Pakistan Tests Medium-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan conducted another test of a  nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile on  Wednesday as part of its efforts to boost defenses, an official  statement said.


Court could allow out-of-state wine to flow into Michigan

The US Supreme Court will soon decide whether Michigan wine drinkers should be able to buy a case of California merlot or Virginia chardonnay directly from the vintners.


JOHNSON  amp; JOHNSON REPORTEDLY IN TALKS TO ACQUIRE GUIDANT

Johnson  amp; Johnson is in advanced talks to acquire Guidant Corp. for more than \$24 billion, according to a New York Times report.


Dell seeks to open plant in Europe

Dell is looking to open its second European production plant, its chairman says, and a source familiar with the plan says the company is considering a location in France.


Champions League roundup

In Europe, soccer clubs continued their efforts in final group matches to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League tournament.


Even Kidd Can #39;t Help Nets Win on Road

With Jason Kidd back in the lineup, the Nets have demonstrated new life. But LeBron James proved to be a little too much for Kidd and the Nets here Tuesday night.


Oil for food: The mother of all scandals

COME JANUARY, the United Nations might just make the Ukrainian government look virtuous by comparison. That is when the initial findings from former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volckers investigation of the UNs Oil for Food program are due.


Israeli soldier, four militants killed in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: Hamas militants killed an Israeli soldier and wounded four with an explosion in a booby-trapped chicken coop on Tuesday, in what the Islamic group said was an elaborate scheme to lure troops to the area with the help of a double


Japan Stocks Rise But Weak Data Weigh (Reuters)

Reuters - Japan's Nikkei stock average edged up by\mid-session on Wednesday as exporters like Canon Inc. bounced\back from losses, but gains were limited by data confirming\weak economic growth in the three months to September.


Dollar Firmer, Sell-Off Seen Waning (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar paused from recent heavy\selling on Wednesday, edging up against the euro and the yen as\investors brushed aside revised data that confirmed sluggish\growth in Japan's economy.


Lenovo Buys IBM #39;s PC Business for \$1.25 Billion (Update4)

Lenovo Group Ltd. agreed to pay \$1.25 billion for International Business Machines Corp. #39;s personal computer business, lifting China #39;s largest PC maker to third in world rankings and giving it a globally recognized brand.


Court asked to lift bar on interstate wine sales

Seventy-one years after the repeal of Prohibition, the US Supreme Court was told yesterday that the constitutional amendment that ended the  quot;noble


Independent study finds robotic rescue mission costly, uncertain <b>...</b>

An aerospace research group says trying to fix the famed space telescope using a robot would cost two (b) billion dollars and take at least five years to get things ready.


Fujitsu  amp; Cisco To Jointly Develop Routers

Fujitsu and Cisco have announced that they have reached an agreement to enter into a strategic alliance to carry out joint development of high-end routers, plan future cooperation in routing and switching, and collaborate on quality improvement.


An Educated Cat?

This one supposedly earned an MBA--and a lawsuit for the online university that issued the degree. Dallas-based online university Trinity Southern faces a lawsuit for consumer fraud filed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General #39;s Office.


China Computer Maker Acquires IBM PC Biz (AP)

AP - International Business Machines Corp. is selling a majority stake in its pioneering personal computer business to China's biggest computer maker, Lenovo Group Ltd., for  #36;1.75 billion in cash and stock.


IOC Is Looking At Jones

The IOC opened an investigation Tuesday into doping allegations against Marion Jones, who eventually could be stripped of her five medals from the 2000 Olympics.


Illinois to name Zook its new coach

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Former Florida coach Ron Zook will be named Illinois #39; 22nd head coach today, sources said Monday. Zook, a former Miami University defensive back, will replace Ron Turner, who was fired Nov. 22 after the team went 3-8.


Butt boosts Test chance with ton

SYDNEY: Salman Butt enhanced his claims for a recall to the Pakistan Test side with an unbeaten century in his team #39;s first official tour match in Australia yesterday.


Oklahoma State squeezes Orange

Stephen Graham scored 16 points, including two three-point plays in the final 4 1 / 2 minutes, and No. 5 Oklahoma State beat No. 4 Syracuse 74-60 on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic.


UN warns of diarrhea, malaria outbreaks in storm-hit areas

Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. INFANTA, Quezon, Philippines -- As relief operations continued throughout much of devastated


Anderson terms Musharraf man of courage

LONDON: Donald Anderson, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, on Tuesday hailed President General Pervez Musharraf as a man of courage who is trying to contribute significantly to fight against terror.


What's your tipple? How about a prehistoric Chinese brew (AFP)

AFP - For wine snobs, it could be the ultimate vintage guaranteed to impress: A 9,000-year-old prehistoric preserved wine dug up from the Neolithic village of Jiahu in northern China.


Winnipeg police in standoff with armed man after cabbie shot (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - WINNIPEG (CP) - An armed man suspected in the shooting of a Winnipeg cab driver was holding police and RCMP at bay Tuesday night in the area of a Sikh temple on the city's outskirts.


College Basketball: Oklahoma State Beats Syracuse

NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Brothers Joey and Stephen  Graham scored 16 points apiece and No. 5 Oklahoma State used a  strong second half performance to beat fourth-ranked Syracuse  74-60 in the second game of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison  Square Garden.


IBM Deal Puts Lenovo on Global Stage

The deal is a dramatic sign of the ongoing transformation of the still nominally communist People's Republic of China into an increasingly outward-looking nation integrating itself into the world economy.-The Washington Post


Tougher Cyber-Security Measures Urged

A group representing technology industry executives Tuesday called on the Bush administration to step up efforts to protect the nation's computer and Internet infrastructure, and proposed that the position of national cyber-security director be elevated. -washingtonpost.com


AT #38;T Unit to Build Network for Treasury

AT #38;T Government Solutions said yesterday it has won a contract worth as much as \$1 billion to provide a high-speed communications network to the Treasury Department.


Toyota Cuts Deals for Satellite Radio

In the latest battle for distribution and subscribers, XM Satellite Radio Inc. and its rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. yesterday announced separate deals with Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.


Spherix May Get Another Shot at Contract

The Government Accountability Office recommended that a federal contract competition that went against Spherix Inc. be reopened because of flaws in the process, Spherix said yesterday.


Chinese firm buys IBM PC business

IBM, the pioneer of the personal computer, is selling its PC hardware business to number one Chinese computer maker Lenovo.


Colgate to cut work force, India may emerge hub

The US-based oral care and personal products company Colgate-Palmolive Company is drawing a blueprint to restructure its operations.


The faithful seek answers

STOCKHOLM -- The question rises from the rubble of the earthquake in Sumatra. It echoes on the Indian Ocean shores where bodies are still piled high and in homes halfway around the world where loved ones wait for news of the missing: How could God let this happen?


UN: More workers than ever before are living in poverty

More workers than ever were living in poverty last year, and greater efforts need to be made to create more and better jobs if the world is going to achieve the target of halving poverty by 2015, according to a UN report released yesterday.


Virgin eyes mobile JV in China

Virgin Group chief Richard Branson said yesterday he has earmarked US\$300 million for a cellular phone joint venture on the Chinese mainland, the world #39;s largest mobile market by users.


Spitzer Probe Looks At Professional Liability

NU Online News Service, Dec. 7, 9:53 am EDTTwo insurance carriers have announced that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has subpoenaed them for information about professional liability insurance for law firms.


Yahoo Bolsters Local Search Business Listings

Yahoo has quietly expanded its local business listings and rolled out a service that gives businesses control over their listings in Yahoo Local through a new paid inclusion program.


#39;Morning Edition #39; Returns: Congrats to the Cat

Description: Coby is the proud recipient of a master #39;s degree from Trinity Southern University. It #39;s an online university, which may not have realized that new grad is a cat.


Gunners ease past Rosenborg

Arsene Wenger stopped short of declaring Arsenal back to their best but the Gunners boss does believe his side are on the road to recovery ahead of Sunday #39;s Premiership summit meeting with Chelsea.


Van Nistelrooy misses United #39;s last group game

Ruud van Nistelrooy will miss Manchester United #39;s last Champions League Group D game away to Fenerbahce on Wednesday because of a calf injury, the Premier League club said.


Twins, veteran Radke agree to two-year deal

The Minnesota Twins agreed to a two-year contract with veteran right-hander Brad Radke, and offered arbitration to third baseman Corey Koskie, left-hander Terry Mulholland and catcher Henry Blanco, the team announced late Tuesday.


Appier Agrees to Comeback With Royals (AP)

AP - Kevin Appier agreed to another comeback attempt and settled Tuesday with the Kansas City Royals on a minor league contract.


Rumsfeld: Troops may exit Iraq within 4 years

Kuwait City -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld expressed hope Monday, but did not explicitly predict, that American troops would be out of Iraq by the end of President Bush #39;s second term.


on the record:

JACOBABAD: I was under no pressure to sign the presidents dual office bill, said Mohammadmian Soomro, the acting president. Mr Soomro told Online on Sunday that he gave assent to the bill on his own since he was constitutionally authorised to do so.


Pakistan Tests Medium-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile

Pakistan conducted another test of a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Wednesday as part of its efforts to boost defenses, an official statement said.


No. 25 Gonzaga Edges Washington St. 54-52 (AP)

AP - Ronny Turiaf scored 17 points and Adam Morrison added 12 as No. 25 Gonzaga held off Washington State 54-52 on Tuesday night.


Tokyo's Nikkei Average Rises 0.54 Percent

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 0.54 percent  by late afternoon on Wednesday after revised figures on  Japanese economic growth, while sluggish, came in better than  some had feared and the yen edged down against the dollar.


Nikkei Ends Higher

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 0.62 percent  by the close on Wednesday after revised figures on Japanese  economic growth, while sluggish, came in better than some had  feared and the yen edged down against the dollar.


Update 3: China Computer Maker Acquires IBM PC Biz

International Business Machines Corp. is selling a majority stake in its pioneering personal computer business to China #39;s biggest computer maker, Lenovo Group Ltd.


Merck sets up Vioxx review committee

BOSTON (CBS.MW) -- Merck  amp; Co. said late Tuesday that it is establishing a committee to review its handling of the controversial withdrawal of its popular painkiller Vioxx from the market.


UK's Blair Challenged to Tally Iraq War Dead (Reuters)

Reuters - British diplomats and peers joined\scientists and churchmen on Wednesday to urge Prime Minister\Tony Blair to publish a death toll in the U.S.-led war in Iraq.


Report says five Pacers among 10 to be charged from NBA brawl (AFP)

AFP - Prosecutors here are expected to file charges Wednesday against five National Basketball Association players and five spectators who fought in a November 19 brawl, the Detroit Free Press reported.


Yankees Close in on Deal With Wright (AP)

AP - Jaret Wright and the Yankees closed in on a three-year contract Tuesday night worth  #36;20 million to  #36;21 million, the first major move by New York to revamp its aging rotation.


Pro-independence parties tipped to make gains in Taiwan vote (AFP)

AFP - Pro-independence parties are tipped to make gains in Taiwan's legislative elections this weekend and thereby anger China, already threatening to take military action if the island drifts further from Beijing.


Teen to Play PGA Tour Event Next Season (AP)

AP - Michelle Wie will make another appearance on the PGA Tour after accepting a sponsor's exemption Tuesday night to play next month in the Sony Open.


Nvidia, Sony Unite For Graphics Chip

Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEI) and Nvidia have announced that the companies have been collaborating on bringing advanced graphics and computer entertainment technology to SCEI #39;s next-generation computer entertainment system.


Trend Micro Offers Free Mobile Security Solution

Trend Micro, Inc., a player in network anti-virus and Internet content security software and services, has announced the availability of Trend Micro Mobile Security- a free solution that protects wireless devices from spams and viruses.


Cardinals re-sign pitcher Matt Morris

Matt Morris will return to the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Tuesday night to a \$2.5 million, one-year contract that allows him to earn an additional \$4.5 million in performance bonuses.


Twins keep Radke, Blanco to Cubs

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Pitcher Brad Radke and the Minnesota Twins reached terms Tuesday on a two-year, \$18-million US contract.  quot;I think it turned out for the best for both sides, quot; Radke said.


Knicks: Houston activated but may sit until weekend

Even though coach Lenny Wilkens and Allan Houston said there was no chance Houston would play, the Knicks took the curious step of activating the 6-6 guard from the injured list before last night #39;s loss in Memphis.


Yankees drop Cairo, chase Womack, Wright

As they continued to beef up their 2005 starting rotation, the Yankees last night made a surprising decision about second base. Two hours before the deadline for teams to offer salary arbitration


Krauser sinks Tigers from free throw line

NEW YORK - Carl Krauser and his New York teammates won another  quot;home quot; game. Krauser, one of seven New York City area players on No.


Syracuse #39;s flaws show in loss to Oklahoma St.

With one NCAA championship and three trips to the Final Four on his rsum, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim didn #39;t need last night #39;s matchup against Oklahoma State to know that his team


Ex-US marine: I killed Iraqi civilians

A former US marine has said his unit killed more than 30 innocent Iraqi civilians in just two days. In graphic testimony presented to a Canadian asylum tribunal on Monday, Sergeant Jimmy Massey #39;s evidence


Top official angry over foreign insurgents in Iraq

Iraq #39;s deputy prime minister yesterday expressed his growing impatience with neighbouring countries for not doing enough to keep foreign fighters from joining the insurgency here, and warned that his government would take a  quot;decisive


China calls for Europe to lift arms embargo

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stretches his hand to shake hands with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao after a joint press conference in Beijing.


US praises Mbeki #39;s I Coast peace bid

The United States on Tuesday praised the efforts of South African President Thabo Mbeki who, on the behalf of the African Union, has vied to restart the peace process in the Ivory Coast.


J amp;J deal with Guidant in the offing

The prospect of Johnson  amp; Johnson acquiring Guidant, a medical device maker that brought cutting-edge technology to cardiovascular medicine, has fueled whispers for years, gaining intensity when


Singapore Police Arrest CAO Chief Exec

Singapore police said they have arrested Chen Jiulin, chief executive of embattled China Aviation Oil (CAO) Singapore Corp. Ltd., upon his arrival in Singapore early on Wednesday.


Supreme Court Hears Wine Arguments

The US Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday involving two cases that could determine whether states can ban interstate, direct-to-consumer shipments of wine.


POITIER SAW  #39;DEEP MISMATCH #39;

Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier, who starred in  quot;To Sir, With Love, quot; took the stand yesterday to testify about another Hollywood drama: Michael Ovitz #39;s brief and


Harmony closes in on Gold Fields as Sanlam springs vote surprise

ATTEMPTS by mining house Gold Fields attempts to resist rival Harmony #39;s hostile takeover bid were dealt a major blow yesterday, after a last-minute switch by Sanlam Asset Managers effectively torpedoed its plan to list its international assets in Canada.


White Sox Cut Ties With Ordonez (AP)

AP - The Chicago White Sox cut ties with Magglio Ordonez on Tuesday, declining to offer arbitration to their All-Star right fielder.


Canadian JTF-2 special ops force gets American citation (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's special operations military unit, Joint Task Force 2, has been awarded the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in battle.


MLB Players Open to Changes in Steroids Testing

PHOENIX (Sports Network) - The Major League Baseball  Players Association announced Tuesday it would work toward a  new agreement with owners for tougher steroid testing.


UN Council Warns Rwanda Against Attack in Congo

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Security Council, in an  apparent warning to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, said on  Tuesday it intended to consider unspecified measures against  individuals who undermined the peace process in Congo.


Chinese firm buys IBM PC business

IBM is selling its PC hardware business to number one Chinese computer maker Lenovo.


Bush Pins Hopes on Iraq Election

President Bush told Marines on Tuesday that Iraqi insurgents have suffered a "severe blow" but are not defeated, as he sought to boost U.S. troop morale and prepare the public for a violent run-up to next month's election in Iraq.


Former Marine Testifies to Atrocities in Iraq

A former U.S. Marine staff sergeant testified at a hearing Monday that his unit killed at least 30 unarmed civilians in Iraq during the war in 2003 and that Marines routinely shot and killed wounded Iraqis.


IBM Deal Puts Lenovo on Global Stage

Deal is a dramatic sign of the transformation of China into an increasingly outward-looking nation integrating itself into the world economy.-The Washington Post


BC eases past UMass

AMHERST -- Its nonconference schedule might have suggested otherwise, but the undefeated Boston College men's basketball team did not reach this point of the season with an 11-0 record by taking the path of least resistance.


Oil falls to 3-month low on mild US weather

Oil prices fell 3.5 to a three-month low yesterday as mild winter weather sapped demand in the US Northeast, the world #39;s largest heating oil market.


Virgin in talks to secure a slice of China #39;s mobile market

HONG KONG - Virgin is planning to launch a mobile phone service in China as a 50-50 joint venture with a Chinese company within a year to 18 months, according to reports.


Tech Firms Urge Bush to Focus on Cybersecurity

A cybersecurity advocacy group has called on President George Bush to focus more resources on computer issues and to elevate the top IT security position at the US Department of Homeland Security to the assistant secretary level.


Yankees close with Wright, Womack

Despite a published report to the contrary, the Yankees have not come to terms with Jaret Wright as of Tuesday night, but the Bronx Bombers did move quickly to replace


PITT PUNISHMENT

Pittsburgh point guard Carl Krauser is a Bronx kid and a former amateur boxer, so he knows tough when he sees it; and he knows when he doesn #39;t see it.


Singapore police arrest China Aviation Oil chief? (updated PM 3:06 <b>...</b>

Police said they arrested the chief executive of Beijing-backed China Aviation Oil #39;s subsidiary in Singapore on Wednesday, following the company #39;s announcement last week of massive trading losses.


High court hears case on interstate wine shipments

State laws barring people from buying wine directly from out-of-state suppliers should be struck down as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court was told Tuesday as it


Filing details perks for Colgate execs

NEW YORK - Colgate-Palmolive Co., which announced Tuesday that it is eliminating 4,400 jobs, disclosed in a regulatory filing that many of its top executives and officers are given allowance of up to \$11,500 a year to spend on anything from pet-sitters to


Primate researcher brings environmental message to Singapore <b>...</b>

Dr Jane Goodall delivers her keynote speech while a picture of a chimpanzee which she calls her oldest chimp friend is projected in the background, in Singapore during the Biology in Asia International Conference.


TERRY UPBEAT DESPITE RARE DEFEAT

Chelsea skipper John Terry has warned Arsenal to prepare themselves for a revitalised Blues outfit in Sunday #39;s crucial Barclays Premiership showdown at Highbury.


UN Ambassador Calls for Sudan Aid

John Danforth, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said that the United States is playing a leading role in helping bring peace to Sudan in Gaston Hall Monday.


Test shows US students trailing in math

Test results released in Washington Monday indicate US 15-year-olds are performing below the international average in math and problem solving.


Oil Prices Touch a New Three-Month Low

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices touched a new  three-month low on Wednesday as mild winter weather in the  United States and expectations of a rise in heating fuel stocks  kept the downward pressure on the market.


Nikkei Rises for 1st Time in 3 Sessions

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose for the first  time in three sessions to close 0.62 percent higher on  Wednesday after investors found positive signs in revised  Japanese economic growth figures that were sluggish overall.


OPEC Frets Over Excess Supply

CAIRO (Reuters) - Nervous OPEC oil producers on Wednesday  sized up how rapidly this week's ministerial meeting should  rein in a supply surge that has helped drag crude prices down  by a quarter in barely six weeks.


Dollar Rises Against Euro and Yen

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar rose against the euro and the  yen on Wednesday as traders cashed in on the currency's recent  weakness in the belief that massive dollar-selling would slow  heading into the year-end.


Unmarried gay couples lose health benefits

Many of the state's largest employers are dropping health benefits for unmarried gay couples, seven months after Massachusetts became the only state to legalize same-sex marriage.


Ten more partners join exodus at Hub law firm

Ten more partners of Testa, Hurwitz  amp; Thibeault gave their notice last weekend, the Boston law firm confirmed yesterday, prompting speculation across the city's legal community about the future of a firm that once dominated high-tech and venture capital legal advice in this region.


For Boston Scientific, a potential threat

Boston Scientific Corp. could face tougher competition in markets for cardiac products if talks between two of its largest competitors lead to a merger, analysts and investors said.


Productivity growth slows in 3d quarter

The productivity of America's workers grew at a 1.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the slowest pace in nearly two years, the government reported yesterday. The deceleration, however, raised some hope that employers who have squeezed efficiencies out of existing workforces may boost hiring.


Dell cuts equipment prices to businesses

Dell Inc. has cut prices as much as 22 percent on selected computer equipment for US corporate and institutional customers, saying it was passing along savings from lower component prices.


Dollar drops again; Europeans consider intervention

The US dollar sank to an all-time low against the euro yesterday amid concerns over the US trade and budget deficits and worse-than-expected US employment data.


Calpers to disclose venture fees

The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest US pension fund, agreed to disclose the fees it pays to venture capital and hedge fund managers as part of a legal settlement.


AOL cuts 4 of workforce

DULLES, Va. -- Time Warner Inc.'s America Online division, the biggest US Internet service, said it cut 750 jobs, or about 4 percent of its workforce, amid subscriber losses.


Ovitz mismatched, Poitier testifies

Actor Sidney Poitier, a former Walt Disney Co. director, said he supported firing ex-company president Michael Ovitz because he was mismatched with other executives.


OPEC likely to push to tighten supply

OPEC oil producers meeting here this week are likely to clamp down on excess supply has that helped lower prices from record highs and will discuss how much to raise their price target, cartel officials said yesterday.


WTC Verdict Won #39;t Hike Insurance Prices

Despite losing a lawsuit related to the World Trade Center collapse, officials at property/casualty companies say that other corporate customers will not be affected by their financial loss.


Vivendi, Messier Each Fined EU1 Million by Regulator (Update2)

Jean-Marie Messier, the former chief of Vivendi Universal SA who is under investigation for alleged fraud and stock manipulation, was fined 1 million euros (\$1.3 million) by French regulator


Editorial: Supreme Court should allow interstate trade

The United States Supreme Court heard arguments in three cases yesterday that address the legality of interstate wine sales. Currently, there are 24 states that place restrictions on interstate wine sales, including Kentucky, Tennessee and Maryland.


Actor Takes Center Stage as Disney Trial Grinds On

The actor Sidney Poitier became a witness in the trial of a suit against Walt Disney directors on Tuesday, and in so doing, he transformed a Delaware courtroom


HP eyed breaking up 3 times Each time, board decided against it

Hewlett-Packard Co. #39;s board considered on three occasions whether to break up the company, but each time directors unanimously concluded it would


Professor declined to be expert witness for Sharman

Sharman Networks #39; legal representative today revealed an e-mail stating that one of the witnesses for the Universal Music Australia parties had previously withdrawn an offer to be Sharman #39;s expert witness in the ongoing civil trial against the peer to


Jaguars lose out even after victory

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jacksonville's first winning season in five years wasn't enough to make the playoffs. Byron Leftwich looked out of synch, but the Jaguars still managed to beat the Raiders, 13-6, yesterday. Though the Jaguars (9-7) were in postseason contention when the game started, they were knocked out when Denver beat Indianapolis.


Garciaparra remains a Cub

Nomar Garciaparra enjoyed his brief stay with the Cubs so much he #39;s staying in Chicago. The five-time All-Star shortstop, acquired from the Red Sox in July after spending


Cormier opts to stay with Phillies

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Canadian reliever Rheal Cormier agreed Tuesday to a two-year, \$5.25-million US contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.


Dutch Say Dealer Sold Chemicals to Hussein

Prosecutors said Tuesday that they would charge a Dutch chemicals dealer as an accomplice to genocide for supplying Saddam Hussein with lethal chemicals used in


No flex in union muscle

It's difficult to sit here in the heart of Red Sox Nation -- where people are buying every form of BoSox garb and memorabilia (Red Sox dog bones?) to put under the tree -- and feel the rain of the game's steroid scandal soaking your head and shoulders.


Sox cover their bases with offers

The Red Sox bought more time to negotiate with their free agents by offering salary arbitration to nine players before last night's midnight deadline, including all four of their high-profile free agents: pitchers Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, catcher Jason Varitek, and shortstop Orlando Cabrera.


Herren charged after car crash

Former Celtics player Chris Herren was arrested Friday on drug charges after passing out in his car and hitting a doughnut shop in Portsmouth, R.I., police said.


James keeps Cavs hot

LeBron James scored 27 points and assisted on Lucious Harris's clinching 3-pointer with 6 seconds left as the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers won their eighth straight at home, 103-97, over the New Jersey Nets last night.


First defeat for Syracuse

Stephen Graham scored 16 points, including two 3-point plays in the final 4 1/2 minutes, and No. 5 Oklahoma State beat No. 4 Syracuse, 74-60, last night in the Jimmy V Classic at New York.


Washington list shrinks

Boston College football coach Tom O'Brien yesterday emerged as one of two strong candidates for the University of Washington's vacancy after Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and Boise State coach Dan Hawkins, both thought to be on Pac-10 school's short list, removed themselves from consideration.


Terriers rain buckets on Crimson's heads

It wasn't quite the 44-point licking Harvard got last season at Case Gym, but Boston University's road show continued in impressive fashion last night at Lavietes Pavilion, where the Terriers raced to a 21-point halftime lead and poured it on for most of the second half en route to a 92-55 victory over the Crimson.


Gunmen Attack Samarra Police Headquarters (AP)

AP - Gunmen attacked the police headquarters in Samarra on Wednesday, killing an Iraqi policemen and a child who was caught in the cross fire, a police official said.


Panel Examines Funds for Energy Security (AP)

AP - Future energy security will require development of new nuclear power plants, coal that is less polluting and tougher federal requirements on automobile fuel economy, a nonpartisan panel of energy experts says.


Court-martial set in shooting of Iraqi

BERLIN -- A US tank company commander accused of killing a critically wounded Iraqi driver for radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will be court-martialed, an Army spokesman said yesterday.


Powell, Russian official in Ukraine clash

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- The United States and Russia clashed yesterday at a European security forum over the crisis of Ukraine's disputed election, elevating an increasingly tense debate over democracy in former Soviet republics.


Ukrainian legislators fail to pass vote reform

KIEV -- Lawmakers fought over and failed to pass legal reforms aimed at ensuring a fair rematch of Ukraine's fraudulent presidential runoff, accusing each other yesterday of acting in bad faith as several thousand orange-clad protesters besieged parliament and chanted,  quot;Parasites! Parasites! quot;


Victims tell of consulate attackers' search for Americans

JIDDA, Saudi Arabia -- The militants stormed into the compound's inner courtyard, firing their guns from behind trees, bursting into offices, and shouting:  quot;Where are the Americans? Where are the Americans? quot;


French market watchdog fines Vivendi, former CEO

French regulators Tuesday fined Vivendi Universal SA and its former boss Jean-Marie Messier nearly \$1.4 million each for deceiving investors with inaccurate financial communications issued over a two-year period.


Nikkei Rises for 1st Time in 3 Sessions

Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average rose for the first time in three sessions to close 0.62 percent higher on Wednesday after investors found positive signs in revised Japanese economic growth figures that were sluggish overall.


MBA graduate thinks he is the cat #39;s whiskers

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - The Pennsylvania attorney-general #39;s office has sued an online university for allegedly selling bogus degrees, including an MBA awarded to a cat.


Pakistan Tests Medium-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile

Pakistan test-fired on Wednesday a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of hitting targets deep inside arch-rival India.


Allawi meets Putin to boost trade ties

BAGHDAD: The number of US soldiers killed in combat in Iraq neared 1,000 after a spike in violence, as Prime Minister Iyad Allawi prepared on Tuesday for talks in Moscow aimed at reviving business ties despite Russias opposition to the US-led war.


State wineries are hoping to toast a major windfall

WASHINGTON -- In a case that could yield a bonanza for Washington state #39;s expanding wine industry, the Supreme Court yesterday was asked to dismantle Depression-era laws that prohibit consumers from buying wine directly from out-of-state producers.


S.D. backups charged up

SAN DIEGO -- Backup quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Philip Rivers each threw a touchdown pass and the San Diego Chargers warmed up for their first playoff game in nine seasons by beating the Kansas City Chiefs, 24-17, yesterday in what was little more than an exhibition. Having clinched the AFC West title two weeks earlier and the AFC's No. 4 ...


Toshiba announces HD-DVD / DVD combo disc

AN ALL-NEW TYPE of media disc, which is to combine the DVD standard with an all-new high definition format, has been developed by Toshiba and Memory-Tech.


Thunderbird Leaves the Nest

The Mozilla Foundation announced the release version of its new email client, Thunderbird today. Roughly a month after the Mozilla Foundation made history by launching the first mass market open source browser


Technology companies launch grid project to woo users

Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. SAN FRANCISCO, California, United States of America -- After a survey by International Data Corp.


Oklahoma State supporting cast grabs spotlight against Syracuse

NEW YORK -- Rose and Joe Graham, standing in front of their seats at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, were sporting custom-made, orange Oklahoma State jerseys in support of their fraternal-twin sons, Joey and Stephen, both seniors on the Cowboys.


Ravens' win comes too late

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens showed exactly why they had to depend on outside help to reach the playoffs. Baltimore needed to beat the Miami Dolphins and have three other games fall its way to earn a wild-card berth. The Ravens did their part, stumbling to a 30-23 victory yesterday, but failed to get the help they needed elsewhere and ...


For want of a photo, agreement is lost

IF IT looks insane, that is because it is. An agreement so comprehensive in scope, so profound in implication and so improbable after so much history seems to have been brought down by a dispute about a photograph.


EU Says Time Not Right to Lift China Arms Ban

The European Union is not yet ready to lift an arms embargo on China, Bernard Bot, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands which holds the bloc #39;s rotating presidency, said Wednesday.


Israeli Army unit suspended after killing unarmed man

TONY EASTLEY: Already under investigation for the repeated shooting of a 13-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl, the Israeli Army is now accused of killing a disarmed and wounded man.


U.N., Cambodia to Thrash Out Khmer Rouge Trials

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The last details of how former Khmer  Rouge leaders will be tried for their roles in the deaths of an  estimated 1.7 million Cambodians should be thrashed out by the  end of the year, a United Nations official said on Wednesday.


Lenovo to buy IBM PC arm

IBM said late Tuesday that it will sell its personal computer division, transferring an iconic brand to a Chinese rival that also will absorb about 2,000 local workers.


Credit Suisse to combine units, float Winterthur

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Credit Suisse Group said Tuesday it will merge its Credit Suisse First Boston investment banking division into its private and corporate bank, cutting up to 300 jobs cuts and dropping a name that #39;s been on Wall Street for 72 years.


Bengals feast on backups

PHILADELPHIA -- Rudi Johnson ran for three touchdowns and Jon Kitna threw a scoring pass for Cincinnati, helping the Bengals take advantage of the Philadelphia Eagles' backups, 38-10, to win their second straight game and finish 8-8 for the second year in a row.


Good disguise, eh?

A US company is helping politically wary American travellers pose as peace-loving Canucks. For \$25 US, the T-Shirt King.Com provides a package with enough red-and-white gear for vacationers to pass themselves off as Canadians abroad.


Favre makes short work of Bears in rout

CHICAGO -- Brett Favre worked up a sweat, threw two touchdowns passes in a short workday, and got the Green Bay Packers tuned up for the playoffs.


Firefox #39;s Times ad late as 10 million downloads near

As the Firefox browser prepares to pass its 10 million download mark, the New York Times ad that was supposed to follow its launch has yet to be seen.


Panthers #39; defense leads to another win

Carl Krauser scored all but two of his 17 points at the free throw line to lead No. 11 Pittsburgh to a 70-51 victory over Memphis on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic.


Last day of Champions League kicks off

Last day of the Champions League group stage kicks off tonight... and theres lots in store. The scenario: Not only does Rafael Benitez #39;s Liverpool side need a win against their Greek opponents, they need


World icons Hamm, Foudy take their last kicks tonight

After 18 years, 785 games, 230 goals, two Women #39;s World Cup championships, two Olympics gold medals - and an unparalleled sociological legacy - Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy


Cardinals get kicks in finale

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Neil Rackers kicked four field goals and the Arizona Cardinals stifled rookie Chris Simms and the rest of the Tampa Bay offense for a 12-7 victory yesterday in a matchup of two sputtering teams out of playoff contention. Coach Jon Gruden's team lost its fourth in a row to finish 5-11, Tampa Bay's worst record since going ...


Bills get bounced by Steelers' subs

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Willie Parker, Brian St. Pierre, and James Harrison -- who are these guys, you might ask?


Cashing in on an advance

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz couldn't care less that his team finished .500. Somehow, it is in the playoffs.


Delgado Not Offered Arbitration by Blue (AP)

AP - Carlos Delgado was not offered salary arbitration by the Toronto Blue Jays before Tuesday's midnight deadline, leaving one of the biggest stars in franchise history to look for a new team.


Deserter #39;s hearing told of atrocities

TORONTO - A former US Marine staff sergeant testified at a hearing yesterday that his unit killed at least 30 unarmed civilians in Iraq during the war in 2003 and that Marines routinely shot wounded Iraqis and killed them.


Putin casts doubt on Iraq polls

Russian President Vladimir Putin cast doubt on Tuesday over the viability of holding elections as planned next month in an Iraq under  quot;total occupation quot;.


Warmin' to that spotlight

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- If Oklahoma and Southern California seemed comfortable handling yesterday's Media Day for tomorrow night's Orange Bowl BCS title game, there's a good reason. Both schools are used to the attention success brings.


Deserter free after 40 years

Tokyo - US army deserter Charles Jenkins, who spent nearly four decades in North Korea, finally saw freedom on Tuesday as he left a US base with his Japanese wife for a new home on a small island north of Tokyo.


Slowdown in eurozone growth is only temporary: ECB (AFP)

AFP - The slowdown in economic growth seen in the 12-country eurozone in the third quarter of this year is only "temporary," the European Central Bank's chief economist Otmar Issing said in a newspaper interview.


Tech, Miners Lead European Shares Lower

LONDON (Reuters) - Technology and mining groups led  European shares lower on Wednesday, the former soured after  U.S. chip group Texas Instruments trimmed its outlook, while  the latter was scuppered by a drop in copper prices.


China Aviation chief is arrested

Singapore police arrest the chief executive of China Aviation Oil, the firm embroiled in a \$550m  trading scandal.


Colgate-Palmolive to cut 4440 jobs

Colgate-Palmolive is to cut about 4,440 jobs -12 per cent of the workforce - and close roughly one-third of its factories amid fierce competition from Procter  amp; Gamble.


Denver loses as gold-mining merger scuttled

Denver lost out on becoming headquarters of the world #39;s seventh-largest gold company Tuesday after shareholders defeated a proposed \$2.9 billion international mining merger between Canada #39;s Iamgold and South Africa-based Gold Fields Ltd.


Infinity president says Stern to fulfill contract

Howard Stern is expected to stay on broadcast radio through the end of his contract next year, while Infinity Broadcasting looks  quot;feverishly quot; for a replacement, the shock jock #39;s boss said yesterday.


Love of science requited

As little girls, Yueqi  quot;Lucie quot; Guo and Xianlin Li dreamed of ending hunger, finding world peace and discovering a cure for cancer.


WE #39;RE BACK

ARSENE WENGER last night breathed a huge sigh of relief as Arsenal blitzed Rosenborg to storm into the Champions League #39;s second phase.


Woods back in the swing

He #39;s no longer reigning PGA Player of the Year or the No. 1 golfer in the world, having yielded both titles this year to Vijay Singh.


Zook receives warm welcome to Illinois

Ron Zook was asked Tuesday how soon he planned to get the recruiting process underway in his new job as University of Illinois football coach.


UPDATE 1-First India test postponed to Friday

The first test between India and Bangladesh has been postponed by a day to Friday after the Indian team #39;s arrival was delayed because of a threat by an Islamic militant group.


Tougher Cyber-Security Measures Urged (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - A group representing technology industry executives yesterday called on the Bush administration to step up efforts to protect the nation's computer and Internet infrastructure, and it proposed that the top official in charge be given a higher profile.


IBM Deal Puts Lenovo on Global Stage (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - When it began two decades ago, the company now known as Lenovo Group Ltd. was little more than a glorified delivery service, a venture launched by academic researchers in Beijing who earned cash by distributing personal computers built by prominent brands in faraway countries.


Anheuser-Busch Teams With Saigon Beer (AP)

AP - Beer giant Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. continues to grow its international business, reaching a cooperation agreement with the largest brewer in Vietnam.


Powell, Russian official in Ukraine clash

The United States and Russia clashed yesterday at a European security forum over the crisis of Ukraine #39;s disputed election, elevating


Egypt pushes Israeli-Palestinian accord

JERUSALEM - Egypt said yesterday it had brokered an understanding to halt Israeli-Palestinian violence and move toward a peace accord, hours after Hamas militants set off a bomb in Gaza that killed an Israeli soldier and triggered Israeli retaliation


Experts Still Examine Yushchenko Illness -- Doctor

VIENNA (Reuters) - Medical experts are still investigating  the cause of Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko's  illness during election campaigning, and poisoning remains one  possibility, his doctor said on Wednesday.


Today's schedule

College basketball: MEN -- Detroit at Northeastern, 7 p.m.; UNH at Brown, 7 p.m.; Stony Brook at URI, 7 p.m.; UMass-Lowell at AIC, 7 p.m.; Mt. Ida at Bridgewater St., 7 p.m.; Dowling at Southern Conn., 7 p.m.; Tufts at Suffolk, 7:30 p.m.; St. Rose at Franklin Pierce, 7:30 p.m.; Southern Maine at Colby, 7:30 p.m.; WOMEN -- UMass-Lowell at ...


Transactions

BASEBALL Baltimore (AL): Signed OF B.J. Surhoff. Chicago (NL): Signed SS Nomar Garciaparra and 2B Todd Walker. Houston (NL): Signed OF Orlando Palmeiro and P Russ Springer. Kansas City (AL): Signed P Kevin Appier to a minor league contract. Los Angeles (NL): Signed P Elmer Dessens. Milwaukee (NL): Signed C Chad Moeller. New York (AL): Signed 2B Tony Womack. Philadelphia ...


Freed Captive Tells of Ordeal in Attack on Consulate in Jidda

Survivors of the armed assault on the U.S. Consulate in Saudi Arabia said that eight men were used as human shields.


Lifestyle 'governs mobile choice'

Consumers are much more interested in what their phone does for them than bits and bytes, research suggests.


Grenade attack injures 30 as Kalam visits troops in Kashmir (AFP)

AFP - Muslim rebels in Indian Kashmir injured 30 people when they hurled a grenade in a busy marketplace as President Abdul Kalam visited the region to address frontline troops.


IBM #39;s PC division bought by Lenovo

The deal makes the Chinese company the world #39;s third biggest PC maker and pushes IBM to the sidelines of a field it once ruled.


China Aviation chief is arrested

Singapore Police have arrested the chief of China Aviation Oil, the jet fuel supplier embroiled in a \$500m (284m) trading scandal.


NVIDIA and Sony hook-up

Electronic voting in the US. The saga continues. Here is an interesting comparision with a Venezuelan referendum.  quot;80 of Americans could correctly name the first President Bush #39;s pet dog Millie, but only


NATO Set to Downgrade Ukraine Meet -- Diplomats

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO is set to cancel a meeting of its  foreign ministers with the Ukrainian foreign minister scheduled  for Thursday to avoid high-level contacts with a government  accused of election fraud, diplomats said.


Russia Using Soviet Tactics Over Ukraine -- Warsaw

WARSAW (Reuters) - Russia's refusal to cooperate with the  West to ensure a fair election in Ukraine signals that Moscow  is slipping back to Soviet-style tactics, a senior Polish  diplomat was quoted Wednesday as saying.


U.S. Sends Troops to Help Philippine Flood Relief

INFANTA, Philippines (Reuters) - An advance team of 40 U.S.  Marines joined relief efforts in the Philippines on Wednesday  after four deadly storms, as officials said funds were running  short to help 650,000 survivors.


Titans close out season on a high

NASHVILLE -- Billy Volek threw for 175 yards and a touchdown before being knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter, and the Tennessee Titans held on for a 24-19 victory over the Detroit Lions yesterday to snap a five-game skid.


Oracle shaken by PeopleSoft customers #39; concerns

Business software maker Oracle on Tuesday promised to do everything it can to keep PeopleSoft #39;s giant customer base, whose departure could threaten the financial success of its proposed \$9.2bn takeover of the company.


Branson Launches Virgin Atlantic Flights to Australia

Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic, disembarked from the inaugural flight from London, balancing on the aircrafts wing carrying a surfboard and flanked by models in bikinis.


Vivendi and its former boss fined

Vivendi Universal and its former chief executive Jean-Marie Messier have each been fined 1m euros (\$1.3m; 690,000) by French regulators.


Tokyo Stocks Post Modest Rebound (AP)

AP - Tokyo stocks rebounded Wednesday from a two-day decline, as investors cautiously bought select technology blue chips despite government data showing Japan's economy grew slower than initially thought in the past quarter. The U.S. dollar was up against the Japanese yen.


Holcomb's return sparks Browns

HOUSTON -- Kelly Holcomb's return to the lineup provided a lift to the Browns' punchless offense, and Cleveland surprised the Houston Texans with a thoroughly dominating effort in a 22-14 victory yesterday, breaking a nine-game losing streak.


Oil at 3-Month Low, Off \$8 in 7 Sessions

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices hit a new three-month low on  Wednesday as mild winter weather in the United States and  expectations of a rise in heating fuel stocks kept downward  pressure on the market.


Dollar Rises 1 Percent Against Euro, Yen

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar rose one percent against the  euro and the yen on Wednesday as investors bought the U.S.  currency back in the run-up to the year-end and eyed the impact  of the dollar's weakness on other economies.


Murder-charge cleric denied bail

Senior Hindu cleric Jayendra Saraswathi, facing charges of  murdering a temple worker, is denied bail.


IBM called for 500m IT contract

IBM is celebrating a seven-year contract to provide voice and data solutions to Lloyds TSB, as part of the largest European IT deal of its kind, worth an estimated 500m.


Microsoft Xbox Live Traffic Quadruples Following Halo-2 Launch

Microsoft Xbox Live traffic on service provider networks quadrupled following the November 9th launch of Halo-II -- which set entertainment industry records by selling 2.4-million units in the US and Canada on the first day of availability, driving cash


MLB stars facing tough drugs tests

PHOENIX, Arizona -- Baseball #39;s stars could face more tests for drugs such as steroids next season after giving their lawyers the green light to reach an agreement with owners over a tougher anti-doping regime.


Gerrard urges fans to get behind team

Steven Gerrard has called on the Anfield faithful to get behind the team, but also to be patient in the critical clash with Olympiacos at Anfield tonight.


INDIA TOUR GIVEN GO-AHEAD

India #39;s two-Test series in Bangladesh will go ahead after concerns over security issues were allayed. A militant group had vowed to kill the Indian players if they came to Dhaka but that threat has now been dismissed as a hoax.


Harris three helps

But their decision to buy out Lucious Harris cost them for at least one night. Harris, one of the significant pieces the Nets discarded for financial reasons, drilled a baseline three-pointer


Vikings go down, but they're not out

LANDOVER, Md. -- Once again, the Minnesota Vikings collapsed under the weight of late-season pressure.


Dutch arrest man suspected of aiding Saddam war crimes, genocide (AFP)

AFP - The Dutch police said they had arrested a man suspected of aiding former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in committing war crimes and genocide by supplying him with the materials to make chemical weapons used in attacks in the 1980s.


Putin went  #39;too far #39; on Ukraine

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin went  quot;too far quot; in a warning to the West not to adopt a colonial attitude toward Ukraine #39;s election wrangle, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has said.


Incredibles head animation awards

Superhero movie The Incredibles tops the shortlist for the Annie Awards, celebrating animated films.


Indians given the green light

The Indian tour of Bangladesh will go ahead after the national foreign ministry gave their stamp of approval after a thorough security assessment.


Players give OK to steroid-test talks

PHOENIX - Baseball players gave their lawyers the go-ahead Tuesday to reach an agreement with owners on tougher testing for steroids.


US Sends Troops to Help Philippine Flood Relief

An advance team of 40 US Marines joined relief efforts in the Philippines on Wednesday after four deadly storms, as officials said funds were running short to help 650,000 survivors.


Intelligence sources warn Abu Mazens election not in the bag

The initial confidence that the election of Mohammed Abbas (Abu Mazen) as Arafats successor was a foregone conclusion may be dissipating, as western intelligence sources warn that his rivals are more formidable than originally estimated.


Govt: Consumers face high heat bills

US says winter heating bills will be higher, but not by as much as feared. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US consumers still face sharply higher home heating bills this winter, but prices will be somewhat lower than


It #39;s official: IBM sells PC unit to Chinese company

IBM (IBM) said Tuesday that it would sell its PC business to Lenovo, China #39;s No. 1 PC maker, in a \$1.75 billion deal that marks the end of an era.


Coulthard ready for F1 return.

David Coulthard has admitted that he is keen to prove himself in testing with the Red Bull Racing team this week, aware that it could possibly be his last chance of salvaging a Formula One drive for 2005.


Oil worries remain, despite price slide

With crude oil prices drifting down to as low as \$ 41 per barrel, OPEC is expected by many observers to slash production, when it meets on Friday.


Funny bone intact

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The potential loss of Gary Payton with a strained left hamstring was briefly a laughing matter last night after the Celtics dropped a 100-88 decision to the Pistons. When asked how he would get through one and possibly many more games without the veteran point guard, coach Doc Rivers decided he would call up executive director ...


HD-DVD format war looms

There #39;s a reason progressive-scan DVD players are selling for as little as \$29 these days. They are about to be replaced by something better -- and, of course, more expensive.


Update for Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 secures new beta status

May result in unexpected behavior


IBM CEO's memo clarifies PC biz sell-off

Exclusive The Palmisano email to the troops in full


Astronaut's Long Career Ends

The longest serving astronaut in history, John W. Young, announced his retirement on Tuesday.


New Remedies for a Frustrating Illness. But Do They Work?

Two drugs approved for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome may or may not work for the 45 million Americans who suffer from the disorder.


IBM Selling PC Unit to China's Lenovo (Reuters)

Reuters - IBM is selling its\PC-making business to China's largest personal computer\company, Lenovo Group Ltd., for  #36;1.25 billion, marking the U.S.\company's retreat from an industry it helped pioneer in 1981.


Chinese Computer Maker Acquires IBM

China #39;s biggest computer maker says it has acquired a majority stake in IBM #39;s personal computer business. The 1.75- billion-dollar deal is one of the biggest Chinese overseas acquisitions ever.


Oklahoma State's Miles gets LSU job

Names Oklahoma State football coach Les Miles will replace Nick Saban at Louisiana State, a source close to the negotiations said last night. LSU called a news conference for today, and the source, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Miles will be introduced then. LSU athletic director Skip Bertman did not immediately return a call seeking ...


Issing says EU growth will pick up soon

European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing has said the slowing of euro zone economic growth in the third quarter was temporary and he expects growth rates to pick up again.


Giant finish for Manning, Barber

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tiki Barber scored on a 3-yard run with 11 seconds to play and Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes as the Giants edged the Dallas Cowboys, 28-24, last night in a wild finale to the NFL regular season.The late heroics provided Manning with his first career victory and spoiled a great effort by Cowboys quarterback Vinny ...


#39;Go Canadian #39; advises US t-shirt maker

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico -- An American T-shirt company wants to help US citizens relax on vacation -- by posing as Canadians. TshirtKing.


Three Iraqis Killed in Bomb Attack on U.S. Troops (Reuters)

Reuters - Three Iraqis were killed on\Wednesday when a suicide car bomber attacked a U.S. convoy in\the northern city of Samarra, a local police official said.


Netscape prototype browser more secure, says analyst

AOL has unveiled a prototype of its revived Netscape browser without half the hype that Mozilla programs like Firefox and Thunderbird have been fetching.


Toshiba Develops Dual-Format DVD

Memory-Tech and Toshiba today announced that they have jointly developed a dual-layer ROM (read-only) disc that can store content in both the HD DVD and DVD formats.


FOOTBALL: ONE-NORSE RACE FOR GUNNERS

Considering Rosenborg haven #39;t won away in Europe for five years, Highbury would have been rocked if the Gunners hadn #39;t. The Norwegian challenge was snuffed out by the break.


Celt #39;s Euro dream is over

THE curtain closed on Celtic #39;s European dream for another season after the Bhoys were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Milan with the result meaning that Shakhtar Donetsk, who won their


Auburn hoping for sweet redemption

NEW ORLEANS -- Auburn has come too far to give up hope. So, on the eve of tonight's Sugar Bowl, coach Tommy Tuberville made a familiar pitch: The third-ranked Tigers deserve at least a share of the national title if they beat No. 9 Virginia Tech.


Annan Rejects Calls for Resignation

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he has no plans to resign, and will concentrate on reforming the international body in the last two years of his term.


Pakistan test-fires medium range ballistic missile

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Wednesday carried out a successful test fire of its endogenously developed medium range surface to surface ballistic missile Hatf-IV/Shaheen-I.


Russian chamber approves street beer drinking ban

Russia #39;s upper house of parliament on Wednesday passed a tougher version of a bill controlling public beer sales and consumption after rejecting the original last month.


Ghana waits for election verdict

The first results are declared in Ghana's general elections, with the two major parties ahead in their strongholds.


US rejects climate policy attacks

The US defends its decision not to sign up to the Kyoto climate change treaty with an attack on Europe's record.


CIA Analyst Cautious About Iraq

In a farewell assessment of Iraq's security and political situation, the CIA's senior officer there wrote that a stronger government and economy are necessary to avoid descent into wider violence, a U.S. official said yesterday.


Update for Microsoft #39;s Windows Server 2003 secures new beta status

Microsoft has strolled a little closer to delivering an update for Windows Server 2003 by showing a release candidate service pack for the OS.


Excel powers advanced Halo 2 stats system

An unlikely union of Halo 2 and Excel has been capturing the interest of statistically minded Xbox Live fans for whom Bungie.net #39;s seven-day online game stats service just isn #39;t detailed enough.


Ganguly plays down security fears

India captain Sourav Ganguly has attempted to play down safety fears over their tour to Bangladesh. The Indian squad arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday for a 19-day tour featuring two Tests and three one-day matches.


IBM Selling PC Unit to China's Lenovo

HONG KONG/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - IBM is selling its  PC-making business to China's largest personal computer  company, Lenovo Group Ltd., for \$1.25 billion, marking the U.S.  firm's retreat from an industry it helped pioneer in 1981.


Economy shrugs off soaring oil prices

Despite a huge run-up in oil prices this year, the resilient American economy has continued to grow at brisk pace, defying predictions of an oil-related slowdown.


As steel prices soar, developers scramble

Just five months after ground was broken on the Trilogy luxury apartments in the Fenway, the \$130 million construction price tag has jumped to \$138 million.


CSFB betting ring denies abuses

A BETTING ring accused of insider trading had no idea that information leaked to it by former Credit Suisse First Boston compliance officer Asif Butt was confidential, a court has heard.


Arla Foods to Merge With Campina

Europe #39;s biggest dairy company, Arla Foods amba, will merge with Netherlands-based Campina, the companies said Wednesday, a move that will help them prepare for anticipated price drops in milk.


Ukraine parliament passes plan to weaken presidency (AFP)

AFP - Ukraine's parliament overwhelmingly passed a bill to weaken presidential powers and change electoral law, breaking an impasse between outgoing President Leonid Kuchma and the opposition.


NASA #39;s Longest-Serving Astronaut to Retire

John W. Young, Commander of First Shuttle Mission and NASA #39;s Longest-Serving Astronaut, to Retire. HOUSTON Dec 8, 2004 - The longest serving astronaut in history, who flew twice to the moon and commanded


Toshiba and disc maker develop dual format DVD

Tokyo, December 8: Toshiba Corp and a Japanese disc maker said on Tuesday they had developed a disc that can store content in both conventional and high-definition DVD formats, in a move they hope will strengthen their hand in a battle for the next


Tougher Cyber-Security Measures Urged

A group representing technology industry executives yesterday called on the Bush administration to step up efforts to protect the nation #39;s computer and Internet infrastructure, and it proposed


Deciphered chicken genome sheds light on human DNA

Here #39;s something to ponder when you eat your next chicken wing: A new study says about 60 of the genes in the critter you #39;re eating have close cousins in your own DNA.


Computing giants team up on grid

Oracle yesterday announced the result of a joint venture with strategic partners to validate and extend its to grid computing vision with best-practice standards.


New Attitude: Prince of Persia

Right around the time that the Prince, dressed in studded leather and wielding blood-soaked scabbards, takes on a buxom undead vixen wearing a metal bikini, it becomes clear that this is most certainly not your father #39;s Prince of Persia .


IOC opens probe of Jones doping allegations

The IOC opened an investigation yesterday into doping allegations against Marion Jones, who could eventually be stripped of her five medals from the 2000 Olympics.


FIRST PICS - DC TESTS FOR RED BULL

Having denied rumours for the past week that the Scot would run for them, Red Bull finally came clean first thing on Wednesday morning.


Barea sparks Huskies

Northeastern and Binghamton were locked in a back-and-forth struggle before Jose Juan Barea took charge. The junior guard scored 15 of his game-high 28 points in the final five minutes to lead the Huskies to a 75-68 victory at Solomon Court yesterday.


The long goodbye

It hit Julie Foudy not when she saw the 90,125 in the Rose Bowl for the final of the 1999 Women #39;s World Cup, or when she heard about the double-digit television rating on ABC, or when she realized President Clinton was in attendance.


S amp;P frowns on Telecom Italia debt (TheDeal.com)

TheDeal.com - The company plans to spend  #36;27 billion to buy the 44 of Telecom Italia Mobile it does not already own.


Egypt brokers West Asia peace pact

Israel and Palestine have reached an agreement  #39;in principle #39; over a set of proposals to guide a comprehensive peace settlement between them, under Egyptian mediation.


Putin hopes Russian companies will get good deal in Iraq

During a meeting in the Kremlin with Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that  quot;the interests of Russian companies will be heeded both by the present Iraqi leadership and by the future government of Iraq


Ghana waits for election results

The first results are being declared in Ghana #39;s presidential and parliamentary elections, which were generally calm and orderly.


Scientists Develop Fast Diagnostic Test for Bird Flu (Reuters)

Reuters - Scientists in Hong Kong and China\said Wednesday they have developed a test to detect bird flu\infections in humans within hours, which could give health\officials an important tool for controlling the killer virus.


UK in Danger of Missing CO2 Emission Target (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain is in danger of missing its\target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by the\end of the decade, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said\Wednesday.


EU Holds Out Prospect of End to China Arms Embargo

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The EU told China on Wednesday it was  not yet ready to end its 15-year-old ban on selling it arms,  but suggested the embargo could be lifted in early 2005 despite  opposition from human rights groups and Washington.


Red Tide Algae Lurks in Gulf Coast (AP)

AP - Scientists are tracking a 400 square-mile bloom of red tide algae lurking off the Gulf Coast, pointing to it as the likely cause of a mass fish kill and several dolphin deaths at the tip of the Florida peninsula.


NASA's Longest-Serving Astronaut to Retire (AP)

AP - The longest serving astronaut in history, who flew twice to the moon and commanded the first space shuttle mission, has announced his retirement after 42 years at NASA.


Shangri-La No More: The Dragons Have Settled In

Visitors to Tibet can see clearly that commercialism has invaded this ancient land.


Meet Frank Fowlie, the Internet's physician

Exclusive Canadian mountie, Olympics organiser and now ICANN Ombudsman


Oil at 3-Month Low, Off \$8 in 7 Sessions

Oil prices hit a new three-month low on Wednesday as mild winter weather in the United States and expectations of a rise in heating fuel stocks kept downward pressure on the market.


Eagles get a line on West Virginia

It was a perfect day all around for Boston College. No. 14 BC went 18 for 18 from the free throw line and beat West Virginia for the 14th time without a loss, rolling past the Mountaineers, 69-56, yesterday in Morgantown, W.Va.


Celtic 0, AC Milan 0

Celtic manager Martin O #39;Neill last night said it was time for the board to  quot;take stock quot; after their latest European adventure came to an end weeks before Christmas.


FOOTBALL: BENNI-FIT NIGHT AS HOLDERS SURVIVE

PORTO ended Chelsea #39;s unbeaten record to earn themselves a place in the knockout stages in dramatic fashion. Benni McCarthy scored the winner for the Portuguese side with just five minutes remaining of a game


Redknapp to be unveiled as Saints boss - report

The 57-year-old quit south coast rivals Portsmouth two weeks ago claiming he needed a break from the game. However, BBC Radio Five Live reported this morning that Redknapp has confirmed to them he will be installed at St Marys.


No. 5 Cowboys #39; physical defense punishes Orange

The rough and tough Oklahoma State Cowboys pushed Syracuse around for most of the game and then used a late push to beat the Orange 74-60 in the Jimmy V Classic here at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.


Knicks done in by defense

He stood in the corner of a quiet locker room after last night #39;s 96-88 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum and inquired whether Boston, Philadelphia or Toronto had played.


The EU told China on Wednesday it was not yet ready to end its 15-year-old ban on selling it arms, but suggested the embargo could be lifted in early 2005 despite opposition from human rights groups and Washington.


Data Revision Shows Japan's Economy Grew (AP)

AP - Japan's economy barely grew during the quarter ending Sept. 30 and in the April-June period it actually shrank instead of squeezing out slight growth, according to revised government data released Wednesday.


IBM quits PC manufacturing in 900m deal

IBM has sold its computer making business to Lenovo Group, the Chinese technology company, in a \$1.75 billion (900 million) deal, signalling an exit from the PC market it helped create in the 1980s.


The Picture of Devotion

Engineer John Charlton takes an Apple Newton everywhere on his travels. He convinces himself it's a useful device, but in his heart he knows the truth: He simply wants to photograph it in front of landmarks. By Leander Kahney.


EBay Negative on Negativland IPod

An artist modified a U2 iPod to make a statement about intellectual property rights and free culture, then listed the customized gadget on eBay. Apple wasn't amused, and the auction site removed the listing -- but attorneys say the artist did nothing wrong. By Katie Dean.


Cell Phones Work as Tour Guides

Sightseers in major cities no longer need a tour guide or travel book to point out local landmarks. Several startup companies now offer tours delivered by cell phones. By Rachel Metz.


Blade: The Art of Gore

Blade: Trinity, the new installment in the movie franchise about the human-vampire hybrid, doesn't get high marks for plot plausibility. But if you're looking for impressive scenes of on-screen carnage, the film delivers in full. By Jason Silverman.


New Attitude: Prince of Persia

The new melee combat engine of Prince of Persia: Warrior Within beefs up the action of the popular game series. But the dark and bloody style doesn't suit the franchise. By Chris Kohler.


The True Measure of Success

Forget GDP. A better metric for prosperity is Gross National Happiness. By Daniel H. Pink from Wired magazine.


UK to Seek Bush Support on G8 Poverty Goals (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain will seek Washington's support\to help it achieve goals on global poverty reduction, debt\relief and fair trade during London's G8 presidency next year,\finance minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday.


Oracle concern at  #39;brain drain #39;

Oracle, the American corporate software giant, has admitted it is feeling the pressure of its protracted takeover battle for PeopleSoft, saying that it was worried that valuable staff were starting to leave its acquisition target.


China's Lenovo buys IBM personal computer business for 1.25 bln dollars (AFP)

AFP - China's largest manufacturer of personal computers Lenovo Group said it has bought IBM's PC business for 1.25 billion dollars, making it the world's number three in the intensely competitive field.


Toshiba and Memory-Tech go Dual-Format DVD.

Toshiba and Memory-Tech announced they developed a dual-layer DVD disc. This wouldn #39;t be newsworthy unless the disc is able to contain two formats: HD DVD and DVD formats.


Mozilla #39;s Thunderbird is go

The Mozilla Foundation has released version 1.0 of its Thunderbird open source email client, following up on the successful recent launch of its Firefox web browser, and delivering new anti-spam and anti-virus technology to the desktop.


Cisco guns for datacentres

Cisco Systems aimed straight for datacentres yesterday at its annual worldwide analyst conference, with company executives claiming many communications functions in servers would be better moved into the network.


O #39;Neill  #39;envious #39; of Europe #39;s top clubs

Martin O #39;Neill last night confronted the disappointment of seeing his Celtic side being ejected from European football before Christmas, but batted away questions about being in charge of a cash-strapped team following the 0-0 draw with AC Milan.


Redknapp  #39;ready to join Saints #39;

Redknapp has been linked with a move to replace caretaker manager Steve Wigley two weeks after leaving Southampton #39;s south-coast rivals Portsmouth.


NATO Postpones Talks with Ukrainian Minister

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO has postponed a Thursday meeting  between its foreign ministers and their Ukrainian counterpart,  to avoid high-level contacts with a government accused of  election fraud, NATO sources said.


UK to Seek Bush Support on G8 Poverty Goals

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will seek Washington's support  to help it achieve goals on global poverty reduction, debt  relief and fair trade during London's G8 presidency next year,  finance minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday.


US air force 'deaf to sex claims'

A Pentagon report on claims of sexual assault says US air force commanders failed to recognise the problem.


Lenovo buys IBM PC business

IBM, which revolutionised the global computer industry when it launched its first desktop in 1981, has sold its PC business to a Chinese group in a \$1.75bn (900m) deal, it was confirmed today.


Motorola, others profit from major Sprint upgrade

Lucent, Motorola and Nortel won about \$3 billion in contracts to help Sprint upgrade its wireless network to handle high-speed Internet traffic over mobile phones and computers.


Johnson and Johnson mulls USD24bn takeover

NEW YORK - US health titan Johnson and Johnson is in  quot;advanced negotiations quot; for a 24-billion-dollar takeover of US heart device manufacturer Guidant, the New York Times said.


India on track to poverty reduction: ILO:

India News: New Delhi, Dec 8 : India is on its way to poverty reduction and employment generation at a time when about 1.4 billion people, or half the world #39;s workers, are trapped in grinding poverty, says a new International Labour Organisation (ILO


Lamy gets EU backing for WTO

The EU is set to back former trade commissioner Pascal Lamy for the top job at the WTO. A meeting of trade chiefs from the 25 member states agreed on the Frenchmans candidacy on Tuesday.


California outlook: solid but unspectacular

For California businesses, 2005 may not quite be a year of wine and roses. But it will at least be a time of beer and daisies, according to economists at the Anderson Forecast of the University of California Los Angeles.


Postponed  quot;Cars quot; release puts Pixar ahead

Pixar has said its upcoming film  quot;Cars quot; will be postponed from its planned November release to a June 2006 bow -- a move that could leave the company better


Safe landing for Seahawks

SEATTLE -- Matt Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes and got another TD on a sneak, leading the Seahawks to a 28-26 win over the Atlanta Falcons yesterday and helping Seattle win the NFC West and secure a first-round playoff game at home.


Victory not enough as Saints eliminated

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tom Benson crowded around a tiny television, the fate of his football team resting on the outcome of a game being played halfway across the country.


Falling Oil Hits Europe; Dollar Bounces (Reuters)

Reuters - Most European stock markets followed\Wall Street lower Wednesday as crude oil's slide to three-month\lows hit heavily weighted oil shares, although a recovering\dollar was a plus for the region's exporters.


EU set to close fishing grounds

The European Commission proposes closure of dangerously depleted cod grounds in the North Sea, Irish Sea and off the west of Scotland.


Terriers are unable to go out in style

After Boston University's 2-1 loss to Minnesota last night at Walter Brown Arena, the last game BU will play at the Babcock Street building, nearly half of the Terrier squad trudged down the runway to their locker room.


Missing point, Celtics stumble

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The turning point in last night's game came less than three minutes into the third quarter. That's when Gary Payton limped to the visitors' locker room after suffering a strained left hamstring.


Global Funds Offer Broad Exposure (AP)

AP - With the U.S. economy likely to slow next year, many investors are looking to add more international exposure to their portfolios in hopes of winning higher returns. A number of global mutual funds offer what seems like easy one-stop shopping, but experts warn that all are not created equal.


Dual DVD/HD-DVD disc developed

Memory-Tech is to start mass production next year of read-only discs that can contain data stored in both DVD and HD-DVDs (high-definition/high-density DVDs) layers, a company executive said Wednesday.


Dell, EMC, Intel and Oracle line up on the grid

IT industry heavyweights Dell, EMC, Intel and Oracle today sealed an alliance to develop grid computing technology and establish best practice.


Technology ; Experts push for more US computer security efforts

An official with the Homeland Security Department #39;s National Cyber Security Division said the 120-person office has been able to limit the harmful effects of at least one virus and has helped to track down online criminals in 28 countries.


BEA hails app server upgrade

Not to be outdone by rival Oracle, BEA Systems has unveiled version 9.0 of its WebLogic Server application server. Homing in on the theme of service-oriented architecture deployment, BEA said the product would


Sony Sings Off-Key

The company that brought us the Walkman should be giving the iPod a run for its money. What happened? Perhaps you #39;ve caught a glimpse of Sony #39;s new digital music player, a sleek silver gizmo brandished in


Mobile networks are iPod  #39;threat #39;

The iPod and iTunes will see competition from wireless network providers, according to the CEO of Warner Music Group. Speaking at the UBS Media Week Conference, Warner #39;s Edgar Bronfman suggested


Kazaa trial highlights P2P dangers

The ongoing civil trial involving P2P file sharing network Kazaa highlights the risks corporates face by not locking down employees #39; desktop applications, say security experts.


Mourinho unhappy with Porto loss

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was left disappointed after his side were defeated 2-1 by his former club Porto. Mourinho blamed a lack of motivation as Chelsea sunk to their first Champions League defeat of the season.


Where can O #39;Neill go from here?

Celtic may be out of Europe before Christmas for the first time in four years but their exit after the brave 0-0 draw with AC Milan had a familiar ring to it.


Gerrard is the man

Olympiakos boss Dusan Bajevic has identified Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, as likely to be the most influential player for the Reds tonight.


Valencia tarnish image with angry Champions League exit

The reaction of Valencia players, coach Claudio Ranieri and their fans to the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Werder Bremen has done irreparable damage to the image of the club according to Spanish media.


Bayer look to leave Kiev out in the cold

Bayer Leverkusen surprised everyone by qualifying for the Champions League last season and they now have the chance to reach the knockout phase of the competition with Dynamo Kiev their final obstacle.


India arrives amidst unprecedented security

Dhaka, December 8: The 15-member Indian cricket team arrived in the Bangladeshi capital amidst unprecedented security following a death threat but captain Sourav Ganguly said the pre-tour developments would have no bearing on the performance of his players


Who #39;s behind the oil-for-food scandal?

Once it became clear some months ago that Saddam Hussein had been telling the truth about not having weapons of mass destruction or connections to al-Qaida, it should have been an embarrassment


US marines in Philippines on storm relief mission, health fears <b>...</b>

INFANTA, Philippines (AFP) - US Marines began helping relief operations in the Philippines following storms that have left more than 1,500 people dead as fears grew of a health crisis among survivors.


Palestinian killed in Gaza Strip

A Palestinian was killed overnight by Israeli forces, as further violence continued in the Gaza Strip, medical sources said. A body - described on Israeli radio as a  quot;Palestinian youngster quot;, and on Palestinian


Stocks Set for Flat Open; IBM in Focus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks look to open flat on  Wednesday, a day after a sharp sell-off, as the dollar  rebounded and a major sale was announced by IBM IBM.N, but  oil prices nudged up slightly.


Dollar Rises, Investors Focus on Rates

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar gained ground on Wednesday,  as investors took profits on other major currencies on signs  that currency strength may prompt some central banks to scale  back interest rate tightening.


Falling Oil Hits Europe; Dollar Bounces

LONDON (Reuters) - Most European stock markets followed  Wall Street lower Wednesday as crude oil's slide to three-month  lows hit heavily weighted oil shares, although a recovering  dollar was a plus for the region's exporters.


Miners Lead European Stocks Down

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares eased on Wednesday with  mining stocks soft after sharp falls in metal prices and  concerns about the strong euro hitting growth, but auto makers  like Porsche rose after strong sales data.


BBC Schedules Major Cuts in Payroll, Budget

LONDON, Dec. 7 -- The BBC, the world's largest public broadcasting company, announced plans Tuesday for some of the biggest budget cuts in its 82-year history, slashing at least 10 percent of its staff and more than \$620 million in annual spending.


New sales push for struggling GM

General Motors , which has experienced two months of disappointing sales, reveals a new winter sales programme in the US.


Dillon: Cash and carry setup working well

FOXBOROUGH -- There were just under 9 1/2 minutes to go in the third quarter yesterday when Patriots running back Corey Dillon broke free and ambled toward the end zone with San Francisco defenders Dwaine Carpenter and Ronnie Heard grabbing and clawing and pulling at his jersey. They finally hauled Dillon down at the 14-yard line, but not before he ...


Nvidia to supply PlayStation 3 graphics chip

Nvidia will supply the graphics chip for the successor to the PlayStation 2 being developed by Sony, the companies announced. The deal also gives Sony the right to use the chip in its digital consumer products, according to the companies.


NASA #39;s longest-serving astronaut retiring

His first space flight was in 1965 when he piloted the first manned Gemini mission. Later he made two trips to the moon -- orbiting during a 1969 flight and then walking on the lunar surface during a mission in 1972.


Technology ; Dell seeks to open second PC plant in Europe

Technology News, SAN FRANCISCO, Dell Inc. is looking to open its second European production plant, its chairman said on Tuesday, and a source familiar with the plan said the company was considering a location in France.


Ranieri Livid In Defeat

Valencia boss Claudio Ranieri was bitter in defeat. Werder Bremen eliminated the Spanish club 2-0 on Tuesday. Ranieri singled out referee Anders Frisk venemously in a post-match television interview with Canal Plus.


File-sorting software coming of age

The holidays are done at last. Time to get back to normal. Well, perhaps not entirely normal. Our computers, after all, are normally in a state of chaos, cluttered with once-cherished files that we can't even find anymore.


US says  quot;getting nowhere quot; with crisis in Darfur

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The international community is  quot;getting nowhere quot; with the crisis in Sudan #39;s troubled Darfur region, the US ambassador to the United Nations, John Danforth, said.


Officials say Logan death a horrible accident #39;

A longtime Delta Air Lines employee was killed at Logan Airport yesterday morning when he was struck by a de-icing truck driven by a good friend, officials said.


A plan for US energy security?

The United States must diversify its global oil supplies, expand a world network of strategic petroleum reserves and raise fuel efficiency standards to ensure its energy security, a panel of experts will recommend Wednesday.


Reports: Charges Expected for Five Pacers (AP)

AP - Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans were expected to be charged with assault Wednesday in a brawl that broke out on the court last month and spilled into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills, according to news reports.


Israel #39;s Sharon Lines Up Support for Likud Vote

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon marshalled support for Thursday #39;s Likud party vote to bring the Labor Party into a government that would block snap elections and pave the way for a Gaza withdrawal next year.


Mortgage Applications Rose Last Week (Reuters)

Reuters - Applications for U.S. home mortgages\rose last week, as mortgage rates fell, an industry group said\on Wednesday.


Lenovo-IBM is a tough sell

Two years ago, I got an inside look at operations at Lenovo Group, the Chinese computing giant that is expected to form a joint venture with IBM to sell PCs worldwide.


Latest Business news on mobile: sms BIZ to 7333

The US-based oral care and personal products company Colgate-Palmolive Company is drawing a blueprint to restructure its operations.


Report: Calif economy will see growth in 2005, but danger looms

LOS ANGELES A report says California #39;s economy will see solid growth next year, but danger looms. The quarterly UCLA Anderson Forecast says the state #39;s fortunes could change if the national economy falters


Software for drummers and strummers

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to finally learn how to play an instrument, technology increasingly can help you get started.


Kids happy to get an Apple in their stocking

US holiday sales forecasts have been decidedly muted this year, but it appeared no one bothered telling the throngs of shoppers crammed into Apple Computer #39;s downtown San Francisco store last week.


Clashes before Hoon #39;s visit to Iraq

Three Iraqis have been killed in clashes in Ramadi while six Iraqi civilians and two US soldiers were wounded after a bomb targeting a US convoy exploded in southern Baghdad.


Pope Prays for Iraqi People after Bomb Attacks on Churches

Pope John Paul II today said he was praying for the Iraqi people after militants bombed two churches in Mosul, the latest anti-Christian violence in the country.


Stocks to Watch Wednesday

The hard drive maker on Tuesday raised its quarterly  revenue and profit forecasts for the December quarter on strong  seasonal demand for newer products, surpassing analysts'  forecasts.


Bank calls for Argentine reforms

The World Bank approves \$200m for infrastructure projects in Argentina, but  demands that the country complete restructuring its defaulted debt.


Commentary: Is China on the verge of its own Enron scandal?

In 2002, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) was named Singapore #39;s most transparent company by the island #39;s Securities Investors Association.


Thunderbird 1.0 email client bids to repeat Firefox success

Hoping to emulate the success of the open source browser Firefox, the Mozilla group has now released version 1.0 of its Thunderbird email client.


HD-DVD Sticks It To Blu-Ray......again

Toshiba has hammered another nail in the Blu-Ray coffin, by announcing a dual layer HD-DVD and DVD disc. This means that studios will be able to sell discs that have the DVD version on one side and the HD-DVD


Drug makers adding X-rays, MRIs to arsenal

Researchers at Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. hope to produce better drugs with medical-imaging equipment usually used to examine patients.


Sonys Walkman bows to MP3 format

The company which invented the walkman and created a new niche with it has now got its ear to the ground. The latest Walkman music player to emerge from their workshop seems to be a hybrid of sorts.


IBM expands virtual resources for partners

IBM has announced virtual resources to help its business partners accelerate the building and deployment of on-demand business applications tailored to customer requirements across all vertical industries.


IT disaster in British public authority caused by operator

The US IT service provider EDS has admitted that one of its employees was responsible for the crash of thousands of computers in Britain #39;s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) two weeks ago.


On latest players, choice is unlimited

The menu at Flash's, a saloon on Boston's Stuart Street, offers many choices. The jukebox offers even more.


Players OK talks on steroids

Baseball players gave their lawyers the go-ahead Tuesday to reach an agreement with owners on tougher testing for steroids. After negotiations with management were outlined to the executive board of the players


V.KLITSCKO V D.WILLIAMS FIXED ODDS BETTING PREVIEW

Following his upset of Mike Tyson in July, British heavyweight Danny Williams has the chance on Saturday to become the WBC World Heavyweight Champion when he takes on Vitali Klitscko at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.


Redknapp move angers Pompey fans

The chairman of Portsmouth #39;s supporters club believes many fans will turn on former boss Harry Redknapp after his impending move to rivals Southampton.


Soccer: Youth brings energy to a night drained of meaning

On Tuesday, Cesc Fabregas, a 17-year-old Spaniard, scored a flamboyant goal and ran the midfield so well that Arsenal thrashed Rosenborg Trondheim 5-1.


UPDATE 1-Coulthard tests for Red Bull in Spain

David Coulthard moved a significant step closer to staying in Formula One when he started a three-day test with the Red Bull Racing team in southern Spain on Wednesday.


AFGHAN PRESIDENT TAKES ON TALIBAN

AFGHANISTAN #39;S first democratically elected president was sworn in yesterday - vowing to crack down on drug traffickers and the last of the Taliban.


Iraqi PM Calls on Russian Companies to Take Part in Reconstruction

Iraq is prepared to cooperate with Russia and to sign contracts, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said in an exclusive interview with the Itar-Tass news agency on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Allawi said that on Tuesday, Dec.


Bush puts squeeze on UN #39;s Annan

The suggestion by Republican Senator Norman Coleman that United Nations #39; Secretary-General Kofi Annan should resign because of the UN #39;s oil-for-food scandal fits somewhere on the scale in between the absurd and the vicious.


Finnish government plans sale of 250-300 mln TeliaSonera shares (AFP)

AFP - The Finnish government said it would sell between 250 and 300 million shares, or as much as 6.4 percent of its stake, in Nordic telecommunications operator TeliaSonera.


Troops Put Tough Questions to Rumsfeld (AP)

AP - After delivering a pep talk designed to energize troops preparing to head for Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld got a little "talking to" himself from disgruntled soldiers.


Mortgage Applications Rise Last Week

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home  mortgages increased last week, as purchase activity rose amid  lower mortgage rates, an industry group said on Wednesday.


N.Irish Deal Stalls Over IRA Arms Pictures

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - A major push to seal  a political settlement for the turbulent British province of  Northern Ireland stalled at the last moment Wednesday over  demands for photographic evidence of IRA guerrillas scrapping  their arms.


TI Narrows Forecast for Fourth Quarter

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Texas Instruments Inc. TXN.N, the  world's largest maker of chips for cell phones, on Tuesday said  it expects fourth-quarter revenue and earnings per share at the  mid range of its previous estimates, as order trends remain  soft and an inventory correction continues.


S Korea's Roh visits Iraq troops

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun pays a surprise visit to troops in Iraq, after his government decided to extend their mandate.


Ganguly plays down security fears

The Indian squad arrives in Bangladesh despite threats allegedly sent by Islamic militants.


Exec arrested in Singapore scandal

The chief executive of embattled China Aviation Oil (CAO) Singapore Corp. Ltd. was arrested Wednesday in Singapore #39;s biggest trading scandal since the fall of Barings Bank in 1995.


Jukebox is reborn for the Internet age

The Internet has changed the way people listen to music in their personal space. (Think iPod and other portable music players.) Now, it's also changing the way people listen to music in public places, such as restaurants and bars.


Reliance unit loses Anil Ambani

Anil Ambani resigns from the petrochemical unit of Indian giant Reliance, renewing rumours of a management feud with elder brother Mukesh.


Bush urged to get to grips with cybersecurity

A cybersecurity group yesterday called on US President George Bush to invest more in IT issues and to make the top IT security job a bigger posting.


Australia Beats NZ in One-Day Cricket Match to Tie Series 1-1

Australia defied a late rally by New Zealand to win the second of three one-day cricket internationals in Sydney by 17 runs and set up a deciding match at Brisbane on Friday.


Gerrard issues warning

The Merseyside captain, his professional career born and bred at Liverpool, wants to  quot;show his kids medals, quot; saying the Premiership side may not be able to rack up the major-tournament titles Gerrard thinks he deserves.


Real Madrid faces AS Roma in  #39;the most important game of the <b>...</b>

Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos called Wednesday #39;s do-or-die Champions League match against AS Roma  quot;the most important game of the season.


Karzai faces drug challenge at outset of fresh presidential term

KABUL, Afghanistan _ Afghanistan #39;s newly inaugurated President Hamid Karzai is pushing the fight to control the nation #39;s booming drug trade to the top of his to-do list.


High Turnout Reported for Ghana #39;s National Elections

Vote counting has begun in Tuesday #39;s general election in Ghana, where President John Kufuor is widely expected to win re-election.


Williams in Pull-Out Threat Over Beard Inspection

LONDON (Reuters) - British heavyweight fighter Danny  Williams has threatened to pull out of Saturday's World Boxing  Council title fight with champion Vitali Klitschko if he is  forced to shave his beard, British media reported.


Lenovo IBM deal a  #39;great leap #39; for Chinese companies on the world <b>...</b>

SHANGHAI (AFP) - Computer maker Lenovo #39;s landmark purchase of the PC business of one of America #39;s most vaunted corporate names adds to a growing list of ambitious Chinese companies seeking to make a name for themselves on global markets.


Bank of England policymakers meet; no change seen on interest rates (AFP)

AFP - The Bank of England's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) began its two-day monthly meeting amid broad expectation that interest rates will be left unchanged due to signs of economic slowdown.


Arsenal and Bremen advance with Porto #39;s hope alive

Holders Porto survived a fightback to overcome Chelsea 2-1 and kept a Champions League second round hope alive as Arsenal and Werder Bremen booked their places in thenext round on Tuesday.


Celtic needs to take stock - O #39;Neill

Celtic boss Martin O #39;Neill admits the club needs to hold an internal investigation into where its future lies after being dumped out of Europe least night.


Singh not breaking habits

The world #39;s No. 1 golfer gave another relentless indication Tuesday why he has risen to the top. One day after he was named PGA Tour Player of the Year, Vijay Singh celebrated by pounding


Arsenal v Rosenborg - Player Ratings

Goal (Arsenal) (4) - Just what we needed early on. The nerves were removed, and we just kept on moving forward. A sweet ball from Bobby set Reyes up with a chance to run.


He Sounds Confident, Not Cocky

You could tell why University of President Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley wanted Urban Meyer almost immediately after the coach started talking.


Indian cricket team arrives in Bangladesh

India #39;s national cricket team arrived in Dhaka Wednesday for a Bangladesh tour approved despite an Islamic group #39;s threat to kill the Indian players.


Hamas rejects ceasefire in preparations for Palestinian elections

The Islamic resistance movement Hamas on Wednesday refused to halt attacks against the Jewish settlements during the period of preparations for the Jan. 9 elections.


Pixar Falls 4 Percent Before Bell

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Pixar Animation Studios Inc.  PIXR.O fell 4 percent before the bell on Wednesday after it  said it would postpone the theatrical release of its animated  feature "Cars" to June 2006 from November 2005.


Safeway Sets Outlook Below Estimates (Reuters)

Reuters - Grocery chain operator Safeway Inc.\ on Wednesday set a 2005 earnings per share goal that\was below analysts' expectations, with added marketing expenses\and lingering impact from a strike at its Vons stores weighing\on profits.


Nortel to File Restated Results Next Year

TORONTO (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. NT.TO said on  Wednesday that after months of trying to untangle faulty  financial results, it plans to file 2003 and first-half 2004  results starting Jan. 10 of next year.


Colgate overhaul to cut over 4,400 jobs

Colgate-Palmolive, the US consumer products company, has said that it plans to close about a third of its factories and cut more than 4,400 jobs over the next four years as part of a major restructuring effort to increase profit margins.


China Aviation Oil CEO arrested in Singapore, helping CAD with <b>...</b>

SINGAPORE : Singapore #39;s white collar crime buster, the Commercial Affairs Department, has arrested China Aviation Oil #39;s beleaguered chief executive, Chen Jiulin.


US is urged to adopt new, diverse energy policy

WASHINGTON Trying to break a deadlock on energy policy, a diverse group of environmentalists, academics and former government officials were to publish a report on Wednesday that presents strategies for making the United States cleaner, more competitive


Update 2: VimpelCom Hit With \$157M Back Tax Claim

In what market watchers are calling a new battle between a Russian oligarch and the state, Russia #39;s second largest mobile phone operator, VimpelCom, has been hit with a 4.4 billion ruble (US\$157 million, euro118 million) back-tax claim for 2001, company


Merck sets up new Vioxx review

Drugmaker Merck has set up an independent committee to review the firm #39;s actions prior to the withdrawal of its painkiller Vioxx from the market in September.


Fighting Rages in Iraq's Rebel-Held Ramadi (Reuters)

Reuters - Fighting raged between rebels\controlling the western Iraq town of Ramadi and U.S. Marines\Wednesday after two Iraqis were killed in clashes following a\suicide car bomb attack, witnesses said.


South American Leaders Discuss New Bloc (AP)

AP - Presidents and high-ranking officials from 12 South American countries gathered in this ancient Inca capital to create a political and economic bloc they hope will put them on a more equal footing with the United States and Europe.


British heavyweight fighter Danny Williams has threatened to pull out of Saturday #39;s World Boxing Council title fight with champion Vitali Klitschko if he is forced to shave his beard, British media reported.


RANIERI BLASTS FRISK

Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri was unable to hide his frustration at referee Anders Frisk after his side crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday.


Aussies prevail in SCG thriller

Australia has forced the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series into a decider, but only after surviving a stunning fightback by New Zealand in match two at the Sydney Cricket Ground.


Karzai to Address Afghan Tribal Leaders (AP)

AP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to address tribal leaders Thursday on the need to eliminate this war-ravaged country's booming drug trade, an aide said.


Karzai to Address Tribal Leaders

Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to address tribal leaders Thursday on the need to eliminate this war-ravaged country #39;s booming drug trade, an aide said.