Daimler and GM gear up for transmission revolution

Carmakers DaimlerChrysler and General Motors are to co-operate on developing a new type of transmission-based system to compete with Toyota and Honda in the growing hybrid market.


Blog Creation, Readership Rises in 2004 (AP)

AP - Readership of online journals known as blogs grew significantly in 2004, driven by increased awareness of them during the presidential campaign and other major news events, according to a study released Sunday.


Ukraine Seeks to Control Yushchenko Probe (AP)

AP - Ukraine's outgoing government sought Monday to control the inquiry into the poisoning of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, with officials close to the government taking charge of both investigations into who tried to harm or kill the leader of the "Orange Revolution."


COLEMAN TIPS CHELSEA FOR TITLE

Fulham boss Chris Coleman on Monday backed neighbours Chelsea to be crowned Barclays Premiership champions after Manchester United slipped up at Craven Cottage.


UN suspends aid operations in South Darfur after killing of workers (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - The United Nations has suspended its humanitarian operations in Sudan's troubled South Darfur area following a shooting that killed two aid workers, the agency said Monday.


NBA Wrap: O'Neal Pours in 40 Points as Miami Wins (Reuters)

Reuters - Shaquille O'Neal scored a season-high\40 points and added 12 rebounds and five blocked shots to drive\the host Miami Heat past the Washington Wizards 106-83 Monday.


Giants Agree to 3-Year Deal With Matheny (AP)

AP - The San Francisco Giants and catcher Mike Matheny agreed to a  #36;10.5 million three-year contract Monday, the latest move to upgrade the team's defense.


EU Works on Turkey Membership Talks (AP)

AP - The European Union edged closer Monday to giving Turkey the green light on membership talks, but jitters over bringing the relatively poor Muslim nation into the fold prevented a decision on a starting date.


WTO approves membership talks with Iraq, Afghanistan

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has approved requests by Iraq and Afghanistan to begin membership negotiations, but Iran #39;s bid for such talks was again blocked by the United States.


India, Pak to discuss CBMs

Islamabad, Dec 14 - Experts from Pakistan and India are meeting today and tomorrow in Islamabad to discuss nuclear and conventional confidence building measures (CBMs).


Add 'Podcasts' To Your Tech Terms Playlist (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - Just as you can download music to an iPod, some folks are doing the same with a new form of talk radio.


Wake Forest Holds Off Temple; Mississippi State Wins

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Eric Williams scored 17  points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field to lead sixth-ranked  Wake Forest to a 67-64 win over Temple at the Liacouras Center.


Late Bouba Diop Strike Denies United

LONDON (Reuters) - A late equalizer from Pape Bouba Diop  gave Fulham a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Monday  and prevented Alex Ferguson's team from moving back into to the  thick of the Premier League title race.


Chavez Allies Name Supreme Court Justices

President Hugo Chavez's allies in Congress appointed 17 new justices to the supreme court Monday as opposition parties accused the leader of stacking the nation's highest court with government-friendly magistrates.


Oracle Buys PeopleSoft for \$10.3 Billion

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc. on Monday agreed  to a sweetened \$10.3 billion buyout by rival software maker  Oracle Corp., relenting after a 18-month takeover saga marked  by personal insults, courtroom battles and the ouster of  PeopleSoft's chief executive.


Citigroup Says It Will Issue American Express Cards

American Express, which fought for the right to sign deals with banks that issue cards on the Visa and MasterCard networks, said that it won a contract with Citigroup.


Grid pioneers launch company

SAN FRANCISCO - The creators of the Globus open source grid software formally launched software and services company Univaon Monday with the hopes of capitalizing on their work on grid computing.


Samsung Makes Smaller MMC Card for Cell Phones

Thumbnail-sized memory card's maximum capacity will be 128MB.


FOMC rate calls may get more interesting next year

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - The Federal Open Market committee is meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday and the most that financial markets can muster is a collective yawn.


Jaguar workers vote against strike action

Jaguar workers have voted against strike action in protest at the axing of car production in Coventry. Although the switch from Browns Lane to production facilities at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham forces


MSN Desktop Search Debuts

With the launch this week of new toolbars, Microsoft wants to make it as easy to find lost files on your desktop as it is to search the Web.


HP targets Chinese market with AMD powered PC

China with its large population provides a big market for the PC Manufacturers. However, it is the local computer makers who rule the Chinese PC Market.


Google to Digitize Some Library Collections

Five prestigious university and public libraries have reached agreement with Google Inc. to digitize millions of volumes in their collections and make portions of the text available for free


White Sox deal C. Lee to Brewers for Podsednik, Vizcaino

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Hoping to add more power to their lineup, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielder Carlos Lee from the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be names later on Monday.


Finance: the Point of No Returns (Reuters)

Reuters - (Linda Stern is a freelance writer who covers personal\finance issues for Reuters. Any opinions in the column are\solely those of Ms. Stern. You can e-mail her at\lindastern(at)aol.com.)


Filipinos mourn the death of movie legend

The actor, who nearly unseated Gloria Arroyo in May #39;s presidential election, suffered a stroke at the weekend. News of Mr Poe #39;s illness and death has gripped the nation, pushing aside reports about a bomb


US military denies Saddam on hunger strike

Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was not on a hunger strike, the US military said Sunday. File video footage released on December 14, 2004 shows Saddam Hussein having his


Cavs Edge Grizzlies

LeBron James has a stellar all-around game with 31 points, eight assists and seven steals to lead Cleveland over Memphis, 92-86.


Electronic Arts Gets an Exclusive N.F.L. Deal

The video game maker Electronic Arts announced an exclusive five-year deal with the National Football League to design games using the N.F.L. brand.


Cardinal Health to Cut Costs by Eliminating 4,200 Jobs

Cardinal Health, the drug wholesaler, said Monday it would cut 4,200 jobs, or 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 manufacturing and distribution locations as part of a plan to reduce costs.


World Prize Still Within Henry #39;s Grasp

Thierry Henry might find some consolation in the fact that the European Player of the Year has gone on to be crowned the worlds best only once in the last four years.


Oil Prices Extend Gains Above  #36;41/barrel (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices extended gains above  #36;41 a\barrel on Tuesday on forecasts of colder temperatures in the\U.S. Northeast, a supply cut by top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia\and disruptions to Iraqi crude exports.


US Air Flight Attendants Ready for Strike (Reuters)

Reuters - Flight attendants at bankrupt US\Airways Group Inc.  have authorized their union to\call a strike should a federal court allow airline management\to void their contract, the Association of Flight Attendants\said on Monday.


Survey: Local hiring to remain flat/12-14

The majority of employers in Hamilton and Fairfield dont plan to hire over the next three months, according the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.


Bomb Kills 7 Iraqis, Year After Saddam's Capture (Reuters)

Reuters - A suicide car bomber killed at least\seven Iraqis outside Baghdad's government compound on Monday,\the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture.


Microsoft launches software for searching desktops

SEATTLE - Microsoft has become the second tech-industry giant to offer software for searching through computer desktops, a technology it claims is superior to that launched by Google two months ago.


Google adds major libraries to its database

Google, the operator of the world #39;s most popular Internet search service, plans to announce an agreement Tuesday with some of the nation #39;s leading research libraries and Oxford


Yahoo Names Its First Chief Data Officer

Yahoo has named Dr. Usama Fayyad as Chief Data Officer and senior vice president of the Strategic Data Solutions group. Fayyad will be responsible for Yahoo!


Oracle Launches New Real-Time Collaboration Suite

Oracle today announced its Oracle(r) Collaboration Suite 10g with new real-time collaboration tools and enterprise content management capabilities.


NBA Wrap: O #39;Neal Pours in 40 Points as Miami Wins

Shaquille O #39;Neal scored a season-high 40 points and added 12 rebounds and five blocked shots to drive the host Miami Heat past the Washington Wizards 106-83 Monday.


Weis Finds New Home With Notre Dame

While hes spent the past several seasons in New England winning two Superbowl championships and looks poised to a third, Weis may have hoped that success would have lead to an NFL head coaching job.


No. 20 Mississippi St. 74, New Orleans 59

Once Mississippi State started rolling, New Orleans was no match for the 20th-ranked Bulldogs. Shane Power scored 17 points and Mississippi State extended its road winning streak to 13 games


Eight US Marines among 24 killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD: At least 24 people, including eight US Marines, were killed in Iraq suicide bombing and fighting. An al-Qaeda-linked suicide bomber blew up his vehicle on Monday near cars waiting to enter the Green


#39;Israel should coordinate Gaza pullout with Palestinians #39;

Israel is prepared to withdraw troops from Palestinian areas well ahead of a planned pullout from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank next summer, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said.


Google Announces Search Deal with Seven Libraries

Web search leader Google Inc. (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said late on Monday it is working on a project to digitally scan the collections at seven libraries and will make


No. 19 Louisville Tops Tennessee St. (AP)

AP - Francisco Garcia matched his career-high with 29 points, including eight straight during a 27-4 run, and No. 19 Louisville pulled away for a 98-64 victory over Tennessee State on Sunday.


MSN Toolbar Suite Beta

The MSN Toolbar Suite combines several great programs that speed up your search tasks and help you surf the Web. There #39;s now an MSN Toolbar for Microsoft Office Outlook, the MSN Deskbar in the Windows taskbar


Google Partners with Oxford, Harvard  amp; Others to Digitize <b>...</b>

Google has announcing five new content partners and a massive scanning project that will bring millions of volumes of printed books into the Google Print database.


Phishing is a problem for all Internet browsers

Take heart, Internet Explorer users. Now it appears that virtually every Internet browser program - not just yours - poses a security risk.


Oracle Redefines Enterprise Content Management With Launch of <b>...</b>

To help companies increase productivity, reduce risk and better meet regulatory compliance guidelines through improved management of unstructured data, Oracle announced the launch of its enterprise-class content management technology, Oracle Files 10g.


Baghdad and Kabul approved for WTO talks

The World Trade Organisation gave approval on Monday for Iraq and Afghanistan to begin negotiations to join the 148-member body - but the US again blocked the opening of accession talks with Iran.


Bomb kills 13 in Iraq

BAGHDAD: An Al Qaeda-linked suicide bomber blew up his vehicle yesterday near cars waiting to enter the Green Zone, home to the US embassy and Iraq #39;s interim government, killing 13 Iraqis on the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein #39;s capture.


N. Korea Extends Isolation by Refusing Nuclear Talks, US Says

North Korea is prolonging its isolation by refusing to return to six-nation talks aimed at dismantling the country #39;s nuclear programs, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.


China, US move on textile quotas

The United States and China have both taken steps to control an expected flood of cheap Chinese textiles and clothing into the world market after a decades-old quota system expires on January 1.


Deutsche Boerse courts the LSE for tie-up

More than four years after burying their ambitious iX merger project, the Frankfurt and London stock exchanges had returned to the negotiating table to discuss a possible tie-up


Nextel and Sprint: New Partners?

The cellular telephone industry #39;s game of musical chairs has started again, and the music may soon stop with one less chair. Nextel Communications is in advanced talks to merge with Sprint, according to executives involved in the negotiations.


Google to Scan Books From Big Libraries (AP)

AP - Google Inc. is trying to establish an online reading room for five major libraries by scanning stacks of hard-to-find books into its widely used Internet search engine.


Mavericks Edge Bulls 94-93 (AP)

AP - Michael Finley capped his 27-point night with a 17-foot jumper with 3.2 seconds left to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 94-93 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.


Shevchenko is European footballer of the year

PARIS (AFP) - AC Milan #39;s Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko was yesterday named European footballer of the year for 2004. The 28 year-old becomes the third Ukrainian to win the award after Oleg Blockhin in


League memo snubs proposal by players

A confidential eight-page memo sent from the NHL to its 30 member clubs indicates the league and its players #39; union remain far apart with negotiations scheduled to resume today.


Roethlisberger vs. Manning - No comparison

Ben Roethlisberger needed less than a season to close the considerable gap between himself and Eli Manning, the top choice in this year #39;s draft.


Google Announces Search Deal with Seven Libraries (Reuters)

Reuters - Web search leader Google Inc.\ said late on Monday it is working on a project to\digitally scan the collections at seven libraries and will make\the pages available to Google users over the coming years.


Democratic Rep. Bob Matsui Dies at 63 (AP)

AP - Democratic Rep. Robert T. Matsui of California, who spent time in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans as an infant during World War II and went on to serve 26 years in Congress, has died of complications from a rare disease, his family said Sunday.


Chile #39;s Pinochet under house arrest

London - Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was on Monday placed under house arrest on human rights charges after a judge in Santiago ruled he was mentally fit to stand trial.


Mars Rovers See Water-Linked Mineral (AP)

AP - The Mars rover Spirit found a mineral linked to water during its exploration of the Red Planet, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said Monday.


Navy commander ordered back to UK

The captain of a Royal Navy warship is removed during a tour of duty to the Gulf amid allegations of bullying.


Oracle, PeopleSoft Merger Approved

Software maker PeopleSoft Inc. announced Monday that it had agreed to be acquired by Oracle Corp. in a \$10.3 billion deal, ending one of the longest, nastiest takeover battles in recent corporate history. -The Washington Post


Sprint, Nextel to Build on Wireless Strength

Proposed merger would create the country's third-largest wireless unit, and the new company could be a very formidable competitor given Nextel's prized customer base. -The Washington Post


Geico Corp. Wants to Restrict Google Ads

Geico urged a federal judge Monday in Alexandria to issue an injunction prohibiting Internet giant Google Inc. from selling ads based on searches using the Washington insurance giant's name, arguing the practice infringes on its trademark. -The Washington Post


Computer Sciences Sells DynCorp Units

Computer Sciences Corp. is selling parts of Reston-based DynCorp it acquired last year, saying the units, which provide security to foreign leaders and train international police, do not fit with its information technology focus.


Oracle buyout gets mixed reviews from PeopleSoft customers

Today's announcement of Oracle's \$10.3 billion buyout of PeopleSoft Inc. isn't drawing rave reviews from the installed based of customers about to be acquired in the deal.


Review: New Microsoft beta good but security still an issue

Microsoft announced the release of its MSN Desktop Toolbar Suite beta yesterday, including a new desktop search capability aimed at making it faster and easier for Windows computer users to find the information on their local systems.


AMD, IBM develop silicon transistor technology to improve <b>...</b>

Microprocessor maker AMD and IBM have developed a strained silicon transistor technology aimed at improving processor performance and power efficiency.


UNITED HELD

LONDON: Papa Bouba Diop smashed in a stunning late equaliser to give Fulham a deserved 1-1 home draw with Manchester United in the Premiership early this morning.


Davidson: He was maestro on the mound in Boston

The Red Sox and the Indians were tied, 8-8, in the fifth and deciding game of the 1999 Division Series when Pedro Martinez was summoned from the bullpen.


Shaq #39;s 40 help Heat dominate Wizards

MIAMI - Playing without his sidekick for more than a half Monday, Shaquille O #39;Neal resembled the player who has been unstoppable for most of his 14 years in the NBA.


Man who brought Americans the Yugo now plans on importing Chinese cars to U.S. (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - DETROIT (AP) - The man who brought the Yugo and Subaru to the United States and built a gull-wing sports car in Canada bearing his name now has a new project - selling Chinese-made cars in the United States.


Explosion Rocks Baghdad, Smoke Near Green Zone

A loud explosion rattled central Baghdad on Tuesday and a cloud of smoke could be seen rising close to the Green Zone government and diplomatic compound.


Climate change threatens China food production

BUENOS AIRES: Climate change could cut China #39;s food production 10 percent by 2050, said an official report at a major UN conference here.


Google Partners with Oxford, Harvard   Others to Digitize Libraries

Google has announcing five new content partners and a massive scanning project that will bring millions of volumes of printed books into the Google Print database.


Update 7: Unocal Settles Rights Cases in Myanmar

Human rights groups lauded the announcement by lawyers that an agreement in principle has been reached to settle human rights lawsuits against oil giant Unocal Corp.


Players #39; offer likely to be rejected

Bob Goodenow, executive director of the NHL Players Association, created a lot of suspense when he submitted a dramatic contract proposal to the league last week.


Diamondbacks call Yankees anew on Johnson

The Arizona Diamondbacks called the New York Yankees again Monday in an effort to restart trade talks on Randy Johnson. Jeff Moorad, the Diamondbacks #39; incoming chief executive officer, called Yankees president


Sprint bid to acquire Nextel on tap

Sprint and Nextel Communications could unveil their \$36 billion merger within a few days, but speculation has intensified about the emergence of a rival bid.


The Year Shoppers Left the Mall Behind

Online buying continues to snowball, according to the results of a recent America Online survey. This year, for the first time, Americans who regularly use the Internet for shopping -- researching


Israeli Forces Raid Northern Gaza (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli tanks moved into the northern Gaza\Strip on Sunday to try to stop cross-border rocket attacks that\front-running Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas\said could achieve nothing.


Microsoft Debuts Desktop Search Tool

Microsoft Corp. released its long-awaited desktop search technology yesterday, entering a crowded race to dominate information access on Windows-based PCs.


Sony, Samsung Sign Licensing Agreement

TOKYO - Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that they have signed a licensing agreement, but the deal won #39;t cover the Asian electronic companies #39; key technologies.


Supreme Court hears file sharing case

The US Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider a case likely to have a significant impact on the music, video and electronics industries.


Apple #39;s iTunes now accepting PayPal

Customers at Apple Computer #39;s iTunes store will now be able to pay for their songs, albums and gift certificates using PayPal, a virtual-wallet technology owned by eBay.


Chiefs Defeat Titans 49-38

Tennessee Titans cornerback Michael Waddell (36) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Eddie Kennison (87) in the second quarter Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 in Nashville, Tenn.


Shevchenko European Footballer of the Year

Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan has been named European Footballer of the Year. In a poll conducted by a French football magazine Monday, the 28-year-old was rewarded for his outstanding scoring


Owners are likely to vote no

During a negotiating session today in Toronto, NHL owners are expected to turn thumbs-down on last week #39;s proposal from the NHL Players Association.


Weis #39; Irish eyes are smiling as he takes Notre Dame post

About seven or eight years ago, Harry Shatel had that conversation with Charlie Weis about the future. Shatel, the Morristown High School baseball coach, doesn #39;t remember the exact date


Yankees reportedly seek 3-way deal for Unit

The New York Yankees haven #39;t given up improving their pitching rotation yet, and they appear to be making moves with a certain tall left-hander in Arizona in mind.


Suicide Car Bomber Hits Baghdad Checkpoint Again

A suicide car bomber struck at an entrance to Baghdad #39;s Green Zone government compound on Tuesday, 24 hours after an almost identical attack on the same checkpoint, a US military spokesman and Iraqi police said.


Pinochet to stand trial for murder

A JUDGE today ordered Chile #39;s former dictator Augusto Pinochet to stand trial for murder and kidnappings under his iron-fisted rule between 1973 and 1990.


Surprise victory for Basescu in Romania

Traian Basescu, a sea captain turned politician, won a surprise victory in Romania #39;s presidential run-off election held on Sunday, according to final results announced yesterday.


Hamas: Israel behind Damascus bombing

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas is accusing Israel of responsibility for the bombing attack on one of its members in the Syrian capital Damascus.


Indo-Pak officials begin talks on nuclear CBMs, Sir Creek

Islamabad: India and Pakistan on Tuesday began separate talks here on nuclear confidence building measures and to work out modalities to conduct joint survey of pillars at Sir Creek area of the Gujarat coast.


Public to get virtual access to 7 million books

Harvard, Oxford and others also will go online in the first deal of its kind. By Nick Bunkley / The Detroit News. By the end of the decade, anyone around the world will have instant access to 7 million volumes


British firms plan to increase hiring

British companies plan to hire more new employees in the first three months of next year compared with plans made for the first quarter of this year, employment agency Manpower says.


When a Utility Saves Money, Who Benefits?

Customers of investor-owned electric utilities must cover all the expenses of these legal monopolies in the rates they pay. But what happens when a utility owner


UAL plans non-union pay cuts

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- UAL Corp, parent of United Airlines, said late Monday it will cut pay of salaried workers and management beginning Jan. 1 as part of its goal to emerge from bankruptcy.


Samsung, Sony to share patents

TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Sony Corp. on Tuesday signed a cross-licensing agreement, allowing mutual sharing of a number of patents across major product lines held by both companies.


MIT grows beating heart tissue

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported yesterday that by using cells harvested from rats, they have grown dime-size swatches of


Hewlett-Packard Unveils Low-Priced PC For Chinese Market

Hewlett-Packard Co. has moved aggressively into the PC market in China by introducing a \$483 machine, a price point which is in the same ballpark as other lean PCs announced earlier in the year by Lenovo Group.


Pedro set to sign with Mets

For days, Omar Minaya was hedging and bluffing, trying to carefully hide his intentions. Finally, he just threw his cards on the table and came up with an ace.


Knicks: From the outside, they #39;re looking in

Lenny Wilkens isn #39;t taking for granted what practically everyone else is -- that a healthy Knicks team will make the postseason.


Wake Forest edges Temple

PHILADELPHIA -- Trent Strickland scored all nine of his points in the last nine minutes, and No. 6 Wake Forest made 5 of 6 free throws in the last two minutes to hold off Temple, 67-64, Monday night.


Anchoring Turkey in the European family

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey #39;s prime minister, has been travelling so much recently that most Turks have to turn on their television to find out where he is.


S Asia rivals hold nuclear talks

The meeting in Islamabad is part of wider efforts to improve relations between the South Asian rivals. Officials from both sides will discuss putting in place safeguards to avert a possible nuclear conflict.


Clinton predicts Arab world #39;s future

Former US President Bill Clinton has ruled out the possibility of reaching a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue and the the Arab-Israeli conflict within the next


Ukraine Speaker: Keep Poisoning Out of Campaign (Reuters)

Reuters - Ukraine's influential parliament speaker\called on Monday for a scandal over the poisoning of opposition\leader Viktor Yushchenko to be kept out of the country's\presidential election campaign.


Fergie fuming as United blow catch-up chance (AFP)

AFP - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was left seething at his side's inability to cash in on the draw between English Premiership favourites Arsenal and Chelsea.


Deputy minister complains about ethics investigation to languages commission (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The federal deputy Immigration minister filed a complaint against the ethics commissioner Monday with the Official Languages Commission over testimony being conducted only in English.


Nikkei Closes Up 1 Pct; Canon, Sony Gain

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average closed over one  percent higher on Tuesday after positive U.S. retail sales data  eased concerns about demand in Japan's main export market and  spurred buying of blue chips such as Sony Corp.


Small Business Optimism at 20-Year High

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Optimism at U.S. small businesses  rose in November to the highest point in more than 20 years on  expectations of faster economic growth and stronger sales, the  National Federation of Independent Business said on Tuesday.


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber struck at an  entrance to Baghdad's Green Zone government compound on  Tuesday, 24 hours after an almost identical attack on the same  checkpoint, a U.S. military spokesman and Iraqi police said.


New blast hits Iraq Green Zone

A car bomb explodes at a US checkpoint in Baghdad -  a day after an almost identical attack there killed seven.


Taiwan's Chen quits party post

President Chen resigns as DPP chairman in Taiwan, in a move which could signal a new drive to find consensus.


Finley Dumps Bulls

The Mavericks' Michael Finley nails a jumper with 3.2 seconds left to lift Dallas to a tough 94-93 victory over Chicago on Monday.


Google to scan books from big libraries

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. is trying to establish an online reading room for five major libraries by scanning stacks of hard-to-find books into its widely used Internet search engine.


Unocal to pay villagers, fund improvements to settle rights case

LOS ANGELES - Unocal Corp. will settle a human rights case filed over a pipeline in Southeast Asia by paying villagers and funding improvements to living conditions along the project route, lawyers on both sides said Monday.


Samsung Develops Thumbnail MMC

High performance with low power, the removable memory card which is smaller than the size of a thumbnail, is expected to revolutionize cell phone designs.


HP cuts prices for China

HP, the world #39;s number two PC maker, said on Friday it has launched a \$483 (about 250) computer in China, turning up the heat in the intensely competitive market.


Yahoo names chief number-cruncher

Web portal Yahoo on Monday appointed Usama Fayyad as its chief data officer and senior vice president of the strategic data solutions group.


Chiefs Down Titans In Exciting Finish

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Trent Green found Eddie Kennison for a go- ahead nine-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining as the Kansas City Chiefs pulled out a thrilling 49-38 victory over the Tennessee Titans in a back-and- forth contest at the Coliseum.


Shevchenko nets European Footballer of Year award

Paris, France (Sports Network) - AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko was named the European Footballer of the Year Monday.


Diamondbacks make a splash

First Troy Glaus, then Russ Ortiz, and the Arizona Diamondbacks say they aren #39;t finished.  quot;This is the second day of the new Diamondbacks, quot; Arizona managing partner Ken Kendrick


Baghdad Suicide Bomb Attack Kills at Least 7

Iraqi authorities say a suicide car-bomb blast in central Baghdad killed at least seven Iraqis and wounded 19 other people Monday - the anniversary of Saddam Hussein #39;s capture by US forces.


Two US Marines killed around Baghdad

Two US Marines were killed Monday around the Iraqi capital, the US. military said in a statement on Tuesday. The two Marines of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force died within


United Airlines imposes wage cuts

America's second largest airline announces widespread pay cuts as it strives to emerge from bankruptcy.


Oracle acquisition of PeopleSoft leads flurry of deals

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- US stocks closed higher Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ending at its best level in more than nine months amid better-than-expected economic data and merger-related optimism.


Business ; Canada Government Says Won #39;t Let Bombardier Die

Earlier, federal Transport Minister Jean Lapierre said the sudden resignation of Bombardier #39;s chief executive, Paul Tellier, on Monday would have no impact on the subsidies negotiations.


Cardinal Health to cut 4,200 jobs, shut 25 offices in <b>...</b>

Cardinal Health Inc., a medical products and services company based in Dublin, Ohio, plans to cut 4,200 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force, and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan, the company said Monday.


Two Internet domain names get preliminary approval

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Number, the organization named by the US government in 1998 to oversee policies over Internet addresses, gave a preliminary nod Monday to domain names targeting mobile services and the jobs


Chelsea still tops for Coleman

Chris Coleman still believes Chelsea will win the Barclays Premiership this season after watching his side put a further dent in Manchester Uniteds own title aspirations at Craven Cottage last night.


Weis accepts Notre Dame job

Notre Dame said New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has signed a six-year year contract to coach the Irish. The 48-year-old Weis returns to the school he graduated from in 1978.


Overreaction to 'distraction'

The guy to whom everything is a potential and dreaded  quot;distraction, quot; now must try to convince his team that the defection of its offensive coordinator is, well, not a distraction. So when is a distraction not a distraction? When Bill Belichick says so?


Oracle seals PeopleSoft takeover

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ending 18 months of hostility, Oracle Corp. has raised its takeover bid for rival PeopleSoft Inc. by 10 per cent to seal a \$10.3-billion US deal that will create the world #39;s second-largest maker of business applications software.


Verizon gets Vodafone OK for Sprint bid: WSJ

Verizon Communications has gained the backing of partner Vodafone Group to bid for Sprint Corp in a move that could thwart Sprint #39;s potential \$35 billion bid for Nextel Communications, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.


TOMMY TUNES UP

Embattled Tommy Hilfiger Corp., desperate to acquire an upscale brand to help re-ignite its growth engine, will buy designer Karl Lagerfeld #39;s small business and roll


SONY BID COULD #39;VE SAVED DISNEY \$

A former Walt Disney Co. director testified that CEO Michael Eisner hoped that Sony Corp. would take Michael Ovitz off his hands and save Disney a  quot;bundle quot; in severance pay.


Sean O #39;Keefe #39;s legacy

It was a tumultuous three years in which the future of NASA seemed to die a tragic death, and then rise from the ashes to focus on a historic new goal.


Chiefs beat Titans in offensive display

It wasn #39;t quite as dramatic or significant as the Music City Miracle. The Kansas City Chiefs will take it just the same. The Chiefs didn #39;t need a long lateral on a controversial kickoff


Chargers' Brees and Tomlinson Inactive (AP)

AP - With the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers already having clinched the AFC's fourth playoff seed, Pro Bowlers Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates were held out of Sunday's game against Kansas City.


Return to Nuclear Talks Tricky, N.Korea Daily Says

North Korea will find it difficult to return to nuclear talks if the United States keeps insisting that Pyongyang renounce peaceful as well as military atomic activities, the North #39;s main newspaper said on Tuesday.


NBA Wrap: O'Neal Pours in 40 as Heat Subdue Wizards

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shaquille O'Neal scored a season-high  40 points and added 12 rebounds and five blocked shots to drive  the host Miami Heat past the Washington Wizards 106-83 Monday.


Vodafone 'OKs Verizon Sprint bid'

US telecoms firm Verizon is reported to have won the backing of mobile partner Vodafone for a bid for US rival Sprint.


Google to index works at Harvard, other major libraries

Google Inc. is expanding its territory from bytes to books. The world's largest Internet search engine said yesterday it will soon begin a program to index books and bound periodicals in the libraries of Harvard University.


Cash from the past?

Many of them have been extraordinarily patient; some died waiting. A few are relative newcomers sensing an opportunity.


Historic building may yet see a new day

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is going ahead with redevelopment of the historic Ferdinand Building in Dudley Square, even though the state has dumped a plan to relocate 1,000 or so employees there.


Businessman takes fight over Pats tickets online

A Connecticut businessman took his quixotic crusade against the New England Patriots to the Internet yesterday, launching a website to build support among season ticket holders for arbitration in ticket revocation disputes and the ability to transfer tickets to a friend or family member.


Fed seen raising key rate 0.25

With a fall in oil prices easing inflation concerns, the Federal Reserve is expected to continue its easy-does-it approach to raising interest rates, boosting a key rate by a moderate quarter-point at its final meeting of the year today.


GM, DaimlerChrysler to develop hybrid engines

General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid engines in hopes of cashing in on an expanding market already dominated by hybrid leaders Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.


3Com buys Texas Web security company

3Com Corp., the Marlborough maker of computer-networking equipment, said it agreed to buy a Texas maker of antihacker security systems, TippingPoint Technologies Inc., for \$430 million in cash. TippingPoint makes so-called intrusion-prevention systems for businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, and telecommunications service providers and systems. TippingPoint has 125 employees at its Austin headquarters. The \$47-per-share purchase price offered owners ...


Honeywell to buy Novar in \$1.7b deal

New Jersey-based Honeywell International Inc. , the aerospace and high-tech manufacturer, has agreed to buy the British industrial holding company Novar PLC for about \$1.7 billion, the companies said yesterday.


Oil prices top \$41 as traders weigh production, weather

Crude oil futures rose above \$41 a barrel yesterday as traders focused on OPEC's planned production cutback and colder weather in the United States.


Strike threat hits US Airways

Flight attendants at bankrupt US Airways Group Inc. have authorized their union to call a strike should a federal court allow airline management to void their contract, the Association of Flight Attendants said yesterday.


Rates mixed on T-bills

Interest rates on short-term Treasury securities were mixed in yesterday's auction. The Treasury Department sold \$19 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 2.200 percent, down from 2.210 percent last week. An additional \$17 billion was sold in six-month bills at a rate of 2.425 percent, up from 2.380 percent.


MIKE WENDLAND: UM #39;s entire library to be put on Google

Google, the ubiquitous Internet search engine, is taking the University of Michigan #39;s library from Ann Arbor to the world. BY THE NUMBERS.


Looking for a rare read? Soon, you #39;ll just Google it

Google Inc. is trying to establish an online reading room for five major libraries by scanning stacks of hard-to-find books into its widely used Internet search engine.


Fewer employers plan to hire in early 2005

Companies #39; hiring plans could cool early next year, according to a new survey by Manpower Inc. Some local job experts, though, question the employment agency #39;s findings.


New Internet domains in the works

com December 13, 2004, 3:26 PM PT. The Internet may soon see two new top-level domains: .jobs and .mobi. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ( ICANN ) said


NHL: League expected to reject union #39;s offer

The NHL reportedly will reject the latest proposal from the players #39; union that was meant to put an end to the lockout and salvage the season.


Johnson to Yankees Has a Life of Its Own

Brian Cashman wore a sweatshirt and blue jeans as he cruised the emptying lobby of the Anaheim Marriott on Monday. He grabbed a pizza.


Suicide attack kills 13 near Baghdad Green Zone

Smoke rises from a spot where a car bomb exploded in Baghdad, Iraq, December 13. A suicide bomber killed 13 people in an attack Monday near to the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad.


US blocks WTO entry talks with Iran

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreed on Monday to begin accession talks with Iraq and Afghanistan, but the United States again blocked any such negotiations with Iran, diplomats said.


Resolution in row between Ahern  amp; Paisley

The row between the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the DUP over IRA decommissioning appears to have been resolved. Yesterday, the DUP announced it was withdrawing all contact from the Government after Mr Ahern


Govt wants to slow global warming

The Federal Government says it is interested in slowing global warming, even though it has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.


Sprint's Planned Nextel Deal Builds on Wireless Strength (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - When Gary D. Forsee took over as chief executive of Sprint Corp. 20 months ago, the phone company was reeling from the telecom bust, burdened by debt and grappling with bigger competitors on three fronts: local, long-distance and wireless calling.


Software Should Not Be Copyrighted -- Lawsuit (Reuters)

Reuters - Computer software should not be\protected by copyright laws designed for music, literature and\other creative works, according to a lawsuit filed in a U.S.\court in San Francisco.


NYSE to use custom IBM palm PCs (FT.com)

FT.com - IBM has developed an order management and messaging system dubbed "TradeWorks" for the New York Stock Exchange designed to support the growing number of shares traded on the exchange.


American Diplomatic Drive Comes Up Short (AP)

AP - Bush administration persistence in using diplomacy to solve a nuclear weapons crisis with North Korea is coming up short as the insular regime bobs and weaves away from resuming negotiations.


Martinez's years in Boston

A chronology of highlights and lowlights from Pedro Martinez's seven years (1998-2004) as a Red Sox pitcher:


NIH was warned in '02 on AIDS drug for Africa

WASHINGTON -- Weeks before President Bush announced a plan to protect African babies from AIDS, top US health officials were warned that research in Uganda on the key drug was flawed and may have underreported severe reactions, including deaths, government documents show.


Pakistan reports no sign of bin Laden, denies CIA bases

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan said yesterday that there was no evidence Osama bin Laden is hiding in the country, and denied it allowed CIA agents to set up bases along the border to search for the Al Qaeda leader.


Centrist victorious in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romanian centrist Traian Basescu scored an upset presidential win yesterday and vowed to replace the ruling ex-communists with a reformist team in the run-up to European Union entry in 2007.


Ukraine aims to control poison probe

KIEV -- Ukraine's outgoing government sought yesterday to control the inquiry into the poisoning of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, with officials close to the government taking charge of both investigations into who tried to harm or kill the leader of the Orange Revolution.


Paisley breaks with Dublin on IRA disarmament

DUBLIN -- Northern Ireland's major Protestant party broke off relations with the Irish government yesterday after Prime Minister Bertie Ahern indicated he had accepted the IRA's refusal to provide photographs of disarmament.


Warsaw makes rare Hanukkah observance

WARSAW -- Jewish community leaders and Warsaw officials lighted the candles of a large menorah in the center of the capital yesterday for Hanukkah, a rare public observance of a Jewish holiday in Poland. Israel's chief rabbi, Yona Metzger, chanted Hebrew prayers as he and Warsaw Deputy Mayor Andrzej Urbanski were lifted by an industrial crane to the top of ...


Residents anxious to return

HABBANIYA, Iraq -- As winter sets in, Iraqi families who fled the US-led attack on Fallujah for a lakeside resort upriver wish their holiday there would come to an end.


Yawer demands help from UN for elections

BAGHDAD -- Interim President Ghazi al-Yawer demanded more help from the United Nations ahead of the country's Jan. 30 elections, saying yesterday that poor security was no excuse for the world body to stay away.


As Kurds return to oil-rich city, a fragile detente

KIRKUK, Iraq -- Hassan Mohammed Amin brought his seven children to a 200-square-yard patch of mud and set up home on the edge of this city in August as part of an ambitious attempt to reverse Saddam Hussein's ethnic cleansing.


Iraqi president warns a 'Hitler' could emerge

LONDON -- Iraq's interim President Ghazi al-Yawer warned in an interview published yesterday that long-term instability and violence in his country could create the conditions for an ''Iraqi Hitler quot; to emerge.


At Least 25 Dead in Indian Train Collision -- TV (Reuters)

Reuters - At least 25 people were feared killed\Tuesday in a collision between two passenger trains in northern\India, television stations reported.


Sony and Samsung in patent deal

Japan's Sony and South Korea's Samsung agree a deal to share patents on new technology.


Hilfiger to Acquire Lagerfeld Trademarks

NEW YORK - Tommy Hilfiger Corp. - whose once-hot preppy clothing business has cooled - is making a play to rekindle growth by buying luxury brand Karl Lagerfeld.


Producing for the region

For the first time in years, manufacturing may be one of the best places to look for a job in Northwest Indiana. Durable goods manufacturing and services will have the best job prospects in


Danske Bank Group acquires NIB  amp; NB

The Danske Bank Group has signed an agreement with National Australia Bank to purchase Northern Bank (www.nbonline.co.uk) in Northern Ireland and National Irish Bank (www.


Dixon Carries Wizards

Juan Dixon takes advantage of some rare playing time by scoring 15 fourth-quarter points to help the Wizards beat the Hawks, 104-101.


Samsung Develops Tiny Memory Card

Samsung Electronics has developed an ultra small, fingernail-sized digital imaging flash memory card that is less than one-third the size of existing memory cards.


Chiefs outlast Titans, 49-38 nfl roundup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A phantom penalty and a nine-yard touchdown catch by Eddie Kennison on Monday night lifted the Kansas City Chiefs past the Tennessee Titans, 49-38.


Team will work on its coordination

The cone of silence surrounding Notre Dame #39;s courtship of Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis was lifted from Gillette Stadium yesterday


NHL rejects NHLPA offer

Based on an eight-page memorandum the NHL has sent to all teams, mysteriously obtained by TSN, the NHL has rejected the NHLPA offer and is poised to issue its own counter-offer at a 1 pm meeting with the NHLPA on Tuesday.


Celtics outlast Clippers

Evidently the Celtics didn #39;t think five games were enough on this West Coast journey, so they performed a basketball cover of Southside Johnny #39;s I Don #39;t Want to Go Home #39; #39; and stayed around for two extra periods last night.


Two Cavs on AP All-America team

Brown, a senior guard, and Miller, a junior tight end, made Virginia one of four schools with at least two players on the first team.


Two high-profile black coaches for Huskies

Tyrone Willingham and Lorenzo Romar are recognized as accomplished college coaches, the biggest reason Washington administrators are glad to have them working the sidelines.


A second explosion rocks Baghdads Green Zone

Another car bomb struck at a checkpoint leading to Baghdad #39;s Green Zone government compound early Tuesday, 24 hours after a similar attack on the same checkpoint, a US military spokesman and Iraqi police said.


Pinochet fit to stand trial, judge rules

A judge in Chile has said that the country #39;s former military ruler, General Augusto Pinochet, is fit enough to be tried for alleged human rights abuses in the 1970s.


Pakistan says India arms complaints  quot;disturbing quot;

A day before the nuclear-armed rivals were due to discuss confidence building steps, Pakistan said it objected to India raising Islamabad #39;s conventional arms purchase plans as an issue given its own active buying programme.


A Species in a Second: Promise of DNA 'Bar Codes'

If it works as promised, DNA bar coding will assist in the urgent task of cataloging unknown species before their ranks are decimated by extinction.


We Love Them. We Hate Them. We Take Them.

The relationships we all have with those little pieces of matter, our pills, are becoming ridiculously tangled.


Can Strep Bring On an Anxiety Disorder?

Scientists know so little about a disorder that links a strep infection with obsessive-compulsive disorder in children that some question whether it even exists.


If I Only Had a Voice: A Humble Wish Upon a Drumstick

Now that the DNA that makes a chicken a chicken had been sequenced, I'm hoping we'll learn why chickens can't sing.


Swedes Burn Candles in Memory of Tsunami Dead

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Candles burned in many windows across  Sweden on Sunday in memory of the victims of Asia's deadly  tsunami, as the government offered its distraught population  hope by cutting the number of missing by one-fifth.


Microsoft Enters the Desktop Search Wars

Microsoft today introduced MSN toolbar Suite. The software will allow users to search the contents of their hard drive, including Microsoft Outlook e-mail, calendar items, contacts and Office documents.


Sony and Samsung in patent deal

Sony Corporation and Samsung Electronics have agreed to share patents on technology used in the development of new products. The agreement will involve a wide range of commercial licenses but will not include


Miller claims sixth win in 10 races

SESTRIERE, Italy - World Cup leader Bode Miller won a slalom Monday to join Marc Girardelli as the only men to win races in all four disciplines in a season.


Willingham takes over Huskies

While Tyrone Willingham was being introduced as Washington #39;s 22nd football coach yesterday, Lorenzo Romar leaned against a wall and took the scene in, knowing that reporters would shortly drift his way with a predictable array of questions.


GM and DaimlerChrysler team up on hybrid engine

General Motors and DaimlerChrysler are collaborating on development of fuel- saving hybrid engines in hopes of cashing in on an expanding market dominated by hybrid leaders Toyota and Honda.


To buy banks in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

Danske Bank on Tuesday said it agreed to buy two Irish banks from the National Australia Bank for 967 million pounds (\$1.93 billion) in cash.


Ex-Disney director: Eisner had no choice

Former Walt Disney director Robert AM Stern said the company made a  quot;wise investment quot; when it fired Michael Ovitz in 1996 and paid his \$140 million severance to end his 15-month tenure.


Chilean Judge Charges Pinochet in Rights Case (Reuters)

Reuters - A Chilean judge on Monday\formally charged Augusto Pinochet with homicide and kidnapping\in one of many pending cases related to human rights abuses\committed during his 17-year rule, and ordered house arrest for\the former dictator.


Hughes Leads Wizards Over Hawks

WASHINGTON (Sports Network) - Larry Hughes scored a  game-high 26 points to lead Washington over Atlanta, 104-101,  at the MCI Center.


Rovers find water-linked mineral, see frost and clouds on Mars

NASA #39;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory says the Mars rover Spirit has found a mineral linked to water during its exploration of the Red Planet.


Kennison #39;s late catch carries Chiefs past Titans

NASHVILLE, United States (AFP) - Trent Green tossed a touchdown to Eddie Kennison with 32 seconds left as Kansas City came from behind to defeat Tennessee 49-38 in a game featuring more than 900 yards of total offence.


Souness - handed one-match ban (Getty Images)

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has been handed a one-match touchline ban after being sent from the dugout during his side #39;s defeat at Fulham last month.


Players wary of settling

There is no magic number except for that countdown to Christmas. There are no banners for league titles won in November and December.


Egypt Signs Trade Deal With Israel, U.S. (AP)

AP - Egypt wants jobs. Israel wants a meaningful peace. And the nations plan to sign an agreement that they hope will fulfill both their goals.


US Army acknowledges eight deaths in military custody in Afghanistan (AFP)

AFP - The US Army acknowleged that eight prisoners have died in US military custody in Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled the Taliban regime, two more than previously disclosed.


Blast rocks central Baghdad

A cloud of smoke was seen rising close to the Green Zone government and diplomatic compound. US Military officials said a suicide bomber had struck at the same spot where a similar attack killed at least seven Iraqis a day before .


Nine Iraqis die in car bombing

A suicide bomber steered a car full of explosives into the western gate of the protected compound that houses the interim government and embassies here on


Clinton suggests revolutionary vision for peace

The Arab world needs a revolutionary vision, like that of Dubai, to achieve lasting peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East, said former US President Bill Clinton.


Indian Train Crash Kills 25, Over 250 Injured

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - At least 25 people were killed and  more than 250 injured Tuesday when two trains collided in the  northern Indian state of Punjab, police said.


Strong Quake Hits Northern Japan's Hokkaido

TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary  magnitude of 5.8 jolted the northern Japanese island of  Hokkaido Tuesday but there were no reports of injury or major  damage.


Nikkei Up 1 Pct, Blue Chips Rally on Data

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average closed over one  percent higher on Tuesday after positive U.S. retail sales data  eased concern about demand in Japan's main export market and  spurred buying of blue chips such as Sony Corp.


Oracle deal puts Microsoft partner in rival #39;s hands

Oracle #39;s acquisition of PeopleSoft will create a bigger competitor for Microsoft and put one of the Redmond company #39;s largest industry partners in the hands of a rival.


GM, DaimlerChrysler to develop hybrid engines

Financial terms of the agreement between GM, the world #39;s largest automaker, and its German-American rival weren #39;t disclosed yesterday, but Tom Stephens, GM #39;s group vice


Merger #39;s effect on SpectraSite likely  #39;not a major negative #39;

SpectraSite isn #39;t in the room, but the Cary company could have much at stake in the merger talks between Nextel and Sprint. The two mobile-phone companies are discussing a


US Airways Flight Attendants Authorize Strike

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Flight attendants at US Airways overwhelmingly authorized their union to engage in CHAOS(TM) strike-related activities should a federal bankruptcy court permit management


Microsoft debuts desktop search tool

Microsoft Corp. yesterday made its debut in the suddenly ultracompetitive market for helping people find elusive files and information on their computer hard drives.


Belichick still confident in Weis, offense

FOXBORO, Mass.  Bill Belichick took a few minutes Monday to convey his congratulations to his offensive coordinator on becoming Notre Dame #39;s head coach.


Titans get 542 yards, 38 points - and a loss to Chiefs

Two of the league #39;s most disappointing teams put on quite a show in prime time. And after all the wild plays and big offensive numbers last night, a phantom penalty, followed by a 9-yard touchdown catch by


New York gets Pedro, Pavano

On Nov. 18, 1997, the Red Sox sent a young minor league pitching prospect named Carl Pavano to the Montreal Expos in exchange for Pedro Martinez.


Bryant, Allen have a score to settle

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers hope to put yet another controversy behind them as they begin a two-game road trip against the Seattle SuperSonics.


Roddick splits with coach Gilbert

Andy Roddick today announced the end of an 18-month association with coach Brad Gilbert which earned the American his first grand slam title and established him among the heavyweights of men #39;s tennis.


Rising Suns: Phoenix off to best ever start with fifth straight <b>...</b>

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Quentin Richardson hit six of Phoenix #39;s 13 three-pointers on his way to a 26-point effort, as the Suns ran away from the Orlando Magic, 121-100, at America West Arena.


Pinochet under house arrest in Chile

ELEANOR HALL: To South American now, where one of the world #39;s most notorious dictators finally looks set to face trial for murder and human rights abuse.


Pakistan ; India, Pakistan hold talks on nuclear CBMs

Pakistan News, Islamabad,Pakistani and Indian experts began talks here Tuesday on confidence building measures (CBMs) aimed at averting any accidental outbreak of hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours.


Oil Prices Hold Around \$41 a Barrel

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices held around \$41 a barrel  on Tuesday on forecasts of colder temperatures in the U.S.  Northeast, a supply cut by top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia and  disruptions to Iraqi crude exports.


Internet boom for gift shopping

Online shopping has become hugely popular among Britons in the run-up to Christmas, research suggests.


EA in exclusive NFL games deal

Computer games giant Electronic Arts signs exclusive agreements with the US National Football League.


Sony and Samsung to Cross-License Patents

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics said  on Tuesday they had agreed to share patents on basic technology  to speed up product development and avoid adding to a growing  number of cross-border patent disputes.


European Shares at New 29-Month Highs

LONDON (Reuters) - European stock markets hit fresh  29-month highs on Tuesday, tracking gains in New York and after  HBOS said it will beat forecasts as well as buy back shares.


Software Should Not Be Copyrighted -- Lawsuit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Computer software should not be  protected by copyright laws designed for music, literature and  other creative works, according to a lawsuit filed in a U.S.  court in San Francisco.


NYSE Traders Go Wireless to Fight Computer Rivals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Stock Exchange traders  shouting buy and sell orders -- the faces of capitalism in  action -- have been fighting off extinction as the rise of  computer market-making systems have marginalized their role.


Oracle finishes deal for PeopleSoft

Oracle Corp. finally scooped up rival PeopleSoft Inc. after 18 months of legal and verbal strife, ending a nasty feud with a \$10.3 billion deal that promises to shake up the business software industry.


China to impose textile-export tax

The prospect that Chinese exports will soon overwhelm the worldwide clothing market was thrown into doubt yesterday after Beijing announced it will tax its shipments of textiles and apparel once the global market is liberalized Jan. 1.


Canada #39;s Bombardier fires chief executive

Yesterday #39;s immediate dismissal of Paul Tellier is a move analysts say increases investor uncertainty over the company #39;s direction.


Honeywell agrees to pay \$1.7 billion for Novar PLC

LONDON  Honeywell International Inc., the New Jersey aerospace and high-tech manufacturer, has agreed to buy the British industrial holding company Novar PLC for about \$1.7 billion, the companies said Monday.


Danske Bank to Buy Irish Banks for 967 Million Pounds (Update2)

Danske Bank A/S, the Nordic region #39;s second-largest lender, agreed to buy two Irish units from National Australia Bank Ltd. for 967 million pounds (\$1.86 billion) to expand outside Scandinavia.


Pearson sells out of Spanish business for 743m

Pearson said on Tuesday it had agreed to sell its controlling stake in Spanish media group Recoletos for 743m to a consortium of Spanish investors.


Bolden on list to lead NASA

Columbia native and former astronaut Charles Bolden is on the short list to replace Sean OKeefe, who resigned Monday after three tumultuous years running the nations space program.


MSN unveils search software

Microsoft #39;s MSN division yesterday unveiled software that searches files stored on a computer, improving what had been a ponderous and time-consuming task while at the same time laying groundwork for future battles with rivals Google and Yahoo!


Ten percent birds disappear by 2100: study

BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- Ten percent of all bird species are set to go extinct by the end of this century, US researchers said on Monday.


Hollywood fights illegal downloads by targeting servers

Hollywood #39;s major studios intend to escalate their battle against illegal movie downloading by targeting the popular BitTorrent network and those who operate


Pedro served his purpose here

He is gone, and that is unfortunate, but it is not tragic or disastrous or catastrophic. Pedro Martinez stats, news was worth every cent the Red Sox stats, schedule


WACA expects day one sellout

ENCOURAGINGLY for the cash-strapped Western Australian Cricket Association, all but about 300 public seating tickets for day one of the first Test against Pakistan at the WACA Ground have been sold.


Clippers fall in double overtime

The Clippers have seemed destined for overtimes in this young NBA season. On Monday night, they squandered a 14-point lead and again found themselves in overtime.


Sun blaze Magic 121-100

BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- The Phoenix Suns continued to blaze brightly as they beat Orlando Magic 121-100 and kept their leading position at the NBA.


Jets' Martin No. 4 on NFL Rushing List (AP)

AP - New York Jets running back Curtis Martin passed Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis on the NFL career rushing list Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, moving to fourth all-time.


Judge declares Pinochet fit to stand trial

Judge Juan Guzman yesterday indicted former General Augusto Pinochet for his involvement in the Condor operation, while he had Chile under military rule between 1973 and 1990.


Two Marines, one soldier killed in Iraq

Two Marines were killed in Iraq #39;s volatile Anbar province, the military said today. A military statement said two Marines assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary


Damascus Bomb Misses Hamas Target

A member of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas escaped unhurt on Monday when a bomb blew up his car in the Syrian capital Damascus, a Palestinian source said.


Tellier clashed with owners

The abrupt ousting of Bombardier Inc. chief executive Paul Tellier yesterday was the culmination of 23 months of growing differences and frustration between him and the controlling shareholder, the Bombardier family, industry sources say.


Unocal strikes deal with Myanmar villagers over alleged slave <b>...</b>

LOS ANGELES: US-based Unocal Corp. will pay to boost living conditions and protect villagers near Myanmar #39;s Yadana gas pipeline under the settlement of a key human rights abuse case, the parties said.


LSU hopeful O #39;Keefe praised for turning NASA around

Sean O #39;Keefe, who resigned Monday as the head of NASA to pursue his application to become chancellor of Louisiana State University, is credited with helping restore the space


Chiefs Defeat Titans 49-38

Two of the league #39;s most disappointing teams put on quite a show in prime time. And after all the wild plays and big offensive numbers Monday night, a phantom penalty, followed


Seven killed, 13 wounded in Baghdad suicide attack

A suicide car bomber killed seven people when he struck a checkpoint at Baghdad #39;s Green Zone early Tuesday, the second attack in two days at the district that houses Iraq #39;s interim government and foreign embassies, officials said.


Google plans index for five major libraries

Google Inc. has launched an effort to establish an online reading room for five major libraries by scanning stacks of hard-to-find books into its widely used Internet search engine.


Tokyo Stocks Rise, Dollar Lower (AP)

AP - Tokyo stocks rose Tuesday as investors bought blue chips and issues of consumer electronics makers following Wall Street's overnight rally. The U.S. dollar inched down against the Japanese yen.


New Orleans Bowl

Who: North Texas (7-4)vs. Southern Miss. (6-5) When and where: Tonight, 7:30,at New Orleans. TV: ESPN. Last meeting: Southern Mississippi won, 22-0, in 1981. Comments: North Texas freshman running back Jamario Thomas led the Sun Belt in rushing with 1,709 yards in just nine games. He rushed for more than 200 yards four times and scored 17 touchdowns while leading ...


Return up in the air

Carson Palmer might be back Sunday, Eli Manning will start Saturday, and Jeff Garcia won't be back this season. Another quarterback, Denver's Jake Plummer , likely will be fined for making an obscene gesture toward the stands.


Nib Employs 800 People in the Republic of Ireland, While Northern <b>...</b>

Danske Bank chief executive Peter Straarup said he planned to expand NIBs branch network in the Republic. The economy of the Republic of Ireland continues to outperform other European economies, and


Jays give Koskie \$17M over three years

TORONTO -- Roy Halladay never liked Corey Koskie -- never liked facing him that is.  quot;I never liked him -- Koskie, Doug Mientkiewicz and Torii Hunter, they always gave me problems, quot; the Toronto Blue Jays #39; former


15 killed as trains collide in India

The crash happened along a rural stretch of track between the cities of Pathankot and Jalandhar, in India #39;s northern Punjab province, about 180 miles north-west of New Delhi.


PM to attend crucial EU summit this week

Lawrence Gonzi will at the end of this week lead a Maltese team at a crucial EU summit marking the end of the six month Dutch presidency.


Dollar Steadies Before Fed Meets

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar held steady against major  currencies on Tuesday as markets awaited the assessment of the  economy from the Federal Reserve after an expected interest  rate rise later in the session.


Govt. Seeks to Seize Rigas Systems - WSJ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Justice Department has asked a  judge to enter a \$2.53 billion judgment against two Rigas  family members in a bid to seize some cable systems run by  Adelphia Communications Corp., the Wall Street Journal reported  on Tuesday.


Danske buys two banks from NAB

Denmark's largest bank is to buy a Belfast-based and Dublin-based bank from National Australian Bank for 967m.


Fashioning a new strategy

What do women want? Luciano Manganella, the owner of the trendy Boston women's boutique JasmineSola, has a pretty good idea. And now after 34 years in business, he's plotting a major expansion.


Oracle victorious in quest for PeopleSoft

It #39;s finally over. Business-software maker PeopleSoft (PSFT) agreed to be acquired by rival Oracle (ORCL) for \$10.3 billion Monday, ending 18


GM, Daimler to cooperate on hybrids

General Motors and DaimlerChrysler announced plans yesterday to collaborate on fuel-saving hybrid gasoline-electric propulsion systems, which analysts said could reduce the costs of their


Dim outlook for new hires

The new year may be a slow one for job seekers, as few area employers expect to be hiring in the first quarter of 2005, the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey showed.


Crime dive lifts Mike #39;s spirits

In what could have passed for a campaign kickoff, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday touted fresh statistics that show crime in the city continued to plunge this year.


Report: Delta to Slash Fares

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL.N, the No.  3 U.S. carrier which has been restructuring in efforts to avoid  a bankruptcy filing, is expected to slash fares and remove  restrictive rules such as Saturday-night stays, Time magazine  reported in its online edition on Sunday.


MSN forced to offer search software.

After Google announced their search software utility and Yahoo! told the world they are working on a similar program. MSN is now beta testing their software.


Firefox Gains Ground

WebSideStory, a provider of on-demand Web analytics, in its latest independent study has said that in the one-month period from November 5 to December 3, 2004, Firefox #39;s online usage share has grown from 3.03 percent to 4.06 percent in the US alone.


Toshiba launches HDD with new recording technology and sets record

Toshiba Corporation announced the first hard disk drives (HDD) based on perpendicular recording, boosting the capacity of a single 1.8-inch hard-disk platter to 40 gigabytes.


Grid researchers go commerical

The researchers who spawned the idea of grid computing will launch a company on Monday to commercialise what so far has been a very academic software project for sharing computing resources.


Congo Says Its Troops Are Fighting Rwandan Forces (Reuters)

Reuters - Congo's government spokesman denied\Tuesday that rival army factions were fighting each other in\the east of the country and insisted the clashes were between\Congolese and Rwandan forces.


Kobe upset by Malone #39;s alleged come-on to wife

Kobe Bryant has accused Karl Malone of making a pass at his wife, Vanessa, at a game last month. She told him that Malone made inappropriate comments to her Nov. 23 at Staples Center.


Globus Toolkit Creators Form Grid Software Company (TechWeb)

TechWeb - The creators of the Globus Toolkit, an open source grid infrastructure software, have formed a new company, Univa, to provide commercial software, services and support for Globus software.


No sightings of bin Laden, Pakistan says

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan said Monday that there was no evidence Osama bin Laden is hiding in the country and denied it allowed CIA agents to set up bases along the border to search for the al-Qaida leader.


France Bans Hizbollah Satellite TV as Anti-Jewish

A French court ordered a prompt end to satellite television broadcasts to Europe by Lebanon #39;s Hizbollah guerrilla group on Monday on grounds they were clearly anti-Semitic and a potential threat to public order.


Bourses start higher on late Street rally (FT.com)

FT.com - Europe's bourses opened higher after Wall Street climbed late on on confirmation of the PeopleSoft/Oracle merger. In the early evening European time, the US Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by a further quarter of a percentage point.


Antarctic Penguin Chicks Face Starvation (AP)

AP - A remnant of the largest iceberg ever recorded is blocking Antarctica's McMurdo Sound, threatening tens of thousands of penguin chicks with starvation and cutting off a supply route for three science stations, a New Zealand official said Tuesday.


No plans to trade Ramirez

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Losing Pedro Martinez to the Mets is one thing. But sending Manny Ramirez to Shea Stadium is something the Red Sox have no plans to consider, despite reports that the Mets inquired about trading for the 2004 World Series MVP.


Another victory for Miller

World Cup leader Bode Miller won the slalom yesterday at Sestriere, Italy, to join Marc Girardelli as the only men to win races in all four disciplines in a season. Miller, of Franconia, N.H., won for the sixth time in 10 World Cup races by finishing two runs down the 2006 Olympic course in a combined 1 minute 39.03 seconds. ...


Today's schedule

College basketball: MEN -- Harvard at Fairfield, 7 p.m.; UMass-Lowell at Stonehill, 7:30 p.m.; WOMEN -- Harvard at Boston University, 7 p.m.


UK customers get your skates on

Cash'n'Carrion Last order date tomorrow


Google to scan famous libraries

The libraries of some of the world's most important academic institutions are to be digitised by Google.


France shows off tallest bridge

The world's tallest bridge, higher even than the Eiffel Tower, is being inaugurated by the French president.


UK Court Backs Probe Into Iraqi's Death (Reuters)

Reuters - A British court on Tuesday backed\demands by relatives of a dead Iraqi hotel worker for an\independent probe into claims he was unlawfully killed and\abused by UK troops detaining him.


US space agency chief resigns

The head of the US space agency (Nasa), Sean O'Keefe, resigns after three years in the post.


Indian Train Crash Kills 25, More Than 250 Injured

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Two passenger trains collided in  northern India Tuesday, killing at least 25 people and injuring  more than 250, police said.


UK Court Backs Probe Into Iraqi's Death

LONDON (Reuters) - A British court on Tuesday backed  demands by relatives of a dead Iraqi hotel worker for an  independent probe into claims he was unlawfully killed and  abused by UK troops detaining him.


Seven killed in Baghdad suicide attack

BAGHDAD A suicide car bomber killed seven people when he struck a checkpoint at Baghdads Green Zone early Tuesday, the second attack in two days at the district that houses Iraqs interim government and foreign embassies, officials said.


Congo Says Its Troops Are Fighting Rwandan Forces

Congo #39;s government spokesman denied Tuesday that rival army factions were fighting each other in the east of the country and insisted the clashes were between Congolese and Rwandan forces.


DaimlerChrysler, GM in ioint hybrid plan

BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- General Motors and DaimlerChrysler will jointly develop a gasoline-electric powered car to match Toyota and Honda in so-called hybrid vehicles that save fuel and cut emissions.


Fischer on Iran: Step by step forward on basis of realism

Brussels, Dec 13, IRNA -- German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Monday that so long Iran #39;s voluntary suspension of enrichment activities continues, the EU commitments also remain valid.


Transport costs fuel UK inflation

Rising fuel costs and high air fares push up UK inflation during November, according to official figures.


Google to scan famous libraries

The libraries of five of the world #39;s most important academic institutions are to be digitised by Google. Scanned pages from books in the public domain will then be made available for search and reading online.


Toshiba unveils 80GB  #39;iPod drive #39;

Toshiba today paved the way for 80GB iPods when it said it will ship an 80GB 1.8in hard drive in Q3 2005 - a year after it introduced the 60GB version that can currently to be found inside the iPod Photo.


Eight More Bodies Found in Mosul (AP)

AP - U.S. troops discovered eight more bodies in the restive northern Iraqi city of Mosul, bringing the number of bodies found there since Nov. 10 to more than 150, the U.S. military said Tuesday.


Red Bull boost for Coulthard

LONDON (AFP) - McLaren discard David Coulthard looks set to be offered a way back into Formula One for the 2005 season as a driver with the new Red Bull Racing team.


20 Killed in India Train Collision (AP)

AP - Two passenger trains collided head-on on a stretch of rural track in northern India on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens of others, officials said.


Captain Ordered Off UK Warship and Sent Home

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's defense ministry has taken the  highly unusual step of ordering a navy captain to leave his  ship and return to the UK to face an investigation.


Sub Leads Wake Forest to Win Over Temple (AP)

AP - Trent Strickland didn't demand the ball. He wanted to guard the player who had it. Strickland scored all nine of his points over the final 9 minutes and played solid defense down the stretch, leading No. 6 Wake Forest to a 67-64 victory over Temple on Monday night.


Antarctic Penguin Chicks Face Starvation

A remnant of the largest iceberg ever recorded is blocking Antarctica #39;s McMurdo Sound, threatening tens of thousands of penguin chicks with


Airlines Expect \$5 Bln Loss in '04 --IATA

GENEVA (Reuters) - International airlines are heading for a  near \$5 billion loss this year, largely due to the oil price  rise, the chief economist of the industry's global body IATA  said on Tuesday.


Oracle case moot (TheDeal.com)

TheDeal.com - Lawyers were cordial after PeopleSoft agreed for the enterprise software company to acquire it for  #36;26.50 a share.


Microsoft releases desktop search beta

Two months after Google opened up a whole new market with its desktop search tool, Microsoft has joined the party with the release of its own beta test version.


NASA chief resigns, cites college costs

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The departure of NASA #39;s boss comes at a challenging time as the space agency struggles to ditch the mentality that lost Columbia and get its remaining shuttles flying again, while aiming for the moon and Mars.


10 percent of birds will be extinct by 2100:

World News: Washington, Dec 14 : A new futuristic study by researchers at the University of Stanford is predicting that by the time the next century rolls around, a number of bird species that we take for granted today will become mere pictures in bird


Google, 5 big libraries team to offer books

Google Inc. has partnered with five of the world #39;s leading libraries, including those at Stanford and Harvard, to digitally scan their collections so that the books can be searched, and in many cases read, online free of charge.


Gamers rush to buy new Sony PSP

Gamers have bought almost all of the first batch of Sony #39;s new PlayStation Portable (PSP) games console, which went on sale in Japan on Sunday.


Spirit claims Mars water prize

Robot Mars rover Spirit has so far been eclipsed in its mission by its  quot;twin quot; Opportunity, which found rich evidence of a wet history at its landing site.


MPAA to serve lawsuits on BitTorrent servers

The Motion Picture Ass. of America (MPAA) will today launch a legal attack on BitTorrent users in a bid to prevent ripped DVDs being shared across the network.


Go-ahead for new internet names

The internet could soon have two new domain names, aimed at mobile services and the jobs market. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has given preliminary approval to two new addresses - .


IBM claims virtualisation victory over EMC

IBM is claiming a storage management victory over EMCand has said it can control its entire line of storage arrays with the latest version of its San Volume Controller appliance.


Texas Tops Michigan

Dusty Mangum kicks a 37-yard field goal as time expires and No. 6 Texas, behind quarterback Vince Young, edges No. 13 Michigan, 38-37.


Decision to Place Pinochet Under House Arrest Suspended

A Chilean court has suspended the order to place former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet under house arrest for crimes he committed during  quot;Operation Condor quot;, aiming to remove his opponents in Latin America, between 1970 and 1980 at the request of his


Airlines Expect  #36;5 Bln Loss in '04 --IATA (Reuters)

Reuters - International airlines are heading for a\near  #36;5 billion loss this year, largely due to the oil price\rise, the chief economist of the industry's global body IATA\said on Tuesday.


Sluggish holiday sales leave retailers uneasy (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - The holiday shopping season is hurtling toward its close, but demand remains soft and inconsistent. With just 11 days before Christmas - and heading into the last full weekend of shopping - retailers have been steadily easing prices. But a burst of late spending  has yet to materialize.


Rain, Flooding Hinders Asia's Tsunami Relief

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Heavy rains and fresh floods disrupted  aid to Asia's tsunami-hit villages on Sunday as the U.N.  refugee agency started a 400-ton airlift as part of a \$2  billion relief operation to save millions struggling to  survive.


US Shares Poised to Start Slightly Weaker

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. shares were poised to start  slightly weaker on Tuesday as investors look past potential  merger activity to a Federal Reserve that is expected to raise  borrowing costs.


Israel accused over Syria blast

Syria has blamed Israel for a car bomb which exploded in its capital Damascus, wounding three people. The bomb went off soon after a Palestinian man got out of the car with his wife and daughter.


Dollar Holds Fire Ahead of Fed

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar held steady against major  currencies on Tuesday as markets waited to see what the Federal  Reserve says about the U.S. economy after an expected interest  rate rise later in the session.


Fiat and GM to mull car unit fate

Fiat will meet car giant GM on Tuesday in an attempt to reach agreement over the future of the Italian firm's loss-making auto group.


Powell Not Interested in Political Office (AP)

AP - As he prepares to end his tenure as secretary of state, Colin Powell is ruling out a run for political office.


Microsoft takes on desktop search

Microsoft has entered the desktop search fray, releasing a test version of its tool to find documents, e-mails and other files on a PC hard drive.


Samsung, Sony agree to share patent

Seoul, December 14: South Korea #39;s Samsung electronics and Sony of Japan on Tuesday singed an agreement to share patents for digital technologies in major products, Samsung said.


Sudan committed to peace in south and pursuing solution to Darfur crisis (AFP)

AFP - Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir reiterated his commitment to implementing peace accords with southern rebels and to pursuing a settlement to the Darfur conflict.


Google to scan books from UM, other big libraries

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Google is trying to establish an online reading room for the University of Michigan library and four other major libraries.


Technology ; Sony and Samsung to cross-license patents

Sony and Samsung started negotiations on the cross-licensing deal in December 2003. The agreement is broad, covering 94 percent of Sony #39;s 13,000 US registered patents, and a similar percentage of Samsung #39;s 11,000 US registered patents.


Samsung, Sony sign extensive cross-licensing agreement

LONDON - After a year of negotiations two of the world #39;s giants of consumer electronics, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Sony Corp.


Toshiba Leads Industry in Bringing Perpendicular Data Recording to <b>...</b>

TOKYO --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 13, 2004 -- Perpendicular Recording Technology Achieves 1.8-Inch Drive That Holds the Industry Largest 80-Gigabytes of Information.


IBM Rounds Out EMC Support

IBM Friday said it has filled out gaps in its virtualization portfolio, adding support for EMC #39;s remaining Clariion systems. The company added Clariion 300, 500 and 700 systems support for its SAN Volume Controller


Shevchenko wins top Euro award

PARIS: AC Milan #39;s Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, right, was last night named European footballer of the year for 2004. The 28-year-old becomes the third Ukrainian to win the award after Oleg Blockhin


Danske makes 1bn Irish acquisition

Denmark #39;s biggest financial group, Danske Bank, has agreed to purchase Northern Bank in Northern Ireland and National Irish Bank in the Republic of Ireland from National Australia Bank for 967 million.


Proud France Inaugurates World's Highest Bridge (Reuters)

Reuters - President Jacques Chirac\inaugurated the world's highest bridge Tuesday, a creation\taller than the Eiffel Tower, longer then the Champs Elysees\and designed to end a traffic bottleneck in southern France.


Sean O #39;Keefe #39;s Watch

This week, NASA has concerned itself with the fact that the astronauts aboard the international space station are running out of food.


Toshiba pushes iPod limits to 80GB with new drive

Toshiba has announced an 80GB version of the 1.8in hard drives used in the iPod. The drive sets a new capacity record for its size and combines several developments including a new magnetic disk structured


Google to digitize millions of books (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Google is launching an ambitious effort to make digital copies of some of the world's largest university library collections and will incorporate the texts into its vast Web index, apparently the largest project of its kind ever attempted.


Microsoft, Ask Jeeves unveil desktop search tools (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Microsoft and Ask Jeeves both announced tools Monday that allow users to search their desktop computers, adding their names to a crowded field of Internet search companies that are focused on helping people more effectively scan their own hard drives for files and e-mail messages.


Oracle Reaches Takeover Deal With PeopleSoft (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13 -- Software maker PeopleSoft Inc. announced Monday that it had agreed to be acquired by Oracle Corp. in a  #36;10.3 billion deal, ending one of the longest and nastiest takeover battles in recent corporate history.


Oracle victorious in quest for PeopleSoft (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Business software giant Oracle announced Monday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire rival PeopleSoft after sweetening its offer by 10 to approximately  #36;10.3 billion.


Caucasus gunmen kill four in raid

Suspected Islamists kill four and seize dozens of weapons from a drug control body in Russia's North Caucasus.


Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

It's that time of year when the K5 community shares its culinary secrets with each other by inundating the queue with a flood of recipes sectioned under culture.  #160;However, many of them may seem too difficult for the beginning chef.  #160;So I present to the novice cook a good starter project for the gourmet chef to be.  #160;It's a classic dish that will provide you with plenty of calories without offering too much nutrition.


Microsoft takes on desktop search

Microsoft has entered the desktop search fray, releasing an initial version of software to scour a PC hard drive.


Gamers snap up new Sony PSP

Japanese gamers buy almost all of the first batch of Sony's new PlayStation Portable handheld console.


Go-ahead for new internet names

The internet could soon have two new domain names, aimed at mobile services and the jobs market.


Europe Uses Grid to Create New Megacomputer

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - European research institutes are  linking together four supercomputers to create the world's  fourth most powerful megacomputer, without having to spend the  money it would normally cost to build such a monster.


Pakistan and India in talks to avert nuclear 'havoc' (AFP)

AFP - Pakistan and India held talks to hammer out an agreement on giving advance warning of ballistic missile tests and other steps to avert any accidental launch of nuclear weapons.


NASA Administrator Steps Down

Sean O'Keefe quit Monday to pursue a job as chancellor of Louisiana State University Baton Rouge campus.


The Year Shoppers Left the Mall Behind

Online  buying continues to snowball, according to the results of a recent America Online survey. This year, for the first time, Americans who regularly use the Internet for shopping -- researching or buying products at least once a month -- will do more shopping online than at shopping malls and stores, from catalogues and by phone, the survey found.


Fed to Boost Rate by a Quarter-Point

With a fall in oil prices easing inflation concerns, the Federal Reserve is expected to continue its easy-does-it approach to raising interest rates, boosting a key rate by a moderate quarter-point today.


Memoir Takes Holy War Into Cyberspace

A jailed Indonesian militant's autobiography urges fellow Muslim radicals to attack U.S. computers, with the particular aim of committing credit card fraud.


Choosing Babies' Sex Gives Birth to Debate

More couples are selecting the sex of their children, using techniques developed to help couples who are infertile or at risk for having babies with genetic diseases.


Oracle to Pay \$10.3 Billion to Acquire PeopleSoft

AccountingWEB.com - Dec-14-2004 - After an emotional and often bitter 18-month battle, PeopleSoft Inc. agreed to be acquired by Oracle Corp.


No. 15 Vanderbilt Beats Troy 78-50 (AP)

AP - Ashley Earley scored 22 points  #151; 12 straight in the second half  #151; as No. 15 Vanderbilt defeated Troy 78-50 Sunday for its 48th straight nonconference homecourt victory.


Pearson to Sell Stake in Spanish Publisher

British publisher Pearson PLC said Tuesday it plans to sell its 79 percent stake in Spanish media group Recoletos in a deal worth euro743 million (US\$990 million).


Google pens agreement with libraries

New York: Popular internet search engine Google has reached an agreement with four universities and one public library to scan their books and make them available the digitised contents of the same, aiming to challenge competitors Yahoo and Microsoft.


Rovers #39; findings confirm water was on Mars

On one side of Mars, NASA #39;s Spirit rover has found a mineral that solidly points to water activity. Meanwhile, the Opportunity rover has found confirmation


Firefox heats the browser market.

Mozilla #39;s Firefox is gaining ground, and fast. In the beginning of this year, Microsoft Internet Explorer was almost fully controlling the market on its own.


Rain, Flooding Hinders Asia's Tsunami Relief (Reuters)

Reuters - Heavy rains and fresh floods disrupted\aid to Asia's tsunami-hit villages on Sunday as the U.N.\refugee agency started a 400-ton airlift as part of a  #36;2\billion relief operation to save millions struggling to\survive.


Linux: Fewer Bugs Than Rivals

An analysis of the 5.7 million lines of Linux source code shows that it contains fewer bugs per thousand lines of code than commercial counterparts. By Michelle Delio.


Lamprey May Offer Paralysis Cure

Researchers are studying the spinal cord of the eel-like sea lamprey in hopes that a machine based on its structure could someday enable paralyzed people to regain control of their legs. By Karen Lurie.


Chess Conspiracy Unconvincing

Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine, a film about the historic 1997 chess match between Garry Kasparov and IBM's Deep Blue, focuses on whether humans interceded on the computer's behalf but fails to convince. By Jason Silverman.


Oil Eaters Slurp Up Spills

Advances in biotechnology are limiting the damage oil spills inflict, as scientists supercharge bacteria to devour petroleum. By John Gartner.


NASA Chief Resigns

The space agency's top administrator, Sean O'Keefe, says he wants to ensure that his children can go to college without incurring debt. His plan? Applying for a \$500,000-per-year job at Louisiana State University. By Amit Asaravala.


A Patch for Broken Hearts

Researchers at MIT are one step closer to creating patches for damaged hearts: They've used rat cells to construct a beating slice of cardiac tissue about the size of a dime. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Challengers Want Ohio Vote Review

A coalition of groups that do not believe the Ohio presidential election was conducted accurately asks the Ohio Supreme Court to review the swing state's voting results.


James Doesn't Practice, May Play Tomorrow (AP)

AP - LeBron James was fitted with a mask to protect his broken left cheek and might play in the Cleveland Cavaliers' next game even though he only shot during practice Sunday.


Microsoft enters desktop search fray

Following the lead of Google and Yahoo!, Microsoft has announced a  #39;beta #39; version of a desktop search tool, the  #39;Toolbar Suite #39;.


Sony, Samsung agree to share toys

Sony and Samsung have entered into a far-reaching technology licensing agreement that opens stacks of each company #39;s intellectual properties to the other.


Toshiba Sets Record With New HDD Recording Technology

Perpendicular Recording has been promoted as the technology to carry us through the superparamagnetism limit. In conventional longitudinal recording, the magnetization in the bits on a disc is flipped between


Red Bull target Coulthard

Red Bull Racing say they want to sign David Coulthard so that they have an experienced driver for their first Formula One season next year.


Wizards Edge Hawks 104-101 (AP)

AP - Reserve guard Juan Dixon scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter Sunday to lead the Washington Wizards to a 104-101 victory over Atlanta for the Hawks' fourth straight loss.


Egypt signs trade deal with Israel, US amid criticism and <b>...</b>

Egypt wants jobs. Israel wants a meaningful peace. On Tuesday, they signed an agreement that they hope will fulfill both their goals and maintain the momentum for revitalized Mideast peace negotiations.


Japanese snap up 200,000 PSP video-game consoles in two days (AFP)

AFP - Japanese video game fans have bought nearly all 200,000 PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld video-game machines launched on Sunday by Sony, the company said.


Fourteen 'Executed' Bodies Found in Iraq's Mosul

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - The bodies of six young men, all  shot in the head as if executed, were discovered in the  northern Iraqi city of Mosul Tuesday, bringing the total of  such corpses found to 14 in two days.


China Rounds Up Three Intellectuals in Crackdown

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese author who was briefly  detained by police overnight along with two other intellectuals  said Tuesday the authorities appeared to be trying to build a  case against him as part of a crackdown on government critics.


Indian Train Crash Kills 27, More Than 50 Injured

MUKERIAN, India (Reuters) - Two passenger trains collided  in northern India on Tuesday, killing at least 27 people and  injuring more than 50, officials said.


Update 1: US Dollar Down Slightly Against Euro

The dollar was marginally down against the euro and slightly higher against the yen Tuesday as the market awaited new US trade data and a US Federal Reserve meeting at which the central bank was expected to raise interest rates a quarter point.


Zurich Financial gains on nursing home settlement

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Zurich Financial (ZZ:001107539) gained 2.6 percent in Swiss trade after agreeing to settle US nursing home litigation by paying \$47.5 million.


US interest rate rise expected

US interest rates are expected to rise for the fifth time since June following the US Federal Reserve #39;s latest rate-setting meeting later on Tuesday.


MSN joins desktop search fray

Microsoft #39;s MSN has unveiled desktop-search technology, entering a hotly contested race to dominate information access on the PC.


Global bird populations face dramatic decline in coming decades

Ten percent of all bird species are likely to disappear by the year 2100, and another 15 percent could be on the brink of extinction, according to a new study by Stanford University biologists.


Google gets pally with Oxford and Harvard

SEARCH ENGINE megagiant Google is to digitise a substantial number of volumes held in the libraries of Harvard and Oxford Universities.


Penguin Chicks Face Starvation as Iceberg Blocks Food Route

Tens of thousands of Antarctic penguin chicks could starve to death in the next few weeks as a huge iceberg blocks access to coastal feeding grounds, a New Zealand official said today.


Stocks Seen Opening Lower; Fed Awaited

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower  market open on Tuesday ahead of an expected U.S. central bank  interest rate hike, with investors pulling back from Monday's  rally.


Oracle finally has its prize

For the past 18 months, Oracle has been locked in a battle to acquire rival PeopleSoft involving courtroom drama, poison pills, personal enmity and, recently, the departure of PeopleSoft #39;s CEO Craig Conway.


Oil price in suspense about the impact of OPEC output cuts

Crude oil futures begin to factor in colder weather in the US Northeast and OPEC decision to cut production to keep the prices high.


Blockbuster to Stop Charging Late Fees

Blockbuster Inc., the world #39;s largest video rental chain, said Tuesday that as of Jan. 1, 2005, the company won #39;t charge late fees on any movie or game rental at its more than 4,500 company-operated and franchised stores in the United States.


Update 1: Airline Industry Could Break Even in 2005

The global airline industry, battered by record fuel costs, could break even in 2005 if oil prices drop to an average of US\$36 a barrel, the industry #39;s trade group said Tuesday.


Afghan Forces Catch Mullah Omar's Security Chief (Reuters)

Reuters - Afghan security forces\have captured Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's personal\security chief as he traveled in a van to the southern city of\Kandahar, provincial officials told Reuters on Tuesday.


BNP leader detained on racism-linked charge (AFP)

AFP - British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin was arrested on suspicion of incitement to commit racial hatred.


Iraq War Crimes Trials to Begin Next Week (AP)

AP - War crimes trials against Iraq's former Baath Party leaders will begin next week, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Tuesday. He didn't say whether Saddam Hussein would be among them.


Japanese snap up 200,000 PSP video-game consoles in two days

TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese video game fans have bought nearly all 200,000 PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld video-game machines launched on Sunday by Sony, the company said.


Google to digitize  #39;U #39; libraries

Soon anyone will be able to browse the University library, whether he is in Ann Arbor or Europe or anywhere in between. The University announced a partnership with Google


Toshiba to make 80GB 1.8-inch drives

Toshiba Corp. is close to commercializing a new data storage technology that could significantly increase the capacity of hard-disk drives, it said Tuesday.


Chiefs top Titans in shootout

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Kansas City scored two touchdowns in the game #39;s final 32 seconds to cap a wild 49-38 victory over Tennessee last night.


Egypt raises Suez transit fees by three percent in 2005 (AFP)

AFP - Egypt has decided to increase transit fees for ships using the Suez Canal by an average of three percent next year, the canal authority revealed.


Jailed Palestinian Leader Drops Out of Race to Replace Arafat

Marwan Barghouti, the leader of the Palestinian uprising now imprisoned in Israel, withdrew today from the Palestinian race for president.


DR Congo 'fighting Rwanda troops'

The DR Congo government says its troops are battling Rwandan soldiers and not Congolese rebels, as earlier reported.


Israel coalition talks 'impasse'

Israel's ruling Likud party and opposition Labour struggle to agree over the state budget,  according to reports.


Madonna 'tops tour takings chart'

Madonna made more money from touring than any other star in 2004, with \$125m, Billboard magazine says.


Chain Store Sales Rise in the Latest Week (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. chain store retail sales rose in\the latest week after sizable back-to-back declines, as\consumers took to the stores for holiday shopping, a retail\report said on Tuesday.


Vodafone Drops on Report It Supports Bid for Sprint (Update3)

Shares in Vodafone Group Plc, the world #39;s largest mobile-phone operator, dropped after The Wall Street Journal said the company is considering bidding with US partner Verizon Communications Inc.


Fiat cash from GM for option would be modest-S amp;P

Any cash that Italy #39;s Fiat (FIA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) may gain from agreeing to scrap an option to sell its loss-making car unit Fiat Auto to General Motors Corp.


Microsoft launches desktop search

Microsoft has launched a set of toolbars under the MSN brand. Plugging into Windows, Outlook and Internet Explorer, they index documents and email in the background and allow fast querying.


World #39;s top libraries just a click away

A global virtual library is one step nearer today after Google, the internet search group, announced it is working on a project to digitally scan the collections at seven libraries and make them available online.


Tiny memory card for mobiles launched

Samsung has developed a cut-down version of the multimedia memory card (MMC) that it hopes to see deployed in future mobile phones.