Nets: Mourning looks strong in comback

The few who came to watch embraced the significance of the evening, so even as Alonzo Mourning sat down for the final time with 7:50 left in the fourth quarter, they showed their gratitude


Center likely out four weeks

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota senior center Janel McCarville broke her left hand at practice Thursday and is expected to miss four weeks.


Study: 100,000 Iraqis died post-war

LONDON, England -- Public health experts have estimated that around 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died since the United States invaded Iraq in March last year.


Blessings for Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni as coronation nears (AFP)

AFP - Cambodia's new monarch King Norodom Sihamoni received blessings from top Buddhist monks and his parents ahead of his formal coronation ceremony, as Phnom Penh slipped into celebratory mode.


Dollar Near Low V Yen, China Impact Wanes

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar hovered above a six-month low  against the yen on Friday as the market considered the meaning  of a rate rise in China and worried about the strength of the  U.S. economy.


ATA bankruptcy could ground traveling IU students

Senior Kris Olsen, like many other students, has already made plans to travel home to New York for Thanksgiving break. But he wonders if his flight will even get off the ground because he #39;s flying with ATA.


Chrysler revs past GM, Ford

Unlike its rivals, the automaker makes a profit selling cars and gains US market share. By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News. Chrysler #39;s ongoing recovery got another boost Thursday as the automaker reported


Bid-rigging scandal envelops top insurance broker in US

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a civil suit on October 14 against the worlds largest insurance broker, Marsh  amp; McLennan, charging the US firm with bid-rigging and other practices


CNNFN FINALLY PULLS PLUG, ENDING DIFFICULT 9-YR. RUN

Time Warner #39;s CNNfn waved the white flag yesterday, saying it was shutting down after nine years of unsuccessfully competing with CNBC for the top business cable station.


Three Afghans Sentenced to Death for Killing Chinese

KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan court has sentenced to death  three Afghans convicted of killing 11 Chinese road engineers in  the northeastern province of Kunduz last June, a Supreme Court  Judge said on Friday.


New Images of Titan Show Early Earth-Like Conditions

Scientists say new images from the US-European Cassini spacecraft support the view that Saturn #39;s giant moon, Titan, has conditions similar to that of early Earth before life appeared.


Nintendo  amp; Sony Execs Bitch

quot;That #39;s not a game machine, quot; said Yasuhiro Minagawa, head of PR for Nintendo Co., Ltd.  quot;They showed it at the Tokyo Game Show without any fundamental game software, and you can tell that it #39;s not yet complete.


Big ISPs File Second Round of CAN-SPAM Suits

Top Internet service providers began a second coordinated legal blitz against spammers yesterday, filing seven lawsuits under the CAN-SPAM Act.


Red Sox sweep Cardinals to win World Series

The Boston Red Sox ended their 86-year championship drought with a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game Four of the World Series.


Sick Arafat Leaves for Treatment in Paris

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat left the West Bank early Friday in a Jordanian military helicopter on his way to receive treatment in Paris for an ailment that has left him haggard and weak.


Australia set India 543 to win third test (Reuters)

Reuters - Australia declared their second innings on 329 for five, setting India 543 to win, on the fourth morning of the third test on Friday.


Japanese Central Bank Holds Policy Steady (AP)

AP - Japan's central bank kept its loose monetary policy unchanged Friday amid signs that keeping ample cash flowing in the financial system is necessary to keep the nation's economic recovery going.


Market cheers cleaner structure, but reserves loom

an oil giant with a corporate governance structure as complicated as its name -s trying to simplify. That was the good news Thursday, but the embattled


Free security SW to members: AOL

The anti virus software will be available when subscribers download a new version of AOL #39;s client software, AOL 9.0 Security Edition, in November.


Agassi advances

Andre Agassi advanced to the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 victory over 1997 champion Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden.


Ramsey Owns Three Breeders' Contenders (AP)

AP - Ken Ramsey likes to say he's been successful in practically everything he's taken on. That would sound like bragging coming from just about any other horse owner.


Retrial of Cleric Begins in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 28 -- The Indonesian government on Thursday opened the retrial of a cleric charged with leading an al Qaeda-linked group and inciting its members to carry out terrorist attacks against U.S. interests.


DreamWorks Animation hits Street running

Impeccably timed to take full advantage of the success of  quot;Shark Tale, quot; the initial public offering of DreamWorks Animation SKG went off swimmingly Thursday, floating 38 higher in its first day of trading.


UAL posts \$274 million loss for quarter

UAL Corp. posted a third-quarter net loss of \$274 million, joining the long list of air carriers felled by high fuel prices and depressed fares in what is usually the sector #39;s strongest period.


LOCAL EARNINGS Group 1 Automotive posts \$9.6 million loss

Group 1 Automotive reported a net loss of \$9.6 million for the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30. The results include a charge of \$29.


UK gives open source the go-ahead

This week, UK government agencies got the go-ahead to use Linux and other open source products in a report published by the UK Office of Government Commerce (OGC).


Short Series was long on highlights

Best Player: It was hard to argue with Boston #39;s Manny Ramirez, who was recognized as the MVP. A case could be made for at least four or five other Red Sox, but Ramirez made a significant contribution with his bat in every game.


Mourning #39;s first game after transplant

NBA star Alonzo Mourning came back to the court Thursday night in a Nets 2-point-win over the 76ers. BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- NBA star Alonzo Mourning came back to the court Thursday night in a Nets 2-point-win over the 76ers.


3 kidnapped in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Armed men in military uniforms stopped a UN vehicle in Kabul on Thursday, beating the driver and abducting three foreigners who were in Afghanistan to help oversee landmark presidential elections.


Mystery death of British tourist at Ayers Rock deepens after autopsy (AFP)

AFP - The mystery death of a middle-aged British tourist near Australia's world renowned Ayers Rock this week deepened following an autopsy that failed to establish the cause, police said.


Weakened Arafat Heads for France, Cancer Suspected

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser  Arafat, weakened by what doctors think may be leukemia, flew  for treatment in France on Friday from the besieged West Bank  headquarters where he had been pinned for over 2-1/2 years.


Frictions over dollar to test global policy-making

SINGAPORE: Chinas reluctance to unshackle the yuan when the dollar is plumbing record lows against the euro risks sparking political tensions that could complicate the already fraught task of ironing out global economic imbalances.


WMC rejects \$5.5bn Xstrata bid

MELBOURNE - Australian nickel and copper miner WMC Resources rejected aA\$7,4bn takeover bid from Xstrata, but left the door open for a higher offer, which sent its shares soaring.


Millions in the Americas watch lunar eclipse

Millions of people in the Americas stayed up on Wednesday to observe a total lunar eclipse that bathed the moon in a coppery red glow and gave scientists a chance to study the Earths atmosphere.


Red Sox victory one for the ages

Keith Foulke squeezed the ball tight. After all those years and all that heartache, the Boston Red Sox had the World Series firmly in hand.


Public debate begins in DC

The citizens of Washington came to the DC city council on Thursday to express a variety of opinions about the proposed new stadium deal that would bring the Expos to the city.


Twin bomb blasts wound 18 in tense Thai south

Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. YALA, Thailand -- Two bomb blasts rocked southern Thailand Friday, injuring at least 18 people as fury mounted


CNN axes financial channel, to retool Headline News

Breaking news: CNN said Thursday it has subjected CNNfn to its own form of numbers-crunching and will shut down the financial news network around the time of its ninth anniversary in mid-December.


New act changes check-cashing procedures

It is not exactly illegal now, but  quot;floating quot; a check could get students into trouble much sooner since Oct. 27. The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act revolutionized the way American banks process paper


Ninth-grader named country #39;s top young scientist

Shannon McClintock, a ninth-grader at Scripps Ranch High, did well performing science experiments put before her in a national competition this week in Maryland.


Seeing is believing with Red Sox

Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez holds up the championship trophy after the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in Game 4 to win the World Series on Wednesday in St.


2005 Tour route could level the field

The 2005 Tour de France might give other riders their best chance to test Lance Armstrong, if he goes for a seventh consecutive title.


Hundreds Attend DC Meeting on Expos

Residents packed the District of Columbia Council chambers Thursday to praise or pan the mayor #39;s \$440 million proposal to refurbish RFK Stadium and build a new ballpark for the Montreal Expos.


Sluman #39;s sensational start

A course-record opening 62 has powered American Jeff Sluman to the lead in the Chrysler Championship in Florida, while Aussie Steve Leaney is five shots back.


Randall ignites Hokies to fourth-quarter rally

Bryan Randall threw for 304 yards in the game and for two long touchdowns in the fourth quarter as No. 22 Virginia Tech, stifled much of the night, rallied for a 34-20 victory Thursday against Georgia Tech.


How suite it is at Dallas #39; Lone Star Park

The locals #39; love of luxury sport viewing has prompted Breeders #39; Cup Ltd., the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie to offer temporary suites for the first time in the event #39;s 20-year history.


Japanese government convenes emergency session after body <b>...</b>

TOKYO The Japanese government has convened an emergency session. This, after a report that a body believed to be Asian was discovered in Iraq.


Militants kidnap three foreigners in Kabul

Islamic militants claim they are holding three foreign election workers kidnapped Thursday from a UN vehicle in the Afghan capital of Kabul.


Aon chairman fighting for company amid insurance investigation

CHICAGO - Aon Corp. chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan is fighting to show his company is free from wrongdoing as New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer expands his investigation into questionable insurance industry practices.


Kashmir policeman killed, four injured in rebel aattacks (AFP)

AFP - A policeman was killed and four people injured, one a civilian, in two separate ambushes by Islamic militants in Indian Kashmir, police said.


Arafat Flies to France for Treatment

AMMAN (Reuters) - A French jet left Amman on Friday taking  ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for treatment in Paris,  witnesses said.


Radar Images Suggest a Saturn Moon's Landscape Contains Basins of Ice

The Cassini spacecraft's first radar images of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, have revealed a diverse frozen landscape of bright streaks and dark regions.


Fall in price of oil reflects rising supply

Crude-oil futures sank for a fourth straight day yesterday, settling beneath \$43 a barrel for the first time in nearly three months and capping a 14 percent decline for the week.


DNA as a Sex-Crime Solver: Good Tool, Not Whole Solution

A race to pursue DNA-based indictments has made apparent that no matter how sophisticated the science of DNA, a genetic profile is less than half the battle.


New Species Revealed: Tiny Cousins of Humans

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of a species of dwarf people, dubbed Homo floresiensis.


Iverson's Career at a Crossroads (AP)

AP - At his worst, Allen Iverson has been seen as selfish and sullen; contentious and contradictory, a magnet for trouble away from the court.


UK Gives Open Source The OK (TechWeb)

TechWeb - A UK government report encourages public agencies to consider using Linux and other open-source alternatives to commercial software.


Japan Scrambles After Report Asian Body Found in Iraq

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan scrambled on Friday to check a  report that an Asian body had been found in Iraq after a  deadline expired for the beheading of a Japanese man whose  captors had demanded that Tokyo withdraw its troops.


Arafat flying to Paris for treatment

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- A medical team was flying Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to France early today for emergency treatment in the clearest sign yet that he is suffering from a severe but still unconfirmed illness that Palestinian officials said yesterday could be life-threatening.


African troops to monitor shaky cease-fire in Sudan

EL-FASHER, Sudan -- A contingent of 50 Nigerian soldiers arrived in Darfur yesterday aboard a US military plane, the first of 3,000 additional African Union troops deployed to monitor an unsteady cease-fire in Sudan's western region.


More Iraq civilian deaths seen in study

WASHINGTON -- The first nationwide survey of Iraqi deaths since the US-led invasion concludes that about 100,000 people have died as a result of the war, including many women and children killed in coalition airstrikes.


The world today

UNITED NATIONS North Korea terms US exercise as threat North Korea yesterday warned that a US-led naval exercise held off its shores threatened global stability and could also undermine six-party talks aimed at ending a crisis over its nuclear ambitions. The exercise, staged to help stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction,  quot;constitutes a breach of the Charter of ...


Muslims mourn -- and seethe -- over deaths of 78 in Thailand

TALOH MANOH, Thailand -- Villagers yesterday buried some of the 78 Muslims who died in military custody after a protest in troubled southern Thailand, while authorities insisted at a briefing for diplomats that the detainees were not intentionally mistreated.


Girl among 3 Palestinians killed

GAZA CITY -- Three Palestinians, including an 8-year-old girl, were killed in separate clashes with the Israeli army yesterday, and an Israeli soldier was killed when Palestinians shelled a Gaza Strip settlement.


As trial opens, cleric accused in Bali bombings declares innocence

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A Muslim cleric accused of heading the terror group blamed for the Bali bombings proclaimed his innocence and said the charges were the work of President Bush and  quot;his slave quot; -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard -- at the opening of his trial yesterday.


Stern says labor worries premature as NBA season approaches (AFP)

AFP - As the start of the National Basketball Association season approaches, commissioner David Stern offered soothing words for those worried that the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement next year could signal a work stoppage.


The party rolls on

As many as 3.6 million people are expected to flood the city tomorrow morning to celebrate the Red Sox' World Series victory with a confetti-filled parade that could break Boston crowd records.


Epstein was an old pro

Multimillion-dollar baseball dealmaker by day, garage-band guitarist by night, Theo Epstein found refuge one brutally cold night last January a few blocks from his childhood home in the warm cocoon of a couple thousand Red Sox fans stoking the embers of their unrequited dream: a new world championship banner fluttering over Fenway Park.


The feeling is unbelievable

ST. LOUIS -- I called the Red Sox switchboard early yesterday afternoon. It took a while to plow through the recorded message, but when an operator finally came on, she said,  quot;Thank you for calling the . . . um . . . world champion Boston Red Sox. quot;


Silencing St. Louis was as easy as 1-2-3

ST. LOUIS -- There is no mystery, longtime scout Keith Champion said, about how Red Sox pitching was able to shut down the high-powered offense of the St. Louis Cardinals, a team Champion saw almost two dozen times this season.


Likely many of this rank could soon be filing

The championship euphoria has hardly abated. However it's never too early to start thinking about free agency. Not so much who's coming, but which Red Sox may not be around to bask in the Fenway love when the 2004 World Series flag is raised in April.


Fast start to free agency for Beltran

Carlos Beltran got off to a fast start in the free agent market, too. After hitting eight home runs for the Houston Astros to tie the postseason record, the speedy center fielder was among 65 players who filed for free agency yesterday on the first possible day.


A site where prayers were answered

Despite all that's been said about a curse, a lot of Red Sox fans weren't thinking of Babe Ruth or Bucky Dent the moment Boston won the World Series Wednesday night.


Celebration bringing fans from all over

From the foot of the White Mountains to the tidal flats of Ipswich, in coffee shops and college campuses, gas stations and law firms, everywhere that Pedro, Manny, and Curt are revered, they heard the call beckoning them to the shrine of Beantown baseball.


Yankee fans forced to face harsh reality

NEW YORK - They clung to hope that the Red Sox would choke at the last minute and once again fail to win the World Series, but when it didn't happen, some Yankees fans yesterday begrudgingly gave the Sox their due.


Bank to add up to 900 jobs in R.I.

Bank of America Corp. said yesterday it will add up to 900 jobs in Rhode Island with the opening of a call center in East Providence.


NFL games on TV

NY GIANTS (4-2) vs. MINNESOTA (5-1) When, where: Sunday, 1 p.m., at Minneapolis. TV: Ch. 25. Last season: Giants won, 29-17. Comments: Giants QB Kurt Warner has an .831 completion percentage over his career against Minnesota. The Vikings have rolled up more than 300 yards of total offense in an NFL-record 35 straight games. Giants DE Michael Strahan is the ...


After failed attempts, One Beacon gets sold

One Beacon Street, one of Boston's earliest prominent office towers, was sold yesterday for about \$340 million, the third time in two years a sale had been in the works for the 34-story building.


AT amp;T settles land-rights suit linking Internet age with 1850s

Hundreds of Massachusetts homeowners and businesses could soon start getting \$100 and \$200 checks from AT amp;T Corp. -- but it's not an enticement to switch long-distance service.


China hikes rates to cool growth

China's central bank yesterday raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade, signaling deepening unease with the breakneck pace of development and an intent to reign in a construction boom now sowing fears of runaway inflation.


But seriously, folks

One thing about the up-and-down world of the NFL: You can't shy away from teams coming off bad performances, because that would leave you with no one to pick.


Oil price drops to under \$51 per barrel

Crude oil futures prices dropped below \$51 a barrel yesterday as supply concerns ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter eased after an unexpectedly high rise in US inventories.


Spitzer says Marsh could face penalty 'far higher' than \$500m

The price for settling state charges of collusion and bid-rigging by the nation's largest insurance broker could be ''far higher quot; than \$500 million, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said yesterday.


Sour taste left by turnovers

With the regular season less than a week away, coach Doc Rivers and the players agree a lot of work remains, so the Celtics may practice twice today.


DreamWorks soars on 1st day Shrek-sized hopes lift shares up 38

Shares of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. jumped 38 percent on the first day of trading yesterday as investors anticipated Shrek-sized profits from the computer animation film studio.


Gators are looking to past -- for future

The search for a new coach at the University of Florida should and will be a short one. Former Gators coach Steve Spurrier soon will be back in Gainesville. Spurrier's season of self-imposed inactivity -- after resigning from the Washington Redskins following last season -- is almost over, and word has it he was starting to look around for new ...


Malden Mills buyback plan hits setback

Aaron M. Feuerstein's ambitions to buy back control of Malden Mills Industries Inc. suffered a blow recently when a major real estate partner said it was no longer interested in continuing a financing agreement.


Cowbells will be at the ready

As the days grow shorter and winter approaches, the weather hardly seems fit for cycling. But for many riders, it's the perfect time for the cyclocross, when they abandon the road bikes they've ridden all summer and go off road.


Rising health costs lead many consumers to cut retirement savings, survey finds

A rising number of Americans say healthcare is the most critical issue facing America today, and many are having trouble covering the costs, according to a survey released yesterday.


Raytheon sees quarterly profit

Raytheon Co. reported yesterday it swung to a profit in the third quarter and that revenue surged 13 percent, benefiting from rising military spending and more orders for its business jets.


CNN to shut down its CNNfn network

CNN will shut down its struggling CNNfn financial news network in mid-December, giving up its attempt after nine years to compete in a market dominated by CNBC.


Ovitz defends his tenure at Disney

Michael Ovitz staunchly defended his efforts as president of the Walt Disney Co. yesterday in between biting exchanges with the attorney representing shareholders in a \$140 million lawsuit.


Local teams gear up for tournaments

Some local women's soccer and field hockey teams are ready to make some noise in the NCAA tournaments.


Carriers attempt to stay afloat

#39;Reaching a preliminary pilot agreement is the single most important hurdle they have to clear, but certainly not the only one.


Airlines #39; pain is SRQ #39;s gain

MANATEE - Two of its airlines are in bankruptcy and a third has avoided - at least temporarily - a similar fate, but Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport could end up benefiting from the tumult, its top executive said Thursday.


United, Frontier report losses

United Airlines #39; parent company posted a \$274 million third-quarter loss and reiterated its need to slash labor costs. The company said that in the fourth quarter it may not be able to comply with a covenant


Stock-crash calamity unlikely today

Seventy-five years after the 1929 collapse, experts say market tumbles will still occur but a mature US economy is more equipped to handle them.


Wal-Mart study shows clear bias

A last-ditch \$3 million ad campaign for Proposition 72 features Wal-Mart as a health-insurance miser. The ads even led Wal-Mart to contribute to the  quot;no quot; campaign  quot;to defend (its) honor.


Viacom profits up due to cable, TV

Viacom Inc., the media conglomerate, said Thursday that profits grew 11.6 percent in the third quarter because of a jump in advertising at its cable and television networks.


Voting machine has trial by fire

President Bush and Sen. John Kerry aren #39;t the only ones whose futures are riding on Tuesday #39;s election. Also at stake: the reputation of Diebold, the largest maker of electronic voting machines.


Tony Hawk gave up violin for skateboarding

Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk reportedly gave up a budding career as a violinist to pursue his freewheeling boarding passion. Hawk, a professional skateboarder who has become a household name thanks to successful


India rocked early in run chase

India are already in massive trouble, losing two wickets straight after lunch as they chase an unlikely 543 for victory against Australia in the third Test in Nagpur.


Randall rallies No. 22 Va. Tech

Virginia Tech just couldn #39;t seem to get going. There were turnovers. There were botched plays. There were missed opportunities.


Ravens #39; Ogden signs long-term deal

All-Pro left tackle Jonathan Ogden signed a new seven-year contract Thursday with the Baltimore Ravens. The deal should allow the seven-time Pro Bowler to finish his career with the Ravens.


The search for a new coach at the University of Florida should and will be a short one. Former Gators coach Steve Spurrier soon will be back in Gainesville.


What game? TV can #39;t get off sideline

It is late in the game, the Patriots clinging to a 2-point lead, and Heinz Field is rocking. The diehard Steeler fans are roaring as their heroes march upfield for what could be a winning field goal.


Defender takes Galaxy personally

Rapids coach Tim Hankinson saw it in Lewis #39; eyes last Friday when the 22-year-old defender helped Colorado defeat his former team in the first game of the Western Conference semifinals.


Troubled Mitsubishi Motors denies reported tie-up with PSA Peugeot (AFP)

AFP - Scandal-hit Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors denied reports that it was negotiating a business link with PSA Peugeot Citroen Group of France.


EU Leaders to Sign Constitution Today

Italian carabinieri patrol Rome #39;s Capitoline Hill square, designed by Michelangelo , Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, the night before the signing of the first ever EU Constitution.


Uncertainties remain in Mideast

The Israeli Knesset #39;s approval of a plan to dismantle Jewish settlements in Gaza and part of the West bank raises hopes for Middle East peace progress, but, as always in the region, there are myriad uncertainties.


11 guardsmen killed, Iraqi insurgents say

Iraq #39;s hostage crisis continued unabated yesterday, with one group of insurgents claiming that it had killed 11 Iraqi national guardsmen, another saying it had abducted


Purdue's Defense Is Pretty Good, Too (AP)

AP - There was a reason all the preseason hubbub about Purdue was on its offense, and it wasn't just because of Kyle Orton's spectacular arm.


Michael Cherkasky: Now in Public Hotseat, Has Quieter Repute in <b>...</b>

may have been surprised to learn that he had stepped in as head of the beleaguered insurance company, Marsh  amp; McLennan, on Monday, October 25, and has been in the national media spotlight ever since.


Spaniards Garcia, Lara lead in Spain

Sergio Garcia shot 4-under-par 67 in the wind Thursday to share the first-round lead at the Volvo Masters with fellow Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara, who was stung by a bee early in his round.


Sluman sizzling despite bad back

PALM HARBOR - A course record on the Westin Innisbrook Resort #39;s Copperhead Course was the furthest thing from Jeff Sluman #39;s mind Thursday.


Hurricanes Damaged Florida Polling Places (AP)

AP - The hurricanes that struck Florida this year left polling places in shambles and displaced thousands of voters, but election officials say they are taking steps to allow everyone the opportunity to cast a ballot Nov. 2.


End to N.Korea Crisis Unlikely Under Kim--General

SEOUL (Reuters) - A permanent solution to the North Korean  nuclear crisis is unlikely until Pyongyang's communist system  gives way to democracy, a prominent former South Korean general  said on Friday.


Europe vote 'early 2006' - Straw

Jack Straw says the UK is likely to hold a vote on the EU constitution early in 2006, as Tony Blair prepares to sign up to it.


What can \$2-million do for your office?

Michael Ovitz, who had a brief but extremely lucrative career as president of Walt Disney Co. in the mid 1990s, might emerge as the latest embodiment of corporate spending run amok.


State moves against former Metropolitan Mortgage brokers

State securities regulators have moved to suspend or revoke the licenses of nine former brokers for Metropolitan Mortgage  amp; Securities, the bankrupt financial conglomerate that has left thousands of people across the Northwest holding hundreds of millions


State Health Care Proposition Would Benefit Many Workers

It is often said that national trends originate in California. By voting yes on Proposition 72 next Tuesday, California voters have a chance to start a positive national trend toward solving our health care crisis.


#39;Hobbit #39; find raises debate on humanity

SYDNEY - The discovery of a skeleton of a female barely one metre tall who hunted pygmy elephants and giant rats 18000 years ago could force a reassessment of the origins of humanity, scientists in Australia said yesterday.


Thursday #39;s foggy commute caused little trouble, police say

Fog cut visibility during the Thursday morning rush hour, but the National Weather Service didn #39;t expect a repeat performance today.


THE DARKNESS

JUST when you thought the dark days were over for good, they came back with a vengeance. Perhaps it might not have needed Nostradamus to predict the outbreaks of violence at both Millwall and Chelsea this week.


Sluman shoots ahead in Florida

Jeff Sluman fired a nine-under 62 yesterday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the \$5 million Chrysler Championship in Florida.


Red Sox celebrations net 39 arrests

Thirty-nine people were arrested, including the son of Boston University #39;s former president, and 63 were injured as tens of thousands of Red Sox fans gathered near Fenway Park to celebrate the team #39;s historic World Series victory.


RI pushes Thailand to apply justice to restore order in south <b>...</b>

JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesia, the world #39;s most populous Muslim nation, urged Thailand Friday to bring to justice officers responsible for the deaths of more than 80 Muslims in the country #39;s violence-plagued south.


Cambodia set to crown new king

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia is preparing to crown its first new king in decades later Friday, amid an array of official celebrations.


Deutsche Bank third quarter at top end of expectations (AFP)

AFP - Deutsche Bank said that its bottom-line earnings rose strongly in the third quarter, thanks to a partial improvement in underlying business and lower costs and risk provisions.


Cheney to Make Visit to Hawaii on Sunday (AP)

AP - Making a major detour on the campaign trail, Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday night will rally voters in Hawaii where just two Republicans have ever won the state in a presidential race.


Manhunt underway for UN hostages, as fears rise of Iraq-style kindappings (AFP)

AFP - A massive manhunt was underway for three UN foreign election workers whose daylight abduction in Kabul has sparked fears of the start of Iraq-style kidnappings in Afghanistan.


Dollar Falls to 6-Month Low Vs Yen

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar hit a six-month low against  the yen and drifted near recent eight-month lows versus the  euro on Friday as investors considered the effect of China's  interest rate hike on currencies and the U.S economic outlook.


Oil Stems Slide, Uneasy Over China Rates

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices stepped back from this  week's eight percent rout on Friday, holding well above \$50 a  barrel as analysts said it would take more than China's mild  interest rate rise to stem demand growth from the world's  second largest user.


Unlike rivals, Chrysler turns profit in sales

The Auburn Hills-based Chrysler Group did something crosstown rivals General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. could not do during the third quarter of the year: It made money selling cars and trucks.


UPDATE: Australia #39;s Fairfax Eyes Role In Media Shake-Up

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--As investors speculate about the future landscape of the Australian media industry, newspaper publisher John Fairfax Holdings Ltd.


GTA latest to sell 25m

Tinsel town has leant its magic to a new video game with a Hollywood cast and an 18 certificate. The eagerly awaited PlayStation 2 Grand Theft Auto game San Andreas is expected to sell 25million copies worldwide for about 40 each.


Mourning sees 1st post-transplant time

Alonzo Mourning played for the New Jersey Nets on Thursday for first time since a kidney transplant in December. Mourning, 34, finished with 12 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes in the Nets #39; 96-94 victory over Philadelphia.


Household Survey Sees 100,000 Iraqi Deaths

Researchers have estimated that as many as 100,000 more Iraqis - many of them women and children - died since the start of the US-led invasion of Iraq than would have been expected otherwise, based on the death rate before the war.


To Which Viktor the Spoils?

This weekend Ukraine votes for its first new president in 10 years. The accusations, scare tactics and media bias surrounding the contest between current Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and former PM and


China Seeks to Soothe Markets on Rates

BEIJING (Reuters) - China sought Friday to soothe concerns  over a surprise interest rate rise, its first in nearly a  decade and one which is expected to kick off a series of  increases to cool growth in the world's seventh-biggest  economy.


Key New England games

UCONN (5-2) vs. SYRACUSE (3-4) When, where: Tomorrow, 1:30 p.m., at Syracuse, N.Y. Last season: First meeting. Comments: UConn is coming off a 45-31 victory against Temple. Dan Orlovsky became UConn's career leader in TD passes. He was 18 of 26 for 260 yards, with two TDs and one interception. LBs Maurice Lloyd and Alfred Fincher combined for 29 tackles ...


This week's schedule

TODAY'S GAMES Division 1 CATHOLIC -- Malden Catholic at BC High, 7. GREATER BOSTON -- Revere at Malden, 6:30; Waltham at Peabody, 7.


Transactions

BASEBALL Chicago (NL): Declined to exercise 2005 options on OF Moises Alou and 2B Mark Grudzielanek. Chicago (AL): DH Frank Thomas and OF Carl Everett exercised their 2005 contract options; exercised 2005 contract option on P Shingo Takatsu; declined to exercise 2005 contract option C Sandy Alomar Jr. Cleveland (AL): Agreed to terms with RHP Scott Elarton on a one-year ...


Dali aide convicted of 'touch-up'

A former of British assistant of Salvador Dali is convicted of doctoring one of the surrealist's paintings.


This weekend on TV, radio

TODAY AUTO RACING 1:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Busch Series Aaron's 312 qualifying at Hampton, Ga., Speed Channel 7 p.m. -- NASCAR Nextel Cup Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 qualifying at Hampton, Ga., Speed Channel PRO BASKETBALL 8 p.m. -- Exhibition: Detroit at Minnesota, ESPN 10:30 p.m. -- Exhibition: Phoenix at Sacramento, ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 8 p.m. -- Hawaii at Boise ...


Today's schedule

College football: Bryant at Bentley, 7 p.m. College hockey: Men -- Maine at Merrimack, 7 p.m.; UMass at Providence, 7 p.m.; Harvard at Brown, 7 p.m.; Air Force at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.; North Dakota at BC, 8 p.m. Women -- BC at Dartmouth, 5 p.m.; Brown at Maine, 7 p.m.;


It's a family affair

Jimmy Jerkens didn't learn how to be a trainer from a racing giant. He was taught by  quot;The Giant Killer, quot; the nickname given to his father, Allen.


Barnstable meets challenge

The Barnstable girls' volleyball team was looking for challenging nonleague opponents before the state tournament.


College football games on TV

GEORGIA (6-1) vs. FLORIDA (4-3) When, where: Tomorrow, 3:30 p.m., at Jacksonville, Fla. TV : Ch. 4. AP rankings: Georgia is No. 10. Last season: Florida won, 16-13. Comments: It's the beginning of the end for Florida coach Ron Zook, who was fired Monday after a 38-31 upset loss to Mississippi State last week. Florida has won 13 of the ...


Townies in control

Last year, Charlestown's Jason White was named Division 7 Player of the Year after rushing for 1,500 yards and seven touchdowns. With that kind of production, who needs a passing game? Apparently the Townies think they do.


As Drama Plays Out, Arafat's Neighbors Express Sorrow, Fear

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct. 28 -- No crowds of well-wishers massed Thursday outside the Mukata, the mostly ruined compound where Yasser Arafat has been confined for the past two years. Only a throng of reporters assembled, peering through the smoked windows of sedans carrying officials to a frail old man who still embodies the national aspirations of many Palestinians.


Showdown Over Nuclear Plans Awaits Election Winner

For all the focus on foreign policy in this campaign, neither presidential candidate has spent much time explaining what may loom as the largest new challenge after Tuesday:  what to do about Iran.


Concerns over Windows cashpoints

Security expert express concerns that cash machines could soon fall victim to Windows viruses.


Indian refinery blast injures 16

Sixteen workers are critically hurt in a huge explosion at an oil refinery near the western Indian city of Baroda.


Filipinos return to devastated homes

Thousands of Filipinos have returned to washed-out homes after four deadly storms in two weeks left more than 1,000 people dead or missing, as emergency supplies ran low and fears of disease grew.


UPDATE 2-French firms Sagem, Snecma plan to merge

French aircraft engine maker Snecma (SNEC.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and defence equipment group Sagem (SAGM.PA: Quote, Profile, Research


Show is over for CNNfn

Time Warner finally pulled the plug on CNNfn. After nine years of struggling to gain an audience, the financial network will go off the air in mid-December, CNN president Jim Walton announced yesterday.


Black in offer to buy Hollinger Inc

FALLEN Press baron Lord Black is offering to buy back his holding company Hollinger Inc from minority shareholders and take the company private.


Mandrakesoft screams as Linux OS uprooted

Mandrakelinux 10.1 Officiel comes with extended support for mobile devices, better hardware compatibility and application upgrades.


Well wishes, fresh plans from George

George Steinbrenner, fresh off three days of meetings with his executives as the Yankees plot how to retool for 2005, threw a bouquet at the Red Sox yesterday, congratulating Boston and its ownership group for winning the World Series.


Kiwis crush Bangladesh to wrap up series

New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori has starred in his side #39;s biggest Test win, as the Black Caps defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 101 runs in Chittagong.


Davidoff Swiss Indoors, Basel

British number one Tim Henman is ready to seek revenge over Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic at the Davidoff Swiss Indoors event in Basel, having lost their last encounter in the first round of the Olympics in Athens.


Mourning looks good in return

Four seconds after he checked into his first basketball game in nearly a year, Alonzo Mourning drilled a jumper from the foul line, then pointed to the ceiling.


Afghans make arrests over kidnappings

Afghan authorities have arrested three people and seized a car believed to have been used in the kidnapping of three foreigners, government and security sources say, but there was no word on the fate of the hostages.


Coach Crash Survivors Moved to Capital Hospital

By Laura Elston, Deputy Court Correspondent, PA News in Jordan. Five of the British tourists injured in a coach crash in Jordan have been moved to a hospital in the capital city Amman, a doctor said today.


From James Hider in Baghdad

THE shaky camera focuses on a bound and blindfolded man, stripped bare except for his camouflage army trousers. A man with a knife appears behind him, grabs his hair and slices his throat, hacking his head off and placing it on his back.


Australian police concerned over missing British tourist (AFP)

AFP - Australian police investigating the disappearance of a British tourist missing for almost a week launched a public appeal for information after her bag was found near Sydney's Bondi Beach.


Financial network to end after nine years

CNN will shut down its struggling CNNfn financial news network in mid-December, giving up its attempt after nine years to compete in a market dominated by CNBC.


Australia #39;s Fairfax poised for growth if media laws relaxed

SYDNEY: Australia #39;s Fairfax newspaper group said it is well placed for expansion if the government goes ahead with a plan to use its newly won control of both houses of parliament to relax media ownership laws.


Gateway tiptoes into the black

Irvine, California - Gateway reported a narrowed net loss in the first quarter on continued restructuring of its operations and the integration of newly acquired firm eMachines.


Iraq deaths claim  #39;to be studied #39;

The government will  quot;examine with very great care quot; claims around 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died as a result of the US-led invasion, Jack Straw has said.


Sox must now avoid a new kind of  #39;curse #39;

In the Yale Daily News last Friday, Steven Smith, the master of Branford College, published a paean to the New York Yankees. He stated,  quot;The Yankees represent to me all that is optimistic and confident in


Porous Border Helps Iranian Smugglers (AP)

AP - Kurdish Iranians in poor border towns are taking advantage of the porous boundary with Iraq to sneak into the country for coveted items  #151; like alcohol  #151; to sell back home.


Boxing: Rumble in jungle recalled

Former BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter relives the Rumble in the Jungle 30 years ago.


Six men sentenced on Pitcairn

SYDNEY -- The mayor and five other men on the small Pacific island of Pitcairn were sentenced to up to six years in prison for a string of rapes and sex attacks dating back 40 years on the remote and isolated home of the HMS Bounty mutineers, British authorities in New Zealand said today.


Bank to add up to 900 jobs in RI

Bank of America Corp. said yesterday it will add up to 900 jobs in Rhode Island with the opening of a call center in East Providence.


Science: The Earth Explores Cassini Data

The Cassini spacecraft has sent back images of Saturn #39;s moon Titan giving scientists the closest views yet of the mysterious satellite.


Microsoft sued over allegedly faulty X-boxes

A VIDEO GAME fan upset over an apparently  quot;tiggered quot; disk drive in his Xbox video game console has sued the vendor of the game gear, Microsoft, on behalf of users everywhere.


Massive Online ID Fraud Ring Busted

Iphtashu Fitz writes  quot;CNet News is reporting that the US Secret Service in conjunction with authorities in six foreign countries have arrested 28 people in the last 48 hours on charges of identity theft, computer fraud, credit card fraud and conspiracy.


Golf: Sluman tops Chrysler with course-record 62

(October 29, 2004) - PALM HARBOR, Fla. -olf finally felt easy to Greece native Jeff Sluman, and it wasn #39;t hard to see why. From a fairway bunker on the 18th hole, he had to play a 20-yard hook to avoid the trees and reach the elevated green.


Armed group claims to have obtained missing explosives

US soldier places a rocket he removed from nearby the wreckage of a car bomb along a road north of the city of Baquba, 60 kms northeast of Baghdad, October 27, into the back of an armoured military vehicle.


Optimists, pessimists, realists, fantasists

rafat was flying onboard a French flying hospital from Amman to Paris this morning, and Israelis, enjoying the first rain in eight months, were speculating what would happen next, operating on the assumption that an era has passed, divided between


Delta still not out of financial woods

ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines Inc. #39;s tentative deal with pilots for \$1 billion in concessions gives the nation #39;s third-largest carrier much-needed breathing room.


Prize to be awarded Nov. 6

Creators of SpaceShipOne, the rocket plane that completed two manned space flights from a Southern California airport in a competition meant to promote private space travel, will get the \$10


Earth Reveals Its Sensitive Side

A new look at climate conditions 55 million years ago shows that the Earth is more sensitive to small changes than previously believed.


Looking for Lance

quot;As of right now, the chances of his participating are 50-50, quot; Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong #39;s longtime directeur sportif at US Postal and now at new title sponsor Discovery Channel, said at a presentation ceremony for the 2005 Tour in Paris Thursday.


Australia Needs Five More Wickets to Claim Series Win in India

Australia #39;s cricketers closed in on their first Test series triumph in India for 35 years after reducing the home side to 84-5 at tea on the fourth day of the third Test at Nagpur.


Sports Buzz

Fultondale High School football coach Keith Register is probably right when he says he doesn #39;t expect everyone to understand why the Wildcats are forfeiting their last two games.


TENTATIVE TOOMER

Amani Toomer sat on the sidelines a second straight day with a strained hamstring, in jeopardy of missing a game for the first time since his rookie season of 1996.


Twin bombs rock southern Thailand

Two bombs have rocked southern Thailand on Friday, wounding at least 20 people, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed there would be no cover up over the deaths of at least 85 Muslim detainees in the volatile region.


Businesses Bet on Ukraine #39;s Future

If Russian businesses are helping fund the election campaign of President Vladimir Putin #39;s favored candidate in Ukraine #39;s presidential election at the Kremlin #39;s behest, as some political analysts suspect, those businesses may be better off betting on the


Indonesia says cleric incited two bombings

The Indonesian government yesterday opened the retrial of an Indonesian cleric who is charged with leading an al-Qaida-linked group and inciting its members to carry out terrorist attacks against US interests.


Germany #39;s Volkswagen workers stage warning strikes

Workers at Germany #39;s automobile giant Volkswagen (VW) have staged warning strikes in the on-going wage dispute with the management.


US giants move to can spammers

The US #39;s biggest internet companies have launched yet another crackdown against spammers as part of their latest efforts to protect net users from junk email.


Space Race Focuses on Money

Burt Rutan and Paul Allen #39;s spunky-looking little spaceplane had just returned to the runway after winning the \$10 million Ansari X Prize, and prize founder Peter Diamandis had a message for investors around the world who might be watching.


Dein reveals Wenger approaches

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has revealed that two national teams tried to lure manager Arsene Wenger from Highbury last summer.


Warner can #39;t be like Vikes

When the Giants enter the Metrodome Sunday, they will do so under circumstances eerily similar to their last visit, almost one year ago.


Sudden change is inevitable

The death or long-term incapacitation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be a turning point in Middle East history. It could suddenly remove an obstacle to peace or unleash a bloody power struggle among Palestinians factions.


Mini-series plan for 9/11 report

The ABC and NBC television networks each plan to turn the 9/11 Commission Report into a mini-series.


Gravely ill Arafat bound for Paris for urgent medical care (AFP)

AFP - Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was en route by plane to a French military hospital outside Paris for urgent medical treatment of what is said to be a potentially fatal blood disorder.


DreamWorks Spinoff Sees Shares Rise 38 1st Day

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 -- Shares of DreamWorks Animation Inc. soared nearly 38 percent on the first day of trading Thursday as investors anticipated Shrek-sized profits from the computer animation film studio.


Markets Cool to China's Rate Increase (AP)

AP - Asian financial markets showed little reaction Friday to China's first interest rate rise in nine years, which analysts welcomed as a shift toward capitalist-style economic tools and away from central planning.


NY Heads for Flat Start; Oil Supportive

LONDON (Reuters) - Wall Street was headed for a flat start  on Friday as the slowing earnings season and tamer crude oil  prices allow investors to turn their attention to economic  growth figures for the third quarter.


Napster founder introduces new file-sharing service

Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster, worlds first file trading peer-to-peer network, is back in full force to legalize music swapping with his new venture.


W.Va. to Sponsor Public Computing Grid

Researchers and businesses in West Virginia will be able to access the first state-sponsored public Internet computing grid when the Global Grid Exchange is launched next month.


Security Tightened in Paris for Arafat (AP)

AP - France stepped up security Friday morning at a military hospital outside Paris where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be taken for treatment.


Space Race Focuses on Money

Now that SpaceShipOne has proved private companies can reach space, the next hurdle is finding investors -- an even more difficult task. By Dan Brekke.


Porn Is Going Mobile

Pornography may be the thing that turns cell phones into cheap, fast content-delivery systems. But porn fans want more from their mobile adult content -- and size ain't the only thing that matters. Commentary by Gina Lynn.


Sun Shines Light on Music History

The roots of rock 'n' roll -- and even the bloodline of geekdom and the home electronics explosion -- can be traced to a little room in Memphis, Tennessee. Michelle Delio reveals the secrets of Sun Studio's signature sounds.


Don't Knock the Birdbrains

Scientists flock to songbird research, hoping finches and canaries will provide insight into the mysteries of human speech, memory and neuron production. Randy Dotinga reports from the Society for Neuroscience convention in San Diego.


Pledge Allegiance to the Penguin

We pledge allegiance to the penguin, and the intellectual property regime for which he stands. One nation, under Linux, with free music and open-source software for all. Welcome to Brazil! By Julian Dibbell from Wired magazine.


Earth Reveals Its Sensitive Side

Researchers look back millions of years to predict how the Earth may react to current elevated levels of carbon dioxide. They say our planet appears more vulnerable to the greenhouse gas than previously believed. By Stephen Leahy.


File Sharers Win More Protection

A Pennsylvania court orders internet service providers to give detailed notice of how alleged file sharers can respond to subpoenas from the music industry. Meanwhile, the RIAA sues another 750 people. By Katie Dean.


Scots count cost of plastic bags

Scots DIY enthusiasts will now pay for plastic bags as a big chain tries to cut pollution.


NTT DoCoMo profits fall on stiff cellphone competition (AFP)

AFP - Japan's top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo said its interim sales and profits fell due to stiff competition but forecast higher profitability in the full year.


Crucial Senate races costly, caustic (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Money and mud are flying in the final days of nine close contests that will determine which party controls the Senate next year.


Seven Still at Large in Plot to Bomb Spanish Court

MADRID (Reuters) - Seven men implicated in a suspected  Islamic radical plot to blow up Spain's High Court remain at  large despite the arrests of 13 more people, police sources  said on Friday.  Among those still sought by police is Abdellah Hawari, believed  to be the second highest ranking member of the "Martyrs for  Morocco," a group that authorities said formed in prison and  took steps to load a truck with half a ton of dynamite.


Sony 2Q net profit rises, revenues dip

MUMBAI: Electronics and entertainment major Sony has reported a 61 per cent increase in net profit for the second quarter ended 30 September.. Sony #39;s net income rose to 53.2 billion yen (\$500 million) from


UAL Corp. takes \$274 mil. hit in 3rd quarter

United Airlines parent UAL Corp. suffered a loss of \$274 million for the third quarter of this year, a smaller hit than it took in the same period of last year, when it lost \$367 million.


Black to privatise Hollinger Inc

LORD BLACK of Crossharbour plans to privatise Hollinger Inc, his Canadian holding company, following a very public investigation into the way he ran his former media empire.


French firms Snecma, Sagem poised to announce merger

French aircraft motor maker Snecma and French telecommunications equipment group Sagem  quot;will announce their merger on Friday, quot; a Sagem spokeswoman said.


More  #39;Spammers #39; in court

A volley of lawsuits was launched against alleged spammers on Thursday by the four major US Internet service providers. This includes a case brought by AOL against twenty individuals accused of spimming, or


Drug-delivering contact lenses revealed

Contact lenses that release controlled doses of drugs to treat eye diseases such as glaucoma have been created by nano-engineers in Singapore.


Monty Makes Disappointing Start

Having hit the news pages over his personal life, Colin Montgomerie set about trying to re-ignite his golf career today. But he did not make the best of starts.


Chelsea Cancels Mutu #39;s Contract After Drug Admission (Update1)

Chelsea terminated Romania striker Adrian Mutu #39;s contract, citing gross misconduct after the player failed a doping test for cocaine and admitted taking the drug, the English soccer club said in a statement.


In the lap of the Hodds

GLENN HODDLES Spanish break has forced West Brom to put on hold their search for a manager. The Baggies want to discover whether first-choice Hoddle is interested in replacing sacked Gary Megson.


French Jewish families demand Arafat interrogation

PARIS, Oct 29 (AFP) - The relatives of six French citizens killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel several years ago have called for French authorities to question Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat while he receives treatment in Paris for a serious medical


Japan Scrambles After Report Asian Body Found in Iraq

Japan scrambled on Friday to check a report that an Asian body had been found in Iraq after a deadline expired for the beheading of a Japanese man whose


Bush should try to cement a possible Mideast breakthrough

Israel #39;s parliament made a historic decision in backing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s plan to withdraw settlers from the Gaza Strip and four small West Bank settlements.


Interest rate rise by China has West confused

CHINA has raised its interest rates for the first time in nine years to curb inflation and stop its fast-growing economy overheating.


Martha #39;s company upbeat

Despite a wider quarterly loss, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was  quot;optimistic quot; about a springtime advertising rebound and an overall strengthening of the company coinciding with Stewart #39;s release


Yahoo chases Google in mobile search race

Yahoo has unveiled its own version of a search facility for mobile phones hot on the heels of similar software from US rival Google.


Suddenly in the mix

With Toomer a question mark for Sunday, Taylor, a 6th-round draft choice, might start after making his pro debut last week vs. Lions.


Leaders fire six under par

CARIN KOCH of Sweden and South Korea #39;s Grace Park both shot a first round 6-under-par 66 today to share the lead of the CJ Nine Bridges Classic in Jeju.


Pitcairn sex offenders receive sentences

Four Pitcairn Island men convicted of multiple sex offenses received jail sentences of between two and six years Friday. Two other men have been ordered to perform community service.


Bennett #39;s family vows to fight against jail sentence

The family of Roy Bennett, the Zimbabwean opposition member of parliament who was jailed yesterday on charges of parliamentary misconduct, says it will appeal against the decision.


On Internet's 35th birthday, pioneer still excited about its potential (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - The Internet's first baby steps began in Leonard Kleinrock's UCLA lab 35 years ago today.


FCC sends wrong signal on digital TV (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Yes, our government is now in the business of pushing expensive TV sets on consumers who are wisely keeping their wallets closed.


Hitachi net profit up sevenfold in first half, sees slower H2 (AFP)

AFP - Japanese electronics maker Hitachi said its net profit rose more than sevenfold to 41.2 billion yen (390 million dollars) in the first half on strong sales of IT and digital electronics products.


Shares Hit by Earnings, Dollar Falls

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares fell on poor earnings  news on Friday as investors looked past China's surprise rate  hike to key U.S. Q3 gross domestic product data for the next  read on the health of the world's largest economy.


Indonesia's Hobbit-Sized Humans Find Humble Home (Reuters)

Reuters - Newly unearthed remains of hobbit-sized\humans, perhaps one of the most significant finds involving\human evolution in recent years, are being stored in an office\drawer in the Indonesian capital.


Dollar Eyes U.S. Outlook, Hits 6-Mth Low (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar hit a six-month low against\the yen and drifted near recent eight-month lows versus a\rising euro on Friday as investors considered the effect of\China's interest rate hike on currencies and the U.S economic\outlook.


Digital Agenda: 10 facts you should know about homeland security

Campaign promises have changed little in the run-up to the presidential election, but the rhetoric has intensified.


BoJ keeps easy monetary policy, sees slight inflation next year (AFP)

AFP - Japan's central bank maintained its ultra-loose monetary policy to support the economy while forecasting there could be a slight rise in inflation next year, although that would not necessarily mean a change in its stance on interest rates.


New mortgages hit four-year low

September saw the lowest number of new mortgage approvals in the UK since August 2000, official figures show.


Crude prices ease further amid China #39;s latest moves to cool its <b>...</b>

The price of crude oil breached the \$51 US mark again after falling for most of the day Friday on a surprising midweek US petroleum stocks report and China #39;s latest moves to cool its economy.


Mortgage lending growth slows

Mortgage borrowing rose at its slowest monthly pace in more than two years in September and approvals for home loans dropped to a four-year low, in another sign that the housing market has turned.


ISPs File Next Barrage of Anti-Spam Lawsuits

Earthlink filed a federal lawsuit in Atlanta, Georgia, accusing 50  quot;John Does quot; of violating the federal CAN-SPAM Act and various other state and federal statutes, including the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Georgia Computer Systems Protection


Linux not ready for mass market

Linux is gaining ground with companies but Windows will continue to dominate consumer PCs in the near future. That is the non-contentious conclusion of the latest IDC research.


RIAA files 750 new file-trading lawsuits

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed 750 new lawsuits against alleged file-traders using P2P software. The 750 new lawsuits were against  quot;John Doe quot; defendants not yet identified by the RIAA.


AMD launches PC  #39;for the rest of us world #39;

AMD yesterday formally launched  #39;Emma #39; - its low-cost Internet access appliance - or the  #39;Personal Internet Communicator #39;, as its now officially dubbed.


AOL to give away McAfee to members

America Online Inc is bundling antivirus software from McAfee Inc into version 9.0 Security Edition of its online service, providing blanket virus blocking coverage for its approximately 23 million paying subscribers.


Nokia makes play for mobile content

Java has suffered as a mobile content platform, compared to Qualcomm Brew, by having a fragmented channel and a confused economic proposition for developers.


Discounts bite into NTT DoCoMo #39;s results

Revenue and profit at NTT DoCoMo, Japan #39;s number one cellular operator, dropped during the first half of its financial year because of discount schemes offered to win and keep subscribers to its 3G mobile cellular network.


Now what, Boston?

LONG-SUFFERING Boston Red Sox fans partied far into the night after their team won the 2004 World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight games.


#39;Would Frank Lampard Have Been Sacked? #39;

Chelsea were dead right - it #39;s bad enough that most of these lads are overpaid anyhow but when they abuse their position to, if you #39;ll pardon the pun,  #39;rub our noses in it #39;, i #39;s out of order.


Stone Gone

CHICAGO - After a season full of frustration and several well-documented hissy fits from Cub players, veteran broadcaster Steve Stone announced his resignation Thursday night on WGN AM Radio.


Cambodia crowns former dancer new king

Former ballet dancer Norodom Sihamoni was formally crowned as Cambodia #39;s new king Friday in a lavish ceremony at the Royal Palace.


Settlers #39; views: Gaza withdrawal

The Israeli parliament has voted in favour of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s plan to pull Jewish settlers out from Gaza. BBC News Online spoke to four settlers about their thoughts on their uncertain future.


Japan Refuses to Give Up Hope on Iraq Hostage

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan refused to give up hope that a  Japanese man taken hostage in Iraq was still alive on Friday  after the passing of a deadline set by his captors to behead  him unless Tokyo withdrew its troops.


Greek Riot Squad Bus Blast Raises Security Fears (Reuters)

Reuters - A roadside bomb blast targeting a police\convoy in Athens early on Friday caused no injuries but alarmed\authorities who had been insisting that Greece's leftist\guerrillas were defeated.


Seven Still at Large in Plot to Bomb Spanish Court

MADRID (Reuters) - Seven men implicated in a suspected  Islamic radical plot to blow up Spain's High Court remain at  large despite the arrests of 13 more people, police sources  said on Friday.


Iraq deaths claim 'to be studied'

The government will examine claims 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the US-led invasion, Jack Straw says.


Metro hit by slowdown

Metro, Germany's biggest retailer, turns in weaker-than-expected profits as sales at its core supermarkets division dip lower.


Oil Steadies, China Rate Hike Unsettles

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Friday after an  eight percent rout driven by a surprise interest rate hike in  China that raised doubts about demand from the world's second  largest energy user.


Gravely Ill Arafat Arrives in France for Treatment

VILLACOUBLAY MILITARY AIRFIELD, France (Reuters) -  Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, weakened by what doctors  think may be leukemia, left the West Bank for the first time in  2-1/2 years on Friday and flew to France for medical treatment.


Taiwan's Acer reports lower-than-expected net profit (AFP)

AFP - Acer Inc., Taiwan's top personal computer maker, said its net profit for the first three quarters to September fell 34.8 percent to 3.83 billion Taiwan dollars (114 million US).


Toshiba Returns to Profitability (AP)

AP - Toshiba Corp., the Japanese electronics and computer maker, said Friday it posted a profit in the first half of its fiscal year, rebounding from losses last year on restructuring and rising sales of digital video recorders, semiconductor memory chips and personal computers. It boosted its forecast for the year.


Stock Futures Flat Before GDP Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures were little changed  on Friday before data on third-quarter gross domestic product,  the broadest measure of U.S. economic growth, which was  expected to set the tone for early stock trading.


Pilots at Delta take 33pc cut in pay

The airline #39;s chief executive Gerald Grinstein describes the pact as a  quot;crucial step quot; in securing its future. However, he warned that bankruptcy was still a possibility.


Deutsche Bank Boosts Profit Through Cuts

Deutsche Bank AG, Germnany #39;s largest bank, said Friday it increased its net profit by 18 percent in the third quarter by clamping down on costs and bad loans while increasing profit from trading securities.


VW workers launch warning strikes

HANOVER - About 4,000 Volkswagen workers stayed off the job for about an hour Friday to press demands for higher wages that remained unresolved after a fifth round of talks between their union and management at Europe #39;s largest car maker.


Oil price stems slide

Oil prices have stepped back from this week #39;s eight percent rout, holding well above \$50 a barrel as analysts say it will take more than China #39;s mild interest rate rise


AOL Cans  quot;Spim quot;

BetaNews: After tackling Spam, AOL is now waging a two front offensive against spammers. America Online has taken the fight to  quot;Spim, quot; which is crossing over the threshold of disruption.


Intel and Clearwire forge WiMAX alliance

Two of the most powerful forces behind WiMAX, Intel and Craig McCaw #39;s Clearwire start-up, have formed a partnership aiming to accelerate development of 802.


Latest Mandrake Linux distro screams into action

Mandrakesoft has introduced Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official with the promise that its latest distribution provides extended support for mobile devices, better hardware compatibility, and major application upgrades.


A lot of ground to be covered before space tourism can fly

When a privately built rocket plane soared into space earlier this month, astronaut wannabes were giddy with the hope that they #39;d finally make it off the planet.


Dell updates consumer IT services

Dell will expand its lineup of consumer IT services with security tips and installation assistance on products other than PCs. The company has created a new Dell Solutions Center web page (www.


AGASSI ADVANCES

Andre Agassi advanced to the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 victory over 1997 champion Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden.


Tennis: Henman in Swiss Indoors quarters

Briton Tim Henman struggled to overcome Wayne Moodie of South Africa winning 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 but reached the quarterfinals for the eighth consecutive time at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.


Funny Cide a Classic tale of redemption?

Funny things happen when a horse knocks on the door to racing history and can #39;t get through. Smarty Jones, this year #39;s near-Triple Crown winner, is retired to a career as a stallion.


Losing Stone isn #39;ta winning move

The smell of champagne, 1918 vintage, was still in my hair Thursday night when I was whisked back into a familiar losing environment.


Hawaii QB credits team for record career

Ask Hawaii #39;s Timmy Chang about the 94 touchdowns he has thrown, and he talks about his great receivers and blockers. Ask about his 14,791 yards passing, and he credits his coaches for believing in him.


This stop anything but the pits

Just when you #39;re thinking,  quot;Boy, this town has to get up to speed on this quot; ... around the first turn, there it was. Less than 24 hours after it was made official here, it was made official to the rest of the


Polish hostage, 11 Iraqi police men executed in Iraq

One Polish woman has joined the group of other foreigners kidnapped in Iraq after a video tape broadcast by al-Jazeera TV showed an armed group while detaining what it called one Polish woman working for the American forces, calling for releasing her and


Summary Box: EU Leaders Sign Constitution

THE EU CONSTITUTION: The landmark document, achieved after 28 months of negotiation, aims to provide simpler voting rules to end gridlock in the European Union.


Cambodia #39;s new king sworn in

Cambodia #39;s new king has been officially sworn in following the surprise abdication of his father. Norodom Sihamoni, 51, was crowned at a ceremony in the capital Phnom Penh after his father King Norodom Sihanouk #39;s decision to stand down earlier this month.


Editor #39;s Notes: The challenge for the Palestinians

They don #39;t call him the bulldozer for nothing. Our prime minister is a man who, once he has decided on a course of action, puts his head down and pursues it relentlessly - determinedly impervious to the demands of those who would steer him elsewhere.


Dollar Hits 6-Month Low Vs. Yen

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar hit a six-month low against  the yen and drifted above recent eight-month lows versus the  euro on Friday as investors awaited U.S. economic growth data  and next week's presidential elections.


Anadarko Third-Quarter Earnings Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anadarko Petroleum Corp. APC.N, the  No. 1 U.S. independent oil and gas producer, on Friday reported  higher third-quarter earnings on the back of high oil and gas  prices.


Internet service providers file more spam lawsuits

In a second round of lawsuits announced on Thursday, four major U.S. Internet service providers (ISPs) are taking on senders of e-mail spam and unwanted commercial messages sent via instant messaging.


Summit on eco-friendly buildings

A city which has embraced the concept of eco-friendly housing hosts the International Earthship Conference.


Oracle plots course for growth

Oracle #39;s hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft has sparked plenty of fireworks over the past 18 months. It also has highlighted a more subtle dilemma: Oracle #39;s struggles to expand in a maturing software industry.


Iraq body does not resemble Japanese hostage: hospital (AFP)

AFP - The body of an Asian man found in Iraq does not resemble a Japanese hostage and was shot dead two days ago, well before a deadline to execute the young traveller expired, forensic experts said.


Start planning today to reduce your tax bill in April

Some people don #39;t think about federal income taxes until the first week of April. Others jump on them in late January, as soon as their W-2s show up in the mail.


French groups Sagem and Snecma to merge

PARIS, Oct 29 (AFP) - Two major French industrial groups, telecommunications equipment maker Sagem and aerospace engine manufacturer Snecma, announced merger plans Friday that would lead to privatisation of the latter.


Avon Third-Quarter Profit Rises

Avon Products Inc. (AVP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday posted higher quarterly earnings as business in Latin America and Europe helped offset weakness in the United States for the direct seller of cosmetics.


Gateway surprises, posts operating profit

Shares of Gateway rose more than 11 percent in after-market trading yesterday after the computer company said it posted its first operating profit in three years.


Japan deflation struggle nears end

Bank of Japan says prices will rise 0.1 in  #39;05, but it will likely keep ultra-low interest rates. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan #39;s five-year bout with deflation is likely to end next year, the Bank of Japan said


Sears to Pay for Not Reporting Defects

Sears, Roebuck and Co. has agreed to pay \$500,000 to resolve federal allegations that it failed to report known defects on riding lawnmowers, federal safety officials said Friday.


In a second round of lawsuits four major US internet service providers (ISPs) are taking on senders of e-mail spam and unwanted commercial messages sent via instant messaging.


Mandrake goes Official with Linux

MORENO VALLEY, Calif., and PARIS, Oct. 28 - Mandrakesoft has released Mandrakelinux 10.1 Official, the latest version of its Linux operating system.


Dell #39;s tech docs now making house calls

Round Rock-based computer giant Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL) is revamping customer service -- going so far as to make house calls. The reforms offer customers new avenues for help and a new stream of revenue for Dell.


Boston outclassed Cardinals

They were outpitched, outhit, outsmarted and outclassed, and soon they were out of the 100th World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals turned out to be just another National League


Australia clinch series in India

Nagpur - Australia #39;s 35-year wait for a Test series triumph on Indian soil ended Friday when its pace bowlers ripped through the Indian batting line-up to clinch a massive 342-run victory in the third Test.


UPDATE 1-Champion Loeb leads in Catalunya rally

Newly-crowned world champion Sebastien Loeb led Belgium #39;s Francois Duval by just one second after three stages of the Rally of Catalunya on Friday.


Levein Says Goodbyes to Hearts Players

Hearts head coach Craig Levein is poised to join Leicester City after saying his goodbyes to Jambos players at training this morning.


EU clears Flextronics buy of Nortel units (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union regulators on Friday cleared the acquisition by Singapore's Flextronics International Ltd. of manufacturing actives from Nortel Networks Corp., Canada's largest technology company.


Seven Uniformed Men Held But No Word of Kidnapped Britain

International aid workers kept a low profile today after the brazen daylight kidnapping of a British woman and two other foreign UN election staff in the Afghan capital, Kabul.


Avon Profit Up on International Sales

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Avon Products Inc. on Friday posted a  better-than-expected 33 percent increase in third-quarter  profit as business in Latin America and Europe helped offset  weakness in the United States for the direct seller of  cosmetics.


Iran Sees Small Chance of UN Economic Sanctions

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran believes there is only a 10 percent  chance the U.N. Security Council will impose economic sanctions  on it if Washington succeeds in sending its nuclear case there,  a senior security official said on Friday.


Death penalty for Afghan killers

An Afghan court sentences to death three men for killing 11 Chinese road workers in Kunduz in June.


FDA Holds Off Approval of New Merck Drug (Reuters)

Reuters - Merck   Co.  on Friday said\U.S. regulators have decided not to approve the company's\experimental arthritis drug, the successor to its recalled\Vioxx pill, until more safety and effectiveness data are\obtained.


Bristol-Myers Posts Lower Profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. BMY.N on  Friday reported a lower third-quarter profit as revenue fell  amid intense competition for its products from rivals and  generic drugs.


Not So Fast, Linux

Anticipation built for weeks beforehand. The city government of Paris, with 17,000 desktop PCs and hundreds of servers, was mulling a technology shift that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago: retiring Microsoft Corp.


EU constitution signed in Rome

The leaders of the European Union #39;s 25 member states gathered in Rome Friday to sign the new EU constitution. Later in the day the heads of state planned to return home to try


Employment Costs Edge Up in Third Quarter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employment costs rose by  slightly less than expected in the third quarter this year, up  0.9 percent, as benefit costs posted their smallest rise since  early 2002, a government report showed on Friday.


EU leaders trumpet historic new constitution (AFP)

AFP - EU leaders signed a historic constitution for the expanding bloc in a fanfare ceremony on the spot where the European Union's forerunner was born, although doubts remain over whether it will ever come into force.


Harvard Plans Major Engineering Expansion (AP)

AP - Harvard University is planning a major expansion of its engineering program, including a 67 percent increase in the size of the faculty and the possible establishment of a separate school.


Intel Overhaul Draws Yawns From Voters (AP)

AP - Republicans and Democrats were for it  #151; and against it. The families of Sept. 11 victims opposed one plan and approved another. The House wanted its bill, the Senate preferred its own. And most Americans didn't seem to care about attempts by Congress to overhaul the U.S. intelligence system.


Consumer spending lifts US growth

US economic growth picked up in the third quarter, fuelled by strong consumer spending, official figures show.


China #39;s interest rate hike necessary, but not sufficient

An economist with Asian Development Bank said Friday that China #39;s decision to raise interest rates is necessary, but not enough to curb inflation.


Red Sox hot, but owner #39;s funds cold

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry #39;s bet on baseball has paid off big with the team #39;s first World Series championship since 1918, but his calls in the financial markets haven #39;t played out as well.


Oil, Gas Prices Help Chevron Earnings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - ChevronTexaco Corp.CVX.N, the No. 2  U.S. oil company, on Friday reported a rise in quarterly  profit, pumped up by record oil and gas prices and gains on  asset sales.


FDA Holds Off Approval of New Merck Arthritis Drug

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co. on Friday said U.S.  regulators won't approve its experimental arthritis drug  Arcoxia until the company provides more data showing it is safe  and effective.


Nexen to Buy EnCana Unit for \$2.1 Billion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nexen Inc. has agreed to buy a  U.K.-based subsidiary of EnCana Corp. in an all-cash deal worth  \$2.1 billion, enabling Canada's fourth largest oil explorer to  expand into the U.K. sector of the North Sea.


Earnings alert: Cell phone unit shores up Verizon

Plus: Gateway trims loss in third quarter...EDS delays earnings...Amazon outlook disappoints...PeopleSoft exceeds targets.


Photo: Secret Service takes over Shadowcrew site

The Web site of identity-fraud suspects operating as the Shadowcrew has been replaced by information about alleged members' arrests.


Profit Drops at NTT DoCoMo on Service Fees (AP)

AP - NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's top mobile carrier, reported a 6 percent drop in first fiscal half earnings Friday as it introduced discounts to fight intensifying competition. But it raised its full-year forecast, citing anticipated gains on asset sales.


Stock Futures Signal a Flat Open Today

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures were little changed  on Friday, pointing to a flat market open, after third-quarter  gross domestic product data showed the U.S. economy grew at a  slower-than-expected pace.


Education Unit, TV Hike Wash Post Profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Post Co. WPO.N said on  Friday that quarterly profit jumped, boosted by results at its  Kaplan education unit and television broadcasting operations.


Growth Under Forecast in 3rd Quarter (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. economy grew at a healthy\3.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter this year,\bolstered by strong consumer spending and accompanied by the\lowest inflation in decades, the Commerce Department said on\Friday.


Bristol-Myers Posts Lower Profit (Reuters)

Reuters - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  on\Friday reported a lower third-quarter profit as revenue fell\amid intense competition for its products from rivals and\generic drugs.


Employment Costs Edge Up in Third Quarter (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. employment costs rose by\slightly less than expected in the third quarter this year, up\0.9 percent, as benefit costs posted their smallest rise since\early 2002, a government report showed on Friday.


Shroomin' at the Ballot Box

Approximately three hours ago, I decided to do mushrooms for the first time in nearly four years. Seemed as good a time as any. It's a sunny October day in Denver. Brown leaves constantly cascade on me as I walk down the sidewalk, blissfully trying to ignore the crackheads who think I'm a walking ATM and a group of ese's who are giving me the evil eye. Church bells are ringing (ringing...ringing really loud...does that always happen around noon?...shit) crazy black dudes are singing along with their 1991-era Walkmans. Everything was peaceful, and I felt at one with the universe.  Why oh why did I decide to fuck it all up by going to vote today?


Arafat Arrives in France for Hospital Treatment

A mysterious ailment has weakened Yasir Arafat and raised concerns that Palestinian politics could be plunged into turmoil.


Economic growth less than forecast in Q3, prices muted

The US economy grew at a healthy 3.7 annual rate in the third quarter this year, bolstered by strong consumer spending and accompanied by the lowest inflation in decades, the Commerce Department said Friday.


UPDATE: Australia #39;s National Foods Steps Up Bid Defence

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australian dairy company National Foods Ltd. (NFD.AU) Friday signaled there is a remote chance a rival bidder may challenge the hostile A\$1.


EnCana sells British operations to Nexen for \$2.1 billion US

CALGARY (CP) - Oil giant EnCana Corp. is selling its British North Sea operations to Nexen Inc. for \$2.1 billion US and wants to dispose of its businesses in Ecuador and the Gulf of Mexico as well to focus on North America.


quot;Hobbit quot; Joins Human Family

A new and tiny species of human that lived in Indonesia at the same time our own ancestors were colonising the world were discovered by scientists.


Harvard Plans Major Engineering Expansion

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard University is planning a major expansion of its engineering program, including a 67 percent increase in the size of the faculty and the possible establishment of a separate school.


Russia to Build Space Launch Pad in South Korea

Moscow and Seoul have signed a deal to build a rocket-launch facility in South Korea. It will be built by the end of 2007 in Goheung, South Jeolla province, the Joongang Ilbo newspaper writes.


We all could take a lesson from Red Sox

ST. LOUIS T hree hours after the Boston Red Sox turned the lights out on this World Series, a guest staying on the 17th floor of the St.


Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat arrives in Paris

VILLACOUBLAY, France Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was brought to France on Friday and rushed to a military hospital for treatment of a mysterious illness, which has forced him to leave his West Bank headquarters for the first time in nearly


Eyewitness: Thailand #39;s deadly protest

Thailand is in shock after 78 arrested Muslims died in overloaded army trucks after a protest turned violent. The BBC #39;s Tony Cheng has visited the camp where more than 1,000 survivors of the journey are still being held.


Reformist Mazen likely to succeed Arafat

Reformist former Palestinian Authority prime minister Abu Mazen will temporarily take over chairman Yasser Arafat #39;s authority, Palestinian sources said.


Tumbleweeds in the Bloodstream

Tiny sensors, shaped like tumbleweed and small enough to fit inside a blood vessel, might one day ride to space inside astronauts' bodies, warning the space travelers when radiation is damaging their cells.


Treasuries Turn Flat on GDP Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasuries recouped early losses on  Friday after data showed the U.S. economy grew less strongly  than expected last quarter while inflation slowed markedly.


Photo: Shadowcrew site in federal custody

The Web site of identity-fraud suspects operating as the Shadowcrew has been replaced by information about alleged members' arrests.


Oil, Gas Prices Help Chevron Earnings (Reuters)

Reuters - ChevronTexaco Corp., the No. 2\U.S. oil company, on Friday reported a rise in quarterly\profit, pumped up by record oil and gas prices and gains on\asset sales.


New Era for Cambodia as King Sihamoni Ascends Throne

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - In a ceremony full of pageantry and  hope, King Norodom Sihamoni ascended the Cambodian throne on  Friday, ushering in a new royal era for a country still trying  to draw a line under its bloody, genocidal past.


CORRECTED: Bristol-Myers Profit Sinks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. BMY.N on  Friday reported a lower third-quarter profit as U.S. revenue  fell amid intense competition for its products from rivals and  generic drugs.


Delta pilots accept pay cut

Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Gerald Grinstein said Thursday that even if the carrier #39;s pilots approve a \$1 billion cost-cutting agreement, the airline may still have to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.


Nexen to Buy EnCana Unit for \$2.1 Billion

Nexen Inc. has agreed to buy a UK-based subsidiary of EnCana Corp. in an all-cash deal worth \$2.1 billion, enabling Canada #39;s fourth largest oil explorer to expand into the UK sector of the North Sea.


Bristol-Myers Squibb Net Slumps

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY:NYSE - news - research) reported a sharply lower profit in the third-quarter as generic competition continued to eat away at drug sales and the company ratcheted up spending on research and development of new drugs.


Liberia Slaps Curfew on Capital After Riots (Reuters)

Reuters - Liberia slapped an immediate curfew on\the capital Monrovia on Friday after stick-wielding youths\rampaged through the coastal city, burning buildings, petrol\stations and vehicles.


New Era for Cambodia as King Sihamoni Ascends Throne (Reuters)

Reuters - In a ceremony full of pageantry and\hope, King Norodom Sihamoni ascended the Cambodian throne on\Friday, ushering in a new royal era for a country still trying\to draw a line under its bloody, genocidal past.


Microsoft, AOL battle spam  amp; spim

Microsoft files new lawsuits against spam while AOL battles  #39;spim #39;- unsolicited messages sent to users of its instant messaging service.


Scientists find new species of hobbits

Australian and Indonesian scientists have discovered a species of tiny human beings who lived on the remote Indonesian island of Flores 18,000 years ago.


By 2015 AMD Will IT-Enable Half Of World Populace

Global chipmaker AMD has taken up the cudgel of IT-enabling half of the worlds population, by 2015, in what could be one the most ambitious initiatives undertaken by any technology manufacturer so far.


Sony to launch PlayStation Portable in December

TOKYO - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) will roll out in Japan a handheld video game system on Dec. 12 called PlayStation Portable (PSP), priced at 19,800, or about \$185.


Cycling: Armstrong question hangs over 2005 Tour

PARIS Lance Armstrong was absent when the route and difficulties of the 2005 Tour de France were made public in Paris, but his aura filled the hall.


Big Al chases dos amigos

ALASTAIR FORSYTH tees off in the second round of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama today determined to maintain the form he showed yesterday.


Sox ace making pitch for Bush

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling - who helped the team capture its first World Series title in 86 years - will campaign with President Bush today at a rally at Pease International Tradeport.


Shaq and Kobe eager to show who is the better team leader (AFP)

AFP - Unable to set aside their differences in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal will now be facing new challenges with teams on either side of the continent.


Group claims to kill kidnapped Iraq troops

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi militant group said on its web site Thursday that it had killed 11 Iraqi troops taken hostage south of Baghdad and posted video of the bound men being shot or beheaded.


U.S. Growth Under Forecast in 3rd Quarter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.7  percent annual rate in the third quarter, below expectations  but still bolstered by healthy consumer spending that was  accompanied by the lowest inflation in decades, the Commerce  Department said on Friday.


Midgley carries Cal with career-high 28

It #39;s official: Cal junior Richard Midgley is now a point guard and a shooting guard. Moved to the point four games ago when Ayinde Ubaka broke his foot, Midgley never has shot the ball better.


Avon Profit Rises on International Sales

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Avon Products Inc. AVP.N on Friday  posted a better-than-expected 33 percent increase in  third-quarter profit as business in Latin America and Europe  helped offset weakness in the United States for the direct  seller of cosmetics.


US sues student 'song swappers'

The US music industry sues 750 computer users believed to be distributing music illegally over the internet.


Bristol-Myers Posts Lower Profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. BMY.N on  Friday reported a lower third-quarter profit as U.S. sales fell  amid competition from rival brands and cheaper generics and the  company took a number of special charges.


Stocks Open Near Unchanged After GDP Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened little changed on  Friday, after third-quarter gross domestic product data showed  the U.S. economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace.


Dinner in Geneva Led to Rumble in the Jungle

KINSHASA (Reuters) - When a guest at a plush dinner in  Geneva asked where Kinshasa was, she set off a chain of events  that led to one of the world's great sporting showdowns.


U.S. Growth Under Forecast in 3rd Quarter (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.7\percent annual rate in the third quarter, below expectations\but still bolstered by healthy consumer spending that was\accompanied by the lowest inflation in decades, the Commerce\Department said on Friday.


Economy Grows at 3.7 Percent Annual Rate

The US economy grew at a 3.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter - a pace that was slightly better than in the spring but not as strong as many analysts expected.


Markets calm after China rate rise

HONG KONG Mainland Chinese stock markets dropped less than 2 percent on Friday as most Asian financial markets reacted with surprising calm to the Chinese central bank #39;s announcement late on Thursday of its first increase in interest rates in nine years.


DaimlerChrysler operating profit increases to \$1.7 billion in Q3

Total revenues increased by 2 to \$43.3 billion, despite the appreciation of the Euro against the US dollar, mainly due to higher unit sales.


2 French firms agree on aeronautics merger

PARIS Snecma, a state-run maker of airplane engines, and Sagem, a maker of mobile phones and defense electronics, said Friday that they had agreed to merge in a transaction that would create a company worth about 7.


Float Time on Checks Shortens, as of Thursday

Consumers who have become used to writing checks in the expectation of having at least a couple of days to cover them with a deposit may soon be in for a rude awakening.


Bristol-Myers Third-Quarter Profit Fell on Costs (Update1)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., which has lost US patent protection on eight of its drugs since 2000, said third-quarter earnings fell 16 percent as costs rose and sales of the Pravachol cholesterol treatment fell.


French Firms Sagem, Snecma Plan Merger (Reuters)

Reuters - French companies Snecma and Sagem \announced a planned 7 billion euro ( #36;8.9 billion) merger on\Friday, in a deal that analysts said was driven by political\rather than shareholder interests.


Prem Wrap: Goalfest As Big Guns Flex Their Muscles

It #39;s as you were at the top and bottom of the Premiership afrter a December Saturday on which the  #39;Big Three #39; all recorded emphatic victories, scoring ten goals between them and conceding precisely none.


Cassini radar shows diversity on Saturn #39;s moon Titan

This radar image of the surface of Saturn #39;s moon Titan was acquired on October 26, 2004, when the Cassini spacecraft flew approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) above the surface and acquired radar data for the first time.


Island dwarf is a big find for scientists

NEW YORK Once upon a time, but not so long ago, in a tropical island midway between Asia and Australia, there lived a race of little people, whose adults stood just more than one meter tall.


ISU Student Named In Downloading Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES -- At least one Indiana State University student has been named as a defendant in a new round of lawsuits against music downloaders.


Dell angles for the best seat in the living room

ROUND ROCK, Texas--Dell plans to continue expanding its stable of consumer electronics products and services throughout the rest of the year, looking to the gear to help it generate new customers and ultimately to sell more PCs.


PDA Market Continues its Downslide: IDC

With the advent of smartphones and declining popularity of personal digital assistant (PDAs), IDC has reported a drastic fall in sales of PDAs worldwide with the industry recording a year-on-year fall for the third successive quarter.


Chelsea to sack Mutu - with Abramovich approval

The Sun says Mutu, 25, has confessed to soccer chiefs he is a regular user and has been addicted to the drug since early this year.


NO MODEL ROUND FROM MONTGOMERIE

Colin Montgomerie fell out of contention for the Volvo Masters at Valderrama today as word of the Scot being pictured with a famous Spanish model went around the course.


Juventus beats Roma, stretches unbeaten streak

Captain Alessandro Del Piero scored his third goal in two games and Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta added another Thursday to give Italian league leader Juventus a 2-0 victory over traditional rival AS Roma 2-0, extending its unbeaten


Red Sox will appear on Wheaties box

The Boston Red Sox will be the first World Series winner featured on a Wheaties box since the 1999 New York Yankees. The special edition package will picture David Ortiz on the front of the box, along with


US economy grows 3.7 percent in third quarter (AFP)

AFP - The US economy expanded at a slower-than-expected 3.7 percent annual pace in the third quarter of 2004, the government said in the last major economic report before the November 2 election.


Toward a united European voice

BRUSSELS On Friday, Europe #39;s leaders gathered in Rome to sign the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. This was a historic moment.


Six Pitcairn Island men sentenced up to six years for sex attacks

SYDNEY, Australia British authorities say six men on Pitcairn Island have been sentenced up to six years in prison for sex attacks dating back 40 years.


Indonesian cleric back in the dock

Smack in the middle of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, hordes of international and local reporters have descended on a makeshift courtroom here to witness the long-awaited and


Disgraced and bankrupt British MP back in the money via showbiz (AFP)

AFP - A British former MP left bankrupt and publicly disgraced just three years ago has recouped much of his riches by exploiting his notoriety in the world of show business, a report said.


Japanese Emperor's Comments Cause Stir (AP)

AP - Japanese officials rushed on Friday to dismiss suggestions that the emperor overstepped his authority and meddled in government affairs by voicing his opposition to Tokyo schools' policy of compulsory patriotism.


Oil Steadies, China Rate Hike Unsettles

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Friday after an 8  percent rout spurred by a surprise interest rate hike in China  that raised doubts about demand from the world's second largest  energy user.


Avon Lowers U.S. Sales Forecast

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Avon Products Inc. AVP.N on Friday  posted a 33 percent increase in third-quarter profit, but  continued concerns over weakness in the United states pushed  the stock 7 percent lower.


Young gun Kovalainen puts Schumacher in shade

PARIS (AFP) - Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher found himself overshadowed as young Finn Heikki Kovalainen beat him on his way to winning the Race of Champions at the Stade de France.


Paying a price to be No. 1

Intel's plain-spoken CEO  has a message for the nation: If you want to stay on top, it's time to rev up your competitive metabolism.


US sues student  #39;song swappers #39;

The US recording industry is taking legal action against 750 computer users believed to be distributing music illegally over the internet.


Avon Lowers U.S. Sales Forecast (Reuters)

Reuters - Avon Products Inc.  on Friday\posted a 33 percent increase in third-quarter profit, but\continued concerns over weakness in the United states pushed\the stock 7 percent lower.


Australia breach final frontier

Australia have won their first Test series in India since 1969-70 after a crushing 342-run win in the third Test in Nagpur. The win gives them an unassailable 2-0 series lead and means that the one blot on their copybook has been erased.


Schilling to appear with Bush in NH

One of the heros of the World Series will be in the political spotlight Friday in New Hampshire. Boston Red Sox pitching ace Curt Schilling is appearing with President Bush Friday.


Higher Energy Prices Help Chevron Earnings

The No. 2 U.S. oil company reported a rise in quarterly profit pumped up by record oil and gas prices and gains on asset sales.


Merck Pain Reliever Gets Preliminary OK

The Food and Drug Administration told Merck  #38; Co. that it would approve the company's successor drug to the now defunct pain reliever Vioxx if it provides further safety and efficacy data, the big pharmaceutical company announced Friday.


Web-Based Tool Helps Voters Find Polls

With most states reporting massive new voter registrations and many political observers worrying about potential voter confusion and allegations of fraud on Nov.2, one organization has created a web-based tool to answer questions and provide information.


Andrew Kantor: CyberSpeak - Sinclair is the latest to feel the power of blogs (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Last Friday, television stations that were members of the Sinclair Media Group were scheduled to air an anti-John Kerry special called Stolen Honor. They were ordered to by executives of the company - the same execs who forbid the 62 TV stations the company controls from airing Ted Koppel's reading of the names of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq this spring.


Asian Americans fight language barrier in US elections (AFP)

AFP - When Chungin Chung, an Asian American community leader, was invited to meet US vice-presidential candidate Senator John Edwards ahead of the November 2 election, she was excited but politely declined.


Consumer Sentiment Fades in October

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment deteriorated  in October as rising energy costs and persistent job worries  made Americans less optimistic about the future, according to a  survey released on Friday.


Consumer Sentiment Fades in October (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. consumer sentiment deteriorated\in October as rising energy costs and persistent job worries\made Americans less optimistic about the future, according to a\survey released on Friday.


China's Yao set to carry Rockets with McGrady by his side (AFP)

AFP - Yao Ming has cemented his stature as one of the dominant big men in the National Basketball Association, and now he has a chance to become an integral part of the league's most explosive one-two tandem.


BALCO fallout continues

Former track superstar Marion Jones was  quot;without a doubt quot; a drugs cheat, according to the man who says he devised Jones #39; program for use of banned performance-enhancing drugs before she won five gold medals at the 2000 Olympics.