Pakistan #39;s Malik awaits results

Pakistan #39;s Shoaib Malik could play in the first Test against Australia starting on Thursday as he waits for results of tests on his bowling action.


Patriots once again beasts of AFC East: Clinch title in ugly win <b>...</b>

The Patriots stats, news steamroller has yet to meet an obstacle it can #39;t obliterate. Job-hunting coordinators. (Allegedly) vengeful running backs.


Jaguars get jump on Bears

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Byron Leftwich threw two touchdown passes and the Jacksonville defense constantly harassed Chad Hutchinson in the Jaguars #39; 22-3 victory over the injury-depleted Chicago Bears yesterday.


Israel to Leave Palestinian Cities During Election (Reuters)

Reuters - Israel plans to pull troops out of\Palestinian cities for a Jan. 9 presidential election to pick a\successor to Yasser Arafat, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said\on Monday.


Saddam #39;s top aides end food protest: US Army

The US Army said that eight of toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein #39;s jailed lieutenants who were earlier refusing food had now given up their protest.


Hospital says 13 killed in suicide blast in Iraq

Hospital workers say a suicide car bombing in Baghdad has killed at least 13 people and injured 15 others. Police say the car exploded while waiting in line at a gate to the Green Zone.


PNA lauds diplomatic reconciliation with Kuwait

A Palestinian National Authority(PNA) senior official said Monday that the PNA welcomed a diplomatic reconciliation with Kuwait in a sign that the relations between the two sides were improving.


Turkey divided over EU entry

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged yesterday to press forward with democratic reforms even if the European Union refuses to open membership talks with Turkey this week.


Former Congolese rebels block troops deployment in eastern DRC

Former Congolese rebels blocked Kinshasa #39;s troops reinforcement to the border with Rwanda, according to reports on Monday. According to senior military commanders in eastern


US, UK Made Mistake #39; in Dismantling Iraqi Army, Yawar Says

The US and Britain shouldn #39;t have dismantled Iraq #39;s army after toppling Saddam Hussein, Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawar said in a radio interview on the one-year anniversary of the former Iraqi dictator #39;s capture.


Group: 2 More Detainees Die in Afghanistan (AP)

AP - Human Rights Watch said Monday it had uncovered two more cases of prisoners dying in American custody in Afghanistan, and it accused the Bush administration of "dragging its feet" on investigations that could have prevented the abuse of prisoners in Iraq.


Oracle Ups Its Offer and Buys PeopleSoft for \$10.3 Billion

The acquisition will elevate No.3-ranked Oracle to No.2, behind SAP of Germany, the world's biggest maker of business-management software.


Golden Globes names announced

Jamie Foxx has three Golden Globe nominations, with Nicole Kidman and Johnny Depp also up for prizes.


Oracle seals \$10bn Peoplesoft bid

Peoplesoft agrees a \$10.3bn takeover bid from rival business software firm Oracle, after an 18-month corporate battle.


Ericsson To Build China Telecom #39;s Next-Generation IP Backbone <b>...</b>

STOCKHOLM, Sweden --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 10, 2004 -- Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERICY) has been awarded a contract by China Telecom Corporation Limited (China Telecom) for building its next-generation IP backbone


Learn to locate all of those missing Apple iTunes files

Q:I HAVE SOME SONGS that play fine with the iTunes program, but when I look for the song files on my hard drive, I can #39;t find them.


Powell Reaffirms Commitment of U.S. Aid (AP)

AP - Ahead of his firsthand look at the tsunami's devastation, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday the United States has responded appropriately to what he called one of the world's greatest catastrophes.


McGrath aims at struggling top order

FAST bowler Glenn McGrath has batting trumps Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana in his sights and he has warned Pakistan to expect a rough ride on an old-style Perth pitch this week.


Paul Domowitch  Birds suddenly careless with ball

LANDOVER, Md. - Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress continually preaches the importance of  quot;having respect #39; #39; for the football, and his players have done an impressive job of practicing what Childress preaches.


Tunnel bomb unleashed

PALESTINIAN militants found a way around the heavy fortifications at the Israeli army post between Egypt and Gaza -- tunnelling under the base and blowing it up.


India, Pak agree to fight narco-terrorism jointly

India and Pakistan on Monday agreed to jointly fight the war against narcotic and psychedelic substances quot;We have to fight the war against narcotic drugs together.


Cricket: S Africa A beat England

South Africa A complete a seven-wicket victory against England in their final warm-up before the first Test.


US retail sales up 0.1 per cent in November

US retail sales in November were up 0.1 per cent from the previous month, slightly higher than expected. Sales were 7.2 per cent up on the same month last year, according to advance estimates


Honeywell bids \$1.5B for Novar

Manufacturer Honeywell International agreed Monday to a \$1.5 billion bid for Britain #39;s Novar PLC, beefing up its security business and lifting 2005 earnings towards consensus forecasts.


Tommy Hilfiger steps into Karl Lagerfeld brands

PARIS (AFP) - US fashion company Tommy Hilfiger announced it had bought up clothing brands belonging to the stylist Karl Lagerfeld for an undisclosed sum.


Early market signals mixed ahead of US rate move, technology <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Early indicators were mixed for North American stock markets Monday as investors weighed the impact of an expected US interest rate hike and a \$10.3-billion-US merger in the technology sector.


Brazil #39;s CVRD CEO: Iron Ore Prices Should Rise In 2005

RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones)--After jumping 9 in 2003 and 19 in 2004, iron ore prices appear likely to rise another 20 or more in 2005 as the world #39;s biggest steelmakers


Tenet Healthcare Sees 4Q Results Below 3Q

Hospital chain Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Monday that fourth-quarter results from continuing operations will fall below third-quarter levels, due to weak volumes and high bad debt expense, and forecast a slow earnings recovery in 2005.


AMD and IBM claim 24 per cent chip speed breakthrough

A new faster version  #39;strained silicon #39; has been developed by IBM and AMD. The companies are claiming that the resulting transistors are up to 24 per cent faster than existing processes.


Ericsson Expands Guangdong

STOCKHOLM -- Ericsson has been awarded a USD 805 million contract by Guangdong Mobile Communication Corporation Limited (Guangdong Mobile) to expand its GSM network in Guangdong Province, China.


Miller wins giant slalom

BODE Miller won his fifth victory of the World Cup season in a giant slalom here today after the three men ahead of him all faltered.


Porto beats Once Caldas to win Toyota Cup

European champion FC Porto won the Toyota Cup on Sunday, defeating Colombia #39;s Once Caldas 8-7 in a penalty-kick shootout in a game between the top club teams from Europe and South America.


Hinske shifts to first if Koskie signed

The Blue Jays placed a phone call to Menasha, Wis., last night. As the crow flies, Menasha is about as far away from baseball #39;s winter meetings as the southernmost tip of Greenland.


Parma Sack Baldini

Silvio Baldinis adventure at Parma is over as on Monday morning the Ducali announced his sacking. This was partly due to their latest defeat at Livorno which leaves the Gialloblu firmly anchored in the last places of Serie A.


India, Pak agree to fight narco-terrorism jointly:

India News: New Delhi, Dec 13 : India and Pakistan on Monday agreed to jointly fight the war against narcotic and psychedelic substances.


Retail Sales Rise in November

Shoppers showed a bit of cheer at the cash registers in November, boosting sales at the nation's retailers by 0.1 percent.


Oracle to Acquire PeopleSoft

Business software giant Oracle Corp. announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire rival PeopleSoft Inc. after sweetening its offer by 10 percent to approximately \$10.3 billion. -The Washington Post


Fed Seen Nudging Rates Higher

\

 By Tim Ahmann

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials are\expected to nudge interest rates up on Tuesday for a fifth time\this year, another small step in a campaign to gradually lift\borrowing costs before inflation rears its head.


Oil fall cuts raw material costs

A fall in the price of crude oil pushes UK raw material prices to their lowest level in two years, official figures show.


Mobile cash points coming soon

Bank customers may soon be able to check their balances on mobile phone screens in an initiative from the Link cash machine network and Morse.


A mixed crop for battling farms

FARMERS recovering from the drought of 2002-03 have received some good news and bad: the value of crop and livestock exports is forecast to rise but the price of wool is set to fall.


Coal deal fails to fill black hole

driven by China #39;s insatiable demand for Australian coal - are expected to boost national export earnings by \$12.5 billion this year.


Stelmar to Be Acquired for \$1.3 Billion

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. on Monday said it has agreed to be acquired by Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. for \$1.3 billion, including debt assumption.


Big Blue sells its PC division to China

IBM has quit the personal computer market 23 years after legitimising the PC revolution that changed everything - from the way we work to the fortunes of Microsoft #39;s Bill Gates.


Air Force ready to test new rocket

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Air Force is scheduled to launch a new Delta 4 rocket here this afternoon in a test that will help determine whether it can become a  quot;heavy lift quot; vehicle to carry billion-dollar


US retail sales remain strong in Nov

Retail sales rose 0.1pc in November, for the third straight monthly increase. Auto sales declined 1.3pc in the month, after falling 0.5pc in the previous month.


SingTel signs deal with Samsung Networks to tap S. Korean market

SINGAPORE : SingTel has teamed up with the South Korean conglomerate, Samsung, to tap the Korean market. Both companies have signed an agreement to distribute Internet Protocol for Virtual Private Networks services in Korea.


More Search Products Prowl for Market Share

We need a search engine to find all the search engines. Two more Web-query services launched last week, Accoona and Blingo; their initial performance, however, suggests market leaders Google and Yahoo don #39;t have reason to worry yet.


Maier Says His Season Has Not Started Yet

VAL D'ISERE, France (Reuters) - As far as Hermann Maier is  concerned, the Alpine skiing season has yet to start.


Bryant Accuses Malone Of Hitting On Wife

_ Another Kobe conflict for the Lakers. Bryant has accused Karl Malone of making a pass at his wife at a game last month. Talking before Los Angeles #39; 105-98 win over Orlando on Sunday night


Treasury Investors More Bearish After Drop in Yields (Update1)

Bond investors are less inclined to buy the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note after the security had its biggest weekly rally since September and before the Federal Reserve #39;s expected interest-rate increase this week.


GOLF: EUAN #39;S TITLE BID IS SUNK AT THE LAST

SCOT Euan Little #39;s chase for a bumper pay packet ended in a soggy mess after a dramatic finale to golf #39;s Dunhill Championship in South Africa.


Technical Problems Scrub Delta Four Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The launch of Boeing #39;s new Delta Four heavy-lift rocket was scrubbed for a second time Sunday because of technical problems.


Retail Sales Edge Up Slightly, Cars Down

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased by 0.1  percent in November, the Commerce Department said on Monday,  slightly stronger than expectations, while the previous month  was revised sharply higher.


Dollar Running Out of Steam

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar lost ground against the euro  and the yen on Monday after a brief rebound last week, as  investors grew cautious ahead of U.S. data on trade, the  current account deficit and investment flows later in the week.


Stocks Seen Higher, Oracle Could Help

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were set for a higher open  on Monday, helped by news business software maker Oracle Corp.  ORCL.O struck a deal to buy rival PeopleSoft Inc.PSFT.O,  ending a bitter takeover battle.


Oil Drops on Fund Selling

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell to a fresh five-month  low on Monday as a bout of fund-led selling countered a cut to  supplies by top OPEC exporter Saudi Arabia.


U.S. Stocks to Watch on Dec. 13

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks to watch on Monday: ORACLE  CORP. ORCL.O, PEOPLESOFT INC. PSFT.O:


DaimlerChrysler, GM Join on Hybrids

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler and General Motors  will jointly develop new hybrid motors to compete against  Japanese rivals on the fuel-saving technology that reduces  harmful emissions, the companies said on Monday.


Honeywell Agrees Takeover of UK's Novar

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. manufacturer Honeywell  International agreed a \$1.5 billion trump bid for Britain's  Novar Plc on Monday to beef up its security business and lift  2005 earnings from the low end of forecasts.


BRUSSELS:  quot;No Going Back quot; In Elimination Of WTO Quotas

The European Union council has officially adopted a proposal to eliminate all quantitative restrictions on the import of textile and clothing from World Trade Organisation countries from 1 January 2005.


US retail sales rise by 0.1 per cent in November, higher than <b>...</b>

US shoppers showed a bit of cheer at the cash registers in November, boosting sales at the country #39;s retailers by 0.1 per cent.


US Treasuries take a fall on upbeat sales data

Treasuries were stripped of early gains on Monday as US retail sales data proved strong when many in the market had been betting on a weak outcome.


Denmark mourns its tsunami dead

Denmark holds a national day of mourning for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster a week ago.


Maiden flight scrubbed again for Delta 4 rocket

The maiden flight of Boeing #39;s new Delta 4 heavy-lift rocket is expected to be delayed until the week of Dec. 19. Sunday, for the second day in a row, the booster #39;s planned


Catch The Shooting Stars In Tonight #39;s Meteor Shower

This one is named Geminids because it seems to originate from the constellation Gemini. It will deliver about a dozen stars an hour.


Apple iTunes accepts PayPal

Apple and PayPal announced on Friday that the US incarnation of the iTunes Music Store (ITMS) now accepts payment via PayPal #39;s Virtual Wallet.


Future path of Windows Server outlined

Microsoft #39;s Windows Server team has issued a road map for server products in 2005, indicating no changes to the most recent projected delivery dates for the next version of Windows Server 2003 and beyond.


Lennox rules out a comeback

Britain #39;s former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world retired last year after retaining his WBC title against giant Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko.


Powell warns of more Iraq attacks

The US Secretary of State warns of more violence in Iraq as elections approach, after a new suicide attack.


UN 'optimistic' over aid effort

The UN's emergency aid chief says he is optimistic the world will meet the challenges of the tsunami disaster.


Hamas Attack Seen As Attempt to Foil Progress

Israeli helicopters targeted two buildings in the Gaza Strip overnight following a massive explosion under an Israeli army post on the border between Israel and Egypt.


Pakistan denies CIA bases in hunt for bin Laden

Pakistan today denied a newspaper report the CIA has set up covert bases in the countrys remote tribal regions to hunt for Osama bin Laden.


RBC Royal Bank to refund  #36;9.2 million over banking fee billing errors (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Royal Bank is refunding about  #36;9.2 million to 152,000 customers who were charged a separate fee for a service that should have been included in their banking package fee. The refunds average about  #36;60 each.


Iraq Bomb Kills 7, Year After Saddam Capture

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least  seven Iraqis at an entrance to Baghdad's Green Zone government  and U.S. diplomatic compound on Monday, a year to the day since  U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein.


China, Russia to Hold Military Exercise in 2005

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia will hold their first  joint military exercises on Chinese territory next year, the  Interfax news agency quoted Russian Defense Minister Sergei  Ivanov as saying in Beijing on Monday.


Real to finish bomb scare match

Real Madrid and Real Socieded will play the final six minutes of their abandoned game.


Oracle, PeopleSoft

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- PeopleSoft Inc. agreed Monday to be bought by Oracle Corp. for \$10.3 billion, or \$26.50 a share, an 11 percent premium to Friday #39;s stock price, ending a bitter 18-month acquisition battle.


AMD, IBM Use Strained Silicon Transistor Advancement in 2005

Engineers from IBM, AMD, Sony and Toshiba have developed a strained silicon transistor technology aimed at improving processor performance and power efficiency with up to a 24 percent transistor speed increase.


WENDLER MAY HAVE SOME LSU COMPETITION

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor Walter Wendler may see some tough competition if he interviews for the chancellor position at Louisiana State University.


Telescopes capture planets in the making

Planet-building is dusty work, and now two space telescopes have captured images of cosmic construction materials: disks of dust circling stars about the same size as our sun.


Epic contest brings out the class

It was intense and committed without any of the brutishness that Manchester United employed to stop Arsenal #39;s unbeaten run of 49 league matches in October.


Notre Dame #39;s new football coach makes debut today.

A new era in Notre Dame football began at 8:42 pm Sunday as Charlie Weis whisked through the halls of the Joyce Center. Weis exited the dark blue Chevy sport utility vehicle


Pats manage to shake off Bengals

They chewed up huge chunks of yardage both in the air and on the ground. But the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday also found out the hard way that the key to


Rare anti-Mubarak demo in Cairo

Hundreds of Egyptians defy a ban on public protests to call for an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 23-year rule.


Suspended Spain Soccer Game Rescheduled (AP)

AP - The soccer game between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad that was suspended because of a bomb threat Sunday will be completed on Jan. 5.


Hello! fights against Zeta ruling

Hello! magazine challenges a ruling which made them pay damages to Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas.


Oracle Ups Its Offer and Buys PeopleSoft for \$10.3 Billion

The world's second-largest maker of business software was created in the deal, which ended a long and hostile battle.


Golden Globe Nominations Are Announced

"Sideways" led Golden Globe contenders today with seven nominations, including best musical or comedy film, three acting nominations and best director.


Car Bomb Kills 11, Wounds 13 in Baghdad

A powerful car bomb exploded near an entrance to Baghdad's fortified Green Zone Monday morning, killing 11 Iraqis and wounding at least 13 people, according to officials at nearby Yarmouk Hospital.


Nastase Concedes Defeat in Romanian Presidential Election

Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said Monday he had conceded defeat in Romania's presidential runoff in a telephone call to opponent Traian Basescu, whom he called "the future president of Romania."


Attack on Israeli Army Post Kills 4

Palestinians detonated a massive bomb underneath an Israeli military checkpoint on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt late Sunday afternoon, killing at least four Israeli soldiers and wounding eight others, Israeli military officials and Palestinian militants said.


PeopleSoft accepts latest Oracle offer

Oracle Corp. #39;s 18-month struggle to gain control of PeopleSoft Inc. drew to a close this morning when PeopleSoft #39;s board agreed to a new \$10.3 billion takeover offer.


Mustard-hot Frankfurt

Werner Seiffert, the chief executive of the Deutsche Brse, the German stock market, has made little secret of his determination to expand into London.


Honeywell Agrees Takeover of UK #39;s Novar

US manufacturer Honeywell International agreed a \$1.5 billion trump bid for Britain #39;s Novar Plc on Monday to beef up its security business and lift 2005 earnings from the low end of forecasts.


More Pain Coming at Tenet

Tenet (THC:NYSE - news - research) continued to test the nerves of its daring shareholder corps Monday, predicting a wider-than-expected fourth quarter loss, a billion-dollar writedown and another weak year in 2005.


Japan jumps on Sony #39;s PSP

Game fans stood in lines through a chilly Tokyo night to be among the first in the world to get their hands on Sony #39;s PlayStation Portable, the consumer electronics giant #39;s first handheld game machine.


Semiconductor Breakthrough: Processor 24 times faster

Your processor can now run 24 faster at the same power levels based on the new strained silicon transistor technology, as claimed by IBM and AMD today.


Geminid meteor showers alarm area residents

It #39;s a global celestial event and scientists say the annual Geminid Meteor Shower is the best astronomy show of the year. NASA #39;s Web site explains that the shower is created as Earth moves through a cloud


Put us together again

HARRY REDKNAPP aims to install Jim Smith as his assistant before Southampton face Tottenham next Saturday. Redknapp was unveiled as Saints boss last week - just a fortnight after leaving south-coast rivals Portsmouth.


Eagles prove toughness with ugly win

LANDOVER, Md. - Clinton Portis dived into the end zone with 12 minutes yet to bleed away on the game clock Sunday night, and now we would learn from what sort of stuff these Eagles are made.


Pak says India paranoid on F-16

Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday accused India of being  quot;paranoid quot; over its efforts to secure F-16 fighter aircraft and other weaponry from the US but said this would not have any bearing on nuclear and conventional confidence building measure talks between


What's That Smell, Autobytel?

The online auto marketer hits a rough patch in the road, deflating its profit outlook.


XM and Sirius Stream On

Satellite radio wins the market's straw poll by landing its two key players into the Nasdaq-100 Composite.


Stocks Surge on Oracle, PeopleSoft Merger

Investors welcomed the end of Oracle Corp. #39;s 18-month battle to take over PeopleSoft Inc., pushing stocks higher Monday. A better-than-expected survey of retail sales also helped the markets.


Deutsche Boerse Bids \$2.6 Billion for London Exchange (Update2)

Deutsche Boerse AG, Europe #39;s largest stock exchange by market value, made a 1.35 billion-pound (\$2.6 billion) takeover offer for London Stock Exchange Plc, its second attempt in five years to buy the UK company.


Cardinal Grounded by Job Cuts

Cardinal Health (CAH:NYSE - news - research) was grounded once again Monday after the struggling health care supplier laid out plans to cut 4,200 jobs.


IBM sale not to hit Indian mart

The acquisition of IBM #39;s personal computing division by China #39;s Lenovo Group is seen having little impact on the Indian market in the short- or medium-term, analysts and industry officials said.


Retail Sales Squeeze Out Gain

November sales data raised retailers #39; spirits Monday, as the government reported better results than expected after the holiday season had so far been viewed with some disappointment.


Attendance at Theme Parks Increases

Attendance at North America #39;s 50 most popular theme and amusement parks jumped almost 4 percent in 2004, the first overall increase since the 2001 terrorist attacks slowed the US travel and tourism industry.


Bank warns of soaring debt

Soaring household debt and the rise in credit card spending has left Briton #39;s borrowers teetering on the brink of a precipice when it comes to the amount they owe, the Bank of England has warned.


NASA Head OKeefe--Louisiana Bound?

Louisiana State University may be the next stop for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chief Administrator, Sean OKeefe, 48 years old.


Penn State encourages students to dump IE

Penn State, a public university with an enrollment of about 80,000 students, has made its browser choice, or at least a recommendation on which one not to use.


Monkeys ape human enterprise

LONDON, Dec. 11. - Monkeys use tools to dig up roots, crack seeds and dig insects from holes in trees, scientists have found, contradicting the traditional idea that humans are natures only toolmakers.


Madrid to finish bomb hoax match

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid and Real Sociedad will play out the remaining six minutes of Sunday #39;s match, which was interrupted by a bomb hoax purporting to come from ETA, on January 5. The clubs were drawing 1-1 when police evacuated 70,000 spectators.


13 Dec, 2004 - Miller wins Val d #39;Isere Giant Slalom

Hermann Maier faltered to give Bode Miller victory in the men #39;s Giant Slalom at Val d #39;Isre on Sunday. Maier had led after the first leg but, along with fellow Austrian #39;s Gruber and Raich, stuttered on the


49ers/Cardinals Box Score

49ers -- Wilson 19 pass from Dorsey (Peterson kick), 13:41. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:05. Dorsey 1-yard run on 4th-and-1 to San Francisco 35; Hicks 15-yard run to 50; Jackson 11-yard run to Arizona 19.


TURKEY AND THE EU A Sultan Looks West

This week, as EU heads of state meet to decide the fate of Turkey #39;s candidacy for EU membership, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be preparing his own run for the Turkish presidency.


North Korea denies defection of generals

December 14, 2004  A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman has denied an International Herald Tribune report that hundreds of the country #39;s generals defected to China.


DaimlerChrysler, GM to Team Up on Engines (AP)

AP - General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG, two of the world's biggest automakers, are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid technology for a range of vehicles that will help them compete with hybrid-vehicle leaders Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.


Japan Bank Exec: Economic Dip Is Temporary (AP)

AP - The head of Japan's central bank acknowledged Monday that the pace of economic recovery here may be slowing, but said the downturn is only temporary.


US Stocks Rise on Oracle #39;s PeopleSoft Purchase, Retail Sales

US stocks gained after PeopleSoft Inc. agreed to be bought by Oracle Corp. and Honeywell International Inc. made a UK purchase, signaling that companies are optimistic about the economy #39;s prospects.


London Stock Exchange rejects German takeover bid

The London Stock Exchange said Monday that it had rejected a fresh takeover proposal from German rival Deutsche Boerse but has agreed to further talks.


US retail sales up 0.1 percent in November

Retail sales in the United States increased by a modest 0.1 percent in November following a revised gain of 0.8 percent in October, the Commerce Department reported on Monday.


Theme Park Attendance Increases, Reversing Two-Year Decline

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendance at North America #39;s 50 most popular theme and amusement parks jumped almost 4 percent in 2004, the first overall increase since the 2001 terrorist attacks slowed the US travel and tourism industry.


Bayer Sells Plasma Unit to US Investors

BERLIN - Bayer AG, the German drug and chemical company, has agreed to sell its plasma products business for \$590 million in cash and stock to the private US investment groups Cerberus Capital Management and Ampersand Ventures.


IBM, AMD speed chips

p2pnet.net News:- AMD and IBM say theyve developed a unique technology that results in up to a 24 transistor speed increase at the same power levels as similar transistors made without it.


Yahoo! to get its own desktop search tool

After the launch of Google #39;s new desktop search tool, it was only a matter of time before other search engines followed suit. Yahoo!


Raiders Insider

Atlanta running back TJ Duckett set a team record with four rushing touchdowns to help the Falcons clinch their third division title in franchise history.


Dissolving army  #39;a mistake #39;

London - Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawar said on Monday the US-led coalition authorities had made a big mistake by dismantling the country #39;s armed forces and main government ministries after toppling Saddam Hussein from power.


US retail sales climb 0.1 percent in November (AFP)

AFP - US retail sales rose 0.1 percent in November, a better than expected start to the crucial holiday shopping season, seasonally adjusted government figures showed.


Oracle signs deal to buy PeopleSoft for \$10.3B

DECEMBER 13, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Oracle Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PeopleSoft Inc. for \$26.50 per share, or about \$10.3 billion, the companies said today, ending an acrimonious


OPEC to Cut Supply in Bid to Set Price

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) agreed on Friday to cut the supply of oil to world markets and defend higher prices in spite of concern about the effect of \$40-a-barrel oil would have on economies, businesses and households.


Stocks Seen Slightly Higher, Oil Slips

US stocks were set to open slightly higher on Monday, helped by another retreat in oil prices, while business software maker Oracle Corp.


Does Geico Own  #39;Geico #39; or Does Google?

NEW YORK - Geico doesn #39;t mind you Googling Geico, but when you do, it wants Google to tell you about Geico, not Allstate or AIG.


Tommy Hilfiger Agrees to Acquire Karl Lagerfeld Label (Update2)

Tommy Hilfiger Corp., known for its logo-splashed clothing and baggy jeans, agreed to buy the Karl Lagerfeld label to expand into luxury wear with apparel brands developed by the German-born designer.


Waste Management Sells Canadian Landfill

Waste Management Inc. on Monday said its Canadian subsidiary will sell a landfill in Chatham, Ontario to BFI Canada Income Fund in a deal worth up to \$90 million.


Bank of England warns on currency

Uncertainty about future foreign exchange moves and what impact they might have on interest rates and asset prices is one possible risk to a stable outlook for the financial system, the Bank of England said on Monday.


MFORMA, Marvel, Activision in Mobile Entertainment Alliance

MFORMA Group and Marvel Enterprises announced that the companies will bring content based on Marvel #39;s brands to mobile phone users.


Saturian Titian Flyby But Hours Away

The Cassini spacecraft is but hours away from a second flyby of the Saturian moon Titan set for Monday , December 13 with the closest approach image data arriving at about 8 PM.


Klitschko unimpressed by Lewis comeback hint

By Anthony Evans in Las Vegas pic by Mr Will : WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has welcomed the news that bitter rival Lennox Lewis is considering a comeback with derision.


China, Russia Will Hold First War Games

China and Russia will hold their first joint military exercise next year, the Chinese government said Monday, as President Hu Jintao called for an expansion of the rapidly growing alliance between the former Cold War rivals.


IFOP: French and Germans are against Turkey #39;s EU Membership

The French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP) announced that the majority of the public in France and Germany were definitely against Turkey #39;s European Union (EU) membership.


Phishing Scams Continue to Grow (PC World)

PC World - After a drop off earlier this fall, more fraudulent Web sites are popping up.


Motorola Gets Orders From China Unicom (AP)

AP - Motorola Inc. has been selected to provide a  #36;344 million expansion to a wireless network run by China United Telecommunications Corp., or China Unicom, one of the largest network operators in the world.


Stocks Surge on Oracle, PeopleSoft Merger (AP)

AP - Investors welcomed the end of Oracle Corp.'s 18-month battle to take over PeopleSoft Inc., pushing stocks higher Monday. A better-than-expected survey of retail sales also helped the markets.


Icelandic Tin Bath Could Give Earthquake Warnings (Reuters)

Reuters - A tin bath on the cliffs of\northern Iceland, where locals take a dip to treat skin\complaints, could help scientists give an early warning of big\earthquakes and save thousands of lives.


Endangered Whooping Cranes Arrive in Fla. (AP)

AP - Thirteen endangered whooping cranes landed safely at a west-central Florida wildlife refuge Sunday morning, finishing a 64-day, 1,200-mile journey from Wisconsin to their wintering grounds.


Egypt Unveils 2,500-Year-Old Tomb, Mummies (AP)

AP - Archaeologists unveiled Sunday the tomb of a member of a powerful family that governed a swath of western Egypt about 2,500 years ago, along with a dozen recently discovered mummies from Roman times.


Triathlete Out 2 Years

Nina Kraft is banned for two years by the German Triathlon Union on Monday after admitting taking a performance-enhancing drug EPO before the 2004 Ironman Triathlon World Championship.


Bomb Hits Iraq Govt., Year After Saddam Capture

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least  seven Iraqis at an entrance to Baghdad's government and  diplomatic compound on Monday, a year to the day since U.S.  forces captured Saddam Hussein.


Cingular Sells Stake of India Carrier for \$200 Million

Cingular, jointly owned by BellSouth and SBC Communications, said the buyers are Singapore Technologies Telemedia and TM International of Malaysia.


Canada #39;s Bombardier Fires CEO Tellier

Canadian trains and planes manufacturer Bombardier Inc. fired its chief executive officer on Monday and its share price dropped to record lows.


Tenet Says 4th-Quarter Loss to Widen From 3rd Quarter (Update2)

Tenet Healthcare Corp., the second- largest US hospital chain, said fourth-quarter charges may exceed \$1 billion and its loss from continuing operations will widen from the third quarter #39;s because of increased bad debt.


Bayer Sells Blood Products Unit \$590 Mln

Germany #39;s Bayer has agreed to sell its blood products business to US investment firms Cerberus and Ampersand Ventures for about \$590 million as it continues to narrow the focus of its health-care business.


Delta 4 Liftoff Delayed For At Least Week

CAPE CANAVERAL -- Weather and technical conflicts scrapped three planned attempts this weekend to launch the first Delta 4 Heavy from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, according to a report.


Yahoo! To Roll Out Desktop Search

Late last week, Yahoo! Inc. said it will begin testing a new desktop search engine in early January, with the hope of extending its search engine #39;s reach, thereby contributing added, incremental paid search revenue.


RUSSIA * CHINA * EU * ARMAMENTS * SUPPLY

BEIJING, December 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is not concerned about the possible lifting of the embargo on the supply of armaments to China from the EU countries, announced Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov at a press conference in Beijing.


Ethical fair trade - you knew it made sense until MS embraced it

Redefining confronting your weaknesses head-on


ATI Radeon Xpress 200G reference board

Review Quite a tempting package?


Wi-Fi extensions should breathe new life into 802.11a

Extension ratified for Japanese and US public safety band


IBM, AMD Speed Chips by Straining Silicon Wafers

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Researchers at IBM IBM.N and  Advanced Micro Devices Inc. AMD.N have improved a chip-making  technology called strained silicon, boosting  semiconductor  performance at a time when such gains are increasingly hard to  come by, the companies said on Sunday.


Oracle Softens up PeopleSoft

Larry Ellison might not wear a red suit and a white beard, but he sure knows how to deliver the goods for his investors. Next stop after the PeopleSoft acquisition? Germany, the home base of rival SAP. -washingtonpost.com


A Drive to Bring More Entertainment to Vehicles

Samer Salameh envisions a world in which you can videoconference, check and send e-mail, watch your favorite television shows, make online reservations at your favorite restaurant and pinpoint the best route around a traffic jam -- all from the comfort of your moving vehicle.


Storage Hardware Thomson To Support Both HD DVD and Blu-ray

Thomson #39;s Technicolor subsidiary will provide duplication services for both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats, based on customer preference, the company says.


Use PayPal on iTunes - Get Five Fre

PayPal has launched a new promotion offering five free tracks from the iTunes Music Store. You can now use PayPal to securely and easily buy music from the massive iTunes catalogue, including lots of exclusive tracks and videos.


Redknapp wants Smith reunion

Harry Redknapp has confirmed that he wants to appoint Jim Smith as his assistant manager at Southampton. The pair worked together at Portsmouth for more than two years before they left the club last month


Pats keep a-rollin #39;

Tom Brady threw for two touchdowns as the New England Patriots held off the visiting Cincinnati Bengals for a 35-to-28 victory Sunday.


Retired General Brings Military Expertise to  Firm's Contract Unit

HNTB Cos.  has recruited retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the former commander of the U.S. Southern Command, to serve as non-executive chairman of its federal government operation in Washington.


Anteon to Develop Army Training Video

Anteon International Corp. has won a \$10 million subcontract from Lockheed Martin Corp. to develop a video system for the Army to use in its urban warfare training.


AOL Creates Its Own Browsing Software

As part of its reincarnation, America Online Inc. is creating its own software for browsing the Web and playing movies and songs. It's a question of staying relevant in an increasingly broadband world.


PeopleSoft Relents, Agrees to Oracle Bid

NEW YORK (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc. on Monday agreed to a  sweetened \$10.3 billion buyout by rival software maker Oracle  Corp., relenting after a bitter, 18-month takeover saga marked  by personal insults, courtroom battles and the ouster of  PeopleSoft's chief executive.


Nov Retail Sales Edge Up as Car Sales Dip

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rose 0.1 percent  in November, the Commerce Department said on Monday in a  stronger-than-expected report that cemented views the Federal  Reserve will raise interest rates again this week.


Robin makes rare Christmas visit

A rare species of robin settles in for its first winter in Scotland after being spotted on a reserve in Aberdeenshire.


Space agency chief 'to resign'

The head of the US space agency Nasa Sean O'Keefe is preparing to resign, according to reports.


Bombardier CEO Resigns, Shares Plunge

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier resigned as president and  chief executive of train and plane maker Bombardier Inc.  BBDsvb.TO BBDb.TO, a year before his contract was to  expire, the company said on Monday.


Tenet: '05 Results Won't Exceed Breakeven

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Monday said  fourth-quarter charges could exceed \$1 billion and it does not  expect 2005 operating results to exceed breakeven as the  hospital operator struggles with fewer patients and bad debt.


Blind man 'sees' emotions

Scientists at Bangor University believe a blind man possesses a "sixth sense" that allows him to recognise sad faces.


3Com to Buy TippingPoint for \$430 Mln

CHICAGO (Reuters) - 3Com Corp. COMS.O on Monday said it  will buy network security firm TippingPoint Technologies Inc.  TPTI.O for about \$430 million, as 3Com expands its  telecommunications equipment offerings to compete better in the  market for large corporate users.


Nov Retail Sales Edge Up as Car Sales Dip (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. retail sales rose 0.1 percent\in November, the Commerce Department said on Monday in a\stronger-than-expected report that cemented views the Federal\Reserve will raise interest rates again this week.


SEC Won't Punish Global Crossing Founder (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. regulators have decided against\filing civil charges against Global Crossing Ltd. \founder Gary Winnick following a probe of its accounting\practices, his attorney said on Monday.


Supreme Court Limits Pollution Cleanup Lawsuits

The Supreme Court on Monday put restrictions on companies that want to voluntarily clean up their polluted land and sue former owners to share the costs.


Update: Oracle to buy PeopleSoft for \$10.3B

Oracle has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PeopleSoftfor \$26.50 per share, or approximately \$10.3 billion, the companies said Monday, ending an acrimonious takeover battle that has lasted for more than 18 months.


Siemens to decide fate of mobile phone unit in January

German electronics giant Siemens could decide on the future of its mobile phone manufacturing division as early as next month, a company spokesman said.


IBM, AMD develop new use of strained silicon

IBM and Advanced Micro Devices(AMD) have jointly developed a new method for implementing strained silicon technology on both positive and negative transistors, the companies are expected to announce Monday.


Phishing Scams Continue to Grow

After a drop off earlier this fall, more fraudulent Web sites are popping up.


Congress Fails to Act on Copyright Bills

Controversial bills proposed new penalties (including jail time) for copyright violations.


11am Markets Update

European stock markets rose this morning, amid news that the Frankfurt and London stock exchanges were considering a possible link.


Canada Confirms Second Mad Cow Case

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - A final laboratory test has  confirmed an Alberta dairy cow had mad cow disease, the second  case Canada has found in its herd, an industry source briefed  by veterinary officials said on Sunday.


Bombardier Board Ousts Chief Executive Paul Tellier (Update2)

Bombardier Inc., the world #39;s top maker of train equipment, ousted Chief Executive Officer Paul Tellier after the company #39;s market value dropped by two-thirds since he was hired two years


Jaguar Workers Vote Against Strike

Fifty-five percent of workers voted against strikes, in a ballot that drew participation by 77 percent of the 1,300 eligible employees.


Tenet:  #39;05 Results Won #39;t Exceed Breakeven

Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Monday said fourth-quarter charges could exceed \$1 billion and it does not expect 2005 operating results to exceed breakeven as the hospital operator struggles with fewer patients and bad debt.


SEC Won #39;t Punish Global Crossing Founder

US regulators have decided against filing civil charges against Global Crossing Ltd. (GLBC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) founder Gary Winnick following a probe of its accounting practices, his attorney said on Monday.


Court Case Pits Google and Geico

A FEDERAL judge in Alexandria, Va., will hear opening arguments today in a case that pits Geico against Google. Geico, the auto insurer owned by Berkshire Hathaway, sued Google in May for trademark infringement.


Microsoft #39;s  quot;Broader quot; Search Strategy

The Seattle Times article: MSN search engine has foot in door, takes a close look at how a search box in MSN Messenger 7.0 might reveal clues about MSN #39;s  quot;broader strategy in the search business.


Schwartzel has a very bright future

He is so young and so good that the mere sight of him hitting a golf ball might be enough to induce an older player to give up, go into a dark room and babble quietly to himself.


Irish and Huskies set to announce new coaches

Two major schools are expected to introduce their new head football coaches Monday, Notre Dame and Washington. Two weeks ago, Tyrone Willingham was fired as head coach at Notre Dame and Monday


Indiana nets title again

After the 1989 men #39;s soccer finalists were declared co-champions when the game couldn #39;t be settled in overtime, the NCAA instituted a penalty shootout following a set amount of extra time.


A Daily Look at U.S. Iraq Military Deaths (AP)

AP - As of Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at least 1,329 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,042 died as a result of hostile action, the Defense Department said. The figures include three military civilians.


Pregnant fan got too close

1. Pregnant fan sneaks into security area to be closer to Shah Rukh Khan as he performs, while fireworks go off. 2. Grenade thrown towards stage but lands in security area, killing pregnant fan.


UN calls for immediate end to Congo fighting

The United Nations called on Monday for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo as fighting between rival army factions flared for a third day.


Blast rips through Syrian capital

A suspected car bomb has exploded in a diplomatic quarter of Damascus wounding two people, Syrian officials say. The car was quickly removed by security teams who collected debris on the street in the Mazze area, reports said.


Chinese official moved as Hu consolidates power

China #39;s Communist Party chief Hu Jintao moved a close political ally out of a problem-plauged province on Monday and analysts say he will make more personnel changes as he continues to consolidate power.


Ukraine Leader: U.S. Meddled in Election (AP)

AP - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych accused the United States on Monday of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, claiming the Americans have financed his opponent's presidential campaign.


UN Calls for Immediate End to Congo Fighting (Reuters)

Reuters - The United Nations called on Monday\for an immediate cease-fire in eastern Congo as fighting\between rival army factions flared for a third day.


Bomb Hits Iraq Govt., Year After Saddam Capture

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least  seven Iraqis outside Baghdad's government compound on Monday, a  year to the day since U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein.


Blast Destroys Car in Damascus, Wounds Passerby

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A suspected bomb blew up in a car in a  crowded district of Damascus on Monday, destroying the vehicle  and slightly wounding a passerby, residents said.


Romanians Elect Reformist Centrist as President

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian opposition leader Traian  Basescu won a tight presidential election on Monday and vowed  to usher in a centrist government to end the ex-communist  left's hold on power and take the country into the EU in 2007.


OracleSoft At Last

This morning, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) announced double-digit gains in sales, net income, and per-share earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, plus a definitive agreement to acquire business


OPEC cuts oil production to hold prices

The oil producing OPEC cartel Monday began reducing its oil output to maintain prices around current levels, the Wall Street Journal reported.


3Com To Buy TippingPoint for \$340 Million

Security firm will operate as a division of 3Com; deal expected to close next year. By Networking Pipeline News. 3Com has signed an agreement to purchase the security company TippingPoint for \$340 million.


Cardinal shakeup to cut jobs, improve profit

Cardinal Health Inc. will cut 4,200 jobs, or 7 percent of its work force, as part of a three-year restructuring plan outlined Monday by the Central Ohio health-care products and services provider.


US Shipper Buys Stelmar for \$843 Mln

Greek shipping company Stelmar Shipping Ltd. (SJH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday agreed to be acquired by shipbuilder Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.


Auto Workers Strike Before Fiat Meeting

Some of Fiat #39;s auto workers struck for two hours Monday, a day ahead of a top-executive meeting that could determine whether Fiat SpA insists on an option to force General Motors Corp.


NFL Wrap: Rams Join Jets in Playoffs with OT Victory

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jeff Wilkens booted a clutch 31-yard  field goal to earn the St. Louis Rams a playoff berth with a  32-29 overtime victory over the New York Jets on Sunday as the  NFL postseason picture gained sharper focus.


IBM, AMD develop new use of strained silicon

DECEMBER 13, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - IBM and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. announced today that they have jointly developed a new method for implementing strained silicon technology on both positive and negative transistors.


O High-Def DVD Format, Where Art Thou?

Punches continue to be thrown in the fight over which next-generation DVD format will be established as the industry standard. (And there will be an industry standard, right corporate bigwigs?


Firefox gains hints browser wars may heat up

Washington - The Internet browser wars, dormant for several years, shows signs of heating up again as a result of gains from a new program called Firefox, a research report showed on Monday.


Microsoft MSN Desktop Search Out Today?

Microsofts MSN division will be holding a teleconference today at 1 pm EST to announce their newest addition to the MSN network.


Microsoft Updates Windows Server Roadmap: No WinFS for You

On Friday, Microsoft alerted me to sweeping changes in the Windows Server roadmap, an update of sorts to the information that Microsoft Senior Vice President Bob Muglia gave me during an interview in May.


Soccer: Gunners held at Highbury

the knockout blows on Judgment Day were restricted to Las Vegas as the capital #39;s contenders slugged themselves to a stalemate at Highbury.


#39;Kick up the backside for England, #39; says Vaughan after loss

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (AFP) - England captain Michael Vaughan admitted his team had received a  quot;kick up the backside quot; when they crashed to a seven-wicket defeat against South Africa A at Sedgars Park.


Turnovers cost Bengals in tough loss

To beat the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots anywhere, let alone at Gillette Stadium, it takes a spotless effort.


Hollywood Story wins Bayakoa Handicap

George Krikorian shows pictures at his eponymous movie theaters, but for the longest time, neither his best runner, Hollywood Story, nor his trainer, John Shirreffs, got their picture taken.


Palestinians not doing enough, says Sharon

Israel accused the Palestinian authorities on Monday of doing nothing to prevent attacks after five soldiers were killed in the deadliest assault since the death of Yasser Arafat more than a month ago.


Poe condition turns for worst

, Carlito Pablo. Editor #39;s Note: Published on page A1 of the Dec. 14, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. HIS PASS was good for three hours but former President


Hamas Member Escapes Damascus Bomb Blast

A member of the Palestinian militant group Hamas escaped unhurt on Monday when a bomb blew up his car in the Syrian capital Damascus, a Palestinian source said.


Italian police accused of beating protesters to stand trial

GENOA, ITALY - More than two dozen Italian police officers accused of beating protesters at the G-8 summit in Genoa must stand trial, a judge has ruled.


Cyprus wants Turkish  #39;normalisation #39; move by next March: FM

BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (AFP) - Cyprus wants Turkey to demonstrate willingness to normalize its relations with the Cypriot government before an EU summit next March, Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said Monday.


Bombardier chief executive Tellier quits

MONTREAL - Paul Tellier stepped down as as president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc., sending the train and plane maker #39;s shares down as much as 26 percent to a 10-year low on Monday.


Overseas Shipholding to buy Stelmar for \$843 mln

Greek shipping Stelmar Shipping Ltd. (SJH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it agreed to be acquired by shipbuilder Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.


Some auto workers strike on eve of top Fiat-GM meeting

ROME Some of Fiat #39;s auto workers struck for two hours a day ahead of a top-executive meeting. Tomorrow #39;s meeting could determine whether Fiat insists on an option to force General Motors to buy the struggling Italian auto group.


Test Confirms Second Canada Mad Cow Case

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - A final laboratory test has  confirmed an Alberta dairy cow had mad cow disease, the second  case Canada has found in its herd, an industry source briefed  by veterinary officials said on Sunday.


Chile Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case (Reuters)

Reuters - A Chilean judge on Monday\formally charged former dictator Agusto Pinochet with homicide\and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human\rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Oracle Finally Snags PeopleSoft

After 18 months of rancor, Oracle makes PeopleSoft an offer it can't refuse.  Also: IBM, AMD find ways to boost the performance of silicon chips   hellip;.  Survey ranks the most IT savvy countries; U.S. slips to 7th place   hellip;. and more.


Volkswagen to Open Assembly Plant in UAE (AP)

AP - German carmaker Volkswagen AG will begin assembling heavy trucks in the United Arab Emirates beginning in 2006, a spokesman said Monday.


Warriors Place Fisher on Injured List (Reuters)

Reuters - The Golden State\Warriors have placed guard Derek Fisher on the injured list\with a sprained right knee.


Judge Indicts Chile's Ex-Dictator Pinochet (AP)

AP - Gen. Augusto Pinochet was indicted Monday for the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 regime, and the former dictator was placed under house arrest.


College Sports TV Gets Cable Deals (AP)

AP - College Sports Television announced distribution deals with cable operators Cox and Charter Communications on Monday that could make the channel available in more than 65 million households.


Andy Roddick Fires Coach Brad Gilbert (AP)

AP - Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert this weekend after 1 1/2 years together that yielded a U.S. Open title and the No. 1 ranking.


Protesters Urge Delay for Ohio Electors (AP)

AP - Congressional Democrats and dissident groups asked the Ohio Supreme Court on Monday to review the outcome of the state's presidential race, hours before the Ohio delegation to the Electoral College was to cast ballots for president and vice president.


BEIRUT (Reuters) - A member of the Palestinian militant  group Hamas escaped unhurt on Monday when a bomb blew up his  car in the Syrian capital Damascus, a Palestinian source said.


Jacuzzi A Little Too Soggy

For a small cap, Jacuzzi has a megabrand. But it's probably not enough to excite investors.


OracleSoft At Last

Oracle announces a blowout quarter and a deal for PeopleSoft at \$26.50 per share.


Which Medications Are Your Best Bets?

Consumer Reports' effort to rate drugs offers a lesson to pharmaceutical companies.


Ford Fumbles First Hybrid SUV

At the worst possible moment, Ford announces the worst possible recall.


European Shares Edge Upwards

European shares edged higher on Monday bolstered by reassuring comments from UK bank Lloyds TSB on its earnings expectations for this year.


Jaguar Workers Reject Strike Action

Jaguar workers have voted against striking in protest at the ending of car production at their historic factory in Coventry, it was announced today.


Cardinal Health Plans to Slash 4,200 Jobs

Cardinal Health Inc., a medical products and services company, plans to cut 4,200 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan, the company said Monday.


SEC Drops Winnick Charges From Global Crossing Pact, People Say

US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman William Donaldson rejected a staff proposal to sanction Gary Winnick as part of a settlement with Global Crossing Ltd.


Robert Laberge/Getty Images

1. According to published reports, the source of the recent feud between Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone is that Kobe is accusing the Mailman of making a pass at his wife, Vanessa, at a Lakers game last month.


Koskie, Blue Jays reach preliminary agreement on \$17 million deal

Third baseman Corey Koskie plans to leave the Minnesota Twins for Toronto. Koskie and the Blue Jays reached a preliminary agreement last night on a 17 (m) million dollar, three-year contract.


Chile #39;s Pinochet Charged in Plot to Kill Opponents, Court Says

Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator, was indicted on charges that he took part in a plot by Latin American military regimes to kill opponents in the 1970s.


The PeopleSoft vs. Oracle story

A Register History The tale of Oracle #39;s attempt to buy Peoplesoft is a story of Larry Ellison #39;s relentless pursuit of his target in the face of implacable hostility from the PeopleSoft board.


London Stock Exchange rejects German takeover bid

The London Stock Exchange today rejected a 1.35bn takeover approach from German rival Deutsche Brse, but held open the prospect of further talks.


Paul Tellier dismissed as chief executive of Bombardier

MONTREAL (CP) - Paul Tellier was dismissed as president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. on Monday in a bombshell announcement that drove down the company #39;s stock to a record low.


Hilfiger to acquire Lagerfeld brands

Tommy Hilfiger Corp. announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to purchase German designer Karl Lagerfelds brands for an undisclosed cash amount.


Strained silicon to accelerate transistors by 24 percent

AMD and IBM have developed a strained silicon transistor technology which the firms believe will dramatically increase processor performance.


The Geminid Meteor Shower

The 2004 Geminid meteor shower is underway. Midnight sky watchers this weekend sawbright meteors shooting out of the constellation Geminid--at least a few per hour.


Un-Weis Planning

GameNight: Bob Davie says  quot;not intelligent quot; scheduling may have been the Irish #39;s downfall. And things don #39;t get easier the next few years.


Bashed by the Bus

Comparing the Jets #39; 17-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to their loss to the New England Patriots seven weeks ago is like comparing a torn ligament to a broken bone.


Hollywood Story rallies from fourth to win at Hollywood Park

Hollywood Story rallied from fourth turning for home to post a one-length victory Sunday over Royally Chosen in the \$150,000 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park.


EU to lift textiles quotas from next January

The European Union (EU) said Monday it would eliminate from January 1, 2005 all quantitative restrictions on the import of textile and clothing products from World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries.


3Com to Buy TippingPoint in Cash Deal

Networking hardware and software maker 3Com Corp. said Monday that it agreed to buy TippingPoint Technologies Inc. for \$430 million in cash in a move to strengthen its security offerings for business customers.


Such incidents won #39;t deter me: Shahrukh

Hours after a bomb ripped through his concert at Colombo, Shah Rukh Khan, who returned to Mumbai with his team mates, said the incident will not deter him from holding similar shows.


Croatia Presidential Race Goes Into Second Round

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia's pro-Western President Stjepan  Mesic narrowly failed to win re-election on Sunday, paving the  way for a second round run-off against the candidate of the  ruling conservative government.


Car explodes in  quot;act of sabotage quot; in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Dec 13 (AFP) - A car belonging to a Palestinian exploded in a residential district of Damascus on Monday, in what the Syrian authorities said was an  quot;act of sabotage.


Twenty-eight police to stand trial for G8 violence

A judge today ordered 28 police officers to stand trial for their alleged brutality in a raid against anti-globalisation protesters during the 2001 Group of Eight summit in Genoa, news reports said.


Cassini Express Pays Second Visit to Saturn #39;s Mystery Moon

Launched in 1997, the Cassini Huygens mission is a cooperative US\$3.27 billion venture between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Italy #39;s space agency.


UPDATE 1-Celtic regain Premier League lead

Celtic ditched Dunfermline 2-0 at East End Park on Sunday to reclaim top slot in the Scottish Premier League. Their bitter Glasgow rivals Rangers had gone top


No. 14 Arizona Defeats Arizona St. 97-79 (AP)

AP - Salim Stoudamire had 15 of his 18 points in the second half, helping No. 14 Arizona turn a close game into a 97-79 rout of Arizona State in their Pac-10 opener Sunday.


Chinese-Made Cars to Be Sold in U.S. (AP)

AP - The man who brought the Yugo and Subaru to this country has a new project  #151; becoming the first mass importer of low-cost Chinese-made cars.


Area Marine aids in Fallujah restoration

What once was the thriving Iraqi city of Fallujah now is a virtual ghost town of bombed-out buildings and piles of rubble. Nearly five weeks after the fight for the city began, a fight in which more than 50


Blast Destroys Car in Damascus, Wounds Passerby

A suspected bomb blew up in a car in a crowded district of Damascus on Monday, destroying the vehicle and slightly wounding a passerby, residents said.


CST Signs Deals

College Sports Television announced distribution deals with cable operators Cox and Charter Communications on Monday.


Bombardier CEO Quits, Shares Plunge

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier stepped down as president  and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. BBDsvb.TO BBDb.TO,  sending the train and plane maker's shares down as much as 26  percent to a 10-year low on Monday.


SEC Won't Punish Global Crossing Founder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators have decided against  filing civil charges against Global Crossing Ltd. founder Gary  Winnick following a probe of its accounting practices, his  attorney said on Monday.


Stocks Higher on Retail Data, Mergers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday following a  pickup in merger activity in the software and telecom sectors  and better-than-expected retail sales in November, which  signaled an uptick in consumer spending.


Vintner Chalone Spurns Rothchild,Stock Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Chalone Wine Group Ltd. CHLN.O a  U.S. winemaker, on Monday rejected an existing buyout offer  from French luxury wine maker Domaines Barons de Rothschild,  saying it was now entertaining a better offer.


Ford Expands Recall of SUVs to 600,000

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. F.N has expanded its  recall of Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs to nearly 600,000  vehicles, according to the automaker and the U.S. National  Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


Oracle to Buy PeopleSoft for \$10.3B

UPDATE: Oracle #39;s (Quote, Chart) dogged pursuit of PeopleSoft (Quote, Chart) was rewarded on Monday as PeopleSoft #39;s board of directors agreed to sell the company for \$10.3 billion.


China to Impose Duties on Clothing Exports

China has decided to impose duties on its exports of textiles and apparel, a move that could ease worldwide fears that Chinese clothing makers will soon dominate the global market after its liberalization on Jan.


The Chalone Wine Group Ltd. (CHLN.O: Quote, Profile, Research) a US winemaker, on Monday rejected an existing buyout offer from French luxury wine maker Domaines Barons de Rothschild, saying it was now entertaining a better offer.


Tuesday Morning tumbles on Monday

Close-out retailer Tuesday Morning Corp. said Monday it expects fourth-quarter and full-year earnings and full-year sales to miss analysts #39; expectations due to poor sales of decorative


DaimlerChrysler, GM Join on Hybrids

DaimlerChrysler and General Motors will jointly develop new hybrid motors to compete against Japanese rivals on the fuel-saving technology


Americans Enticed by Digital Cameras (AP)

AP - At age 75, Marilyn Smith discovered a wealth of reasons this holiday season to switch to a digital camera.


High-Tech Roads Forecasting System Ready (AP)

AP - A new high-tech computer system that provides pinpoint weather forecasts for specific stretches of highway, tested in Iowa over the past two winters, is attracting interest from transportation officials worldwide.


UK Amazon Boss Dreams of a Digital Christmas (Reuters)

Reuters - Amazon.com's UK chief hopes sales of\digital music players and DVDs will propel the online retailer\to its best quarter ever as footsore shoppers abandon the high\street for their Internet terminals.


Sony #39;s PSP Launch Greeted by Long Lines of Buyers

Sony #39;s first hand-held game machine is vying to give Nintendo a run for its money in Japan this holiday season. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata is taking the news with a grain of salt.


WENGER - LAPSES WILL COST US

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenals title defence will fail if they do not sort out their costly lapses at set-pieces quickly. The Gunners twice led against Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea thanks to a double


Four Heavyweight Champs Is the Same as None

OVER the last four decades, even the casual sports fan could usually name the accepted world heavyweight champion, beginning with boxing #39;s golden era of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George


SAP unfazed by Oracle, Peoplesoft merger (AFP)

AFP - SAP, the world's leading maker of business software, said it was not concerned by the creation of a new number two in the sector via the merger of rivals Oracle and Peoplesoft in the United States.


Oracle buys PeopleSoft for 10.3 billion dollars (AFP)

AFP - Oracle sealed a deal to buy rival business software firm PeopleSoft for 10.3 billion dollars after a bitter 18-month battle, the two firms announced.


Pakistan denies CIA has set up bases on its soil in hunt for Osama <b>...</b>

Pakistan said Monday there is no evidence that al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden is hiding in the country, and denied it had allowed CIA agents to set up bases along its border to hunt the terror mastermind.


Fish Levels in Lake Michigan a Concern (AP)

AP - On the surface, Lake Michigan is one of the world's biggest and wildest bodies of freshwater and a popular fishing destination.


British sufferer of madcow disease no longer 'terminally ill': dad (AFP)

AFP - A British man suffering from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the human form of mad cow disease is no longer terminal ill, thanks to an experimental medical treatment, his father said.


Bombardier CEO Quits, Shares Dive

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Paul Tellier stepped down on Monday as  president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. BBDsvb.TO  BBDb.TO, surprising investors and sending the train and plane  maker's shares down as much as 26 percent to a 10-year low.


India-Pakistan peace boosts trade

Trade between India and Pakistan increases after the nations embarked on a peace process although it remains a tiny fraction of overall exports.


Cuba starts 'huge' military drill

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and "millions" of civilians take part in defence exercises in Cuba.


Turkey 'must admit WWI genocide'

France's foreign minister says Turkey should acknowledge the 1915 genocide of Armenians before it joins the EU.


Dissecting flu's deadly weaponry

Scientists hope the understanding of past flu pandemics can help us better prepare for future crises.


3Com to acquire TippingPoint for \$430 million

3Com Monday announced plans to acquire TippingPoint Technologies, a maker of intrusion prevention systems, for approximately \$430 million in stock.


Unocal to Settle Lawsuits Over Myanmar Abuse

Unocal Corp. has agreed to settle two closely watched lawsuits accusing the US oil giant of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses that occurred during the construction


Sony PSP Flying Off Shelves - 200,000 First-Day Sales

Sony #39;s handheld gaming device, the PlayStation Portable, reportedly sold more than 200,000 units on its first day of availability in Japan.


Pats #39; Weis Accepts Top Notre Dame Job

BOSTON -- The University of Notre Dame has officially announced the appointment of its new head coach, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.


Roddick splits with Gilbert after 1 years

Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert this weekend after 11/2 years together that yielded a US Open title and the No. 1 ranking. No specific reason was given for the surprising split in a statement Roddick released Monday through SFX Sports Group.


Wanadoo UK begins major broadband drive

France Telecom makes 'substantial and significant' investment


The PeopleSoft vs. Oracle clash

A Register History


FPJ placed on life support

Philippine movie icon Fernando Poe Jr.s condition has deteriorated, prompting doctors to put him on life support following a massive stroke over the weekend, his spokesman said yesterday.


Malaysia, Singapore Work to Repair Ties

Malaysia and Singapore on Monday made significant progress in repairing four decades of soured relations, agreeing to hold top-level talks on a range of disputes including


Wither The Dollar

A weak dollar should be good for U.S. exports. But it's already causing pain overseas, and in the long run it could drive up the cost of living at home


The New Breed

The TIME/CNN 25 Business Influentials/Setting the Global Standards for Management, Ethics, Marketing and Innovation


CalPERS: Corporate Reformer Under Fire

The California Public Employees' Retirement System, a state agency that used its power to influence corporations


IBM Puts The PC In Its Past

The computer giant hands off its personal-computer business business to a Chinese firm


Chile Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A Chilean judge on Mondayformally charged former dictator Agusto Pinochet with homicideand kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to humanrights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


France Proposes Ex-EU Trade Chief Lamy to Head WTO

 By Timothy Heritage

 PARIS (Reuters) - France has formally proposed formerEuropean Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy as a candidate tohead the World Trade Organization (WTO), Lamy said on Monday.


"Of Course It Was Poisoning"

Viktor Yushchenko talks to TIME's Yuri Zarakhovich about the attack on his life, who he believes did it, what he'll do if elected President of Ukraine, and what he thinks of Vladimir Putin's Russia


Poisoned. But Whodunit?

The Ukrainian election takes a new twist after a stunning medical disclosure


Choking on Growth

Rapid economic development has led to filthy air. The good news: this is a mess that can be cleaned up


PeopleSoft Ends Fight, Accepts Oracle #39;s \$10.3 Bln Bid (Update8)

PeopleSoft Inc. capitulated to Oracle Corp., accepting a sweetened \$10.3 billion offer to end an 18- month battle that pitted PeopleSoft against its shareholders and led to the ouster of its chief executive.


IBM PC Users Face Uncertain Future

DECEMBER 13, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Now that IBM plans to sell its PC division to Beijing-based Lenovo Group Ltd., the big question is whether the companies can keep users from defecting to other vendors -- which would put IBM #39;s once standard-setting PCs


Tuesday Morning Lowers 2004 Guidance

Home accessories and gift retailer Tuesday Morning Corp. on Monday lowered its 2004 earnings guidance and forecast fourth-quarter results below Wall Street expectations on lower-than-expected seasonal sales.


Iraqi President Faults Army #39;s Dissolution

The interim president of Iraq, Ghazi al-Yawer, says the US-led coalition made a big mistake when it disbanded the Iraqi armed forces after last year #39;s invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.


Stocks Climb; Retail Sales, Oracle Help

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, after he  government said retail sales in November were better than  expected, a sign of economic strength.


Import Cars Need Parts, Too

Generic auto parts retailers benefit from the explosion in the popularity of import car culture.


Stocks Up on PeopleSoft Deal, Retail Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday after  software maker PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O accepted rival Oracle  Corp.'s ORCL.O buyout offer and a government report showed  better-than-expected retail sales in November, signaling an  uptick in consumer spending.


AMD, IBM Improve Processor Performance

Companies will use strained silicon to boost transistor speed.


Battle ended with a single phone call

Oracles 18-month hostile takeover battle for PeopleSoft came to an end on Friday evening with a single phone call. A PeopleSoft director, through an attorney, contacted Oracle with the lucky number: \$26.50


Honeywell to Buy Novar to Expand in Building Products (Update9)

Honeywell International Inc., the world #39;s largest supplier of building controls, agreed to buy Novar Plc for 798 million pounds (\$1.53 billion) to expand its security, fire and ventilation-systems business in Europe.


Bombardier CEO Quits, Shares Dive

Paul Tellier stepped down on Monday as president and chief executive of Bombardier Inc. (BBDsvb.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) (BBDb.


Souness gets one-match ban for improper conduct

Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has received a one-match touchline ban for imporper conduct, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday.


Baldini out at struggling Parma

Parma, Italy (Sports Network) - Parma fired coach Silvio Baldini Monday after a loss to Livorno on Sunday left the club near the bottom of the table.


Chilean Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case

A Chilean judge on Monday formally charged former dictator Augusto Pinochet with homicide and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Arab press roundup: December 13, 2004

Arab newspaper highlighted and commented on PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas #39; apology to Kuwait for the Palestinian position on Iraq #39;s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, angered by what it saw as the PLO #39;s support of the invasion.


New Florida Coach Meyer Names Coaches (AP)

AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer nearly filled out his coaching staff Monday, keeping two assistants from Ron Zook's staff and bringing four with him from Utah.


Weis Introduced at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Sports Network) - Charlie Weis was  introduced as the new head football coach at Notre Dame on  Monday and said he intends to bring the program back to  national prominence.


SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A Chilean judge on Monday  formally charged former dictator Augusto Pinochet with homicide  and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human  rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Bomb Kills 7 Iraqis, Year After Saddam's Capture

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least  seven Iraqis outside Baghdad's government compound on Monday,  the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture.


Hamas Member Escapes Damascus Bomb Attack, 3 Hurt

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A bomb blew up in a car owned by a  Palestinian in a crowded district of Damascus on Monday and a  Palestinian source in Beirut said the blast was an attempt to  kill a member of the militant Hamas group.


Jets and Rams Make Playoffs

Jeff Wilkins made a 31-yard field goal with 3:02 left in overtime to give the St. Louis Rams a 32-29 win over the Jets as both teams made the playoffs.


German Stocks Gain, Paced by TUI, E.ON; Deutsche Boerse Slumps

German stocks rose, led by TUI AG after the tour operator #39;s German low-cost airline unit said it plans to boost the number of passengers on its flights by about 40 percent next year amid higher demand.


New Computer Chip Built for Speed

IBM and Advanced Micro Devices have announced that they have produced a silicon chip with a marked improvement in speed by using strained silicon technology.


NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe to Resign

WASHINGTON Dec 13, 2004 - Sean O #39;Keefe, who has spent three tumultuous years running the nation #39;s space program, is preparing to resign, a government official says.


Apple PayPals Around

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) is making its iTunes service a little more user friendly, by teaming up with eBay #39;s (Nasdaq: EBAY) PayPal to facilitate payments.


Spidey slings into wireless Web with Mforma deal

Those characters, as well as more familiar Marvel comics stars like Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, are going mobile. Publisher Mforma Group Inc.


England fans get first taste of SA

With just two warm-up games prior to the Tests, Michael Vaughan and his men have had little time for relaxation. But for the supporters out here the opening games at Randjesfontein and Potchefstroom


Seven Marines die in Anbar fighting

Seven Marines have died in combat in western Iraq. The fighting in Anbar, a vast province including Fallujah and Ramadi, was the deadliest for US forces since eight Marines


UN Calls For Cease-Fire As Congo Factions Continue Fighting

The United Nations has called on all factions involved in several days of fighting in eastern Congo to agree to a cease-fire. Clashes continued Monday as the United Nations ordered the government


Darfur Mediators Demand Respect of Cease-fire

African Union mediators at peace talks for Sudan #39;s Darfur region say there has been an escalation of cease-fire violations during the past three months, and that these must stop before a comprehensive peace accord can be reached.


Sprint and Nextel: A Done Deal?

Rumors are swirling that the next massive wireless merger is in the works.


USA : Tommy Hilfiger buys Karl Lagerfeld brands

US fashion company Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and German designer Karl Lagerfeld, in a surprise move, have teamed up to build Mr Lagerfeld #39;s brands on a worldwide basis.


US Economy: Retail Sales Rise 3rd Month in November (Update1)

US retail sales unexpectedly increased for a third month in November, easing concern that consumers will be tight-fisted this holiday shopping season.


Bombardier Board Ousts Chief Executive Paul Tellier (Update3)

Bombardier Inc. ousted Chief Executive Officer Paul Tellier after he failed to stem a decline in profit, shares and credit ratings during his two-year tenure.


DaimlerChrysler, GM to Team Up on Hybrid Engines

General Motors and DaimlerChrysler are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid technology for a range of vehicles. The engines are expected to help them compete with hybrid-vehicle leaders Toyota and Honda.


Microsoft Set to Unveil Desktop Search, MOOL

Microsoft on Monday morning will likely debut a beta version of its desktop search and unveil a new connection service to tie Hotmail and the Outlook mail client.


Geminid Meteor Shower Could Be Spectacular

DENVER -- Coloradans willing to brave the nighttime cold and get away from the lights of the city could be in for a spectacular show Monday night.


Sun shows pleb-ready thin client

At long last, Sun Microsystems has delivered a new set of thin client technology that could well push the slim computing devices into the hands of the average consumer.


Shevchenko Crowned as Europe #39;s Finest

Arsenals Thierry Henry today missed out on the European Footballer of the Year award as Andriy Shevchenko took the honour. AC Milan frontman Shevchenko held off competition from Barcelona pair Deco and


NIGERIA-SUDAN: Violence pushes peace talks off track

ABUJA, 13 December (IRIN) - Continuing violence in Darfur is derailing efforts to find a political roadmap out of a crisis that has pitted the Sudanese government against rebel groups for almost two years, delegates at AU-sponsored talks said on Monday.


Fatal stabbings raise concern over dangerous holiday party season for teens (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The fatal stabbing of a young man trying to eject unwanted party guests from his family home, the third such knifing in just weeks, has police worried about a potentially fatal holiday recipe: teens, alcohol and knives.


Retails Sales Up in November

Consumers showed a bit of cheer in November, boosting sales at the nation #39;s retailers by 0.1 percent. The newest report on consumers #39; buying, issued by the Commerce Department today, turned out to be somewhat


Cardinal Health to Slash 4,200 Jobs

DUBLIN, Ohio - Cardinal Health Inc., a medical products and services company, plans to cut 4,200 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan, the company said Monday.


Chipmakers Advance Transistor Technology

IBM (Quote, Chart) and AMD (Quote, Chart) have devised a new silicon transistor technology they claim will boost the speeds of single- and dual-core chips.


Sony PSP Debuts To Strong Sales

The fight for the top of the portable gaming mountain has begun in earnest in Japan. Following up Nintendo #39;s highly anticipated DS launch, Sony has launched their version of a portable gaming system, the PSP.


Online map of brain genes to be released

It has been billed as one of the most massive information-crunching, gigabyte-gobbling research endeavors in history -- which might explain why after a year #39;s work, scientists have gotten through only about one-tenth of a mouse #39;s brain.


Iraq ; Car bomb kills seven in Baghdad

Iraq News, A suicide car bomber killed at least seven people today next to the heavily fortified area in central Baghdad housing the interim government and US embassy, and eight US Marines died in combat in western Iraq.


Pakistan denies CIA has set up bases on its soil in hunt for Osama <b>...</b>

Pakistan on Monday denied a newspaper report that the CIA has set up covert bases in the country #39;s remote tribal regions to hunt for Osama bin Laden and stop him from plotting another attack on the United States.


Almost 40 ceasefire violations in Darfur from October: official

ABUJA, Dec 13 (AFP) -- An African Union ceasefire commission said about 40 ceasefire violations by parties to a conflict in Sudan #39;s Darfur crisis were recorded between October and early December, an AU spokesman said.


Malaysia, Singapore Propose Key Political Deal

Malaysia and Singapore agreed Monday to work on a proposal to solve some of their long-standing bilateral disputes in what could be a milestone in relations between the two quarrelsome neighbors.


EU calls for 'free' Maldives vote

The European Union calls for free and fair elections in the Maldives with a parliamentary vote due this month.


Top 10 in AP Women's Poll Stays Same (AP)

AP - From LSU at No. 1 to Ohio State at No. 10, The AP women's basketball poll had no changes Monday.


Allen center to post first brain-map data

The Allen Institute for Brain Science is making its first batch of scientific results available to the public today, through a map that shows where nearly 2,000 genes are actively operating in the mouse brain.


Tiger Wins Own Tournament

Tiger Woods closed with a 5-under 66 to forge a two-stroke victory over Padraig Harrington of Ireland in the Target World Challenge.


Kansas City vs. Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Dick Vermeil and Jeff Fisher #39;s last meeting was one that will live in NFL lore. Vermeil and Fisher will oppose each other for the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV on Monday


Pennington shoulders blame in loss to Steelers

Chad Pennington put yesterday #39;s 17-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers squarely on his own shoulders, but he is certainly not the only one to blame, as the Jets


Roddick splits with coach Gilbert

Andy Roddick has sacked Brad Gilbert, the coach who guided him to world number one and the US Open crown in 2003. No reason has been given for the split.


Blue Jays bring Koskie home

ANAHEIM -- Suddenly, being Canada #39;s undisputed National Team comes with a burden, the Toronto Blue Jays seem to understand. Getting prominent Canadian natives into a Toronto uniform is part of the responsibility.


U.S. Stocks Climb as Oracle Deal Lifts

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday after  software maker PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O accepted rival Oracle  Corp.'s ORCL.O buyout offer and data showed  better-than-expected November retail sales, signaling an uptick  in consumer spending.


Lockheed Martin to Buy Stasys Ltd.

Defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. on Monday said it agreed to buy Stasys Ltd., a Britain-based technology and consulting firm specializing in network communications and defense interoperability.


Inquiring Minds at OmniVision

The SEC begins an informal inquiry into the image sensor maker's restatement.


Oracle Buys PeopleSoft for \$10.3 Billion

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc. on Monday agreed  to a sweetened \$10.3 billion buyout by rival software maker  Oracle Corp., relenting after a 18-month takeover saga that  included the ouster of PeopleSoft's chief executive.


Retail Sales Edge Up as Car Sales Dip

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy showed signs of  strength with the release of stronger-than-expected retail  sales data on Monday that helped cement views the Federal  Reserve will raise interest rates again this week.


Retail Sales Rise a Surprise?

Is today's big retail news a surprise? Only for those who weren't paying attention.


Stocks 2005: Make Sure Risks Are Compensated!

Bill Mann looks back at the returns from the three previous years of our annual stock guide.


China to impose tariffs on some textile exports

Bangladeshi garment exporters are poised to breathe a sigh of relief as China has decided to impose tariffs on some of its textile export items in preparation of the upcoming global textile quota phase-out.


The Logic Behind a Sprint-Nextel Deal

The imminent deal underscores how rapidly wireless is displacing the traditional land-line phone business. If the merger goes through, Sprint plans to sell off its local-phone business, which


Eurostocks close higher

Shares in the LSE jumped nearly 26 per cent to a new record at 540 pence after Deutsche Boerse made a 1.3-billion approach, which was rejected by Europe #39;s biggest equity market.


Cingular Sells IDEA Cellular Stake

Cingular Wireless continues to meet its AT amp;T Wireless merger approval obligations to shed some assets. The latest: The carrier is selling its stake in IDEA Cellular.


3Com beefs up security with \$430M acquisition

com December 13, 2004, 10:51 AM PT. TippingPoint makes an intrusion prevention appliance called UnityOne that sits on networks and quickly inspects incoming packets to determine whether they are malicious.


Tellier: Bombardier Tells CEO To Take Flight

Planes, trains and no CEO: Bombardier fired its chief executive officer on Monday and its Toronto-traded stock dropped to a record low.


No SEC charges for Global Crossings ex-head

Gary Winnick, the former chairman of Global Crossing, the Bermuda-based telecommunications group which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2002, will not be fined


Volkswagen enters close cooperation with Abu Dhabi

the German vehicle producing giant Volkswagen will assemble trucks in Abu Dhabi and enter a car leasing joint venture with the Gulf emirate, it was announced Monday.


Franklin Funds Strikes  #36;20 Mln SEC Deal (Reuters)

Reuters - Two units of mutual fund company\Franklin Resources Inc.  agreed to pay  #36;20 million in\civil penalties to settle charges that they used fund assets to\pay for marketing and failed to adequately tell investors,\federal regulators said on Monday.


IBM, AMD Find Way to Improve Chip Performance

We #39;ve known about  quot;strained silicon quot; for a while--but now there #39;s a better way to do it. Straining silicon improves chip performance.


Micosoft Introduces MSN Toolbar Suite Beta

Microsoft introduced a beta version of its new MSN Toolbar Suite, with desktop search functionality. The new MSN Toolbar Suite includes an updated version of the popular MSN Toolbar for Microsoft Internet


Sony Debuts PSP To Challenge Nintendo

Sony began selling the new PSP Playstation Portable yesterday in Japan. The company says it will ship 500,000 units of the console, which plays music, videos and games by the end of the year.


NASA chief to resign

NASA administrator Sean O #39;Keefe will resign his post, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday. NASA sources told CNN on Sunday that O #39;Keefe would announce his resignation Monday, but later said the announcement would come Tuesday.


Geminid Meteor Shower Could Be Spectacular

WASHINGTON -- It #39;s a global celestial event, and scientists say the annual Geminid Meteor Shower is the best astronomy show of the year.


Samsung #39;s MMCmicro shrinks flash memory further

Yet another card format is here, spun off of the venerable MMC format by Samsung. This one is small enough to fit on a key of a keyboard, or into the smallest device.


Report: Firefox Gains 34 Percent in November

Firefox use around the world climbed 34 percent in the last month, according to a report published by Web analytics company WebSideStory Monday.


Worldwide Technology Consumers To Lose in DVD Standards War

Blu-ray and HD DVD -- will be costly to everyone concerned, analysts say. The availability of two rival formats will raise prices and confuse consumers.


HP Targets China #39;s PC Market

Hewlett-Packard has begun selling a Pavilion PC that runs on processors from Advanced Micro Devices and a FreeDOS operating system.


Allen Institute Debuts  #39;Google for Gene Activity #39;

(12/13/04)The Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS) has released its first dataset of gene expression data in the brain for nearly 2,000 mouse genes - the first public release of the Allen Brain Atlas initiative.


Mforma Spins Spidey A Wireless Web

Mforma has inked a multi-year, multi-level agreement with Marvel Enterprises to bring the likes of Spider-Man, X-Men, Blade, Ghost Rider and more to the world of wireless.


An ATM approach to renting movies

Most people are accustomed to automatic tellers at the mall that spit out cash and stamps. Eduardo Alvarez wants to persuade you to use an automatic teller at the grocery


Moon that mimics early Earth revisited

Saturn #39;s haze-shrouded moon Titan gets a second look today from the international Cassini Huygens spacecraft. Cassini #39;s planned flyover altitude of 746 miles above the moon is the same as its October flyby.


Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko wins Golden Ball award

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko was named the Ballon d #39;Or (Golden Ball) award winner on Monday as European soccer player of the year.


Souness gets one-match ban

Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has received a one-match touchline ban for improper conduct, the Football Association (FA) says.


Neeskens sacked as NEC Nijmegen coach

Johan Neeskens has been sacked as coach of NEC Nijmegen, the struggling Dutch first division club said in a statement on Monday. NEC are 14th in the standings


Cavaliers activate Wagner

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday activated guard Dajuan Wagner from the injured list. Wagner, 21, missed the last five games with soreness in his right foot.


Gaza violence dents peace hopes

depends on whether they can rein in militants, who killed five Israeli soldiers in Gaza in an attack on Sunday. drew missile strikes in a swift reprisal and dimmed hopes for an end to decades of conflict in the post-Arafat era.


Pinochet indicted on human rights charges

A Chilean judge has ordered the house arrest of the country #39;s former dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, on human rights charges.


Iran nuke talks launched

Three European powers and Iran have begun talks on a long-term agreement on nuclear, economic and security cooperation with both sides seeking to build trust amid continuing suspicion over Tehran #39;s atomic programme.


Holiday Tech Buying Guide

Fast Forward columnist Rob Pegoraro hosts the third in a series of discussions on The Washington Post's holiday tech buying guide and answer your personal tech questions.


New Strained Silicon Server Chips in  #39;05

Thanks to a new  #39;Dual Stress Liner #39; strained silicon manufacturing technique, AMD and IBM today announced that new Athlon64 and Power processors, set to debut in early 2005, could offer a performance boost of up to 24 percent.


Airborne Cell Phone Ban Like To Remain in Effect

Hopes -- and worries -- that U.S. regulators will soon end the ban on using wireless phones during U.S. commercial flights are likely at least a year or two early, government officials and analysts say.


Former dictator Pinochet ordered to stand trial for murder <b>...</b>

SANTIAGO (AFP) - A Chilean judge ordered former dictator Augusto Pinochet to stand trial on murder and kidnap charges linked to his role in Operation Condor, a conspiracy of 1970s South American dictatorships to eliminate opponents.


The Military Family Network

One year after US forces found him hiding in a spider hole near his hometown of Tikrit, former dictator Saddam Hussein remains imprisoned at an undisclosed location awaiting his trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.


Retail Sales Rose an Unexpected 0.1 Percent in November

In the latest snapshot of the holiday shopping season, the government reported a better performance than Wall Street had been expecting.


Sony Launches Playstation Portable

An initial 200,000 of the consoles went on sale in Tokyo on Sunday as thousands of shoppers lined up overnight to buy the first devices.


Bettis Is Key to Surprising Steelers (AP)

AP - Jerome Bettis is often a broken-down Bus by now, weary and worn out after all those games of 20-plus carries and all the contact that goes with being an NFL power running back.


Miller skis to another World Cup win

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Bode Miller continued his impressive 2004-05 World Cup skiing season by winning a night slalom race in Sestriere, Italy on Monday.


Cavs activate Wagner from injured list

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers activated guard Dajuan Wagner from the injured list Monday. Wagner has missed the last five games because of soreness in his right foot.


Red Sox Replacing Team Physician Morgan (AP)

AP - The Boston Red Sox are replacing team physician Bill Morgan, who helped stitch together a World Series title by suturing Curt Schilling's ankle and allowing him to stay in the postseason rotation.


Dinosaur Tales

Argentina is a great place for a confab on catastrophic climate change, only Buenos Aires isn #39;t the city for it. The delegates to this tenth Conference of the Parties to


Military signs deal to develop anti-anthrax inhaler (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Defence officials have signed a  #36;2.9-million deal with a U.S. firm to develop an anti-anthrax inhaler that could be available for civilian as well as military use.


McCain: 'No Confidence' in Rumsfeld (AP)

AP - U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday that he has "no confidence" in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, citing Rumsfeld's handling of the war in Iraq and the failure to send more troops.


'Grand Theft Auto': Keeping America safe from crime

Turns out that "Grand Theft Auto," the game that many of America's moral watchdogs fear will turn the nation's youth into a vast gang of pimp-smacking, carjacking hoods, actually prevents crime in some cases. Missing Links


Bombardier chief to leave company

Shares in train and plane-making giant Bombardier have fallen to a 10-year low following the departure of its chief executive and two members of the board.


ST Telemedia, TM International to acquire 48 per cent stake in <b>...</b>

Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) and TM International, the international investment arm of Telekom Malaysia (together as a Consortium), have entered into definitive agreements to acquire a 47.7 per cent stake in IDEA Cellular (IDEA


Networking, Security Integration Reaches  #39;TippingPoint #39;

The trend of merging network and security technologies continued today as 3Com (Quote, Chart) bought TippingPoint Technologies (Quote, Chart) for approximately \$430 million, the companies said.


Terps Rally Falls Short

Maryland nearly comes all the way back from a 17-point defecit but it is unable to complete the rally as it falls, 77-67, to Virginia Tech.


Real to complete bomb threat match

Real Madrid will play the final seven minutes of their Primera Liga match against Real Sociedad next month after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of their Bernabeu stadium yesterday.


Miller routs rivals for sixth win

Bode Miller added another triumph to his sparkling season on Monday, claiming his sixth World Cup win of the campaign in a slalom and a new entry in the record books.


Cole fears backlash from his old mates

FULHAM #39;S United old boy Andy Cole fears his former team are poised to leave their critics red-faced. The Reds haven #39;t lost in the Premiership since defeat at Portsmouth six matches ago when they were being written off in the title race.


Neeskens sacked as NEC coach

Johan Neeskens has been sacked as coach of NEC Nijmegen, the struggling Dutch first division club said in a statement on Monday. NEC are 14th in the standings following a 3-2


Roddick Fires Coach

Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert this weekend after 1 1/2 years together that yielded a US Open title and the No. 1 ranking. No specific reason was given for the surprising split in


Steelers Backups End Bills' Playoff Hopes

The Pittsburgh Steelers are so good that they ended Buffalo's playoff hopes with their backups. Fourth-string running back Willie Parker had 102 yards rushing and backup linebacker James Harrison returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown, helping seal the Steelers' 29-24 win over Buffalo on Sunday. The Steelers won their 14th straight to match the record set by Miami in 1972 and became just the fourth team in NFL history to finish 15-1.


Oracle Clinches PeopleSoft

PeopleSoft Inc. has agreed to a sweetened US\$10.3 billion buyout by rival software maker Oracle Corp., relenting after a 18-month takeover saga marked by personal insults, courtroom battles and the ouster of PeopleSoft #39;s chief executive.


MMCmicro - New Samsung #39;s Tiny Removable Memory Cards for Mobile <b>...</b>

Memory cards are made by a variety of manufacturers, and come in different sizes. Prices among capacities and types of memory cards also vary.


Peru Says No Attack Planned; 4 Police Dead

LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - The Peruvian government on Sunday  denied planning an imminent offensive after urging residents  living near a captured police station in the southern Andes to  leave their homes.


NEWSMAKER-Shevchenko #39;s goals and hard work earn reward

Andriy Shevchenko believes the European Footballer of the Year award crowns a  quot;beautiful year quot; and the Ukrainian has every right to get a little emotional.


Runaway Miller equals record

BODE MILLER of the United States equalled Marc Girardelli record when he won the men #39;s World Cup alpine slalom race today. He has now won a race in all four disciplines (downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super-giant slalom) in the same World Cup season.