Pedestrian Ban Reversed

A Prince George's County appeals board has voted to overturn a ban on pedestrians on the streets and sidewalks around FedEx Field.


Microsoft battles piracy with free software

Company lays out booty for nonpirates who prove their Windows software is the real thing.


Europe gets iTunes, Canada is next

Along with the launch of 2 new iPods in iPod U2 Special Edition and iPod Photo, Apple also launched their flagship digital music store iTunes in European countries.


#39;Hobbit #39; joins human family

Australian scientists have found a new species of hobbit-sized humans who lived about 18,000 years ago on an Indonesian island. The discovery adds another piece to the complex puzzle of human evolution.


Skygazers, baseball fans watch for lunar eclipse

If skies are clear, people can expect to see the full moon turn a deep reddish colour as the Earth #39;s shadow falls over the face of the moon, astronomers say.


Yahoo search goes mobile

OCTOBER 27, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Yahoo Inc. for the first time is letting mobile phone users query its search engine, giving them access to conventional Web results, local business listings and related


Sender ID, round two

Microsoft #39;s earlier attempts at a specification for Sender ID, the technology which is used for verifying the authenticity of e-mail with Internet Protocol records


EMC Takes Storage Router for a Spin

Here #39;s the skinny: The EMC Storage Router made its debut at Storage Network World here this week, but only in ballroom demonstrations (see EMC on Virtualization: Wait for Us).


Celtic suffers its first loss of the season against Aberdeen

Scottish champion Celtic suffered its first loss this season, with an injury time goal from John Stewart securing a 3-2 for Aberdeen at Parkhead.


police department suspends use of pepper pellet gun

At least one big-city police department has suspended use of pepper-spray pellet guns blamed for the death of a 21-year-old college student


Doctors Visit Arafat As His Health Worsens

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat attends a PLO executive committee meeting at his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, in this Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004 file photo.


Hosted SAP service targets midmarket

SAP is rolling out a hosted service it hopes will appeal to midsize customers that can rent the software for as little as \$325 per user per month while avoiding the complexity of in-house installations.


E-vote vendors to submit software for safekeeping, possible recounts

Five voting machine makers have agreed for the first time to submit their software to the National Software Reference Library for safekeeping, federal officials said


Java integration spec pushed

Many vendors join the effort, but IBM and BEA Systems choose not to participate, leading to harsh words from Sun executive.


Brazil Raids Kroll Offices in Spy Probe

Police raided the Brazilian offices of international security consultant Kroll Inc. and other businesses Wednesday as part of their investigation into allegations of illegal spying by Kroll during the company's probe of a nasty corporate dispute, the company said.


Nortel again delays earnings restatements

Nortel Networks has again delayed posting its long-awaited restated financial results, moving its target release date to mid-November.


EDS offers early retirement to 9,200 U.S. staffers

Electronic Data Systems has offered voluntary early retirement options to about 17, of its U.S. employees and will take a pretax charge of about \$150 million in the fourth quarter as a result of the move.


Dell, Novell expand partnership to push Linux

Dell and Novell today announced plans to offer Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 on Dell's single- and dual-processor PowerEdge servers worldwide.


Storage Networking World: ILM a business matter

Users at Storage Networking World are developing information life-cycle management schemes within their storage networks to more efficiently and cost-effectively store data according to business policies.


Red Hat sees half of sales outside U.S. within a year

Demand for the Linux OS is gathering steam as it becomes more popular outside its core market of computer enthusiasts, helped in part by interest in open-source software from European governments.


Israel, Egypt Swap Prisoners in Sign of Warmer Ties (Reuters)

Reuters - Egypt sent a convicted Israeli spy\home after eight years in jail and Israel released six Egyptian\infiltrators Sunday in the clearest sign of a warming of\relations strained by a Palestinian uprising.


Q A: Dell's Kevin Rollins on EMC ties, storage standards

At Storage Networking World yesterday, Dell President and CEO Kevin Rollins talked about his company's relationship with EMC and the development of standards to help users manage complex storage-area networks.


Google buys digital mapping company

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


DreamWorks Animation Raises \$812 Million in IPO (Update1)

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the creator of the Shrek #39; #39; and Shark Tale #39; #39; animated films, raised \$812 million in an initial public offering to pay debt and to fund more movie making.


NZ #39;s Sixth Rate Increase in 2004 Probably the Last (Update2)

New Zealand central bank Governor Alan Bollard raised the benchmark interest rate to a four-year high and said the sixth increase in 2004 may be the last as the economy slows and the local currency surges.


The Red Sox-Cardinals Legacy

Description: A look at the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, past and present. The Red Sox and this evening and same date on the last day in the season players on a nice day between a Polish champagne.


Arafat #39;s Health Has Worsened

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Yassir Arafat #39;s failing health is the number one topic in the Mideast today, and sources say his is getting worse.


Iran threatens to boycott nuclear talks

Iran #39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened to boycott nuclear negotiations if European states press Tehran to totally suspend the process of uranium enrichment, as a new round of talks ended Wednesday without reaching an agreement.


Defense sales boost Boeing profit 78

-ebounding from an ethics scandal that torpedoed a \$22 billion deal to lease new refueling tankers to the Air Force, Boeing (BA) on Wednesday reported a 78 jump


JC Penney Taps Former Macy #39;s, LVMH Head

PLANO, Texas - JC Penney Co. Inc. named a former chairman and chief executive of both Macy #39;s and luxury retailer LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, to lead the department store company, replacing Allen Questrom.


JDS Uniphase loss widens, views below Street

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Dow Jones/AP) -- JDS Uniphase Corp., a leading maker of fiber-optic gear, posted a wider loss for its latest quarter despite an increase in revenue and provided a forecast below analysts #39; expectations.


DreamWorks Animation IPO Prices Above Estimates

The initial public offering of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. raised a more than expected \$812 million on Wednesday after the shares of the film producer priced well above expectations.


Torstar 3rd-Qtr Net Falls on Buyout Costs, Harlequin (Update2)

Torstar Corp., which publishes Canada #39;s biggest daily newspaper, said third-quarter profit fell 62 percent because of declining sales at its book-publishing unit and costs for employee buyouts at the Toronto Star.


Nortel delays third-quarter earnings announcement

MANHASSET, NY - Nortel Networks Corp. announced Wednesday (Oct. 27) that it will postpone releasing its third-quarter 2004 earnings until December, as the network infrastructure company continues to work


Daley Gets Top Marks From Council For Skyway Deal

- CHICAGO -- Chicago aldermen have unanimously endorsed the Chicago Skyway plan which gives the city 1.8-billion dollars while a private company gets to run it and collect the tolls for 99 years.


Eclipse will bring a Halloween glow to the moon

Indianapolis, Oct. 27 - A mere four days from Halloween, you can #39;t beat the sight of a full moon lighting up the night sky. Nothing except a full moon bathed in orange, almost like a pumpkin.


Sony #39;s New PSP To Hit Japan in December

Equipped with a wireless LAN feature, the Sony PSP enables users to connect to the Internet through access points, making it possible for them to download game characters and content and also to play games online with families, friends and online


#39;GTA #39; Expected To Drive Holiday Sales

The holiday gaming season officially opened Tuesday with the release of  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. quot; The third in the immensely popular line of video games is expected by analysts to sell


Microsoft battles piracy with free software

As part of its growing effort to thwart piracy, Microsoft is offering free photo slideshow software to customers who verify that they have a genuine copy of Windows.


O #39;Neill - dealt double blow. (Getty Images)

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood admitted he had initially been angered by the four extra minutes which allowed his team a shock 3-2 win at Celtic.


Wenger signs again

English champion Arsenal has been boosted by the news that manager Arsene Wenger has signed on until the end of the 2007-2008 season.


Palmeiro signs one-year contract with Orioles

Rafael Palmeiro didn #39;t want his homecoming with the Baltimore Orioles to end after just one season, so he took a pay cut and accepted a one-year, \$3 million contract Wednesday.


Ft Chelsea 1 West Ham 0

Chelsea were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when Tomas Repka clearly brought down Robben despite the heated protests from the disgruntled West Ham players.


Bonds #39; 700th home run ball fetches 800 grand but legal battle <b>...</b>

The man who emerged from a pile of baseball fans clutching Barry Bonds #39; 700th home run ball last month is now richer by \$804,129.


Ann Heisenfelt, AP

His coaches, his players, his mother, his wife, Daunte Culpepper can #39;t thank them enough for their efforts in this world. Then there #39;s the small matter of help from beyond.


Japan looks for int #39;l help to free Japanese hostage

TOKYO - Japan sought international help Wednesday to secure the release of a Japanese man taken hostage in Iraq and pledged to do its utmost to gain his freedom after refusing to bow to the kidnappers #39; threat to behead him unless Japan withdraws its


Conference Board reports lower confidence in October

Optimism in Hawaii remains high while employment woes nationwide have driven consumer confidence to lower levels. US consumer confidence dropped to lower levels in October for the third consecutive month, according


Fed Reports Continuing Economic Growth

The US economy continued to grow in the early fall despite being buffeted by rising energy costs and hurricanes, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday, providing its last snapshot of business conditions before Election Day.


Update 2: JC Penney Taps Former Macy #39;s, LVMH Head

JC Penney Co. Inc. named a former chairman and chief executive of both Macy #39;s and luxury retailer LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, to lead the department store company, replacing Allen Questrom.


Hollinger deal with Conrad Black

Hollinger International has reached a deal with its ousted chairman, Conrad Black, that would allow the media tycoon to share in the proceeds of the \$1.


DreamWorks Animation IPO Raises \$812 Mln

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - DreamWorks Animation SKG  Inc.'s initial public offering raised a more-than-expected \$812  million on Wednesday in a deal that marked the first IPO by a  major movie studio in seven years.


DreamWorks Animation IPO Raises  #36;812 Mln (Reuters)

Reuters - DreamWorks Animation SKG\Inc.'s initial public offering raised a more-than-expected  #36;812\million on Wednesday in a deal that marked the first IPO by a\major movie studio in seven years.


Favres Fight Year of Hardships (AP)

AP - More than ever, Brett Favre needs football as his escape. His wife, Deanna, is fighting breast cancer, the latest bad news for the star quarterback's family, which has dealt with two deaths in 11 months.


Phillies Consider John Russell for Manager (AP)

AP - John Russell might be perceived as a long shot among Philadelphia Phillies managerial candidates.


Arafat 'Very Sick,' Palestinian Leaders Summoned

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian President  Yasser Arafat's health has worsened sharply and he is slipping  in and out of consciousness at his besieged West Bank  headquarters, officials and medics said Thursday.


Watchdogs: Broadband policy a bust

Consumer advocate organizations say U.S is trailing in broadband and that inequality is increasing.


Bush campaign cuts website off from foreign access for "security reasons" (AFP)

AFP - President George W. Bush's reelection campaign said it had cut its website off from access from certain foreign countries  quot;for security reasons, quot; but declined to elaborate.


Afghanistan set to regain "land bridge" role for Asia: US (AFP)

AFP - Afghanistan is set to reestablish its role as a  quot;land bridge quot; linking much of Asia and drive growth in the four trillion dollar broader regional market, a top US official said.


Earthquake Hits Romania, No Reports of Casualties

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - An earthquake hit Romania on  Wednesday night, shaking buildings in the capital Bucharest but  apparently causing little damage, Reuters witnesses said.


Ask Jeeves Third Quarter Profit Up, But Stock Falls (Reuters)

Reuters - Ask Jeeves Inc.  posted a\higher third-quarter profit as Web-search advertising continued\to fuel revenue growth.


Americans a Bit Taller, Much Heavier, Report Says (Reuters)

Reuters - Americans are getting taller on\average but they are much heavier too, according to government\figures released on Wednesday showing that the U.S. population\is, literally, growing.


MySQL calls open source database enterprise-ready

MySQL on Wednesday announced general availability of Version 4.1 of its MySQL open source database, which the company is positioning as production-ready for large-scale enterprise usage.


Phoenix exercises option on Amare Stoudemire (AFP)

AFP - Amare Stoudemire, who will make 2.32 million dollars this season, had his fourth-year option picked up on his contract, the Phoenix Suns announced.


Marsh ex-CEO exercises stock options

WASHINGTON -- Jeffrey W. Greenberg, who resigned this week as chairman and chief executive of Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. Inc., amid a regulatory inquiry into its policies, exercised options to obtain 540,000 shares


New Zealand interest rates lifted for sixth time this year

WELLINGTON : New Zealand #39;s central Reserve Bank lifted interest rates for the sixth time this year. Governor Alan Bollard said in a statement the cash rate had been raised to 6.50 percent from 6.25 percent.


Bush website inaccessible from Australia

United States President George W Bush #39;s campaign website is inaccessible from outside the United States, blocking access for Americans living in Australia.


Moon to disappear Wednesday night - temporarily

Astronomers say the Moon might look like a pumpkin Wednesday night before it completely disappears in the Earths shadow in the last total lunar eclipse until March 2007.


Yahoo Search Goes Mobile

Yahoo for the first time is letting mobile phone users query its search engine, giving them access to conventional Web results, local business listings and related information, as well as images such as pictures and maps, the company says.


SGI Takes Off With NASA Supercomputer

Forget the Earth Simulator and IBM #39;s Blue Gene/L, Silicon Graphics (SGI) (Quote, Chart) is laying claim to the fastest supercomputer in the world.


Vikings #39; Moss practices despite hamstring injury

Eden Prairie, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss practiced on Wednesday despite nursing a strained right hamstring and is listed as questionable for this Sunday #39;s game against the New York Giants.


RB McGahee earns Bills starting job

Willis McGahee will start at running back Sunday for the Buffalo Bills in hopes of igniting a sputtering offense.  quot;He #39;s made some more yards after first contact, quot; coach Mike Mularkey said in announcing that


Bremen come from behind to stun Stuttgart

Stuttgart, Germany (Sports Network) - Werder Bremen scored twice in the last 12 minutes as the defending Bundesliga champions beat Stuttgart in a physical match, 2-1.


Japan hostage faces execution

TOKYO - Japan insisted yesterday it would not bow to the demands of militants in Iraq who threatened to behead a young Japanese unless Tokyo pulls its troops from the country within 48 hours.


Google Plans To Acquire Keyhole

Search giant Google Inc. on Wednesday said it has acquired Keyhole Corp., a digital-mapping company that shows satellite pictures from around the world.


Stocks Rally on Oil, Economic News

With oil prices dropping, stocks rallied to their second consecutive day of sizeable gains today, with the Dow again rising by triple-digits and the Nasdaq turning in the day #39;s best overall performance.


Weaned on Video Games

Video gamers are getting younger and younger. And parents and the video game industry agree that the implications are likely to be enormous.


Wednesday Night Features Full Lunar Eclipse

Just in time for Halloween, the moon will look more like a pumpkin than green cheese during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night.


Preminet: Nokias Mobile Content Move

Courtesy of Nokia, mobile content distribution and transaction will reside in a one-stop-shop, making life easier for mobile networks and perhaps more interesting for the owners of some 350 million Java-enabled handsets (at last count.


Plugging Into the Net, Through the Humble Wall Outlet

An emerging technology known as broadband over power lines may soon provide a new channel for high-speed data into homes through ordinary electrical outlets.


Red Sox retrospective

The last time the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, Woodrow Wilson was president, suffragettes were demanding that women get to vote and doughboys were  quot;over there, quot; fighting a war in France that wasn #39;t called World War I because


O #39;s ink Palmeiro to one-year deal

The Orioles made quick work of what was expected to be one of their most difficult offseason decisions, re-signing Rafael Palmeiro to a one-year deal Wednesday and practically


Moss goes through Vikings morning walkthrough

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice says his star receiver is looking better this week after being limited last week by a strained hamstring.


McGahee earns Bills starting job

ORCHARD PARK, NY Willis McGahee (muh-GAY #39;-hee) will start at running back Sunday for the Buffalo Bills in hopes of igniting a sputtering offense.


When the Big-Game Ticket Is Just a Big Fake

New technology and a faceless distribution network over the Internet are contributing to a rising number of counterfeit tickets to sports events and concerts.


The IPod's New Trick: Photo Show

The iPod Photo looks and feels exactly like the existing iPod -- except it can display your photos on a bright screen. Should you buy it?


Sharon savours victory for Gaza pullout

JERUSALEM: Israeli PM Ariel Sharon was savouring a dramatic victory for his Gaza pullout plan on Wednesday after MPs gave the green light to the first ever evacuation of occupied Palestinian territory.


Scampering to the Height of Fashion

On the Web, a parallel universe of tiny, adorable accessories for tiny, adorable dogs.


MySQL calls open source database enterprise-ready (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - MySQL on Wednesday announced general availability of Version 4.1 of its MySQL open source database, which the company is positioning as production-ready for large-scale enterprise usage.


Mets Interview Riggleman for Managing Job

Jim Riggleman, the Dodgers' bench coach, was the Chicago Cubs' manager for five seasons before being fired in 1999.


Haitians Say Police Killed 13 in Pro-Aristide Slum

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Residents of a  Port-au-Prince slum accused Haitian police on Wednesday of  executing 13 people believed to be supporters of ousted  President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.


Boeing profit up 78 percent in quarter, upbeat on 2005

CHICAGO : Aerospace giant Boeing reported a 78 percent increase in third-quarter profit on Wednesday and gave an upbeat forecast for the rest of 2004 and into 2005.


OPEC President Urges US To Tap Oil Reserves

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries President Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he has requested that the US use more of its oil reserves to calm the markets.


Summary: Wall Street #39;s Major Indexes

The Dow Jones industrial average posted its second straight triple-digit gain Wednesday, as a government oil inventory report sent crude futures tumbling.


Foreigners Blocked From Bush Site

LONDON -- President Bush #39;s official campaign website has blocked access to foreign surfers since Monday, an internet monitoring company said Wednesday.


Ballmer: Windows TCO the way to go

In the face of growing competition from Linux, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered a four-page memo to customers on Wednesday outlining the economic and security advantages Windows has over Linux, the potential dangers of open source involving


Intel Launches Storage Processor

Intel also unveiled a key optical design win with Emulex Corporation and a new compiler for storage applications. Intel introduced the 64 bit-capable Low Voltage Intel Xeon Processor 2.8 GHz with 800


Calderwood #39;s added time quandary

Jimmy Calderwood admitted he had been angry the referee added on four minutes with Aberdeen holding Celtic to a draw, only for the Dons to grab a late goal.


Bills look to McGahee for a spark

Willis McGahee has emerged as the Buffalo Bills starting running back based on his ability to provide more of a spark to a sputtering offence.


Safin gets free ride

TOP-seeded Marat Safin advanced to the second round of the St Petersburg Open today when Austrian Alexander Peya retired with an injured ankle.


BREMEN FOIL STUTTGART RISE

Ten-man Bremen came from behind to inflict Stuttgart #39;s second successive defeat with a win at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium on Wednesday evening.


REGION: EU and Iran fail to reach nuclear deal

VIENNA: France, Britain and Germany failed to reach a deal with Iran on Wednesday under which Tehran would scrap its uranium enrichment programme in exchange for nuclear power technology, but the two sides agreed to meet again.


British troops start perilous Iraq mission

BAGHDAD: Hundreds of British soldiers left southern Iraq on a risky mission closer to Baghdad on Wednesday to free up US forces for a possible assault on rebel-held Fallujah, as Tokyo stood firm after militants threatened to behead a Japanese hostage.


Out with the old at EDS

Electronic Data Systems' early-retirement plan aims to save hundreds of millions of dollars, but saying goodbye to veteran employees could be hard on the firm.


Powerful blast rocks Bordeaux city hall (AFP)

AFP - The city hall of the southwestern French city of Bordeaux was damaged by a powerful explosion overnight, witnesses saw.


Day from Hell May Have Killed Off Dinosaurs (Reuters)

Reuters - One minute you're a big\T-Rex, the next you're toast.


DreamWorks Animation IPO Raises \$812 Mln

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. #39;s initial public offering raised a more-than-expected \$812 million on Wednesday in a deal that marked the


Cassini Takes A Close Look At Saturns Moon Titan

Saturn #39;s mysterious moon Titan held onto its secrets despite a close reconnaissance by the Cassini spacecraft #39;s cameras and instruments.


Bush campaign site blocks traffic from abroad

The folks in charge of the United States president #39;s re-election campaign seem to have forgotten that the first two letters of WWW stand for  quot;world wide.


1572 AD Explosion Supports Supernova Theory

Hubble Space Telescope -- An international team of astronomers is announcing today that they have identified the probable surviving companion star to a titanic supernova explosion witnessed in the year 1572 by the great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and


Celtic are rocked by Stewart

Temerity is suddenly in fashion in the Scottish Premier League. Dundee United forced a draw with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday and last night Aberdeen.


Tennis quote provides food for thought...

If Roger Federer or Andy Roddick were credited with the above quote, to win all the four Grand Slam titles in 2005, I would have, perhaps, not written this column.


Prediction: Georgia Tech 23, Virginia Tech 20

GAME NOTES: The ACC #39;s two Tech schools meet up in Atlanta this weekend, as the 22nd-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies come calling on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a Thursday evening clash from Bobby Dodd Stadium.


Patience pays off for Kezman

Chelsea moved into the fourth round of the Carling Cup thanks to Mateja Kezman #39;s first goal for the club. But there were unpleasant scenes towards the end of this closely fought contest when the


Real-life rescue played out on TV

IN A drama played out live on Japanese television, a two-year-old boy was rescued from beneath huge boulders yesterday, four days after a deadly earthquake triggered a landslide that buried the car carrying him and his family.


UK report says Linux is 'viable'

A UK government study finds the open-source Linux operating system is a  "viable" alternative to rival products.


PayPal Makes Amends for Recent Outage (AP)

AP - Online payment service PayPal said it will essentially waive transaction fees for some customers on Thursday to make amends for the inconvenience caused by about five days of intermittent service outages earlier this month.


PDA Sales Continue to Drop (PC World)

PC World - Consumers are giving PDAs the hand as they move toward smart phones.


Earthquake Shakes Romania; No Injuries (AP)

AP - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 shook Romania late Wednesday, Romania's Earth Physics Institute said. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.


Saturn #39;s moon Titan holds mysteries despite close Cassini flyby

PASADENA, Calif. Scientists don #39;t know what to make of new close-up images of Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan. Pictures taken by the European-US Cassini spacecraft show distinct dark and bright areas -- but scientists


Jobs unveils Apple #39;s Photo iPod

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


Look to the sky tonight for eclipse

If you still don #39;t believe the Earth is round, check out tonight #39;s lunar eclipse: It was enough to convince the ancient Greeks.


Hain hit with eggs in hunt demo

Commons leader Peter Hain is pelted with eggs and his aide punched during a pro-hunt demonstration in Oxford.


Cingular keeps BBDO Atlanta

In a vote of confidence for BBDO Atlanta, the now-largest cell phone company Cingular Wireless will keep its business with the Atlanta advertising agency.


Two Wireless Broadband Standards Get A Boost

The battle lines between two leading wireless broadband technologies were drawn more clearly this week as the major proponents of each approach announced that a large hardware company had joined their camp.


SanDisk Intros New Memory Sticks and SD Cards with World #39;s Largest <b>...</b>

The 4GB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO will cost \$799.99, while 2GB SanDisk SD Card will be \$199.99. They will be available in November.


African Union to finalize security protocol on Darfur crisis

The African Union (AU) said Wednesday at the end of the third day of peace talks on Sudan #39;s Darfur in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, that it would finalize a protocol on security


Fall in oil price provides welcome boost for Wall Street

Investors have grown increasingly anxious about how soaring energy costs might dent consumer spending ahead of the what is widely expected to be a chillier than normal winter.


Developments concerning Iraq

Britain begins redeploying some 800 troops toward the restive area south of Baghdad area in a move aimed at freeing up US forces for an assault on insurgent areas north and west of the capital.


Trapped toddler freed four days after Japanese quake

TOKYO - After five days of disaster and death, Japan was given some reason to cheer yesterday when a toddler who had been trapped alive in a car for four days was miraculously pulled to safety.


Red Sox Go for World Series Sweep Tonight

There's no other outcome now: The Red Sox will either win the World Series or add another historic collapse to their legend.


Mississippi State Penalized for Football Violations

STARKVILLE, Mississippi (Sports Network) - The NCAA  Wednesday placed Mississippi State on probation for four years  because of football recruiting violations.


Mondavi Posts Loss After Restructuring

The Robert Mondavi Corp. swung to a loss in its latest quarter as the wine maker recorded restructuring and sales charges. The Napa-based company on Wednesday reported a net loss of \$57.


Market spurts ahead after RB brings tightening to end

The sharemarket spurted ahead nearly 1 per cent in early business despite the Reserve Bank (RB) today raising interest rates for the sixth time this year.


PDA Sales Continue to Drop

If a handheld device doesn #39;t have voice capabilities, a growing number of users around the world aren #39;t interested, according to IDC.


Cassini probe reveals detailed images of Saturn #39;s largest moon

Scientists cheered yesterday as the first detailed images emerged of Titan - the largest moon of Saturn - though they are still unsure whether its surface is liquid or solid.


Arsene Wenger  the Arsenal years

1998: Wins Premiership with club-record 10 consecutive League wins. Arsenal equal Manchester United #39;s record of two Doubles when they beat Newcastle in the FA Cup final.


IOC warns against venue delays

Beijing should not wait too long to complete venues for the 2008 Olympics, a top official from the International Olympic Committee said in the capital yesterday.


Palmeiro, Orioles reach terms

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Baltimore Orioles reached terms Wednesday with first baseman Rafael Palmeiro on a one-year, \$3-million US contract.


Arafat Collapses As His Health Worsens (AP)

AP - Yasser Arafat collapsed Wednesday night, was unconscious for about 10 minutes and remained in a "very difficult situation," Palestinian officials said. A team of Jordanian doctors was urgently summoned to treat the ailing Palestinian leader.


Martin shuts down nomination battles to avoid repeat of bitter Liberal fights (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - An experiment in Liberal party democracy that degenerated into vicious internal battles has now been cancelled, Prime Minister Paul Martin told his troops Wednesday.


Scientists Find Prehistoric Dwarf Skeleton (AP)

AP - In an astonishing discovery that could rewrite the history of human evolution, scientists say they have found the skeleton of a new human species, a dwarf, marooned for eons in a tropical Lost World while modern man rapidly colonized the rest of the planet.


In Last-Minute Deal With Union, Delta May Avoid Bankruptcy

Delta Air Lines' pilots union said late Wednesday it had reached a tentative agreement on concessions that could save the struggling carrier from bankruptcy.


Pitcairn

By now, most people will have heard of the rather sordid tale of the Pitcairn Islands. For those who haven't, it is a tale of sex, scandals, infamy, mutineers, fights for survival and all sorts of other stuff that tabloid newspapers love.


Sony PSP to cost surprising 20,790 yen, hit shelves Dec. 12

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said Wednesday it will release its PlayStation Portable game console in Japan on Dec. 12 at a price of 20,790 yen, surprising many who had expected it to cost far more.


Doctors and wife rush to side of  #39;unconscious #39; Arafat

YASSIR ARAFAT last night collapsed after his health deteriorated dramatically and he remained in a very difficult situation, Palestinian officials said.


Vietnam official on rape charge

An ex-deputy minister in Vietnam is tried with allegedly raping a young girl to change his bad luck.


US voters 'going online for news'

More than 40 of wired Americans have used the net for information about the US election, a study finds.


Growth continues despite oil price hike

The survey of business activity around the country, compiled from reports submitted by the Fed #39;s 12 regional banks, depicted an economy that was moving ahead with even the hard-hit manufacturing sector beginning to regain its footing after a prolonged


Fed Reports Continuing Economic Growth (AP)

AP - The U.S. economy continued to grow in the early fall despite being buffeted by rising energy costs and hurricanes, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday, providing its last snapshot of business conditions before Election Day.


10-Men Bremen Stun Stuttgart

Champions Werder Bremen hauled their title defence back on the rails with a superb 2-1 win at second-placed VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday night.


Pull charity out of Iraq, pleads Hassan in new video

The kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan appeared in a new videotaped message last night, calling on Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq.


Cashman Admits Pulling for Sox

The Boston Red Sox have an unlikely fan in this World Series: Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman.


Cdn Islamic Congress rejects president's offer to resign; police launch probe (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The Canadian Islamic Congress has refused to accept the resignation of its embattled president even as a police hate crimes unit investigates controversial comments he made on television.


Asthma risk set during pregnancy

The chances of a child developing asthma or other allergies may largely be fixed by the time they are born, research suggests.


GAME DAY RECAP Wednesday, October 27

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics used balanced scoring to end their preseason on a high note. Jiri Welsch scored 16 points and Tom Gugliotta and Ricky Davis added 12 apiece as the Celtics snapped a six


Group vows revenge in Thailand

A militant group in Thailand has threatened to attack the capital of Bangkok to avenge the deaths of some 80 Muslims in the country #39;s southern region.


Tomlinson Expects to Play Against Raiders (AP)

AP - LaDainian Tomlinson missed practice Wednesday and will probably sit out Thursday because of a strained groin, but the San Diego Chargers running back expects to play against the Oakland Raiders.


Boston's Epstein on Verge of First Title (AP)

AP - In the tumult of the visitors' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, champagne pouring all around him, Theo Epstein held a beer.


Burns Making Progress in Cancer Fight (AP)

AP - New Jersey Devils coach Pat Burns says he's making good progress in his fight against colon cancer after finishing chemotherapy treatments this week.


Cassini Unveils Pictures of Saturn's Moon (AP)

AP - The international Cassini spacecraft began unveiling Saturn's mysterious sidekick Titan with a stream of increasingly sharp pictures of the surface taken during a flyby within 745 miles of the hazy moon.


News.com Extra: Experts warn of Net flu vaccine scam

Also: Nintendo threatens Suicidegirls over IP use.


Nikkei Up Despite Weak Output Data

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei share average rose 1.36  percent by mid-morning trade on Thursday, as the market took  weak output data in its stride and buyers flocked to recently  battered stocks after a steep fall in oil prices boosted U.S.  shares.


Mideast upheaval may be welcome

Ariel Sharon #39;s right-wing nationalist coalition in Israel is imploding and Fatah, the core Palestinian nationalist group, is in turmoil now that Marwan Barghouti, the young West Bank leader, is to campaign to succeed the late Yassir Arafat from an Israeli


Google Buys Digital Mapping Company (AP)

AP - Google Inc. has bought digital map maker Keyhole Corp., extending the search engine leader's bid to fend off rivals with a toolbox that can catalog almost anything in the world.


Soldiers rush supplies to storm-hit Filipinos

Philippine soldiers have rushed food, drinking water and other supplies by foot and helicopters to provinces cut off by four storms in two weeks that have left more than 1,300 people dead or missing.


Defence firms cash in on war on terror

The increased spending on the military helped drive a sharp increase in profits at plane-maker Boeing and defence contractor Northrop Grumman during the third quarter.


DreamWorks Expected To Get Big Reception on Wall Street

It #39;s shaping up to be an ogre-sized Wall Street debut for the shares of the company that made the animated hits  quot;Shrek quot; and  quot;Shark Tale.


US approval for kidney dialysis drug offers timely relief for <b>...</b>

The regulatory approval was also a boost for the embattled drugs sector. It was feared that, following a series of safety crises, the US Food and Drug Administration would get tougher on new drugs.


Hollinger offers Black \$100m deal

Hollinger International has extended an olive branch to former chief executive Lord Black by offering him a share in the proceeds of the 665m sale of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.


Delta, Pilots Reach Tentative Agreement on Wage Cuts (Update1)

Delta Air Lines Inc., the third-largest US carrier, reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union on pay reductions, according to a statement by the union.


Digital Assistants Continue to Lose Ground (AP)

AP - Shipments of personal digital assistants declined for the third consecutive quarter as large vendors continued ceding the depressed market to smaller electronics makers, the research firm IDC said Wednesday.


UA researchers work on Cassini project

The University of Arizona in Tucson has a dozen faculty members and scores of graduate students who have spent hundreds of thousands of hours working on Cassini-related projects.


Sony aims low with new console

After months of speculation, Sony had good news for gamers yesterday when it revealed that its new handheld game console will go on sale for 19,800 yen (100), cheaper than many analysts predicted.


Ontario Warns Against Grand Theft Auto Game

Ontario has not rated the game, but it is warning parents about the video game  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. #39; #39;. In it, players rub elbows with drug dealers and gang members as they steal cars, beat up thugs, and solicit prostitutes.


Review: a Flat Panel That's Also Deep (AP)

AP - Three-dimensional movies at home, without the silly glasses, have been a science-fiction dream for at least as long as Dick Tracy's wristwatch cell phone and the household robot.


PM backs curfews, booze bans

PRIME Minister John Howard has backed curfews and alcohol bans for Aboriginal communities where leaders want to put them in place.


Palestinian officials rush to bedside of ailing Arafat

The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, was in a serious condition last night after a sharp deterioration in his health, Palestinian officials said.


Unilever admits to weak results as sales fall

Unilever, the consumer goods group, revealed yesterday that its sales dropped 4 in the past three months, a performance it called  quot;unacceptably weak quot;.


Investor tries to block Abbey deal

Abbey National faces a high court challenge to its 9bn takeover by Banco Santander Central Hispano because of concerns about criminal charges faced by executives of the Spanish bank.


Google Grabs 3-D Mapping Startup

Google Inc. on Wednesday branched out into 3-D digital mapping with the acquisition of Keyhole Corp. In its second acquisition this year, Google has bought a startup company that connects consumers, businesses


Stellar Survivor From 1572 AD Explosion Supports Supernova Theory

An international team of astronomers is announcing today that they have identified the probable surviving companion star to a titanic supernova explosion witnessed in the year 1572 by the great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and other astronomers of that


Celtic hit by Dons in full spate

Resurgent Aberdeen, all of brave, magnificent and lucky, bludgeoned Celtic in their own back yard last night. This was a mesmerising match, distinguished by two impossibly early Aberdeen goals followed by


Union Challenges NFL Revenue Plan

Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the National Football League Players Association, told the league #39;s ownership and management council Wednesday that the eight


Palestinian Icon Yasser Arafat 'Very Sick'

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser  Arafat is "very, very sick" and the ex-guerrilla who for  decades symbolized a struggle for statehood is slipping in and  out of consciousness, officials and medics said on Thursday.


palmOne Enhances Treo Smartphone but Challenges Remain

On 25 October 2004, palmOne introduced its next-generation smartphone, the Treo 650, which combines a compact mobile phone with e-mail, an organizer, messaging and Web access.


Stargazers Enjoy Total Lunar Eclipse (AP)

AP - Astronomy buffs and amateur stargazers turned out to watch a total lunar eclipse Wednesday night  #151; the last one Earth will get for nearly two and a half years.


Magic Beats Heat in Preseason Finale (AP)

AP - Steve Francis scored 22 points, and the Orlando Magic rode an early double-figures lead to a 109-103 victory Wednesday night over the Miami Heat in the preseason finale for both.


Watson Declines Post

Former major league general manager Bob Watson on Wednesday turns down the chance to be general manager of the Expos.


New Running World

Marine Corps Marathon organizers have launched an unprecedented security effort in preparation for Sunday's 26.2-mile race.


Owens, Lewis Explain

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis insists he is done talking about Terrell Owens and the deal that almost brought the wideout to Baltimore.


Cost Estimate Jumps

The cost of building a stadium and renovating RFK Stadium could be \$91 million more than city officials initially estimated, according to an analysis released Wednesday.


Graham Lauds Mr. O'Brien

For soft-spoken trainer Robin Graham, calling the 5-year-old gelding Mr. O'Brien "great" in workouts for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile is downright effusive.


Beamer Sees Gains

A five-game stretch of ACC games, which begins Thursday against Georgia Tech, should show how much the young Hokies have grown since August.


Upshaw Wants Changes

NFLPA head Gene Upshaw informs team owners on Wednesday during league meetings that the players want a larger percentage of local revenue streams.


Marine Wives Rally

A group of Marine wives are running for the family of a Marine Corps officer who was killed in Iraq.


It's All in His Head

Much of place kicker Nick Novak's success throughout his career can be attributed to mental preparation.


A Lot on the Line

In the final full-field event of the season, several players are under pressure to finish well at the Chrysler Championship for a variety of reasons.


Suns Extend Stoudemire

Amare Stoudemire had his contract extended Wednesday by the Phoenix Suns who exercised their fourth-year option on the contract.


Ace in the Hole

General Manager Theo Epstein said the Red Sox want Pedro Martinez to return next season. Martinez is a free agent after the season.


Wall Street stocks rise on hopeful crude and economic reports

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (XinhuaNET) -- Wall Street stocks extended theirrally Wednesday as investors expressed relief over falling oil prices and a strong economic report.


NHL negotiators discuss non-labour issues

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Chief negotiators Bill Daly and Ted Saskin met Tuesday for two hours in New York. Unfortunately, the NHL work stoppage wasn #39;ta topic of conversation.


India fall flat as tourists seek a winning note

There was a fierce and fascinating contest played out here yesterday but only between two rival sets of Australia supporters, the internet-roused travelling fans from the Fanatics and Waving the Flag collectives, to see who could deafen the greater number


Arafat #39;s Health Reported to Have Turned Sharply Worse

Yasir Arafat #39;s uncertain health took a sharp turn for the worse on Wednesday night with an ambulance and medical teams summoned to his West Bank compound amid unconfirmed


Thailand urged to probe protesters #39; deaths

Despite an expression of regret to parliament, Thaksin rebuffed criticism of his attitude to human rights. volatile south bringing the total death toll after a protest outside a police station on Monday to 85.


Iran Pursues Uranium Enrichment And Nuclear Weapons

Hardline lawmakers, who control a majority in Iran #39;s parliament, introduced a bill which would force the government to resume uranium enrichment and halt snap UN inspections of nuclear facilities.


Statements by Powell About Taiwan Provoke a Diplomatic Dispute

Chinese officials praised Secretary of State Colin L. Powell on Wednesday for warning Taiwan that it is not an independent nation and should not seek to become one.


Russia Charges 3 Policemen with Negligence in Beslan Hostage <b>...</b>

Russian officials say three policemen have been charged with criminal negligence in connection with the deaths of more than 330 hostages seized by militants at a school in Beslan at the beginning of September.


Nikkei Rises as Oil Sags

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei share average rose 1.4 percent  by midsession on Thursday as investors took weak domestic  output data in their stride and flocked to recently battered  stocks, inspired by a steep fall in oil prices.


Mets Will Consider Leyland if He's Interested

Jim Leyland has indicated that he is interested in managing again. He just might not be interested in managing the Mets.


Sao Caetano Defender in Critical Condition (AP)

AP - Sao Caetano defender Serginho was taken to a hospital unconscious and in critical condition after collapsing during a Brazilian championship match Wednesday.


Delta Reaches Deal With Pilots, Averting Chapter 11 Filing

Delta reached a tentative agreement with its pilots' union Wednesday night on wage and benefit cuts, averting a threatened bankruptcy filing, at least for now.


Oil Prospecting Under Kremlin Watch

BP, the only Western concern that owns a controlling share in a major Russian oil company, is hoping to avoid any direct conflict with the Kremlin.


Finding the Future in an Old Industry

The \$17.8 billion, three-way deal that Lakshmi N. Mittal, a financier based in London, announced this week would put him at the head of the largest steel company in the world.


Paper peace doves fall over southern Thailand as violence <b>...</b>

PATTANI : Fifty aircraft scattered 120 million paper birds across southern Thailand on Sunday in a peace gesture marred by new killings in the troubled Muslim-majority region.


Report: Delta Reaches Deal with Pilots

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Airlines has reached a tentative  agreement with its pilots union on wage and benefit cuts aimed  at avoiding a bankruptcy filing, The Wall Street Journal said  in a report late Wednesday on its Web site.


Lowe Shutting Out Cardinals Through Six Innings

ST. LOUIS (Sports Network) - Derek Lowe has allowed just  two hits as Boston jumped on St. Louis early and still leads  3-0 after six innings in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series.


Australia #39;s WMC Resources Receives Bid From Xstrata -2-

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australia #39;s WMC Resources Ltd. (WMC) on Thursday said it recently received a conditional takeover proposal from London-listed resource major Xstrata PLC (XTA.


Mysterious Moonscape Seen on Saturn #39;s Titan

High-quality images of Titan, Saturn #39;s mysterious moon, tantalized and bewildered scientists yesterday, and they warned that NASA #39;s Cassini spacecraft may have to make several passes over the frozen world before it gives up its secrets.


Hosts kick off 2006 finals

They will will play the opening match on June 9, 2006, in Munich, although Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann had wanted to leave that honour to another team, preferably defending champions Brazil, provided they qualify.


McGrath celebrates 100th Test by punishing India #39;s top order

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath celebrated his 100th Test appearance by sparking India #39;s top-order collapse Wednesday as Australia took charge of the third Test.


Black Watch Begins Its Long Trek North

By Jamie Lyons, Political Correspondent, and Kim Pilling, PA News. British troops from the Black Watch stopped overnight in Nasiriyah after they moved through desert towards Iraqs triangle of death.


Muslim cleric Bashir on trial again in Indonesia

JAKARTA : An Indonesian Muslim cleric cleared last year of leading the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah extremist group goes on trial again on Thursday accused of involvement in the Bali and Marriott hotel bombings.


China to punish embassy intruders

China would punish intruders at embassies and schools according to the law, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday.


SBC Offers  #36;19.95/month Broadband to New Customers (Reuters)

Reuters - SBC Communications  will\offer a high-speed Internet connection for  #36;19.95 per month to\new customers who buy a top-line calling plan and sign a\one-year contract, the company said on Wednesday.


Trial of Radical Cleric Bashir Starts in Indonesia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir went on  trial in Indonesia on Thursday on charges of leading Jemaah  Islamiah, a militant network seen as the Southeast Asian arm of  al Qaeda.


Fallujah Talks, and Battle Planning, Continue

A U.S. military convoy of at least 40 armored vehicles was seen moving toward Fallujah, while British troops in southern Iraq headed north to plug any gaps that an offensive on the city might create.


India's Ex-Foreign Minister Assails Powell

India's former foreign minister has denounced Secretary of State Colin L. Powell in unusually strong terms, saying that Powell's account of how he helped facilitate a dialogue between the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers was "fabricated and baseless."


Sao Caetano Defender in Critical Condition

Sao Caetano defender Serginho was taken to a hospital unconscious and in critical condition after collapsing during a Brazilian championship match Wednesday.


Brazil Raids Kroll Offices in Spy Probe

Police raided the Brazilian offices of international security consultant Kroll Inc. and arrested five employees Wednesday in an investigation into allegations of illegal spying by Kroll during the company's probe of a nasty corporate dispute.


Delta reaches pilot deal: report

Pact with union may allow the No. 3 airline to avoid a bankruptcy filing, newspaper says. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Delta Air Lines and its pilots union reached an agreement on concessions that could allow the


Quarterly Profits Rise for Cox and Comcast

MCSK quot; gt; Comcast Corporation and Cox Communications, two of the nation #39;s largest cable companies, reported strong third-quarter profit and revenue growth yesterday because of growing demand for


Black gets share of Telegraph windfall

Hollinger International confirmed in court papers that it is planning to distribute some of the proceeds from the sale of the Telegraph Group to shareholders, a move that


Ex-Macy #39;s Executive to Lead JC Penney

JC Penney said yesterday that Allen I. Questrom, the chief executive who has restyled the once-beleaguered chain into a sleeker and more profitable entity, would be succeeded by Myron E. Ullman III, another longtime retail executive.


Ballmer confronts Linux head-on

Windows computing environments are cheaper, more secure, and lower risk than those based on Linux and open-source software, CEO Steve Ballmer asserts in an E-mail sent Wednesday to Microsoft #39;s customers and partners.


Violent game #39;s poster falls to gentle request

When Charles Grosz read that a boy charged in the brutal beating death of a homeless man had compared it to the violent video game  quot;Grand Theft Auto, quot; he felt saddened.


Upshaw: Players Want a New Deal

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association, told team owners Wednesday that the league #39;s 1,700 players should receive a larger share of the


NBA Game Summary - Phoenix vs. LA Lakers

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Brian Grant had 22 points and Chris Mihm added 15, as the Los Angeles Lakers downed the Phoenix Suns, 111-103.


Japan Earthquake Rescuers Work to Free Girl (Reuters)

Reuters - Rescuers who saved a two-year-old\boy trapped by a landslide after Japan's deadliest earthquake\in a decade struggled to free his sister on Thursday but hopes\were fading for her survival.


Palestinian official denies committee to act for ailing Arafat

A senior Palestinian official denied Thursday that a three-man committee has been appointed to act for the ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who was in critical condition after a stomach flu Wednesday.


Iran nuclear talks report progress

Progress was reported in Vienna Wednesday on the talks over Iran #39;s nuclear program but details were not available. Negotiators for Britain, Germany and France met with Iranians to discuss the issue, CNN reported.


Prithvi #39;s naval variant is successfully test-fired

NEW DELHI: A new modified version of the indigenously-developed medium-range Prithvi missile, called P-III, was test-fired from the integrated test range at Chandipur, near Balasore, on Wednesday.


NBA Suspends Four After Bulls-Wizards Fight

NEW YORK (Sports Network) - NBA vice president Stu Jackson  Wednesday handed out suspensions for four players involved in a  fight during Monday's preseason game between the Washington  Wizards and Chicago Bulls.


Indonesian Muslim cleric Bashir claims innocence ahead of terror trial (AFP)

AFP - A hardline Indonesian Muslim cleric protested his innocence as he was taken to court amid blanket security to stand trial for involvement in the deadly Bali and Marriott hotel bombings.


Philippine flood victims lose hope as storm nears

PHILIPPINES: The tides of mud carved a random trail of destruction through Philippine towns, robbing already impoverished residents of children, houses and hope.


Bucks Beat Timberwolves 76-75 at Buzzer (AP)

AP - Maurice Williams hit a jumper with one second left to cap an 11-point performance and lead the Milwaukee Bucks over the Minnesota Timberwolves 76-75 Wednesday night in a preseason game.


MARKET PLACE DreamWorks Animation Raises \$812 Million

RIDING the success of back-to-back animated hits, the entertainment company DreamWorks priced shares for its animation unit above the anticipated level, raising \$812 million in an initial public offering yesterday.


Stargazers Enjoy Total Lunar Eclipse

The moon is partially covered by the shadow of the earth at approximately 9:14 pm EDT, as seen from Archer, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004.


Inter draw with lecce while AC Milan crash Atlanta

challenges Duccio Innocenti of Atalanta during their Serie A match at the San Siro stadium in Milan, October 27, 2004. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo).


Crude Oil Falls for 2nd Day on Larger-Than-Expected Supply Gain

Crude oil futures fell in New York, extending the biggest decline in five months yesterday, after a jump in US inventories eased concern about a winter shortage.


IEA Urges Governments Worldwide to Rethink Energy Policy

International Oil Daily, 27 October 2004 - With oil prices at record highs, governments must accelerate technological innovations  quot;that radically alter how we produce and use energy quot; to create a sustainable energy system, the International Energy Agency


Dollar stronger at noon

THE Australian dollar was trading stronger today as news of a takeover bid for Australian mining company WMC Resources supported the currency during morning trading.


Kidney drug approval gives Shire some breathing space

THE 64,000 dollar - correction, make that 500 million dollar -uestion hanging over Shire Pharmaceuticals is whether the 5 per cent jump in the companys shares yesterday reflects relief that US regulators have finally approved its drug for


Indonesian cleric on trial for terrorism

Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has gone on trial in Indonesia on charges of leading Jemaah Islamiah, a militant network seen as the Southeast Asian arm of al Qaeda.


Iran Threatens to End Nuclear Talks

Iran #39;s Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Pirooz Hosseini leaves in a car after a second round of talks with EU negotiators failed to produce an agreement for a total suspension of uranium enrichment in Iran, on Wednesday, Oct.


Blair admits British troops may stay in US area for months

Tony Blair admitted yesterday that British troops could be in the American-controlled area of Iraq for months, contradicting assurances from his Defence Secretary that


US secretary of state clarifies position on Taiwan, China <b>...</b>

The American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has moved to assure Taiwan that US policy on the China/Taiwan relationship has not changed.


News: New Caller I.D. spoofing site opens

Web-based caller I.D. spoofing is back, and this time it's available to everyone.\


Putin to youth: Take relations to greater heights

BANGALORE: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday called on the youth to take bilateral relationship between India and Russia to greater heights while asserting that India #39;s economic progress would make the world a better place to live in.


Two Moderate Earthquakes Hit Taiwan (AP)

AP - Two moderate earthquakes hit eastern Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Bureau said, but no damage or injuries were immediately reported.


Clinton Feels 'Distant' From Election (AP)

AP - Former President Clinton may be out on the campaign trail, but he says he feels a bit detached "from the to and fro of the elections."


Insurgents #39; Attacks Kill at Least 26 Iraqis

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 4 - Militants carried out deadly strikes in Baghdad and in the northern city of Mosul for the second day on Saturday, with suicide car bomb attacks on police stations and Kurdish militiamen


WMC turns down Xstrata takeover bid MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Oct 28 <b>...</b>

Australian copper and nickel miner WMC Resources Ltd. said on Thursday it has turned down aA\$7.4 billion (\$5.5 billion) cash takeover offer from Swiss-based Xstrata, but would consider higher bids from the company.


Shire wins US approval for kidney disease drug

SHIRE Pharmaceuticals was yesterday celebrating approval from US regulators for the launch of its Fosrenol treatment for patients with kidney disease.


Stocks extend rally for a second session

NEW YORK - Stocks rose sharply Wednesday, extending their rally for a second session as investors expressed relief over plummeting oil prices following a government report that showed a buildup in crude inventories.


Football: Aberdeen beat Celtic 3-2 via last gasp goal

Celtic suffered their first defeat of the Scottish Premier League season on Wednesday when John Stewart grabbed a goal in injury time to complete a 3-2 win for Aberdeen.


This Date in Baseball for Oct. 28 (AP)

AP - 1958  #151; Construction began on the new ballpark for the Giants in San Francisco. The rocks in the area resembled candlesticks.


A New-Age General Manager Helps End an Age-Old Curse

Until Theo Epstein became the general manager of the Boston Red Sox two years ago, at 28, life had offered him little cause to believe in superstition.


Union Challenges N.F.L. Revenue Plan

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the players association, said the union was focused on dividing revenue more equitably.


Cardinals Fall Flat in Stunning Sweep (AP)

AP - The sign at Busch Stadium pleaded: "Will the real Cardinals report and play?" The answer in Game 4, just as in the first three games, was emphatic: No!


Spurrier Back at Fla.?

Steve Spurrier informs Florida officials that he has an interest in returning to coach the University of Florida, ESPN.com reported Wednesday night.


Web Feeds, Blogs   Search Engines

Blogs are increasingly popular, and can have a dramatic effect on search engine positioning. How can you best take advantage of this new search marketing channel?


Yahoo! follows Google on Mobile Services

Google SMS started serving search results to mobile users in the US just a few days back. Now Yahoo! follows it with even more comprehensive feature set.


Payton out with broken thumb, expected back for opener

Celtics point guard Gary Payton missed Wednesday #39;s preseason game against Detroit because of a broken right thumb. Payton, acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in an offseason trade, was injured


At Least Five Dead in Russia Mine Blast

MOSCOW (Reuters) - At least five miners were killed and 14  injured in a blast in a coal mine in Russia's Siberia, the  Emergencies Ministry said on Thursday.


Howard seizes Australia's Senate

Australia's John Howard captures control of his country's Senate, giving him extensive legislative power.


Baseball: Boston win World Series

Boston clinch the World Series title after beating St Louis 3-0 in the fourth game to win 4-0.


Oil Extends Slide After Stockbuild Drop (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices continued falling on\Thursday after an unexpectedly large rise in U.S. crude\inventories spurred profit-taking from record highs.


Report: Delta Reaches Deal with Pilots (Reuters)

Reuters - Delta Airlines has reached a tentative\agreement with its pilots union on wage and benefit cuts aimed\at avoiding a bankruptcy filing, The Wall Street Journal said\in a report late Wednesday on its Web site.


Red Sox Lift Championship, Bury Curse

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox won their first  World Series title since 1918, and buried a curse, with a 3-0  victory over the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday.


MarketWatch, Web News Site, Is Up for Sale

MarketWatch, the owner of a leading financial news site, CBS MarketWatch, is soliciting bids expected to be as much as \$400 million for the company.


Red Sox Erase 86 Years of Futility in 4 Games

The Red Sox, the team that perfected heartbreak, silenced the Cardinals, 3-0, in Game 4 to win their first World Series since 1918.


Cassini probe #39;s first flyby of Titan reveals some surprises

NASA scientists, looking at the first close-up images of Titan, were able to peer through the atmosphere of the Saturn moon enough to see a checkered landscape under surprisingly clear skies.


Dell Elevates SuSE Linux

Dell will expand its Linux offerings by preinstalling SuSE Linux on its servers starting later this year. By Larry Greenemeier. The same day Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer issued an E-mail to customers promoting


Soyuz Capsule Lands on Kazakhstan Steppe

A Russian-US crew returned to Earth from the international space station Sunday in a pinpoint landing on the Kazakhstan steppe, and NASA #39;s chief said the United States


Cole Continues to Shine

It is a pity that violence during and after Chelseas 1-0 Carling Cup third-round victory over West Ham at Stamford Bridge overshadowed yet another outstanding performance from Joe Cole.


UPDATE 1-Wenger extends Arsenal contract until 2008

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has extended his contract at the English champions until May 2008. Wenger, 55, arrived at Highbury in 1996 and has led the London


UPDATE 2-Fleming completes second test double century

Captain Stephen Fleming completed his second test double century on Wednesday as New Zealand piled on the runs against Bangladesh.


Keeping Our Priorities Straight in Afghanistan, by Ted Galen <b>...</b>

The war on drugs is interfering with the US effort to destroy Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. US officials increasingly want to eradicate drugs as well as nurture Afghanistan #39;s


Indonesian Court Opens Bashir Terror Trial

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian Islamic cleric Abu Bakar  Bashir went on trial on Thursday accused of leading an al  Qaeda-linked militant network and of planning or inciting  others to carry out attacks in the world's most populous Muslim  nation.


New 'yob' targets to be unveiled

Fifty new areas which will get special help in fighting anti-social behaviour are being named on Wednesday.


Business as usual for ATA despite bankruptcy filing

Although the future of ATA Airlines Inc. remains up in the air, planes still were landing Wednesday at the Quad-City International Airport and tickets still were selling, the airports aviation director said.


Energy Costs Crimp Economy

US manufacturers cranked out more goods in recent weeks, while auto dealers moved more vehicles off their lots and trucking companies tried to find enough drivers to keep up with growing demand.


Study Backs Systems to Aid Auto Stability

A new study by the insurance industry says that the stability systems available in some cars and trucks can greatly reduce the likelihood of an accident.


Delta, Pilots Come to Tentative Agreement

Delta Air Line #39;s pilots negotiation committee last night reached a tentative cost-cutting agreement with the Atlanta-based airline.


Xstrata Offers A\$7.4 Billion for WMC Resources to Add Nickel

Xstrata Plc, the world #39;s biggest exporter of power-station coal, offered A\$7.4 billion (\$5.5 billion) for WMC Resources Ltd. to gain nickel and copper mines.


Unilever stalls, P amp;G surges

Procter  amp; Gamble beat Unilever in the battle of the big name grocery brands for the three months to September, results released yesterday showed.


First Enron Fraud Trial Nears End

Four former Merrill Lynch and Co. executives and two former mid-level Enron Corp. executives conspired to push through a sham sale of barges in 1999 because they didn #39;t


Ballmer argues against Linux

Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer reiterated the company #39;s case against the open-source Linux operating system yesterday in an e-mail message to customers that was notable in part for its timing.


SBC lowers broadband prices for new customers

SBC Communications will offer a high-speed Internet connection for \$19.95 per month to new customers who buy a premium calling plan and sign a one-year contract, the company said on Wednesday.


Ready to lead a Gator nation

First-year University of Florida President Bernie Machen has his hands on a lot of things. Becoming intimately involved in the details of hiring a football coach is no more unusual to him than gripping the


Bonds #39;s 700th? Not Priceless: It Fetches \$804,129 In Internet <b>...</b>

Barry Bonds #39;s 700th home run ball brought a top bid of \$804,129 yesterday after a 10-day online auction. The ball had received 240 offers by the time Overstock.


Aussies take solid lead in third test as Tendulkar struggles

Sachin Tendulkar perished cheaply on his return from injury yesterday as India #39;s top batting order crumbled to leave Australia in command of the third cricket test match.


Kidnapped British Woman Begs for Life

The kidnapped British director of CARE International has made another plea urging Britain to withdraw troops from Iraq. In a video aired on Arab TV, Margaret Hassan asked for the aid organization to close its offices in Iraq.


Manny Ramirez Wins World Series MVP (AP)

AP - Manny Ramirez owns a treasured spot in Red Sox lore  #151; the floppy-haired slugger is their first World Series MVP.


Arafat 'Very Sick,' Foreign Medics Summoned

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser  Arafat is "very, very sick" and the ex-guerrilla who for  decades symbolized a struggle for statehood is slipping in and  out of consciousness, officials and medics said on Thursday.


Korean Nuclear Talks May Convene in November

BEIJING (Reuters) - The six parties trying to end a crisis  over North Korea's nuclear ambitions could hold working group  talks in November, diplomats said on Thursday, the first sign  of progress since Pyongyang stalled after the last round.


Oil prices fall after US report

Oil prices continue to fall back from recent record highs, after a US report showed an unexpectedly large rise in crude stocks in America.


Cracking the Insurance Biz Wide Open

Eliot Spitzer #39;s run at insurance broker Marsh  amp; McLennan (MMC ) looks increasingly as if it could be just the opening battle in a wide-ranging war against abuses in the insurance industry.


Despite Scandals, Boeing Still Wins Wall Street #39;s Favor

When Boeing Co. chief executive Harry C. Stonecipher took the helm in December, he proclaimed that his top priority was restoring the aerospace giant #39;s reputation after revelations that employees


A Hollywood Play For Dreamers Only

In Shark Tale, DreamWorks Animation #39;s latest hit, a little hustler of a fish named Oscar (voiced by Will Smith) just can #39;t stand the truth.


Apple Has a Virus? Congratulations!

Hackers wouldn #39;t bother writing malicious code to infect the Macintosh unless those computers actually mattered. By Eric Hellweg.


Stargazers View Lunar Eclipse

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Stargazers across the US were craning their necks Wednesday night as the Earth #39;s shadow moved across the moon, totally eclipsing our planet #39;s only natural satellite.


Tennis: Nalbandian, Massu and Henman advance

Second seed Tim Henman put a magnesium deficiency behind him to move comfortably into the second round of the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel on Wednesday.


Iranian Leader Rules Out Halt in Uranium Enrichment

Iran #39;s supreme leader threatened Wednesday to pull out of negotiations if European countries press their demand for total suspension of uranium enrichment, as a new round


Margaret Hassan Again Pleads for her Life

Kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan has made another videotape plea for Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq. The tape, broadcast on Arab TV network Al-Jazeera, also showed Mrs Hassan


Frustrated Cardinals Can't Hit in Series Loss to Sox

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - While the Boston Red Sox celebrated  the end of 86 years of frustration by winning the World Series  on Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals had to deal with some new  frustrations of their own.


Frustrated Cardinals Can't Hit in Series Loss to Sox (Reuters)

Reuters - While the Boston Red Sox celebrated\the end of 86 years of frustration by winning the World Series\on Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals had to deal with some new\frustrations of their own.


Japan races against clock to secure release of hostage in Iraq (AFP)

AFP - Japan is racing against the clock to secure the release of a young Japanese man kidnapped by Islamic militants in Iraq, with less than 24 hours to go before a deadline for his execution.


Russian Mine Blast Kills 10, Injures 30

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A methane blast in a mineshaft in  Russia's Siberia killed at least 10 people and injured 30 on  Thursday, a government spokesman said.


Delta, pilots reach tentative deal

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Delta Air Lines and its pilots reached a tentative contract agreement late Wednesday, according to the pilots union, potentially allowing the struggling carrier to avoid declaring bankruptcy.


Revenue growth of 8 stronger than expected

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Boeing Co. #39;s third-quarter earnings rose 78 percent on higher sales of communications equipment to the US military and better commercial aircraft profits.


Fonterra proposal is  quot;bird in the hand quot;

Fonterra is aiming for a significant share of the Australian dairy foods market, with a bid for one of Australia #39;s largest operators.


Saturn mission beams back first images of Titan

Cassini-Huygens, a joint US-European mission to Saturn, has had its closest encounter yet with Titan, one of Saturn #39;s moons. It flew to within 745 miles and beamed back the first images of the only moon in the solar system with an atmosphere.


Apple iPod Photo and U2 Partnership

At a press conference this week, Apple Computer Inc. introduced the new iPod Photo digital music player. Besides playing digital music, the iPod Photo lets users view and share photos.


Sony announces dates and prices for new gaming devices

Sony Computer Entertainment #39;s (SCE) next generation handheld gaming device will go on sale in Japan on 12 December for RRP 19,800 (\$250).


Earth #39;s Shadow Completely Covers The Moon

JONESBORO--  quot;Well tonight the moon will be on the other side, and this would be a full moon normally because the moon is up here, above the plane between the earth and the sun, or below it.


Eleven Fans Arrested after Chelsea-West Ham Game

Eleven fans were arrested after clashing with police at the Carling Cup soccer match between Chelsea and West Ham. Police in riot gear were confronted by the visiting West Ham supporters


Relatives Seek Bodies of Thai Muslim Demonstrators

Weeping family members crowded outside a Thai military camp Wednesday, demanding information about 78 Muslim men who were crushed to death Monday after being arrested and forced onto army trucks.


Iran's supreme leader threatened Wednesday to pull out of negotiations if European countries press their demand for total suspension of uranium enrichment, as a new round of talks ended without an agreement to avert the possible threat of U.N. sanctions.


Brazil Makes Arrests After Kroll Raids

Police raided the Brazilian offices of international security consultant Kroll Inc. and arrested five employees Wednesday in an investigation into allegations of illegal spying by Kroll during the company's probe of a nasty corporate dispute.


European Shipbuilders Mull Mergers (AP)

AP - European defense companies know they must unite to keep up, as the gap in military spending between the United States and its NATO allies continues to widen. But a push to consolidate Europe's fragmented shipbuilding sector  #151; a minefield of national, corporate and labor sensitivities  #151; is proving slow and difficult.


Baseball-Red Sox Lift Championship, Bury Curse

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox lifted the World  Series title and buried a curse Wednesday beating the St. Louis  Cardinals 3-0 to claim their first championship since 1918.


NBA Game Summary - Miami At Denver

Denver, CO -- Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and Earl Boykins added 16 off the bench to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Miami Heat, 104-95, at the Pepsi Center.


U.S. Air Strike on Iraq's Falluja Kills Two (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. warplanes attacked the\rebel-held city of Falluja overnight, killing two people, a\witness said.


Ga. Tech #39;s defense buzzing again after wins

To hear Georgia Tech defense end Eric Henderson, it was just a matter of time before the Yellow Jackets defense became as stingy as it has been the last two games.


Study Shows Stability Systems Cut Crash Risk

Vehicles with sensors that can, for example, automatically apply brakes are 41 percent less likely to get into single-vehicle crashes, which account for 60 percent of all fatal crashes, according to government statistics.


Talks Between D.C. Hotels, Union Still in Deadlock

Starting Nov. 1, if there is no new contract, unionized workers will have to bear the cost of the increase in their health insurance premiums.


Washington Contractors' Sales Increase

The companies provide federal agencies with network integration and payroll accounting technologies, and are the beneficiaries of a government that is trying to bolster its defenses against terrorism, experts say.


Red Sox Erase Curse With First World Series Title Since 1918

The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series title in 86 years, completing a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-0 victory at Busch Stadium.


Kezman is mobbed after scoring. (Getty Images)

Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke confirmed that Mateja Kezman was hit by a missile from the crowd as football was shamed for the second time in 24 hours.


Gary Megson is disappointed being dismissed so fast

English Premiership strugglers West Brom are understood to have approached former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson as they seek a replacement for Gary Megson.


Penalty call lifts United to key win over Arsenal

In fact, when referee Mike Riley gave a penalty kick to United in the 73rd minute, he was clearly sold on a Wayne Rooney dive after a confrontation with Arsenal defender Sol Campbell.


Slow and steady ruins the race

Or did the Australians really bowl that well on a strip that was supposed to be best for batting on days two and three? Or maybe it was the Indian batsmen who dug a huge hole and buried themselves in it.


Indonesia #39;s Bashir retrial gets underway

Indonesia #39;s prominent Muslim preacher Abu Bakr Bashir has been put on trial again, charged once more over the Marriot hotel attack in 2003 and the Bali bombing in 2002.


Japan Unable to Contact Kidnappers to Negotiate, Koizumi Says

Japan has made little progress contacting the kidnappers of one of its citizens or determining where the man is being held, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.


Web TV Tries to Seize New Territory

Contenders are trying novel twists on sending video over the global computer network in an effort to exploit the increasing number of in-home high-speed Internet links.
-The Washington Post


Professor Deconstructs  Dot-Com Bombs

David A. Kirsch and a rotating staff of loyal students have created a digital database that lists more than 2,300 companies, archives that may someday prove useful in capturing the craziness of the Internet boom.
-The Washington Post


Nanotech Group Beset by Defections

The field, expected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2012, promises a host of technological and medical advances while also stirring fears because some of the products appear to be toxic and many are not regulated.


Mysterious Moonscape Seen on Saturn's Titan

Cassini is flying to within 745 miles of Titan's surface and beaming back hundreds of images in a scouting trip that will lead to the Christmas Eve release of a probe for a parachute drop into Titan's atmosphere.


Oil prices fall after US report

Oil prices continued to fall on Thursday after an unexpectedly large increase in crude stocks in the US. A barrel of US light crude was down 96 cents to \$51.


Update 8: Delta Reaches Tentative Pact on Pilot Deal

Delta Air Lines Inc. took a giant step away from bankruptcy with a tentative agreement on contract concessions from its pilots. But details on the proposal reached Wednesday were withheld while it was reviewed


Check 21 brings quick clearance to written drafts

known simply as Check 21 -oes into effect today and is expected to cut down the amount of time it takes for checks to clear the bank.


Update 3: DreamWorks Animation Seeks Splashy Debut

DreamWorks Animation Inc., riding on a wave of recent hit films including  quot;Shrek 2 quot; and  quot;Shark Tales quot; was looking for friendly waters on Wall Street Thursday with its highly anticipated initial public offering.


BAY AREA Skywatchers awed by total lunar eclipse

Just four days shy of Halloween, the moon got festive Wednesday night and turned from corpse white to pumpkin orange and then blood red during a total lunar eclipse visible from every continent on the planet, except Australia.


Sender-ID Back from the Dead

With the closure of IETF #39;s MARID group a month ago, many of us have left Microsoft #39;s Sender-ID standard for the dead. After being rejected by the Apache Foundation and the Debian Project over licensing issues


New MySQL Good To Go

The latest point release of MySQL database is now good to go, the company said Wednesday. MySQL 4.1, available in both open-source and commercial versions, promises more enterprise-worthy features and faster


Chelsea #39;s Kezman struck by missile

Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman was cut by a missile thrown from the crowd after scoring in last night #39;s 3-0 Carling Cup victory over West Ham.


Bonds #39; 700th home run ball: It #39;s going, going, gone for \$804,129

It was no ordinary baseball, but the baseball that Barry Bonds hit over the left-field fence last month at SBC Park in San Francisco for his 700th career homer and promptly was put on the online auction block.


Australia Dismisses India for 185, Leads By 213 in Third Test

Australia bowled out India for 185 to take a 213-run lead on day three of the third cricket Test at Nagpur, edging the top-ranked team closer to a first series win in India for 35 years.


Iran to respond over nuclear freeze

LONDON, Oct 27 (IranMania) - Iran was to respond today to Europe #39;s offer for the Islamic Republic to avoid possible UN sanctions and receive nuclear technology by indefinitely suspending uranium enrichment, but there was little hope of a breakthrough


Discrepancy Found in Explosives Amounts: ABC News (Reuters)

Reuters - The amount of conventional\explosives missing from an Iraqi storage facility may be\substantially less than the 377 tons reported by Iraqi\officials, ABC News reported late on Wednesday, citing\documents obtained by the network.


Ten reported dead in Russian mine blast (AFP)

AFP - Ten miners died and about 20 were injured after a gas explosion ripped through a pit in central Siberia trapping dozens of miners, the Interfax news agency reported citing a spokesman for the local government.


Opec begs US help to calm oil market

Opec, the oil producers #39; cartel, has taken the surprise step of urging the US to release stocks held in emergency reserves to calm the frantic crude market.


Australia #39;s National Foods rejects Fonterra bid

SYDNEY: Australian milk producer National Foods Ltd said today its board has unanimously rejected as too low a \$A1.62 billion (\$NZ1.


Baseball ball sells for \$1m

THE baseball that Barry Bonds hit for his 700th career home run brought a top bid of \$US804,129 (\$1.08 million) today after a 10-day online auction.


3 killed in Fallujah attack

United States forces attacked a house in Fallujah leaving three people dead early on Thursday. The target was a suspected safe house for Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.


Summary: Uncertainty Over Iraqi Explosives (AP)

AP - THE DISAPPEARENCE: The 377 tons of high explosives were taken from the Al-Qaqaa military facility after March 9, when the IAEA sealed the bunker.


UK house prices 'fell in October'

UK house prices fall by 0.4 in October, the Nationwide building society says, the biggest decline since February 2001.


Powell clarifies no change in US cross-strait policy after protests (AFP)

AFP - Secretary of State Colin Powell clarified that US policy on China and Taiwan has not changed, in an apparent bid to assuage Taipei's concerns over remarks he made in a visit to Beijing.


Kerry, Bush scramble for votes (AFP)

AFP - With only five days left before the election, Democrat John Kerry tried to fire up voters in the hope a higher turnout will give him the keys to the White House, as President George W. Bush insisted his challenger lacks the mettle of a commander in chief.


Nitties shows the right mettle

THE PGA Championship was only James Nitties #39; fourth start as a professional, but the 22-year-old signalled he has a big future with his second place finish at Coolum yesterday.


DreamWorks flotation makes \$812m

DreamWorks, which created box office smash Shrek, raises \$812m from its flotation on the New York Stock Exchange.


Bonds not as dumb as he appears

In the long, winding tale of Barry Bonds and steroids, we have reached the part where Bonds plays dumb. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, he effectively told a grand jury a year ago that he used steroids


Creative Technology reports sharp drop in quarterly net profit (AFP)

AFP - Singapore consumer electronics maker Creative Technology net profit in the September quarter fell 83.5 percent to 4.8 million US dollars, with last year's huge one-time gains magnifying the decline.


Energy Costs Crimp Economy

Federal Reserve survey shows uncertainties over energy prices, global terrorism and the presidential election among reasons businesses continue to hold back on hiring, investment.


Japanese peace envoy in Sri Lanka

Japan's special envoy to Sri Lanka arrives in Colombo for talks on resuming the stalled peace process.


Singh Gears Up to Finish With 10 Wins (AP)

AP - Vijay Singh does not recall the PGA Tour being this strong, with a record five rookies winning this year. One of them, Ryan Palmer, held off the No. 1 player in the world last week at Disney.


Oil prices fall to \$51.97

Singapore: Oil prices continued falling from record peaks in Asian trade Thursday after the United States reported a surge in crude oil inventories, dealers said.


SEC #39;s hedge fund debate intense

Nearly two years to the day after the most contentious hearing in memory, a divided Securities and Exchange Commission clashed Tuesday over a new rule requiring hedge funds to register with the SEC.


Australia #39;s WMC rejects Xstrata bid

Australian nickel and copper miner WMC Resources has rejected aA\$7.4 billion (3 billion pounds) takeover bid from Swiss-based Xstrata, but has left the door open for a higher offer.


Bush campaign site inaccessible abroad

LONDON -- President Bushs campaign Web site was inaccessible to surfers outside the United States and Canada following a series of outages last week that may have been electronic attacks.


Red sky at night a lunar delight

GREENBELT, MD. - Star gazers across North America watched the moon turn orange Wednesday night in a total lunar eclipse.  quot;When it passes into the Earth #39;s inner shadow, that sunlight reaching the moon passes


Sandisk releases flasher flash cards

A CALIFORNIAN vendor of flash cards SanDisk has released new memory cards that they say will make a big splash in consumer gizmos like digital cameras and cell phones.


UPDATE 1-Five-wicket Gillespie puts Australia in control

Jason Gillespie captured five wickets as Australia bowled India out for a paltry 185 to take a commanding 213-run lead on the third day of the third test on Thursday.


Brazilian championship matches stopped for minute of silence after <b>...</b>

Brazilian championship matches were stopped for a minute #39;s silence Wednesday in response to news that Sao Caetano defender Serginho died after collapsing on the field at Morumbi Stadium.


Mets: Interviews continue for Minaya

General manager Omar Minaya interviewed Jim Riggleman for the Mets #39; vacant managerial spot yesterday, and minor-league manager and former Mets second baseman Wally Backman will be interviewed today.


Sharon #39;s bold move in Gaza

Tuesday #39;s vote in the Israeli Knesset in favor of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s plan for unilateral withdrawal of settlers and soldiers from Gaza was a historic moment in the history of Israel.


Arafat in Serious Condition, Foreign Medics Summoned

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser  Arafat is in a very serious condition but was able to take part  in Muslim morning prayers on Thursday, officials said, as a  team of foreign doctors rushed to his headquarters.


49ers' First-Round Picks All Struggling (AP)

AP - The San Francisco 49ers insist their salvation will arrive through the draft. They hope years of bad contracts, unlucky injuries and salary-cap woes can be erased through solid choices in April.


Brussels crisis to cloud EU constitution ceremony (AFP)

AFP - Europe's leaders gather in Rome on Friday to sign a historic constitution for the European Union (EU), but a crisis over the bloc's new executive Commission will only add to clouds over the ceremony.


North Texas Backup Nation's Leading Rusher (AP)

AP - North Texas freshman Jamario Thomas is the nation's leading rusher thanks to speed, strength and vision.


Japan in Dark as Iraq Hostage Deadline Nears

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan sought international and Iraqi help  for a Japanese man held hostage in Iraq on Thursday, less than  24 hours before a deadline set by his captors to behead him  unless Japan withdraws its troops.


Titan Photos Mystifying Scientists

Scientists are delighted, fascinated and thoroughly perplexed by the Cassini spacecraft's first close-up pictures of Titan, the smoggy giant moon of Saturn.


A New Rule of Cursor Control: Just Follow Your Nose

Researchers are working on the nose-mouse, and other unorthodox ways of moving a cursor.


Military Buoys Profit at Defense Firms

Robust demand for military equipment and technology led four US defense companies to post higher quarterly profit on Wednesday, with jet maker Boeing Co.


Telefonica rejects 2 bln euro bid for TV show unit: rpt

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Spanish telecom Telefonica (TEF) has rejected a bid of 2 billion euros for its Endemol television production company that produces the hit Big Brother show, The Times of London said Thursday, citing unnamed sources.


Red Sox sweep Cardinas to win first crown since 1918

The Boston Red Sox ended 86 years of futility and won their first crown of the World Series since 1918 on Wednesday when they defeated the St.


Khan hits back for India

Paceman Zaheer Khan has hit back for India, taking the key wicket of Australia #39;s prolific opener Matthew Hayden two overs after lunch on day three of the third Test in Nagpur.


NASCAR glance

1. KURT BUSCH. He has posted 12 straight top-15 finishes, including six straight top-10 finishes. He is coming off a fifth-place finish at Martinsville, Va.


Sao Caetano player collapses and dies during Brazilian <b>...</b>

The 30-year-old player likely suffered cardiac arrest, doctor Marco Aurelio Cunha said. The official cause of death was not immediately released.


Brown Packs Pint-Sized Wallop for Georgia (AP)

AP - Thomas Brown heard the doubters long before he arrived in Athens. In fact, some of the cynics were in his hometown.


Romania-Centered Quake Rattled Turkey, Moldova, Ukraine

The earthquake, which hit Romania and rattled Bulgaria late on Wednesday, has also been felt across portions of Turkey, Moldova and Ukraine, Turkey #39;s private NTV television reported.


U.S. Elections Has Seized Global Attention (AP)

AP - It can be considered undiplomatic, and none of them actually gets to vote. But some foreign leaders and political figures haven't been able to resist the question: Bush or Kerry for U.S. president?


Delta  #39;reaches cost-cutting deal #39;

Troubled US carrier Delta Air Lines has reached an outline cost cutting agreement with its pilots, a deal that could save it from bankruptcy.


Boeing and Northrop Say Profits Jumped in Quarter

Robust demand for military equipment and technology led two arms makers to post higher quarterly profit yesterday, with Boeing reporting a 78 percent jump in earnings despite a decline in commercial airplane revenue.


Google buys satellite image firm Keyhole

Search giant Google said Wednesday that it has acquired Keyhole, a company specializing in Web-based software that allows people to view satellite images from around the globe.


2003 champ is Classic favorite

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas  In a field with a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, two horses that have gone undefeated this year, a former Horse of the Year and a Belmont Stakes and Travers champion


House Redistricting Schemes Not Perfect (AP)

AP - State lawmakers who reconfigured congressional maps to benefit one party over another have drawn themselves into a corner in some House districts.


No More '1918' Taunts for Lowe to Hear (AP)

AP - Derek Lowe stood in the boisterous Boston clubhouse, a bottle of champagne in one hand, a cigar in the other.


Small Blast Rocks Mayor's Office in France (AP)

AP - An explosion rocked the mayor's office in the southwestern French city of Bordeaux early Thursday. No one was injured.


Annan Urged to Report Sudan Deaths Daily (AP)

AP - Leaders representing over 100 million Christians, Muslims and Jews urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan to report the number of deaths and rapes in Sudan's Darfur region daily to highlight what they say is genocide.


Mandrakesoft Ships Upgrade of Linux OS (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Mandrakesoft releases the latest version of its Linux operating system.


Disaster Toll Tripled in 2003 Amid Quakes, Heatwave (Reuters)

Reuters - Natural disasters killed 76,806 people\in 2003, three times the number of victims in 2002, a rise due\in part to extremes in the global climate, the world's largest\humanitarian body said on Thursday.


UPDATE 1-Delta Air #39;s pilots reach tentative agreement

Delta Air Lines #39; (DAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) pilots union said late Wednesday it had reached a tentative agreement with the airline on cost savings.


Oil prices fall nearly 5 to below \$53 a barrel

Oil futures prices sank nearly 5 percent yesterday, dropping below \$53 a barrel, as concerns about tight winter-fuel supplies eased, at least temporarily, and traders


Strong defense unit buoys Boeing #39;s profit

Propelled by another potent performance from its defense unit, Boeing announced third-quarter results yesterday that surpassed investors #39; expectations as profits climbed 78 percent from a year ago.


US  #39;big-ticket #39; orders rise

WASHINGTON - Orders for  quot;big-ticket quot; durable goods crept up by a smaller-than-expected margin in September, hit by a sharp descent in demand for planes, government figures showed.


Study: Stability control systems can reduce fatal accidents

WASHINGTON A study finds vehicles equipped with stability control systems are less likely to be involved in fatal crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the systems, which automatically apply


THEY CUT ME OUT

Hollywood dealmaker Michael Ovitz spun his own drama of his ouster from Walt Disney - he was knifed in the back, carved  quot;out like a cancer quot; and pushed from a headquarters window.


Stocks surge on news about oil prices

Stocks rose sharply yesterday, extending their rally for a second session as investors expressed relief over plummeting oil prices following a government report that showed a buildup in crude inventories.


Audits of CRA call for reforms

Capping a series of stinging audits of the Los Angeles city agency charged with revitalizing troubled neighborhoods, City Controller Laura Chick said Wednesday that she has turned


UPDATE 5-STATS swings to Q3 net loss, sees losses in 2005

STATS ChipPAC Ltd., the third-largest chip packaging firm, swung to a quarterly net loss and said it might remain in the red into 2005


Concern grows over ailing Arafat

Medics, aides and family rush to the West Bank as fears grow for Yasser Arafat's health.


Cassini spacecraft images of Saturn #39;s moon befuddling

After staying up much of the night analyzing the first close-up images of Titan #39;s smog-shrouded surface, groggy scientists acknowledged yesterday that they were befuddled


Microsoft offers insurance Linux can #39;t, Ballmer says

An e-mail Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer sent to customers around the world yesterday highlighted a new thrust in Microsoft #39;s campaign against Linux.


MIKE WENDLAND: It #39;s an uphill battle to topple Google

which now searches for books, news, images and products as well as Web sites -- its subtle little AdSense text ads are ubiquitous on the Net.


Disaster Toll Tripled in 2003 Amid Quakes, Heatwave

Natural disasters killed 76,806 people in 2003, three times the number of victims in 2002, a rise due in part to extremes in the global climate, the world #39;s largest humanitarian body said on Thursday.


UMC: 2005 capex focused on 12-inch capacity ramp

United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) yesterday stated that its capital expenditure in 2005 will see a focus on ramping capacity at its 12-inch-wafer fabs in Tainan, Taiwan, and Singapore.


EU boss considers several changes

The embattled new EU Commission chief tells the BBC he might make several changes to his team.


FA probes Stamford Bridge trouble

The FA is to take action after trouble marred Wednesday #39;s Carling Cup tie between West Ham and Chelsea. Police in riot gear were confronted by a section of the West Ham support after the match which the Blues won 1-0.


FOOTBALL: DONS PUT BHOYS IN A STEW

ABERDEEN boosted their reputation and brought the championship race alive with a dramatic win at Celtic Park last night. Substitute John Stewart pounced in injury time after poor defending to give Aberdeen


WENGER GUNNING FOR MORE GLORY

Arsene Wenger has pledged to remain Arsenal manager as long as he is able to continue the work he is doing now. Wenger has signed a three-year extension to his current deal that will keep him with the London outfit until 2008.


Baseball: Bonds 700th homer ball nets 804,000 dollars

SAN FRANCISCO, United States : Barry Bonds historic 700th home run ball fetched 804,129 US dollars in an online auction which concluded on Wednesday, the auction organizers announced.


Potent arsenal

Fred Robbins spent four years as Daunte Culpepper #39;s teammate, and since quarterbacks always are off limits in practice, he never has had a chance to hit him.


PGA numbers game

Rod Pampling has never been to the Tour Championship. Justin Leonard has never missed one. Jim Furyk has one last chance to extend his streak to seven years with at least one PGA Tour victory.


Health of Arafat said to deteriorate

The health of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat deteriorated yesterday, and Palestinian doctors were rushed to his Ramallah compound in the


Buried toddler survives

A two-year-old boy was rescued yesterday after surviving four days buried in a landslide from the powerful quake that ravaged northern Japan over the weekend.


PLEASE DON #39;T BRING THE TROOPS TO BAGHDAD ..PLEASE RELEASE THE <b>...</b>

HOSTAGE Margaret Hassan was last night shown on a new video pleading for British troops not to be sent to Baghdad. As the Black Watch headed towards the  quot;triangle of death quot; outside the Iraqi


Russia ratifies Kyoto Protocol

MOSCOW - The Kyoto Protocol overcame its final legislative hurdle in Russia when the upper house of parliament ratified the global climate pact Wednesday and sent it on to President Vladimir Putin for his signature -etting the stage for the treaty


Police defies court and deports S.African unionists

Zimbabwean police expelled a South African trade union team early yesterday in defiance of a court order allowing them to stay until the afternoon, union officials said.


Despite uncertainty, taxpayers should

Politics has made year-end tax planning problematic. Although tax policy is fixed for 2004, it #39;s been difficult to strategize into the future without knowing who the president would be through 2008.


A Leap at Freedom for Afghan Wives

Three years after the fall of the Taliban, women remain subject to many legal, religious and cultural restrictions and domestic violence is endemic.