Iran Uranium Program Resolution Passed

Iran escaped U.N. censure over its nuclear program but Washington, which accuses it of seeking an atomic bomb, said on Monday it reserved the right to take the case to the Security Council on its own.


Sudan Expels Head of Britain Aid Agency

Sudan expelled the country director of Save the Children, accusing the British aid agency of breaching Sudanese law and interfering in domestic affairs, the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry and the agency said on Monday.


NFL Wrap: McNabb Leads Eagles to Fourth East Title

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donovan McNabb passed for one  touchdown and rushed for another as the Philadelphia Eagles won  their fourth straight division title with a 27-6 win over the  New York Giants in the NFL Sunday.


Kazaa offering free Internet-based calls

Free Internet-based phone calls are the newest feature of the popular Kazaa file-sharing program. The offering, in a software upgrade this week, comes as Kazaa #39;s maker, Sharman


Toshiba wins 4 Hollywood studios #39; support for HD DVD format

TOKYO, Nov 29, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Toshiba Corp. said Monday it has won support from four US film studios for its next-generation DVD format called HD DVD.


Sony, Toshiba and IBM prepare to reveal Cell details

The three partners involved in the development of the Cell processor, which will power the PlayStation 3 along with a number of other devices, have unveiled new details about the technology behind the chip.


Who #39;s Using Firefox?

The Firefox Web browser has been causing a commotion among users and snaring snippets of market share from Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer since June--long before Version 1.0 of the open-source software was officially released earlier this month.


ISS Crew Successfully Redocks Soyuz Spacecraft

The tenth crew of the International Space Station (ISS) made a short spaceflight early Monday to move a Russian lifeboat to a new docking port and prepare the station for a pair of upcoming spacewalks.


Scientists Study Effects of High-Flow Test on Grand Canyon

The Department of the Interior #39;s US Geological Survey is collaborating with partner agencies to conduct scientific experiments designed to evaluate the effect of a high-flow release from Glen Canyon Dam on the natural resources of the Colorado River in


Apple deepens Sony #39;s woes as iPod takes off

Juliana Sasaki did not bother checking out Sony Corp #39;s digital music player in Tokyo before buying her green iPod mini.  quot;I knew Sony and other companies had MP3 players, but


First Optical Discs with Play Side Messaging

MediaCoat unlocks the potential for placing targeted advertising messages that are certain to be noticed on the play side of motion picture, music, gaming and software discs.


WS-Reliability middleware released as open source

Three proponents of the WS-Reliability standard late last week released messaging software based on the specification as open source.


Capello Applauds Vieri

Fabio Capello was disappointed at the end of the 2-2 draw at San Siro against Inter as the Bianconeri threw away a two goal lead. The Juve coach was mostly upset with the way the Nerazzurri equalized in the


Cracknell to take a break from rowing

Double Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell is to take a year out of the sport but hopes to return to compete at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.


Coughlin Not Pleased With Manning #39;s Progress

New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin isn #39;t coddling his prized rookie quarterback. After Eli Manning completed only six of 21 passes and threw two interceptions in Sunday #39;s


Online sellers given fraud alert

People selling items over the internet or through newspaper adverts are warned of a sophisticated fraudulent payment scam.


Packers face Rams in Monday nighter

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Brett Favre will be hoping his 200th consecutive start turns out better than his last two have against the St.


NBA Wrap: Wade, O'Neal Lead Heat to 10th Win of Season

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dwayne Wade scored 25 points and  Shaquille O'Neal tied a franchise record by making all nine of  the shots he attempted as the Heat edged the Boston Celtics  106-104 in Miami Sunday.


EADS Board Still Mulling New Airbus Jet

The board of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. met Monday to consider plans to launch a new Airbus passenger jet that would rival Boeing Co.


Waste management firms BFI Canada, IESI announce \$1.1 billion <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - BFI Canada Income Fund and IESI Corp. of Fort Worth, Tex., say they have agreed to a \$1.1-billion merger that will give IESI shareholders a 39 per cent stake in one of North America #39;s largest non-hazardous solid waste management companies.


Red Sox Grab SI's Sportsman of the Year Honor

NEW YORK, (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox, who ended  an 86-year-old "curse" by winning the World Series in a  four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, have been named  Sports Illustrated's 2004 Sportsmen of the Year.


Iran Flip-Flopping on Nuclear Agreement

The West is trying to bully Iran into giving up its nuclear program, Iran #39;s supreme leader said on Monday. Tehran once again appeared to be flip-flopping on its agreement


Asean signs historic deal with China

The Asean group of south-east Asian states sealed a historic trade pact with China today in the latest move towards a pan-Asian trade bloc that could rival the EU and the US.


Sri Lanka mulls Tiger threat to return to war

Colombo: Sri Lanka #39;s president and top aides were Monday studying the latest Tamil Tiger threat to return to their protracted war amid mounting tension in embattled regions, officials said.


Nairobi Summit Urges More Progress to Ban Land Mines

An international summit to assess how countries are complying with a convention banning land-mine use, production, stockpiling, and transfer is underway in Nairobi.


Alpine Skiing: Super-G Win Puts Miller in Exclusive Club

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (Reuters) - American Bode Miller  blitzed to victory in a World Cup super-G on Sunday, completing  a weekend of career firsts to earn a place among Alpine  skiing's all-time greats.


Bears Set to Sign QB Jeff George

CHICAGO, (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears are expected  to sign quarterback Jeff George on Monday.


Sony, IBM, Toshiba Give Details of 'Cell' Chip

TOKYO (Reuters) - IBM IBM.N, Sony Corp. 6758.T and  Toshiba Corp. 6502.T on Monday unveiled some key details on  the powerful new "Cell" processor the three are jointly  producing to run next-generation computers, game consoles and  TVs.


International Space Station Status Report: SS04-042

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Expedition 10 crewmembers are back inside the International Space Station after taking a short ride this morning.


Injury Forces Emmitt Out of Arizona Game

TEMPE, Ariz., (Sports Network) - Arizona Cardinals running  back Emmitt Smith left Sunday's 13-3 loss to the New York Jets  in the first half with a sprained ankle.


Toshiba Wins Support for HD DVD from 4 Film Studios

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp. said on Monday it had won  support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from Warner Bros.  Studios, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and New Line  Cinema, advancing its cause in the battle for the  next-generation DVD.


Asean must fast-track integration

Two of Southeast Asias newest leaders called for faster economic integration at an annual meeting Sunday, saying the region risked being trampled by China and India if it did not act.


Swiss Referendum Allows Stem Cell Research

A Swiss referendum to cancel the law on root cell use taken from human embryo, resulted. The 66 percent of Swiss participants in a public survey said they supported a law passed by the Swiss government in


Video Games Teach More Than Hand-Eye Coordination

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Video games, often maligned as  having little or no redeeming value, are becoming a way for  firefighters, soldiers, currency traders and college  administrators to hone their skills.


Fighting Games Deliver Knocks for the Holidays

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - Just as it's time to deck the  halls, along comes a new crop of fighting games for people who  love to deck the brawlers.


Firm Intros Text-Friendly Coat for 2-Sided Discs

NEW YORK (Billboard) - DualDisc and DVD(plus) discs have  until now been devoid of graphics, apart from limited text on  the inner ring. Because both sides of these CD/DVD hybrids  contain optical data, it has been impossible to apply graphics  to them.


Sony Unprepared for Flat TV Demand

LONDON (Reuters) - Sony, the world's largest  consumer-electronics group, is having trouble meeting soaring  demand for flat televisions as its assembly lines did not gear  up quickly enough, a senior official said on Friday.


Chip Sales Rise 1.5 Pct in October from September

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Worldwide semiconductor sales rose a  scant 1.5 percent in October, to \$18.8 billion from \$18.5  billion in September, as many chip users pared bloated  inventories, the Semiconductor Industry Association said on  Friday.


After a Decade, Philips Makes PCs Again

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - After an absence of a decade, Philips  Electronics is making personal computers again, the company  said on Thursday.  The Netherlands-based electronics  conglomerate, which abandoned the PC business in the early  1990s after suffering big losses, quietly introduced six models  together with British retailer Dixons earlier this week.


Canon Problems Ease Fears of LCD Glut

TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - Japan's Canon Inc. said on Thursday  it had found problems with equipment for making liquid crystal  displays (LCDs), boosting shares in LG.Philips and other LCD  makers as fears of a supply glut eased.


Nintendo Operating Profit Up 39 Percent

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co.  Ltd. reported a 39.1 percent rise in operating profit for the  first half on Thursday and raised its sales target for a new,  keenly awaited portable game player.


Bush Picks Kellogg #39;s Gutierrez as US Commerce Chief (Update1)

President George W. Bush picked Carlos Gutierrez, who rose from being a political refugee from Cuba to chairman and chief executive of Kellogg Co.


Black Friday pushes market into green

Stock arrows point higher as retail sales Friday total more than \$8 billion. But Wal-Mart #39;s November sales stumble. After listless holiday trading last week, buyers are back in force this morning.


Economy grows by 6.3

Editor #39;s Note: Published on page A1 of the Nov. 30, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. BEATING most forecasts, the economy -- as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), the


BFI Canada in \$1.1B waste management merger

TORONTO - BFI Canada Income Fund of Toronto and IESI Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas have agreed to a \$1.1-billion deal to merge and create one of the largest non-hazardous solid waste management companies in North America.


Coast to Coast, Different Views From the Top

Technology's financial future looks pretty bright from the top floors of the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle in New York City, significantly more so than from the Intel executive suite in Santa Clara. -washingtonpost.com


Universal Pictures to adopt HD-DVD format

MANHASSET, NY - Proponents of HD-DVD gained an ally Monday (Nov. 29), as film studio Universal Pictures announced it has adopted the format, with select titles available to consumers during the 2005 holiday season.


Cell to Drive PS3

Sony and IBM are expected to start producing the Cell, a 4GHz chip the two companies have been working together on for the past three years.


Liverpool 2 - 1 Arsenal .:

1000 #39;s of Liverpool fans have joined the best unofficial Liverpool FC website on the planet - why dont you? Neil Mellor scored with a blistering finish deep in injury time as Liverpool stunned Arsenal at Anfield.


Rogers to buy SkyDome

The 50,000-seat domed stadium opened in 1989 with a price tag of \$600 million, mostly funded by taxpayers. Rogers Communications announced the purchase from US-based Sportsco International in a news release Monday.


Intelsat Satellite Loss Threatens Sale

\

 PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A planned \$3.1 billion takeover of\satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. appears in jeopardy after an\electrical problem ruined one of the company's satellites.


Cracknell to take a year out

James Cracknell, the double Olympic gold medal winning rower, confirmed today that he will take a year #39;s break the sport before deciding his long-term future.


InfoWorld Announces 2005 Technology of the Year Awards

Apple Xserve G5 won InfoWorld #146;s  #147;Best Server Hardware #148; award and Mac OS X v10.3 Panther won the  #147;Best Operating System #148; award. Jan 03


Wal-Mart Falls 3 Pct on Forecast Cut

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N shares  fell 3 percent early Monday after the world's biggest retailer  cut its November sales forecast, casting a shadow over hopes  for a bumper holiday shopping season.


Pakistan test-fires ballistic missile Ghaznavi

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Monday carried out a succes sful test fire of its indigenously developed short range surface to surface ballistic missile Hatf-III Ghaznavi.


Hamas leader signals it has halted attacks on Israelis

A senior Hamas leader indicated today that the militant group is halting attacks on Israelis while the Palestinians prepare to choose a new leader, the latest sign of change following the death of Yasser Arafat.


Archbishop of Canterbury Asks Anglicans not to Condemn Homosexuals

The Archbishop of Canterbury has asked conservative members of the Anglican Church not to belittle or harass homosexuals, a British newspaper reported Sunday.


Dollar Firms as Focus Turns to U.S. Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar gained tentatively on  Monday, recovering from last week's record low against the euro  and a 4-1/2-year trough against the yen as traders turned their  sights to U.S. economic reports due later in the week.


Merck Adopts Key Managers Benefits Plan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co. Inc. MRK.N, whose shares  have tumbled since the withdrawal of its blockbuster arthritis  drug Vioxx, said on Monday it has adopted a severance benefits  plan aimed at protecting key managers in the event the company  is taken over or liquidated.


UnitedHealth to Buy Definity Health

CHICAGO (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group Inc. UNH.N on  Monday said it would buy Definity Health Corp. for \$300  million, as the No. 1 U.S. health insurer seeks to offer more  health savings accounts, which give consumers incentives to  rein in health costs.


Airbus Enroute to Challenge Boeing's 7E7

MUNICH (Reuters) - Plane maker Airbus got tentative  approval on Monday to market a new model to rival Boeing Co.'s  7E7 from parent firm EADS, which said a final decision was  expected next month.


Blue Chips Extend Losses, Wal-Mart Weighs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Blue-chip stocks extended losses on  Monday as a disappointing start to holiday sales from the  world's largest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N weighed  on sentiment.


Planemaker Airbus Clears Another Hurdle

Airbus got tentative approval on Monday to market a new model to rival Boeing Co. #39;s 7E7 from parent firm EADS, which said a final decision was expected next month.


Investors tell Vietnam to do more

The level of foreign investment in Vietnam is rising but foreign donors say the country's government needs to tackle corruption and improve infrastructure.


Essbase 7X brings interactive BI to BPM

For some 30 years, companies have envisioned arming executives with sets of diverse tools to easily define business objectives and view their ongoing progress. Companies pursuing this vision, now commonly known as BPM, can cobble together homemade solutions or lean on a single vendor, such as Hyperion, which has strengthened a key building block of its overall BPM solution.


Atari Appoints James Caparro President and Chief Executive Officer

Atari has appointed entertainment industry veteran James Caparro President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, it was announced today by Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of the Company.


BFI Canada to Acquire IESI to Expand in US South (Update1)

BFI Canada Income Fund, which owns a Canadian trash hauler, agreed to buy closely held IESI Corp. of Texas for C\$1.1 billion (\$930.3 million) in equity and debt to expand in the US South and Northeast.


Sony, Partners Offer Glimpse Of New  quot;Cell quot; Chip

IBM, Sony Corp., Sony Computer Entertainment, and Toshiba Corp. said Monday that the companies had  quot;powered on quot; the first workstation designed around the collaboratively-designed  quot;Cell quot; processor, which will begin pilot production next year.


Bhopal survivors still short on medical treatment and compo

The failure of the Indian Government and an American corporation to tackle the after-effects of one of the worst industrial accidents in history has left a legacy of continuing pollution


Anglican Head Warns Against Homophobia

Provoked by the rising rate of hate crimes against homosexuals in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued a 4 page letter warning the Anglican world against the language of hatred to gays.


Gibbs to Look at Offense

Coach Joe Gibbs says he thoroughly evaluate the Redskins, particularly an offense that finished among the league's worst, now that the season is over for Washington.


Satellite Failure Hits Broadband Users

StarBand is hoping to provide temporary dial-up access to affected customers.


Bush taps Carlos Gutierrez to replace Evans

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- President Bush announced Monday that Kellogg chief executive Carlos Gutierrez would replace Don Evans as Commerce secretary, naming the first of many expected changes to his economic team.


AstraZeneca #39;s Nexium Gets US Approval for New Use (Update1)

AstraZeneca Plc, the UK #39;s second largest drugmaker, said US regulators approved its ulcer treatment Nexium for use in reducing the risk of stomach ulcers in patients taking certain painkillers


GMail Fighting Spam with Oomph!

GMail Fighting Spam with Oomph!\\GMail is already the seventh largest (1 month back) email service with roughly a million users. As and when it goes public, signups will increase exponentially. It will probably relegate Yahoo! Mail to the third spot and occupy the second spot by November next year (with ...


Yahoo Update or Changes do to Clusters

Yahoo Update or Changes do to Clusters\\There is a thread at WebmasterWorld named Yahoo Update? where members have noticed major shifts in Yahoo's search results pages for competitive keywords. GetBot in message number four says that he has been watching Yahoo! Search and noticed that Yahoo! has been serving up ...


IBM, Sony Debut Cell Workstation

Sony and IBM have introduced the first workstation based on the Cell processor, which they jointly developed in partnership with Toshiba.


Saturn Pictures Seen from Near and Far - Saturn Pictures from <b>...</b>

As Saturn grows closer through the eyes of the Cassini spacecraft, which is hurtling toward a rendezvous with the ringed world on June 30 (July 1, Universal Time), both Cassini and the Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope snapped spectacular pictures of


MSN Improves Search with Rosette Linguistic Analysis\\Found by way of a WebmasterWorld featured post, an article named Basis Technology Enhances Multilingual Search in MSN Search Engine. An other, more detailed article on this can be found at Yahoo! News, which is basically a copy of the offical press release.\\The Rosette ...


Myskina Wins Three to Edge France for Fed Cup Victory

In what many expected to be a 5-0 whitewash for the Russians, the Fed Cup finale came down to the final doubles match Sunday in Moscow, with Anastasia Myskina and Vera  quot;The Crying Game quot; Zvonareva edging Marion  quot;Roly Poly quot; Bartoli and Emilie Loit 7-6(5), 7


PACKERS: Favre #39;s historic streak  #39;incomprehensible #39;

GREEN BAY - As he makes his unheard-of 200th consecutive regular-season start at quarterback tonight, Brett Favre is thankful his father, Irvin, taught him everything he knew about playing the position back at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln


Seattle SuperSonics Team Report - November 29

(Sports Network) - Rashard Lewis scored 22 points to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 103-95 win over the Indiana Pacers at KeyArena.


Yahoos New Front Page and Shortcuts

Yahoo's New Front Page and Shortcuts\\I know this kinda stuff has to happen, but it makes me very sad. Yahoo has a new front page. Go look at it. It's at http://www.yahoo.com. See anything odd about the page? The odd thing I see is that the pointer to the directory ...


Columnists: Seeds of Disaster

Internet Explorer's problems can be traced to Microsoft's shortsightedness during the browser wars of the 1990s. Is the company sowing tomorrow's security woes today?\


Sony, IBM and Toshiba reveal more Cell chip plans

The four companies developing the Cell consumer electronics microprocessor have released first generation versions of a device not built on technology already in widespread use today.


AMD unveils chip for portable video players

Advanced Micro Devices(AMD) has developed a low-power chip that it thinks will make portable video players more compelling by reducing the time needed to transfer content to the devices. The company is expected to announce the chip at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Monday.


Take part in your very own DDoS attack

Lycos Europe has started to offer a controversial screensaver that floods spammers #39; servers with requests for info, similar to a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack.


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar firmed slightly  against  the euro on Monday, recovering from last week's record low and  a 4-1/2-year trough against the yen as traders turned their  sights to economic data due later in the week.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO for Commerce Post

President Bush, left, announces that he has chosen Carlos Gutierrez, chief executive officer of the Kellogg Co., right, to be Secretary of Commerce, Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.


Rising euro puts ECB in a fix

FRANKFURT : As the euro continued to rise against the dollar, speculation intensified over whether the European Central Bank, meeting this week to set interest rates, would feel compelled to act either by intervening directly on the forex markets or by


Fonterra slates National Foods

Takeover target National Foods came in for a stinging attack yesterday from Fonterra strategy director Graham Stuart. In an aggressive move aimed at lowering market expectations of what Fonterra


Cuba Releases at Least Four Dissidents (AP)

AP - At least four of 75 Cuban dissidents arrested in a broad crackdown last year were released Monday without warning, friends, relatives and local rights activists said. The surprise move raised hopes for additional releases in the coming days.


December 13 Titan Flyby Prelude to Landing

The countdown is underway for the next flyby of the Saturian moon Titan for Monday, December 13, 2004 by the Cassini spacecraft expected to yield more detailed imaging


NHL season nearing point of no return: Dryden

CHARLOTTETOWN -- He #39;s long since traded his pads for politics. But, that doesn #39;t mean Ken Dryden has lost his love of the game.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO for Commerce Post (AP)

AP - President Bush on Monday chose Carlos Gutierrez, a native of Cuba who rose from truck driver to chief executive officer of Kellogg Co., to be secretary of Commerce.


Jordan #39;s crown prince loses title: King Abdullahs son now seen <b>...</b>

The 10-year-old son of King Abdullah II now stands as the legitimate heir to the Jordanian throne, after the monarch stripped his half-brother of the title of crown prince.


Edwards to End Term With Farewell Tour (AP)

AP - Democrat John Edwards is pondering his future as his tenure as a North Carolina senator winds down, but says even his campaign for vice president fit his view of public service.


Column: Singh Poised for Overdue Players' Accolade

LONDON (Reuters) - Just over 12 months ago, Vijay Singh  controversially lost out to Tiger Woods in the battle for the  2003 PGA Tour players' player-of-the-year award.


Sudan Threatens to Expel Two UK Aid Agency Heads

KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) - Sudan asked the country heads  of two British aid agencies to leave the country, accusing them  of breaching Sudanese law and interfering in domestic affairs,  government and aid officials said Monday.


France Opens Judicial Inquiry Into Holocaust Doubter

PARIS (Reuters) - French prosecutors said Monday they were  opening a judicial investigation into comments by a leading  far-right politician who questioned whether the Nazis used gas  chambers in the Holocaust.


Stocks fall sharply, quickly

A disappointing holiday sales forecast from Wal-Mart is dragging on blue chips, while Apple Computer is a bright light on Wall Street.


Merck Execs Protected in Case of Takeover

Merck  amp; Co. Inc. has adopted a severance benefits plan aimed at protecting key managers in the event the company is taken over -- a growing possibility since the withdrawal of arthritis drug Vioxx sent shares tumbling.


Royal Group Removes Chairman De Zen, Names New Chief (Update2)

Royal Group Technologies Ltd. fired Chairman Vic De Zen, the target of a police probe, and Chief Executive Douglas Dunsmuir after finding they failed to disclose their interest in a parcel of land sold to the company in 1998.


Universal Pictures backs HD-DVD

quot;Toshiba Corp. said in a statement today it has received separate commitments of support not only from Universal, but also from Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros.


SCO Web site hack mocks company #39;s legal claims

NOVEMBER 29, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Malicious hackers have compromised The SCO Group Inc. #39;s Web page twice in as many days, posting messages that appear to mock the company #39;s claims to own parts of the Linux operating system.


Quake Shakes Mount St. Helens

Scientists hoped good weather yesterday and today would allow them to get a better look at the volcano. A flurry of small earthquakes beginning in late September were followed by a burst of steam and ash on


Bison overkill theory maybe debunked by DNA

Big game hunters may be off the hook in the latest twist of a prehistoric whodunit that tries to explain why bison populations sharply crashed thousands of years ago.


Pompey plan to set record straight

LONDON, England -- Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric and former manager Harry Redknapp have called a clear-the-air news conference at the Premiership club on Tuesday.


Blue Jays buy SkyDome

com. The phrase  quot;buyer beware quot; has yielded to  quot;lease, be gone. quot; The Blue Jays announced on Monday that they had acquired their home field -- SkyDome -- from Sportsco International.


Fictional Billionaires (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Mickey Mouse may be 75, but age hasn't put a damper on his earning power. Last year Mickey and Disney pals Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy grossed  #36;5.8 billion from toys, movies and the like. That's 23 more than the year before, when Disney's Winnie the Pooh topped the list. Why the mouse's rebound? Credit hoopla and new products--including adult apparel--tied to Mickey's milestone birthday last year. For more details, stories and methodology, go to forbes.com/extra.


Loss of Intelsat Satellite Threatens \$3.1 Bln Deal

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The planned \$3.1 billion takeover  of satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. could be in jeopardy after  an electrical problem ruined one of the company's satellites on  Sunday.


Cereal chief gets US commerce job

The chairman of food giant Kellogg, Cuban-born Carlos Gutierrez, is named new US Commerce Secretary.


Christmas spending 'set to rise'

Warnings of a poor Christmas for High Street retailers in the UK are unduly pessimistic, according to accountants Deloitte  Touche.


Retailers Seen Posting Modest Nov. Sales (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. retailers are expected to post\modest November sales this week, with No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart\Stores Inc.  already cutting its holiday outlook on high\oil prices and warmer weather.


Retailers Seen Posting Modest Nov. Sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. retailers are expected to post  modest November sales this week, with No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart  Stores Inc. WMT.N already cutting its holiday outlook on high  oil prices and warmer weather.


Ukraine crisis 'sparks bank rout'

Worries over the political situation have sparked a run on Ukraine's banks, the country's central bank admits.


Kellogg appoints Jenness CEO after Gutierrez resigns to join <b>...</b>

Kellogg Co. on Monday announced the appointment of James M. Jenness as chairman and chief executive, following the resignation of Carlos Gutierrez to take the post of US Commerce Secretary.


Retailers have modest start to holiday shopping

The holiday shopping season began with a surge in spending, but consumers faded by the end of the long Thanksgiving weekend and many retailers were facing decent but hardly impressive sales.


Update 2: Euro #39;s Eclipse of Dollar Is  #39;Unwelcome #39;

The euro #39;s growing strength against the US dollar is  quot;unwelcome, quot; the European Central Bank chief said Monday as the 12-nation European currency hovered just below a record high.


Dollar worries prompt Wall Street selloff

Fears of a falling US dollar pushed stocks lower Monday as investor concerns about rising inflation outweighed their satisfaction with a decent start to the holiday shopping season.


Hollywood Backs Toshiba on DVD Format (AP)

AP - Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. is getting support from four Hollywood studios for its next-generation DVD format which is expected to be used in players, recorders and other products that go on the market late in 2005.


Sirius to Air Men's NCCA Tournament (AP)

AP - Sirius Satellite Radio signed a deal to air the men's NCAA basketball tournament through 2007, the latest move made in an attempt to draw customers through sports programming.


Kazaa Offering Free Internet-Based Calls (AP)

AP - Free Internet-based phone calls are the newest feature of the popular Kazaa file-sharing program.


Universal Pictures Backs HD DVD

Universal said HD DVD can deliver enhanced picture and sound quality, greater storage capacity and increased interactivity. An additional benefit is backwards compatibility, allowing existing


Tech Trio Share Cell Processor Details

IBM, Sony, and Toshiba dropped some details on the co-developed next generation processor, code-named Cell, which was first announced in 2001.


SCO Group Web Site Attacked Again

Pages were defaced with text that erroneously implied that SCO would sue Microsoft for intellectual-property theft. By George V. Hulme.


Recording Industry, Kazaa Square Off (AP)

AP - Lawyers for Australia's recording industry branded the popular Kazaa computer file-swapping network "an engine of copyright piracy to a degree of magnitude never before seen" as they launched a court battle Monday to shut down its activities.


Team spends \$21.24 million for SkyDome

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to buy SkyDome, the team #39;s ballpark, for about \$21.24 million. The 50,000-seat stadium, which opened in 1989, cost about \$375 million to construct and was mostly funded by taxpayers.


Good Reward for McGaughey in Hollywood Derby

Shug McGaughey hadn #39;t sent a horse to California for 11 years, since the fall Lure won the Breeders #39; Cup Mile at Santa Anita.


Satellite Failure Hits Broadband Users (PC World)

PC World - StarBand is hoping to provide temporary dial-up access to affected customers.


Powerful quake injures 17 as Japan waits for the big one (AFP)

AFP - A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale injured 17 people in northern Japan in a new sign of seismic activity a month after the country's deadliest tremor in a decade.


Easy Group signs up with T-Mobile (FT.com)

FT.com - Easy Group on Monday confirmed that it has signed a deal with T-Mobile to offer mobile services in the UK as it targets a formal launch of EasyMobile in March next year.


BCS Standings Unchanged With Auburn No. 3 (AP)

AP - Auburn needs an upset. The Tigers are still stuck behind first-place Southern California and second-place Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series standings, heading into the final weekend before the national title game is decided.


Amnesty Int #39;l: Bhopal Gas Leak Victims Still Suffer 20 Years Later

Amnesty International says tens of thousands people still suffer appalling illnesses from one of the world #39;s worst industrial disasters that struck the central Indian city of Bhopal 20 years ago.


Study: Scurvy Hit Early N. American French Colony (Reuters)

Reuters - Scurvy wiped out nearly half of the\colonists who established one of the first French settlements\in North America 400 years ago, scientists confirmed on Monday.


Europe's Tug-Of-War on GMO Crops Rages On (Reuters)

Reuters - UK scientists pronounced some\genetically modified (GMO) crops harmless Monday but European\Union experts demurred, declining to approve another new GMO\product for the eighth time in a row.


Post Office Gearing Up for Holiday Rush (AP)

AP - The Postal Service expects to handle 20 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas, up slightly from last year, the agency said Monday.


Major UK Study Sees Little Harm in GMO Crops (Reuters)

Reuters - A controversy over genetically modified\(GMO) crops brewed in Britain Monday after a major government\and industry-backed study found no evidence they harmed the\environment.


Suicide Bomber Kills 12 in Attack on Iraqi Police

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber plowed into  policemen waiting to collect their salaries at a police station  west of Ramadi Monday, killing 12 people in the latest  insurgent attack on Iraq's beleaguered security forces.  At least 10 people were wounded in the blast, and 90 percent of  the casualties were policemen, said Nazar al-Hiti, a doctor in  the town of Hit around 125 miles west of Baghdad, where the  dead and wounded were taken.


Marines Aided by Robotic Airplane in Iraq (AP)

AP - A robotic airplane called ScanEagle has done more than 1,000 hours of intelligence and reconnaissance work for the Marines in Iraq, its developers said.


Sophisticated Radar System Protects Bush (AP)

AP - The reason Brown International got into the business of guarding the president with a sophisticated radar command center is really quite simple, its officers say. Repairing televisions just wasn't paying enough.


U.S.-Russian Crew Re-Docks Spaceship (AP)

AP - The U.S.-Russian crew of the international space station successfully re-docked a spaceship at a new port on the station Monday in preparation for two spacewalks early next year, Mission Control said.


It is a perfect time to be with Renault: Giancarlo Fisichella

After his first test last week in Barcelona, Giancarlo Fisichella sat down to share his thoughts about his progress so far, and his first impressions of the Renault team.


Nobel winner in degree protest

"Buckyball" pioneer Sir Harry Kroto slams a UK University's plans to close its chemistry department.


Bush nominates Kellogg #39;s CEO for commerce

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday nominated Carlos Gutierrez, a native of Cuba and now the chief executive officer of Kellogg Co.


A glimpse of the Cell processor

IBM and Sony powered-on the much hyped  quot;Cell quot;-processor and used the opportunity to provide a few details about the chip.


Toshiba Dreams of Hollywood

Toshiba is getting support from four Hollywood studios for its next-generation DVD format which is expected to be used in players, recorders and other products that go on the market late in 2005.


Celtics lose fourth straight

The Celtics come close again -- but ultimately lose 106-to-104 to the Miami Heat Sunday night. Paul Pierce missed one of two free throws with five seconds left that would have tied it for Boston, which lost its fourth straight.


SCO Web site hack mocks company's legal claims

Malicious hackers have compromised The SCO Group's Web page twice in as many days, posting messages that appear to mock the company's claims to own parts of the Linux operating system.


Crude oil futures flat; Saudis look to raise capacity

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- The benchmark New York crude contract was little changed at \$49.44 a barrel early Monday after the Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Nuaimi said the country will raise production capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day within a few years from


Studios Support Toshiba #39;s DVD Format

Four major motion picture studios will support the HD DVD videodisk format. New Line Cinema, Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros.


Firefox Registers Usage Gains, Though IE Remains Dominant

NOVEMBER 29, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - The open-source Firefox Web browser may be making inroads on Internet Explorer with some users, but Microsoft Corp.


Nintendo, Sony game for gaming war

The holiday shopping season is set to be a shoot- #39;em-up round in the video game industry, as its top players Nintendo and Sony go head to head by launching new and advanced hand-held machines.


Toronto Blue Jays to Buy SkyDome for \$21 Million

The Toronto Blue Jays baseball team will buy their home stadium, the SkyDome, from closely held Sportsco International for C\$25 million (\$21 million), team owner Rogers Communications Inc.


USC strengthens BCS No. 1 hold; Oklahoma still No. 2

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Southern California and Oklahoma are still the top teams in the Bowl Championship Series standings, while Auburn remained third and on the outside looking in at the national championship game with one week remaining in


Woolmer hopes to spring a surprise

A youthful Pakistan cricket squad arrived in Perth Monday night bristling with confidence at the daunting task which confronts them in the upcoming Test series against Australia.


Marc Bulger (2819 yards, 15 TD, 11 INT) is coming off a so-so <b>...</b>

ball compared to last year. His most crucial INT last Sunday came early in the. to all but end any chance of a comeback. Torry Holt (8 receptions, 90 yards).


Spadafora appears in Allegheny County court

PITTSBURGH The trial for a troubled boxer charged with shooting his then-girlfriend after a traffic mishap has been delayed until next month.


Wal-Mart Sales Cast Gloom, Stocks Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday after Wal-Mart  Stores Inc. WMT.N recorded disappointing Thanksgiving sales,  hurting hopes for a strong holiday retail season.


News: SCO hacked in apparent IP protest

Visitors to SCO's website this morning were treated to a rare moment of corporate self-awareness after hackers apparently replaced an image linking to the undoubtedly scintillating "Extending Legacy Applications and Databases to the Web and Wireless Devices with SCOx Web Services Substrate" with a graphic bearing the rather more promising "We own all your code - pay us all your money"\


Toshiba Dreams of Hollywood

Four major movie studios give support to Toshiba's HD DVD format.  Also: Sony gives details on new computer chip   hellip;.  Kazaa adds free internet phone calls to its repetoire   hellip;. and more.


Retailers Post Mediocre Holiday Sales

Lucinda Antal, of Liverpool, England, right, tests lipstick shades on her hand at the Face store in New York Sunday Nov. 28, 2004, assissted by salesperson David Kalahiki.


Merrill, UBS Up Apple Stock Estimates

As consumers start spending on Christmas, two brokerage houses raised their estimates on Apple Computer (AAPL) stock Monday to more than US\$77, predicting


Priorities Are Askew at the FCC

NOVEMBER 29, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - It must be tough being America #39;s nanny, especially when there #39;s so much real work to do.


Screensaver to attack Spammers

Lycos Europe has released a special screensaver for Windows and the Mac OS platforms that will attack spam web pages. The screensaver Make Love No Spam will overload a variety of spam servers by flooding


Rogers Communications Agrees to Buy SkyDome for C\$25 Million

Rogers Communications Inc. #39;s Toronto Blue Jays agreed to buy the SkyDome from Chicago, Illinois-based Sportsco International LP for C\$25 million (\$21.1 million), the team said in a press release.


Soccer: Henry, Ronaldinho and Shevchenko nominated for FIFA #39;s <b>...</b>

PARIS : French striker Thierry Henry, Brazilian Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko of Ukraine were nominated for FIFA #39;s world player of the year award for 2004.


Improved Heat Not Content With Start (AP)

AP - The Miami Heat are atop their division, own the best in-conference record among teams in the East and have won twice as many games as they've lost.


China forges landmark free trade pact with Southeast Asian nations

Rising power China moved Monday to expand its influence in a region long dominated by the United States, signing an accord with Southeast Asian nations aimed at creating the world #39;s largest free trade area by 2010 - sprawling


Compensation plan for 27,000 Pinochet victims

Chile #39;s government is to seek congressional approval to compensate more than 27,000 victims of political imprisonment and torture at the hands of the country #39;s rightwing military regime, which ruled from 1973 to 1990.


Al-Zawahri Vows to Keep Fighting U.S. (AP)

AP - In a videotape aired Monday, Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant vowed to continue fighting the United States until Washington changed its policies.


Hill brings magic back to NBA (The Sporting News)

The Sporting News - The day after the colossal mess into which his team landed in Detroit, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle paused to say something most in attendance tolerated impatiently. Indiana was preparing to face Orlando, and Carlisle said unprovoked, "It will be good to see Grant Hill. To me, he is an important athlete. He is a great guy, and to see him out there, it's great."


Death toll from China coal mine blast rises to about 50 (AFP)

AFP - The death toll from a blast in a north China coal mine rose to about 50  after more than 20 bodies were found, the Xinhua news agency said.


U.N. Told to Protect Civilian Victims of Conflict (Reuters)

Reuters - The United Nations must offer better\protection to 25 million civilians displaced by conflicts from\Sudan to Colombia, a report said on Friday.


Fear has put \$15 on oil price, says Naimi

Oil prices are inflated by as much as \$15 a barrel by fears of shortages and geopolitical issues in the Middle East, Ali Naimi, the Saudi oil minister, said on Monday.


Rolls Royce hot seat to be filled by BMW SA chief

A BMW executive currently in charge of the company #39;s extensive South African operations is to become the third chairman and chief executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars within a year.


Sony prefer PS2 over PSP

Sony is not exactly going mega with the launch of its handheld gaming system named PSP on December 12. Instead, critics already fear that getting hand on one would be a very tough affair.


Lycos launches screensaver in fight against spam

Haarlem (pts) - The Internet portal Lycos http://www.lycos-europe.com has developed a screensaver that endlessly requests data from sites that sell the goods and services mentioned in spam e-mail.


Nothing funny about silly money

Among the many unique things proponents of professional golf like to point out is that the athletes who play the game for pay are different than those who toil in other sports because golf has no guaranteed contracts.


Kellogg appoints Jenness CEO after Gutierrez resigns to join <b>...</b>

DETROIT - President Bush #39;s choice of Kellogg chief executive Carlos Gutierrez as commerce secretary leaves the cereal and snack giant without the dynamic leader who has guided its remarkable turnaround.


Disappointing holiday news hurts retail shares

Shares in a range of area retailers dipped Monday on disappointing Thanksgiving sales data from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. In addition, ShopperTrak, which tallies sales results from 30,000 stores nationwide, said


Anil sends out another mail, now to RIL

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) employees have got another email. This one went from their vice-chairman, Anil Ambani, on Monday seeking their support for both himself and elder brother and chairman Mukesh Ambani.


Reliant, Dynegy, El Paso Traders Are Indicted by US for Fraud

Five former employees of Dynegy Inc., El Paso Corp. and Reliant Energy Inc. were indicted on US charges of reporting bogus energy trades.


Sovereign CFO Hogan to Retire

Sovereign Bancorp Inc. on Monday said chief financial officer James D. Hogan will retire from the position after helping the northeastern regional bank grow dramatically through a succession of acquisitions and other financial deals.


Airbus to get go ahead to start marketing A350

Airbus, the European aircraft maker, is expected to receive approval within weeks from its shareholders, EADS and BAE Systems, to start marketing the planned A350 mid


China Automotive Stock Doubles on Pacts

Shares of China Automotive Systems Inc. more than doubled in value Monday after the company said it was chosen as the exclusive steering pump supplier for a vehicle made by SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co.


UnitedHealth Group Buys Definity Health

MINNEAPOLIS - UnitedHealth Group said Monday that it will acquire Definity Health Corp. of Minneapolis for \$300 million cash. Definity is best known for offering what are commonly called consumer driven health


Cingular Wireless Loss Is Alltels, MetroPCS Gain

In the aftermath of its purchase of AT amp;T Wireless, Cingular Wireless is selling several sets of 10 megahertz wireless licenses to two different carriers.


Loss of Intelsat satellite could threaten sale

BETHESDA, Md. The loss of an Intelsat satellite knocked out Internet access for many customers of Starband, a McLean-based provider of online access via satellite.


Russian Official Details Iraqi Debt Deal

Iraq will owe Russia between US\$700 million (euro530 million) and US\$1 billion (euro750 million) after the bulk of its debt is forgiven under a deal with international creditors, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was quoted as saying Monday.


Investors Eye Brokerages 4Q Reports

Some of the Wall Street brokerages on tap to report earnings next month might see better-than-expected results as a rebound in the stock market is expected to fuel performance within their equities businesses.


Sony, IBM, Toshiba say powerful chip to start production in 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. A long-awaited microprocessor developed by IBM, Sony, and Toshiba will go into production next year and start appearing in video game consoles and high-definition T-Vs in 2006.


Microsoft WINS Said To Be Vulnerable

Microsoft said Sunday it #39;s looking into reports of a security screw-up in Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), a component of its most popular server software, including Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003.


US-Russian Crew Re-Docks Capsule

After a 23-minute flight from the Pirs docking port to the Zarya cargo module, Russian Salizhan Sharipov and American Leroy Chiao re-docked the Soyuz TMA-5 spaceship.


Series of earthquakes rattle Mount St. Helens

MOUNT St. HELENS, Wash. - Three earthquakes ranging in magnitudes between 2.6 and 2.8 rattled Mount St. Helens Sunday evening and into Monday morning.


iPod adoption rate faster than Sony Walkman

Based on one Wall Street analyst #39;s findings, the popularity of Apple #39;s iPod is exceeding that of Sony #39;s Walkman during the 80 #39;s and 90 #39;s.


Major IT Crash Hits UK Government Department

A software upgrade caused some 40,000 computers to crash at the UK government #39;s Department for Work and Pensions last week. The crash of the Windows-based systems took most of the department #39;s computers offline for five working days.


Microsoft Plans Last Windows 2000 Update

With Microsoft spending most of its upgrade development time on Windows XP, it was only time before they announced plans to stop updating Windows 2000.


Screensaver tackles spam websites

Internet portal Lycos has made a screensaver that endlessly requests data from sites that sell the goods and services mentioned in spam e-mail.


More Leeds United Stories

Sebastien Sainsbury is back in the running to take over Leeds just over a fortnight after being told by chairman Gerald Krasner his bid was dead in the water.


Cricket-ICC anti-corruption team to probe Nairobi tournament

Cricket-Kiwis cling on as Aussies go for the jugular 11-29-2004, 09:02 ADELAIDE, Australia, Nov 29 (AFP) - New Zealand kept an eye on the weather to save them as they frustrated Australia #39;s efforts to wrap up another fast-tracked victory in the second


Blue Jays to buy SkyDome for \$21.24 million

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to buy SkyDome, the team #39;s ballpark, for about \$21.24 million. The 50,000-seat stadium, which opened in 1989, cost about \$375 million to construct and was mostly funded by taxpayers.


BCS: Auburn stuck at 3; Texas closing in on Cal

com. With less than one week to go until the release of the final BCS standings, USC and Oklahoma are all but assured of going to the Orange Bowl if they both win their final games Saturday


Browns lose LB Andra Davis for season

Cleveland Browns linebacker Andra Davis will miss the remainder of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee during Sunday #39;s loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.


China mine blast toll rises to 50 as hopes for missing workers <b>...</b>

CHENJIASHAN MINE, China : The death toll from a blast in a north China coal mine rose to 50 after more than 20 bodies were found as hopes of finding alive another 116 trapped workers all but vanished.


Sharon in a spot

George W. Bush is a product of the Wild West myth. He sees himself as the fast-drawing sheriff who kills the bad guys and maintains order in town.


Dalai Lama arrives in Russia

ELISTA, Nov. 29. - The Dalai Lama, smiling modestly at his admirers, began his first visit to Russias Buddhists today after Moscow abruptly reversed its refusal to grant the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader entry.


Nairobi Summit Urges More Progress to Ban Land Mines

Diplomats from countries that have signed a treaty banning land-mine use, production, stockpiling, and transfer are assessing the accord #39;s impact at a conference in Nairobi.


Aznar denies Iraq link, defends role in wake of Madrid bombings

MADRID (AFP) - Former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar rejected the idea that the Madrid train bombings stemmed from his backing for the war in Iraq and told a parliamentary inquiry into the attacks that terrorist groups were inextricably linked.


ACC Ties Record With Seven Top 25 Teams (AP)

AP - Virginia moved into The Associated Press' men's college basketball Top 25 Monday, giving the Atlantic Coast Conference a record-tying seven teams in the poll.


Aznar Denies Madrid Bombs Were Linked to Iraq War (Reuters)

Reuters - Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar\said Islamic militants tried to use the Madrid train bombings\to oust the pro-U.S. ruling party from power in Spain, but not\because of its support for the Iraq war.


Source: Stanford Fires Coach Teevens (AP)

AP - Stanford football coach Buddy Teevens was fired after three straight losing seasons, an athletic department source said Monday on condition of anonymity.


BoSox OK Deal With Catcher Doug Mirabelli (AP)

AP - The Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, who would become the first of the World Series champions' 16 free agents to re-sign.


Falcons Sign Crumpler to Contract Extension (Reuters)

Reuters - The Atlanta Falcons\Monday signed Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year\contract extension.


Boggs Heads 2005 Hall of Fame Ballot (Reuters)

Reuters - Five-time American\League batting champion Wade Boggs, two-time NL batting champ\Willie McGee and former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell are\among 12 first-year candidates on the 2005 Baseball Hall of\Fame ballot.


Austrian Men's Team Gets Female Goalie (AP)

AP - Barbara Zemann is a banker by trade. Now she's the first female to play for an Austrian men's hockey team.


Boggs Heads 2005 Hall of Fame Ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (Sports Network) - Five-time American  League batting champion Wade Boggs, two-time NL batting champ  Willie McGee and former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell are  among 12 first-year candidates on the 2005 Baseball Hall of  Fame ballot.


USC Strengthens BCS No. 1 Hold; Oklahoma No. 2

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Southern California and  Oklahoma are still the top teams in the Bowl Championship  Series standings, while Auburn remained third and on the  outside looking in at the national championship game with one  week remaining in the regular season.


Jeff George Signs with Bears

CHICAGO (Sports Network) - After much speculation, the  Chicago Bears officially signed quarterback Jeff George to a  one-year contract on Monday.


Cards' Smith Sidelined; Navarre to Start at QB

TEMPE, Ariz. (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals will  have a new look in their backfield for this Sunday's game  against Detroit because running back Emmitt Smith is sidelined  with a sprained toe and rookie John Navarre will start at  quarterback.


Gatlin, Hayes Earn Jesse Owens Awards

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sports Network) - Olympic medalists Justin  Gatlin and Joanna Hayes Monday were named the winners of the  2004 Jesse Owens Awards by USA Track   Field.


One Month Later, Fight Over Ohio Continues (AP)

AP - Nearly a month after John Kerry conceded Ohio to President Bush, complaints and challenges about the balloting are mounting as activists including the Rev. Jesse Jackson demand closer scrutiny to ensure the votes are being counted on the up-and-up.


Aznar Denies Madrid Bombs Were Linked to Iraq War

MADRID (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar  said Islamic militants tried to use the Madrid train bombings  to oust the pro-U.S. ruling party from power in Spain, but not  because of its support for the Iraq war.


Ukraine President Bows to Pressure, Backs New Vote

KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Outgoing Ukrainian President  Leonid Kuchma, bowing to mass street protests and international  pressure, on Monday backed a new presidential election to end a  crisis that is tearing the nation apart.


Al Qaeda's Zawahri Says Will Keep Fighting U.S.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri  said in a videotape broadcast Monday al Qaeda would continue to  attack the United States until Washington changed its policies  toward the Muslim world.


Crude Futures Trade Above \$49 After Norwegian Supply Snag

Crude oil futures rose to within a quarter of \$50 a barrel Monday after a gas leak shut down a North Sea oil production platform and as traders weighed concerns about heating oil supplies against the fact that temperatures have been mild in recent weeks.


Court throws out apartheid cases

A New York judge throws out legal cases against more than 30 firms, accused of having aided the apartheid-era South African Government.


Miller, Maier play down talk of rivalry

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta - Ken Read says the battle between Bode Miller and Hermann Maier for Alpine skiing World Cup supremacy represents one of the sporting worlds great rivalries.


Schalk faces media frenzy

London - The long-awaited clash between the Barbarians and the All Blacks in Cardiff on Saturday has been given a huge shot in the arm with the news that the Springboks have given the world #39;s best rugby player, flanker Schalk Burger, permission to play


Blue Jays agree to buy SkyDome

The Toronto Blue Jays are buying the stadium they #39;ve been playing in for 16 years. The baseball team announced Monday it has reached an agreement to purchase the SkyDome from Sportsco International.


Falcons sign Crumpler to contract extension

Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons Monday signed Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year contract extension.


Cavs place Scott Williams on injured list

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers placed forward/center Scott Williams on the injured list with patella tendinitis in his left knee.


Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Medical Use of Marijuana

While it is risky to predict how the justices will decide, some expressed skepticism today about the case.


U-Va. Nears Bowl Bid

The ACC is close to finalizing a deal that would send Virginia to the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., where they would likely play Oklahoma State.


Is Santa Skipping Wal-Mart?

Plus, few defectors in the wireless war, and Overstock's locked and loaded.


UnitedHealth Getting Healthier

UnitedHealth Group buys Definity Health, which offers consumer-driven options.


China  GM = 100 Gain

When was the last time a consumer cyclical stock in the auto and truck parts segment soared over 100 in a single day? Today. China Automotive Systems (Nasdaq: CAAS) announced today that its 51


Univision, Nielsen Drop People Meters #39; Litigation (Update1)

Univision Television Group dropped a suit seeking to stop Nielsen Media Research Inc. from using a new television ratings system in Los Angeles that Univision said undercounts Hispanic viewers.


Russia slashes \$9 billion from Iraq debt

Russia will slash at least \$9.5 billion of Iraq #39;s debt to Moscow, Interfax news agency reported Monday. Iraq #39;s debt to Russia will be reduced to \$700 million to \$1 billion


Investing in Car Culture

Jeff Hwang is back from a car show with three investment ideas, presented in a two-part series.


Kazaa Trial Starts Down Under

A closely watched trial that could have far-reaching implications for the person-to-person (P2P) industry has gotten underway in Australia, where the entertainment industry is seeking to prove


Toshiba Wins HD DVD Support from 4 in Hollywood

Toshiba Corp. (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it had won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from four Hollywood studios, advancing


Musharraf Sees 'Light at End of Tunnel' with India

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Pakistani President PervezMusharraf said on Monday there were prospects for resolving alldisputes with India, including over Kashmir, through peacetalks now under way.


Trump's Rough Edge

The Apprentice candidates get caffeinated and catty and make the cola wars look like tea time.


French conservatives vie for party loyalty

A close ally of President Jacques Chirac was appointed Monday to head France #39;s powerful Finance Ministry, in a signal the French President has no intention of serving as lame duck


Wi-Fi Planet highlights multichannel access points

This weeks Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo will highlight the increasing variety and sophistication of WLAN technology for the enterprise.


New file system constrains Treo 650 storage capacity

The change to flash memory from DRAM (dynamic RAM) for PalmOne's new Treo 650 smart phone appears to have had the unintended consequence of reducing the amount of memory that is actually available to users. As a result, PalmOne plans to offer a free 128MB expansion card to Treo 650 purchasers to get around the problem, the company said Monday.


FCC threatens to investigate SBC

SBC Communications Inc., the second-biggest US local telephone company, was warned by the top communications regulator against using tariffs on Internet phone calls to hamper competition.


Bennett agrees to contract

Catcher Gary Bennett agreed Monday to a one-year contract with the Washington-bound Expos. Bennett, 32, fulfills the team #39;s need for a backup to Brian Schneider.


Bears, Cardinals latest to jump starters

Another week in the NFL and, as has been the case lately, another week of quarterback roulette. As anticipated, three-year veteran Chad Hutchinson will start Sunday for the Chicago Bears


Packers Glad They Get Rams at Lambeau

The Green Bay Packers finally have the St. Louis Rams right where they want them: at Lambeau Field, on grass, in freezing weather.


Eta train bomb theory gathers pace

Nine months after 191 people were killed by radical Islamists in the Madrid train bombings, a right-wing conspiracy theory which claims the Basque separatist group Eta must have been involved is beginning to take root.


Kazaa owner in Australian copyright battle

Sharman Networks, distributor of the software behind popular peer-to-peer service Kazaa, went on trial in Australia today, in the latest copyright battle between the music industry and file-sharing service providers.


Canada #39;s current account surplus shrinks

OTTAWA - Canada #39;s current account surplus showed the first drop in almost two years in the third quarter, Statistics Canada said Monday.


US-Russian crew re-docks spaceship at space station

The crew of the international space station has successfully re-docked a spaceship at a new port. Today #39;s maneuver is in preparation for two upcoming spacewalks.


Falcons Sign Crumpler to Contract Extension

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons  Monday signed Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year  contract extension.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO for Commerce (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush on Monday chose\Carlos Gutierrez, the Cuban-born CEO of Kellogg Co , as\his nominee to be commerce secretary, his second selection of a\Hispanic for a second-term Cabinet.


GM, Ford See Weak Sales, Production Cuts (Reuters)

Reuters - General Motors Corp.  and Ford\Motor Co.  are expected to announce further cuts in\vehicle production levels this week as they move to trim\inventories of unsold cars and trucks following weak sales,\analysts said.


Saudi Arabia insists high oil prices no threat to world economic growth (AFP)

AFP - Red-hot oil prices during 2004, stoked by a surge in global demand and worries about disruptions to supplies, are not harming world economic growth, Saudi Arabia's oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi insisted.


Oil Up on Winter Worries, Norway Outage

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose Monday as a gas leak  closed a large Norwegian North Sea oil field and the threat of  a colder-than-normal U.S. winter fueled worries about low  heating oil stocks.


Blue Chips Edge Down, Apple Lifts Tech

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Blue-chip stocks fell slightly on  Monday after No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N  reported lower-than-expected Thanksgiving sales, while  technology shares were lifted by a rally in Apple Computer Inc.  AAPL.O.


Willis Hires Top Marsh Exec, Stock Rises

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings  Ltd. WSH.N on Monday said it hired a top executive from  embattled rival Marsh   McLennan Cos. Inc. MMC.N.


Bombardier Falls After Ebersol Jet Crash

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Shares of Bombardier Inc. BBDb.TO  fell 4 percent to a year low on Monday, one day after a fatal  crash involving one of its business jets.


Treasuries Trip Lower

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt took a nosedive on  Monday as the breaking of key technical levels added momentum  to an early burst of speculative selling.


US vows to stick to dollar policy

Sharp falls on the currency markets have not jolted Washington's commitment to a strong dollar, the Treasury says.


Wal-Mart Falls 3 Pct on Forecast Cut

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) shares fell 3 percent early Monday after the world #39;s biggest retailer cut its November sales forecast, casting a shadow over hopes for a bumper holiday shopping season.


Singapore and S. Korea in trade pact

VIENTIANE, Laos South Korea and Singapore have concluded a free trade agreement at a regional summit meeting in Laos, the South Korean government announced on Monday.


Russia hopes to repay \$10 bn foreign debt in 2005

Russia hopes to repay early \$10 billion or more in debts to the Paris Club of sovereign lenders and the IMF next year, a Finance Ministry source told Reuters on Monday.


Sony Discloses Details on Computer Chip (AP)

AP - A long-awaited microprocessor developed by IBM Corp., Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. will go into early production next year and start appearing in video game consoles, high-definition TVs and home servers in 2006, the companies said Monday.


Firefox browser sees surge in use

A sudden, measurable decline in market share in any product over the course of a few months says something, even if that product is one whose producer still holds about 90 of the market in question.


Space Station Crew Clears Path for Space Walks

The crew of the International Space Station Monday repositioned their Soyuz rescue capsule to clear the way for two space walks planned in the coming weeks.


PalmOne moves to ease Treo 650 memory gripes

In an effort to address customer complaints about the Treo 650 #39;s memory capacity, handheld maker PalmOne will provide a software update for the smart phone #39;s memory.


Microsoft opts against SP5 for Windows 2000

com November 29, 2004, 1:22 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories for several months, but for many IT managers, ERP (enterprise resource planning) and open source initiatives are on the horizon.


Henry favoured for FIFA award

Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Andrei Shevchenko are set to fight it out for the honour of being named as the FIFA World Player of the Year next month.


Three into two

Three into two rarely goes. Graeme Souness has done his best to test that theory by playing Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert together, but the striking situation at Newcastle has only reinforced that adage.


Woolmer says Pakistan aim to surprise Australia

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer says captain Inzamam-ul-Haq #39;s young side will rely on talent to overcome inexperience in the upcoming three-test series against Australia.


Red Sox reach agreement with catcher Doug Mirabelli

The Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, who would become the first of the World Series champions #39; 16 free agents to re-sign.


Google Desktop Search Add-On Brings Battle Closer to Microsoft (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Google has developed an add-on for the desktop search tool it unveiled last month. Called gdSuite, it gives its search function a Windows-like interface, Gartner research director Allen Weiner tells NewsFactor.


Studios Support Toshiba's DVD Format (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - It is a race that echoes the Beta versus VHS format competition of the 1980s. Only this time the technology is high-definition DVDs, and the stakes are even higher.


Wi-Fi Planet highlights multichannel access points (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - This week #8217;s Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo will highlight the increasing variety and sophistication of WLAN technology for the enterprise.


FSF Faces New GPL Challenges (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - After 13 years, the Free Software Foundation will update the GPL, and the to-do list is a long one.


Major I.T. Crash Hits UK Government Department (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - A routine software upgrade of Microsoft-based desktop computers led to the crash of around 40,000 machines at the UK government's Department for Work and Pensions last week.


Research: PC Market Poised for Shakeup (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Three top 10 PC manufacturers -- \IBM (NYSE: IBM), Hewlett-Packard and one unnamed company -- may abandon the market in the next three years as consolidation takes hold, according to recent research from Gartner.


Brain Scan Shows Differences in Truth, Lying (Reuters)

Reuters - Brain scans show that the brains of\people who are lying look very different from those of people\who are telling the truth, U.S. researchers said on Monday.


Tiny Fuel Particles Cause Heart Attacks, Group Says (Reuters)

Reuters - Tiny air-born particles released by\burning fossil fuels are reducing the average human life span\across Europe and North America by eight months, a leading\research body said on Monday.


How Collisions Shaped an Asteroid (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Next Fourth of July, NASA will slam a heavy probe the size of a garbage can \  into a comet, purposely carving a football-field sized crater for inspection. \  As for nbsp;what exactly nbsp;will happen, nbsp;however, nobody really knows.


Coral Thrives on Sunken WWII Ships in Gulf (AP)

AP - A University of Alabama scientist and other researchers have found coral growing at extreme depths in the Gulf of Mexico  #151; on several ships sunk during World War II by Nazi submarines.


ISS Crew Successfully Redocks Soyuz Spacecraft (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - The tenth crew of the \International Space Station (ISS) made a short spaceflight early Monday to move a Russian lifeboat \to a new docking port and prepare the station for a pair of upcoming spacewalks.


Sudan Delays Expulsion of British Aid Agency Heads

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan decided to postpone a decision  to expel the country heads of two British aid agencies on  Monday, citing administrative difficulties and humanitarian  grounds, the state minister for humanitarian affairs said.


Orange Revolution

After many years under the rule of the corrupted government there is a new  hope for Ukraine: the new presidential elections. Among 28 candidates the   2 primary are the opposition candidate Victor Yushchenko (reformer which   served as the Prime Minister in the past and was allegedly poisoned 1 month  before the first tour of the elections) and the government's candidate Victor  Yanukovich (twice convicted in the past of rape and organized robbery,   currently serving as the Prime Minister, having strong ties with mafia clans   and holding in iron fist authorities across Ukraine).


Sony, IBM, Toshiba Give Details of 'Cell' Chip

TOKYO (Reuters) - IBM IBM.N, Sony Corp. 6758.T and  Toshiba Corp. 6502.T on Monday revealed their plans for the  powerful new "Cell" processor the three are jointly producing  to run next-generation computers, game consoles and  televisions.


Toshiba Wins HD DVD Support from 4 in Hollywood

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp. 6502.T on Monday said it  had won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from four  Hollywood studios, advancing its cause in the battle for the  next-generation DVD.


Sun Micro Agrees to Buy Closely Held SevenSpace

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc. SUNW.O  has agreed to acquire closely held SevenSpace Inc., adding to  Sun's managed services offerings, the network computer maker  said on Monday.


The Moon Eclipses Jupiter

Mark your calendar. On Tuesday, Dec. 7th, about an hour before sunrise, the crescent Moon will eclipse Jupiter.


Dollar Worries Send Dow to Close Down 46

Stocks finished mixed in a volatile session Monday as investors worried that the continued fall of the US dollar would spur inflation and hurt the overall economy.


SCO Web site hack mocks company #39;s legal claims

Malicious hackers have compromised The SCO Group #39;s Web page twice in as many days, posting messages that appear to mock the company #39;s claims to own parts of the Linux operating system.


World Cup skiing Miller #39;s career headed downhill

AKE LOUISE, Alberta - World Cup leader Bode Miller gave up one-hundredth of a second through the first interval yesterday then stormed through a 2-mile downhill course to win by nearly a full second.


Thailand urges global landmine fund at first review of <b>...</b>

Thailand called for a global fund to finance landmine removal and aid for victims Monday at the first five-year review of the international treaty to ban landmines.


2005 Predictions

\\It turns out that the only prediction I made in 2004 isn't going to come true.\\I bet  that Dell would ship a version of Linux.  I doubt they will now.\Honestly they seemed like the leading candidate considering their entry into the\MP3 market at the time.\\I still think that sooner or later someone is going to pull their head out of\the sand and realize how amazing Linux could be as a desktop.  All they have to\do is turn the OS into an appliance and bundle Open Office.  You'll then have a\niche somewhere between OSX and Windows.\\There are still some fatal flaws here.  You can't go into Walmart and buy\software for Linux. Maybe this is the nail in the coffin.  I don't know.  Maybe\it will  ...\\


New Treo 650 file system cuts storage capacity

PalmOne plans to offer a free 128MB expansion card to Treo 650 owners because a new file system used for the handheld actually offers less memory for data storage than was available on the older Treo 600.


U.K.'s Blair tries to allay fears over ID card database

The Identity Cards Bill, published today, seeks to create by 2010 a system of ID cards with embedded chips that carry personal information and biometric identifiers.


Q A: John Swainson, CA's new CEO, lays out his priorities

John Swainson, named CEO-elect of Computer Associates last week, spoke with Computerworld about his new job, the future of CA World, his review of CA management products and ethics reforms.


Study: High-tech firms praised for online customer respect

While many high-tech firms scored well in a new study of how they treat customers online, more than a third of the surveyed companies still share personal data without permission.


Hackers force creation of more IT security jobs

Security specialists are now in great demand, thanks to a boom in malicious attacks on computer systems by hackers and viruses, and an array of new communications technologies that carry new security risks.


SCO Web site hack mocks company's legal claims

Hackers compromised The SCO Group's Web page today and yesterday and posted messages apparently mocking the company's claims that it owns parts of the Linux operating system.


Satellite failure hits U.S. broadband services

The failure of the Intelsat Americas-7 communications satellite yesterday knocked out broadband services supplied by StarBand Communications Inc.


Microsoft and Sun plan webcast to detail cooperation

Top executives from the two companies plan to host a press conference and webcast in late December or January as part of a monthlong interoperability webcast series put on by Microsoft.


Ask a Premier 100 IT Leader: Dan Agronow

Dan Agronow, vice president of technology at The Weather Channel Interactive Inc., answers readers' questions about new job opportunities and skills development.


U.K. government hit with another large computer failure

As many as 80,000 civil servants at the U.K.'s Department of Work and Pensions had to deal with what is being described as the biggest computer crash in government history on Monday.


First Look: Portable Speakers Pack Punch

Kilpsch's \$100 ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers put desktop-quality sound in a package you can lug around.


Byrd in hand too much for Bush

ZURICH: The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of WTO has authorised seven countries, including India, to impose trade sanctions up to \$150 million on the United States for its non-compliance with the WTO ruling that found the US Byrd Amendment on anti-dumping


SCO Web site attacked again

SCO, the ever-popular Unix company, has come under attack from hackers once again. This time they have replaced the front page of SCO #39;s Web site with their own version that parodies SCO #39;s legal battles over Linux.


New league, same stakes for Hokies, Canes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - After years of battling for supremacy in the Big East, Miami and Virginia Tech will now do the same in the Atlantic Conference Coast.


Progress made, but much to do to reach mine-free world, summit <b>...</b>

NAIROBI : Much has been done to rid the world of landmines since a ban was born in 1997, but major challenges, many of them financial, must be overcome to wipe the devices off the planet, a conference in Nairobi heard.


Yahoo Searchs Slurp and How to Write for It

Yahoo Search's Slurp and How to Write for It\\As the world's second most popular search tool, Yahoo moves a tremendous amount of traffic and is a very credible alternative to Google. Yahoo receives over 2.76 billion page views per day from hundreds of millions of unique users. It boasts over ...


Dark Side of Kazaa and Other P2P File Sharing Programs\\P2P file sharing programs are free. Period. But there are P2P scam sites out there that want you to pay them instead. P2P scam sites are rogue companies that have set up shop to fleece unsuspecting music downloaders looking for file ...


iMac G5: Ultimate Computer

Reviewing the iMac G5, Steve Rea writes for TechNY.com,  #147;Apple has created a small, powerful, aesthetically appealing, innovated, creative, workable, user friendly, attractive, reliable computer that everyone can use. The ultimate Internet machine. The ultimate music machine. The ultimate graphics machine. The ultimate computing machine. #148; Nov 29


US Maintains Dollar Policy, Official Says (Reuters)

Reuters - America has not changed its strong\dollar policy and still expects China to make its own currency\more flexible, a Treasury official said on Monday, shrugging\off comments from Beijing that had jolted markets.


Bush selects Kellogg executive to head Commerce Department

President Bush announced Monday the nomination of Kellogg Co. Chairman and CEO Carlos Gutierrez to be secretary of Commerce, calling him  quot;an experienced manager and an innovative


With Thanksgiving Over, Xmas Could Be Next

NEW YORK - The holiday selling season got off to a strong start this weekend, which means...actually, it may not mean anything at all.


Korean FTA concludes, progress with India

FROM today, almost 75 per cent of Singapore #39;s domestic exports to South Korea, which amount to more than \$3 billion, will enjoy immediate tariff elimination.


Royal Group Removes Chairman De Zen, Dunsmuir, Goegan (Update3)

Royal Group Technologies Ltd. fired Chairman Vic De Zen and Chief Executive Douglas Dunsmuir, targets of a police probe, after finding they failed to disclose their interest in a parcel of land sold to the company in 1998.


Studios taking sides in fight for successor to the DVD

LOS ANGELES Three top Hollywood studios are throwing their considerable weight behind one of two competing formats for the next generation of high-definition DV-Ds, citing in part the need to stem rampant piracy.


George Thankful for Opportunity With Bears (AP)

AP - Talent was never Jeff George's problem. His personality, well, that's a different story.


Ht Rotherham 0 Leeds 0

Leeds refused to let the latest off-field drama overshadow their performance as they made Rotherham appear relegation certainties after handing Ronnie Moores side a first-half lesson at Millmoor.


West Virginia invited to Gator Bowl again

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - It looks like West Virginia will be headed to the Gator Bowl, again. Following consecutive losses that dropped them out of the national rankings, the Mountaineers (8-3, 4


Mirabelli, Red Sox reach terms: report

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Catcher Doug Mirabelli reportedly is the first of 16 free agents to re-sign with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.


Vols Keep Promise of Rematch With Auburn (AP)

AP - Tennessee kept its promise. The 15th-ranked Volunteers pledged after losing 34-10 to Auburn in October that they would face the Tigers again in the Southeastern Conference championship. And the Vols will on Saturday in the Georgia Dome.


UN Agency Welcomes Iran #39;s Suspension of Nuclear Program

The 35 countries of the United Nations nuclear agency board, including the United States, passed a long-awaited resolution today welcoming Iran #39;s total freeze of a sensitive part of its nuclear program.


Amnesty for rein on MNCs

New Delhi, Nov. 29: Amnesty International, Greenpeace and other non-governmental organisations are working towards establishing a legal framework to make multinational corporations more accountable to peoples needs.


Tom Brokaw: Events And Leaders Of Our Time

NEW YORK -- In his long career at NBC, Tom Brokaw has covered some of the remarkable events and extraordinary figures who have shaped the last quarter-century.


Bush names new commerce secretary, expects to change economic team

US President George W. Bush on Monday chose Carlos Gutierrez as his new commerce secretary to succeed Donald Evans, who announced his resignation shortly after Bush won reelection early this month.


China says speculation imperils yuan reforms

BEIJING, NOVEMBER 29: Chinas central bank slammed speculators in the foreign exchange market on Monday, saying those pouring money into the yuan currency in search of profits could undermine efforts to make it more flexible.


Music groups launch test case against website

The music industry on Monday launched a test case against Kazaa, one of the world #39;s largest file-sharing websites, in a bid to stem rampant internet piracy.


It Just Had To Be

It just had to be. After a year in which the Russian women had taken the grand slam circuit by storm (three out of four major championships is a decent enough result for any nation), they rounded off their


Leeds fall to Yorkshire rivals

Martin McIntosh finally brought an end to Rotherhams season-long humiliation as Leeds were embarrassed by a side who had previously failed to win a Coca-Cola Championship game this season.


Bennett bolts Brewers for Nationals

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Free-agent catcher Gary Bennett agreed Monday to a one-year contract worth \$750,000 US with the Washington-bound Expos.


Rescuers confident of saving second pod

Rescue teams are confident of saving most surviving whales from a pod beached off Tasmania #39;s east coast - the second mass stranding in Tasmanian waters in 24 hours.


Aznar Denies Madrid Bombs Were Linked to Iraq War

Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said Islamic militants tried to use the Madrid train bombings to oust the pro-US ruling party from power in Spain, but not because of its support for the Iraq war.


'Blue Monday' Kicks Off Online Shopping Season (Reuters)

Reuters - Though U.S. consumers spent the\weekend setting records at brick-and-mortar stores for Black\Friday, they returned to work on Monday to set "Blue Monday"\shopping records online.


Univision Drops Lawsuit Against Nielsen

Univision Communications Inc. said Monday it dropped a lawsuit against Nielsen Media Research Inc. over the firm's new TV rating system, which the Spanish-language broadcaster claimed miscounts its viewers.


Update 1: Kellogg Appoints Jenness As Its New CEO

Kellogg Co., the nation #39;s largest cereal maker, appointed a board member with decades of branding experience to succeed chairman and chief executive Carlos Gutierrez, a dynamic leader who guided the maker of Pop-Tarts, Frosted Flakes and Cheeze-It


Wal-Mart shares fall on poor holiday sales

Shares in Wal-Mart fell more than three per cent in New York on Monday, after the giant discount retailer cut its forecast for November same-store sales


Saudi Arabia insists high oil prices no threat to world economic <b>...</b>

LONDON (AFP) - Red-hot oil prices during 2004, stoked by a surge in global demand and worries about disruptions to supplies, are not harming world economic growth, Saudi Arabia #39;s oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi insisted.


US Promises Compliance with WTO Rules

The WTO gave the go-ahead to countries in Europe and elsewhere to impose punitive duties on US exports. The United States has failed to repeal a trade law that protects the US Steel industry, according to WTO.


UPDATE 1-Canadian court OKs Deutsche Bank plan for Stelco

An Ontario court approved Deutsche Bank AG #39;s (DBKGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) bailout plan for Stelco Inc. (STEa.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday, a bid that serves as


Russia could repay \$10bn of debt early

Russia could make early repayment next year of up to \$10bn worth of its \$48bn of foreign debt to the Paris Club of sovereign lenders, Alexei Kudrin, finance minister, announced on Monday.


TriQuint to Eliminate 200 Jobs

TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. said Monday that it is cutting about 200 jobs as part of a plan to save \$18 million per year by restructuring its optoelectronics business.


Supreme Court won #39;t review super aspirin #39; #39; patent dispute

The University of Rochester #39;s costly effort to reap billions of dollars in royalties from a new class of  quot;super aspirin quot; ran into a dead end Monday.


PlayStation 3 chip on track

Sony revealed new details Monday on the chip that will power the next version of its PlayStation video game machine and said development is on track to deliver products based on the chip next year.


SCO Web site hack is like breaking in

A gut reaction to news that hackers broke into The SCO Group #39;s Web site and mocked its claims to own parts of the Linux operating system might be a feeling that SCO brought it on itself by trying to constrain the open source movement through its legal


Sun acquisition to boost IT services portfolio

Sun has agreed to purchase Ashburn, Va., IT services company SevenSpace, the companies announced Monday. With the purchase, Sun takes a further step away from its traditional focus on supporting only its Solaris


Cicadas, an Elixir for the Earth

Those buzzing hordes of cicadas that come up from underground every 13 or 17 years may be a nuisance for people, but for birds and small animals they are an all-you-can-eat buffet.


Microsoft, Sun to Talk Interop

Microsoft (Quote, Chart) and Sun (Quote, Chart) are scheduled to talk about their platform compatibility, spokespersons with both companies said Monday.


Lycos App Lets Users Exact Revenge on Spammers

Lycos Europe launched a free screensaver that deliberately clogs spam servers. The  quot;Make Love Not Spam quot; screensaver, available in both Mac and PC formats, sends HTTP requests to a list of servers that Lycos


Creative Zen Micro 5GB music player

Reg review Some market watchers say that mobile phones will eventually supersede standalone MP3 players. Creative #39;s latest device certainly anticipates such a move, in design if not functionality.


Smith still waiting to be offered Scotland manager #39;s job

THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL Association refused to break cover yesterday and reveal the identity of the man who will succeed Berti Vogts, even though there was a clamour to claim that Walter Smith has the job all tied up.


Another defeat stares at Kiwis

Adelaide, November 29: Australia set New Zealand 464 to win then ripped through the touring sides top order to leave the Kiwis struggling on 149 for five at the close of the fourth days play in the second test on Monday.


Clemson, South Carolina players suspended for fight

Six Clemson players and six South Carolina players were suspended one game by their conferences on Monday for participating in a brawl during a game between the in-state rivals on Nov. 20.


Dow Ends Lower as Wal-Mart Sales Drag

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Blue chips ended lower on Monday,  under pressure from disappointing Thanksgiving sales from No. 1  retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N, while tech stocks drew  support from Apple Computer Inc. AAPL.O and drove the Nasdaq  to its highest close in 10 months.


Brazil's Trade Surplus Is Biggest Ever

Brazil racked up its biggest trade surplus in history last year, but the country's export boom of everything from soybeans to automobiles is expected to ease in 2005.


Chinese officials have little hope for trapped miners

BEIJING - Authorities in Central China are holding out little hope of finding alive the 116 men trapped in a coal mine in Shaanxi province.


Myanmar Junta #39;s Detention of Suu Kyi Leaves US Disappointed #39;

Myanmar #39;s military rulers should end the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and allow her National League for Democracy to operate, the US State Department said.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO as Commerce Chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Monday chose  Carlos Gutierrez, the Cuban-born CEO of Kellogg Co, as his  nominee to be commerce secretary, his second selection of a  Hispanic for a second-term Cabinet.


ADV: Investment Letter Performance Leaders

Looking for independent stock research with results?  Fredhager.com portfolio B was up 187 #37; in 2003.  Hager is setting the pace for performance again in 2004.


Five Former Natural Gas Traders Charged

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Monday charged  five former natural gas traders with reporting fake prices to  industry publications in a bid to manipulate commodity prices.


Willis Hires Top Marsh Executive

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings  Ltd. WSH.N on Monday said it hired a top executive from  embattled rival Marsh   McLennan Cos. Inc. MMC.N


Oil Rises After Norwegian Platforms Shut Because of Gas Leak

Crude oil in New York rose for a fifth session as a gas leak closed two North Sea oil platforms, causing the shutdown of 205,000 barrels a day of production.


Merck moves to protect top officers

Merck said Monday that its board had adopted a plan that would pay hefty severance packages to about 230 employees if the company were acquired or a proxy fight ended in the board being replaced.


Five Former Natural Gas Traders Charged

Federal prosecutors on Monday charged five former natural gas traders with reporting fake prices to industry publications in a bid to manipulate commodity prices.


Wall Street stocks end mixed following sales warning from Wal-Mart

NEW YORK : US stocks closed mixed as a warning over November sales from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc cast a shadow over Wall Street, sparking fears that Christmas shoppers might spend less than expected.


Bush supports strong US dollar

US President George W Bush #39;s administration supported a  quot;strong (US) dollar quot; while trusting the market to set its value, Treasury Department spokesman Tony Fratto said today.


TechBrief: A new chip on the block

Sony, IBM and Toshiba on Monday disclosed some of the first details of their Cell chip, jointly developed by the three companies, that will form the basis of the next generation of PlayStation game consoles.


Sun snacks on SevenSpace #39;s software services

Sun Microsystems today made a somewhat unusual move by acquiring a small software outsourcing firm - SevenSpace. Sun is looking to have SevenSpace operate as part of its managed services business.


Celtics #39; West breaks right hand

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Delonte West of the Boston Celtics is sidelined indefinitely because of a broken right hand. West, 21, suffered the injury during the second quarter of Sunday #39;s 106-104 setback at Miami.


UN chief names troubleshooter

The UN secretary general chooses his new chief of staff to help reform the world body at a difficult stage.


Bush picks Hispanic executive as commerce secretary

WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush on Monday nominated the Cuban-born chief executive of the food giant Kellogg to serve as commerce secretary and to promote US business at a time  quot;of historic opportunity for our changing economy.


Retailers Seen Posting Modest Nov. Sales

US retailers are expected to post modest November sales this week, with No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) already cutting its holiday


Tsunami survivor rescued at sea

An Indonesian woman swept to sea by the tsunami is rescued by a passing ship after five days adrift.


A time of testing for global democracy

Votes this month could mark advances in the Middle East, but history shows that democracy requires time, commitment.


Redknapp #39;s final straw

Claims that Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric fell out with former manager Harry Redknapp over the money paid to agents involved in transfers were denied yesterday by Jim Smith, Redknapp #39;s assistant.


Sharon survives no-confidence votes

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has narrowly survived three parliamentary no-confidence votes sponsored by left-wing and religious opposition parties over deepening poverty in Israel.


Suu Kyi #39;s house arrest extended

Burma #39;s opposition party says its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has had her house arrest extended for another 12 months until September next year.


Bush to ask for help in Afghanistan and Iraq, sources say (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - U.S. President George W. Bush will ask for Canadian help in Afghanistan and Iraq when he arrives on Parliament Hill on Tuesday and sources say he'll get it - eventually.


Photo: Bashing bioterror

"Hazmat:Hotzone" is a networked multiplayer simulation that trains first responders to a terrorist attack.


Dollar little moved against euro as US reiterates belief in  #39; <b>...</b>

NEW YORK (AFP) - The US dollar was little changed against the euro on Monday, after it slumped to a historic low against the European currency at the end of last week, as the markets awaited the release of fresh US economic data in the coming week.


After Bell: Hot Topic Falls, Micromuse Up

Shares of clothing retailer Hot Topic (HOTT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) fell nearly 10 percent in extended-hours trading on Monday after it cut its fourth-quarter earnings forecast, citing lackluster sales of accessories.


Traders decrease yuan bets

HONG KONG Traders on Monday decreased bets that the yuan would be allowed to strengthen after Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China said increasing speculation in the currency would delay an easing of its fixed exchange rate to the US dollar.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO for Commerce Post (AP)

AP - President Bush picked Carlos Gutierrez, the chief executive officer of cereal giant Kellogg Co., as commerce secretary Monday, working to build a new economic team to help sell second-term overhauls of Social Security and the tax code.


Sun To Acquire MSP SevenSpace

Sun Microsystems Monday expanded its growing managed services business with an agreement to acquire SevenSpace, a small managed services company based in Ashburn, Va.


FSU and West Virginia Headed to Gator Bowl

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Sports Network) - Florida State and West  Virginia will meet in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.


Cuba Frees Three Dissidents from Prison

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba released three imprisoned  dissidents on health grounds on Monday in what opposition  activists called a bid to end a diplomatic standoff with the  European Union.


Push for rule of law in West Bank

The return of noted reformer Nabil Amr to Palestinian politics comes at a crucial juncture.


IBM invigorates LTO tape storage

LTO (linear tape open)-based drives are invigorating the tape storage market. New third-generation LTO drives from Certance and IBM are powering the trend.


Kingdom to Raise Oil Output Capacity to 12.5m bpd: Naimi

JEDDAH, 30 November 2004 - Saudi Arabia plans to raise its oil production capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day from the current 11 million bpd over the next few years, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi said yesterday.


Annan Names New Chief of Staff, Reform Push Seen

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi  Annan on Monday chose the head of a high-profile U.N. agency as  his new chief of staff to help institute reforms and combat  allegations of scandals.


Falcons sign Alge Crumpler to six-year contract extension

After signing a new six-year contract worth about \$26 million, the Pro Bowl tight end caught the winning touchdown pass for the Atlanta Falcons in a victory over New Orleans.


SE Asian Nations Seek Free Trade Zone with Rising China

The deal signed at the annual Association of South East Nations (Asean) summit in Laos commits most of the countries to lower tariffs on goods by 2010, with an extension to 2015 for four


Detroit Cops Think They Know Chair Tosser (AP)

AP - Police believe they know the identity of the man who threw a chair in a brawl between players and fans during the Indiana-Detroit game on Nov. 19.


Miller's Deal With Brewers Is Finalized (AP)

AP - Catcher Damian Miller's  #36;8.75 million, three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers was finalized Monday after team doctors allayed concerns over his health.


Industry doubts Boeing, Lockheed launch team viable

Facing increasing budget pressures, the US Air Force is considering asking rivals Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Lockheed Martin Corp.


Cingular posts \$650M with AT amp;T

Says that amount would have been earned for the first 9 months of 2004, before AT amp;T purchase. LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) - Cingular Wireless would have posted a net profit of \$650 million for the first nine months


Ebersol's Son Feared Dead After Crash (AP)

AP - The 14-year-old son of NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol was presumed dead Monday after a fiery jet crash that killed two crewmen and left the injured executive and another of his sons begging bystanders for help.


FA to ban spitter Diouf

El-Hadji Diouf is expected to receive a three-match ban for spitting in Arjan de Zeeuw #39;s face during Bolton #39;s Premiership match against Portsmouth on Saturday.


Ponting slow to declare

Australia #39;s coach John Buchanan was forced to defend his captain Ricky Ponting #39;s decision to delay his declaration until four overs after lunch on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.


A fight destined to become a classic

Saturday night #39;s super featherweight title bout between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales at the MGM Grand Garden Arena is sure to be 2004 #39;s fight of the year and will be included among


Cracknell to take a year off

British rowing looks set to lose the services of two of its Olympic champions in the space of 24 hours. Today Matthew Pinsent, who has won four Olympic gold medals, is expected to announce his retirement.


Mayor, Council Prepare For Stadium Vote

WASHINGTON -- The delayed decision on a planned \$440 million baseball stadium to house the Washington Nationals appeared close to the necessary seven votes Monday, with District of Columbia Council Chair Linda W. Cropp pledging not to stand in the way.


Cuba Restores Contacts with European Embassies

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba ended a diplomatic deadlock with  eight European Union nations on Monday in response to proposals  by EU officials to stop inviting dissidents to National Day  receptions in Havana.


US Says Iran Increasingly Isolated, Pressured, on Nuclear Issue

The Bush administration says the new International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on Iran shows that Tehran is increasingly isolated over its nuclear program.


Annan  #39;surprised #39; at son #39;s link to oil-for-food scandal

The United Nations has revealed that the son of the secretary general, Kofi Annan, worked for a company being investigated in the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal for four years longer than he first admitted.