Bad Sex

For the past 12 years, the Literary Review has held an annual Bad Sex competition aimed at exposing "the crude, tasteless, often perfunctory use of redundant passages of sexual description in the modern novel, and to discourage it".   This year's winner, drawn from a shortlist that included Will Self, Andre Brink and Nadeem Aslam, was veteran journalist and author Tom Wolfe.


EU Leaders Poised to Offer Entry Talks to Turkey

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU leaders were poised on Thursday to  set a date to start accession talks with Turkey, as Turkish  Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels in an  optimistic mood for a spate of last-minute diplomacy.


Yukos files for bankruptcy protection

The embattled Russian oil company Yukos has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States to prevent the auction of its main asset Yuganskeneftegaz, the Interfax reported on Wednesday.


Sun must acquire Red Hat or Novell - analyst

Analysis If it knows what's good for it


US mobile deal keeps Vodafone in the spotlight

America #39;s third-largest mobile operator, Sprint, yesterday agreed to buy the fifth-largest, Nextel, in a well-flagged cash and shares deal worth \$36.3billion (19billion).


Yukos Turns to US Court in Last-Ditch Effort to Prevent Sell-Off

Russian officials Wednesday shrugged off the decision by embattled oil giant Yukos to file for bankruptcy protection in the US, saying the move was politically motivated.


Federal Reserve lifts target rate to 2.25

Federal Reserve policy-makers raised the benchmark US interest rate a quarter point to 2.25 per cent and restated a plan to carry out


US stocks: Markets end higher; earnings, merger news trump oil

US stocks closed slightly higher Wednesday, as better-than-expected quarterly results from investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.


GERMAN PAPERS Frankfurt Courts London Stock Exchange

The Deutsche Boerse has tendered its second offer to buy the London Stock Exchange in four years. The last bid ended in catastrophic failure, but German newspapers generally agree on Tuesday that its chances this time around are much stronger.


Peace award for Margaret Hassan

British national charity worker Margaret Hassan, murdered in Iraq, is honoured posthumously with a peace award.


Google #39;s Plan Prompts a Question: What #39;s on the Web?

Description: This week, the search engine Google announced plans to digitize millions of library books and make them searchable online.


Four Confirmed Dead in Peru Police Shootout

LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Four police officers died on Sunday  in a shootout with an armed group that took over a police  station in a southern Peruvian town on New Year's Day and held  10 hostages, doctors said.


Good News (Wells), Bad News (Schilling)

David Wells passed a physical and was introduced at a Fenway Park news conference, and the timing could not have been more striking.


FCC Eases Phone Network Leasing Rules

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New rules easing requirements that  the big four U.S. local telephone carriers lease their networks  to competitors at government-set rates, were narrowly approved  by U.S. communications regulators on Wednesday.


US to unveil deal with AOL on fraud charges

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will announce a settlement deal it has reached with Time Warnerconcerning accounting issues with its America Online(AOL) Internet division on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.


Dollar Under Pressure in Thin Trading

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was feeling the heat on  Thursday as concerns about the U.S. trade and current account  deficits hardened the market's view that the currency's  downward spiral would continue.


Fannie Mae Told to Restate Earnings

An official of the Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday a review had found that the firm had violated accounting rules and that he had told the mortgage giant to restate its earnings.


Drinking at last-chance saloon

Yukos will on Thursday seek an injunction from a US court in a last-gasp bid to block the forced auction of its main operating unit by the Russian government on Sunday.


Missile-defense test ends in failure

WASHINGTON - An important test of the United States #39; emerging missile-defense system ended in an \$85 million failure early Wednesday as an interceptor rocket failed to launch as scheduled from the Marshall Islands, the Pentagon said.


Stocks: Wall Street mixed as focus returns to profit

NEW YORK Stocks bounced between gains and losses Wednesday as investors overlooked rising oil prices to focus on strong results from Lehman Brothers and Sprint #39;s much-rumored acquisition of Nextel Communications.


#39;Tankan #39; sees first slide in 21 months; recovery past peak

Business confidence at Japan #39;s large manufacturers in the October-December quarter worsened for the first time in 21 months, and the outlook for next quarter is even dimmer, according to the


MPAA files lawsuits against P2P networks

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is following the Recording Industry Association of Americas (RIAA) footsteps by filing lawsuits against BitTorrent clients.


Microsoft introduces desktop search feature

Microsoft Corp., world largest software maker, introduced its desktop search feature on Monday, taking aim at Google with its beta desktop search functionality.


HP, Intel End Itanium Partnership

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday ended their 10-year partnership


SAP Clamps Down on IT Security

com. As IT landscapes are in a constant flux, SAP advised that these security checks need to be undertaken at regular intervals. SAP Security Optimization is part of SAP Active Global Support #39;s portfolio of customer services.


Washington Mayor Says Council Puts Baseball in Capital at Risk

A grim Mayor Anthony Williams said today that he was deeply pessimistic that Washington would be able to salvage its deal with Major League Baseball to bring the Montreal


Spain coach facing  #39;slap on wrist #39;

The Kick Racism Out Of Football campaign believe Luis Aragones will receive little more than  quot;a slap on the wrist quot; after the Spanish Football Federation yesterday belatedly opened a disciplinary


Jones sues Conte over drugs claim

Marion Jones raised the stakes in the battle to clear her name last night when she filed a \$25 million lawsuit against the man who said he watched her inject herself with drugs.


Counsell is happy to be back

PHOENIX - Craig Counsell is returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the latest in an offseason spree of signings designed to turn baseball #39;s biggest losers into winners again.


Anger rises as does toll in remote Andaman and Nicobar islands (Reuters)

Reuters - Tempers flared over the sluggish pace of relief efforts in the remote and restricted Andamans and Nicobars on Sunday as hundreds of bodies lay scattered around the islands a week after the tsunami struck.


British Home Secretary resigns

TONY EASTLEY: In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair #39;s election hopes have been dealt a blow with the resignation of his Home Secretary, David Blunkett.


Italy Calls To End Kyoto Climate Limits After 2012

ROME - Italy has called for an end to the Kyoto Protocol after the environmental treaty #39;s initial period in 2012, preferring voluntary agreements that would entice the United States, China and India to tackle climate change.


Washington Mayor Says Baseball Deal Nearly Dead

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The deal to bring baseball back to  Washington, D.C, was described by Mayor Anthony Williams as  close to dead Wednesday after the City Council changed the plan  to require private financing, a move Major League Baseball  (MLB) called unacceptable.


EU Leaders Poised to Offer Entry Talks to Turkey (Reuters)

Reuters - EU leaders were poised on Thursday to\set a date to start accession talks with Turkey, as Turkish\Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels in an\optimistic mood for a spate of last-minute diplomacy.


FCC adopts new network-sharing rules

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday adopted new rules about what parts of incumbent telephone carrier networks must be shared with competitors, backtracking on an earlier decision forcing incumbents to share local switching facilities in the residential market.


IDC predicts Linux market worth \$35 billion by 2008

IDC on Wednesday painted an optimistic outlook for Linux over the next few years, predicting that overall revenue for desktops, servers, and Linux-compatible packaged software will reach \$35 billion by 2008.


Air talks back on runway

The news came as Airbus predicted that 17,300 new passenger and freight aircraft, worth \$1.9trillion, were needed to meet global demand over the next 20 years.


Update 1: Court OKs Trump Hotels Bankruptcy Package

Staking Donald Trump to some badly needed cash, a judge signed off Wednesday on a \$100 million loan that will keep his casinos open while his company #39;s bankruptcy case winds through the courts.


Here #39;s what you will _ and won #39;t _ be able to see when searching <b>...</b>

A few months from now, perhaps by mid-2005, Google will be adding thousands of library books from university collections to its searchable database.


Gators #39; RB Fason declares for NFL draft

Florida running back Ciatrick Fason announced Wednesday he plans to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL Draft. The 6-foot, 215-pound junior has been one of the most consistent performers for the 20th-ranked Gators.


Government issues Indonesia travel warning

TONY EASTLEY: As thousands of Australians prepare to fly out to Indonesia for their Christmas and New Year holidays, the Federal Government has issued a new quite specific warning about the risk of a terrorist attack there.


AP: Yushchenko Shows Record Dioxin Level

New tests reveal Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko #39;s blood contains the second-highest level of dioxin poisoning ever recorded in a human - more than 6,000 times


Sri Lanka urged to offer more support to Norway peace efforts

Sri Lanka #39;s main foreign donors have warned that some members of the ruling coalition are undermining the peace process aimed at ending the decades-long civil war.


Rams Safety Probably Out for Rest of Year (AP)

AP - St. Louis Rams free safety Aeneas Williams probably will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a neck injury.


Yankees Raise Price of Best Box Seats  #36;10 (AP)

AP - The New York Yankees are raising ticket prices for most of their top seats by  #36;10 next season, with the best box seats going for  #36;90.


Dollar Under Pressure in Thin Trading (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar was feeling the heat on\Thursday as concerns about the U.S. trade and current account\deficits hardened the market's view that the currency's\downward spiral would continue.


Kodiak missile goes up, but interceptor fails

A target missile successfully blasted off from the Kodiak Launch Complex at 8:45 pm Tuesday, but the interceptor it was meant to test failed to launch from the Kwajalein Atoll in the central


SEC says Fannie did not meet accounting standards

The US Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday the accounting practices of housing finance group Fannie Mae (FNM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) from 2001 to mid-2004  quot;did not comply in material respects quot; with


Ask Jeeves launches desktop search tool

LOS ANGELES - Online search company Ask Jeeves Inc. Wednesday launched an application that lets people search files and documents on their computers, joining a number of competitors who have released similar applications recently.


Online Groups Behind Bulk of Bootleg Films (AP)

AP - In not-too-secret online forums, Wesley Snipes' latest movie, "Blade: Trinity," is the subject of intense discussion and evaluation.


Intel Acquires Chip Designers From HP

Intel Corp. has reached an agreement to hire hundreds of Hewlett-Packard Co. engineers who helped design the Itanium microprocessor, a massive joint project between the two technology companies since the early 1990s.


Linux market may grow to \$35 billion by 2008

SEATTLE - Linux, the fast-growing alternative to Windows and other operating systems, will become a \$35 billion market by 2008, technology research firm IDC said Wednesday.


Oracle gives first outline of PeopleSoft plans

It may be one of the software industry #39;s largest acquisitions to date, but Oracle expects to work out its merger plans with PeopleSoft by the end of the year and will  quot;hit


Expos #39; Move to DC on Verge of Collapse

With a  quot;NO quot; banner in the foreground, Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, right, DC Sports Commission Chairman Mark Tuohey, left, and others, look as a the DC City Council debates stadium finance legislation for the return of Major League Baseball


Jones sues BALCO founder, denies steroid use

Olympic athletics champion Marion Jones filed a defamation lawsuit yesterday against BALCO head Victor Conte, who told a US television audience that he gave her steroids and watched her inject herself with them.


Erickson to stay with 49ers

After discussing a job opening with the University of Mississippi, San Francisco coach Dennis Erickson said Wednesday he would stay with the 49ers.


Seeking second base help, A #39;s land Ginter

Ginter batted .262 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs in 113 games for Milwaukee last season. He posted career highs in batting, at-bats (386), hits (101), doubles (23), home runs, RBIs and slugging (.479).


Majerus to coach USC next season

Rick Majerus was hired Wednesday to coach the USC basketball team, but he will not take over the position until the 2005-06 season.


Surrender of hijackers ends eighteen-hour ordeal of bus passengers <b>...</b>

Two armed men who hijacked a busload of hostages at gunpoint in the outskirts of Athens and demanded 1m (690,000) ransom surrendered last night.


Ukraine reopens poisoning inquiry

Ukrainian prosecutors reopened their investigation into allegations Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned after doctors who treated the opposition leader confirmed he had been slipped the toxic chemical dioxin.


US prudent on possible Japanese sanctions against North Korea (AFP)

AFP - The United States backed Japan's efforts to resolve a dispute with North Korea over its abduction of Japanese nationals during the Cold War but stayed prudent about Tokyo's possible use of sanctions.


Australia's plan for vast sea security zone angers neighbour New Zealand (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - WELLINGTON, N.Z. (AP) - Australia has angered its neighbour New Zealand, with a plan to impose an 1,850-kilometre security zone around the Australian coastline.


Author of expose on UN peacekeepers says his contract not renewed (AFP)

AFP - A New Zealand doctor and United Nations employee who co-wrote a book exposing sex, drugs and corruption among UN peacekeeping forces said his contract with the world body was not being renewed.


Bush warns Iran and Syria on Iraq

US President George W Bush says Iran and Syria should not interfere in Iraq in advance of January's elections.


Oil Tops \$44, Heating Supply a Concern

Oil prices surged nearly 6 percent on Wednesday as the US government reported a fall in heating oil stocks in the midst of the season #39;s first arctic cold blast in the Northeast.


Google Wins Trademark Victory Over GEICO

A federal judge on Wednesday handed online search engine Google Inc. (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) a victory in a trademark infringement case on Wednesday, ruling


Blockbuster Cans Late Fees, Keeps Due Dates

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - To the joy of couch potatoes nationwide who resent rushing to the video store to return movies, video rental giant Blockbuster says it will do away with the dreaded late fees.


Money talks, Pedro walks

Those were the exact words uttered by Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez in an interview that appeared in the World Series DVD released late last month.


Raiders Kicker Gets Contract Extension (AP)

AP - Sebastian Janikowski finalized a  #36;10.5 million, five-year contract extension with the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday that makes him the highest paid placekicker in the NFL.


Infection link to heart attacks

\Common respiratory and urinary tract infections play a role in triggering heart attacks and strokes, researchers say.


Expos' Preparations Thrown a Curve (AP)

AP - Some fans who had not heard the news showed up at a downtown restaurant Wednesday expecting to witness the unveiling of the Washington Nationals uniforms.


Hostage Takers Give Up After 18-Hour Standoff on Bus in Greece

The two gunmen who had hijacked an Athens-bound commuter bus surrendered to the authorities and released their six remaining captives.


Cold sends oil price above \$44

Oil futures prices have jumped 5 percent higher, climbing above \$44 a barrel in the United States Wednesday after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies as colder weather in the Northeast drove up


Nokia counters counterfeit products with holographic labels

Finnish mobile handset maker Nokia has made a 3-D move against counterfeit batteries. In order for customers to be able to more easily identify original Nokia batteries from non-original batteries, Nokia has


Coalition thanks outgoing NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe

WASHINGTON (Dec. 15, 2004) - The Coalition for Space Exploration expresses its deep appreciation to NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe for his strong personal leadership during one of the most critical periods


ICANN making available new domain names

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has given preliminary approval to two new domain names. The  quot;.


Majerus leaves TV gig to take coaching job at Southern California

He retired nearly a year ago for health reasons after 15 seasons at Utah, but he couldn #39;t stay away from his life #39;s passion.


Rockets activate Lue from injured list

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets activated guard Tyronn Lue from the injured list prior to Wednesday #39;s game against the Hawks.


Lions sticking with Harrington at QB

Mariucci wouldn #39;t name a starter for this week #39;s game at his weekly news conference on Monday, allowing speculation to grow that he might replace Harrington with Mike McMahon.


Abbas and the Rafah Operation

The nature of Israeli occupation will not change overnight. The savagery that the Sharon government adopts in dealing with the Palestinians will not change.


Google Wins Geico LawSuit

According to wire services, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema rejected a claim by auto insurance giant Geico, which argued that Google should not be allowed to sell ads to rival insurance companies that appear whenever Geico #39;s name is typed into the


Sri Lanka urged to offer more support to rebel go-between

Sri Lanka #39;s main foreign donors warn some members of the country #39;s ruling coalition are undermining the shaky peace process aimed at ending the decades-long civil war.


Bennett Thinks He's Finally Hit Stride (AP)

AP - Drew Bennett of the Tennessee Titans is not surprised by his recent play, which includes the most receiving yardage in a game this season in the NFL.


Source: Renteria Agrees to Sign With BoSox (AP)

AP - All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria has agreed in principle to a  #36;40 million, four-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, who beat his St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series when he grounded to the pitcher for the final out.


San Diego Ballots Would Have Ousted Mayor (AP)

AP - A complete review of disqualified ballots in San Diego's mayoral race showed Wednesday that write-in candidate Donna Frye would have ousted Mayor Dick Murphy had those votes been counted.


Business confidence dips in Japan

Business confidence among Japanese manufacturers has weakened for the first time since March 2003, the quarterly Tankan survey has found.


SA netball team thumped gain

Birmingham - South Africa #39;s netball team have suffered their third successive defeat against England on Tuesday evening when they lost the Test series 3-0.


Tsunami swallows Sri Lanka nursery school, children (Reuters)

Reuters - Bob Uppington, a retired teacher from England, came to this tiny Sri Lankan tsunami-ravaged fishing village to find 40 children.


Europe expected to say yes to Turkey

Depending on which direction you are coming from, European leaders are meeting in Brussels today either to crash the EU dream or cut the ribbon on a vital bridge between Islam and the west.


Editorial: Tragedy With Multiple Victims

DARFUR is a real tragedy. First of all, it is a tragedy for the two million refugees and then for the widows and orphans of the 70,000 people who have been slain.


Yukos files for bankruptcy protection in Bush #39;s backyard

Russian oil giant Yukos yesterday increased the stakes in its battle with the Kremlin when it filed for bankruptcy in the United States in an unusual move possibly intended to pitch Washington against Moscow.


\$210m settlement in AOL fraud inquiry

Time Warner agreed to pay \$210m (108m) yesterday to settle criminal fraud charges related to its internet service provider America Online.


Defense Missile for US System Fails to Launch

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - An important test of the United States #39; fledgling missile defense system ended in failure early Wednesday as an interceptor rocket failed to launch on cue from the Marshall Islands, the Pentagon said.


US Fed nudges interest rates up again

US Federal Reserve policy-makers probably will keep nudging interest rates upward next year, trying to guard against inflation but moving moderately enough to keep the economy expanding.


Desert plant offers rich pickings for Bushmen

THOUSANDS of South African Bushmen are to receive a royalty windfall after a Cambridgeshire company yesterday signed a deal with Unilever to develop one of their bush plants into a slimming aid.


Company Settles Charges on Funds Sold to Soldiers

First Command Financial Services, one of the best-known companies marketing financial products to military families, agreed yesterday to pay \$12 million to settle accusations that it


ThyssenKrupp sells off 48,000 workers #39; houses

ThyssenKrupp, the German engineering group buoyed by soaring steel prices, sold off a core element of its philanthropic past yesterday by disposing of its entire stock of company homes for employees for 2.1bn (1.45bn).


No. 6 Wake Forest Drops Elon 85-67 (AP)

AP - Chris Paul had 14 points and a career-high 11 assists and Kyle Visser added 13 points, helping No. 6 Wake Forest hold off Elon 85-67 on Wednesday night.


Despite Google, we still need good libraries

GOOGLE, with whom I spend more time than with my loved ones, is planning to put the contents of the worlds greatest libraries on line, including the Bodleian in Oxford and those of Harvard and Stanford in America.


Current stories in Viewpoints, Outlook:

Cragg Hines welcomes the departure of NASA #39;s chief but worries about the list of potential successors, especially Gen. Missileman.


MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf Goes Gold

To celebrate the upcoming release, Microsoft has launched a new MechAssault 2 mini-site where visitors will find tons of information on the upcoming Xbox action title, such as trailers, wallpapers, and plenty of screenshots.


Solar panels in clothing could keep us talking

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


Interactive Christmas lights an on-line hit

LAFAYETTE, Colo. - After festooning his house with 17,000 Christmas lights, Alex Komarnitsky wanted more than just drive-by gawkers to be able to enjoy the spectacle.


Sony, Nintendo, Take Market Share Battle to New Heights

Gaming console giants Nintendo and Sony are enabling music and video playback on their popular gaming devices in an effort to dominate the lucrative market, expected to account for sales of \$2 billion in the United States this year.


Baseball Rejects Terms for Washington Stadium

Major League Baseball on Wednesday rejected as  quot;wholly unacceptable quot; a stadium financing plan approved the day before by the Washington City Council, throwing into grave


Raptors 96 Timberwolves 90

TORONTO Chris Bosh scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to push Toronto past Minnesota 96-to-90. Bosh came within one point and one rebound of career highs.


Pakistan sends Aussies in

PAKISTAN captain Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and sent Australia in to bat in the first cricket Test at the WACA Ground today. Australia will start its innings in fine conditions against Pakistan pacemen Shoaib


By Signing Renteria, Red Sox Finally Make a Big Splash

Trying to counter the loss of Pedro Martnez and their failures in other contract negotiations, the Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with their most significant free agent this off-season


Cavaliers 112, Trail Blazers 88

LeBron James scored 12 of his 25 points in less than three minutes of the third quarter and Ira Newble added a season-high 18 as the Cleveland Cavaliers won their ninth straight at home, 112-88 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.


Sexson agrees to \$50 million contract with Seattle

The Seattle Mariners added power to one of the weakest lineups in baseball Wednesday, agreeing to a \$50 million, four-year contract with free agent first baseman Richie Sexson.


Greek Bus Hijacking Ends With Surrender

ATHENS, Greece -- Two armed hijackers have surrendered and released their hostages, 18 hours after seizing a bus near Athens, Greece.


Political storm began as summer shower

The avalanche of bad publicity that buried David Blunkett #39;s career was triggered more than four months ago, with the Sunday newspaper revelation that the home secretary was having an affair.


AP: Ohio Hires Solich As Football Coach (AP)

AP - Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich has been hired as coach of Ohio University, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night.


New Zealanders warned of more terrorism in Indonesia

New Zealanders in Indonesia arebeing contacted by embassy staff after new reports that terroristscould be planning attacks on specific targets, including hotels, The Dominion Post reported Thursday.


As Iraqi Campaign Begins, a Bomb Kills 9 in Karbala

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 15 - Iraq #39;s election campaign season opened on a violent note when a bomb exploded Wednesday near the gate of one of Iraq #39;s holiest Shiite shrines in the pilgrim city of Karbala, killing


Melting Icy Egypt-Israel Relations Through a Trade Pact

When Egypt, Israel and the United States signed a trade agreement this week, it represented the most tangible step in a monthlong thaw in chilly relations between the Egyptians and Israelis.


Hard bargaining over Israeli coalition posts

Israeli political parties were yesterday bogged down in hard bargaining over the formation of a new coalition government to implement the plan of Ariel Sharon, prime minister, to


UN to Increase Its Staff in Iraq for Elections

The United Nations announced Wednesday that it was expanding its presence in Iraq outside Baghdad to the cities of Erbil in the Kurdish north and Basra in the south


Prickly solution to slimmers #39; woes

A plant used to stem the hunger pangs of African tribes could soon be added to the meals of obese westerners desperate to lose their excess pounds.


Google Wins Battle With Geico

Unlike Overture (Yahoo!) who settled out of court with insurance company Geico, Google didn #39;t buckle and today won a major legal victory with a US federal court.


Rockets Activate Lue from Injured List

HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets activated  guard Tyronn Lue from the injured list prior to Wednesday's  game against the Hawks.


Google To Bring The Library To You

Google, the world #39;s most popular search engine plans to transform the trip to the library into a trip to the nearest computer.


Lights, webcam, action!

Alex, Wendy, Dirk and Kyle Komarnitsky would like you to help them with their Christmas decorations. Or more precisely, the family in Lafayette, Colorado, want you to turn on and off the 17,000 Christmas lights


Apple #39;s iPod goes to school

its also a powerful learning tool, according to Apple. Audio has always had a place in the classroom but it is normally in the form


Ants use odour, geometry: study

ANTS use angled signposts, using tiny scent markers, to find their way home or follow the path into the wilderness, according to a study published today.


Mets Bracing for Beginning of Martnez Era

Pedro Martnez took the M.R.I., passed the physical, and will be introduced as a Met in a news conference at Shea Stadium on Thursday.


Trying to counter the loss of Pedro Martnez and their failures in other contract negotiations, the Red Sox have reached an agreement shortstop Edgar Renteria.


MechAssault 2 jacks gold

Mech shooter off stomps off to production, and is on schedule for its uncommon December 28 release. Microsoft today announced that MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf has achieved gold status and will be ready to hit Xboxes and light up Xbox Live December 28.


Sky nets four-year deal to air live cricket

British Sky Broadcasting has strengthened its grip on live television coverage of sport with a deal giving Sky Sports exclusive rights to the live broadcast of all home international and domestic cricket in England and Wales.


Former Ole Miss coach Irish #39;s offensive coordinator

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis has apparently zeroed in on former Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe as his offensive coordinator and John Latina, who was Cutcliffe #39;s offensive coordinator with the Rebels, as the new Irish offensive line coach.


Line of Scrimmage: Week 15 - Putting a Finger on Plummer #39;s Woes

Somewhere in the recesses of Jake Plummer #39;s mind, the idea of the Broncos #39; quarterback raising his right hand, middle digit extended, must have seemed brilliant.


SEC: Fannie Fails Accounting Compliance (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. Securities and Exchange\Commission said on Wednesday the accounting practices of\housing finance group Fannie Mae  from 2001 to mid-2004\"did not comply in material respects" with certain accounting\standards for derivatives, hedging and other matters.


Rangers #39; worst fears realised

ALEX McLeish admitted last night Rangers had no-one to blame but themselves after they followed Celtic out of Europe and left Hearts clinging to the remaining hope that Scottish football will have UEFA Cup representation in the second half of the season.


Nikkei Drops, Exporters Hurt by Yen (Reuters)

Reuters - Tokyo stocks slipped on Thursday as\exporters such as Sony Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. succumbed\to the weakness of the dollar against the yen and gave up some\of their gains of the previous three sessions.


Nikkei Drops, Exporters Hurt by Yen

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo stocks slipped on Thursday as  exporters such as Sony Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. succumbed  to the weakness of the dollar against the yen and gave up some  of their gains of the previous three sessions.


Dollar Closes in on Low Versus Euro

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was within reach of a record  low against the euro on Thursday as concerns about the U.S.  trade and current account deficits hardened the market's view  the currency's downward spiral would continue.


S.E.C. Says Fannie Mae Violated Accounting Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission has ordered Fannie Mae to restate its earnings for the last four years after concluding that it had violated accounting rules.


Company Settles Charges on Funds Sold to Soldiers

First Command Financial Services agreed to pay \$12 million to settle accusations that it used misleading information to sell mutual funds to military officers.


Latest Merger Would Recast Cellular's Face Once Again

Sprint and Nextel Communications formally announced a merger that will create a formidable No. 3 carrier with 35.4 million subscribers.


Air Force at Unease in the Capital

At the heart of the scandal is a relationship between the Air Force and its main supplier, the Boeing Company, that had grown increasingly cozy.


AOL reaches agreement on securities fraud

America Online, the internet division of Time Warner, will be charged with criminal securities fraud but is likely to avoid prosecution under a settlement


Google wins advertising case

Google won an important test case in the US yesterday when a federal court judge cleared its practice of selling ads around internet searches conducted for trademarked terms.


HP quits chipmaking alliance with Intel

Hewlett-Packard yesterday announced it was quitting the microprocessor making business by severing its 10-year partnership with Intel to develop Itanium chips for server computers.


Jets Say Pennington Bothered by Shoulder

Some throws fell woefully short, skittering across the turf and rolling to the feet of receivers. Others sailed over the heads of the intended targets, fluttering


Saban admits meeting with Dolphins

LSU Coach Nick Saban said Wednesday he had met with officials of the Miami Dolphins to discuss that team #39;s head coaching job. There was no indication whether an offer had been made or accepted.


Fannie Mae Warns on Capital Position (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. mortgage finance giant Fannie\Mae said on Wednesday a Securities and Exchange Commission\decision that it must restate earnings over accounting problems\is likely to cut into its capital position.


Nuke Whistle-Blower Named Scottish Rector (AP)

AP - Students at a Scottish university on Wednesday elected Israeli nuclear whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu their official spokesman.


Industry Hires House's Author of Drug Benefit

Representative Billy Tauzin will become president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the chief lobby for brand-name drug companies.


U.N. Sexual Abuse Alleged in Congo

The 34-page draft report, which was obtained by The Washington Post, accuses U.N. peacekeepers from Morocco, Pakistan and Nepal of seeking to obstruct U.N. efforts to  investigate a sexual abuse scandal.


Video War Is a Break From the Real Fight

Between guard duty and patrols and shifts at the dining facility, soldiers gather to crash fast cars, play volleyball with buxom women and mimic warfare in a small trailer at Camp Liberty.


Varig Future in Doubt Amid Takeover Talks

The future of Varig, Brazil's flagship airline, was thrown into confusion Wednesday after the country's vice president downplayed a top official's announcement that the carrier would be taken over by the government to save it from collapsing under a mountain of debt.


SEC #39;s Recent Penalties Among Its Toughest

Although the specter of a criminal prosecution of Time Warner Inc. all but vanished with yesterday #39;s Justice Department settlement, the company #39;s tentative \$300 million agreement to settle


Best Buy ahead 21 in spite of  #39;modest growth #39;

Best Buy beat analyst estimates with a 21 per cent rise in quarterly profit, sending its shares 5 per cent higher yesterday. The number one US consumer electronics retailer said


Michael Wilbon

It #39;s a great idea that private money finance at least 50 percent of the cost of a new riverfront baseball stadium. It #39;s a smart idea to protect the District from millions of dollars in penalties resulting


FOOTBALL: REDS FANS MUST FEAR A GERRARD KOP-OUT

STEVEN GERRARD dug Liverpool out of a hole again on Monday night but you have to question if the skipper is growing tired of the same old routine.


Allawi unveils candidacy for elections

BEIJING, Dec. 16 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has unveiled his candidacy for the general elections on January 30. His name appears at the top of a list of candidates submitted by his electoral alliance for seats in the 275-member National Assembly.


Bosh, Raptors stun Timberwolves

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The spectre of an eighth straight loss was enough to spur the Toronto Raptors to a stunning 96-90 upset win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves at the Air Canada Centre.


Carlyle, Prudential to Buy China Pacific Life Stake, People Say

Carlyle Group Inc., the world #39;s third- biggest buyout fund, agreed to pay \$400 million for 24.9 percent of the life insurance subsidiary of China #39;s third largest insurer, people familiar with the transaction said.


Hornets Top Warriors 98-89 (AP)

AP - Dan Dickau scored a career-best 23 points and the New Orleans Hornets won their first home game of the season, 98-89 over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.


Lee expected trade from White Sox

New Brewers outfielder Carlos Lee was expecting a trade. He just didn #39;t know where. The Brewers obtained the 28-year-old left fielder from the Chicago White Sox this week for center fielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named.


Indonesia Orders Security Clampdown (AP)

AP - Indonesia ordered a nationwide security crackdown Thursday after Australia, Britain and New Zealand warned terrorists were preparing to attack ahead of Christmas.


New finding in Ukraine poisoning

Dutch experts who have been examining blood samples from Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian opposition leader, disclosed yesterday that the politician has staggeringly high levels of dioxin in his blood, the second highest ever recorded.


Southwest wins battle for ATA assets

Southwest Airlines emerged on Wednesday as the victor in the battle for the assets of ATA, the bankrupt low-cost carrier, beating a rival offer from AirTran and underscoring its


Rockets Blast Hawks 92-69 (AP)

AP - Tracy McGrady had 25 points and Yao Ming scored 23 to lead the Houston Rockets past the Atlanta Hawks 92-69 on Wednesday night.


Minnesota 68, Chicago St. 58

Lawson, a senior guard whose previous high was the 11 points he scored earlier this month against Holy Cross, hit 8-of-12 shots, including three 3-pointers.


A Line in the Sand

In the coming days, Washington and its disingenuous D.C. Council must make a simple decision. Do they want to accept the deal for a new stadium? Or don't they? That's it. Yes. Or no.


It's About Time

With only three games left in the season, the Redskins are still having difficulty getting off plays within the 40 seconds allotted.


Martinez Deal Finalized

Martinez passes his physical, and the Mets finalize their \$53 million, four-year contract with the pitcher.


WIZARDSINSIDER

WHO'S NEXT?
at Lakers
Friday, 10:30 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet


Anthony Lifts Nuggets

Carmelo Anthony's 15-foot jumper with 3.6 seconds remaining lifts the Nuggets to a 100-99 victory over the Celtics.


Sepracor Says FDA Approves Sleep Drug

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sepracor Inc., a specialty  pharmaceutical company, said on Wednesday it received a  long-awaited approval to market its Lunesta treatment for  insomnia, giving it a foothold in an estimated \$2 billion  market in the United States.


The Soft Underbelly of Software Deals

It #39;s been a heck of a week for the software industry. First there was Oracle #39;s Dec. 13 long-sought-after deal to acquire rival PeopleSoft (PSFT ) for \$10.3 billion.


China #39;s Investment in Construction Slips

China #39;s investment in construction and factory equipment, a key growth indicator, slowed slightly in November on lower public spending, but local-level investments surged, the government reported Thursday.


US must make R amp;D priority, business leaders warn

The US must make innovation the top national priority or risk ceding its role as the worlds foremost economic power, an organisation of top business and academic leaders warned on Wednesday.


Time Warner  Settles AOL Cases For  #36;510 Million (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Time Warner Inc. yesterday agreed to pay  #36;510 million to settle criminal and civil charges stemming from an accounting scandal at its America Online division, moving to end a messy affair that tarnished its image and impeded its business after its merger with AOL in 2001.


Kalou kills off Rangers

Bonaventure Kalou fired Auxerre into the knockout round of the UEFA Cup with both goals in a 2-0 victory over Rangers to oust the Scottish team from the competition.


Rockets 92, Hawks 69

Tracy McGrady had 25 points and Yao Ming scored 23 to lead the Houston Rockets past the Atlanta Hawks 92-69 on Wednesday night. It was the biggest blowout of the season for Houston, which won for the fourth time in five games.


Apple Fights Back Against RealNetworks (AP)

AP - No longer only a war of words, Apple Computer Inc. has quietly started to block the technology that RealNetworks Inc. created to get around the iPod music player's copy-protection armor.


Bush warns Iran, Syria not to meddle in Iraq #39;s affairs

US President George W. Bush on Wednesday urged Iran and Syria not to meddle in internal affairs of Iraq.  quot;We will continue to make it clear, to both Syria and Iran that... meddling in the internal affairs


In Software Industry, Size Matters (Reuters)

Reuters - The fragmented  software\business is growing up.


RealNetworks promises iPod lockout fix (MacCentral)

MacCentral - Apple Computer Inc. has updated the software for some of its iPod music players so that songs bought from RealNetworks Inc. won't play. RealNetworks says they're not sure why it's happened, but they're working on a fix. Apple suggests that it's what to expect if you use music that isn't officially supported on the iPod.


NASA Spacecraft Tracks Global Air Pollution (Reuters)

Reuters - A NASA spacecraft has begun the\first-ever daily tracking of how air pollution moves across the\globe, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on\Wednesday.


Death of L.A. Elephant Rekindles Zoo Welfare Debate (Reuters)

Reuters - An African elephant, which\collapsed and died at the Los Angeles Zoo this week, suffered a\heart attack, officials said on Wednesday, and animal rights\activists said the death underscored the risks of confining the\large mammals in urban zoos.


Pandas Face Years Before Next Favorite Solid Meal (Reuters)

Reuters - A shortage of the staple food of\China's giant panda will leave 19 of the rare animals\scrounging to keep hunger at bay for as long as a decade in a\reserve in the mountainous southwest, Xinhua news agency said\on Thursday.


Scientists to Help NASA Build Instruments (AP)

AP - Two Indiana University scientists have been tapped to help build two miniaturized instruments for NASA's next Mars rover mission, a traveling laboratory that will search for signs of past or present life.


Suharto party to elect new leader

Indonesia's largest party is electing its new leader in Bali in what is one of the most critical periods in its history.


O's Turn to Burnett

The Orioles lose first baseman Richie Sexson to the Mariners and are now considering a trade for Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett.


In Software Industry, Size Matters

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The fragmented  software  business is growing up.


J J to Buy Guidant for \$23.9 Billion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johnson   Johnson will buy Guidant  Corp. for \$23.9 billion in cash and stock, giving the  health-care products maker a foothold in the fast-growing  market for implantable devices that regulate heartbeats, J J  said on Wednesday.


Baseball Wrangling Makes Some Uneasy

Tuesday night's D.C. Council vote on baseball left some business leaders worried that the events will hurt the District's credibility with developers and financiers.


A Choice Location

The developer that built Dulles Town Center in 1999 is planning to build a 300,000-square-foot open-air shopping center, dubbed Dulles 28 Centre, along the same corridor.


New Training On De-Icing Urged for Small Plane

The National Transportation Safety Board yesterday recommended improved de-icing training for pilots who fly the Cessna 208, a small turboprop aircraft commonly used to transport cargo in the United States.


GOP Gains Boost Chances of Alaska Drilling

Republican gains in the Senate from last month's elections have pumped new life into the administration-backed move to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, prompting environmentalists to mount what one of them called "the fight of our lives" to defeat the proposal.


Manassas Counting on New District

Manassas took a major step this week toward expanding and boosting its downtown.


Stores Are Hoping to Do Well by Urging Shoppers to Do Good

This Christmas season, Americans are the focus of a different kind of retail marketing: campaigns that appeal to people's oft-stated wish to share with the less fortunate.


Sprint and Nextel to Merge, Creating Cellphone Powerhouse

The deal creates the third-largest company in the wireless telephone industry, but its competition is much larger.


FCC to consider allowing cell phones on planes

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday kicked off efforts that could reshape the communications services available to airline passengers, deciding to auction off spectrum now set aside for air-to-ground phone service and proposing to relax its ban on the use of cellular phones in flight.


Startup takes new approach to server virtualization

A little-known, Boston-area startup is beta-testing technology designed to let users quickly configure "virtual" multiprocessor systems out of inexpensive PC machines. Called Katana Technology, the 30-person company has not yet revealed details of its upcoming product, but appears to have developed a novel approach to consolidating data center resources.


IBM, others push for greater U.S. innovation

The U.S. needs to overhaul its education system to encourage innovation and focus more federal funding on high-risk research to maintain a competitive edge over other nations, according to a report endorsed by leading U.S. companies and universities.


Sprint, Nextel herald 'future of communications'

Executives from Sprintand Nextel Communicationstook to a stage at the St. Regis Hotel in New York Wednesday to announce a definitive agreement to merge their two companies and create the third largest mobile phone company in the U.S.


In Brief: Neon Systems acquires ClientSoft

Neon Systems, a provider of mainframe integration solutions for Microsoft .Net and Java applications, has acquired ClientSoft for \$10.5 million in cash and the rights to purchase 1.1 million shares of Neon stock. The privately held ClientSoft specializes in secure, high-performance integration solutions for mainframe Web services. The purchase, which adds 180 customers to Neon's base of 300 customers, brings together Neon's Shadow z/Services and ClientSoft's ServiceBuilder product lines and should provide customers with a robust set of solutions to support service-oriented architectures (SOAs).\\


NEC, Toshiba claim MRAM breakthroughs

NEC and Toshiba have made two advancements in developing a new type of memory that could eventually replace the standard memory used in mobile phones, MP3 players, and other portable electronic devices, the companies said Wednesday.


IBM, Others Push for Greater U.S. Innovation

Nation needs government help to maintain competitive edge, group says.


Third Largest U.S. Cell Phone Company Created

Sprint and Nextel herald "the future of communications."


FCC Moves Toward Voice, Data, Broadband on Planes

Agency to auction licenses for communications; consider cell phone use during flights.


First Look: Small Business Accounting Apps

Intuit, Best Software offer new features, prices with 2005 editions.


NEC, Toshiba Claim Memory Breakthrough

Companies are developing MRAM, which could be used in portable electronic devices.


Company Claims First True WiMax Chip

Wireless broadband systems should be available next year, WaveSat says.


Court Lifts BlackBerry Maker's Injunction

Patent infringement found; split decision sends part of case back to lower court.


Global aviation security in a confusing mess: IATA

Geneva, Dec 16 (UNI) Three years and three months after September 11 terror attacks in the United States, aviation security worldwide remains a confusing mess.


A Sleeping Pill for Longer Use Wins Approval

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new sleeping pill that some specialists say could pave the way for longer-term use of such medications.


Ask Jeeves Enters Desktop Search Wars

The same week Microsoft released a beta version of its desktop search the butler Jeeves has released a beta of their own. The software is for Windows based pcs only and will allow a user to search their


Spurs Beat Magic 94-91 (AP)

AP - Tim Duncan had 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 94-91 victory Wednesday night over the Orlando Magic.


Jones Files \$25 Million Defamation Suit Against Conte

Sprint superstar Marion Jones filed a \$25 million defamation lawsuit against Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) founder Victor Conte Jr.


Dickau scores 23; Hornets get rare win

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Dan Dickau gave the New Orleans Hornets the lead after three quarters and made sure it stood up in the final 12 minutes.


He Won #39;t Coach Mississippi; Saban Talks to Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers Coach Dennis Erickson withdrew his name from consideration yesterday for the head coaching vacancy at the University of Mississippi, the day after interviewing for the job.


Television deal is  #39;irresponsible of the ECB #39;

MIKE GATTING has slammed the decision to award live TV rights for all of England #39;s home Test matches to BSkyB as  quot;irresponsible.


NCAA Game Summary - Louisianna-Lafayette at North Carolina State

Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Andrew Brackman scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half to lead 12th-ranked North Carolina State to a hard-fought 78-72 win over Louisiana-Lafayette at the RBC Center.


No. 9 Tenn. Tops Louisiana Tech 70-59 (AP)

AP - Alexis Hornbuckle scored 17 points for ninth-ranked Tennessee, which beat Louisiana Tech 70-59 Wednesday night to give the Lady Techsters consecutive losses at home for the first time in 14 seasons.


Indonesia orders security clampdown after terror warnings

JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesia has ordered a nationwide security crackdown after warnings from Australia, Britain and New Zealand that terrorists plan to attack ahead of Christmas.


With Renteria, Boston Finally Makes a Big Deal

Trying to counter the loss of Pedro Martnez and their failures in other contract negotiations, the Red Sox have reached an agreement shortstop Edgar Renteria.


Jon Stewarts Humiliation of Tucker Carlson the Most Popular Blog Story of 2004

Jon Stewart's Humiliation of Tucker Carlson the Most Popular Blog Story of 2004\\According to Intelliseek's BlogPulse, the transcript of comedian Jon Stewart's October debate with CNN "Crossfire" hosts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala was the No. 1 "blogged" news item of 2004. Bloggers linked to the "Crossfire" transcript in their ...


Google Planning To Index Entire Libraries\\For a long time there have been rumors going around about Project Ocean, a project by Google to index all the pre-1923 content in the Stanford Library. (I'd call it a little stronger than a rumor since it was in the New York Times, but ...


Ask Jeeves Introduces Yet Another Desktop Search Tool\\Ask Jeeves yesterday joined Microsoft in introducing a beta desktop search application. Ask Jeeves states that its Desktop Search makes it easy for people to find information on their computers or the Internet. Upon installation of the small (750K) application, Ask Jeeves Desktop ...


News: Long prison term for Lowe's wi-fi hacker

A 21-year-old Michigan man who tried to steal credit card numbers from a national hardware store chain is sentenced to nine years in federal prison.


News: Bush prepares for possible shutdown of GPS network in national crisis

The Associated Press By Ted Bridis


Mac OS X Tip of the Week: Be a Show-off

Want to impress your Windows-using friends and colleagues? Start a QuickTime movie, play a DVD, click on the visualizer in iTunes while it plays a song. Then press F9 and watch what happens.  Dec 15


A Magnetosphere of One's Own

Magnetospheres, the giant magnetic fields around planets, are extraordinarily good at trapping plasma. To study them, and gain insights into how to produce fusion power, a group of scientists builds a mini magnetosphere at MIT. By Rachel Metz.


Ecobot Eats Dead Flies for Fuel

Researchers are working on autonomous robots that eat to produce energy. The problem right now is that batteries are much better. By Lakshmi Sandhana.


Star Wars Sequel Lacks Force

The follow-up to last year's hit game, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, offers more proof that sequels often pale next to the originals. While it boasts addictive gameplay and rich character development, the sequel suffers from numerous technical glitches. Game review by Suneel Ratan.


Anime Freaks Now Have a Guide

Fans of Japanese animation get a travel book tailored to their interests. With Cruising the Anime City: An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo, geeks can pursue the ultimate pop-culture fix. By Chris Baker.


Fun of Mario Party Doesn't Last

Mini games that use a mic and players' voices make Mario Party 6 a raucous game. Just don't expect the novelty to last long. Game review by Chris Kohler.


Hollywood Wants BitTorrent Dead

The film studios' lobbying arm files lawsuits against the operators of sites and servers that help users of file-sharing networks locate movies and songs. By Xeni Jardin.


With Mini's Rivals, More Is Sometimes Less

This month you will be able to choose from four competitors to Apple's iPod Mini, courtesy of Dell, Rio Audio, Virgin Electronics and Creative. How do they compare?


And Now for Something Slightly Different

Apple's iPod is the 800-pound white gorilla of the digital music market. But a number of new music players, on the market or in the works, have Apple in their sights.


Game Ratings: U Is for Unheeded

When it comes to rating video games, "teen" vs. "mature" can be a fine line. But either way, it leads to the cash register.


A Comic Strip Takes Video Games Seriously (Almost)

An offbeat comic strip, published only on the Web, helps two video-game fans keep body and soul together.


Honda's Robot Advances, but to Where?

Despite the technological advances, Honda has not made much progress in determining just what the robot might be used for.


Merger could affect Nextel Partners

The proposed \$35 billion merger of Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications could mean changes for Kirkland-based Nextel Partners Inc.


AOL fraud charges settled for \$210 mil

WASHINGTON - Time Warner Inc. agreed Wednesday to pay \$210 million to settle criminal securities-fraud charges brought by the Justice Department against the company #39;s America Online unit.


FCC Considers Cell Phone Use On Airplanes

Air travelers moved one step closer to being able to talk on cell phones and surf the Internet from laptops while in flight, thanks to votes by the Federal Communications Commission yesterday.


Caterpillar, Union Reach Tentative Pact

Caterpillar Inc. and its largest union, the United Auto Workers, said late on Wednesday they had tentatively agreed on a new six-year labor contract, ending a four-month stalemate.


J amp;J to buy Guidant for \$23.9 billion in cash, stock

Johnson  amp; Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will buy Guidant Corp. (GDT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) for \$23.9 billion in cash and stock, giving the health-care products


HP to make \$3 billion Itanium commitment

Hewlett-Packard may have transferred its last remaining Itanium processor engineers to Intel, but the server maker is standing by the technology to the tune of \$3 billion.


Yahoo Maps Offer Live US Traffic Conditions

Yahoo Inc. (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) is set to offer an online service that lets users view live US local traffic conditions on custom-created maps, the first


Kalou double strike sinks Rangers

LONDON: Striker Bonaventure Kalou netted twice to send AJ Auxerre through to the first knockout round of the Uefa Cup at the expense of Rangers last night.


Ailing Roddick beats Fish in exhibition match

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Andy Roddick beat Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3 in the Minnesota Tennis Challenge exhibition Wednesday night. Roddick, playing for the first time since firing coach Brad Gilbert over the weekend, was fighting a cold but still managed to win.


Hornets snap 11-game losing streak, top Warriors 98-89

The Hornets #39; injury epidemic gave diminutive Dan Dickau a chance to show he could play in the NBA. His latest performance made him a crowd favorite among New Orleans #39; victory-starved fans.


Heat #39;s winning streak stretches to six

quot;It #39;s a great question, quot; he said after his team somehow escaped with a 98-93 victory Wednesday night over the Washington Wizards.


Orioles Lose Sexson, Turn Attention to Burnett

In his true diva way, Pedro Martinez must surely be chuckling that his signing with the New York Mets has created chaos in baseball, or at least in the American


Ravens #39; Secondary To Get First-Rate Test

So much of the Baltimore Ravens #39; identity is built around their swaggering defense, and their pride in not allowing 100-yard rushers and not giving up big plays.


College Notebook: Ole Miss to hire coach

Mississippi has hired Southern California assistant Ed Orgeron to coach the Rebels, Orgeron #39;s father told The Associated Press yesterday.


Indonesia orders huge security clampdown after terror warnings <b>...</b>

Indonesian authorities on Thursday ordered a countrywide security crackdown after several foreign governments warned that terrorists were preparing to launch attacks against Western targets ahead of Christmas.


No agreement on missile test draft

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India failed to agree on the text of the draft agreement on advance notification of missile tests as the expert-level meetings on nuclear CBMs concluded here on Wednesday.


Blood tests show Ukrainian candidate has 6,000 times more dioxin <b>...</b>

New tests show that the blood of Viktor Yushchenko, a Ukrainian presidential candidate, contains the second-highest level of dioxin poisoning ever recorded in a human - more than 6,000 times the normal concentration, according to the expert analyzing the


Time Warner Shares Surge After Settlement

Time Warner investors celebrate the company's settlement with SEC over AOL accounting charges Wednesday, temporarily pushing its share price to a 52-week high. -The Washington Post


Sprint, Nextel Detail Merger Agreement

Sprint and Nextel formally announced a \$35 billion merger agreement Wednesday and offered details on how the corporate combination would affect employees and consumers. -The Washington Post


Small Telecoms Losing Mandated Line Discounts

Millions of customers may face higher phone bills as a result of an FCC vote Wednesday to phase out discounts that major regional phone companies must give rivals that rent space on the big companies' lines. -The Washington Post


Air travelers moved one step closer to being able to talk on cell phones and surf the Internet from  laptops while in flight, thanks to votes by the Federal Communications Commission yesterday.


Google Wins in Suit Over Ads

Google Inc. won a major legal victory yesterday when a federal judge ruled that the Internet search engine's advertising policy does not violate federal trademark laws.


The Shipping News? Time's Almost Up

The e-mail offers are coming fast and furious.<br> "There's still time," screamed one that arrived in my inbox Tuesday, promising 20 percent off any item or free shipping at Art.com. I had only to enter "Santa" or "free shipping" in a special box at checkout -- and order by Dec. 16.


Wireless Abounds; The Focus Now  Is on Improving It

Nextel was the big story in telecommunications yesterday, thanks to the Reston company's mega-merger with Sprint, but the future of wireless may be percolating in dozens of Washington area start-ups.


A Push to Restrict Sales of Video Games

CHICAGO. Dec. 15 -- Decrying violence in fast-selling video games, Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) wants Illinois to make it illegal for anyone younger than 18 to buy violent or sexually explicit games. Among the targets would be the Grand Theft Auto series, Halo 2 and Mortal Kombat.


U.S. Missile Defense System Test Fails

Latest setback for the Bush administration's effort to build a system for defending the country against ballistic missile attack fuels doubts about the system.


Oversight on Bioengineered Crops Is Poor, Report Says

Federal oversight of crops genetically engineered to produce medications  in their seeds and leaves is inadequate to prevent unwanted contamination of food crops, according to an analysis released yesterday by a scientific advocacy group. As a result, the report concludes, consumers are at risk of inadvertently dosing themselves with prescription drugs while eating a morning bowl of cereal.


J J Says to Buy Guidant for  #36;25.4 Billion (Reuters)

Reuters - Johnson   Johnson  on\Wednesday said it agreed to buy Guidant Corp. , for\ #36;25.4 billion in cash and stock, giving the healthcare products\maker a foothold in the fast-growing market for implantable\devices that regulate heartbeats.


Oil Climbs to Two-Week High (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices jumped to the highest\level in two weeks on Thursday, buoyed by a cold weather front\in the United States and below-average stocks of winter heating\fuels.


J J Says to Buy Guidant for \$25.4 Billion

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Johnson   Johnson JNJ.N on  Wednesday said it agreed to buy Guidant Corp. GDT.N, for  \$25.4 billion in cash and stock, giving the healthcare products  maker a foothold in the fast-growing market for implantable  devices that regulate heartbeats.


SEC Calls on Fannie to Restate Earnings

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission on Wednesday said Fannie Mae misapplied accounting  principles and called on the mortgage finance company to  restate earnings.


Japanese Stocks Recoup Early Losses

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks recouped early losses by  late afternoon on Thursday as banks clawed back into positive  territory a day after a key survey showing waning business  sentiment had sparked a sell-off in the sector.


Caterpillar, UAW reach tentative contract deal

EAST PEORIA, Ill. United Auto Workers officials say they plan to hold a news conference tomorrow after the union and heavy equipment giant Caterpillar Incorporated reached a tentative agreement tonight on a new six-year contract.


Johnson  amp; Johnson to Acquire Guidant

Johnson  amp; Johnson said on Wednesday that it will acquire device manufacturer Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion. Under the terms of the deal announced on Wednesday, each Guidant share will be exchanged for \$30.40


Five Killed, 30 Injured in Spanish Bus Crash

MADRID (Reuters) - Five passengers were killed and around  30 injured when their bus flipped over after tearing through  the central reservation of a motorway in the northern Spanish  province of Burgos, officials said on Sunday.


Hilton hotels in Indonesia hunker down after threat

Hilton hotels in Indonesia ratcheted up security on Thursday but said they were seeing few cancellations amid warnings from Western governments that one of their chain could be attacked by militants.


#39;Chemical Ali #39; will be the first in the dock

Baghdad - Iraq #39;s  quot;Chemical Ali quot; will be the first of toppled Saddam Hussein #39;s henchmen to stand trial. Ali Hassan al-Majid, a cousin of Saddam #39;s who earned his nickname over his alleged role in the gassing


Bush Warns Syria, Iran Against Meddling in Iraq (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush Wednesday warned Iran\and Syria not to meddle in Iraq ahead of elections scheduled\for January 30 and voiced new hopes of forging peace between\Israel and the Palestinians.


Intel Plans to Hire Hewlett Designers

In an effort to revitalize the struggling Itanium computer chip business, Intel and Hewlett Packard said Wednesday that Intel would hire a 300-person Hewlett-Packard design team based in Fort Collins, Colo.


Lue returns to Rockets lineup

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Houston Rockets activated point guard Tyronn Lue off the injured list Wednesday. Lue, who missed five games with a sore right knee, had four points, an assist and a steal in Houston #39;s 92-69 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.


Mets sign Pedro for \$53M

The Braves will have to face Pedro Martinez regularly for the next four years. If the former Boston Red Sox right-hander with the questionable shoulder can stay healthy, that is.


Analysis: Philosophies keep union, NHL at odds

In summarizing the swap of rejected proposals that led to the latest and gloomiest freeze of negotiations in the National Hockey League #39;s ongoing lockout, league commissioner Gary Bettman detailed how close he thinks the two sides actually are to a deal.


College Basketball: Georgia Tech, Wake Forest Win

ATLANTA (Sports Network) - Isma'il Muhammad scored a  team-high 14 points, Jarrett Jack added 13 and third-ranked  Georgia Tech rolled over James Madison, 72-47, in a non-league  tilt at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum.


Bush Warns Syria, Iran Against Meddling in Iraq

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush Wednesday warned Iran  and Syria not to meddle in Iraq ahead of elections scheduled  for January 30 and voiced new hopes of forging peace between  Israel and the Palestinians.


Colombia Captures 'Chancellor' of FARC Rebel Group

BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - The chief of international  relations for Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, who once  sought support from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was arrested  after a months-long manhunt, police said on Wednesday.


East Congo Battle Flares, Governments Trade Blame

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congolese government forces clashed  with rebels at a town near the border with Rwanda for a third  day Wednesday as the two countries traded heated accusations  over who was involved in the fighting.


Clarke steps into Blunkett's role

Charles Clarke is set to start work as Home Secretary after David Blunkett's shock resignation in a visa row.


Time Warner Settles 2 Cases Over AOL Unit

The Justice Department announced yesterday that it would defer bringing criminal securities fraud charges against the America Online unit of Time Warner as long as Time Warner adopted


To Try to Stop Sale, Yukos Files Chapter 11 in US

The Russian oil giant Yukos sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on Wednesday, requesting an emergency court hearing in Texas to stop the Russian


ExxonMobil, Qatar land LNG financing

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- ExxonMobil Corp. and Qatar Petroleum said Wednesday they had lined up \$7.5 billion toward financing their giant Qatargas II project, which aims to export liquefied natural gas from the Middle East nation to Britain.


Five Dead in Peru Police Siege Shootout

LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Five Peruvian police officers died  in a shootout on Sunday with an armed group who took 10  hostages in the siege of a police station in southern Peru on  New Year's Day, RPP radio reported.


Apple fights back against RealNetworks

CUPERTINO, Calif. Apple Computer is trying to stop RealNetworks from taking a bite out of the iPod market. Apple is blocking the technology used by RealNetworks Harmony music downloading service.


Nation #39;s capitol may lose baseball

If you already marked the date on your Cardinals 2005 calendar, if you already purchased tickets for the series at Busch Stadium on May 27-29, if you bought the  quot;East Coast Pack quot; that includes games with the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets, you could be in for


Roddick Tops Fish in Exhibition Match

ST. PAUL, Minn. Dec 16, 2004 - Andy Roddick beat Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3 in the Minnesota Tennis Challenge exhibition Wednesday night.


Bosh takes it to KG in Raptors win

TORONTO (CP) - It was certainly an unlikely ending to the Toronto Raptors #39; seven-game losing streak, a 96-90 win Wednesday night over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a heated affair.


To O #39;Neal, Bryant #39;s only  #39;That Guy #39;

WASHINGTON Back when his goal in life was to become the first man to win an NBA championship and an Oscar, Shaquille O #39;Neal did some movies.


J J agrees \$25.4bn Guidant deal

Drug giant Johnson   Johnson agrees to buy Guidant Corp, a key player in the heart technology market, for \$25.4bn.


Big Bells Allowed to Charge Rivals More for Line Access

The F.C.C. voted to relax rules that had required the four large Bell telephone companies to give their rivals access to their networks at sharply discounted wholesale prices.


J.  J. Is Said to Be Near Deal to Buy Guidant

Johnson   Johnson, the pharmaceutical and health care giant, is near a deal to buy Guidant, one of the nation's largest makers of devices to treat heart and circulatory illnesses.


Judge in WorldCom Lawsuit Sides With Plaintiffs on Issue of Due Diligence by Banks

The judge in the WorldCom lawsuit ruled that the investment banks that sold billions of dollars in the companys bonds must persuade a jury that they conducted appropriate due diligence before the offering.


Full Track Downloads on Mobiles

The service will be first available on Spanish network provider Telefonica. Melodeo provides music to wireless subscribers through a mobilemusic solution that resides on the wireless phone.


A scare for State

Instead, freshman Andrew Brackman took over in the second half of Wednesday #39;s nightmare against Louisiana-Lafayette to help salvage a 78-72 victory and protect the Pack #39;s perfect record.


Bus hijackers demand \$1m

ATHENS: Two suspected Albanians armed with rifles and dynamite hijacked a packed Greek passenger bus in Athens and warned they would  quot;light the fuse quot; if a this morning #39;s deadline for payment of a \$1.3 million (BD491,400) ransom and safe passage was not met


Sprint to Buy Nextel in  #36;36 Billion Deal (Reuters)

Reuters - Sprint Corp. said Wednesday\it would buy mobile telephone company Nextel Communications\Inc. for about  #36;36 billion, creating a U.S. wireless carrier\with nearly 40 million subscribers.


GM seeks mediation to resolve dispute with Fiat

The heads of General Motors Corp. and Italy #39;s Fiat SpA are expected to meet in the next four weeks to try and resolve their dispute over whether Fiat can force GM to buy the ailing Fiat Auto subsidiary.


Weak Dollar Sending More US Investors Abroad

Americans have been stepping up their purchases of foreign stocks and bonds as the dollar #39;s decline has accelerated and foreigners have slowed their buying of securities in the United States.


COL BKB: North Car. St. 78, Lou.-Laf. 72

Andrew Brackman helped rally ninth-ranked North Carolina State to a tougher-than-expected, 78-72 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette Wednesday night.


Pistons persevere, knock off Knicks

The Pistons trailed almost the entire game. They led for only 42.6 seconds. They were down by 16 at halftime, down by five in the fourth quarter, down by four with 1:42 left, down by three with 34.4 seconds left.


Saban: I #39;ll be at bowl game

LSU football coach Nick Saban said Wednesday he  quot;absolutely quot; plans to be the coach of the Tigers for the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, but he stopped short of saying whether he would accept the


Rockets 92, Hawks 69

Yao Ming wouldn #39;t let the Rockets lose another home game, especially to the reeling Atlanta Hawks. Yao scored 23 points _ including seven during a pivotal third-quarter run _ and blocked a season-high five


Testing the Secondary

That Ravens' swaggering defense will face its biggest test of the season Sunday, as Baltimore takes on the Colts and Peyton Manning.


Palmer Likely Out

The Bengals probably will be without quarterback Carson Palmer for Sunday's game against the Bills.


Italian man may have been taken hostage, killed in Iraq (AFP)

AFP - Italian authorities responded cautiously to reports that an Italian national may have been taken hostage and killed in Iraq.


J J Seals \$25.4 Bln Pact to Buy Guidant

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Johnson   Johnson has agreed to  buy Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion in cash and stock, the  companies said on Wednesday, giving the healthcare products  maker a foothold in the fast-growing market for implantable  devices that regulate heartbeats.


Merger may heat up fight for wireless customers

The \$35 billion merger of Sprint and Nextel announced Wednesday may make consumers jittery about rising prices in a consolidating industry, but experts say the remaining players will still wage a tough fight for every customer.


Morgan Stanley in governance move

Morgan Stanley yesterday said it would end a defence against hostile takeovers, change how it compensates top executives and elects board members, and disclose political contributions


Kobe takes on the hard questions

Bryant, in a taped interview on ESPN #39;s  quot;Pardon the Interruption quot; on Wednesday, did not elaborate much further about Malone, who was accused of making a pass at Bryant #39;s wife, Vanessa, at a Lakers game on Nov. 23.


Coming off break, Horns less than sharp

Coming off an eight-day break for final exams, 14th-ranked Texas had as its first assignment a non-conference match with Texas-Arlington.


McGrady puts the hurt on Hawks

Tracy McGrady gripped his left ankle and grimaced in pain. This time he worried he really had hurt it. McGrady had gone for a backdoor lob midway through the second quarter and stepped on the foot of Atlanta #39;s Tony Delk.


Bombing mars launch of political campaign in Iraq

The Iraqi political campaign officially kicked off yesterday, colored by hope but tempered by violence that highlighted security concerns


\$500 million resolves criminal, civil allegations

Time Warner has agreed to pay more than \$500 million to settle wide-ranging criminal and civil allegations that its America Online division improperly pumped up revenue and engaged


Briefs: Wal-Mart fires execs, citing rules violations

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. confirmed Wednesday that it dumped several executives but would not detail why they were fired. The terminations occurred over the past several days, spokeswoman Mona Williams said.


N. Korea Economic Sanctions 'One Option' -- Japan (Reuters)

Reuters - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka\Machimura said on Thursday economic sanctions against North\Korea were "one option," but added that care was needed in\deciding whether Tokyo should take such a step immediately.


Iceland Offers Ex-Chess Champ Fischer Residency (Reuters)

Reuters - Chess master Bobby Fischer has been\offered a new home in Iceland, but it's not clear if he'll be\able to make the move from Japan, where he is being detained.


Kansas City Lineman Catches Heat From ND (AP)

AP - All he said was, "Jordan Black, Dallas Christian High School." That was more than enough to upset many Notre Dame fans.


RealNetworks promises iPod lockout fix

Apple Computer Inc. has updated the software for some of its iPod music players so that songs bought from RealNetworks Inc. won #39;t play.


Billups keys Pistons win at MSG

Instinct took over when Chauncey Billups grabbed a long rebound with 4.9 seconds left. Normally, he #39;d call a timeout and let coach Larry Brown design the final play.


Dolphins talking to LSU #39;s Saban

Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and president Eddie Jones met with LSU coach Nick Saban in Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday night, in what both sides called  quot;a preliminary conversation quot; about the team #39;s search for a coach.


Manning #39;s pursuit of record draws media blitz

And the nation will be watching Sunday night as Peyton Manning tries to shatter a 20-year-old record for the most touchdowns tossed in a single season.


Red Sox making noise in the offseason

1. Boston Red Sox. Yes, they lost one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history in Pedro Martinez when the veteran righty signed a four-year deal with the Mets.


India and Pakistan to set up a nuclear hotline

India and Pakistan appear to have made some progress in a step-by-step peace process which began in January. Both countries have agreed to operationalise a nuclear hotline between their foreign secretaries as soon as possible.


Tokyo Stocks Close Down (AP)

AP - Tokyo stocks fell Thursday as the U.S. dollar weakened against the yen and oil prices began to rebound.


Nepal army sends reinforcements

Extra  troops are sent to a remote area in west Nepal after 20 troops die in a clash with Maoist rebels.


Congo, Rwanda at Brink of War

After two years of fragile peace, one of Africa's most volatile regions -- the border area of Rwanda and Congo -- has been pushed back to the brink of war with Rwandan soldiers reportedly staging raids in eastern Congo and Congolese militias clashing separately with each other.


Colombia Captures 'Chancellor' of FARC Rebel Group

BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - The chief of internationalrelations for Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, who oncesought support from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was arrestedafter a months-long manhunt, police said on Wednesday.


Global library heralds new information era

Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.


Saban might be ready to scratch that NFL itch

BATON ROUGE -- If you had asked me a few weeks ago about Nick Saban and his coaching future, I would have told you he #39;d be back coaching at LSU the next two seasons.


Sloppy Pack still has enough to remain unbeaten

RALEIGH The performance by the NC State men #39;s basketball team was the type that would leave training tables, Gatorade coolers and coaches #39; shirt collars in disarray in the postgame locker room.


At end, Nuggets golden

Are these guys ever going to have a game that doesn #39;t come down to the last possession? It seems that, if nothing else, the Celtics give you 48 minutes worth.


NBA Game Summary - Atlanta at Houston

Atlanta defeated Houston, 88-84, at Philips Arena last month to snap a two- game series losing streak. The Hawks, however, have lost in six straight trips to Houston...Before the game, the Rockets activated guard Tyronn Lue from the injured list.


Blunkett resigns, Charles Clarke new home secretary:

World News: London, Dec 16 : British Prime Minister Tony Blair moved quickly to fill the political vacuum created by David Blunkett #39;s resignation as home secretary, appointing Education Secretary Charles Clarke in his place.


Dollar Near Record Low After Inflows Data

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was within reach of a record  low against the euro on Thursday as U.S. capital flows data  fueled worries that a weaker greenback would be needed to help  repair the United States' huge trade imbalance.


Region's consumer confidence dives

Not even a World Series win helped. New England's outlook turned decidedly gloomy over the last year as consumer confidence plunged farther than any other part of the country, according to data released today. The Conference Board, a nonprofit economic research group in New York, said its index of consumer confidence for New England dove to 77.9 in November, down ...


Sox make off-season pitch

Red Sox executives are considering creating a hall of fame or museum at Fenway Park to help keep the fever going, and cash flowing, all year long.


Funding woes threaten MIT's Dublin media lab

MIT Media Lab officials are engaged in sensitive talks with the Irish government this week over the future of the 4-year-old Media Lab Europe in Dublin, which is facing a funding crunch.


Tension, fear after mall shooting

CAMBRIDGE -- In a quiet entryway of the CambridgeSide Galleria, 75-year-old Mary Dellolio stood gazing out the window, Sears bags in hand, waiting for a ride from a friend. Dellolio said she feels safe in the mall during the daytime but would never venture there after dark, though she lives only two blocks away.


FCC OK's wireless Net access on flights

Domestic air travelers could be surfing the Web by 2006 with government-approved technology that allows people access to high-speed Internet connections while they fly.


Bush vows to cut deficit

President Bush pledged yesterday to work with Congress to reduce the government's huge budget deficit as a key step in assuring the world that his administration supports a strong dollar.


Time Warner to settle securities fraud charges

Time Warner Inc. agreed yesterday to pay \$210 million to settle criminal securities fraud charges brought by the Justice Department against the company's America Online unit. The media giant also is prepared to pay \$300 million to end another probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Roxbury group to buy S. Boston building

The Mayo Group of Roxbury is expected to purchase 51 Sleeper St. in South Boston, a vacant eight-story building owned by Frank H. McCourt Jr. McCourt, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, defaulted on a \$22.5 million loan on the property this year. A group of investors sold the loan to Mayo Group for about \$17 million, and ...


Wireless deal will shake up market

Sprint Corp.'s agreement to buy Nextel Communications Inc. , in a \$35 billion deal unveiled yesterday, will shake up the mobile phone market and create the third largest US wireless service provider.


FCC clears new phone rules

Government regulators approved rules yesterday that would phase out discounts the four major regional telephone companies offer rivals for access to their networks, a move likely to lead to higher phone bills for some 18 million residential phone customers served by AT amp;T Corp., MCI Inc., and other carriers.


Hospital company settles fraud claims

State and federal investigators said a day treatment center in Ashland for disabled people overcharged the government Medicaid program by exaggerating clients' disabilities to earn bigger payments.


Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies

Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies as colder weather in the Northeast drove up fuel demand.


A Santa Claus on everyone's list

BURLINGTON -- Trusting, but with a tinge of nerves, Justin and Brendan McKenney melted into Santa's welcoming arms inside the Burlington Mall.


Building a better English muffin

WOBURN -- No sooner had David Vickers finished an on-air interview with West Coast radio host Gene Burns than the requests began pouring in.


NEW YORK (AFP) - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.


Australia v Pakistan first test scoreboard

Cricket-Kiwis recall Tuffey for one-day series v Sri Lanka December 15, 2004 03:47:28 WELLINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Seam bowler Daryl Tuffey was recalled to the New Zealand squad on Thursday for the one-day series with Sri Lanka which starts later


Report: Sexson to sign with Mariners

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners have reportedly found their slugging first baseman for the 2005 season and beyond by coming to terms with free agent Richie Sexson.


Intel Acquires Chip Designers From HP (AP)

AP - Intel Corp. has reached an agreement to hire hundreds of Hewlett-Packard Co. engineers who helped design the Itanium microprocessor, a massive joint project between the two technology companies since the early 1990s.


Global library heralds new information era (AFP)

AFP - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.


Kyoto benefits outweigh the costs

The onslaught of the winter Typhoon Nanmadol made everyone forget the intense legislative election campaign, as early warning and disaster prevention mechanisms were initiated in the hope of minimizing damage.


Sprint acquiring Nextel in \$35B deal

Sprint Corp. said yesterday it will acquire Nextel Communications Inc. in a \$35-billion deal that will create the nation #39;s third-largest wireless phone carrier, Sprint Nextel.


3 Jockey for Power of House's Purse Strings (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON  #8212; In his campaign to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) recently gave a group of his most conservative colleagues a flier showing a bloated Uncle Sam. The caption: "Uncle needs a diet."


Speedy Net access coming to airplanes

The plane #39;s on the tarmac, Philip Roth #39;s latest epic is on your lap and this guy stumbles in at the last minute, squeezes beside you (just when you thought the seat was empty), opens his laptop and dials his cell phone.


Johnson  amp; Johnson to acquire Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion US

Johnson  amp; Johnson announced that it will acquire Guidant Corp., one of the world #39;s top makers of cardiac devices, for \$25.4 billion US.


Google Wins Geico Trademark Ruling

A federal judge ruled in Google #39;s favor yesterday in the first US court ruling that search engines can sell advertising triggered by trademarked terms.


Heavy holiday travel expected, concerns over drunken driving

WASHINGTON The Triple-A holiday travel forecast projects nearly 51 (m) million pople will be hitting the road in the United States for the Christmas and New Years holiday weekends.


United Tech says \$2.8b cash deal for Kidde accepted

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- United Technologies (UTX) said its \$2.8 billion cash offer for UK fire safety group Kidde (UK:KID) has been accepted by Kidde #39;s board.


Baseball official calls stadium vote  #39;unacceptable #39;

A top official of Major League Baseball has labeled a new stadium financing proposal approved late yesterday by DC City Council as  quot;wholly unacceptable quot; and offered to refund deposits that have been made toward purchasing tickets for Washington Nationals


Knicks pained by fall at end

Jamal Crawford sat in a corner of the locker room, quiet and withdrawn, in total disbelief at the opportunity he and his Knicks teammates had squandered in their bid to beat the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons.


As Liverpool lose points at Anfield, need for new faces obvious

Liverpool have lost two Portsmouth #39;s point at injury time. Portsmouth #39;s Lomana Lua Lua spoiled Christmas party for Liverpool scoring a late equaliser to earn a point against the Reds in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.


Anthony supplies win, atonement

Boston - Three key Nuggets redeemed themselves Wednesday at the FleetCenter in the time it takes to microwave popcorn. That allowed Denver to atone for its mistake-laden loss at Philadelphia the previous night


Gunmen Kill Senior Iraqi Ministry Official (Reuters)

Reuters - A senior official in Iraq's\Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work\in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.


Australian police search for teen shark attack victim (AFP)

AFP - A pair of sharks killed a teenage water-skier at a popular Adelaide beach as horrified friends looked on, in Australia's second fatal shark attack in less than a week.


Social Security a Priority for White House (AP)

AP - The Bush administration predicts financial markets would applaud a costly overhaul of Social Security for tackling long-term financial obligations weighing on the federal budget.


Gunmen Kill Senior Iraqi Ministry Official

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A senior official in Iraq's  Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work  in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.


N. Korea Economic Sanctions 'One Option'--Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka  Machimura said on Thursday economic sanctions against North  Korea were "one option" but that care was needed in deciding if  Tokyo should take such a step immediately.


Lincoln-Sudbury grad achieves her goals at MIT

Sudbury's Betty Zheng, a senior assistant captain on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology women's ice hockey team, will always remember MIT's Dec. 3 game against Chatham (Pa.) College.


Garry's possession skills displayed at UMass-Lowell

Its's no coincidence that since Medway's Tim Garry suited up for the UMass-Lowell men's soccer team, the River Hawks have won back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships and earned a pair of automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.


Stehle leading Crimson in rebounds and steals

Former Newton South High School basketball and golf captain Matt Stehle is now a junior at Harvard University, where the 6-foot-8-inch forward was leading the men's basketball team in rebounding and steals and was second in scoring through six games.


Woods is an exchange student

You think the rush to exchange presents Dec. 26 will be furious? It might not compare with the mad dash of folks looking to reassess their 2004 viewpoints of one Tiger Woods.


Time Warner pays up

Agrees to \$210M Justice Dept. deal and proposes paying an additional \$300M to end SEC probe. BY HARRY BERKOWITZ. Seeking to remove a cloud that has lingered over Time Warner for years, the media giant said yesterday


Fed hikes benchmark rate by a quarter point

NEW YORK, December 15 (newratings.com) - The US Federal Reserve announced yesterday a widely expected quarter point hike in its overnight lending rate, the fifth hike since June this year.


Are cellphones meant to fly?

Airline travel has always been a welcome refuge from the incessant chatter of cellphone users, so it is sobering to hear that regulators are thinking of allowing the use of cellphones up in the friendly skies.


A mother's search for her children

The island of Car Nicobar has been devastated by the tsunami, with around half its population unaccounted for, as the BBC's Jonathan Charles discovered.


GEICO vs Google Ads: Google Wins

abertoll writes  quot;A federal judge decided that Google is able to sell ads under the GEICO trademark, claiming that this is fair use of the trademark.


Holiday crackdown on unsafe drivers getting early start

Alcohol-related auto accidents increase sharply during the holidays compared with other times in December, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association shows.


Wal-Mart Fires 7 Execs, Managers

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fired three executives and four managers from its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters for violating company rules, the company said on Wednesday.


Hollywood vs BitTorrent

p2pnet.net News:- Yesterday, the major movie studios turned their MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) loose on BitTorrent and eDonkey p2p networks, claiming the effort is necessary to bring file-sharing under control.


HP confirms that Itanium is Intel #39;s responsibility

HP and Intel have confirmed earlier reports that located a massive migration of HP Itanium boat people making their way to Intel. True to speculation, Intel has agreed to hire hundreds of HP #39;s Itanium engineers working at a Ft.


#39;Wearable #39; solar panels to charge mobiles

Wearable solar panels that could charge mobile phones, music players or light batteries are likely to go on sale within three years, according to New Scientist magazine.


NEC licenses Honeywell LCD tech

Honeywell #39;s legal action against 34 electronics and computing companies for allegedly infringing one of its LCD patents has yielded its first public licensing agreement.


Let the new owner pay

Congratulations to Linda Cropp and her fellow DC council members who voted with her Tuesday night. By insisting that private funding be included for a new baseball stadium in Washington, they did the right thing.


NBA Game Preview

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Pistons will try to avoid their first three- game losing streak of the season when they head to Madison Square Garden to battle the New York Knicks.


Successful, respected coach usually has last laugh

Before we talk about the possibility Rick Majerus is the greatest coaching hire in USC sports history, let #39;s acknowledge that his arrival Wednesday raised a number of questions.


Bryant is sorry; Shaq justhasnothingtosay

With their Christmas Day showdown nine days away, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Heat center Shaquille O #39;Neal shared thoughts Wednesday on their upcoming reunion game at Staples Center.


Sky #39;s the limit when it comes to Sox spending

If you want to get a rise out of a small-market general manager, ask him about the Red Sox being limited by their budget. Already this weekend at the winter meetings, we #39;ve


Peace may now stand a chance

In his olive nylon bomber jacket, olive fatigue pants and black combat boots, Al-Aqsa Martyr #39;s Brigades member Abu Said sees himself as a soldier, fighting Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.


British official resigns over nanny scandal

Britain #39;s top law enforcement officer, a key member of Tony Blair #39;s Cabinet, resigned Wednesday after acknowledging that his department fast-tracked a visa for his former lover #39;s nanny.


Pakistan seeks investors for port

Pakistan plans to invite foreign investors to operate its new port of Gwadar, an unusual step for a country that has attracted little foreign capital.


Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies

Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies


Airbus forecasts increased demand for its largest fleet

Airbus, the world #39;s biggest maker of commercial aircraft, forecast yesterday that airlines will need 1,902 jumbo planes over the next 20 years -- more than double the forecast of its rival, The Boeing Co.


'Truly' takes San Gabriel

Truly a Judge edged Star Cross by a length yesterday in Arcadia, Calif., to win the \$150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita Park.


Portable panels mean power in your pocket

London - European scientists have developed light, flexible solar panels that could be sewn on fabrics and placed on surfaces to charge objects ranging from cellphones and DVD players to batteries.


STN-LCD maker EDT projects above 130 CSTN capacity growth in 2Q <b>...</b>

Emerging Display Technologies (EDT), specializing in small-to-medium STN/CSTN-LCD panels, will ramp up its monthly capacity for CSTN LCDs from 30,000 units at present to 70,000 in the second quarter of 2005, according to the company.


Replacements on US team?

A labor dispute between the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and players has halted World Cup preparations and could result in the national team using replacement players for the Feb.


Tokyo's Nikkei Average Closes Lower

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average closed lower  Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak as profit-taking  hit Toyota Motor Corp. and other exporters that had benefited  from gains on Wall Street and a weaker yen.


ABN AMRO Leads European Shares Higher

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares opened firmer on  Thursday led by ABN AMRO as investors applauded the savings the  Dutch broker will make from cutting jobs.


Google wins trademark ruling over online advertising policy

Google Inc. won a major legal victory yesterday when a federal judge ruled that the search engine's advertising policy does not violate federal trademark laws.


Ex-Serono executive charged in bribery case

Federal prosecutors yesterday alleged that a former sales director for Serono Inc. offered doctors bribes in return for prescribing its AIDS treatment as part of a marketing program at the Swiss drug company, whose main US offices are in Rockland.


Pioneering McCaw at epicenter of cell deals

The announced union of Sprint and Nextel Communications yesterday marked the second mega-deal in the wireless industry this year - and the second involving a life change for a Craig McCaw-built venture.


Kansas rallies to nip Georgia Tech in OT

Keith Langford's twisting shot with three seconds left in overtime capped a comeback from a 16-point deficit and lifted second-ranked Kansas to a 70-68 victory over No. 9 Georgia Tech yesterday at Lawrence, Kan.


Accounting department

As Papa Griffith used to say every Jan. 1, "Well, it looks like we made it through another year."


Holiday traveler outlook: no gifts

MANATEE - Expect airports and roads to be even more crowded than usual this holiday season. That #39;s the word from AAA, which predicted Wednesday that a record number of Americans and Floridians will travel during the Christmas and New Year #39;s holidays.


Tennessee topples Aggies with ease

DALLAS -- Looking nothing like the third-string quarterback he was most of the season, Rick Clausen led No. 15 Tennessee to five touchdowns in just 2 1/2 quarters and the defense had its way with 22d-ranked Texas A amp;M in a 38-7 victory in the Cotton Bowl yesterday. Winning was nice enough for the Vols after losing their last two bowl ...


Notebook: Washington move in jeopardy

Major League Baseball is poised to cancel the move of the Montreal Expos to Washington after the District of Columbia Council on Tuesday amended the agreement


Seminoles end on high note

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Nice recovery, Chris Rix. Coach Bobby Bowden stuck with his struggling quarterback and Rix eventually sparked No. 17 Florida State with two long second-half touchdown drives yesterday, beating West Virginia, 30-18, in the Gator Bowl.


Antonio Tarver #39;s Transcendent Dreams

By Patrick Kehoe: World light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver may be 35 and yet he #39;s not about to indulge in limits, conditional options or relativism of any kind.


Jones sues her accuser

Marion Jones has filed a 12million lawsuit for defamation against the man who alleged he supplied her with performance-enhancing drugs.


Nuggets win on Anthony #39;s shot

Anthony #39;s 15-foot jumper with 3.6 seconds remaining gave the Nuggets a 100-99 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, the fifth stop on Denver #39;s seven-game road trip.


Brackman provides heroics for Wolfpack

Andrew Brackman provided the spark that No. 12 NC State so desperately needed Wednesday night. As a result, the Wolfpack stayed unbeaten -- barely.


Hurricanes are in a euphoric state

ATLANTA -- Miami center Joel Rodriguez walked across the confetti-covered field carrying the Peach Bowl trophy, hugging teammates and waving to fans.


Budd inquiry uncovered the crucial second paper trail

A SECOND paper trail in the Home Office blew apart David Blunketts defence that his only involvement with his nannys visa application was to check that it was correct.