Microsoft gives developers a glimpse of Avalon

Although the next version of Windows is still about two years from release, Microsoft on Friday offered developers an early look at the new graphics engine that will accompany it.


England 32 - 16 South Africa

It is too early to say the wounds have completely healed, but a year on from being on top of the world, followed by a dispiriting tumble, England #39;s rugby machine is starting to go through the gears again.


South Africa 230/4, Andrew Hall unbeaten on 78

South Africa finished day 1 of the first test match against India in Kanpur at 230 for the loss of 4 wickets. The proteas were in comfortable position at one stage with the loss of 2 wickets and Jacques Kallis playing alongside Andrew Hall.


US, China discuss Taiwan at APEC summit; China pleased with result (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao talked about Taiwan in their face to face meeting Saturday, and Hu said he was pleased with the result.


PeopleSoft: Board Rejects Oracle Offer (Reuters)

Reuters - Business-software maker\PeopleSoft Inc.  on Saturday said its board has again\unanimously rejected Oracle Corp.'s   #36;9.2 billion\tender offer, even after 61 percent of PeopleSoft shares had\been tendered to Oracle.


Civil war possible after Iraq elections: US' top soldier (AFP)

AFP - US army chief General Richard Myers said in an interview that civil war could erupt in Iraq after forthcoming elections.


Ohio State Surprises No. 7 Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Troy Smith threw for 241  yards and two touchdowns and ran for 145 yards and a score to  lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 37-21 victory over No. 7  Michigan in the final game of the regular season for both  teams.


NBA Suspends Four Players After Brawl

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Basketball Association  suspended four players on Saturday, one day after one of the  worst brawls in North American pro sports history.


Sports ; Westwood Closes in on First Title of 2004

Australian Stuart Appleby, who was the joint second-round leader, returned a two-over 74 to drop to third at three-under while American Chris DiMarco moved into fourth with a round of 69.


Hewitt Beats Roddick to Reach Masters Final

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A fired-up Lleyton Hewitt defused  hard-hitting Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday, scurrying into  the final of the Masters Cup for the third time in four years.


Federer Wins Epic Tie-Break to Reach Masters Final

HOUSTON (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion  Roger Federer won an epic 20-18 tie-break to seal a 6-3, 7-6  win over Marat Safin on Saturday and place in the Masters Cup  final.


12th-Ranked Miami Pounds Wake Forest

MIAMI (Sports Network) - Brock Berlin completed 13-of-19  passes for a career-high 361 yards along with four touchdowns,  while Roscoe Parrish hauled in five passes for 141 yards as  12th-ranked Miami-Florida routed Wake Forest. 52-7, at the  Orange Bowl.


Oracle a step closer to PeopleSoft

Washington, Nov. 20 (AFP): After a bitter 18-month battle, Oracle has succeeded in taking control of more than 60 per cent of outstanding shares of rival business software group PeopleSoft, but obstacles to the hostile takeover remain.


Icahn makes offer on Mylan

The Pittsburgh-based drug maker Mylan shares shot up 10 percent after Carl Ichan offered \$5.38 billion for the company #39;s shares he doesn #39;t already own.


China #39;s SAIC set to control MG Rover venture

Chinese carmaker SAIC is set to control a crucial joint venture with MG Rover under terms of a cooperation deal expected to win approval from Beijing early next year, MG Rover says.


NASA launches Swift observatory

A swirling space observatory has been launched to scan the universe for explosions that some believe are the birth of black holes.


House Passes Space Tourism Bill

Paying passengers would be able to blast into space aboard privately operated rocket ships under legislation the House passed Saturday.


Mac fans go mad as store opens

Over a thousand Mac fans have camped overnight outside computer giant Apple #39;s first dedicated store in Europe. They braved the cold to be the first inside the shop in London to try and take advantage of the opening day offers.


Microsoft releases Avalon Preview

Software Giant Microsoft released a community technology preview of the next generation presentation subsystem of their upcoming operating system Longhorn.


Fans as much to blame as players for brawl

You heard it on the broadcast over and over again: Wheres the security? Wheres the security?. It was a great question.


Scotland: Rangers down rival Celtic

Nacho Novo and Dado Psro each scored as Rangers defeated rival Celtic 2-0 in the Scottish premier league Saturday. Novo scored on a 15th-minute penalty and Prso added the second in the 36th


US edge second day of UBS Cup

A mix-up between Gary Player and Mark McNulty, where they played the wrong ball, allowed the US to edge into a 6-1/2 to 5-1/2 lead over the Rest of the World in the UBS Cup on Saturday.


Row over Arafat #39;s medical file

Paris - A family tug-of-war over whether to reveal Yasser Arafat #39;s cause of death bubbled over in public on Saturday, with a brother of the late leader insisting the Palestinian people are entitled to know.


Plan unveiled to ease Iraq debt

Germany has unveiled an international plan to wipe out tens of billions of dollars of Iraqi debt so that the war-torn country can rebuild in earnest.


Suspensions Doled Out

The NBA indefinitely suspends Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson of Indiana and Ben Wallace of Detroit on Saturday for their roles in a brawl Friday night.


Fight Mars Clemson Win

Players from both teams brawl late in Clemson's 29-7 victory over South Carolina. Coach Lou Holtz, 67, dives into the pile as peacemaker in his regular-season finale with the Gamecocks.


Spy Agency Reform Thrown Into Doubt (Reuters)

Reuters - An agreement reached on Saturday by\congressional negotiators on post-Sept. 11 intelligence reforms\was thrown into doubt by resistance by some Republicans in the\House of Representatives.


Ukraine's Kuchma Calls for Calm on Eve of Poll

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's outgoing president on Saturday  implicitly called on people to vote for his prime minister in a  close presidential race and told them to shun any protests  urged by the opposition candidate.


Bryans keep Team USA in Davis Cup hunt

SEVILLE, Spain (AFP) - US tennis twins Bob and Mike Bryan kept alive their country #39;s Davis Cup hopes with a rip-roaring straight sets win over Spanish tandem Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo at Seville #39;s Olympic Stadium.


Space tourism legislation makes comeback

After weathering the ups and downs of the lame-duck legislative process, legislation that would open the way for suborbital space tourism was cleared by the House and sent on to the Senate for final congressional approval.


Hewitt defeats Roddick in Masters Cup semifinals

HOUSTON Lleyton Hewitt sent a deflated Andy Roddick home today with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the semifinals of the ATP Masters Cup in Houston.


Glorious Garcia inspires charge

A BRACE of eagles from an inspired Sergio Garcia lit up the World Cup overnight as home-country favourites Spain overhauled a big England halfway lead in the second session of fourballs.


World #39;s oldest man, noted Red Sox fan, dies

Fred Hale Sr., documented as the world #39;s oldest man and noted Boston Red Sox fan, has died. He was 113 years old. Hale died in his sleep Friday at The Nottingham in suburban Syracuse, while trying to recover


Busch the man to beat for NASCAR title

Kurt Busch has been doing everything right in his bid for his first Nextel Cup championship. He now has one big hurdle to clear entering Sunday #39;s Ford 400.


AZ Alkmaar keep heat on Dutch leaders PSV

Second-placed AZ Alkmaar closed in on Dutch first division leaders PSV Eindhoven after a 3-0 home win over RKC Waalwijk on Saturday.


India slip into a deep Hall

KANPUR: A masterstroke. Thats what everybody would term the South African think-tanks decision to open the innings with a makeshift opener.


Majority of PeopleSoft shareholders accept Oracle bid

The tender result is a blow to PeopleSoft, which hoped to see Oracle's 17-month takeover campaign end at midnight last night. Oracle had pledged to withdraw its offer if it did not receive backing from a majority of PeopleSoft's shareholders.


In Time of Turmoil, Graham Offers Soothing Words

The Rev. Billy Graham spoke at the 92,000-seat Rose Bowl, the beginning of a four-day crusade that organizers say is his 416th worldwide and his next-to-last.


No. 2 Oklahoma Blows Out Baylor 35-0 (AP)

AP - Adrian Peterson ran for 240 yards, including three second-half touchdowns, and No. 2 Oklahoma got the lopsided win it needed for the BCS standings by beating Baylor 35-0 on Saturday.


Paterno Ends 39th Penn St. Season With Win (AP)

AP - Joe Paterno ended his 39th season at Penn State as a winner.


NBA suspends four players after brawl with Detroit fans (AFP)

AFP - The National Basketball Association suspended Indiana's Ron Artest and three others following an ugly skirmish where Pacer players fought with Detroit fans.


Buckeyes Dash Wolverines' Outright Title Hopes

Quarterback Troy Smith ran for 145 yards as the Buckeyes upset the Wolverines, who might have also lost a return visit to the Rose Bowl.


PeopleSoft Board Rejects Oracle Bid (Reuters)

Reuters - Business software maker\PeopleSoft Inc. on Saturday said its board again rejected\Oracle Corp.'s  #36;9.2 billion tender offer, remaining defiant a\day after most of its shares were tendered to Oracle.


G20 countries concerned about exchange rates volatility

Some countries attending the two-day meeting of the Group 20 voiced concern on Saturday over abrupt movements in exchange rates, focusing on the sharp fall of the US dollar against euro and Japanese yen.


Ohio State Surprises No. 7 Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Troy Smith threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 145 yards and a score to lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 37-21 victory over No.


Google Founders Plan Sales of Their Shares

The two co-founders of Google each plan to sell as many as 7.2 million shares of their stock during the next 18 months, giving them more than \$1 billion apiece at current prices.


PeopleSoft Board Rejects Oracle Bid

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Business software maker  PeopleSoft Inc. on Saturday said its board again rejected  Oracle Corp.'s \$9.2 billion tender offer, remaining defiant a  day after most of its shares were tendered to Oracle.


G20 Divided Over Dollar Slide, U.S. Mum

BERLIN (Reuters) - Europe and Japan voiced strong concern  on Saturday over the slumping dollar but the world's 20 biggest  economies, nearing the end of a two-day summit, looked divided  over what if anything to do about it.


APEC Countries to Standardize Trade Pacts

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Pacific Rim nations have agreed  to set minimum standards for two-country free trade pacts  proliferating across the region, a consolation prize for  business leaders pushing for a 21-nation free trade area to  rival the European Union.


House Backs \$388 Billion Spending Bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on  Saturday easily backed a \$388 billion package financing  government programs in this fiscal year from bus stops to  foreign aid after days of battling over measures in the bill.


Wall Street Bonuses Likely to Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's annual bonuses may rise  10 percent to 15 percent this year, half as much as a year ago,  as revenue growth falls short of earlier expectations, a  leading industry consultant said.


Canada's Biotech Sector Ready to Grow Up?

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's biotech sector may finally be  on the road to a sustained recovery after a series of  short-lived remissions.


Ukraine's Kuchma Calls for Calm on Eve of Poll (Reuters)

Reuters - Ukraine's outgoing president on Saturday\implicitly called on people to vote for his prime minister in a\close presidential race and told them to shun any protests\urged by the opposition candidate.


3-Point Shopping For a Computer (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - The last time I browsed the selection of desktops in a computer store, I came down with a case of instant deja vu. Each time I'd spot a thoughtful feature on one company's PC -- say, both USB and FireWire ports on the front or a full set of memory-card slots -- I would look at the machine to its right or left and spot the exact same item.


Fans Start Web Site To  #39;Arrest Artest #39;

In pubs, over telephone lines and on the Web, basketball fans and non-fans are voicing their opinions on the chaos that broke out at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday night.


Gameday News  amp; Notes: 11/20/04

No. 7 Michigan (9-1) at Ohio State (6-4): 1 pm today. TV: WTAE. ... Ohio State is down, but this is still one of the rivalry games on rivalry weekend and it still has Big Ten implications.


Ads aim at getting state #39;s wines in more glasses

There #39;s a new campaign in the works to get the word out on Washington wines. The Washington Wine Commission has revamped its logo and adopted a slogan to accentuate the positive:  quot;Washington State -- the Perfect Climate for Wine.


Our kids deserve better than a Google future

Letter Can collective database licensing cure this tragedy of the commons?


3-Point Shopping For a Computer

Buying a computer should be easy -- almost anything sold today should competently handle most home-computing chores. But it's not, since so many companies market essentially the same machine.


Oracle Moves One Step Closer in Its Bid to Take Over a Rival

Oracle proclaimed a symbolic victory Saturday after 61 percent of PeopleSoft stockholders accepted its \$9.2 billion takeover offer.


Salvation Army #39;s Bell Ringing Limited

One of the holiday #39;s season most well-known sounds is back, but some stores are limiting where Salvation Army volunteers can ring their bells.


Investigation into Pacers-Pistons brawl could take time

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. Police have identified most of the people in video footage from last night #39;s brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons at The Palace at Auburn Hills.


Johnson #39;s team in familiar position: fighting back

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - One might not think a disastrous qualifying effort alone could erase the momentum created by four victories in five weeks.


Kasper joins Brenly in booth

CHICAGO -- Len Kasper is the new voice of the Chicago Cubs, replacing Chip Caray in the team #39;s all-new TV booth. Kasper leaves the Florida Marlins to become WGN TV #39;s play-by-play announcer for the Cubs, joining


Code cruncher transforms Excel

Whereas most of todays software tools follow the bigger is better philosophy, Savvysofts (Profile, Products, Articles) TurboExcel proves the adage that great things really do come in small packages.


Microsoft puts household entertainment at touch of a mouse

Technology is changing daily. It #39;s a wonder we aren #39;t all punch-drunk from the velocity with which new things emerge and not-so-old things become obsolete.


Benson and Mets Reach Preliminary Deal (AP)

AP - Kris Benson and the New York Mets completed more than three months of negotiations, agreeing Saturday to a  #36;22.5 million, three-year contract.


Blues, Gunners held

Chelsea and Arsenal were both held to draws at home by Bolton and West Brom, while Everton closed the gap with a win over Fulham. A last-gasp equaliser from Radhi Jaidi earned Bolton a point in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.


NCAA Game Summary - South Carolina At Clemson

Clemson, SC -- Reggie Merriweather rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries as the Clemson Tigers defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks, 29-7, in a non-conference affair at Clemson Memorial Stadium.


Americans take the lead in the UBS Cup

Fred Couples and Tom Watson led the comeback, and the American team moved out to a 61/2-51/2 lead over an international team after Saturday #39;s best-ball competition at the \$3 million UBS Cup.


Bush, Hu Discuss Chinese Currency Plans (AP)

AP - Chinese President Hu Jintao told President Bush that China remains committed to a plan to allow its currency to float freely against the dollar, a senior U.S. administration official said.


Kuchma warns over Ukraine chaos

Ukraine's outgoing president warns against disorder ahead of a close election to choose his successor.


Local shoppers hope for wider selection and better quality

Kalamazoo-area Kmart customers say that store #39;s merger with Sears could mean stiff competition for retail powerhouses such as Wal-Mart.


SF Hotel Lockout Ends; Workers Back On Job Tuesday

SAN FRANCISCO -- Thousands of San Francisco hotel workers embroiled in a labor dispute will return to work Tuesday under an agreement announced Saturday by Mayor Gavin Newsom before a crowd of beaming employees and relieved hotel representatives.


Timeline of the Pacers-Pistons brawl

Here is a look at the series of events in the brawl Friday night involving the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and fans at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich.


Lille fails to take advantage of Lyon draw

Paris, France (Sports Network) - Lille had a chance to close in on the Ligue 1 lead on Saturday with a win over Lens. But instead of capitalizing early they had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw.


France Is Cast as the Villain in Ivory Coast

When the chanting mob descended on the strip mall that Jean Bobue Nguessam is paid to guard, he stood his ground, though not out of courage.


PeopleSoft Board Rejects Oracle Bid Again

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Business software maker  PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O said on Saturday that its board again  rejected Oracle Corp.'s ORCL.O \$9.2 billion tender offer,  remaining defiant a day after most of its shares were tendered  to Oracle.


Crematory Operator Pleads Guilty To Corpse Abuse, Fraud

A former crematory operator in Georgia has pleaded guilty to dumping 334 bodies and giving the families cement dust instead of ashes.


San Francisco Hotel Workers to Go Back to Work

San Francisco hotel owners and union officials on Saturday announced a 60-day cooling period that will put nearly 4,000 striking hotel workers back on the job for the first time in nearly eight weeks.


Novell makes profit in Q4

Novell has reversed its year-ago loss on a five per cent rise in revenue, but it failed to meet some forecasts on the Street. The maker of NetWare - and now a major force in the Linux business - posted net


Palestinians Register Candidates for New President (Reuters)

Reuters - Palestinians began\registering candidates on Saturday for a presidential election\to replace Yasser Arafat, while officials warned the vote may\be delayed if Israel does not halt military activities.


PeopleSoft Shareholders Back Takeover Bid (AP)

AP - More than 60 percent of PeopleSoft Inc.'s shareholders have tendered their stock in support of Oracle Corp.'s  #36;9.2 billion takeover bid for its bitter rival, further extending a bruising battle that already has dragged on for more than 17 months.


Out of this world

CLINTON TOWNSHIP -- Each piece is just an eighth-of-an-inch square, but 33,000 of them bunched together make for one of the most advanced features on NASA #39;s next satellite.


Man Utd boss: Now watch Scholes go!

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Paul Scholes has turned the corner after he scored in yesterday #39;s 2-0 win over Charlton.


Benson and Mets reach preliminary agreement on \$22.5 million <b>...</b>

Kris Benson and the New York Mets completed more than three months of negotiations, agreeing Saturday to a \$22.5 million, three-year contract.


McGrath, Gillespie watching Gabba skies

Australian tailenders Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie will be hoping wet weather does not stop play from starting on time on day four of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane.


Timeline of the Pacers-Pistons Brawl (AP)

AP - Here is a look at the series of events in the brawl Friday night involving the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and fans in Auburn Hills, Mich. The game was stopped when order could not be restored.


Michigan St. Beats Central Conn. St. (AP)

AP - Kelli Roehrig had 15 points, including 11 during a 24-2 run to start the game, and No. 15 Michigan State routed Central Connecticut State 77-42 on Saturday in the first game of the Spartan Classic.


Palestinians say Israeli raids hampering renewal of peace talks

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia condemned Israel Saturday, saying their continued military raids were hampering efforts to restart the peace process.


Tiger Woods extends lead at Dunlop Phoenix

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Tiger Woods is on the verge of winning his first stroke-play golf tournament in over a year. Woods fired a 5-under-par 65 Saturday to stretch his commanding lead to 10 strokes after three


Bush seeks allied help in dealing with Iran, North Korea

SANTIAGO, Chile - President Bush used his first trip abroad since re-election to press allies Saturday for help in hemming in the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, nations he considers part of an  quot;axis of evil quot; threatening global security.


Killer of Journalists Sentenced to Death

An Afghan man was sentenced to death in a Kabul court on Saturday for his part in the killing of three foreign journalists and an Afghan photographer in


Buckeyes #39; offense clicking against Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio State offense that did little right all season could do no wrong against Michigan. The Buckeyes didn #39;t commit a turnover, prevented the Wolverines from getting a sack and converted


McGrady Leads Rockets Past Clippers in OT (Reuters)

Reuters - Tracy McGrady tallied 32\points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead Houston over\the Los Angeles Clippers, 91-86, in an overtime contest at the\Staples Center.


For Nascar, Playoff Gamble Wins Big

The new 10-race playoff instituted this season has done all that Nascar officials had hoped, turning the droning fall stretch into a manic scramble.


Haradinaj appointment upsets Serbia

BELGRADE -- Saturday - Serbian government officials called an extraordinary meeting today to discuss the appointment of Ramus Haradinaj as Prime Minister of Kosovo.


Shots Are Falling, and Sonics Are Rising

The perimeter-conscious (and unconscious) Seattle SuperSonics are off to their best start since the 1993-94 season.


Disney #39;s Two Mickeys

Walt Disney #39;s perennially slumping ABC Television Network is suddenly a champ again thanks to a couple of unexpected hit shows including a prime time soap called Desperate Housewives (coming to the UK in January).


Greenspan bearish on dollar

Alan Greenspan came to the home of the euro on Friday and suggested that the relentless decline of the dollar might well continue, offering little relief to those here


Wal-Mart Says November US Sales Rise Within 2 to 4 Forecast

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world #39;s largest retailer, said sales at US stores open at least a year are rising within its forecast, with strongest sales coming from bedding and women #39;s clothing.


Gold Fields to bid for \$2bn Norilsk stake

Gold Fields has made a secret offer to buy out its largest shareholder as a last-ditch defence against a hostile \$8.1bn (4.35bn) bid from Harmony, its rival South African gold producer.


Resurgent Rangers shatter O #39;Neill #39;s unbeaten record

The top blew off Celtic #39;s discipline in a volcanic Old Firm derby as they lost their proud record of scoring in every meeting with Rangers since Martin O #39;Neill took over as manager in the summer of 2000.


Ireland 55 - 6 USA

When the public address announcement at Lansdowne Road yesterday put the attendance at 38,376 there was an addendum: thanking those hardy souls for turning out on such a foul day.


Hall sees off Kumble spin

Andrew Hall and Boeta Dippenaar built a solid fifth-wicket partnership to leave the first Test in Kanpur evenly balanced at the close on day one.


NBA Game Summary - Houston at LA Clippers

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Tracy McGrady tallied 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead Houston over the Los Angeles Clippers, 91-86, in an overtime contest at the Staples Center.


Three Iraqi Policemen Killed in Baghdad Bombings

In simultaneous blasts, insurgents detonated two car bombs Saturday at a police station near the fortified headquarters of the US Embassy and interim Iraqi


Business Focus: Infecting the world

When Alan Greenspan speaks, the markets listen. The 78-year-old chairman of the Federal Reserve Board has had dealers hanging on his every utterance for 17 years, ever since he took the job during the closing months of Ronald Reagans presidency.


Sagging Dollar Hits New Low Against Euro

BRUSSELS, Belgium A top European Union official urged the United States on Monday to curb its deficits to help bolster the sagging dollar amid fears a strengthening euro would stifle Europes fledgling economic recovery.


Late surge lifts Sonics

This is the 10th game, after all, and their start had nothing to do with their 101-94 victory over the Raptors in Toronto last night at Air Canada Centre.


Giggs and Scholes give United win

MANCHESTER, England -- Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes scored their first league goals of the season to give Manchester United a 2-0 win over Charlton in Alex Ferguson #39;s 999th match in charge.


Second-Ranked Auburn Downs Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Sports Network) - Jason Campbell passed for 224 yards and a touchdown, Courtney Taylor caught four passes for 89 yards and a score, and No.


In  #39;Monday Night #39; Fallout, a Deeper Racial Issue

I wasn #39;t terribly upset about the  quot;Monday Night Football quot; spectacle featuring Eagles receiver Terrell Owens and a towel-clad Nicollette Sheridan.


Reactions to Pistons-Pacers Brawl (AP)

AP - Reaction from around the NBA to Friday night's brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons:


Bush, backed by Asia-Pacific allies, warns North Korea, Iran over <b>...</b>

SANTIAGO : US President George W. Bush, bagging support from Asia-Pacific allies at an annual summit in Chile, bluntly warned North Korea and Iran to scrap any nuclear weapon plans.


Iran wriggles to block nuclear sanctions bid

IRAN is expected to thwart American attempts to send its nuclear dossier to the United Nations Security Council this week, despite a fresh flurry of concerns about its apparent ambitions to make a bomb.


Burma #39;s junta frees prominent dissident

Burma #39;s military dictators have freed a top dissident - second only to democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi - after 16 years in jail.


William surfs to his fathers rescue

ONCE again Prince William has come riding to the rescue of the royals, this time on the crest of a wave. At the end of a week that saw his father accused of not wanting people to rise above their station


No. 4 Calif. Routs Stanford in Big Game (AP)

AP - J.J. Arrington ran for 169 yards to set California's single-season rushing record and the fourth-ranked Golden Bears beat Stanford 41-6 on Saturday for their biggest victory in the Big Game since 1930.


US allege Guantanamo Bay Briton is would-be suicide bomber: report (AFP)

AFP - One of four British men held at the US prison for terrorism suspects in Guantanamo Bay is accused by US officials of being a trained Al-Qaeda terrorist, damaging British hopes for his release, a report said.


Mets Lock Up Benson

Kris Benson and the New York Mets complete more than three months of negotiations, agreeing Saturday to a \$22.5 million, three-year contract.


APEC Countries to Standardize Trade Pacts (Reuters)

Reuters - Pacific Rim nations have agreed\to set minimum standards for two-country free trade pacts\proliferating across the region, a consolation prize for\business leaders pushing for a 21-nation free trade area to\rival the European Union.


Canada Sees U.S. Beef Market Opening Soon (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. feedlots and packers could import\Canadian cattle within months now that new U.S. rules aimed at\guarding against mad cow disease are up for approval, Canadian\Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell said on Saturday.


Spain grabs lead at World Golf Championships

Spain has taken the lead at the World Golf Championships in Seville with Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez combining for an 11-under-par 61 in the third round to pull one shot ahead of England.


England 32 South Africa 16: Shocking South Africa left trailing by <b>...</b>

A wonderful result for what had become, because of injury and retirement, a beleaguered rugby nation. England began in control, they never lost that control and both the squad and their new coaching set-up will take fantastic heart from it all.


Investors Divided on Desirability of Gold (AP)

AP - A sickly dollar lifted gold to a fresh 16-year high this week, just as a newly launched exchange-traded fund offered individual investors a new way to own the gleaming asset. But Wall Street experts, less than unanimous about its prospects, are divided about what sort of role gold should play in your portfolio.


Oft-Delayed Swift Launched, Soars Skyward

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA #39;s Swift satellite successfully was launched Saturday aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket. About 80 minutes after the 12:16 pm launch, the spacecraft successfully separated from the Delta second stage rocket and entered orbit.


O.J. to Cheer for Trojans at Orange Bowl (AP)

AP - To O.J. Simpson, the lure of seeing his alma mater play so close to home in this Orange Bowl was impossible to turn down.


Masters Cup semis to feature the four best players in the world

HOUSTON: Russia #39;s Marat Safin and Australia #39;s Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the Masters Cup semi-finals with impressive straight-set victories here on Friday, completing a historic line-up.


Oldest man dies at 113

SYRACUSE, NY - The world #39;s oldest man, according to Guinness World Records, has died less than two weeks before he would have turned 114.


Dont count out champions after setback

THIS was the Old Firm result the Premierleague wanted, and needed. A few weeks back, we were holding our heads in our hands thinking it was all over when Dundee United scored that late equaliser at Ibrox, but Rangers have fought their way back.


US allies seek Palestinian solution, wider coalition in terror war (AFP)

AFP - The US-led "war on terror" must include a resolution to the Palestinian question and involve a broader coalition, Washington's Asia-Pacific partners warned Saturday on the sidelines of a major summit.


Arafat family bickers over medical records of Palestinian leader

PARIS Getting to the bottom of what killed Yassar Arafat could shape up to be an ugly family tug-of-war. Arafat #39;s half-brother and nephew want copies of Arafat #39;s medical records from the suburban Paris hospital


IRAQ RAGE OF RED CROSS

THE International Red Cross has condemned all sides in the Iraq conflict for failing to respect humanitarian laws. In Geneva, its operations director Pierre Kraehenbuehl stressed that international humanitarian


A Regal Pursuit Is Run Down

Farewell, at last, to tallyho. After seven years of angry debate, frustrated motions and legislative maneuvering, Britain #39;s Parliament finally approved a ban on fox hunting


Bush offers help in reopening U.S. border to Canadian cattle (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - (CP) - President George W. Bush offered Saturday to throw his administration's full weight behind reopening the border to Canadian beef within several months.


ODU professor honored with teaching award

Old Dominion University professor Cynthia Jones was honored in Washington on Thursday as the 2004 Virginia Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.


US trail by one in UBS Cup

KIAWAH ISLAND (South Carolina): Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer won for the eighth time together in matchplay as the Rest of the World led holders the United States by 3 points to 2 on the first day of the UBS Cup, which is limited to golfers in


Fourth-Ranked California Routs Stanford

BERKELEY, Calif. (Sports Network) - JJ Arrington rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries to lead No. 4 California to a convincing 41-6 win over Stanford in The Big Game at Memorial Stadium.


South African President Mbeki holds new talks on Ivory Coast

President Thabo Mbeki met with Ivory Coast Prime Minister Seydou Diarra for three hours yesterday as part of talks aimed at bringing peace to the conflict-wracked Ivory Coast.


Focus: Life on Planet Charles

Toothpaste squeezed by a flunky. Supper steamed with one brand of water. Oh, and an 11m income. This is the man who presses a world view on us all - and whose latest embarrassment, of many, reveals that


Juventus to ignore floored opponents

Juventus coach Fabio Capello says his team will no longer kick the ball out of play when an opponent is lying on the floor. Capello said opposition teams are now taking advantage of the widespread practice.


Ohio State Secures Victory, but Michigan Gains Rose Bowl Bid

The Buckeyes stunned the No. 7 Wolverines, who still will go to Pasadena because they defeated co-Big Ten Champion Iowa on Sept 25.


Chinese takeover of Rover signals end of Britain #39;s once-thriving <b>...</b>

as well as its most-loathed - cars, Rover yesterday confirmed a takeover deal by a Chinese state-owned company that marks


Beautiful day? Not if you #39;re Microsoft

A US lawsuit brought by a company backed by rock group U2 is threatening to reopen old legal wounds for Microsoft. Californian technology company Burst.


Report: Peru Would Refuse to Free Berenson (AP)

AP - Peru will not abide by an international human rights court ruling supporting the release of Lori Berenson, a New York woman imprisoned for collaborating with Marxist guerrillas, the country's foreign minister said, according to news reports Saturday.


Friday Night Fracas Was Criminal on Every Level

The NBA is facing serious, serious issues, problems bigger than fan arrests and player suspensions can repair. A season that began with Latrell Sprewell suggesting he would be hard-pressed


Bush says N. Korea #39;s neighbors uniting against nuclear weapons

(Santiago, Chile-AP) Nov. 20, 2004 - President Bush says North Korea #39;s neighbors are united in sending a blunt message to the man who rules it,  quot;Get rid of your nuclear weapons programs.


Sudan and southern rebels promise peace as Christmas gift

Ecumenical News International After 21 years in a war that has taken as many as 2 million lives and forced the displacement of about 5 million people, the Sudanese government and the leader


Red Cross condemns Iraq abuses

The International Red Cross has made an unprecedented appeal for an end to human rights abuses in Iraq, saying it is  #39;deeply concerned #39; at the impact of the fighting in the country and at apparent failures by all sides in the conflict to respect


Bill Would Help Providers Refuse Abortions (AP)

AP - Congress plans to make it a little easier for hospitals, insurers and other to refuse to provide or cover abortions.


Chelsea Beats Newcastle in Premiership; Arsenal Wins (Update1)

Chelsea beat visiting Newcastle 4-0 at its Stamford Bridge stadium to maintain a five-point lead atop English soccer #39;s Premiership as second-placed Arsenal defeated Birmingham 3-0.


New Director Announced for Fermilab (AP)

AP - A Peruvian-born, award-winning physicist was named the new director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and he takes the helm at a critical time in energy research.


Programs: 'Myst IV' Preserves the Magic

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - The "Myst" series has always  been for people who don't typically play computer games.  Instead of providing pulse-pounding action, it has taken  players to exotic worlds, given them lots of time to explore,  and required them to solve challenging puzzles to move through  the adventure.


Get the Wrong Answer, Ask Another Lawyer

THE rolling upheaval in corporate governance is about to head south of the border, and Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego, one of the more prominent businessmen in Mexico, probably won't be shouting,


House Leadership Blocks Vote on Intelligence Bill

A core of highly conservative Republicans aligned with the Pentagon moved to block a vote on a bill that would have enacted the recommendations of the 9/11 panel.


US Doping Watchdog to Question BALCO #39;s Conte - IAAF

US anti-doping officials plan to question Victor Conte after the BALCO head claimed he saw sprinter Marion Jones taking banned drugs, world athletics body the IAAF said Saturday.


The powder keg wouldn #39;t have exploded if Artest hadn #39;t lit the <b>...</b>

Make no mistake about it. Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers was to blame for the ugly fans-players brawl at The Palace. That #39;s not to give the dumb fan who threw a cup of beer


PENN STATE 37, MICHIGAN STATE 13 Rousing Finale for the Seniors <b>...</b>

In a dismal season defined by offensive futility, Penn State fans have pleaded for changes to the Nittany Lions #39; offense. They have chanted the name of the true


Sixty Chinese miners trapped after fire

Sixty Chinese miners are trapped underground after fire swept through a series of iron mines in northern Hebei Province, Xinhua news agency says.


South Winds Up Prevailing

Paul South entered yesterday's John F. Kennedy 50-Miler with just several months of hard training under his belt following two years when he did little serious running.


China urges US to act on Dollar slide

A senior Chinese official has urged the United States to take action to stop the slide of the dollar and restore equilibrium to global currency markets, China Radio International reported Saturday.


Sergey, Larry, and Eric Plan to Sell Some Stock

Michael Liedtke at the AP reports that Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt plan to sell some shares of GOOG. The co-founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, each plan to sell as many as 7.2 million


Shades of the Vioxx Case for Another Drug

At a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill, senators excoriated top federal drug regulators for failing to realize three years ago that Vioxx, a pain pill that Merck withdrew in September, was dangerous.


Safin cuts short Henman #39;s year

Tim Henman acknowledged the dilemma of his life in tennis.  quot;I #39;ve never hidden behind the fact that I #39;ll be judged on whether I win Wimbledon or not, quot; he said.


World #39;s oldest man dies, 113

FRED Hale Sr, documented as the worlds oldest man, has died at the age of 113. Hale died in his sleep on Friday at a hospital in Syracuse, New York, while trying to recover from a bout of pneumonia, his grandson, Fred Hale III said.


It #39;s smartin #39; Martin

ONeill in denial over red cards as Rangers close the gap in title race. THERE was a first Old Firm Premierleague win in almost two years for Rangers at Ibrox yesterday; a 2-0 victory that ended a run of


New law of the jungle

BRITISH football has come a long way since the early Eighties, when racism was rife among fans, especially in England where chanting mobs got away with flinging bunches of bananas at Liverpool player John Barnes - who was then one of only a handful of


Miller gives new-look Ireland fringe benefits

We can forgive Ireland that they didn #39;t surpass the 70 points England scored against Canada, or the century Scotland put past Japan last week.


Barca delight in Real agony

A dismal week for Spanish football closed with a proper celebration of some of its better virtues. Or, not so much Spains but a celebration of Catalonias flagship enterprise.


Garcia puts Spain in sight of World Cup

Inspired by a breathtaking performance by Sergio Garcia, Spain took over the lead from England going into today #39;s final round of the World Cup.


Season Cuts to The Chase

NASCAR #39;s 2004 season comes to a close in Sunday #39;s Ford 400 with five drivers in contention for the \$5.28 million Nextel Cup championship and a storyline for stock-car racing fans of every loyalty.


Hall revels in new role

The makeshift opener Andrew Hall batted all day for 78 not out as South Africa reached 230 for 4 on the opening day of the First Test against India here.


Wales let chance in a million slip as lacklustre All Blacks fail <b>...</b>

IT IS tempting to say that Wales will be kicking themselves for weeks over this one, but in truth, it will be for years. Wales last beat their greatest rivals as long ago as 1953 when the great Bleddyn Williams


Huskies Shut Out Buffalo To Earn Bowl Eligibility

EAST HARTFORD, CT (November 20, 2004) - Senior quarterback Dan Orlovsky (Shelton, Conn.), playing in the home final game of his illustrious career, threw for 283 yards, sophomore tailback Cornell Brockington (Burlington, NJ) ran for 136 yards and two


Polish hostage freed in Iraq

A Polish woman taken hostage last October in Iraq has been returned to Warsaw, the BBC reported Saturday. Appearing at a press conference alongside Polish Prime Minister Marek


Life is more Baywatch than Balmoral for Prince of Waves

STRIDING along a beach, surfboard tucked nonchalantly under his arm, the tall wetsuit-clad figure cuts quite a dash as he heads for the waves.


Big setback for US spy shake-up

Sweeping plans to reform the US spy network run into trouble after key Republicans in Congress object to the bill.


US son-in-law for ex-coup leader

A US lawmaker marries the daughter of Guatemala's ex-military ruler at a closely-guarded ceremony.


Menatep acts to bloc Yukos sale

Yukos' main shareholder files a legal complaint to prevent Russia selling off the embattled oil giant's key unit,  reports say.


Anti-terror laws 'may go further'

David Blunkett  says measures to beat terrorism could include special anti-terror courts using phone-taping evidence.


When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun

For players with ambitions to develop games, Electronic Arts must appear to be the best place in the world, but there is unhappiness among those living that dream.


NASA Starts Hunt for Celestial Bursts

The fastest-swiveling space science observatory ever built rocketed into orbit on Saturday to scan the universe for celestial explosions.


Policy Meets Reality in West as Cattle Tracking Is Tested

Wide-open spaces, technological glitches and bitter cold all are potential obstacles to plans to track livestock and protect the food supply from disease and bioterrorism.


PeopleSoft Sends Letter to Oracle

PLEASANTON, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 20, 2004 -- PeopleSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq:PSFT) today sent a letter to Lawrence Ellison, Chief Executive Officer and Jeffrey Henley, Chairman of Oracle Corporation (Nasdaq: ORCL).


Congress Asks SEC for Mutual Fund Study

The US Congress asked the Securities and Exchange Commission on Saturday to send lawmakers a report justifying a new rule forcing mutual fund boards to have independent chairmen.


Prince William Defends Brother, Father (AP)

AP - Prince William supported the oft-criticized behavior of his brother, Prince Harry, and stuck up for his father, Prince Charles, in a rare interview with the British media published Saturday.


U.S. Fights Baghdad Militants; GI Killed (AP)

AP - Insurgents battled American troops in the streets of Baghdad on Saturday, killing a U.S. soldier in an ambush and gunning down four government employees in signals that the guerrillas remain a potent force despite the fall of their stronghold of Fallujah. Nine Iraqis also died in fighting west of the capital.


Tech Buying Guide: Music

MP3 players -- technically, digital-music players, although almost all of them are used mainly to play songs saved in the popular MP3 format -- come in three sizes: tiny, big and really big.


Top Computer Makers: Dell

Dell is both profitable and well regarded, thanks to its habit of delivering serviceable but unexciting products at good prices and supporting them well enough to keep buyers coming back.


Federer faces Hewitt in Masters Cup final

Swiss world number one Roger Federer will face Australian Lleyton Hewitt in Sunday #39;s final at Masters Cup after an epic tiebreak 20-18 to seal a 6-3, 7-6 semi-final victory


Barcelona coach Rijkaard: 7 points clear hasn #39;t won us anything

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has told his players they can #39;t afford to relax, despite last night #39;s stunning 3-0 win over Real Madrid.


G7 states to write off \$33 billion Iraqi debt

BERLIN: The United States, Germany and other G7 nations agreed yesterday to write off up to 80 per cent or \$33 billion of Iraq #39;s Paris Club debt, which could pave the way for a wider international accord, officials said.


Polish hostage released in Iraq back home

A Polish woman, who was kidnapped in Iraq last month, has been released and flown back to Poland. Teresa Borcz Khalifa, who was brought to Poland on Friday evening, appeared


No. 24 Texas-El Paso Clinches Bowl Berth (AP)

AP - Jordan Palmer threw for 339 yards and five touchdowns and No. 24 Texas-El Paso beat SMU 57-27 Saturday night to clinch a bowl berth in coach Mike Price's first season running the formerly downtrodden program.


Alta Premier Klein vows retribution for those who actively jockey for his job (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - CALGARY (CP) - In his last day of campaigning in what he has promised will be his last election, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein warned there would be retribution for would-be successors who publicly jockey for his job.


Iowa Upsets Wisconsin to Grab Share of Big Ten Title

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Sports Network) - Drew Tate completed  15-of-24 passes for 186 yards with three touchdowns and three  interceptions to lead No. 17 Iowa over ninth-ranked Wisconsin,  30-7, in the regular season finale for both squads with the Big  Ten championship on the line at Kinnick Stadium.


Second-Ranked Auburn Downs Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Sports Network) - Jason Campbell passed  for 224 yards and a touchdown, Courtney Taylor caught four  passes for 89 yards and a score, and No. 2 Auburn overcame a  slow start to beat Southeastern Conference rival Alabama,  21-13, in the 69th Iron Bowl.


Bill Gives Lawmakers Access to Tax Returns (AP)

AP - Congress passed legislation Saturday giving two committee chairman and their assistants access to income tax returns without regard to privacy protections, but not before red-faced Republicans said it was all a mistake and would be swiftly repealed.


McGrady Leads Rockets Past Clippers in OT

LOS ANGELES (Sports Network) - Tracy McGrady tallied 32  points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead Houston over  the Los Angeles Clippers, 91-86, in an overtime contest at the  Staples Center.


Congress Passes \$388 Billion Spending Bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress on Saturday passed  a \$388 billion package financing government programs in this  fiscal year after days of tough talks, but a last minute snag  means it may not be sent to President Bush for signing into law  for several days.


More Prescription Drug Health Risks

The Food and Drug Administration remains on the defensive. The agency got grilled on Capitol Hill for the second day in a row about the health risks of several popular prescription drugs.


Russia to auction major oil facility

MOSCOW -- Russian tax authorities on Friday scheduled the equivalent of a fire sale at what was once the nation #39;s largest oil company, offering the main production facility at Yukos Oil for auction next month at a fraction of its value.


PeopleSoft's Board Rejects Oracle Bid (AP)

AP - PeopleSoft Inc.'s board of directors said it rejected Oracle Corp.'s  #36;9.2 billion takeover bid Saturday, continuing its staunch resistance a day after the company's own shareholders tendered more than 60 percent of stock to Oracle.


No. 5 Utah Beats BYU for Unbeaten Season (AP)

AP - The BCS is all but busted. Utah beat rival Brigham Young 52-21 Saturday, completing its first unbeaten season since 1930 and putting the Utes one step closer to the first appearance in the Bowl Championship Series for a team from a mid-major conference.


Rockets down Clippers 91-86 in OT

Tracy McGrady scored 32 points to lead visiting Houston Rockets beating the Los Angeles Clippers 91-86 in overtime. It is the Rockets seventh straight win over the Clippers, and


US Fights Baghdad Militants; GI Killed

Insurgents battled American troops in the streets of Baghdad on Saturday, killing a US soldier in an ambush and gunning down four government employees in signals that the


Plane Crashes in China With 47 Aboard

BEIJING Nov 20, 2004 - A small passenger plane carrying 47 people crashed Sunday in northern China, and the government said there likely were no survivors.


Buzz Off! Aussie Surfers Use Device to Repel Sharks (Reuters)

Reuters - Organizers of an Australian night\surfing competition used an electronic shield for the first\time to protect surfers from sharks, which might otherwise have\thought competitors were an easy meal.


Chavez Pushes Anti-Terrorism Plan After Bomb Attack

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo  Chavez pressed for a new anti-terrorism proposal on Saturday  after a car bomb killed a top state prosecutor investigating  opponents accused of backing a 2002 coup against him.


Fresh violence hits Iraq capital

Several people are killed in new clashes between Iraqi and US troops and insurgents in the capital, Baghdad.


Bush Frees Secret Service Agent from Chile Guards

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - President Bush on Saturdayreached into a throng of squabbling bodyguards and pulled aSecret Service agent away from Chilean security officers afterthey stopped the U.S. agent from accompanying the president ata dinner.


Report: Peru Would Refuse to Free Berenson

Peru will not abide by an international human rights court ruling supporting the release of Lori Berenson, a New York woman imprisoned for collaborating with Marxist guerrillas, the country's foreign minister said, according to news reports Saturday.


In Romania, Show Turns the E.U. Into A Laughing Matter

BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romanian television has an unlikely hit on its hands, a sitcom with a cast of racy characters who sit in a country pub and get laughs discussing the fine points of the bureaucracy and regulations of the European Union.


3,000 Indian Troops Pull Out of Kashmir

JAMMU, India, Nov. 20 -- India pulled  about 3,000 troops  out of Kashmir Saturday in a planned withdrawal of army units from the disputed region, Indian officials said. The soldiers left their bases in convoys of trucks, jeeps and buses.


 By Patrick Markey

 CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's President HugoChavez pressed for a new anti-terrorism proposal on Saturdayafter a car bomb killed a top state prosecutor investigatingopponents accused of backing a 2002 coup against him.


PeopleSoft #39;s board said it rejects Oracle bid

PLEASANTON, Calif. PeopleSoft #39;s board of directors said it srejected Oracle Corp. #39;s nine-point-two (b) billion dollar takeover bid Saturday.


Aussies steaming towards victory in Brisbane Test

Australia: Australia bowler Glenn McGrath followed up his Test best score with three quick wickets to have New Zealand on the ropes on the fourth day of the first cricket Test at the Gabba on Sunday.


Carter the heart of the new Blacks

A dark hour precedes every dawn and, for Wales, this narrow defeat against the All Blacks - their 17th in a row - has to be regarded as their darkest hour: they got so close yet were just held off.


Officials blame exiles in US

The tone was light, but the dapper comedian #39;s words were sobering as he outlined his vision for regime change in leftist Venezuela.


No. 21 Wisconsin Trounces Penn 77-44 (AP)

AP - Mike Wilkinson scored all but two of his 19 points in the second half and Brian Butch had a memorable debut in No. 21 Wisconsin's 77-44 rout of Penn on Saturday night.


A free-trade fight over wine

The clinical psychologist from Saginaw, Mich., convinced his favorite wineries, tiny California operations, to ship him a precious few bottles each year.


Biologists say grouse not a species in peril

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended against listing the greater sage grouse as a threatened or endangered species, the agency announced Friday.


Oracle takes 60 percent of PeopleSoft shares but game is not over

WASHINGTON : After a bitter 18-month battle Oracle Corp has succeeded in taking control of more than 60 percent of outstanding shares of rival business software group PeopleSoft, but obstacles to the hostile takeover remain.


FDA Officer Suggests Strict Curbs on 5 Drugs

A veteran Food and Drug Administration safety officer said yesterday at a Senate hearing on the abrupt recall of the arthritis drug Vioxx that five other widely used drugs should either be


San Francisco hotel workers to return to work after lockout

The city #39;s mayor says about four-thousand unionized maids, bellhops, cooks and other hourly wage earners will return to their jobs Tuesday following an eight-week lockout.


Dispute Over  la Carte Cable Pricing

Federal regulators took issue Friday with consumer groups that contend that allowing cable television subscribers to pay only for channels they want would lower consumers #39; cable bills.


Riot #39;s about right: Ingredients always there

I see the tape of the brawl over and over again, and each time I am stunned. I see the Pacers and Pistons yapping at each other, then I see items thrown at the Indiana players and


3,000 Indian Troops Pull Out of Kashmir

JAMMU, India, Nov. 20 -- India pulled about 3,000 troops out of Kashmir Saturday in a planned withdrawal of army units from the disputed region, Indian officials said.


Afghan Gets Death for Journalist Slayings

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan judges sentenced a man to death Saturday over the slaying of three foreign journalists and an Afghan colleague, who were pulled from their cars, robbed and shot as they rushed to cover the collapse of the Taliban.


Prince denies he is out of step

The Prince of Wales is to defend himself publicly after being accused of being  quot;old fashioned quot; over modern teaching methods.


British hunters seek to end fox-hunt ban

Defeated in Parliament, supporters of fox hunting went to court Friday to try to overturn a legislative ban on their more than 300-year-old sport and vowed a campaign of civil disobedience


Europe Shares Hover Near 2-1/2 Year Highs

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares hovered near 2-1/2 year  highs on Tuesday as economic optimism prevailed, but British  retailer Woolworths fell 8 percent after it reported sluggish  Christmas sales.


Chinese leader wants stable climate for yuan reform

SANTIAGO : Chinese President Hu Jintao, meeting US leader George W. Bush during an Asia-Pacific summit, said he plans to loosen the yuan #39;s decade-old peg to the dollar, but only under the right conditions.


A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP)

AP - As of Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at least 1,221 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 946 died as a result of hostile action, the Defense Department said as of Friday. The figures include three military civilians.


U.S. Military Names More Enemy Combatants (AP)

AP - U.S. military review tribunals have ordered five more prisoners to remain held as enemy combatants in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a Navy official said Saturday.


Creditors to Write Off Most of Iraq #39;s Debt

US Treasury Secretary John Snow, left, and his German counterpart Hans Eichel, shake hands during the G20 conference of finance ministers and central bank governors in Berlin on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004.


Chavez Pushes Anti-Terrorism Plan After Bomb Attack

Venezuela #39;s President Hugo Chavez pressed for a new anti-terrorism proposal on Saturday after a car bomb killed a top state prosecutor investigating opponents accused of backing a 2002 coup against him.


Afghan court sentences man to death for murder of foreign <b>...</b>

KABUL : An Afghan court sentenced a man to death for killing three foreign journalists and their Afghan colleague shortly after the fall of the hardline Taliban regime in 2001.


UN gives up on efforts to seek worldwide cloning treaty

The United States and other opponents of human cloning shelved their bid Friday for a UN treaty to ban the controversial procedure, unable to overcome opposition by nations seeking to allow cloning for embryonic stem cell research.


Anti-terror laws  #39;may go further #39;

The home secretary is to spell out proposals for more far-reaching measures to tackle terrorism, amid fears of an al-Qaeda attack on Britain.


Colonials Come on Late

Trailing at halftime to an overmatched foe, George Washington finally gets in a groove in the second half and puts away Morgan State, 94-70, on Saturday.


B.C. Gets Easy Win

Jessalyn Deveny, Clare Droesch and Brooke Queenan team for 55 points as No. 18 Boston College beats Western Michigan, 71-50.


Terps Have Potential

With some luck, Maryland's women's basketball team could make a big splash nationally this year after several down seasons.


Diminishing Returns

Delaware State scores on a 73-yard punt return and a 25-yard interception return and defeats Howard, 32-13, Saturday at Greene Stadium.


Wizards Rise Over Nets

Larry Hughes scores 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Wizards over the woeful Nets, 97-86, on Saturday night.


NASA launches new satellite Swift

NASA has launched a new space observatory to hunt down and study the most powerful explosions seen in the Universe since the Big Bang itself.


UNDATED: in 1997.

Eddie Griffin scored 23 points and Kevin Garnett had 20 despite a shoulder injury to lift Minnesota over winless New Orleans (0-8).


Over 50 feared in China plane crash

A China Eastern plane carrying more than 50 passengers and crew has crashed into a frozen lake seconds after takeoff in Inner Mongolia and all are feared dead, state media says.


No relief for Europe as G20 shuns action to halt dollar slide (AFP)

AFP - The Group of 20 finance chiefs have shunned action to halt the dollar slide, leaving Europe isolated at the end of a forum here and facing an almost certain further strengthening of the euro.


Yukos on the auction block

Russian tax authorities yesterday scheduled the equivalent of a fire sale at what was once the nation #39;s largest oil company, offering the main production facility at Yukos Oil


Grumbling Over the Greenback

Financial markets and economic policymakers around the globe all were focused last week on the shrinking value of the dollar. The greenback fell to its lowest level in years against both the yen and the euro


Speak no evil, just in Casey

GOLF, as someone once said with a stunning lack of humour, can be a funny old game. Not always though. This week at least, Paul Casey hasnt spent a lot of time laughing.


Rangers boss defends players after O #39;Neill rant

Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton saw red as Rangers narrowed the gap to one point at the top of the SPL by winning a stormy Old Firm derby.


Wizards Too Strong For Nets

Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison hit a jumper from the right corner late in the fourth quarter and lightly tapped his right fist against his chest.


Brawl mars end for retiring Holtz

He #39;d thought about it fondly, envisioning it as his grand ride into the sunset. Who knows, maybe he #39;d even leave the Memorial Stadium playing surface at Clemson victoriously saddled atop his players #39; shoulders.


Roundup: Wisconsin routs Penn; UConn, Kentucky roll

Mike Wilkinson scored all but two of his 19 points in the second half and Brian Butch had a memorable debut in No. 20 Wisconsin #39;s 77-44 rout of Penn on Saturday night.


Volkswagen 2004 China Sales Fall

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Volkswagen's car sales in China fell 6  percent in 2004 and will fare little better in 2005 amid a  raging price war and worsening demand from a slowing economy,  executives for its two ventures in the country said on Tuesday.


Palestinians open election process to select candidate to replace <b>...</b>

Palestinians formally opened the campaign to replace Yasser Arafat yesterday as candidates aspiring to replace the long-time leader began seeking signatures to qualify for the January 9 ballot.


Explosion in southern Italy kills eight, gas leak possible cause

An explosion leveled a two-story apartment building in southern Italy early Saturday, killing eight residents and injuring six others, and firefighters were investigating whether a gas leak was to blame.


Labour #39;s anti-terror pledge

Home Secretary David Blunkett has signalled that a third term Labour government would impose sweeping new anti-terror laws amid fears of an al Qaida attack on Britain.


Elusive Anschutz Leaves Wide Footprint

The billionaire investor is on the cusp of becoming a major presence in Washington with ambitious plans for D.C. United and new ownership of Journal Newspapers Inc.


A Wedding That Won't Leave You Broke

If you're planning a spring or summer wedding, you're probably sweating the details now.


Angry Ferrero Has Not Given Up Hope

SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - Out of form and out of favor,  Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero could barely hide his  disappointment at being used as a bit-part doubles player in  the Davis Cup final against the United States.


Ohio State Secures Victory, but Michigan Gains Rose Bowl Bid

The Buckeyes stunned the No. 7 Wolverines, who still get to go to Pasadena because they defeated co-Big Ten Champion Iowa, 30-17, on Sept 25.


With a Rookie Quarterback in the N.F.L., Call It in the Air

Debuts are rarely pretty, especially for rookies such as quarterback Eli Manning, who will make his first start for the Giants on Sunday, against the Atlanta Falcons.


No relief for Europe as G20 shuns action to halt dollar slide

BERLIN : The Group of 20 finance chiefs have shunned action to halt the dollar slide, leaving Europe isolated at the end of a forum here and facing an almost certain further strengthening of the euro.


Observatory launched by NASA to look for emerging black ho

The fastest-swiveling space science observatory ever built rocketed into orbit yesterday to scan the universe for violent celestial explosions that astronomers say they believe represent the birth screams of black holes.


Barcelona beat Real Madrid

Barcelona moved seven points clear at the top of the Spanish League on Saturday following a three-nil victory at home to second-placed Real Madrid.


Everything will be decided at today #39;s Nextel Cup race

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - The Nextel Cup championship, after 35 races, winds down to one, and the same man who will start on the pole in todays Ford 400 occupies a similarly lofty perch in the title race.


Mosley more competitive, but not enough

LAS VEGAS -- Shane Mosley made the rematch closer, while Winky Wright made sure the result was the same. Wright used his right jab to pile up points early in the fight, then held on to win a majority decision


Challenges and opportunities seen in merger

The Nov. 17 announcement that Kmart would be attempting to acquire Sears stores in a \$11 billion deal sent shockwaves throughout the financial world.


Racist Fans Bring Issue To Forefront

The fact that racism in European soccer is not a dead issue became painfully obvious in Spain during the past week, with members of both England #39;s full international


Warne, McGrath hand Kiwis heavy defeat

Brisbane: New Zealand collapsed to an innings and 156-run defeat in the first cricket Test here, demoralised by a crushing Australian innings lead and routed by the world champions #39; inspired bowling.


No. 14 LSU Rallies to Beat Mississippi (AP)

AP - Alley Broussard ran for a school-record 250 yards with three touchdowns and No. 14 LSU rallied to beat Mississippi 27-24 Saturday night.


Electronic Arts and the mighty dollar

Behemoth publisher EA seems to be a bit hard on its employees, reslting in law suits. But employee abuse and poor working conditions isn't as simple to solve as it might seem. And EA is the catalyst for a potential revolution


Home Is Where the Help Desk Is

More than ever, today's consumers need to plan and research their tech purchases to make sure the parts of their digital dream home will actually work together.


Virtual Storefronts Are Rent-Free on LiveDeal

The locally focused Web marketplace made its official debut last week, offering "free for life" storefronts to sellers and the ability to list anything for sale at no cost.


Chinese firm set to control MG Rover

BRITAINS only remaining mass market car maker seemed certain last night to pass into foreign control after MG Rover admitted merger talks with a Chinese firm were at an advanced stage.


Gomes stays hot for Providence

Ryan Gomes scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds last night, leading Providence (9-4) to a 79-63 win over Brown (6-6).


It was time for caution

Whether or not Gary Payton would play last night was truly a game-time decision. At 6:37 p.m., the Celtics announced that he would not dress and that second-year point guard Marcus Banks would start. But before Payton rested, he had an unusually busy night.


Looking beyond the K-word

Here we go again! First, remarks made by Pervez Musharraf over a mouthful of Iftaar goodies are touted as a blueprint for peace and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gives it legitimacy by rejecting it.


Transactions

BASEBALL Cleveland (AL): Sold INF Erick Almonte to Nippon (Japan). New York (AL): Signed P Tanyon Sturtze.


Gators Shock 'Noles

Chris Leak throws a touchdown as Florida upsets No. 10 Florida State, 20-13, in Ron Zook's last game as coach. It is the Gators first win in Tallahassee since 1986.


'Pacers Lite' Lose Late

Limited to just six players because of suspensions and injuries, the Pacers take the Magic to the final moments before dropping a 86-83 decision on Saturday.


Hornets Drop to 0-8

Reserve Eddie Griffin converts 10 of 14 shots for 23 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves deal the winless New Orleans Hornets another setback, 99-94.


PeopleSoft board rejects takeover bid by Oracle

PLEASANTON, California - PeopleSoft Inc. #39;s board yesterday rejected Oracle Corp. #39;s \$9.2 billion takeover bid, continuing its resistance after the company #39;s own shareholders tendered more than 60 percent of their stock to Oracle.


Sirius Satellite: Making Waves

When shock jock Howard Stern swooped into Sirius Satellite Radio, he was greeted like a conquering hero. Last month, a week after he announced on his popular morning radio show


Nintendo Bets on New Hand-Held Console to Leap Ahead of Sony

Nintendo Co., the world #39;s biggest maker of portable game consoles, begins selling its newest hand- held player today, accompanied by a \$40 million advertising push aimed at taking customers away from Sony Corp.


Australia wins series opener? (updated PM 1:52)

Glenn McGrath tormented New Zealand with bat and ball and Shane Warne took four wickets Sunday as Australia won by an innings and 156 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-test cricket series.


Greenspan does down the dollar

Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve chairman, yesterday gave the dollar a further push lower as he said the huge US current account deficit threatened to scare off foreign investors.


#39;Medicine is for people, not profits #39;

Dodge Ball, the game in which children try to avoid getting hit by a rubber ball, may seem to have nothing in common with the business of developing medicines.


A nice addition was subtracted

He didn't play. That, in and of itself, is hoop Halley's Comet. For all the trees that have been felled over the years chronicling anything and everything about Gary Payton, there's been one indisputable fact: He doesn't miss games. He can be everything from abrasive to solicitous, but he is unfailingly durable. If this were baseball, Doc Rivers wouldn't have ...


It is better to give when not being deceived

Six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has already shown he can dominate the world of cycling. Now the cancer survivor is setting his sights on the world of charitable giving.


How to avoid a scamming planner

He said he kept two sets of books, stole from clients for two decades, and hid his activities from regulators. But Bradford C. Bleidt's purported multimillion-dollar scam would never have gotten off the ground if clients of Allocation Plus Asset Management Co. had followed two basic investment rules.


Mergers pinching smaller nonprofits

The staff at the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse knows many of the homeless men and women who roam Boston's streets once served in the armed forces. For years, the small Roxbury nonprofit has helped by finding them jobs.


When it comes to fly-fishing, he's hooked

A funny thing happened when Dr. Burt A. Adelman, executive vice president for development at Cambridge biotech giant Biogen Idec, bought a fly rod for his son Ian on his 16th birthday.


When business innovation leads to disaster

This book attempts to demolish the notion that ''new is better. quot; For the most part, it succeeds. Sergio Zyman and coauthor Armin A. Brott build a solid foundation for their argument that innovation can be disastrous for the bottom line. Innovation is like a sugar high, they say -- a quick fix that just doesn't work.


Etiquette at Work

Q: What are the rules regarding hand shakes in business situations? Should men stand when shaking hands with each other? And are women required to shake hands?


Lessons in making life-and-debt decisions

It's safe to say most people would prefer to never have to see a bankruptcy attorney or judge.


NY Ave.  #39;Gateway #39; Opens

Michael Foster is so fascinated by Metro trains that he knows how to identify different models of the cars. So it came as no surprise to his mother when he asked to kick off the weekend


Humans raise odds of extreme weather

This week #39;s issue of Nature features the first study to demonstrate a link between greenhouse gas emissions and an extreme weather event - in this case, the unusually high temperatures in Europe during the summer of 2003 that led to 14,000 deaths more


Woods Ends Drought With First Win in Japan (AP)

AP - Tiger Woods shot a 3-under 67 Sunday to win the Dunlop Phoenix by eight strokes for his first title since February and first ever in Japan.


Microsoft defends its software

Microsoft has been forced to fight for its lucrative Asian market, following government agreements to switch to other open-source software.


Tech Buying Guide: Organizers

Many people don #39;t use a handheld organizer for anything but tracking their calendar appointments and contacts lists. For them, there #39;s no reason to spend more than \$100, in the form of Palm #39;s Zire 21.


Slew of multiplayer options helps  #39;Halo 2 #39; fulfill hype

quot;Halo 2, quot; which went on sale in November, shattered video game sales records, but does it live up to the hype? Yes. And in spades.


Is Firefox 1.0 Less Stable than Firefox PR1.0?

An anonymous reader wonders:  quot;I had Firefox 1.0PR running smoothly on three different machines and it hardly ever crashed. After upgrading to 1.0, I seem to have at least one annoying crash a day.


Bush tells Putin of democracy concerns (AFP)

AFP - US President George W. Bush told Russian President Vladimir Putin in person for the first time that he worried about "overcentralization of power" in the Kremlin, said a senior US official.


Readers give their versions of what happened

it #39;s said that they were all there -- looked invisible to me. I do not agree with the suspensions being indefinite, 10 games


World #39;s oldest man dies at 113

NEW YORK -- Fred Hale Sr., the oldest man in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, has died less than two weeks shy of his 114th birthday.


Ponting hails mighty turnaround

Ricky Ponting hailed two outstanding days of pressure cricket for delivering one of Australia #39;s biggest Test victories over New Zealand, inside four days at the Gabba in Brisbane.


Clemson, Carolina: THE AFTERMATH

The 102nd gridiron meeting between archival Clemson and South Carolina will certainly be remembered, that #39;s for sure, but unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons.


Rain doesn #39;t fall on Auburn #39;s parade

A rainy Saturday afternoon belonged to hopeful Alabama fans, but once again, the blue and orange of Auburn owned Bryant-Denny Stadium by nightfall.


Sugar Shane Mosley Sweet, but Wright Call in End

Sugar Shane Mosley made all of the necessary adjustments from the first fight, but still managed to come up short as consensus junior middleweight champion Ronald Winky Wright earned


MSU turnovers help Penn State score four touchdowns in third <b>...</b>

A week after being at its best, Michigan State was at its worst. The Spartans still haven #39;t learned how to handle success, losing Saturday to Penn State, 37-13, at Beaver Stadium.


53 dead in China plane crash

A China Eastern commuter plane has crashed into a frozen lake seconds after takeoff in Inner Mongolia, killing all 53 passengers and crew, state media have said.


Rescuers in China search for 79 iron miners trapped in blaze

BEIJING Eight miners have been killed in a fire that broke out in a complex of iron mines in northern China. State media says Chinese rescuers are struggling to find 79 more miners still trapped.


Recount Begins in Wash. Governor's Race (AP)

AP - Both of Washington's potential new governors have experienced the uncomfortable sensation of reading their own political obituaries.


NBA Wrap: Short-Handed Pacers Lose the Night

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Grant Hill collected 28 points, seven  rebounds and six assists to carry the Orlando Magic to an 86-83  win over the short-handed Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis  Saturday.


Woods Seizes First Strokeplay Title of Year

MIYAZAKI, Japan (Reuters) - Tiger Woods picked up his first  strokeplay title of a difficult year when he romped to an  eight-shot victory at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament on Sunday.


Ukrainians Choose New President in Landmark Poll

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainians Sunday began choosing a new  president in a landmark poll offering a choice between the  ex-Soviet state's prime minister, backed by Russia, and a  liberal rival seeking gradual integration with the West.


Hourihan finally getting her shot in goal

When Northeastern University women's hockey goalie Marisa Hourihan skated off with a 3-0 victory over Quinnipiac University on Oct. 30, the Hanover native felt she was back where she belonged.


Africa and its children

ALERE, Uganda -- Kasmiro Bongonyinge remembers sitting up suddenly in his bed. It was just after sunrise on a summer morning two years ago, and the old man, 87 years old and blind, knew something was wrong.


Palestinian candidates shaping ballot

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinians began registering candidates yesterday for a presidential election to succeed Yasser Arafat, while officials warned that the vote may be delayed if Israel does not halt military activities.


Bush seeks unity on Iran, North Korea

SANTIAGO, Chile -- President Bush used his first trip abroad since reelection to press allies yesterday for help in hemming in the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, nations he considers part of an ''axis of evil. quot;


Companies, scavengers scrap over recycled paper in Japan

TOKYO -- The paper chase starts in the blackness of early morning, a cat-and-mouse game played on Tokyo's almost empty backstreets in the hours before businessmen shake off their hangovers and commuters emerge to flood the city.


Air crash into lake kills all 53 on board

BEIJING -- A small passenger plane carrying 53 people crashed today in a northern lake immediately after takeoff, and the government said there were no survivors. The plane crashed into a frozen lake in Baotou, a city about 330 miles northwest of Beijing, seconds after taking off at about 8:20 a.m., the official Xinhua News Agency said. The China Eastern ...


Plan OK'd to cancel some Iraq debt

BERLIN -- Germany and the United States have agreed on a proposal to write off as much as 80 percent of Iraq's debt, Germany's finance minister said yesterday, capping a months-long US push for debt forgiveness.


Bush Frees Secret Service Agent from Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - President Bush Saturdayreached into a throng of squabbling bodyguards and pulled aSecret Service agent away from Chilean security officers afterthey stopped the U.S. agent from accompanying the president ata dinner.


Hall frustrates India with maiden ton

Kanpur: Andrew Hall got a maiden Test century as South Africa made steady progress, frustrating India on the second day of the first Test at the Green Park Stadium on Sunday.


Gamecocks finish at bottom of class

CLEMSON, SC - It #39;s not too late, Steve Spurrier. Don #39;t sign any dotted lines until you see the film from the latest South Carolina debacle in Death Valley.


On the firing line: Giants quarterback Eli Manning

Eli Manning is behind schedule compared to his brother, Peyton, who set the family #39;s standard for rookie quarterbacks in 1998 with the Indianapolis Colts.


Hot Hand, Cold Hand

Lawrence J. Ellison, chief executive of Oracle Corp., whose 17-month campaign to take over rival PeopleSoft Inc. got a boost when major PeopleSoft owners offered to tender their shares.


Suppliers optimistic about Kmart acquisition of Sears

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Kmart #39;s pending acquisition of Sears has a number of suppliers wondering how it will affect their business.


Metro opens its newest station

Metro opened its newest station yesterday amid hopes that it would spark more economic development in the city #39;s Northeast commercial district along Florida and New York avenues while serving residents in the nearby, emerging neighborhoods.


It's crunch time for Crennel

Saturday is the last day that NFL assistant coaches and front office personnel whose teams are in the playoffs can interview for jobs -- until their team's playoff run ends. That means this could be a big week for Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who has coveted a head coaching position for the past few years.


Swift Observatory Launched

IndigoSkies writes  quot;NASA today successfully launched the Swift Observatory into Earth orbit for an intense two year study of GRBs (gamma-ray bursts) to determine whether there is a connection between them and the evolution of black holes.


Yahoo extends Microsoft ad deal to mid-2006

NEW YORK - Yahoo Inc. has agreed to extend its deal to place advertisements on Microsoft Corp. #39;s MSN sites in the United States and overseas by one year through June 2006, Yahoo said Thursday.


Secret of success (for 113 years): hobbies, honey, a merry outlook

There were times when Fred Hale Sr. #39;s loved ones wondered if he might just live forever. Nothing seemed to stop Hale, the oldest man in the world.


After defeating Mosley, Wright calls out Tito Trinidad

November 21, 2004 -- After his second straight victory over Shane Mosley on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Ronald  quot;Winky quot; Wright was quick to call out who he wants next -- Felix  quot;Tito quot; Trinidad.


Editorial: Changing Times, Changing PDA

A consistent theme among many people in PDA forums around the Internet lately has been that Palm OS based PDAs are not making the effort to cater to the need for more useful features (for example, there is only one current PDA model that includes Wifi


US, Germany Agree On Iraqi Debt Write-Off

Germany and the United States have agreed on a proposal to write off as much as 80 percent of Iraq #39;s debt, Germany #39;s finance minister said Saturday, following a months-long US push for debt forgiveness.


Palestinian candidates shaping ballot

Palestinians began registering candidates yesterday for a presidential election to succeed Yasser Arafat, while officials warned that


Chinese leader to visit Havana for communist summit (AFP)

AFP - Fidel Castro will Monday receive Chinese President Hu Jintao in Havana, a meeting between an aged leader clinging to his communist ideology and a younger one who has tried to reduce the party's profile.


Redefining the role of academic research

Charles M. Vest, who will be stepping down next month as the president of MIT, personifies his school's famed ''engineering mentality. quot; Simply put, this is the inclination to find a problem and fix it.


At Holocaust Museum, Turning a Number Into a Name

The Yad Vashem museum in Jerusalem has assembled the names and biographies of Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and it will make the information available online.


School District Challenges Darwin's Theory

A Pennsylvania school district Friday defended its decision to discount Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and teach what critics say is a version of creationism.


Two held after Air France flight diverted

WASHINGTON -- A flight from Paris bound for Dulles International Airport was diverted Saturday night after US Customs officials detained two passengers aboard, officials said.


Eurozone data to show sliding business confidence: economists (AFP)

AFP - Eurozone figures to be released this week should show business confidence beginning to slide again owing to concern over slowing growth and the strong euro, economists said.


Mickey #39;s Fight Club

It was nearly 10 years ago that Disney CEO Michael Eisner began to seriously contemplate his own mortality. He #39;d just survived emergency bypass surgery, and he was worried: if something happened to him, who could possibly run Disney?


Supplement maker walks fine legal line

Just three years after Ohio salesman Steve Warshak started selling penis enlargement pills out of a spare room in his home, his company rakes in more than \$200 million a year on unproven palliatives


NASA launches new satellite Swift

The fastest-swivelling space science observatory ever built rocketed into orbit on Saturday to scan the universe for violent celestial explosions.


Life is good

Once upon a time, first-person shooter games had about as much plot and character development as a porn flick. Your digital hero just ran around and pumped hot lead into demons or aliens or Nazis, much like the porn hero .


Linspire #39;s Robertson embraces Windows Media

LINSPIRE INC. the company formerly known as Lindows announced on November 18 that it has licensed Windows Media technology and made it immediately available via a click-and-run online update to the users of the Linux distro.


4 suspended after NBA melee

NBA Commissioner David Stern indefinitely suspended four players who took part in an ugly melee with fans, now regarded as one of the worst in sports history, in a Friday night game between the Indiana Pacers and the host Detroit Pistons.


Barcelona shuts out rival Real Madrid

MADRID, Spain  Barcelona moved further ahead in the Spanish league by beating rival Real Madrid 3-0 Saturday in the country #39;s biggest match.


Gators  #39;86 Noles

TALLAHASSEE - The final act was the showstopper. A jaw-dropper. It was so Ron Zook. You figured he #39;d zig. Well, he zagged. You figured he would coach the Florida Gators to a loss in a big game.


Cyclones near title after big comeback

MANHATTAN, Kan.  With a thrilling comeback, Iowa State is a win away from a surprising championship. Iowa State trailed the Wildcats by two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter, but freshman Bret Meyer


Robinson hails Hodgson heroics

Charlie Hodgson #39;s record-equalling performance against South Africa was praised by coach Andy Robinson after the Sale flyhalf scored 27 points in England #39;s 32-16 victory here at Twickenham on Saturday.


Death toll of north China plane crash possibly up to 55

Two men on the ground were most likely killed in the plane crash Sunday morning in Baotou City, north China #39;s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, bringing the death toll of the accident to 55, local police sources said.


Dissident freed in Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar -- One of Myanmar #39;s best known and longest-imprisoned political dissidents has been freed as part of a general release of almost 4,000 prisoners by the country #39;s ruling junta, a family member confirmed Saturday.


Sharon: Stop Terror and Talk; Arabs: Words Before Action

The Palestinian Authority, refusing Israel #39;s demand for a halt in terrorist attacks, also insists that Israel release convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving multiple life sentences for murder.


Prince William defends Royal Family

LONDON -- Prince William supported the oft-criticized behaviour of his brother, Prince Harry, and also stuck up for his father, Prince Charles, in a rare interview with the British news media published yesterday.


A show of ideological solidarity from China

HAVANA  In his first visit to Latin America, Chinese President Hu Jintao came bearing billions of dollars worth of potential trade and investment agreements that prompted regional leaders to herald a new era of closer ties with the emerging economic


Beta doesn #39;t beat Google

Granted, the new MSN (http://beta.search.msn.com) is still in the  quot;beta quot; phase -- testing a work in progress. Microsoft is expected to make the technology part of its main MSN site early next year.


FireFox Developers Riding the Wave

The publicity avalanche surrounding FireFox continues unabated. News.com profiles developers at the forefront of the FireFox developer movement and explains how some crafty developers are taking advantage


Fans to blame, say Clippers

Talk throughout Staples Center on Saturday, as the Clippers lost to the Houston Rockets, centered around Friday night #39;s melee in Auburn Hills, Mich.


Busch the man to beat for title

NASCAR points leader Kurt Busch is all smiles as he walks back to his garage after winning the pole position on Friday at the Homestead Miami International Speedway in Homestead, Fla.


Ferguson: delighted

SIR Alex Ferguson has predicted Paul Scholes will end the season in double figures after finally breaking a 20-game goal drought at Old Trafford this afternoon.


Michigan loses but wins anyway

Troy Smith barely got on the field for Ohio State this season. After the Buckeyes #39; biggest game of the year, he had trouble getting off of it.


Familiar result for Krzyzewski

JJ Redick and Daniel Ewing each scored 20 points, and No. 11 Duke turned up the defensive pressure in the second half to beat Tennessee-Martin 88-46 Saturday night in the teams #39; season opener in Durham, NC.


Roundup: UCLA triumphs in season opener

UCLA freshman Jordan Farmar gave fans a preview of his playmaking skills with a no-look, crosscourt pass to Ryan Hollins for a dunk late in the second half.


Today's schedule

College basketball: WOMEN -- William Smith at Babson, 7 p.m.; Brandeis at Curry, 7 p.m.; Southern Maine at Tufts, 7 p.m.; Providence at UConn, 7:30 p.m.


Grand opening for Terriers

Minnesota may have spoiled Boston University's final game at Walter Brown Arena by claiming a 2-1 victory at the old barn Sunday, but the Terriers weren't going to let the Golden Gophers ruin their inaugural game at Agganis Arena.


CRISIS IN IRAQ: THERE #39;S NO HUMANITY

THE Red Cross yesterday launched a blistering attack on both sides in the war in Iraq. The organisation blasted US troops and Iraqi rebels for their  quot;utter contempt for humanity quot; as the country continues to be torn apart by violence.


Down, but never out

The bright lights are gone. So are the screaming fans, the TV cameras, and the curvaceous card girls tucked into high heels and bikinis. But the scars on Micky Ward's face -- those are forever.


After slip, Sorenstam back on top

Annika Sorenstam lost her three-shot lead in five holes yesterday, then had to make three birdies over the final six to salvage an even-par 72 and take a one-shot lead into the final round of the season-ending LPGA ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla.


Fitzpatrick  amp; Co. were amazing, end of story

The last time Harvard had a run like this, the ball was a lot rounder, the players wore leather helmets, and the movie you took your girl to see on a Saturday night had no sound.


Cut, cut: Scene is repeated in Providence

Well, yes, there are worse things than a lockout. In the midst of the NHL's self-imposed two-hander over the head (now day No. 66 on what appears the fast track to infinity), a couple of Bruins prospects turned their opportunity to play in Providence into their final days in the Boston organization.


Alou goes to bat for Sosa

Moises Alou, who hit a career-best 39 home runs last season but doesn't expect the Cubs to re-sign him after they declined his \$11 million option, dismisses reports that Chicago will trade Sammy Sosa this winter.


Perfect Game

All autumn long, Harvard's football team has had its chroniclers thumbing through the archives and blowing the dust off records that go back to the 19th century. Yesterday afternoon, the unbeaten Crimson wrote their own chapter in bold face, throttling archrival Yale, 35-3, before 30,308 at the Stadium to post their best record (10-0) in 103 years and wrap up ...


Sports  amp; Fitness Calendar

The following activities will take place in the area this week. Events are listed as space allows.


Ukrainians vote in knife-edge presidential election (AFP)

AFP - Ukrainians voted for a new president in a bitterly-fought runoff election that will determine whether this strategic former Soviet republic turns toward Europe or remains in Moscow's orbit.


UN repeats plea for hostage release in Afghanistan (AFP)

AFP - The United Nations has reiterated a plea for the safe release of three UN workers taken hostage by alleged Islamic militants, as the crisis dragged into its third week with little known about the hostages' fate.


Bush tells Musharraf he will focus on Mideast issue (AFP)

AFP - US President George W. Bush told visiting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf he would make the creation of a Palestinian state a central priority of his second term in office.


CROSSING THE LINE

Friday night, Hornets guard Darrell Armstrong was dining at Smith  amp; Wollensky with other New Orleans athletes, including forward PJ Brown and Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, when a restaurant employee rushed to their table.


Finishing holes start more trouble

WEST PALM BEACH  Trump International #39;s difficult finishing holes are asserting themselves at the ADT Championship. A year ago, the tournament came down to the final shots at the 18th, and


Bizarre Monday Night Football message

Coach Dick Vermeil stands alone in his office, anxiously looking one last time at the play list he has scripted for his Monday night game against Indianapolis.


New Giants season starts today

The Giants reached the midway point of their season a week ago, but in reality they really start a new season today. Today is Day 1 of the Eli Manning Era, the day


Florida Classic: Record day fails to make Rattler feel any better

None of Ben Dougherty #39;s half-dozen touchdowns come during the fourth quarter of FAMU #39;s loss. By IBRAM ROGERS. ORLANDO - It was Florida A amp;M senior quarterback Ben Dougherty #39;s last chance to beat Bethune-Cookman.


Gators defense finally closes one out

After letting several teams come back to win, Florida holds off FSU in the final minutes. By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer. TALLAHASSEE - It had gained a reputation as a defense that would fold and collapse


Insurgent assault feared in Baghdad

Insurgents fought US troops in running street battles in the capital Saturday, assassinated three Iraqi officials and their driver, and detonated a car bomb in Baghdad #39;s Liberation


Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian in Gaza Strip; Abbas to be <b>...</b>

Israeli soldiers killed one Palestinian and were chasing two others Sunday morning near the  quot;Kissufim quot; road in the Gaza Strip not far from the border fence, according to Israel Radio.


Johnson trade is given OK

Randy Johnson is practically ready to be measured for one tall set of pinstripes. Commissioner Bud Selig gave his blessing yesterday to a trade that will send Johnson to the Yankees, making a contract extension the last major obstacle could be resolved in the protracted Arizona-New York swap.


Weis chooses not to make pickoff

Bill Belichick won't have to worry about Charlie Weis raiding his coaching staff for Notre Dame. But we'll have to see whether new Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban has an eye on any of his former assistants.


Toyota Prius is 2005 European Car of the Year

The Toyota Prius has been voted 2005 Car of the Year by the 58 members of the European Car of the Year Jury, it was announced last Monday.


South Africa in strong position Kanpur Test

KANPUR: Andrew Halls unbeaten knock of 78 helped South Africa make a fine start in their two-Test series against India at the Green Park Stadium here on Saturday.


It's about the best you can do with BCS

Playoffs? Who needs playoffs? And isn't that ironic in another season when the "P-word" was again front and center in a Bowl Championship Series controversy?


Paris Club moves to write off Iraq #39;s debts

The Paris Club of creditor nations on Saturday discussed a plan to write off about 80 percent of Iraq #39;s debts. According to The AP, US Treasury Secretary John Snow and German Finance Minister Hans Eichel concluded


PM gives open invitation of talks to North east groups

Imphal: Winding up his visit to the trouble-torn Manipur, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday extended an open invitation to all groups including ULFA, who abjure violence, for talks to resolve all outstanding issues in the North East and expressed


Israeli army arrests 6 Palestinians in W. Bank

Israeli army arrested six Palestinians in the West Bank, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said Saturday. The sources said Israeli army arrested three residents and


Charity looks at new ways to raise funds for holiday

The Salvation Army workers and volunteers who attract shoppers outside stores with their dinging bells have long been one of the more reliable sights and sounds of the holiday shopping season.


Kmart and Sears #39; merger troubling

Kmart Holding Corp. may have found its best  quot;Blue Light Special quot; ever: retailing rival Sears Roebuck  amp; Co. Still, many experts questioned whether the \$11 billion buyout would keep the blue lights flashing


Blake Puts Nightmare Year Behind Him

PERTH (Reuters) - James Blake put a nightmare year behind  him Tuesday, helping the U.S. make a winning start to their  defense of the Hopman Cup.


B-52B test plane flies final mission

The record-setting speed by the X-43A experimental scramjet engine on Tuesday marked the final operational mission for NASA #39;s B-52B test aircraft.


Woods seizes first strokeplay title of year

Tiger Woods picked up his first strokeplay title of a difficult year when he romped to an eight-shot victory at the Japanese tour event in Miyazaki.


OLDEST MAN DIES AT 113

November 21, 2004 -- DEWITT, NY - Fred Hale Sr., documented as the world #39;s oldest man, has died at age 113. Hale died peacefully Friday in his sleep at The Nottingham in suburban Syracuse, while trying to


Cricket-Hall gets ton as Indian bowlers toil hard

KANPUR, India (AFP) - Andrew Hall #39;s defiant ton left Indian bowlers frustrated as South Africa reached 398-6 at tea on the second day of the first Test here.


Winky repeats over Shane

It was much closer than the first time, but the result was the same when Winky Wright and Shane Mosley left the ring at the Mandalay Bay Event Center last night.


Deal nears on Iraq debt write-off

More than a quarter of Iraq #39;s foreign debt burden could be forgiven after a framework agreement was reached by two of the country #39;s main creditors.


PALESTINIAN HOPEFULS JOCKEY FOR POSITION

November 21, 2004 -- Palestinians began registering candidates yesterday for a presidential election to replace Yasser Arafat, as the late leader #39;s family considers releasing his medical records and revealing his cause of death.


Mideast awaits Powell visit

Israel has said it would consider any formal request to pull troops away from West Bank cities to facilitate a Palestinian presidential election, ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.


Nine Chinese miners die in blaze

Nine Chinese miners have been killed and 57 trapped underground after fire swept through a series of iron mines in the northern province of Hebei, Xinhua news agency has reported.


Image Gallery of Faces of the week

Britains Prince Charles has always prided himself on being a man of the people. But with one gruff memo about not all men being equal, the heir to the throne has tarnished his populist credentials.


Myanmar's mass prison release may take a week or more (AFP)

AFP - Only a few hundred of 4,000 prisoners, including political dissidents, that Myanmar has vowed to free have been released and it could take at least a week for them all to leave jail, the opposition said.


China shelves tallest tower plans

\The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou abandons a plan to build the world's tallest building.


Who #39;s Afraid of Kmart and Sears? Not Target

LET #39;S assume that the merger of Kmart and Sears is exactly what it #39;s being sold as: a way to combine the remaining strengths of two well-known but struggling retailers.


Peru Detains Siege Leader, to Storm Police Post

 By Jude Webber and Tania Mellado

 LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Peruvian authorities detained aformer army major who led a three-day uprising in a southernAndean town and will storm the police station where some of his200 supporters remain unless they surrender, Prime MinisterCarlos Ferrero said early on Tuesday.


Green  amp; Mean

Avnish Bhatnagar has always lusted after fast cars like racy BMWs. But when the California computer programmer and his wife had their first baby this year, they needed something more practical.


Detroit zoo considers options for two elderly elephants

ROYAL OAK, Mich. The Detroit Zoo is considering what to do with two elderly elephants after its efforts to move the elephants to a sanctuary were rebuffed.


Hall puts SA in command

Kanpur - Opener Andrew Hall #39;s tenacious 163 put South Africa in command of the first test match against India on Sunday. Hall #39;s defiant 144-run partnership for the sixth wicket with rookie Zander de Bryun


Mosley is on short end again

Too big. That #39;s what it came down to last night for Shane Mosley. The little man who once could can #39;t anymore. He can #39;t move fast enough, he can #39;t


No keeping low profile

The University of Utah football team still must wait another few weeks, but the time will be marked by anticipation rather than apprehension.