ADVISORY: Levi Strauss Story Withdrawn

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The story headlined "UPDATE 1-Levi  Strauss   Co says could face bankruptcy" is withdrawn. The  story was based on language included in a filing the company  made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such  language on risk factors is standard in most references to  indebtedness in regulatory filings by companies.


Parmalat sues 45 banks over crash

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


Stormy year for property insurers

A string of storms, typhoons and earthquakes makes 2004 the most expensive year on record for property insurers, according to Swiss Re.


UK Keeps Terror Suspects in Jail, Despite Judgement

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top court delivered a severe  jolt to Prime Minister Tony Blair's post-Sept. 11 security  policies on Thursday by ruling against the detention of nine  foreign terrorism suspects without trial.


Southwest Airlines Nears \$117 Million Deal for ATA

Southwest Airlines was the apparent winner today in the bidding war for ATA Airlines, a low-fare carrier that sought Chapter 11 protection this fall.


Algeria Security Feared Behind 5,200 Deaths

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algerian security forces members are  believed responsible for the deaths of 5,200 civilians who  disappeared during a decade-long struggle with Islamic rebels  and should face justice, a government-appointed official said.


Update 1: Moscow Court Bars Yukos Meeting

A Moscow court has barred the embattled Russian oil giant Yukos from holding an emergency shareholders meeting next week, a Russian oil company official said Thursday.


Symantec Will Buy Veritas for \$13.5 Billion in Stock (Update4)

Symantec Corp., the world #39;s largest maker of anti-virus programs for computers, agreed to buy Veritas Software Corp. for \$13.5 billion, the biggest software purchase in six years.


FedEx Profit, Outlook Up, Stock Down

FedEx Corp. (FDX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said quarterly profit nearly quadrupled on in its international, ground and freight businesses, but the stock slipped on disappointment over the margins.


Cendant Snags Another Travel Site

The acquisition of privately held Gullivers, a wholesaler of hotels, travel packages and group tours, also includes online travel seller OctopusTravel.


Noble to Buy Patina Oil for Cash, Stock

Oil and gas producer Noble Energy Inc. (NBL) agreed to buy Patina Oil  amp; Gas Corp. (POG) in a cash and stock deal, helping it expand into the natural gas-rich Rocky Mountain region, the companies said on Thursday.


Yahoo adds traffic information to map service

Yahoo is adding local traffic information to its map service in the US, including roadwork and accident reports as well as the approximate speed at which traffic is proceeding along specific roads.


O2 and Nortel demo super-fast wireless broadband

O2 and Nortel have completed live mobile test calls using an emerging technology known as High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), which the firms claim is three times faster than today #39;s commercial 3G networks.


Three English fans get five-year bans for racist taunting

Three soccer fans were fined and banned from attending games in England or Wales until 2009 after pleading guilty Thursday to racist taunting of Birmingham City striker Dwight Yorke.


US Intelligence Analyzing New Tape Attributed to bin Laden

A US official says intelligence agents will analyze a new tape purportedly featuring the voice of Osama bin Laden. The message praises this month #39;s attack on a US consulate in Saudi Arabia and claims change is needed in the Saudi leadership.


Turkey urged to recognise Cyprus

The European commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, today urged Ankara to  quot;go the extra mile quot; - including the recognition of Cyprus - to convince sceptics Turkey is ready to become a candidate for EU membership.


Another wireless hookup

Sprint #39;s acquisition of Nextel Communications is fueling speculation of more deals to come in a telecommunications industry roiled by intense competition and rapid technological change.


Time Warner to Pay \$510 Million to Settle AOL Charges with US <b>...</b>

Media giant Time Warner will pay approximately \$510 million to settle various fraud charges regarding its America Online (AOL) unit with two US regulatory agencies, the company revealed this morning.


Lawyers Clear Krispy Kreme of Wrongdoing

Troubled doughnut maker Krispy Kreme said Thursday that lawyers have concluded for a second time that no one at the company engaged in intentional misconduct related to the company #39;s acquisition of a Michigan franchise.


J amp;J Sets Pace With \$25B Guidant Deal

NEW YORK -- Johnson  amp; Johnson will acquire Guidant Corp., one of the world #39;s leading makers of cardiac devices, for about \$25.4 billion in cash and stock.


Cendant buying spree continues with \$1bn UK deal

Cendant, the worlds largest travel group, continued its buying spree, saying on Thursday it had agreed to buy privately held Gullivers Travel Associates, the UK-based travel company, and Octopus Travel for about \$1.1bn cash.


Noble to Buy Patina Oil for Cash, Stock

Oil and gas producer Noble Energy Inc. (NBL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) agreed to buy Patina Oil  amp; Gas Corp. (POG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in a cash and stock deal, helping it expand


P2P sites shut down, MPAA unleashes lawsuits worldwide

In the beginning, there was Napster. And the lords of the music industry looked upon it and declared war. And the hordes of music fans fought back, using technology to the utmost in order to continually stay


Microsoft Acquires Anti-Spyware Leader GIANT Company

Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has acquired GIANT Company Software Inc., a provider of top-rated anti-spyware and Internet security products.


Australia claw back after Langer smacks 181

Australia: The long-awaited showdown between two of the world #39;s best pace attacks did not disappoint on Thursday when first the ball, then the bat dominated proceedings on the opening day of the Test between Pakistan and Australia.


I sacrificed career for little boy #39;s sake

DAVID BLUNKETT, who dramatically quit as Home Secretary last night, has told how he sacrificed his career for the sake of his two-year-old love child.


Iceland offers visa to chess wizard Bobby Fischer

TOKYO - Iceland has offered a residency visa to Bobby Fischer, but the former US chess champion faces obstacles to get there because he remains in jail in Japan under an American deportation order.


China vows to further anti-terror ties with Pakistan

Beijing, Dec. 16 (PTI): China today said it opposed terrorism  quot;in all forms quot;, and vowed to enhance cooperation with Pakistan to jointly fight against the menace as also to develop the  quot;comprehensive cooperative partnership quot; with its  quot;all-weather friend.


Australian security plan worries New Zealand:

World News: Wellington, Dec 16 : An Australian plan to boost coastal security with a vast surveillance net across the Tasman Sea has taken New Zealand by surprise.


UN troops surround Aristide #39;s former compound seized by ex <b>...</b>

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Several hundred UN troops and Haitian police surrounded the estate of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Thursday in a showdown with a band of former soldiers who seized the abandoned compound.


Economic Data Triggers Huge Dollar Rally

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar rebounded strongly on  Thursday after the release of data showing the U.S. current  account was narrower in the third quarter than many had feared,  triggering a relief rally for the beleaguered U.S. currency.


Russia Duma election must stand

Russia's Supreme Court rejects a claim to invalidate the results of the 2003 elections to the Duma.


UK rejects North Sea fishing plan

Plans by the European Commission to close some areas round British coasts to cod fishing will be opposed by the UK.


Mystery Woman in Kerik Case: Nanny

Little is known about the household employee at the center of the controversy enveloping Bernard B. Kerik, the former nominee for homeland security secretary.


Star Alliance airlines may delay orders to hear more about Airbus <b>...</b>

C-117 writes  quot;The 15 Star Alliance member carriers decided to move ahead with a complete analysis and comparison of the Boeing 7E7 and Airbus A350, which could be seen as a setback for Boeing, as several airlines may delay potential orders while waiting


CORRECTED - UPDATE 2-Krispy Kreme lawyers found no purposeful <b>...</b>

In CHICAGO story headlined  quot;UPDATE 2-Krispy Kreme lawyers found no purposeful misconduct, quot; please read in paragraph 9 ... a former operating manager of a Northern California franchise ... instead of ... a


Goldman #39;s Profit Rises 23 on Oil Trading, Mergers (Update2)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the third- largest US securities firm, said quarterly profit rose 23 percent, boosted by revenue from commodities and currency trading and fees from providing merger advice.


Noble to buy Patina Oil Gas for \$3.4bn

Noble Energy Inc. said Thursday it was acquiring Patina Oil Gas Corp. in a deal valued at \$3.4 billion including the assumption of debt, helping it expand into the Rockies and mid-continent.


India 'delivers aid to islands'

The Indian army says planes have delivered supplies to tsunami survivors on \all the Andaman and Nicobar islands.


Microsoft Purchases GIANT Company Software for Anti-Spyware <b>...</b>

This morning, Microsoft pleasantly surprised me by purchasing GIANT Company Software, which makes what I believe to be the best anti-spyware solution on the market.


LEVEIN RELISHING DERBY CLASH

Craig Levein hopes to give Leicester fans an early Christmas present when his side face local rivals Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.


Miller takes weekly honors with fifth, sixth wins

com. How high have expectations risen for Bode Miller? The one-time slalom specialist finishes fourth in a World Cup downhill, and it #39;s reported as some sort of crushing loss.


Boston Celtics Team Report - December 16

(Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics found themselves on the wrong end of a 100-99 decision against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at the FleetCenter.


Full Extent of Indonesia Disaster Slowly Revealed

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - Survivors huddle in  clearings without food or shelter above the water-damage line  all along the tsunami-ravaged coast of Indonesia's Aceh  province, and corpses float for miles out to sea.


EP Leaders Deliver Opinion: Let Negotiations Begin Without Delay

The European Parliament (EP) has advised European Union (EU) leaders, who meet today at the EU summit, to begin full membership negotiations with Turkey immediately.


Japan Approves Visa for Ex-Taiwan Leader

Japan has decided to issue a visa for former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui to visit this year, a government spokesman said Thursday, a decision that could exacerbate tense relations with China.


Italian captive Santoro killed in Iraq

An Italian captive identified as Salvatore Santoro has been killed by his captors in Iraq , Aljazeera television reported. Aljazeera on Thursday broadcast pictures of Santoro #39;s passport and showed him sitting


PM says his Chinese visit to strengthen close ties

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (NNI): Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said his visit will China will go a long way to strengthen existing close ties between the two countries in all fields.


Philips switches strategy pictures through flat screen disposal (AFP)

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


Congressman's New Job Is Top Drug Lobbyist (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON  #8212; The pharmaceutical industry on Wednesday named as its top lobbyist a longtime congressman who had been among those overseeing it. The new job is said to come with a  #36;1-million-plus salary.


Gaza Plan May Bring Palestinian State-Sharon Aide

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's  chief of staff on Thursday called a Gaza withdrawal plan a  possible step toward a Palestinian state, in a clear sign of  softening following Yasser Arafat's death.


Bosnia Envoy Sacks Bosnia Serb Officials Over Hague

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia's peace overseer fired six Serb  police officers and three other officials on Thursday to punish  the Serb Republic for failing to arrest war crimes suspects and  obstructing the process of hunting them down.


Statement From Demos On The Last Fed Rate Hike of 2004

quot;While the increase in the Federal Reserve rate might benefit individuals with long term investments or saving, millions of households in our deficit-spending culture will only experience its many pitfalls.


SEARCHING FOR A HOME?

The deal to move the Expos to Washington, DC, is, as Mayor Anthony Williams puts it,  quot;in jeopardy. quot; If it falls apart, baseball will not resume talks with other cities until after Dec. 31, and it #39;s unclear where the Expos would play this season.


Promoter Wants More MLB Games in P.R. (AP)

AP - The promoter who brought the Montreal Expos to Puerto Rico is talking with major league baseball to have other reams play on the island next season.


Bed Bath   Beyond Debt-Free

The leading home-goods retailer keeps its balance sheet clean and delivers strong results.


Bush Says Social Security Is a Top Priority

President Bush said Thursday that "now is the time to confront Social Security" to deal with a projected \$3.7 trillion, 75-year shortfall and give younger workers the ability to invest some of their contributions into personal accounts.


Sprint-Nextel: First Marital Tiff

Technology problems arise as Sprint and Nextel merge. Also: Symantec buys Veritas.... Illinois' governor bans violent video games for minors   hellip;.  and more.


Symantec in \$13bn Veritas merger

Global security software maker Symantec is to take over Veritas Software in a merger deal valued at \$13.5bn (7bn). The all-share deal will see Symantec swap 1.1242 shares of common stock for each Veritas share.


Oil futures stabilize after sharp rise on cold North Hemisphere <b>...</b>

Oil futures steadied Thursday after a jump that reflected a drop in US crude and heating oil stocks amid rising demand fueled by cold weather spreading across the US Northeast and Midwest.


J amp;J Seals \$25.4 Bln Pact to Buy Guidant

Johnson  amp; Johnson has agreed to buy Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion in cash and stock, the companies said on Wednesday, giving the healthcare products maker a foothold


Cendant Corporation Acquires Gullivers Travel Associates And <b>...</b>

NEW YORK and LONDON, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD) today announced that it has agreed to acquire privately held, UK based Gullivers Travel Associates, the trading name of Donvand Ltd.


Yahoo adds traffic information to maps service

Yahoo Inc. is adding local traffic information to its maps service, including roadwork and accident reports as well as the approximate speed at which traffic is proceeding along specific roads.


Warner Inks Mobile-Phone Music Deal

biz. Warner Music Group has signed a global licensing agreement with Melodeo Inc., marking the Seattle-based mobile music platform provider #39;s first deal with a major label.


IDC: Linux Market Will Surpass \$35 Billion by 2008

The combined worldwide market for desktops, servers and packaged software running on Linux is forecast to grow at a 2003-2008 compound annual growth rate of 25.9 percent worldwide, reaching \$35.7 billion by 2008.


The two sides of Wenger

Is the real Arsenal boss the fair-minded French Professor we have come to admire or the sore loser who is to face the FA today for calling Ruud van Nistelrooy  quot;a cheat quot;?


Kinnear resigns as Forest manager

The City Ground side are languishing in 22nd place in the league and coach Mick Harford has taken temporary charge.  quot;I feel it is in the best interests of the club that I resign and give my successor the chance to turn things around, quot; said Kinnear.


Source: New Warrants for NYRA Tracks

Authorities are investigating whether bettors at New York #39;s top thoroughbred tracks were properly informed when jockeys came in overweight at races, a source familiar with the probe told The Associated Press.


Mort: Coach keeps NFL door open, leery of full-time

Dave Wannstedt withdrew his name Thursday from the search for a new coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he told ESPN #39;s Chris Mortensen.


American Stewart back with Venlo

Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Sports Network) - American international Earnie Stewart has signed an 18-month contract with VVV Venlo, the club where the midfielder began his career.


New York Knicks

Billups scored 15 points, including a pair of free throws with 2.6 seconds left, as the Pistons rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat the Knicks, 94-93.


Taylor wants  #39;meaningful #39; world title

SHANNAN Taylor plans to use his World Boxing Foundation (WBF) super middleweight title fight on Friday as  quot;a battery charge quot; for his attempt on a far more prestigious and meaningful world title next year.


Praise the lords

The law lords have produced a historic, landmark judgment upholding fundamental rights. It is a decision which demonstrates how vital it is for us all that an independent judiciary is able to scrutinise every act and decision of government and parliament.


Blunkett #39;s sacrifice

DAVID Blunkett sacrificed his political career last night when he resigned as Home Secretary just days before an inquiry was due to report that the visa application for his former lover #39;s nanny was  quot;fast-tracked quot; after all.


Islamist group in Iraq claims killing of Italian hostage: TV

DUBAI (AFP) - An Italian hostage identified as Salvatore Santoro has been killed by an Islamist group in Iraq, Al-Jazeera television said quoting a statement from the group and showing footage of the man.


Midway Developing Mature-Rated Football Video Game (Reuters)

Reuters - Midway Games Inc. plans to publish\a "mature"-rated pro football video game with the kinds of\violence and excess shunned by the National Football League,\the company said on Thursday.


Gaza Plan May Bring Palestinian State-Sharon Aide (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's\chief of staff on Thursday called a Gaza withdrawal plan a\possible step toward a Palestinian state, in a clear sign of\softening following Yasser Arafat's death.


Mid-Atlantic Factory Output Grows in Dec. (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Mid-Atlantic factories kicked\production up a notch in December as orders for manufacturing\goods increased, a regional Federal Reserve bank said on\Thursday.


Darfuris Fleeing Villages, Report Govt Attacks (Reuters)

Reuters - Darfuri Dowsa Ahmed Hassan\said he was standing in the market place when he heard the\Antonov plane's drone and watched it drop three bombs on his\village, killing a mother and her three children.


Sponsorship woes still dog Martin heading into new year (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Paul Martin knew it wouldn't be easy to explain the sponsorship scandal to Canadian voters.


Miller to Honor Swift Boat Vets' Group (AP)

AP - For one night only, it'll be spitballs and Swift Boats together on the same stage  #151; a who's who of Sen. John Kerry bashing. The American Conservative Union on Thursday announced it has tapped Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., to present the "Courage Under Fire" award to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth at the Conservative Political Action Conference's Feb. 16 banquet.


Mid-Atlantic Factory Output Grows in Dec.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Mid-Atlantic factories kicked  production up a notch in December as orders for manufacturing  goods increased, a regional Federal Reserve bank said on  Thursday.


Blue Chips Rise; J J Up, Goldman Falls

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips moved higher  on  Thursday, getting a lift from Johnson   Johnson JNJ.N  following its acquisition of medical device maker Guidant Corp.  GDT.N, but broader market gains were capped after investment  bank Goldman Sachs posted disappointing quarterly revenues.


CORRECTED: Symantec to Buy Veritas for \$13.5 Billion

Symantec Corp. (SYMC), the top global security software maker, on Thursday said it will buy Veritas Software Corp. (VRTS) for \$13.5 billion, expanding


Southwest bids \$117M for ATA assets

Southwest Airlines #39; package of \$117 million in cash, loan payoffs and preferred stock purchases was selected as the winning bid at the bankruptcy court-approved auction for certain ATA Airlines Inc.


Exchange That Funky Gift Card

If a plastic card that gives you credit for something you don't want isn't your idea of a great gift, you can put it up for sale or swap.


Goldman Sachs Fourth-Quarter Profit Rises

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on Thursday said fourth-quarter profit rose as its fixed-income, currency and commodities business soared while a rebounding stock market boosted investment banking.


Update 2: FedEx Earnings More Than Triple in Quarter

The FedEx Corp., the huge package delivery courier, reported Thursday its second quarter earnings soared due to a strengthening economy and continued growth in overseas and ground shipping.


Francona kept Sox' snags sewn up

A few stories Terry Francona never told as he was guiding the Red Sox to their first world championship since the inventions of traffic signals, frozen food, and bubble gum:


BCS still ranks as a failure

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Two days before college football's biggest game of the season -- the BCS national championship Orange Bowl matchup between No. 1 Southern Cal and No. 2 Oklahoma -- college football itself is again on the precipice of chaos.


HP to Invest \$3 Billion in Itanium-Powered Servers

Hewlett-Packard Co. is planning to spend \$3 billion over the next three years to grow the server product line that runs on Intel Corp.


Overall iPod sales surge, iPod photo demand mediocre

Sales of Apple #39;s flagship iPods are booming in recent weeks, though sources claim the company #39;s recently introduced iPod photo is not such a hot ticket.


SAP introduces security service

com December 15, 2004, 2:54 PM PT. SAP is starting a computer security service for its corporate customers, the German software maker announced on Wednesday.


Enterprise Security Adobe Patches Acrobat Vulnerabilities

Adobe has issued a patch for Acrobat Reader to correct a vulnerability that could allow an atacker to take over a user #39;s system with an infected PDF file.


FA fines Wenger

London - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was fined 15 000 by the Football Association on Thursday for calling Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy a cheat.


Langer #39;s century saves Australia

Justin Langer hit a superb unbeaten century to haul Australia back from 78-5 on day one of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth.


Orgeron introduced as football coach at Ole Miss

Ed Orgeron #39;s recruiting success at Southern California helped him land the job as Mississippi #39;s football coach Thursday.  quot;We are going to teach our young men to compete, quot; Orgeron said at a news conference.


Ahern and Blair hope to revitalise NI process

Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair meet today to try to find a way of breathing new life into the faltering efforts to restore devolution to Northern Ireland.


Irish company hit by Iraqi report

Shares in Irish oil company Petrel Resources have lost more than 50 of their value on a report that the firm has failed to win a contract in Iraq.


Yukos could still rescue its main asset with help from US judge

Yukos can succeed in postponing the auction of Yuganskneftegaz on December 19 if the court rules in its favor in the case where the Russian oil giant seeks US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.


Southwest Wins Chicago ATA Gate Bid

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines Inc. reported Thursday that it won a \$117 million bid for rights to six of ATA Airlines Inc. #39;s gates at Chicago #39;s Midway Airport.


Lions, Rogers OK six-year deal

The Detroit Lions reached a six-year deal with Shaun Rogers yesterday, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL, his agent said. Kennard McGuire would not reveal terms of the contract, but ESPN.com reported the deal was worth \$46 million and included a \$15 million signing bonus. Rogers, 25, was selected to the Pro Bowl this year and was ...


Ole Miss tabs Orgeron as head coach

Oxford, MS (Sports Network) - The University of Mississippi introduced Southern California assistant Ed Orgeron as its new head football coach during a Thursday press conference.


Connors hopes to continue helping Brits

John McEnroe has previously worked with young British players, but the Lawn Tennis Association has now hooked up with another American left-hander with a fiery reputation.


HarperCollins' State of Bliss

The News Corp. publishing division appears to have a winning title on its hands.


Britain's Highest Court Overturns Anti-Terrorism Law

Britain's highest court ruled today that the British government cannot indefinitely detain foreigners suspected of terrorism.


UTC Agrees to Buy Kidde for \$2.8 Billion

LONDON/BOSTON (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp. UTX.N  agreed on Thursday to acquire Britain's Kidde Plc KID.L for  \$2.8 billion in cash in a deal aimed at expanding the U.S.  conglomerate's security system business.


Skeptics Crash Symantec-Veritas Party

Within hours of the announcement that antivirus maker Symantec (SYMC:Nasdaq - news - research) and software storage vendor Veritas (VRTS:Nasdaq - news - research) would merge, skeptical investors shaved about a billion dollars off the value of the all


Sprint-Nextel: First Marital Tiff

The proposed merger of Sprint and Nextel Communications could face a rocky start as the companies work to run and eventually merge two wireless technologies without breaking the bank or losing customers.


Bush to reform Social Security

US President Bush said that now is the time to confront Social Security to deal with a projected \$3.7 trillion shortfall over 75 years and give younger workers the ability to invest some of their retirement money in personal accounts.


Goldman Sachs - robust earnings growth for 4Q

NEW YORK, December 16 (newratings.com) - Goldman Sachs Group (GS.NYS) reported sequential earnings growth of 36 for 4Q today. The renowned brokerage firm reported earnings of \$1.19 billion or \$2.36 per share


Update 1: Advance America Leads Busy Day for IPOs

Check-cashing service Advance America Cash Advance Centers Inc. gained as much as 37 percent in its initial public offering Thursday, leading moderate advances for all but one of the day #39;s seven deals.


New York Times runs Firefox ad

com December 16, 2004, 9:02 AM PT. Fans of the Mozilla Foundation #39;s Firefox browser who funded an advertisement in The New York Times will finally get to see their names in print on Thursday.


ICANN Proceeds with .job and .mobi

December 16, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (icann.org) said earlier this week that it has moved its commercial and technical negotiations with the .


Uefa backs local talent

Football teams would have to include a minimum number of  #39;homegrown #39; players under new proposals announced by the Uefa chief executive today.


Wannstedt Decides Against Coaching at Pitt (AP)

AP - Former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt decided Thursday not to seek the coaching job at Pitt, the school where he played and once was an assistant coach.


Martin accuses Harper of political cowardice over gay marriage (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin slammed Stephen Harper over the gay marriage issue Thursday, accusing his rival of political cowardice.


Ole Miss Tabs Orgeron as Head Coach

OXFORD, Miss. (Sports Network) - The University of  Mississippi introduced Southern California assistant Ed Orgeron  as its new head football coach during a Thursday press  conference.


Sharon Says Israel Could Coordinate Gaza Pullout

HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  said Israel was ready to coordinate its Gaza withdrawal plan  with a future Palestinian government and said that could open  the way for a broader peace agreement.


Wenger Punishment A Warning to Others

Arsene Wenger was tonight warned not to repeat his accusation of cheating against Ruud van Nistelrooy as he received a record fine and a severe reprimand from the Football Association.


One old Guy gives Europe #39;s Xmas turkeys a stuffing

ONE by one, the players #39; faces had flashed up on the giant Ibrox screens offering season #39;s greetings to the Rangers fans. But the main presents were reserved for Auxerre.


Wannstedt won #39;t pursue U. of Pittsburgh job

Ex-Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt is an ardent supporter of the University of Pittsburgh, but he decided Thursday against pursing the Panthers #39; vacant head coaching position.


Two charged in hijacking bus; government tries to avoid backlash <b>...</b>

ATHENS, Greece Formal charges, and an appeal for calm. They #39;re the latest developments in the arrests of two Albanian immigrants charged with staging an 18-hour bus hijacking and hostage siege in Athens.


Deeper knowledge

WALTHAM -- Shifting his weight from right to left and glancing repeatedly at his cellphone, Al Jefferson looked a bit distracted around 3 p.m. yesterday. That was understandable. The Celtics' rookie big man had to rush home and pack before catching the team charter to Detroit in an hour.


J J Helps Boost Blue Chips

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips rose  on Thursday,  boosted by Johnson   Johnson JNJ.N following its move to buy  Guidant Corp. GDT.N, but market gains were limited after  Goldman Sachs posted disappointing revenues.


Dollar Rallies on U.S. Economic Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar climbed across the board on  Thursday after data showed the third-quarter U.S. current  account deficit was narrower than many had feared, fueling a  relief rally for the beleaguered U.S. currency.


Surf   Talk at 35,000 Feet

The FCC says it's inclined to let Web surfers go wireless on airplanes. Yippee! But they might allow in-flight cell phone use, too. Oh.


ATA accepts Southwest Airline #39;s bid for Midway airport operations

INDIANAPOLIS ATA Holdings Corporation has accepted Southwest Airline #39;s 117 (m) million-dollar bid for its operations at Chicago #39;s Midway International Airport.


Goldman Net Rises 23; Shares Fall as Revenue Drops (Update5)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the third- largest US securities firm, said quarterly profit rose 23 percent. Its shares had their biggest fall in more than a year as trading revenue tumbled from the prior three months.


Chocoholic beware: Prices going up

Hershey Foods (down \$0.23 to \$56.35, Research), the nation #39;s largest snack-food company, said Thursday it is raising its candy prices.


Motorola Gets Nextel Contract Extension

Communications giant Motorola Inc. said Thursday it received a three-year contract extension from Nextel Communications Inc. to continue supplying telecommunications infrastructure for Nextel #39;s iDEN walkie-talkie phones through 2007.


Noble Energy Expands Into Rockies and Mid-Continent With \$3.4 <b>...</b>

HOUSTON, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NBL) and Patina Oil  amp; Gas Corporation (NYSE:POG) today announced that their boards of directors approved Noble Energy #39;s strategic acquisition


Google to digitize some Harvard library holdings

Harvard University is embarking on a collaboration with Google that could harness Google #39;s search technology to provide to both the Harvard community and the larger public a revolutionary new information location tool to find materials available in


New Monkey Species Found in India

Scientists discovered a new species of monkey in India, 101 years after the last species of its kind was found. They have called it the Arunachal macaque (scientific name Macaca munzala) after the state of Arunachal Pradesh where it was found.


Focus group: Kazaa will meet Napster #39;s fate

SYDNEY--Legal representatives of both the Sharman Networks parties and the music industry drew out the 13th day of the copyright trial with arguments on which pieces of evidence should be admissible.


Spreading Like WildFirefox

Ten days after the open-source Web browser Firefox 1.0 was officially launched (November 9), it had already hit the 2 million download mark.


Governor wants ban on sale of violent video games to minors

CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed making it a crime Thursday to sell violent or sexually explicit video games to minors, a step other states have tried with little success.


Wenger fined for Old Trafford comments

London, England (Sports Network) - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger was fined \$29,000 Thursday by the English Football Association (FA).


Back in the game

The point man of a private group #39;s attempt to bring the Montreal Expos to Las Vegas said Las Vegas Sports and Entertainment (LVSE) LLC did not dissolve when Major League Baseball put that franchise in Washington, DC, in September.


Ole Miss Contacts Erickson --  #39;It #39;s Something I Need to Look at #39;

Don #39;t count San Francisco 49ers coach Dennis Erickson out of Ole Miss #39;s hunt for a new coach just yet. On Tuesday, Erickson met with Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone and chancellor Robert Khayat for two hours in a Santa Clara, Calif.


Nigerian Debuts for Germany

Nigerian Patrick Owomoyela, who plays for Arminia Bielefeld, will make his debut for Germany when they take on Asian champions Japan on Thursday.


Bin Laden tells followers to hit West #39;s oil supplies

Dubai: Osama bin Laden on Thursday called on his fighters to strike Gulf oil supplies and warned Saudi leaders they risked a popular uprising in an audio message said to be by the Western world #39;s most wanted terror mastermind.


US and poor nations in climate change face-off

The United States suggested last week that developing nations should provide regular updates on their greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations, much as developed nations are required to.


Iceland offers Fischer shelter

But he said the gesture was not meant as a criticism of Washington by Iceland, a staunch US ally. no longer exists, according to laws that no one has been incriminated for before.


Bethlehem's Paradise Hotel Opens Doors (AP)

AP - The floors are polished, a Christmas tree glitters near the bar and the dining room is ready for hundreds of guests: The luxury Paradise Hotel is open for business for the first time since the latest Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000.


Clorox Investors Cheer, Customers Sigh

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clorox Co. CLX.N gave investors  reason to cheer on Thursday, saying its recent deals with  Germany's Henkel KGaA HNKG.DE would help earnings more than  it first thought and that Procter   Gamble is doubling its  stake in their joint venture, sending the shares up 2 percent.


Patriots getting lined up for playoffs

FOXBOROUGH -- After today's game against the San Francisco 49ers, Patriots right tackle Brandon Gorin will have a bull's-eye on his back for the playoffs.


ATA likely to accept Southwest bid

Indianapolis, Dec. 16 - Southwest Airlines says ATA Airlines had accepted its bid for the bankrupt carriers #39; operations at Chicago #39;s Midway airport.


Motorola in 3-year contract extension with Nextel

Motorola said on Thursday it has extended for three years a deal to supply Nextel Communications with telecommunications equipment, allaying fears that Sprint buyout of Nextel would threaten the relationship.


Survey Shows Lack of Confidence at FDA

WASHINGTON - About two-thirds of Food and Drug Administration scientists are less than fully confident in the agency #39;s monitoring of the safety of prescription drugs now being sold, according to an FDA internal survey.


Noble Energy to buy Patina for \$3.4bn

Noble Energy has agreed to buy Patina Oil  amp; Gas in a \$3.4bn deal that will mark its expansion in the gas-rich Rocky Mountains region.


Cuban M.D. Staying at Argentine Embassy

A prominent Cuban doctor who was denied permission to travel to Buenos Aires to visit relatives was staying at the Argentine Embassy on Thursday, but her son said she does plan to seek asylum in a case that has raised tensions between the two nations.


Adobe Repairs Reader, Acrobat Flaws

Adobe this week updated its Acrobat and Reader software to fix vulnerabilities spotted by Reston, Vir.-based security intelligence firm iDefense.


Apple releases Mac OS X 10.3.7 Update

As expected, Apple Computer today released Mac OS X 10.3.7 Update, a maintenance release for its Mac OS X 10.3  quot;Panther quot; operating system.


#39;Critical #39; XP SP2 Update Fixes Windows Firewall Bug

Microsoft Corp. has quietly released a  quot;critical quot; Windows XP Service Pack 2 update to fix a serious flaw in the Windows Firewall utility.


Orgeron Introduced As Ole Miss Coach

New Mississippi football coach Ed Orgeron answers a reporter #39;s question, in Oxford, Miss., Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, moments after he was introduced as the new head coach.


Turkey #39;s Long Wait for EU Entry

Turkey has been knocking on the EUs door for more than 40 years, watching in frustration as other countries leapfrogged Ankara in the queue to join the Union.


Jazeera Says Iraq Militants Killed Italian Hostage

Al Jazeera television said on Thursday an Iraqi group had killed an Italian hostage who appeared in video footage aired by the Arabic channel.


Majerus Takes USC Job, With Docs' OK (AP)

AP - Rick Majerus' new basketball coaching job comes with a doctor's permission slip. Given the OK to return to the high-stress, late-night, eat-on-the-run profession he loves, Majerus took over Southern California's underachieving program Wednesday although he won't be on the bench this season.


Some FDA Staff Had Drug Safety Concerns-Survey

Nearly 20 percent of US Food and Drug Administration scientists surveyed in late 2002 said they were pressured to approve or recommend approval of a medicine despite


Microsoft Releases Desktop Search

The online search battle was extended earlier this week, when Microsoft launched its new desktop search tool - allowing users to find their favorite music, email, acrobat files and other documents in a friendly and effective manner.


Apple fixes Panther glitches

com December 16, 2004, 10:27 AM PT. Apple Computer on Wednesday released a minor update to its Mac OS X 10.3 Panther operating system.


Shoemaker Nike's Quarterly Earnings Rise (Reuters)

Reuters - Nike Inc.  said on Thursday its\second quarter earnings rose, boosted by strong demand in the\United States and overseas for its namesake athletic shoes and\Converse sneakers.


Wal-Mart to Match Kettle Donations (AP)

AP - Folks dropping money in Salvation Army kettles at Wal-Mart stores can make their money go twice as far. The world's largest retailer announced Thursday it would match up to  #36;1 million in donations.


Symantec to Buy Veritas for \$13.5 Billion

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Symantec Corp. SYMC.O,  the top global security software maker, on Thursday said it  will buy data management software company Veritas Software  Corp. VRTS.O for \$13.5 billion, expanding into the data  storage and recovery business.


More questions than answers in Symantec/Veritas deal

DECEMBER 16, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Security company Symantec Corp. #39;s acquisition of Veritas Software Corp. could benefit customers and shareholders of both companies, but details of the \$13.5 billion deal


Yukos awaits US ruling on break-up order

MOSCOW: Embattled Russian oil major Yukos should hear later today whether a United States bankruptcy court will back its last-ditch attempt to halt the sale due on Sunday of its main production unit.


Time Warner in Proposed Settlement with SEC

NEW YORK, December 16: In addition to its \$210 million settlement with the Department of Justice over securities fraud at America Online, Time Warner has reached a proposed settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further \$300 million


Google Wins GEICO Trademark Suit over Keywords

The decision left undecided whether the sale of GEICO #39;s trademarks by Google or any other search engine, in and of itself, violates the trademark laws or other laws.


Johnson  amp; Johnson to Buy Guidant for \$25.4B

Health care products giant Johnson  amp; Johnson #39;s \$25.4 billion acquisition of Guidant Corp. could face a tough review from regulators because of their competition in the coronary stent market, analysts say.


Nike 2Q Profit Rises 46 Percent

Nike Inc., the world #39;s largest shoemaker, on Thursday said its profit grew 46 percent in the second quarter as its sales gained traction in the US, Chinese, Russian and Turkish markets.


US Airways Reaches Flight Attendant Deal

US Airways Group Inc. on Thursday said it reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its flight attendants for a work contract that would save the airline about \$94 million.


Mortgage Rates Dip This Week

Rates on 30-year and 15-year mortgages dipped this week, good news for prospective home buyers. Freddie Mac #39;s weekly survey released Thursday showed that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages declined to


Noble Energy to Buy Patina for \$2.76 B

Noble Energy Inc. Thursday said it agreed to acquire Patina Oil  amp; Gas Corp. for about \$2.76 billion, plus debt. Denver-based Patina owns oil and gas fields in mainly in Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.


Fannie Mae Pays the Price of Cutting Corners to Look Safe

Fannie Mae wanted to look very safe. But to do that it cut accounting corners, two regulatory agencies have now concluded. And that has severely damaged the image of the mortgage lender and its management.


Russ Berrie Buys Private Bedding Firm

Russ Berrie and Co., a maker of stuffed animals and other gift items, on Thursday said it bought Kids Line LLC , a privately held maker of infant bedding products based in South Gate Calif.


U.S. Current Account Gap Widens

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. current account trade gap  widened slightly to a record \$164.71 billion in the third  quarter, data showed on Thursday, but U.S. dependence on  overseas capital was not as great as feared, fueling a big  dollar rally.


Googles virtual library signals communications revolution <b>...</b>

Google is planning to announce an agreement Tuesday with some of the nation #39;s top libraries and Oxford University to start converting their holdings into digital files.


Microsoft to offer anti-Spyware in January

Microsoft today announced that it has acquired Giant Software, a provider of anti-spyware and Internet security products. Microsoft said it will use intellectual property and technology assets from the.


HP Extends Server Leadership

HP (www.hp.com) announced an investment of more than \$3 billion over the next three years designed to vault Intel Itanium 2-based HP Integrity servers to the leadership position in the \$20 billion market currently served by RISC processors.


Illinois Governor Wants Ban on Graphic Video Games

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday proposed the state ban the sale and rental of violent and sexually explicit video games for children under 18, a restriction that has failed so far elsewhere in the country.


Zafi worm proves a holiday pest

The mass-mailing Christmas e-card virus Zafi.D is clogging huge amounts of bandwidth and now accounts for one in 15 of all e-mails, antivirus companies said on Thursday.


Water and robots on Mars chosen as tops in 2004 by  #39;Science #39;

The conclusive discovery by a pair of wheeled robots that Mars once had vast pools of water and possibly could have harbored life was chosen by the editors of


New species of monkey discovered in Arunachal

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


Adobe Fixes Multiple Flaws

Adobe (Quote, Chart) issued a patch this week that helps prevent multiple flaws found in its products. The fixes clear up problems in Windows and Macintosh systems running Adobe Reader and Acrobat Pro versions


IBM Accelerates Grid-Computing Efforts For ISVs

Grid computing already is close to being a \$1 billion business for IBM. Now the company is stepping up its efforts to make sure its independent software vendor partners are onboard the grid-computing bandwagon.


Personal Solar Panels Could Help Power Mobile Devices

Mobile phone users left talking to themselves when their battery runs out in the middle of a call could soon see an end to their frustration as scientists perfect a way to recharge electrical equipment while on the move.


Melodeo Lands Cell-Phone Music Deals

Melodeo, a mobile music service, has signed a deal with the Warner Music Group to make complete tracks from Warner #39;s music catalog available to cell phone users.


Linux To Ring Up \$35 Billion By 2008

For a theoretically free operating system, Linux is -- and will continue to be -- a cash cow, a research firm said Wednesday as it predicted the OS will bring in more than \$35 billion in revenues by 2008.


AMD Will Have An Edge Over Intel Through 2005

Piper Jaffray said Advanced Micro Devices (nyse: AMD - news - people ) should have an edge over Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people )  quot;throughout 2005 quot; but resumed coverage of both companies at  quot;market perform quot; and both at price targets of \$25.


The browsers war: Firefox vs Internet Expl

As I write this article a war is going on on the battlefield of the browsers (programs for surfing the internet such as Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox).


Jones Sues Accuser for Slander

Posted December 16, 2004 - Track star Marion Jones, finding it difficult to outrun accusations she injected steroids, has filed a \$25 million lawsuit against trainer Victor Conte, who is the source of the allegations.


Wenger fined for his wicked tongue; will not appeal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gets a penalty. The Frenchman received a record fine and a  quot;severe reprimand quot; from the English Football Association for his comments about Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.


Langer eyes double, Australia to push for 400

Justin Langer will be aiming for another Test double century when play begins on day two of the first Test against Pakistan at the WACA ground in Perth.


Mariners reportedly land Beltre

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


Washington mayor to push change in baseball bill

Washington, DC, Mayor Anthony Williams will try to get financing for a Major League Baseball stadium back on the city council agenda next week after the council


Farjestad pounds Worldstars

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Traversing across Europe in a short period of time has taken its toll on the Worldstars. The tired group of locked-out NHL players were unable to keep up to physically fit Farjestad club


White Sox and Uribe agree to terms

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox and infielder Juan Uribe avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to terms on a three-year, \$9.75 million contract with a club option for 2008.


Mets challenge intrigues Martinez

Pedro Martinez considered the choices: stay with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, sign with the NL champion St. Louis Cardinals or become the cornerstone of a reconstruction project with the New York Mets.


Coach had stent inserted Wednesday

Hawaii coach Riley Wallace will be released from the hospital Thursday after having a stent inserted Wednesday into an artery that was 90 percent blocked, according to assistant coach Bob Nash.


Houston #39;s Yao, Miami #39;s O #39;Neal lead early NBA all-star fan <b>...</b>

NEW YORK (CP) - Shaquille O #39;Neal leads his new conference in early all-star game voting, while Yao Ming is No. 1 overall in the NBA.


In Fox they trust: Panthers lean on coach to turn around 1-7 start

His team was 1-7 and his list of injured players seemed a mile long. Carolina coach John Fox changed nothing, sticking with his style of cutesy little clich Des to pull the Panthers through and prevent them from quitting on him.


Saudi forces thwart protest march

Saudi security forces thwarted planned protest marches in the kingdom #39;s two main cities on Thursday, deploying in force in the capital Riyadh and arresting at least a dozen people in the Red Sea port of Jeddah.


Iraq trials  #39;should be after poll #39;

IRAQ #39;S justice minister said in an interview published today that the Iraqi government is rushing too quickly to try top officials of the government of Saddam Hussein.


Nike trounces forecasts

Athletic shoemaker says earnings jump on strong demand for its athletic shoes and Converse sneakers. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nike Inc.


Fire At UPS Hub Still Under Investigation

Fire investigators said it is still unclear what started a fire at a UPS shipping hub in Hodgkins, which damaged seven trailers early Thursday.


Singing the iPod blues

Apple #39;s iPod has joined the list of gifts late holiday shoppers are finding in short supply. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Shoppers can now add the iPod to the holiday hot list.


Blue Chips Close Up, Goldman Drags on S P

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips closed higher on  Thursday, helped by gains in Johnson   Johnson JNJ.N after  its move to buy Guidant Corp. GDT.N, but Goldman Sachs Group  Inc. GS.N dragged the S P 500 down having posted quarterly  revenues that disappointed Wall Street.


Oil Holds Big Gains on U.S. Fuel Concerns

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices held Wednesday's 6 percent  gains on Thursday on fears over U.S. fuel supplies ahead of the  northern winter.


Blockbuster Up on Hollywood Video Talk

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Shares of Blockbuster Inc. BBI.N  were sharply higher on Thursday after Hollywood Entertainment's  chief executive said he did not think an attempt to take his  company private would succeed, which was taken as a sign  Blockbuster could prevail in its bid to buy the U.S.'  second-largest video rental chain.


Accounting Board Rules Options  Be Expensed

The nation's accounting rulemaker decided Thursday that companies will have to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, a move cheered by shareholder advocates but scorned by many companies who rely heavily on options to beef up compensation packages.


Court Approves US Airways Agreements With GE

US Airways Group Inc. on Thursday won court approval to move ahead with an aircraft leasing and financing deal that will help the struggling airline lower costs and reduce debt.


'Bin Laden' tape urges oil attack

A tape said to have been recorded by Osama Bin Laden calls on his supporters\to strike Gulf oil supplies.


Smoltz OKs New Two-Year Deal With Braves (AP)

AP - In a deal motivated by his recent return to the starting rotation, John Smoltz agreed Thursday to a new two-year contract with the Braves that increases the chance he will complete his career in Atlanta.


Jets, Seahawks Both Face Must-Win Game (AP)

AP - If the New York Jets were in the NFC, they would probably have a playoff spot already. Instead, they still have a fight on their hands as they play host Sunday to Seattle, which has won two fewer games, but leads the NFC West.


Moore Leaps to Great Heights for Ravens (AP)

AP - His wiry 6-foot-6 frame is better suited for basketball, except when it comes to reaching for a high pass in the end zone.


White Sox Sign Infielder Juan Uribe (AP)

AP - The Chicago White Sox agreed to a  #36;9.75 million, three-year deal with infielder Juan Uribe on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.


A Big Beat for CardioDynamics

The medical device maker receives FDA clearance for new heart monitoring technology.


Washington Mayor to Push Change in Baseball Bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony  Williams will try to get financing for a Major League Baseball  stadium back on the city council agenda next week after the  council added a deal-breaking provision to the original bill,  the mayor's spokesman said on Thursday.


Atlanta Braves, Smoltz Agree to New Deal

ATLANTA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves announced  Thursday that the team has come to terms with longtime pitcher  John Smoltz to a new two-year contract with a club option for  the 2007 season. Per club policy, financial terms were not  disclosed.


Mississippi State Extends Croom Contract

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Sports Network) - Mississippi State has  extended the contract of head football coach Sylvester Croom,  keeping him with the university through the 2008 season.


Solich Takes Over at Ohio University

ATHENS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Ohio University named  former Nebraska coach Frank Solich as its new head football  coach during a Thursday afternoon press conference.


European round-up

Real Madrid #39;s match against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu was abandoned with three minutes left and the score at 1-1 after police received a warning that a bomb would explode.


Real abandoned after bomb threat

Real Madrid #39;s Primera Liga match against Real Sociedad has been abandoned with the scores level at 1-1 after police received a warning that a bomb would explode at the stadium at 9 pm (8 pm British time).


Stadium evacuated after bomb threat

MADRID: Some 70,000 people have been forced to evacuate Real Madrid #39;s Santiago Bernabeu stadium minutes before the end of a league match after a bomb threat in the name of ETA Basque separatist guerrillas.


Bomb threat mars Real Madrid game

A bomb threat forced the evacuation of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the 88th minute of a Spanish league game between host Real Madrid and Real Sociedad on Sunday.


Klitschko destroys Williams!

12.12.04 - By Marcus Wood: While many had predicted that Klitschko would beat Williams and just as many had predicted it would be by KO, few would have said Klitschko would shut Williams out from the first bell.


Klitschko targets political fight next

Vitali Klitschko said he wants to join the political fight in his native Ukraine after an emphatic defense of his World Boxing Council heavyweight title against Danny Williams on Saturday.


Klitschko retains title

VITALI Klitschko successfully defended his World Boxing Council heavyweight crown here on Saturday, stopping Britain #39;s Danny Williams one minute and 26 seconds into the eighth round of their scheduled 12-round fight.


Klitschko retains title

Vitali Klitschko has knocked out Danny Williams in the eighth round to retain his WBC heavyweight crown and become the premier champion in the division.


Monty on Target to getting out of the Woods in singular style

He is finding solace in the sunshine, the temperature in southern California this weekend climbing to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and making a glorious summer of what had been an autumn of discontent.


Explosion rips Israeli base at Gaza-Egypt crossing; 4 Israeli <b>...</b>

Palestinian guerrillas blew up an Israeli army base at the Gaza-Egypt crossing Sunday by sneaking more than a tonne of explosives through a tunnel, killing four Israeli soldiers and wounding at least 10.


Israel #39;s Labour in talks on coalition

The central committee of Israel #39;s Labour party on Saturday decided to open talks with the ruling Likud party of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon aimed at joining a national unity government, a spokesperson said.


#39;Bin Laden #39; tape urges oil attack

An audio tape said to have been recorded by al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has called on his supporters to attack Gulf oil supplies.


Terror Warning Against Travel to Indonesia

The Foreign Office tonight warned Britons against all but essential travel to Indonesia in the lead up to and during Christmas and the New Year.


Shoemaker Nike's Quarterly Earnings Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nike Inc. NKE.N on Thursday said its  second-quarter earnings rose on strong demand for its namesake  athletic shoes and Converse sneakers.


Gartner issues 10 CIO resolutions for 2005

Reassess your role, embrace change and make a backup plan. That's the advice Gartneranalysts are giving to IT professionals on how to approach the coming year.


Summary Box: Symantec Snaps Up Veritas

THE DEAL: Symantec Corp., best known for its Norton-branded software that fights computer viruses, is heading in a new direction with a \$13.5 billion acquisition of data storage and backup specialist Veritas Software Corp.


World crude oil market slips as supply fears ease

NEW YORK (AFP) - World crude oil prices slipped, halting a price spike triggered by fears of tight energy supplies in the northeastern United States.


Update 1: AirAsia Opts for Airbus Aircraft

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia will buy 40 A320 aircraft from Airbus at heavily discounted prices in a deal worth about US\$1.4 billion (euro1.05 billion) to kickstart its route-expansion plan, sources said Thursday.


UPDATE 1-US Airways, flight attendants in concession deal

US Airways Group Inc. (UAIRQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) reached a tentative deal on Thursday with negotiators for the airline #39;s flight attendants union for


SEC Advises Fannie Mae to Restate Earnings

Description: The head accountant at the Security Exchange Commission asks the mortgage giant to correct its books for the last three years.


Stuck in a Rundown

Everyone surrounding the Nationals returned Wednesday to a question that has haunted the team since its days in Montreal: What do we do now?


Hudson Sent to Braves

Tim Hudson is traded from the Oakland Athletics to Atlanta, a major deal that further bolsters the Braves' revamped rotation.


Cropp Has Bad Timing

The time for Linda Cropp to show the city how tough she is was before Mayor Williams agreed to a deal.


Wenger fined and reprimanded for Man United comments

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been fined 15,000 pounds (\$NZ41,100) for improper conduct for comments he made after the champions #39; 2-0 defeat by Manchester United in October.


Langer outplays pace barrage

PERTH, Dec. 16. - Justin Langer survived Shoaib Akhtars incisive opening pace barrage and retorted with his 21st Test ton, as Australia recovered from 78 for five to 357 for eight at stumps today on the


Demands of Tyneside showing on Souness

IN THE face of mounting unrest, Graeme Souness remains determined to reverse the declining fortunes of Newcastle United, but he, like his predecessors, has quickly appreciated that management


World Stars lose 6-1 to Swedish Elite League club

Goalie Dominik Hasek and the World Stars team of NHL barnstormers lost 6-1 Thursday to Swedish Elite League club Farjestad. Ray Whitney of the Detroit Red Wings scored the World Stars #39; goal before a crowd of 6,037.


Fox has winning formula for Panthers

Players and co-workers marvel at the head coach #39;s consistency, a word applies to few other aspects of the Panthers season. As a result of his leadership and their steady work, the Panthers are


Australians head to Indonesia

AUSTRALIANS are continuing to pack their bags and head to Indonesia for Christmas despite warnings terrorists are planning a bomb attack in the country.


Desktop Search wars heat up

Google #39;s foray into the desktop search market has this week hit it #39;s first competition, as rival offerings have been launched by both Microsoft and Ask Jeeves.


HP Ships Itanium Team to Intel

HP will continue to design Itanium chipsets and develop the market for its Itanium 2-based Integrity servers, which it has positioned as a replacement for PA-RISC systems.


Two Fidelity Employees Let Go Over Gifts

Fidelity Investments on Thursday said two employees have been let go and 14 others have been disciplined for violating company policies covering gifts from brokers to the mutual fund giant #39;s traders.


Apple Sells 200 Million Songs on ITunes

Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said sales of songs bought from its market-leading iTunes online music store had topped 200 million, a figure that


Science Magazine Names Mars Discovery Breakthrough of the Year

Before leaving Endurance Crater, Opportunity rovers panoramic camera, or Pancam, captured this view of  quot;Burns Cliff quot; at the base of the southeastern portion of the inner wall of the crater.


Kazaa could have bugs

THE search mechanism used by the Kazaa file-sharing network could contain malicious code, the Federal Court heard yesterday. Counsel for the record companies, John Nicholas SC, said in recent years there had


IBM Unleashes New RFID Middleware

In the increasingly competitive RFID arena, IBM on Thursday will release the first three products from its recently formed \$250 million S amp;A (Sensor  amp; Actuator) arm.


An all-new power walk

WEARABLE solar panels that help charge mobile phones or music players are likely to come on sale within three years, the New Scientist says.


AMD: Feeling chipper

In a rough year for semi stocks, Advanced Micro Devices has thrived. Is there more room to run? NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Tech stocks have had a nice year-end rally but that hasn #39;t been enough to pull the chip sector out of the red.


Families Try to ID Argentina Fire Victims

Anguished families struggled Saturday to identify the bodies of relatives killed in a Buenos Aires nightclub fire that left at least 186 people dead, many after being trapped inside by locked emergency exits.


Oil price rise a cloud on Wall Street #39;s happiness on results

US STOCKS vacillated yesterday as rising oil prices muted Wall Streets excitement over strong results from Lehman Brothers and Sprints \$35 billion acquisition of Nextel Communications.


Fannie Mae ordered to restate earnings

The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has ordered Fannie Mae, the nation #39;s largest buyer of mortgages, to restate its earnings over the last four years after


Google Virtual-Library Agreement Is Important First Step

On 14 December 2004, Google announced an agreement with five major libraries - those at Stanford, Harvard, the University of Michigan and Oxford, as well as the New York Public Library -o create digital copies of books that can be searched using


Weighing The Desktop Search Pros And Cons

The  quot;in quot; item for big four of the search industry (Google, Yahoo, MSN, and, Ask Jeeves) is Desktop Search utilities. By early next year, all the major search platforms will/should have a branded, functional


Sony #39;s PSP draws queues on 1st day

About 200,000 of the sleek black devices, able to play movies, music and games, went on sale early Sunday morning as part of a drive by Sony to loosen rival Nintendo #39;s iron grip on the market for handheld game machines.


Microsoft acquires antispyware vendor Giant

DECEMBER 16, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Microsoft Corp. has acquired antispyware vendor Giant Company Software Inc. in New York for an undisclosed amount.


NASA chief applies for job as chancellor of Louisiana State <b>...</b>

NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe is a top candidate for Louisiana State University chancellor after nearly three years leading the


NASA Chief Applies for Job at LSU

NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe will resign this week, a government official said Sunday, and a spokesman for Louisiana State University said O #39;Keefe is a leading candidate to become a chancellor there.


NASA Chief O #39;Keefe May Be Quitting

WASHINGTON -- The Associated Press quotes a government official as saying NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe will resign this week and a spokesman for Louisiana State University said O #39;Keefe is a leading candidate to become the university #39;s chancellor.


Illinois Governor Wants To Keep  #39;GTA, #39;  #39;Halo 2 #39; Out Of Kids #39; Hands

That iconic black-and-white parental advisory sticker you see on CDs containing violent and/or sexually explicit content may soon be appearing on video games, if the governor from Illinois has his way.


Adobe pulls Acrobat 6.03 update

Adobe has temporarily withdrawn its v6.03 update for Adobe Acrobat 6, which was posted earlier this week. Adobe #39;s download page for the update says,  quot;The 6.0.3 update is temporarily unavailable for Mac OS versions of Acrobat 6.0 Professional and Standard.


Worldstars routed

Jesper Mattsson scored two goals as Farjestad, one of Sweden #39;s top clubs, trounced the Worldstars 6-1 on Thursday. Per Hallberg scored in the first period for Farjestad


Uefa Cup Thursday Preview

There is everything to play for in Group B, with Steaua Bucharest the only team having qualified. Tonight, Parma (already out) host Besiktas (four points), while Standard Liege (four) entertain Athletic Bilbao (6).


Mystery  #39;British Charity #39; Worker Executed in Iraq

The body of an Italian, who claimed to be with a British charity, has been displayed by Iraqi rebels who executed him after he crashed through a roadblock.


No Static Expected in Sprint-Nextel Deal

Industry watchers don #39;t expect any trouble from regulators or competitors when it comes to the proposed Sprint (Quote, Chart) Nextel (Quote, Chart) merger.


New rule: Firms must expense options

Companies must start expensing employee stock options in earnings statements next year, US accounting rule makers declared on Thursday, a move that could signal the end of a long-standing bookkeeping practice that many argued allowed


Rover Finds More Signs of Water in Mars #39; Past

Gostar Klingelhofer of Johannes Gutenberg University reported that NASA #39;s Mars rover Spirit found a rock that had sizable amounts of an iron-containing mineral associated with water.


IBM adds RFID capabilities to WebSphere products

DECEMBER 16, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - IBM today unveiled new software to help companies integrate radio frequency identification (RFID) capabilities into their IT systems, including a new server application that brings RFID benefits to existing IBM point-of


ICANN Stands To Reap Windfall from New Domain Fee

In the short term, the tax could add US\$4 million annually to ICANN #39;s coffers, an amount that could skyrocket to more than \$30 million if it is extended to additional domains.


Postal Service Trying to Stay Competitive (AP)

AP - From teaming up with a rock band to selling restaurant gift cards online, it isn't Ben Franklin's post office any more. The U.S. Postal Service is battling to keep its place in electronic America by going on the Internet.


Report: Linux Market Poised for Takeoff (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Linux continues to gain momentum in a Windows world, with global sales of the open-source software expected to surpass US #36;35 billion in the next four years, according to research conducted by IDC.


Many Now Worry AIDS Drug Will Be Halted (AP)

AP - Doctors and AIDS activists in Africa are worried governments may halt use of an AIDS drug that has protected thousands of babies from HIV infection in reaction to new concerns about the drug's testing and effect on pregnant women.


Adobe 4Q Earnings Surge 36 Percent (AP)

AP - Earnings at Adobe Systems Inc. increased 36 percent in the latest quarter as the company posted record revenue on strong sales of its graphics and imaging software.


IBM offers developers modeling transition tool (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Looking to enable transitions between application modeling platforms, IBM this week is making available the IBM Model Transformation Framework (MTF) on its alphaWorks site for previewing technologies.


Myanmar junta putting Aung San Suu Kyi's health, safety at risk: opposition (AFP)

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


Apple Sells 200 Million Songs on ITunes (Reuters)

Reuters - Apple Computer Inc.  on\Thursday said sales of songs bought from its market-leading\iTunes online music store had topped 200 million, a figure that\was about in line with what some analysts had been expecting.


EU Wants More Mandatory Emissions Cuts, U.S. Opposed (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Union, the\heavyweight in the fight against global warming, will push for\mandatory cuts in emissions after the Kyoto protocol expires in\2012 despite fervent opposition from the United States.


Chrysler Sees Big Savings from New Engine Venture (Reuters)

Reuters - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler division\on Thursday said it will save  #36;100 million a year from\production of a new jointly developed four-cylinder engine that\is more powerful, cleaner burning and far more advanced than\the one it builds today.


Some States Split With Bush on Emissions (AP)

AP - Two sets of Americans have come here to talk global warming: the United States, opposed to controls on carbon emissions, and a bloc of united states, from Maine to Delaware, that plan to impose them.


AP: Astronaut Says Space Shuttle Safer (AP)

AP - Legendary astronaut John Young said Thursday, on the verge of his retirement, that NASA has not changed its safety culture since the Columbia accident but has done all it can to improve the space shuttle and should return to flight as soon as possible.


Abbas Says Any Gaza Talks Must Follow 'Road Map'

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Presidential frontrunner  Mahmoud Abbas appeared on Thursday to reject coordinating with  Israel on a plan that means quitting occupied Gaza while  keeping large chunks of the West Bank.


Water, Robots on Mars Get Top 2004 Honors (AP)

AP - The conclusive discovery by a pair of wheeled robots that Mars once had vast pools of water and possibly could have harbored life was chosen by the editors of the journal Science as the most important scientific achievement of 2004.


Ukraine in Crisis, Could Face Disaster, PM Says

KIEV (Reuters) - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, facing a  new election battle against a liberal challenger buoyed by vast  street protests, said on Thursday Ukraine had been cast into a  crisis which could turn to disaster after the new vote.


Big Crab Catch Sparks Overfishing Worries (AP)

AP - San Francisco's quintessential meal is fresh Dungeness crab, a glass of chardonnay and sourdough bread. But now, local crab fishermen and connoisseurs worry that one of the city's most beloved delicacies is in trouble, a victim of too many boats pulling up too many crabs all at once.


Saddam Sees Lawyer, Forces Deployed to Kerbala

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein saw a lawyer hired by  his family on Thursday, his first contact with defense counsel  since U.S. soldiers captured him a year ago.


Women in China finally making a great leap forward

Mao said 'women hold up half the sky.' But only today are urban women making big gains.


EU-Turkey talks set for October

EU leaders agree at a summit in Brussels to begin membership talks with Turkey on 3 October next year.


Russia to release massacre files

Russia agrees to allow Polish authorities to examine Soviet archives on what Poles call the Katyn Forest massacre of 1940.


Leapfrog withdraws  #39;04 outlook, gives no estimates

Leapfrog Enterprises Inc. (LF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) executives said on Thursday its 2004 results will be  quot;significantly below quot; previous forecasts, withdrew its 2004 estimates


Illinois seeks game ban

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


Zigbee (Almost) Arrives

802.14.5 is one of the many personal area network (PAN) standards around like Bluetooth and ultrawideband (UWB). Like most IEEE 802 standards, the wireless industry knew what the IEEE was doing (or didn #39;t do in the case of UWB) was not enough.


Cisco to Open Tokyo Research Center

Internet networking giant Cisco Systems Inc. on Thursday said it plans to open a research and development center in Tokyo in February.


Magpies top UEFA group, Hearts out

Newcastle ensured their place as top seeds in Friday #39;s third round UEFA Cup draw after holding Sporting Lisbon to a 1-1 draw at St James #39; Park.


Report: Mariners sign 3B Beltre to five-year deal

It apparently didn #39;t take long for the Seattle Mariners to land a second free agent power-hitting corner infielder. According to a report, the Mariners have agreed to terms with third baseman Adrian Beltre on a five-year contract worth \$65 million.


Twins sign veteran Mulholland to minor league deal

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins have come to terms with veteran pitcher Terry Mulholland on a minor league contract.


Connors to team up with McEnroe at BBC and LTA

The notion of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe working together conjures an image of a pantomime horse with the front end trying to shake off the rear.


Beltre Agrees to  #36;64M Deal With Mariners (AP)

AP - Prized free agent Adrian Beltre and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a  #36;64 million, five-year deal Thursday, The Associated Press learned.


Sharon Expresses Optimism for Upcoming Year

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that 2005 will be "a year of great opportunity" in which Israel will have unprecedented chances to make peace with the Palestinians and improve relations with the rest of the world.


EU Agrees to Start Membership Talks With Turkey

European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to offer Turkey a date of Oct. 3, 2005 to begin negotiations on its membership of the bloc, said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.


Colombia Sentences Irishmen for Rebel Aid

A Colombian court has sentenced three IRA-linked men to up to 17 1/2 years in prison for training leftist rebels in terrorist tactics in a guerrilla stronghold in southern Colombia, according to court documents released Thursday.


Cuban M.D. Staying at Argentine Embassy

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


Higher oil pricing may be in store from OPEC

OPEC oil production cuts, announced at a special meeting of that cartels representatives in Cairo, Egypt Friday, are part of a strategy to keep light sweet crude prices above \$40 a barrel.


Symantec in \$13bn Veritas merger

Norton Antivirus software maker Symantec merges with Veritas Software in a \$13bn deal.


Missile team targets the Moon

A US firm is proposing to use guided missile technology to make a precision landing on the Moon.


New Grand Theft Auto Video Game Heads to Xbox

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Video game hit "Grand Theft Auto:  San Andreas" is coming to the Xbox and personal computer  platforms next June, publisher Take-Two Interactive Software  Inc.TTWO.O said on Thursday.


Digital Cameras Sales to Hit \$24 Billion in 2004

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Digital camera sales worldwide  will reach \$24 billion in 2004 and rise 29 percent to reach \$31  billion in 2009, a research group said on Thursday.


Mexico Warms Up to Voice Over Internet Service

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - VoIP, or voice traffic over the  Internet, is headed for Mexico offering an opportunity for  upstart telecommunications companies but a headache for  traditional companies, who see pressure on their earnings as  the cost of long distance calls decline.


Apple Sells 200 Million Songs on ITunes

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. AAPL.O on  Thursday said sales of songs bought from its market-leading  iTunes online music store had topped 200 million, a figure that  was about in line with what some analysts had been expecting.


iPod: The Gift That Keeps on Going

Apple couldn't ask for a better dilemma -- with nine days left until Christmas, retailers are reporting a run on the popular iPod digital music player. -washingtonpost.com


For Nextel, Merger Is Time Of Trepidation

As details of the rumored merger between Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. were being finalized behind closed doors late Tuesday, Miguel Avila, who heads Nextel's Hispanic marketing, summed up the mood of employees at the company's Reston headquarters.


BearingPoint Gets Subpoena in California

BearingPoint Inc., a management-consulting firm, has received a subpoena from a grand jury in California regarding federal contracts going back to 1998, according to a regulatory filing Thursday.


Holiday Travel Tips for Stress-Free Flying

Travel experts share timesaving advice for enduring airports on some of the year's busiest travel days.


Sprint: Nextel #39;s Savior

NEW YORK - Just two months after the announcement that Cingular Wireless will acquire AT amp;T Wireless, Sprint has announced that it plans to buy Nextel Communications for \$35 billion.


Telstra Plans to Begin Cutting Middle Managers Next Year

Telstra Corp., Australia #39;s biggest phone company, will next year begin cutting the number of workers among its 4,500 middle managers, spokesman Michael Grealy said.


But eye in the sky tracks pollution

NASA launched a 24-hour global pollution monitoring service yesterday that will eventually allow scientists to give daily chemical forecasts from space.


Pirates acquire Santiago from Royals

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Shopping for a veteran catcher after trading Jason Kendall last month, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Benito Santiago from the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.


Smith Hints He Wants to Play Another Year (AP)

AP - Fifteen seasons may not be not enough for Emmitt Smith.


Lack of Courtesy From ADs Miffs Osborne (AP)

AP - Tom Osborne has been out of college football for seven years, and now he can't even get a phone call returned.


Hudson Traded to Braves

ATLANTA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves have acquired  standout righthander Tim Hudson from the Oakland Athletics in  exchange for outfielder Charles Thomas, right-handed pitcher  Juan Cruz and left-handed pitcher Dan Meyer.


ABN AMRO to cut 4,000 jobs in restructuring

AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands biggest bank ABN AMRO announced it was cutting more than 4,000 back office and information technology staff on Thursday as it aims to bring its cost base in line with its competitors.


Microsoft Buys Anti-Spyware Company

Microsoft has purchased Giant Company Software of New York, which makes software to detect a common form of malicious software programs known as  quot;spyware, quot; the software giant says.


iTunes hits 200 million download mark

com December 16, 2004, 3:01 PM PT. Apple Computer on Thursday said it has now sold more than 200 million songs through its iTunes Music Store--and it has new plans to keep the sales trend continuing upwards.


Turn on the charm if you want to woo Europeans, Turkey told

TURKEY must do more to overcome popular hostility in the West, it was told yesterday, as Europes leaders met to take the historic decision to open talks on its membership of the European Union in October next year.


#39;Osama #39; tape tells Saudis: prepare for coup

A MAN believed to be Osama bin Laden, speaking on a tape, urged his fighters to focus attacks on oil sites in the Gulf and Iraq and hailed the terrorists who attacked a US consulate in Saudi Arabia.


CIA confident that voice on tape is Bin Laden

The CIA has  quot;high confidence quot; that the voice on a new audiotape praising anti-US attacks belongs to terror mastermind Usama bin Laden, intelligence officials told FOX News Thursday.


Pakistan ratifies Kyoto Protocol

BUENOS AIRES: Pakistan has ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Climatic Change, Environment Minister Malik Khan said on Thursday. He said that Islamabad has notified UN authorities of ratification, which formally comes into effect in February 2005.


Iraq political launch marred

BAGHDAD - A deadly bomb blast in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and furious criticism of Shiite politicians by Iraq #39;s defense minister cast a pall over the official launch Wednesday of Iraq #39;s election campaign, threatening to inflame sectarian tension


Pirates Finish Santiago Trade With Royals (AP)

AP - Benito Santiago was traded Thursday by the Kansas City Royals to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have sought a veteran catcher since dealing Jason Kendall to Oakland last month.


Dow Ends Up on J J Deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips closed slightly higher  on Thursday, helped by Johnson   Johnson Inc.'s JNJ.N \$25  billion deal to buy Guidant Corp. GDT.N, but the broader  market fell, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS.N dragging the  S P 500 lower after posting quarterly revenues that  disappointed Wall Street.


Symantec shares skid on deal

SAN FRANCISCO Symantec, the computer security giant, reached final agreement Thursday to take over the storage and backup program maker Veritas Software, making Symantec the No.4 independent software company in the world.


Yukos CFO tells court of threats

Yukos chief financial officer Bruce Mismore on Thursday testified that Russian authorities were threatening him with legal action and possible extradition


AirAsia choses Airbus over Boeing

AirAsia, one of Southeast Asia #39;s biggest low-cost airlines, said Thursday it would buy 40 Airbus A320 aircraft and take options on 40 more.


Briefs: Southwest has top bid for ATA

Southwest Airlines, the biggest and richest low-fare airline, was the apparent winner Thursday in the bidding war for ATA Airlines, another low-fare carrier that sought bankruptcy protection this autumn.


Parmalat is suing 45 more banks

MILAN Parmalat, Finanziaria, the bankrupt Italian dairy and food giant, said Thursday that it was suing 45 banks to recover money paid to them in the year before it collapsed.


Governor Take Action On Video Games

Governor Rod Blagojevich is taking a stand on violent and sexually explicit video games. He wants to keep them out of children #39;s reach.


Wenger fined for  #39;cheat #39; jibe

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger was fined  amp;pound15,000 (\$38,000) by the Football Association today for calling Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy a cheat.


Beltre leaving LA for Seattle

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Seattle Mariners continued efforts to bulk up their anemic offence Thursday, signing free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre to lucrative contract.


Mulholland signed by Twins

After the Twins acquired veteran pitcher Terry Mulholland from Seattle for a dollar in April, they certainly got more than their money #39;s worth.


Parma hits back to keep Italian hopes alive

Parma hit back from an early goal down to beat Besiktas 3-2 on Thursday and maintain Italy #39;s hopes of winning a UEFA Cup championship it used to dominate.


Osborne upset about athletic directors not calling back

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


Vaughan plans verbal assault as England go in search of records

Michael Vaughan intends to adopt the Australian tactic of  quot;sledging quot; during his attempt to become the most successful captain in England #39;s history.


Annan Tells Powell UN Will Aid Iraq Vote

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, fending off Republican demands for his resignation over alleged corruption, said Thursday he will expand UN support for Iraqi elections if need be.


14 arrested for anti-government rallies in Jeddah and Riyadh

JEDDAH/RIYADH: Security forces detained about 14 people on Thursday in Saudi Arabias main cities of Jeddah and Riyadh, deploying in force to confront demonstrations called by a dissident Islamist group against the strictly conservative regime.


Colombian jail for Irish trio in IRA terror case

THREE Irishmen acquitted by a Colombian judge of training Marxist guerrillas in IRA-style terrorist warfare were found guilty on appeal and sentenced to up to 17 years imprisonment yesterday.


Microsoft Wants to Resume Talks With EU (AP)

AP - Software giant Microsoft Corp. hopes an impending court ruling on its five-year antitrust battle with the European Union will bring both sides back to the negotiating table, but EU regulators still balk at resuming direct negotiations, officials said Thursday.


Schoolgirl killer Homolka could quietly slip into any town in Canada: top cop (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Convicted Ontario schoolgirl killer Karla Homolka, considered a real danger to reoffend by the National Parole Board, could quietly slip into any community across Canada after her release next July.


UN troops surround Aristide house

UN troops and Haitian police seal off a house in Port-au-Prince occupied by former members of the army.


Rules Change Requires Apple to Expense Options

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued a ruling that will require Apple, among other companies, to begin deducting the value of stock options from profits, starting in 2005.


Apple breeze past the 200 Million iTunes mark

Apple have announced that their iTunes store has crashed through the 200 million song download mark, a mere five months since we reported on their breaking the 100 million milestone.


Midway sending an all-out Blitz

New M-rated, non-NFL game will feature off-field political fallout, on-field unnecessary roughness, and post-play partying. At least one sports video game publisher in the industry isn #39;t bothered by the exclusive


At summit, a deal on membership talks

BRUSSELS The European Union took a huge step towards its most controversial enlargement to date late Thursday night by agreeing to open membership negotiations with Turkey, although with strict conditions.


21 Neapli troops, 41 rebels killed

Nepal #39;s army said it killed at least five Maoist guerrillas when it foiled an attack yesterday by hundreds of insurgents on a communications tower.


Fox Sports Net to Televise AFL Games (AP)

AP - Fox Sports Networks will carry Arena League regular-season games on 11 of its regional networks in a deal announced Thursday.


Dutch bank to lay off 2,850 staff

ABN Amro, the Netherlands #39; largest bank, is to cut 2,850 jobs as a result of falling profits. The cuts - amounting to 3 of the bank #39;s workforce - will result in a one-off charge of 790m euros (\$1.1bn).


Space Station Crew Told To Cut Back on Food

A Russian-built cargo spacecraft, Progress 16, had been scheduled to deliver fresh food, water and other supplies to the ISS last month, but the mission was delayed until late December.


Royals trade Santiago to Pirates ahead of deal for Marrero

On a busy day for the Royals, they also acquired outfielder-catcher Eli Marrero and cash from Atlanta for right-hander Jorge Vasquez.


US bankruptcy judge promises Yukos ruling this week

Russian oil company Yukos, possibly making its last stand to prevent Russia from selling its main production unit in a tax dispute, asked a US bankruptcy judge Thursday to block a scheduled auction of the unit.


Stock option expensing required next year

The independent body charged with setting US accounting standards on Thursday gave hard deadlines for companies to treat stock options as expenses in financial statements.


HP bullish on Itanium #39;s future

On the surface, new announcements from Hewlett-Packard and Intel bode well for the future of the 64-bit Itanium platform, which should be good news for the channel.


New species of monkey described

NEW YORK - A species of monkey previously unknown to science has been discovered in the forests of northeastern India. The Arunachal macaque has a dark face and is relatively large with a shorter tail than most macaques.


Customers Not Confident Of Oracle-PeopleSoft Integration <b>...</b>

Nearly two-thirds of PeopleSoft customers  quot;not at all confident quot; Oracle will integrate products, survey finds. Half of Oracle feel that way.


Bucks place Strickland on injured list

Milwaukee Bucks guard Erick Strickland will miss at least two weeks after being placed on the injured list Thursday with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.


Heath: Check the oven, Cowboys are done

including this week #39;s road game against mighty Philly - to have any kind of shot at the sixth playoff spot in the NFC. Even if


Turkish PM eyes last-minute compromise on Cyprus

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Thursday that he expects to reach a compromise with the EU on the vexed issue of Cyprus before the end of a two-day Brussels summit.


SADDAM MEETS LAWYER FOR FIRST TIME

Saddam Hussein has had his first meeting with a lawyer in preparation for his trial which will investigate charges of crimes against humanity.


Sportsview: Selig   Co. Hear 'Chin-Music' (AP)

AP - Linda Cropp just became my favorite baseball player. The chair of the Washington, D.C., city council doesn't own a uniform, won't ever set foot inside a batter's box, and probably couldn't break an egg if she had to throw it off a mound.


Many Now Worry AIDS Drug Will Be Halted (AP)

AP - Doctors and AIDS activists in Africa are worried governments may halt use of an AIDS drug that has protected thousands of babies from HIV infection in reaction to concerns about the drug's testing and effect on pregnant women.


Boobirds Batter Symantec-Veritas

Updated from 12:51 pm ESTWithin hours of the announcement that antivirus maker Symantec (SYMC:Nasdaq) and software storage vendor Veritas (VRTS:Nasdaq) would merge, skeptical investors shaved about a billion dollars off the value of the all-stock deal.


Continental cuts \$22 mln more in wages, benefits

Continental Airlines (CAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday finalized details of wage and benefits cuts for reservations and food service workers that the airline said


Birminghams Gronkjaer going to Spain

MADRID: Atletico Madrid is close to signing Denmark #39;s Jesper Gronkjaer (pic) from Birmingham City, the Spanish club #39;s president said on Wednesday.


Germany score easy win over Japan

YOKOHAMA: Germany started their three-game Asia tour with a 3-0 victory in Japan yesterday to shake off some recent World Cup ghosts.


Blair holds key as EU opens door to Turkey

Tony Blair is on course to take charge of historic negotiations designed to pave the way for Turkish membership of the EU after European leaders last night gave the green light to accession talks.


Bin Laden tape put online

A new audiotape purportedly from Osama bin Laden was put on the internet yesterday, praising gunmen who attacked a US consulate in Saudi Arabia last week and blaming the royal family for unrest in the kingdom.


Iraqi militants claim Italian aid worker was murdered as a  #39; <b>...</b>

Iraqi militants took journalists yesterday to the body of a murdered man they claimed to be an Italian aid worker, Salvatore Santoro, who formerly lived in Britain.


Sudan orders halt of fighting in Darfur but rebels say attacks <b>...</b>

Sudan said yesterday it ordered the military to stop fighting in the bloodied Darfur region even as rebels alleged new attacks and said they #39;d uphold a boycott of stalemated peace talks.


UHaiti Gov #39;t Negotiates With Ex-Soldiers

With hundreds of UN troops and Haitian police at the ready, government negotiators met Thursday with ex-soldiers who have seized the abandoned estate of ousted President


Fidelity Disciplines 16 Workers Over Gifts (AP)

AP - Fidelity Investments on Thursday disciplined 16 employees for violating the mutual fund giant's conflict-of-interest policies covering gifts from brokers to Fidelity's traders.


Anlaysis: Yukos seeks legal asylum in US

Over the years Russia #39;s embattled oil company Yukos has morphed into a respected corporate citizen of the world and is seeking bankruptcy protection in the United States on the


US approves high-flying broadband

US DOMESTIC air travellers could be surfing the web by 2006 via government-approved technology that allows people access to high-speed internet connections while they fly.


Sepracor Shares Rise on Insomnia Drug OK

Drug maker Sepracor Inc. has won federal approval for a prescription insomnia medication the company is counting on to challenge larger rivals in the fast-growing \$2.1 billion-a-year sleep aid market.


Wall Street's Designs on '05? A Boom in Merger Activity

After years of self-doubt and housecleaning in the wake of Enron, corporate America has gotten a bit of swagger back in its step.


What #39;s all the fuss about desktop search?

Unless you live under a rock the size of Canada you #39;ve heard or read something this week about desktop search. Google sparked considerable interest with its Desktop Search launch in October, and the past few


Violent video games get shot again.

After being in the news more times than I have actually watched the news, the discussion about how bad are violent video games for minors, is back in session.


Adobe Repairs Reader, Acrobat Flaws

Adobe this week updated its Acrobat and Reader software to fix vulnerabilities spotted by security intelligence firm iDefense. Adobe this week updated its Acrobat and Reader software to fix vulnerabilities


Linux To Ring Up \$35B By 2008

For a theoretically free operating system, Linux is -- and will continue to be -- a cash cow. A research firm sees a bright financial future for the OS.


Microsoft posts critical configuration patch

Microsoft released a  quot;critical quot; fix on Thursday for a security issue left unresolved by the Windows XP Service Pack 2. The configuration change closed a hole in the Windows firewall settings that could open


ICANN Institutes New Annual Fee

If you own any domain names ending in .net, you will be required to pony up an extra \$0.75 per year per .net domain name, courtesy of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).


21st-century Langer gives Australia edge

The opener Justin Langer became Test cricket #39;s highest run-scorer this year with a fighting century in Perth to give Australia, at one stage 78 for five, the upper hand in the first Test against Pakistan.


Smoltz agrees to new two-year deal with Braves

John Smoltz was part of some talented starting rotations in Atlanta before becoming the team #39;s closer. Now he #39;s back as a starter, and with the addition of Tim Hudson on Thursday, the rebuilt


Parma late show secures UEFA Cup survival

PARIS (AFP) - Italian Serie A strugglers Parma gave Pietro Carmignani a reason to smile on his return to his old job with a 3-2 win over Besiktas which guaranteed them a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.


Atletico Madrid complete deal for Birmingham #39;s Gronkjaer

Birmingham managing director Karren Brady and Gronkjaer #39;s agent, Vincenzo Morabito, were both in Madrid to finalise terms with Atletico officials.


Cropp Wants Deadline Extension

Thomas Boswell: In the coming days, Washington and its disingenuous DC Council must make a simple decision.  Michael Wilbon: Now is not the time for Linda Cropp to show the city how tough she is.


Germany beats Japan 3-0

YOKOHAMA - Germany spoiled Zico #39;s Christmas as second-half goals from Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack gave the 2002 World Cup finalists a comfortable 3-0 win in an international friendly at International Stadium Yokohama on Thursday.


Ex-Nebraska coach Solich hired to turn around Ohio University

Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich was introduced on Thursday as Ohio #39;s new football coach, returning to the state where he grew up and promising to rebuild a program that went just 11-35 in the past four years.


Pittsburgh #39;s Burress out Sunday; Staley is doubtful

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress #39; injured hamstring will prevent him from playing in Saturday #39;s game against the New York Giants.


Quit or be toppled, bin Laden tells Saudi elite

Saudi riot police chased anti-royalist demonstrators through Jeddah yesterday and arrested more than a dozen as a tape recording, purportedly by Osama bin Laden, called


Greek Albanians #39; woes fester

The Athens bus hostage drama involving two armed Albanians has thrown the spotlight on Greece #39;s Albanians, who form the country #39;s largest minority, estimated at nearly one million.


Quinn may leave hospital tomorrow

The pregnant former lover of David Blunkett who has been receiving treatment for stress-related complications may be released from hospital tomorrow, according to her husband.


Bush vows pension fund shake-up

The US president says he plans far-reaching reforms to the Social Security system which funds pensions.


Nike's 2nd-Quarter Earnings Jump

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nike Inc. NKE.N on Thursday said its  second-quarter earnings rose a surprisingly large 46 percent on  strong sales in the United States and in emerging markets like  China, while a weaker dollar beefed up profits in Europe.


Solich to Coach Ohio

Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich was introduced as Ohio's new football coach Thursday, returning to the state where he grew up and promising to rebuild a program that has gone 11-35 over the past four seasons.


NHLPA Disputes Claims

The NHLPA said on Thursday that its 24 percent salary rollback would produce a \$275.5 million profit for teams as opposed to a \$568.5 million loss, as stated by the NHL.


Bush Says Social Security Plan Would Reassure Markets

President Bush continued to lay the groundwork for a strong effort by the White House to overhaul Social Security.


Update 1: Thursday #39;s Commodities Roundup

Precious metals settled lower Thursday as the US dollar staged a reversal and edged higher on better-than-expected US economic data.


Water of life and other scientific highlights of 2004

The scientific Breakthrough of the Year awards are less glitzy than the Oscars, but the discoveries they honour are as spirit-stirring as anything to come out of Hollywood.


Braves have a Schuerthing

This isn #39;t good news for the Phillies, who thought they had beefed up their pitching staff, or for the Marlins, who felt their offense gave them an edge.


Israel says it will back Blair peace conference

By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor and Inigo Gilmore in Herzliya. Israel threw its weight yesterday behind Tony Blair #39;s plans to hold an international Middle East conference in London in February, but left


Iraqi Militants Say They Shot Italian

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi militants said they shot and killed an Italian citizen after he tried to break through a guerrilla roadblock on a highway outside the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi.