorca have persuaded former coach Hector Cuper to rejoin the club as a permanent replacement for Benito Floro, who was sacked last week, the club said on Tuesday.


New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 138 runs in one-dayer

Cricket-Australia a tough test for Pakistan batsmen, says coach November 2, 2004 09:14:15 KARACHI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Pakistan #39;s batsmen will need to be mentally tough in Australia this month to combat the likes of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie


Clarke: Goodenow the problem

Bob Clarke returned Monday from a vacation in Calgary where he was visiting his son and decided to weigh in on a couple of serious issues - the lockout and the status of Jeremy Roenick.


American, Nepalese and Filipino confirmed kidnapped, two Iraqis <b>...</b>

BAGHDAD, Nov 2 (AFP) - An American, Filipino and Nepalese and at least one Iraqi working for a Saudi company were among a group of people kidnapped at gunpoint from their Baghdad offices on Monday, a US embassy spokesman said Tuesday.


Clashes in al-Ramadi, 15 Iraqis killed in Tikrit, new bombardment <b>...</b>

The American forces continued their air bombardment of Falluja yesterday at dawn resulting in several being killed and injured. Witnesses said that one of the killed is the driver of a rental car whose car


Suspected insurgents behead official in revenge for deaths of 85 <b>...</b>

: Search teams have found the body of a local official beheaded by suspected Muslim insurgents as revenge for the deaths of 85 rioters in southern Thailand last week, police said.


Europe Left Cold By Portable Video

European consumers want music not video or games on their portable gadgets. According to Jupiter Research only a lowly five per cent of people would like a music player which could also play films.


Warne Breaks Thumb, Will Miss Final Cricket Test Against India

Shane Warne, Test cricket #39;s leading wicket-taker, will miss the fourth and final Test match against India in Mumbai tomorrow after breaking his right thumb while practicing his batting, a Cricket Australia statement said.


Palestinian People #39;s front claims responsibility for Tel Aviv <b>...</b>

Abu Ali Mustafa groups, the military wing of the People #39;s Front For The Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed responsibility for the Palestinian Tel Aviv operation which resulted in killing four Israelis and injuring more than 40.


American, Nepali and Arabs kidnapped in Iraq

quot;They stormed the villa with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. They had no chance, quot; said a policeman. A company guard was killed in the attack.


US Stocks Rise on Optimism About Election; Nextel Advances

US stocks gained on optimism the US presidential election will produce a clear winner, acting as the catalyst to lift share prices the rest of the year.


Dynegy to buy Exelon assets

DALLAS (CBS.MW) -- Dynegy Inc. said Tuesday it will buy Exelon subsidiary ExRes SHC for \$1.05 billion in a deal that expands the Houston company #39;s power generation business in the New York state market.


Cisco to power Indian Ethernet

One of India #39;s leading telecommunications providers will use Cisco Systems #39; gear to build its new Ethernet-based broadband network.


Macrovision Takes a Hit

Investors in digital copy protector Macrovision (Nasdaq: MVSN) are smarting this morning, after a 2 pre-earnings-announcement run-up in their stock #39;s price turned into a 6 rout in the announcement #39;s aftermath.


Germans Use Nokia Phones In Wireless Ticket Trial

The world #39;s top mobile phone maker Nokia said on Tuesday its phones would be used in a project to test wireless public transport fares in Hanau, near Frankfurt in Germany, beginning early next year.


PalmOne to make Microsoft WindowsMobile Treo?

First that team wins that thing, now thisPalmOne (PalmSources biggest customer and maker of the Treo 650) appears it really might be planning to use Microsofts WindowsMobile OS in its Treo line of SmartPhones.


10 Red Sox Players File for Free Agency

World Champion Boston Red Sox team member Derek Lowe, second from left, picks confetti from the hair of Jay Leno as Mike Timlin, far left, Alan Embree, David Ortiz and Dave Roberts, far right, look on during their visit to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno


Filipino abducted in Iraq (7:42 pm)

MANILA -- A Filipino who was among four people abducted in Iraq is believed to be an accountant working for a Saudi Arabian company catering food to American troops, sources said Tuesday.


We want Kerry

It signalled this in no uncertain terms when oil prices fell below US\$50 (\$83) mark on Monday. US light crude dipped to US\$49 at one point before ending at US\$49.


BJ Services Shares Fall on 4Q Results

Shares of BJ Services Co. fell more than 5 percent Tuesday morning after the oilfield service provider reported fourth-quarter results and issued a 2005 outlook that fell short of analyst expectations.


Intel Unveils  #39;Extreme Edition #39; for Power Users

With a maximum data throughput improvement of up to 33 percent between the CPU and system memory (compared with an 800 MHz system bus), the Extreme Edition #39;s 1066 MHz bus can enable faster frame rates for both gaming and video editing.


WHO #39;S AFRAID OF THE GUNNERS?

WHAT is in store for the English and European top guns in the Champions League this week? THE main thing we can say about Arsenal is that opponents are no longer afraid of the Gunners.


1st female UK soldier dies in Iraq

The first female British soldier has died in Iraq, according to the Ministry of Defence. Staff Sgt. Denise Michelle Rose of the Royal Military Police #39;s Special Investigation Branch


Oil prices go down. But for how long?

With the US presidential elections approaching, world oil prices appear to be going down. New York #39;s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, fell 26 cents to 49.


UPDATE 2-MBIA 3rd-qtr earnings fall 2.3 pct, stock off

MBIA Inc. (MBI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , a leading US bond insurer, on Tuesday reported a 2.3 percent drop in third-quarter earnings as investor demand


Dynegy inks \$1B deal to buy Exelon assets

Houston-based Dynegy Inc. has agreed to buy ExRes SHC Inc., the parent company of Sithe Energies and Sithe Independence LP, from Chicago-based Exelon Corp.


US job cuts exceed 100,000 again

Job-cutting continued across the country at a breakneck pace in October, according to the monthly survey by Challenger, Gray  amp; Christmas Inc.


Yahoo Desktop Search Will Be a Reality

Yahoos CEO Terry Semel told an investment conference yesterday that Yahoo too would be putting out a desktop search tool for searching computer desktops and harddrives using the backbone of Yahoo Search Technology.


Benitez on Spanish return

Liverpools new manager left the Valencia team in fine shape after two championships in three seasons, but insisting he was the victim of internal politics at the Mestalla that undermined his position.


Ford decides to stay in rallying

Ford #39;s recent success in the World Rally Championship seems to have tipped the Detroit company into staying in the WRC for four more years.


Arafat #39;s condition is improving, aide says

PARIS -- Yasser Arafat #39;s health is improving, one of his aides said Tuesday, repeating that tests have ruled out leukemia as the cause of the Palestinian leader #39;s health problems.


Report: UAE president dead at 86

The president of the United Arab Emirates, who helped forge a federation from seven Persian Gulf states and ruled it since its creation, has died, Abu Dhabi TV said.


Protester killed during Sichuan demonstration

At least one man was killed in a protest in China #39;s southwestern province of Sichuan, a resident said, in the second violent demonstration to hit rural China in the past week.


AOL layoffs due next month

update America Online is expected to cut more than 700 jobs from its work force next month, as the online giant continues to struggle with declining subscriber numbers, according to a source familiar with the plans.


Verizon Wireless Won #39;t Oppose Nextel Swap

Verizon Wireless on Tuesday withdrew its opposition to a plan that would give Nextel Communications Inc. (NXTL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) valuable new wireless airwaves


Update 2: Clorox Profit Declines on Restructuring

The Clorox Co., the maker of Clorox bleach, Brita water filters and other consumer products, Tuesday posted a 5 percent drop in profit for its latest quarter as it restructured some operations.


Ryanair 2nd-Quarter Net Rises 15 on New-Route Sales (Update8)

Ryanair Holdings Plc, Europe #39;s largest low-cost airline, said second-quarter profit rose 15 percent as the carrier cut fares less than it expected and added routes.


PalmSource Names Jean-Louis Gassee Chairman of the Board

PalmSource today announced Jean-Louis Gassee has been appointed Chairman of the PalmSource Board of Directors. Gassee, 60, was appointed to the Company #39;s Board of Directors in May 2002.


IGT posts lower quarterly profit, record yearly income

Slot machine maker International Game Technology said Tuesday that fourth-quarter profit declined 50 percent from the same period a year earlier as a result of the early redemption


Job cuts ease in October: report

US planned job cuts eased in October but remained above the 100,000 level for the second month in row, a report said Tuesday. Employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray  amp; Christmas Inc.


Stocks in Motion: BJ Services

Shares of BJ Services (BJS:NYSE - news - research) were among the NYSE #39;s losers Tuesday, falling 5 after the company posted fourth-quarter earnings and sales that fell below Wall Street expectations and warned on 2005.


Nokia Unveils Near Field Communication Product

Nokia #39;s new Near Field Communication product will turn mobile phones into wireless wallets, the company says. It is conducting trials of the new technology in Germany, involving wireless ticketing with a transportation authority.


SCO not sure pro-SCO site is a good idea

Legal concerns of all things have caused The SCO Group to rethink it plans to launch a pro-SCO propaganda web site meant to counter the popular Groklaw site.


Saturn Moon Titan #39;s Landscape Alien, Familiar

The solar system #39;s smoggiest orb appears to have landscapes both foreign and familiar, say geologists who are sorting through the first up-close peek at Saturn #39;s planet-sized moon Titan.


Ford Makes Four-Year Commitment

Ford made a four-year commitment to the world rally championship Tuesday, ending fears that they could pull out of that series as well as Formula One.


FERGIE SEEKING HOME COMFORTS

Manchester United #39;s performance was so bad at Portsmouth on Saturday that Sir Alex Ferguson would give himself a game against Sparta Prague if he was picking a team purely on merit.


Int #39;l Game Tech Posts Lower Profit

International Game Technology #39;s fourth-quarter profits declined 50 percent, hit by early redemption of senior notes, but the world #39;s largest maker of slot machines and other gambling devices


SCO has second thoughts about Groklaw alternative

NOVEMBER 02, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - The SCO Group Inc. is reconsidering its plans to launch an alternative to the Groklaw.net Web site that had been scheduled to go live this week, a company spokeswoman said yesterday.


Yahoo at work on desktop search

Internet company Yahoo announced yesterday that it is at work on a desktop search product. The offering would allow people to search their own PCs as easily as they can currently search the internet.


Toshiba Third Party Memory Module Failure

Toshiba has announced a worldwide Recall/Exchange Program on specific models of Toshiba notebook PCs. Under certain conditions, the subject component, provided to Toshiba by third-parties and installed in


Hoddle still favourite for Baggies post

Glenn Hoddle remains favourite to become West Broms new boss but the appointment is not a done deal. The former England chief is believed to want the job and woke up this morning to headlines suggesting it was in the bag.


Thai local official beheaded in revenge for deaths of 85 Muslims

A local Buddhist official was beheaded by suspected Muslim insurgents as revenge for the deaths of 85 rioters in Thailand #39;s mainly Muslim south last week, police said Tuesday.


Int #39;l Game Tech Posts Lower Profit

International Game Technology #39;s fourth-quarter profits declined 50 percent, hit by early redemption of senior notes, but the world #39;s largest maker of slot machines and other gambling devices said Tuesday that its annual income set a new record.


Verizon, Nextel Reach Settlement

Verizon Wireless and Nextel Communications today announced they have reached an agreement to resolve all of their legal disputes, including the contentious 800 MHz realignment that gives Nextel coveted 1.9 GHz spectrum.


Forest Labs #39; new hypertension drug disappoints in efficacy study

NEW YORK, November 2 (newratings.com) - Forest Laboratories Inc (FRX.NYS) witnessed a decline in its share price this morning, following the news of disappointing efficacy study results for the company #39;s new hypertension drug.


Update 1: Bond Prices Are Mostly Lower at Midday

The price of the Treasury #39;s 10-year note was down 1/16 point, or 63 cents per \$1,000 in face value, while its yield rose to 4.10 percent from 4.09 percent late Monday.


Beagle 2 Just Didn #39;t Have the Money to Succeed

Summary - (Nov 2, 2004) A new report by the UK House of Commons science and technology select committee pins the blame for the loss of the Beagle 2 lander on a lack of early money.


China tightens grip on Internet freedom

The Chinese government has closed 1,600 internet cafes and fined operators a total of \$12 million for letting children access porn websites and play violent games, the government said, according to wired.


Converged Home Entertainment Standard Mooted

The Universal Home Application Programmer Interface Forum is working on a specification for analog and digital television designed to enable the creation of middleware and application software


When in Rome, moan

It was the nadir of a love affair, at the Stadio Olimpico in Roma on Sunday, that had endured much during its existence, but was perhaps not prepared for a midweek surrender at Juventus in a season that has so far seen more than its fair share of turmoil


UN says security worsening in Darfur, relief work hampered

GENEVA : Humanitarian organisations expressed alarm over worsening security in Sudan #39;s conflict-wracked Darfur region, where the UN refugee agency has been forced to cancel several missions.


Cries of election corruption

Ukraine #39;s presidential election ended in a dead heat calling for a runoff, while thousands of protesters on Monday alleged fraud in the west, and international monitors


Oracle seeks to clinch PeopleSoft with extra \$1bn

LARRY ELLISON, the chief executive of Oracle, has raised his offer to buy PeopleSoft by more than \$1 billion, marking what could be the final salvo in a 17-month bidding war.


Verizon Wireless Won #39;t Oppose Nextel Airwaves Swap (Update3)

Verizon Wireless and Nextel Communications Inc. said they resolved disputes over airwaves and trademark names, ending a 15-month legal battle between the two US mobile-phone providers.


Nokia, Good Technology Ink Smartphone Deal

NEW YORK - Nokia is developing a smartphone that will incorporate Good Technology #39;s GoodLink wireless e-mail service, a deal that should broaden Good #39;s penetration and boost its market share against leader Research in Motion.


Yahoo! Building Desktop Search, More Personalization

Portal player Yahoo! will compete with Google and MSN in the desktop search arena, CEO Terry Semel told an audience at a Morgan Stanley investor conference.


New Nokia 3230 And 6020 Camera Phones

Nokia has introduced three new phones at their Mobility Conference, the 7710 widescreen multimedia smartphone, the 3230 megapixel smartphone and the 6020 camera phone.


Mixed Emotions for Sparta Coach

Straka made the surprising admission on the eve of the Champions League match between the two sides at Old Trafford. He said: Manchester United are great.


Arafat #39;s doctors rule out leukemia

Relaying doctors #39; first official statement regarding ailing Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat #39;s health, a PA spokeswoman said Tuesday that hospital medical staff had ruled out leukemia as a cause for his deterioration in health, and said his


Nextel and Verizon Settle Legal Disputes

Nextel Communications Inc. and Verizon Wireless are settling all legal disputes between them, removing a key challenge to a federal decision to clear up interference between cell phones and emergency response


Forest Labs Hypertension Drug Falls Short

Shares of Forest Laboratories (FRX:NYSE - news - research)slipped Tuesday after the company said a test of an experimental blood pressure drug didn #39;t meet all of the study #39;s goals.


SPAM vs spam

To some Britons, especially those 50 and older, it #39;s a word forged from  #39;spiced #39; and  #39;ham #39; to represent,  quot;pink, chopped ham and pork rammed into square tins, quot; as the UK #39;s The Guardian story describes it.


Blinkx Names Former Yahoo Europe Exec to CEO Post

Privately held desktop search provider Blinkx on Monday said it named Mark Opzoomer, former managing director of Yahoo (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Europe, as its chief executive effective immediately.


Iraqi Rebels Bomb Baghdad Ministry, Hit Oil Sector

Rebels bracing for a US-led assault on their Falluja and Ramadi strongholds showed their muscle Tuesday with a bloody car bombing in Baghdad, strikes on oil pipelines and several attacks on Iraqi security forces.


Tenet Healthcare #39;s Loss Narrows in 3Q

NEW YORK - Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Tuesday its loss narrowed in the third quarter, as the operator of acute-care hospitals significantly reduced its loss from continuing operations.


China Shuts Down 1,600 Internet Cafes

China has closed 1,600 Internet cafes and fined operators a total of \$12 million for letting children play violent games and for other violations, the government said Saturday.


Filmmaker Who Criticized Islam Slain

A filmmaker who was the great-grandnephew of the painter Vincent Van Gogh was shot and stabbed to death on an Amsterdam street Tuesday after receiving death threats over a movie he made criticizing the treatment of women under Islam.


Iran Considers EU Compromise Proposal

Representatives from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom met with Iranian officials twice in October in an effort to head off a possible diplomatic showdown over its nuclear program.


RPT-UPDATE 2-Slot machine maker IGT beats estimates

Slot machine maker International Game Technology (IGT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings, as casinos bought


Bayer Drug Can Be Combined With Others

German drug maker Bayer AG said Tuesday that early-stage trials of an experimental cancer treatment showed no significant safety concerns when used in combination with other drugs.


Yahoo Moving on Desktop Search; Semel Says He Will Stay

Yahoo is ready to engage in combat with rival Google by offering a new desktop search tool to help people find information on their computer hard drives.


Sauber switch to Michelin tyres for 2005

The Sauber Formula One team will use Michelin tyres next year after six seasons racing with Bridgestone. Sauber #39;s decision, announced in a statement on Tuesday, leaves Bridgestone


DirecTV Posts Wider Third-Quarter Loss

Satellite television provider DirecTV Group Inc. said Tuesday that charges for the revaluation of certain satellites led to a sharply widened third-quarter loss.


Gassee: PalmSource Names Apple Ex-Exec To Replace Benhamou

PalmSource (nasdaq: PSRC - news - people ) said Tuesday that it named Jean-Louis Gassee, 60, as chairman. He #39;ll take the mantle from the retiring Eric Benhamou, 48--who also has the chair at 3Com (nasdaq: COMS - news - people ).


Former Yahoo top exec to head start-up Blinkx

This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web Services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.


Sauber switch to Michelin tyres

Formula One outfit Sauber will switch to Michelin tyres next season after six seasons using Bridgestones. The Swiss team #39;s move means Ferrari are the only top team contracted to Bridgestone although Jordan and Minardi both used them in 2004.


Police investigating theft of Olympic drug test sample

DUBLIN, Ireland The investigation into whether Ireland #39;s only medal winner from the Athens Olympics had a banned substance in his system has taken a twist.


Official: Cuper Signs With Mallorca

Hector Cuper is Mallorcas coach for the second time in his career after that he signed a three year deal with the Balearic club in Barcelona today.


Ferguson ready to unleash Ruud

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident bringing Ruud van Nistelrooy back into the side will help his side triumph over Sparta Prague.


Sudanese troops surround camps

Sudanese soldiers have taken up positions near refugee camps in the crisis-torn Darfur region sparking fears that tens of thousands of homeless people could be forcibly moved.


Slain filmmaker Theo van Gogh:  #39;a champion of free speech #39;

AMSTERDAM, Nov 2 (AFP) - Theo van Gogh, the maverick Dutch film maker killed in the street here on Tuesday, was a controversial figure who seemed to delight in provocation and had a penchant for portraying difficult subjects on screen.


Does PeopleSoft Deal Make Sense for Oracle?

Oracle says its latest bid to purchase PeopleSoft is its  quot;best and final offer. quot; At \$24 per share, Oracle #39;s offer is higher than PeopleSoft #39;s 24-week high.


Fresh tax claims hit Yukos

Shares in Yukos, the Russian oil group beset by difficulties, dropped sharply yesterday after reports that the authorities had launched fresh tax claims against it, totalling up to \$7 billion.


BJ Services profit jumps 42 percent on drilling surge

HOUSTON -- BJ Services Co., which provides oil-pumping services, Tuesday posted a 42 percent jump in profit for its latest quarter, but warned that fiscal 2005 estimates would fall below Wall Street #39;s expectations.


Australia will field its best XI: Po

MUMBAI: Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday sounded a warning that the Indians should not become complacent thinking that the Australians would take it easy after winning the series, saying, We are here to win and will play our best XI


Sudan Army Surrounds Darfur Refugee Camps

The Sudanese army and police surrounded several refugee camps in the war-torn region of Darfur on Tuesday and denied access to humanitarian groups, the United Nations said.


Gateway to repurchase stock from America Online

Computer maker Gateway Inc. Tuesday said it has agreed to repurchase stock held by America Online Inc. for \$316 million. AOL, which is a unit of media and entertainment company Time Warner


Conrad Black quits Hollinger Inc.

TORONTO Conrad Black stepped aside today as head of the Toronto-based holding company that has voting control over Chicago-based newspaper publisher Hollinger International.


IE Dominance Threatened by the Fox

In addition to showing a penchant for alternatives to Internet Explorer, the latest data also suggest that Mozilla is becoming the preferred option for those seeking to abandon Microsoft.


Toshiba Joins Recall Parade, Blames Bad Memory

Toshiba on Monday issued a recall for faulty memory modules that were used in over two dozen of its laptop models. The recall potentially affects some 600,000 notebook computers.


US Stocks Gain on Optimism About Election; Nextel Advances

US stocks gained on optimism the US presidential election would produce a clear winner, acting as the catalyst to lift share prices the rest of the year.


Playboy Posts Profit, Shares Rise

Playboy Enterprises Inc. (PLA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the adult entertainment company, on Tuesday reported a third-quarter profit, reversing a year-earlier loss


Mainframes Power BMC Revenue

Mainframe products played a big role in BMC Software #39;s second-quarter earnings for its fiscal year 2005, which ended Sept. 30.


Immucor CEO Is Subject of Criminal Probe

Immucor Inc. on Tuesday said president and chief executive Gioacchino De Chirico will step aside as CEO while the company investigates a criminal probe into De Chirico and an Italian subsidiary.


No-frills profit boost for Ryanair

No-frills airline Ryanair posted a forecast-beating jump in half-year profit after its low fares drew in summer passengers and was surprisingly upbeat on the full year, boosting its shares.


Nokia extends messaging options in handsets

Nokia Corp. said deals with Visto Corp. and Good Technology Inc. to expand the messaging options on its handsets. Nokia has a similar agreement with Visto and Good rival Research In Motion Ltd.


Spam back on the menu

Spam, the luncheon meat which valiantly sustained the country #39;s war effort only to suffer so cruelly at the hands of Monty Python, is being relaunched in the UK.


Nokia Extends Series 60 Capabilities

With smartphones gaining in popularity, Nokia has committed to beef up the capabilities of its Series 60 platform to embrace more multimedia features.


Probe into theft of sample

CAMBRIDGESHIRE police are investigating after a urine sample belonging to an Olympic gold medal winning horse was apparently stolen.


Dagenais attends NHLPA meeting

TORONTO (CP) - Montreal Canadiens winger Pierre Dagenais, who made headlines last week when he said he #39;d accept a salary cap if it settled the NHL lockout, showed up Tuesday at the NHL Players #39; Association meeting.


Video Shows Beheading of Japan Hostage - Web

A group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi showed the beheading of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda in Iraq while he was lying on top of a US flag in an Internet video posted on Tuesday.


AOL to 700 Staff: You #39;ve Got No Job

Senior AOL officials declined comment, and those who would discuss the matter would only do so anonymously, citing tomorrow #39;s pending release of third quarter earnings by Time Warner, America Online #39;s parent.


Citigroup Is Sued Over Alleged Interference

A global investment fund manager has filed a civil suit against Citigroup, charging that the New York-based financial institution improperly interfered with the investment fund #39;s operations in Brazil, lawyers said Tuesday.


Stocks Move Up Despite Election Jitters

Despite its nervousness over the presidential election, Wall Street extended its rally Tuesday, pushing stocks higher as investors welcomed a drop in oil prices past the \$50 per barrel level.


Nokia Adds RFID to Latest Handsets

Nokia #39;s RFID system offers consumers access to browsing and text message services by touching tags that contain service shortcuts.


Good Technology, Nokia in cahoots

Nokia today announced it is joining forces with Good Technology to extend its GoodLink software to Nokia business-optimized mobile devices such as the Series 90


Bowden lands a new GM job

WASHINGTON The Washington-bound Montreal Expos have a general manager, at least for the time being. Former Cincinnati Reds GM Jim Bowden (BOH #39;-den) has been hired for the job.


Car bomb kills six in Baghdad

Iraqi hospital officials say six people are dead from a car bombing that struck in northern Baghdad. An Iraqi official says the blast took place near the Ministry of Education.


Palestinian PM condemns Israeli raid in Nablus

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei condemned on Tuesday Israel #39;s operation in the northern West Bank town of Nablus, during which four Palestinians, including a child, were killed.


BMC posts profit on technology spending, expense cuts

HOUSTON Houston-based BMC Software today swung to a second-quarter profit amid resurgent technology spending and cost cutting. In the quarter ended September 30th, BMC earned 12-point-seven (M) million dollars


NHLPA remains united in labour dispute

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Solidarity was the key word at Tuesday #39;s meeting between NHL Players #39; Association notables and executive director Bob Goodenow.


Warne out of Mumbai

Australia #39;s champion leg-spinner Shane Warne has been sent home from India after breaking his thumb in training, ruling him out of the fourth Test in Mumbai, which begins on Wednesday.


The UAE names new energy minister

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has named Mohammed bin Al Dhaen Al Hamili oil minister, succeeding Obeid bin Saif Al Nasseri in a cabinet reshuffle approved by Supreme Council


Election Commission Stops Vote Count As Opposition Protests

Ukraine #39;s Central Election Commission has suspended vote counting from the 31 October presidential election. The opposition says that #39;s because a complete count would reveal that its leader, Viktor Yushchenko


Oracle Says Latest PeopleSoft Bid Is  #39;Final Offer #39;

An end to the takeover squabble between Oracle and PeopleSoft may not be in sight even though, in what it called a  quot;best and final quot; offer, Oracle upped its unsolicited bid by 14 percent, to \$24 per share.


Intel Unveils  #39;Extreme #39; Pentium 4 for Gamers

The 3.46GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition includes 2MB of Level 3 cache and hyper-threading technology. The Intel 925XE Express chipset is an extension of the 915/925X Express chipset launched


Late funds hampered Beagle mission to Mars: MPs

LONDON - The Beagle 2 space probe failed to land safely on Mars because the British government tried to fund the mission  quot;on the cheap, quot; a parliamentary committee has charged.


Apple Shares Rise to Highest Level in Four Years on iPod Demand

Apple Computer Inc. shares rose to a four-year high, erasing the slump triggered September 2000 by a disappointing profit forecast, as demand for the iPod digital music player surges before the year-end holiday shopping season.


Gunners look for return to winning ways

Arsenal are looking to haul themselves out of their first sticky patch of the season with a Champions League victory over Panathinaikos at Highbury tonight.


== Report: Jags #39; Leftwich to miss significant time with knee <b>...</b>

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - According to Tuesday #39;s edition of the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback Byron Leftwich will miss at least four weeks and perhaps the rest of the season with a left knee injury.


More Red Sox declare free agency

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Ten members of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox filed for free agency on Monday. Catcher Jason Varitek, shortstop Orlando Cabrera, pitchers Curtis Leskanic, Derek Lowe, Ramiro Mendoza


Parker receives multi-year contract extension from Spurs

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs Tuesday signed point guard Tony Parker to a multi-year contract extension.


Ex-Computer Associates Execs, SEC Settle

Two former executives of Computer Associates International, who have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, have agreed to pay a total \$387,470 to settle related civil charges in a multibillion-dollar accounting scandal at the big


Hollinger Inc. Chief Executive Conrad Black Resigns (Update4)

Conrad Black quit as chairman and chief executive officer of Hollinger Inc., the company that controls the publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, preempting a court decision that may have ousted him as early as today.


Update 5: Tentative Deal Reached in Casino Strike

Thousands of striking casino-hotel workers reached a tentative contract agreement that signals an end to a bitter, month-old walkout - the longest in Atlantic City casino history.


Macromedia Launches Software Version for eBay Stores

Macromedia announced a customized version of its Contribute 3 software for eBay Store sellers. Contribute 3 for eBay will allow sellers to create and customize an eBay Store without requiring technical knowledge.


Report: Lehman named Ryder Cup captain

West Palm Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Tom Lehman will be named the United States Ryder Cup captain for the 2006 matches, according to The Palm Beach Post.


Ford commits to long-term participation in WRC

Ford of Europe today announced a major commitment to the World Rally Championship. The Company has entered into a four-year agreement with Malcolm Wilson #39;s British


Seau worried injujry could end season

NEW YORK - Frustration was compounded by injury for the Dolphins as Junior Seau, Jason Taylor, Jay Fiedler, Randy McMichael and Marty Booker were among the players who had X-rays or were seen by doctors following the 41-14 loss to the Jets Monday night.


Pak wants better ties with SAARC states: PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said Pakistan wanted better relations with the South Asian nations and would do whatever possible to bring peace, security and progress in the entire region.


Dow, Nasdaq, S amp;P 500 Retreat on Exit Poll

US stocks changed course suddenly on Tuesday as chatter on the Internet speculated that early exit polls show Sen. John Kerry leading the presidential election in key states.


A Firefox in IE #39;s Roost

Web properties that design primarily for Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer (IE) are being put on notice. Various online sites are abuzz with data from WebSideStory, an Internet analytics firm, showing that Firefox


SCO Skips Legal Issues Web Site

Red Monk #39;s Steve O #39;Grady told LinuxInsider that SCO #39;s decision shows a lack of understanding of what drives Groklaw.  quot;The value of Groklaw is the community itself, with people attending


Black: Quits As Hollinger Inc. CEO Ahead Of Investor Action

quot;Super Tuesday quot; in Toronto. Conrad Black gave up his titles as chairman and chief executive of Hollinger Inc. The holding company, based in Toronto, Canada, has voting control over newspaper publisher Hollinger International (nyse: HLR - news - people ).


Blogs Send Stocks Into Reverse

US stocks reversed course suddenly on Tuesday and drifted lower as chatter on the Internet speculated that early exit polls had Sen. John Kerry leading the presidential election in key swing states.


Agilysys Posts 2Q Profit on Acquisitions

Agilysys Inc., a supplier of electronic components and computer systems, said Tuesday that it swung to a profit in the fiscal second quarter as acquisitions contributed to strong sales growth.


Nokia launches tri-band 3220 camera phone with Near Field <b>...</b>

HELSINKI, Nov 02, 2004 (AFX-UK via COMTEX) -- Nokia Corp launched today at its conference in Monaco a new tri-band Nokia 3220 camera handset equipped with a Near Field Communication (NFC) cover.


Nasa scientists find surface of Titan  #39;Very Alien #39;

THE surface of Saturn #39;s moon Titan may be covered by thick drifts of combustible organic  quot;snow quot; floating on lakes of liquid methane or water and ammonia ice flows, NASA scientists said on Friday.


MORE DIVA MAGIC

AT the halfway point of yesterday #39;s Melbourne Cup, Glen Boss admitted to a feeling of deja vu as he sat in 14th spot on favourite Makybe Diva.


Germany, Argentina hold no fear for Socceroos

MATCHES against soccer powerhouses Germany and Argentina await the Socceroos at the Confederations Cup next year in what they hope will be a dress rehearsal for the 2006 World Cup finals.


Benitez calls for tackling clampdown

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has asked English referees to give his players greater protection from what he says are poor tackles.


Jags QB Leftwich sidelined with sprained knee

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Byron Leftwich once played a college football game with a fractured shin. So will a sprained left knee put the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback on the sidelines?


Truth  amp; Rumors: Nov. 2, 2004

When aircraft problems forced the cancellation of Wally Backman #39;s trip last week to interview for the Mets #39; manager #39;s job, something told Backman to cancel a chance to be reunited with his former team.


Dutch filmmaker who criticized Islam is slain in Amsterdam <b>...</b>

A Dutch filmmaker who got death threats after his movie sharply criticized how women are treated under Islam was stabbed and shot to death Tuesday on an Amsterdam street.


Baghdad Bomb Leaves at Least 6 Dead, Iraqi Police Say (Update3)

A car bomb exploded outside Iraq #39;s Education Ministry in Baghdad, killing at least six people, while in Fallujah, west of the capital, US air strikes hit insurgent targets, US and Iraqi officials said.


Insurers #39; Losses Top \$21 Bln for Quarter

US property and casualty insurers paid out \$21.3 billion for hurricane damage, mostly in Florida, during the third-quarter, according an industry group called ISO.


DirecTV Posts Loss, Blames Marketing

DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday posted a large quarterly loss as marketing and subscriber retention costs rose sharply, offsetting a 49 percent rise in new subscribers.


Update 6: Tentative Deal Reached in Casino Strike

Thousands of striking casino-hotel workers reached a tentative contract agreement that signals an end to a bitter, month-old walkout - the longest in Atlantic City casino history.


Bagle Headlines October Viruses

The latest Bagle variant was the most notable new virus in October, although the month was relatively quiet overall. Although it only emerged at the end of the month, the variant still proved pervasive enough


Hewitt holds off French talent Monfils in Paris

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt held off a strong fightback by French sensation Gael Monfils to move into the third round of the Paris Masters Series indoor tournament on Tuesday.


Captors set deadline for relief worker

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - The captors of relief worker Margaret Hassan threatened to hand her over to a group that beheaded several hostages if British troops don #39;t leave Iraq, Al-Jazeera said Tuesday.


No Sorry from the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II stopped short of apologizing for the Allies #39; bombing of Dresden during her first state visit to Germany in 12 years and instead acknowledged  quot;the appalling suffering of war on both sides.


Spansion Makes Splash in Flash

AMD (Quote, Chart) and Fujitsu have embarked on a new line of advanced Flash memory to address an explosion of consumer electronics products, the companies said Tuesday.


Roddick defends  #39;injured #39; stars

FORMER world No.1 Andy Roddick today leapt to the defence of Paris Masters no-shows Roger Federer and Andre Agassi. Officials are furious with Agassi #39;s last minute withdrawal, arguing that the lucrative nine


CanWest Global earns \$62M for Q4, compared with \$45M loss last <b>...</b>

WINNIPEG (CP) - Special gains from the sale of international assets helped CanWest Global Communications Corp. post a solid profit in the fourth quarter, reversing a big loss last year.


Intel Intros  #39;Extreme Edition #39; P4 Chip

Gartner analyst Martin Reynolds said Intel, as the market leader, needs to keep  quot;moving people down the path quot; of new technologies.


Stolen papers linked to drug saga

Documents stolen from the Equestrian Federation of Ireland were linked to the ongoing doping scandal surrounding an Olympic gold medal winning horse.


Halladay, Delgado top rankings

It may not have shown in the standings, but it showed up in the stats. The last-place Blue Jays had the top-ranked pitcher and position player in the Major Leagues last season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.


EU: Israel Must Know There is No Power Vacuum in Palestinian <b>...</b>

The European Union said Tuesday the Palestinian government remained fully in power, though President Yasser Arafat lies in a Paris hospital suffering from a serious, but undisclosed illness.


Queen to host German gala to rebuild war-bombed church

BERLIN - Britain #39;s Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday began a three-day state visit to Germany highlighted by moves to forge deeper reconciliation over the World War II Anglo-American firebombing of Dresden in 1945.


Canada renews plan to decriminalise pot possession

OTTAWA: The Canadian government signalled its intention on Monday to re-introduce legislation to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of marijuana.


Update 2: Immucor CEO to Step Aside During Probe

Immucor Inc. said president and chief executive are under criminal investigation in Italy for alleged improper payments to a doctor, the maker of blood-testing equipment said Tuesday.


Update 2: Marsh Seeks Incentive Fees for Settlement

Marsh  amp; McLennan Companies Inc., the insurance brokerage giant, is looking to collect about \$230 million in incentive fees at the heart of a bid-rigging probe by New York authorities as a way to help fund a possible settlement over the questioned fees.


Qualcomm #39;s Field Of Streams

NEW YORK - If you build it, they will come... or so Qualcomm hopes. The wireless chip and technology vendor is betting that if it constructs a nationwide network to stream television over cell phones, cellular


Hewitt beats French teen Monfils to reach third round at Paris <b>...</b>

Second-seeded Lleyton Hewitt defeated French teenager Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-6 (3) at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, then heaped praise on the former junior champion.


Jaguars quarterback out indefinitely

Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich is out indefinitely after spraining his lateral collateral ligament in his left knee in Sunday #39;s 20-6 loss to Houston.


Parker signs long-term deal with Spurs

Before last season, the San Antonio Spurs wanted to push Tony Parker aside to make room for Jason Kidd at point guard. This week the Spurs made a big commitment to the 22-year-old Frenchman: a six-year contract extension reportedly worth \$66 million.


Toyota cruising for car maker #39;s crown

Toyota Motor Corporation said it was on track to expand global sales by more than 2per cent in the next two years, after shrugging off a 1.5per cent drop in quarterly profit.


Update 2: Insurers Suffer Record Catastrophe Losses

The property insurance industry sustained record third-quarter losses this year after a series of storms, including a string of hurricanes, according to an actuarial firm #39;s preliminary estimate.


Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal ships

Insomniac #39;s cheeky action sequel features online play, 2D side scrolling mini-games, and of course, more weapons. Sony today announced that Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal has shipped to retail outlets nationwide.