PANATHINAIKOS V ARSENAL MIN-BY-MIN

90 mins Arsenal #39;s woes on their travels in Europe continue as they fail to secure the win, settling for a draw against a well organised Panathinaikos.


CELTIC CRASH AGAIN

It was another hard luck story for Martin ONeills demoralised Celtic in the Ukraine as an emphatic Francelino Matuzalem double and exquisite Brandao chip in the second half left their European dreams in tatters with Shakhtar Donetsk running out 3-0


Bush Says Kerry Doesn't Understand Terror War (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush charged on\Wednesday that Democrat John Kerry has a "fundamental\misunderstanding" of the war on terrorism because a leader in\the Iraqi insurgency, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has sworn\allegiance to al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.


Bills' Milloy Ready to Make Season Debut (AP)

AP - Buffalo Bills safety Lawyer Milloy is prepared to make his season debut at Baltimore this weekend after missing seven weeks with a broken right forearm.


MSN Lets You Blog

Hoping to keep more internet users in its branded universe, Microsoft has become the latest company to offer blogging to the masses.


Jets Low Key About Showdown With Patriots (AP)

AP - Jets guard Pete Kendall has a unique appreciation for the record streak the New England Patriots are on.


Microsoft To OK One License for Multicore Chips

Dual-core processors to be considered single chip, company says.


Schwarzenegger Stumps Against Three Strikes Reform (Reuters)

Reuters - California Gov. Arnold\Schwarzenegger campaigned on Wednesday against a ballot measure\that would roll back the state's landmark "Three Strikes"\sentencing law, embarking on what his aides concede could be\one of his toughest election fights.


American Fish Confident About Tough Davis Cup Final

MADRID (Reuters) - The U.S. Davis Cup team is gearing up  for a tough final against strong Spanish opponents on an  unfavorable surface but are optimistic about beating their  hosts, said their semi-final team member Mardy Fish.


Venezuela Activist Faces Imprisonment

She hugs strangers, has a ready smile and bubbles with optimism. Don't be fooled by that benign exterior, says the Venezuelan government, which describes Maria Corina Machado as a committed subversive intent on ousting leftist President Hugo Chavez.


Brazil May Reach Deal on Nukes With U.N.

Brazilian officials expressed optimism Wednesday that they would reach agreement with United Nations inspectors over the country's contested plans to enrich uranium.


Garcia Marquez's Novel Released Early

The first novel in a decade by Nobel Prize author Gabriel Garcia Marquez went on sale across the Spanish-speaking world Wednesday, a launch pushed forward because counterfeiters were already selling copies of "Memories of My Melancholy Whores."


In the E.R., Learning to Love the PC

The keyboard is mightier than the whiteboard at an emergency room in the Bronx where the use of computers is now a staple.


When the Price Is a Penny, What Profit?

A surprising number of items on eBay are available for just one cent. So where is the profit? (Hint: Watch those shipping charges.)


For an Inventor, IM Opens a Window to a World of Games

A California software developer turns instant message windows into a platform for video games.


At a Click, a Clique of the Uncool

Two friends created a constellation of 14 Web sites devoted to all fictional things squip: squip news, squip viruses, even squip detractors.


Cull proves Prince has finally taken the throne

CHARLES PRINCEs decision to oust three very senior executives demonstrated that the heir to Sandy Weills empire is finally running the show.


Siebel beats Wall Street targets

This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories as organizations spawn projects around identity infrastructure.


VoIP Jurisdiction Could Be Settled Soon

quot;If we don #39;t move forward on that pretty soon, we run the risk of have multiple state actions and court rulings to contend with, quot; said Jeffrey Carlisle, chief of the FCC #39;s wireline competition bureau.


No Double Microsoft Pricing For Dual-Core Chips

Dual-core microprocessors won #39;t mean doubled software license fees, according to an announcement by Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.


New Soyuz rocket launch is delayed

Problems with ground equipment are expected to delay a test launch of a new Russian rocket designed to ferry cargo to the International Space Station.


Microsoft sets summer delivery of SQL Server

com October 20, 2004, 2:34 PM PT. According ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October, application development is the last priority, but nonetheless an important one.


Bush and GOP Sites Suffer Outages (AP)

AP - Web sites for President Bush's campaign and the Republican National Committee suffered outages for several hours on Wednesday.


And now for the lawsuits

Following the Contract Recognition Board #39;s finding in favour of BAR, it is only a matter of time before the various  #39;interested parties #39; begin legal action against those that they feel led them astray.


Inter Thrash Valencia

Roberto Mancinis side edged closer to the next stage of the Champions League after crashing Valencia to a humiliating 5-1 result in Spain.


EU to Issue Last Chance to Iran on Nuclear Plans

Senior officials from France, Britain and Germany will meet Iranian counterparts Thursday to issue Tehran with an incentive-backed last chance to end uranium enrichment plans or face possible UN sanctions.


France expels more students over hijab

French schools have expelled three more students for flouting the controversial ban on Islamic headscarves. The latest expulsions brought to five the total number of girls so far expelled under the new secularity


Cambodia #39;s new king arrives in Phnom Penh

Cambodia #39;s new king arrived in the capital of his homeland today to be crowned after the shock abdication of his ageing father, King Norodom Sihanouk.


Siebel's Q3 sales slow

Siebel Systems's software license revenue in its just-ended third quarter rose from the grim five-year low hit in Siebel's second quarter, but still fell short of revenue recorded during the same period last year, the company said Tuesday.


CA posts Q2 loss on restitution charges

Computer Associates International reported a six percent increase in revenue during its second fiscal quarter, but posted a \$94 million loss after paying to settle government investigations into the company, it said Wednesday.


Report: Dolphins' Boston Faces Suspension (AP)

AP - Miami Dolphins receiver David Boston, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury, is appealing a four-game suspension after testing positive for steroids, Fox Sports reported Sunday.


Columnists: Security, 1994-2004: Then And Now

Comparing the state of security in 1994 versus 2004, has anything really changed over the course of ten years?


US Consumer Price Index Sees September Bump

The 0.2 percent increase in the September consumer price index compares with a 0.1 percent rise in August, according to the Labor Department.


Gregan to tour with Wallabies

The Wallabies have gained a massive boost with skipper George Gregan making himself available for the coming European rugby tour. The halfback, however, has left the door open to quit the tour should his son #39;s


Siebel Systems Posts Profit

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Business software maker Siebel  Systems Inc. SEBL.O on Wednesday reported a quarterly profit,  after a year-earlier net loss, helped by sales of new software.


Billick Wants Lewis Practicing With Ravens (AP)

AP - Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick wants the NFL to amend the rule that forbids running back Jamal Lewis from appearing at the team's training complex during his two-week suspension.


Former POWs Blame Kerry for Captivity (AP)

AP - Former U.S. prisoners of war who blamed their years of captivity in Vietnam on activists such as John Kerry are the only voices in a documentary that Sinclair Broadcasting has decided not to air in its entirety.


Garcia Marquez Has Last Laugh on Book Pirates

 By Alistair Bell

 MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Latin American literary giantGabriel Garcia Marquez has won the last laugh on copyrightpirates by changing the ending of his latest book, the Nobellaureate's first novel in 10 years.


Inter Milan, Chelsea, AC Milan Perfect (AP)

AP - Inter Milan, Chelsea and AC Milan stayed perfect on Wednesday as the Champions League group stage reached the halfway mark.


Ex-Baylor Athlete Sent to Mental Hospital (AP)

AP - The former Baylor basketball player accused of gunning down a teammate will be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment before he can be tried for murder, a judge said Wednesday.


Milan Clubs, Chelsea Eye Next Champions League Stage

LONDON (Reuters) - Inter Milan, AC Milan and Chelsea all  virtually sealed their places in the knockout phase of the  Champions League on Wednesday by maintaining 100 percent starts  with their third successive victories.


Panel: Let domestic security technology move forward

Civil liberties and privacy advocacy groups often have the effect of stopping technological innovation when they protest the use of new technologies for domestic security, a technology expert at a Washington, D.C., think tank said Wednesday.


Humans May Have Fewer Genes Than Thought

A new and perhaps final report from the international consortium of laboratories that decoded the human genome has revised the number of expected human genes sharply downward.


Microsoft, Swatch offer thinner wireless watches

Microsoft (MSFT) and watch maker Swatch are offering a new line of wireless data watches, the companies said Wednesday, bringing the era of Dick Tracy wristwatch radios one step closer.


Windows XP SP2 Distribution Surpasses 100 Million

Microsoft #39;s big Windows patch gets snapped up by consumers, but many businesses are still testing it. By John Foley. Microsoft #39;s Windows XP Service Pack 2 is now in the hands of more than 100 million users, the company disclosed on Wednesday.


Ranieri salutes  #39;incredible #39; Inter

Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri said he could do little more than salute opponents Inter Milan after their crushing 5-1 victory over his side at the Mestalla on Wednesday.


Chelsea within sight of next stage

Headed goals from skipper John Terry and striker Eidur Gudjohnsen gave Chelsea a 2-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow and virtually guaranteed their spot in the knockout round.


Sharapova Beats Hantuchova to Extend Win Streak

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova stretched her winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-4, 7-5, victory over Slovakia #39;s Daniela Hantuchova in the second round of the Zurich Challenge Wednesday.


Indonesia #39;s new president unveils tried and tested professional <b>...</b>

JAKARTA: Indonesia #39;s new President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday unveiled his new cabinet, a broad selection of familiar faces and trusted professionals tasked with delivering his promises of tackling graft and reviving the economy.


Haiti #39;s PM a  #39;killer #39;

HAITI #39;S former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide lashed out today at his country #39;s interim prime minister, calling him  quot;a killer quot;.


Computer Associates Results Top View (Reuters)

Reuters - Computer Associates International Ltd.\, the software maker under government watch after an\accounting scandal, on Wednesday posted better-than-expected\quarterly results and said full-year earnings will exceed Wall\Street estimates, helped by cost-cutting.


Britain may send up to 1,300 extra troops to Iraq: report (AFP)

AFP - Britain may send up to 1,300 extra troops to Iraq to help stabilize the country before scheduled elections there in January, The Times newspaper reported.


Colts' Manning Ties Unitas Record (AP)

AP - Peyton Manning tied an NFL record set by John Unitas in 1959 with his 12th straight game with at least two touchdowns to open a season.


Kerry Mocks Bush's War Leadership, Says Few Follow (Reuters)

Reuters - Democratic challenger John\Kerry, portrayed by Republicans as unfit to be commander in\chief, scoffed at President Bush's own wartime leadership on\Wednesday and urged his rival: "Look behind you, there's hardly\anyone there."


Amgen Net Down, Adjusted Earnings Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amgen Inc. AMGN.O, the world's  biggest biotechnology company, on Wednesday said quarterly net  profit fell on acquisition charges, but adjusted earnings rose  21 percent on strong sales of its drugs for anemia and  arthritis.


Excerpts From the Presidential Campaign (AP)

AP - Excerpts of remarks Wednesday by President Bush in Mason City, Iowa, and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in Waterloo, Iowa, as transcribed by e-Media Millworks Inc.


eBay Ups Guidance on Strong Quarter

Online auction king eBay (Quote, Chart) reported a better than 50 percent rise in quarterly revenue from last year and profits that jumped by about 77 percent compared to last year, thanks in part to its PayPal unit and growth overseas.


Siebel Systems Swings to 3Q Profit

Software maker Siebel Systems Inc. on Wednesday said its third-quarter results swung to a profit on improved licensing revenue, but missed analyst expectations.


Mice Thrive Without Chapters of the Book of Life

It #39;s called the book of life but mice, and perhaps humans, can still thrive even when chapters are missing, scientists said Wednesday.


Intel releases new leader of Pentium M pack

ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October kept upgrading hardware at number two on the businesses radar throughout the year.


Ferrero leads Spanish slump in Madrid

Holder Juan Carlos Ferrero has suffered a 6-3, 6-1 setback against a Peruvian with a bad ankle, crashing out listlessly in his opening match at the Madrid Masters.


Alcatel wins \$1.7 billion SBC contract

SBC Communications taps the French telecom equipment maker to upgrade its network with fiber-optic technology.


Microsoft scales back Passport ambitions

Microsoft is recasting ambitions for its .Net Passport identification system, saying the service now will be limited to its own online offerings and those of close partners. Microsoft no longer sees Passport as a single sign-on system for the Web at large, a spokeswoman said.


Systinet CEO sees three phases for Web services

Thomas Erickson recently took over as president and CEO of Systinet, one of a growing number of companies focused on the Web services and SOA (service-oriented architecture) management spaces.
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SBC Case Study: Crate   Barrel
What sold them on improving their network? A system that could cut management costs from the get-go. Find out more.


Crossroads to develop intelligent iSCSI storage

Crossroads Systems has announced it is collaborating with iVivity to develop new gateway and intelligent iSCSI storage systems. The new products will provide intelligent Crossroads storage routing software in a hardware platform based on iVivity's iDiSXsilicon technology.


Intel Developing Optical Connect for Laptops, Servers

Optical links will be cheaper, quieter, and smaller than copper ribbons, company says.


Pentagon to Post Write-In Ballot on Web (AP)

AP - The Pentagon will post on its Web site a federal write-in ballot for civilian and military voters overseas who do not get their regular absentee ballot in time, a spokesman said Wednesday.


Records rebounding (Variety)

Variety - HOLLYWOOD -- The recorded music industry showed signs of a rebound in the first half of the year, with full-length CD shipments to retail outlets increasing by 10.2 from 2003, according to the RIAA.


Crossroads to develop intelligent iSCSI storage (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Crossroads Systems has announced it is collaborating with iVivity to develop new gateway and intelligent iSCSI storage systems. The new products will provide intelligent Crossroads storage routing software in a hardware platform based on iVivity's iDiSXsilicon technology.


French girls expelled over veils

Three more Muslim girls are expelled from school in France after defying the new law banning headscarves.


BC lowers provincial sales tax to 7 per cent

The BC government has decided to reduce the provincial sales tax by one-half of a percentage point. Starting Thursday, the provincial tax rate will fall to 7 per cent from 7.5 per cent.


KPMG to Pay \$10M to Settle SEC Charges

Accounting giant KMPG LLP will pay \$10 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges of improper conduct in the firm #39;s audit of the financial statements of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.


Windows Users Want Results, Not Ballmer Promises

ORLANDO, Fla.Windows users said actions speak louder than words when it comes to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer #39;s promise that Microsoft will fix the various security vulnerabilities in his company #39;s computing platform.


Surprise! Sales tax rolled back

VICTORIA - A stunning surprise for BC consumers: the provincial sales tax is going back to seven per cent from 7.5 per cent. Finance Minister Gary Collins made the announcement Wednesday in the legislature.


Disney in the dock over 140 million dollar payout to executive

A law suit against the Walt Disney Co. over 140 million dollars paid to former president Michael Ovitz started, seven years after shareholders brought the action.


Is the software license dead?

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--The business of selling software is due for an extreme makeover, industry executives said at the SoftSummit conference .


Wenger disappointed by Arsenal #39;s frailties

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was disappointed by their failure to hold on to the lead in their 2-2 Champions League draw with Panathinaikos on Wednesday.


Journalist at centre of Kenteris row is stabbed

A GREEK journalist, who has been giving evidence in the Konstantinos Kenteris Olympic doping scandal, was yesterday recovering in hospital in Athens after being stabbed and beaten up with iron bars.


Why Satellite Radio?

Gavin Reynolds (Rochester, NY) 10/20/04 - Satellite radio was launched just two years go and already 2.5 million people subscribe.


Kostya #39;s glove affair

HEAVYWEIGHT contender Mark Latham lost the biggest fight of his life but his ladder of opportunity still lives in the career of Kostya Tszyu.


Online Casinos Await Answer From DOJ (AdWeek.com)

AdWeek.com - The U.S. Department of Justice is scheduled to respond this week to a lawsuit claiming restrictions on online gaming ads violate First Amendment protections of free speech.


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

AP - As of Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, at least 1,103 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 846 died as a result of hostile action, according to the Defense Department. The figures include three military civilians.


Intel Developing Optical Connect for Laptops, Servers (PC World)

PC World - Optical links will be cheaper, quieter, and smaller than copper ribbons, company says.


India is 90th most corrupt nation

NEW DELHI: More than a decade of reforms has not helped India shake off the perception that it #39;s amongst the most corrupt business environments.


New faces and old to rule Jakarta

Indonesia #39;s newly elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced his Cabinet late Wednesday, installing professionals and several women in key posts but also appointing retired generals and holdovers from past governments


Dialogue only way to solve Irans nuclear case, says Khatami

TEHRAN: Talks and negotiations are the only way to resolve Irans nuclear standoff with the West, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday.


Sharon seeking to garner support for Gaza plan

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was seeking to nail down support for his Gaza pullout plan on Wednesday ahead of a crunch vote in parliament as one of his top ministers held talks with the spiritual leader of the main ultra-Orthodox party.


French girls expelled over veils

Three more Muslim girls have been expelled from schools in France for defying the new ban on headscarves. They join two girls expelled on Tuesday - one of whom told a French newspaper it had destroyed her life.


Second round of Pakistan-India talks in Nov-Dec

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has conveyed its calendar of meetings on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to India as part of composite dialogue process that will begin from Nov 29 to December 16.


Cambodia #39;s new king returns from China to take up throne

Cambodia #39;s newly selected king returned from China on Wednesday to take up the throne after his father, outgoing monarch Norodom Sihanouk, abdicated earlier this month because of poor health.


Briefly: RealNetworks loss widens on litigation

roundup Plus: SmartDisk expands hard-drive line...Target to sell TiVo DVRs...Unisys signs up Linux allies...LookSmart names new CEO.


AUSTRALIA PRESS: Coles Myer Finalizing Fresh ALH Offer

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Coles Myer Ltd. (CM) and Macquarie Bank Ltd. (MBL.AU) were Wednesday night close to finalizing a fresh bid for pubs and liquor group Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality Group Ltd.


Report: Enterprises Favor One-Time Software License

Despite a growing software industry revolution in favor of subscription-style pricing arrangements, most enterprise software buyers prefer the traditional approach of buying a one-time license, a newly released report indicates.


Notes: Lamb gets first playoff start

Mike Lamb had not started any of the Houston Astros #39; first 10 playoff games, so he was somewhat surprised when he saw his name on the lineup card prior to Game 6 of


Pakistan 15th most corrupt state

BERLIN: A global corruption index released by watchdog organisation Transparency International has ranked Pakistan along with Kenya and Iraq 129th in a perceived corruption index of 146 countries.


Blair says no decision yet on redeploying troops in Iraq

LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair has come under fire over the way his government is handling a US request to redeploy 650 British troops in Iraq.


For Missing Web Pages, a Department of Lost and Found

Could this be an end to broken links? New software replaces and updates links on Web pages.


Where Good Wi-Fi Makes Good Neighbors

A New York City group creates a kit so that anyone with an old computer can create a wireless access point.


Nikkei Seen Moving Little

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo stocks will probably move little on  Thursday amid worries over higher oil prices and their possible  impact on global economies, but the market will be supported by  bargain hunting following recent sharp losses.


Fiji Troops May Grow U.N. Presence in Iraq (AP)

AP - The deployment of about 130 Fijian troops to Iraq next month to protect U.N. staff and facilities could lead to an expanded U.N. operation ahead of elections in January, if security conditions permit, the United Nations said Wednesday.


African Union to relaunch peace talks for Sudan's western Darfur region (AFP)

AFP - The Sudanese government and the Darfur region's rebel groups are due to meet in the Nigerian capital Abuja as the African Union bids to restart its stalled peace process and prove that the troubled continent can handle its own crises.


NEC Shoots to Regain Supercomputer Title

SX-8 system estimated to be almost twice as fast as IBM titleholder.


Walkout ends at GM plant

BOCHUM, Germany The General Motors plant here resumed production on Wednesday after workers voted to end a six-day walkout sparked by the threat of thousands of job cuts.


3 major US airlines report losses

Three US airlines reported losses on Wednesday as higher jet-fuel prices and stiff competition from low-cost rivals compounded their many difficulties since the 2001 terror attacks.


Update 4: Huffy Files for Chapter 11, Buyer Emerges

A competitor to Huffy Corp., which filed Wednesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, said it was interested in buying Huffy, which makes about a third of the bicycles sold in the United States.


Gucci brand #39;s head abruptly dismissed

PARIS Gucci Group, the Italian luxury goods company, said Wednesday that it had dismissed Giacomo Santucci as chief executive of its Gucci brand business.


Toshiba To Offer Laptops With HD-DVD in 2005

LBArrettAnderson writes  quot;Toshiba will release laptops with HD-DVD under its high-end Qosmio brand and plans to ship one million units in the first year to Europe, the US and China, as well as Japan.


Leading scientists to discuss research applications for <b>...</b>

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 20 - As members of the United Nations General Assembly are soon to vote on the future of cloning research, possibly within days, leading scientists will be conducting a symposium discussion


Button staying put after panel blocks move

JENSON BUTTON will drive for BAR Honda next year after lawyers last night stopped him from walking out on the team for their rivals, BMW-Williams.


Panathinaikos 2 Arsenal 2

WHAT could prove to be one of the most notable weeks in the life of Arsne Wenger, the Arsenal manager, got off to a poor start here last night when his side twice relinquished the lead against Panathinaikos in a scrappy Champions League encounter.


Roundup: US fights to keep relay gold medals

The US Olympic Committee is contesting an international ruling that could cost Michael Johnson and the rest of the US 1,600-meter relay team their gold medals from the Sydney Olympics.


Zwick throws on sideline, Smith gets most of action at OSU <b>...</b>

Injured Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick threw on the side, but did not take any snaps during practice Wednesday. Coach Jim Tressel said Zwick is making progress but still had some pain from a shoulder


Cabinet set to agree troop movement, but delay likely

The cabinet is expected to agree in principle today to a request from George Bush #39;s military commanders for British troops to be redeployed to the so-called  quot;triangle of death quot; near Baghdad.


Expulsions in France test truce over scarves

PARIS A fragile truce between the government and Islamic organizations in France over the country #39;s ban of Muslim head scarves in public schools appeared to hold Wednesday even though five female students have been expelled from schools for refusing to


Typhoon Kills 30 in Japan, at Least 40 Missing (Reuters)

Reuters - Rescuers across Japan were searching\Thursday for 40 people missing after a powerful typhoon raked\the country with heavy rains and high winds, killing at least\30 in floods and landslides.


NEC Shoots to Regain Supercomputer Title (PC World)

PC World - SX-8 system estimated to be almost twice as fast as IBM titleholder.


Spitzer #39;s probe likely to spread

NEW YORK: New York Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer sued Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos, the world #39;s No 1 insurance broker, last Thursday, for steering unsuspecting clients to certain insurers in exchange for lucrative payoffs, wiping out nearly a quarter of Marsh #39;s


EBay Third-Quarter Net Surges 77 as Listings Rise (Update2)

EBay Inc., the world #39;s largest Internet auctioneer, said third-quarter earnings surged 77 percent as the number of listings rose and the company expanded its PayPal e-mail payment service in Europe.


Disney board  #39;nodded through agent #39;s hiring #39;

Walt Disney #39;s board of directors did not even meet to discuss the hiring of Michael Ovitz, a leading Hollywood talent agent at the centre of a major trial, it was alleged yesterday.


US argues for federal VoIP rules

AMERICA #39;s chief communications regulator will seek broad regulatory authority for the US federal government over internet-based telephone services to avoid stifling the emerging market.


Supercomputer sweepstakes heat up with new NEC entry

TOKYO - NEC Corp. has begun marketing the SX-8, its latest entry in the supercomputer sweepstakes. The vector supercomputer features peak processing performance of 65 teraflops, which according to NEC tops rival IBM Corp.


Lehmann howlers rob Arsenal

Lehmann, who was at fault in two matches in the tournament last season, was blundering again with the German set to take the rap for both Greek goals.


FA make early start to Mutu inquiries

An informal hearing of the Football Association on the positive drug test of Adrian Mutu is likely to be held tomorrow and it will be attended by the player #39;s representative and the Professional Footballers Association.


Lift-off for Owen

If Michael Owen had any regrets after scoring his first Real Madrid goal it was just that the timing might have been better. After all, he said,  quot;it could have come sooner quot;.


USOC Fights for US Relay Olympic Gold

The US Olympic Committee is contesting an international ruling which could cost Michael Johnson and the rest of the US 1,600-meter relay team their gold medals from the Sydney Olympics.


Israel moves to impede UN relief to Palestinians

Israel has mounted a political campaign based on lies against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), alleging that it has aided Palestinian terrorists.


Analysts: AMD Beating Intel in Chip Design

Analysts #39; assessments came after Intel announced last week that it was scrapping plans to develop a 4-gigahertz version of its Pentium 4 chip.


NEC develops fast computer

TOKYO NEC, Japan #39;s biggest seller of personal computers, said Wednesday that it had developed the world #39;s fastest supercomputer, with almost double the speed of International Business Machines #39; fastest machine.


Shakhtar all but eliminates Celtic from Champions League

Brazilian midfielder Francelino Matuzalem scored twice in a five-minute span as Shakhtar Donetsk beat Celtic Glasgow 3-0 to maintain its slim hopes of progressing from Champions League Group F.


EU, Mercosur Fail to Reach Trade Deal

The European Union and the four-nation South American Mercosur customs bloc failed to reach a deal to create the world #39;s biggest free-trade area, negotiators said late on Wednesday.


Disney Trial in Georgetown, DE

October 20, 2004 - A lawsuit by shareholders against the Walt Disney Company looks like it #39;ll have all the trappings of a high-profile Hollywood legal drama.


UPDATE 1-Australia #39;s Computershare buys US EquiServe

Australian financial software group Computershare Ltd. (CPU.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to buy US share registrar EquiServe for \$292 million from DST Systems Inc.


Liberty Alliance holdout IBM ends resistance and joins

OCTOBER 20, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - IBM has become the latest company to join the Liberty Alliance, a global consortium aimed at developing standards for managing user identities.


British officials call emergency meeting

LONDON: British Grand Prix organisers will stage an emergency meeting today aimed at blocking Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone #39;s plans to scrap the race.


UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REPORTS

Two goals from Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic kept Werder Bremen #39;s Group G hopes very much alive. Anderlecht went ahead through Christian Wilhelmsson near the half-hour but Klasnic struck either side of the


Coleman reportedly swerved to avoid a deer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman swerved to avoid a deer and flipped his luxury vehicle, authorities said Wednesday.


Straight dealers!

BAHRAIN is one of the most corruption-free countries in the Arab world, according to an international report. It also ranks well globally, coming in at 34th out of 146 places listed in the Transparency International (TI) report.


Shahab-3 missile tested

TEHRAN: Iran carried out a new test yesterday of its upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile, which it says has a range of at least 2,000 kilometres, Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani said.


Computer Associates Results Top View

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Software maker Computer  Associates  International Ltd. CA.N, on Wednesday posted  better-than-expected quarterly results and said full-year  earnings will exceed Wall Street estimates, aided by  cost-cutting.


USC, Okla. Go Wire-To-Wire Atop AP Poll (AP)

AP - Southern California and Oklahoma ended the regular season the same way they began it in The Associated Press Top 25: The Trojans are No. 1, and the Sooners No. 2.


Japan's Nikkei Share Average Opens Lower

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average opened lower  on Thursday amid worries over higher oil prices and their  possible impact on global economies, but the downside was  supported by bargain hunting following recent sharp losses.


Mariners Hire Mike Hargrove as Manager

Mike Hargrove, who has 13 seasons of managerial experience with the Orioles and Cleveland Indians, agreed to a three-year deal with Seattle.


California discloses massive ID theft

The state of California has warned residents that their personal data may have been stolen from computers at the University of California, Berkeley, after a database used by researchers there was compromised by hackers.


Cards Beat Astros 6-4 to Force NLCS Game 7 (AP)

AP - Jim Edmonds blasted a two-run homer in the 12th inning and the rejuvenated St. Louis Cardinals forced the NL championship series to Game 7, beating the Houston Astros 6-4 Wednesday to even it at 3-all.


J.P. Morgan Chase Profit Falls 13 Percent (Reuters)

Reuters - J.P. Morgan Chase   Co.  posted\lower third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, missing analysts'\forecasts, on costs from its  #36;58 billion purchase of Bank One\Corp. and lower bond trading revenue.


Computer Associates Results Top View (Reuters)

Reuters - Software maker Computer  Associates\International Ltd. , on Wednesday posted\better-than-expected quarterly results and said full-year\earnings will exceed Wall Street estimates, aided by\cost-cutting.


Deal Reached to Keep Pro Bowl in Hawaii (AP)

AP - The Pro Bowl will remain in Hawaii through 2009 after the state and the NFL reached agreement on a new contract Wednesday.


Pfizer Profit Up, Warns of Patent Lapses (Reuters)

Reuters - Pfizer Inc.  on Wednesday said\third-quarter earnings rose on higher sales of cholesterol and\arthritis drugs, but the company cautioned that 2005 results\will likely be hurt by generic competition for four other\popular medicines.


Timberwolves Griffin suspended by NBA for three games (AFP)

AFP - Embattled Minnesota Timberwolves player Eddie Griffin was suspended for the first three games of the 2004-05 season, the National Basketball Association announced.


Wine Case Goes to High Court

Ann Heidig fulfilled a dream when she started her own winery in Central Virginia. She produces only 5,000 cases of wine a year -oo few to attract a wholesale


Mets Adviser Chuck Hiller Dies at 70 (AP)

AP - Chuck Hiller, who hit the National League's first grand slam in the World Series, has died. He was 70.


EU, Mercosur Fail to Reach Trade Deal

LISBON (Reuters) - The European Union and the four-nation  South American Mercosur customs bloc failed to reach a deal to  create the world's biggest free-trade area, negotiators said  late on Wednesday.


PM backs curfews and booze bans

ALCOHOL bans and curfews could be the answer to lagging living standards for Aborigines, Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday.


How army briefing to families left No 10 on the back foot

It was a week ago that it was first disclosed that soldiers from the Black Watch regiment had been told to prepare to deploy to an area south of Baghdad to help out the Americans planning a fresh assault on Falluja.


Google Targets 370,000 More Advertisers -- Newspaper (Reuters)

Reuters - Google Inc. , the No. 1\Web search company that recently went public and said it will\not issue financial forecasts, expects to add 372,050\advertiser accounts by 2008, the San Francisco Chronicle\reported on Wednesday.


Two dead in Japan as typhoon wreaks havoc

Typhoon Tokage hit western Japan today, killing at least two people and snarling transport as it lashed the country with heavy rains that set off landslides and forced thousands to evacuate.


Toshiba aims to launch laptops with next-generation DVD drives in 2005 (AFP)

AFP - Major Japanese computer maker Toshiba Corp. said it is aiming to sell laptop computers loaded with its next generation DVD drive by next year.


Cheney Got Flu Shot, Aides Say, Citing Heart Issue (Reuters)

Reuters - Vice President Dick Cheney has\received a flu shot, aides said on Wednesday, citing his\history of heart disease as a reason to qualify for a shot\during a national shortage.


Cardinals Take Astros the Distance

Jim Edmonds blasted a two-run homer in the 12th inning and the rejuvenated St. Louis Cardinals beat the Astros, 6-4, to force the N.L.C.S. to Game 7.


Coughlin's Attention to Special Teams Pays Off for Giants

In contrast to Jim Fassel's ambivalence to special teams, Tom Coughlin devotes considerable time and energy to them. And it is clear his interest is heartfelt.


Police: Coleman Flipped Car to Avoid Deer (AP)

AP - Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman swerved to avoid a deer and flipped his luxury vehicle, authorities said Wednesday, finally revealing details of a mysterious wreck last weekend.


Security Tight for Sharon Amid Gaza Vote (AP)

AP - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made a dramatic entrance into Israel's parliament Wednesday surrounded by a large phalanx of bodyguards, as security officials voiced concern for his safety before a parliamentary vote on his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.


Lucent Says Earnings More Than Triple (Reuters)

Reuters - Lucent Technologies Inc. , among\the world's largest makers of telecommunications equipment, on\Wednesday said its fourth-quarter earnings more than tripled,\helped by improving demand in products for wireless networks\and a growing service business.


Online intrusion risks large identity cache

Time to call the credit bureaus? Almost 1.4 million records containing the personal information of Californians likely stolen.


W. Hoops looks for record third Big 5 victory

By jeff fisher. After its historic victory last night against Saint Joseph #39;s, the Penn women #39;s basketball team will face an even bigger challenge against another city rival.


Oil back above \$55 as US winter stocks drop

LONDON: Oil prices charged back up to \$55 a barrel yesterday as a fresh fall in US heating oil stocks stoked worries over winter supplies.


Mercosur, Ancom create world #39;s fifth largest trade bloc

The Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and the Andean Community (Ancom) signed a trade agreement here Monday to create the world #39;s fifth largest trade bloc.


Court rejects FT damage claim

LONDON A judge rejected a claim Wednesday for a record 230.5 million in special damages in a libel case against the Financial Times newspaper that is being pursued by the London-based brokerage firm Collins Stewart Tullett.


Human genes  #39;overestimated #39;

MAN may have as few as 20,000 genes, just a fraction of previous estimates, an international consortium of scientists say in a report to be released today.


Windows Server Roadmap Gets Down to Specifics

During a series of recent media briefings, Microsoft began to give out nitty gritty details about specific timetables for the betas, SDKs and release candidates that will lead to the next round of Windows server operating systems.


Cricket: Franklin cements place in record books

DHAKA - It took James Franklin less than 10 minutes to achieve what a New Zealand cricketer hasn #39;t been able to master in 28 years.


Agassi Back to Winning Ways, Nadal Impresses

Andre Agassi returned to action with a 7-6, 6-3, victory over Belarussian Max Mirnyi to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.


Boeheim waiting to let Edelin practice

SYRACUSE, NY -- The NCAA has granted the waiver petition of Syracuse junior men #39;s basketball player Billy Edelin. He is immediately eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics.


PM: Were monitoring Myanmar situation

JAKARTA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has no idea if the detention of Myanmar Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt will affect the democratic process in the country.


No. 11 Michigan St. Rebounds with Win Over George Mason

WASHINGTON (Sports Network) - Maurice Ager scored 13 points to lead 11th-ranked Michigan State to a 66-60 win over George Mason in the consolation game of the BB amp;T Classic from the MCI Center.


Far from  #39;roid to ruin

In many ways, in fact, this probably isn #39;t even as scandalous as the late, great Collusion Fiasco back in the 1980s. But now that we #39;ve got that out of the way, there #39;s still no denying that


Vikings Receivers Fill in Well for Moss (AP)

AP - No. 84 was back at practice for the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.


Colorado Man Gets Web-Arranged Kidney Transplant (Reuters)

Reuters - A 58-year-old Colorado man received a\new kidney on Wednesday in the first transplant operation in\the United States using an organ found on a private Web site,\hospital officials said.


Humans May Need Fewer Genes Than Thought (AP)

AP - In a blow to human vanity, researchers now say that people have about the same number of genes as a small flowering plant or a tiny worm. The new estimate is down sharply from just three years ago.


Scientists Complete More Tests at Hanford (AP)

AP - Scientists have completed another round of tests on a process that would turn nuclear waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford nuclear site into glass for long-term disposal.


Roddick loses second singles match

SEVILLE, Spain -- Spain won the Davis Cup title Sunday, taking an insurmountable lead against the United States when Carlos Moya beat Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) for the American star #39;s second loss in this final.


Edelin Cleared to Play

The NCAA has granted the academic waiver petition of Syracuse junior guard Billy Edelin, making him immediately eligible to play for the Orange.


NFL, Williams to Meet

Retired Miami tailback Ricky Williams and his attorney have scheduled a meeting with the NFL to discuss the possibility of the former Heisman trophy winner's return.


Marsh woes deepen after credit lines are threatened

Marsh  amp; McLennan, the US insurance broker accused of rigging the market to win bogus fees from customers, yesterday warned lines of credit from lenders


ATA #39;s cash situation worsening

ATA Airlines Inc. #39;s cash crunch has worsened since August, the Indianapolis carrier #39;s owner warned investors today, raising concerns among analysts that a bankruptcy protection filing may be near.


Europeans Fail to Agree on Tax Breaks

European Union finance ministers failed early Thursday to agree on tax breaks to ease the impact of high oil prices despite sharp prodding from France and dire warnings that they are threatening economic growth.


Houston's Bullpen Blows Game Again (AP)

AP - Dan Miceli hardly had to turn around to watch the flight of the ball. The sound coming off Jim Edmonds' bat was all too familiar.


Kicking and screaming

It appears software vendors and their customers are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to newfangled licensing techniques.


Syracuse #39;s Edelin cleared to play by NCAA

Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Syracuse junior point guard Billy Edelin has been granted the academic waiver petition by the NCAA, making him eligible to play immediately for the Orange.


Typhoon kills 21, leaves trail of havoc

At least 21 people were dead Wednesday as massive Typhoon Tokage churned north across the Japanese archipelago after hitting Kochi Prefecture.


US frowns on reported European nuclear offer to Iran (AFP)

AFP - The United States said it would be  quot;concerned quot; by Iran's acquisition of any new nuclear technology, signaling opposition to a reported European offer to give Tehran a light-water reactor it proves it is not secretly developing atomic weapons.


Briefly: Quantum to buy tape rival Certance

roundup Plus: RealNetworks loss widens on litigation...SmartDisk expands hard-drive line...Target to sell TiVo DVRs.


Look who #39;s talking

In promoting the disengagement plan, that confrontational man, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has already caused great suffering, anger and destruction - just look at the tremendous commotion already happening.


Google Takes On Your Desktop

Google has just introduced its latest invention: software that applies its search technology to what is on your own hard drive.


Countrywide Posts 47 Pct Drop in Earnings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp. on  Wednesday posted a 47 percent drop in quarterly earnings and  cut its outlook as mortgage refinancings fell and interest  rates climbed, sparking a broad sell-off in mortgage company  stocks.


Europe #39;s New Members Not Ready for the Euro

Six months after the European Union admitted 10 new members, capping their journey from Communism to the free market, they got a blunt reminder that the club #39;s inner sanctum


Online intrusion risks large identity cache

com October 20, 2004, 5:36 PM PT. Cyber threats, chiefly viruses like NetSky and Sasser, make security an ongoing concern as it holds steady over software infrastructure as the third top priority.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas jacked

Less than a week before its release, the wildly anticipated crime game has itself been stolen and republished on the internet. Less than a week after a pirated version of Halo 2 began appearing on the Web, another


REVIEW: Local PC Search Not Perfect (AP)

AP - If you want to find a needle of information in the seemingly endless haystack that is the Web, just punch a few words into your favorite Internet search engine. But if you want to pull up a file from your PC's hard drive, good luck.


China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, 100 Missing (Reuters)

Reuters - A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine\in central China has killed 56 people and left 100 missing, the\Xinhua news agency said Thursday.


Anger at taking of CARE chief

CARE Australia vowed yesterday to take every possible step to secure the release of an aid worker kidnapped in Baghdad. Margaret Hassan, the head of the charity #39;s operations in Iraq, who is employed by CARE


Citigroup purge costs Britain #39;s great survivor his job

Citigroup, the global banking company, yesterday ousted three of its most senior executives in an attempt to restore its battered reputation in Japan.


Dollar slips agianst the pound

LONDON : The pound was higher against the dollar after the minutes of the Bank of England #39;s (BoE) last rate setting deliberations revealed a dovish stance.


Gucci chief fired after row about strategy

The boss of the Gucci fashion label was fired abruptly yesterday - just one day after a US fashion magazine claimed he was preparing to resign.


EU-Mercosur Free trade talks extended into 2005

Slow-moving talks between the European Union and the four-nation South American Mercosur trade bloc, aimed at building the world #39;s largest free-trade area, will be extended beyond the October 31 deadline into next year, negotiators at talks here announced


Pound falls on hints that interest rates have peaked

The pound tumbled to a nine-month low against the euro yesterday after the publication of October #39;s minutes of the monetary policy committee showed there had been no discussion of a possible rate increase, fuelling speculation that interest rates have


HIT fires chief who pulled off US deal

HIT Entertainment, the company behind children #39;s television character Bob the Builder, fired its chief executive yesterday and warned of a difficult trading environment next year.


Online Tracking Firm: Kazaa Losing Users (AP)

AP - Kazaa's long-standing position as the most popular online file-sharing software appears to be over. Last month, the daily average of file-swappers on the FastTrack peer-to-peer network, which includes Kazaa and related programs, was surpassed for the first time by users on the eDonkey/Overnet network, according to online tracking firm BayTSP Inc.


Tokyo Stocks Higher in Early Trading (AP)

AP - Tokyo's benchmark stock index was higher Thursday morning as investors bought stock futures in a technical bounce, but trade was largely directionless after Wall Street's mixed performance. The dollar was slightly higher against the Japanese yen.


Microsoft Distributes XP Security Update (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. says it has distributed about 106 million copies of its major security update for the Windows XP operating system.


Dollar Dangles Near Multi-Month Lows

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar dangled near multi-month lows  on Thursday as a rebound in oil prices aggravated worries about  the outlook for the U.S. economy and its yawning current  account deficit.


Chelsea boss salutes Terry

JOSE MOURINHO today hailed John Terry as a lynchpin of of Chelsea #39;s drive for Champions League glory. The England defender #39;s third goal of the tournament helped the Londoners make light of their striker crisis with this Satmford Bridge win.


Button enjoys the best of both worlds as Williams look to 2006

The most significant comment on yesterday #39;s decision by the formula one contracts recognition board about Jenson Button came in the Williams team #39;s official press release.


Sharapova extends winning streak in Zurich Challenge

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia stretched her winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the second round of the Zurich Challenge on Wednesday.


101 Early Entries for Breeders #39; Cup

Thirteen horses were pre-entered yesterday in the Oct. 30 Breeders #39; Cup Classic, topped by the defending champion, Pleasantly Perfect; Birdstone, the Belmont and Travers winner; Ghostzapper


Bills tackle Sam Adams puts frustrations aside and focuses on <b>...</b>

Sam Adams #39; concerns about his role in the Buffalo Bills defensive scheme are suddenly secondary. Whatever frustrations the defensive tackle has can be taken out against Baltimore, his former team, this weekend.


Surprises in new Indonesia line up

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia #39;s new president has named a cabinet line up that includes several surprise choices, appointing professionals and several women to key posts.


Myanmar Prime Minister Behind Attack on Suu Kyi, US Govt Says

Myanmar #39;s new prime minister was involved in a decision to attack an opposition rally last May led by Aung San Suu Kyi, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, citing reports received by the US at the time.


Tokyo Stocks Fall on Oil Concern

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks edged lower by  mid-morning on Thursday as concerns over domestic earnings and  the impact on global economies of higher oil prices  overshadowed bargain hunting following the market's recent  sharp losses.


Ministers to decide on troop move

A report on the US request to send British troops to an area near Baghdad is set to come before Cabinet.


Bush, Kerry Open Final Month Even in Cash (AP)

AP - President Bush and John Kerry began October neck and neck in campaign cash, each with just under half of the  #36;75 million in government money they received to cover campaign costs.


Air India trial witness said motivated by revenge (Reuters)

Reuters - A desire for revenge motivated a prosecution witness to tell the Air India bombing trial he had been asked to carry an mysterious suitcase on to an airliner, defense lawyers charged on Wednesday.


AP: Qwest to Pay \$250M Fraud Settlement

Qwest Communications has agreed to pay \$250 million to settle a wide-ranging fraud investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, The Associated Press has learned.


Samsung Electronics claims world-first 5-megapixel camera phone

SEOUL, Oct 19, 2004 (AFX-Asia via COMTEX) -- SEOUL (AFX) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said it has developed what it claims to be the world #39;s first mobile phone equipped with a 5-megapixel camera.


Terrorist suspects  #39;planned huge blast in Madrid #39;

Eight suspected terrorists arrested in Spain this week were planning to bomb the national court in Madrid, police said yesterday. The suicide attack on the building, a nerve


With One Swing, Edmonds Redeems Himself and Cards

Jim Edmonds attacked an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the 12th inning and sent a majestic drive to right field that beat the Houston Astros, 6-4.


American to lay off workers, ground planes after new loss

FORT WORTH, Texas _ Wednesday was a tough day for nearly everyone connected with American Airlines. Employees learned more layoffs are in store as the struggling airline cuts back.


EBay Reports Sharply Higher Profit

EBay Inc., the world #39;s largest online marketplace, on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit that rose 77 percent from a year ago, fueled by strong back-to-school shopping


Bankrolling Stem-Cell Research with California Dollars

quot;The only possible source for adequate support of our medical schools and medical research is the taxing power of the Federal Government.


Panathinaikos 2 Arsenal 2

JENS LEHMANN was for the high jump last night after his double cock-up in the Olympic city. One howler might have been excused - but two was simply unforgivable.


Chelsea 2 CSKA Moscow 0

But, no, it was no hallucination. The Icelander really had tucked away a 45th-minute header for his first goal since the opening day of the season against Manchester United.


Bernie puts on the pressure

Bernie Ecclestone says the British Grand Prix is dead - but we will have to wait and see if that is actually a reality. Cancelling the British Grand Prix would be a major step for Ecclestone as he is sure


Black Caps Aim For 400

The Black Caps are looking to consolidate their advantage on day three of the first cricket test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. New Zealand resumes on Thursday afternoon on 207 for five in reply to the home side #39;s first innings of 177.


Raptors edge Benetton Treviso

TORONTO (CP) - Chris Bosh scored 23 points and hauled down nine rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to an 86-83 NBA pre-season victory over Italian powerhouse Benetton Treviso on Wednesday.


Typhoon wreaks havoc in Japan

TOKYO: Typhoon Tokage has killed at least 15 people and snarled transport as it lashed Japan with heavy rains that set off landslides and forced thousands to flee their homes.


Karzai on course for presidency

KABUL, Afghanistan -- More than half the votes have been counted in Afghanistan #39;s landmark election, and President Hamid Karzai is said to be running well ahead of his rivals.


Darfur Rebels Say Peace Talks Delayed (Reuters)

Reuters - A new round of peace talks for Sudan's\troubled Darfur region will be delayed by two days because top\rebel delegates have been unable to get to Nigeria for the\negotiations, a rebel leader said.


Darfur Rebels Say Peace Talks Delayed

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A new round of peace talks for Sudan's  troubled Darfur region will be delayed by two days because top  rebel delegates have been unable to get to Nigeria for the  negotiations, a rebel leader said.


U.S. Cold War-Era Statesman Nitze Dies at Age 97

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Paul Nitze, one of the last leading  U.S. statesmen of the Cold War period and architect of nuclear  deterrence, has died at the age of 97.


Debate Lingering on Decision to Dissolve the Iraqi Military

The U.S.-led occupation authority's disbanding of the Iraqi Army over a year ago casts a shadow over the occupation.


Airline FDI is up, onions are set free

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 20: Clearing a slew of measures, the Cabinet today sent out a strong signal that it was all for opening up different sectors.


U2 Back in Black iPod

U2 is hoping consumers will find what they are looking for this fall--in the form of a special-edition Apple iPod loaded with the band #39;s new album.


Chelsea 2 - 0 CSKA Moscow

If Chelsea owner and CSKA Moscow sponsor Roman Abramovich was in two minds where his loyalties lay at Stamford Bridge last night, Jos Mourinho, with aspirations of winning a second successive European Cup, soon put him straight.


Principals put on spot over British GP

Bernie Ecclestone has called a meeting of formula one team principals for 9am tomorrow in the paddock at Sao Paolo #39;s Interlagos circuit to hear what they say about the prospect of the British grand prix being struck from the 2005 world championship


Celtic bottom after defeat to Shaktar

It was another hard luck story for Martin ONeills demoralised Scottish champions in the Ukraine tonight as an emphatic Francelino Matuzalem double and exquisite Brandao chip in the second half left their European dreams in tatters.


Chad hopes to emulate Brady

The body of work is not substantial enough to consider Chad Pennington a victim of the Belichick factor. Fair or not, Pennington #39;s five-interception game against the .


Raptors 86, Treviso 83

Chris Bosh had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to an 86-83 preseason win over Benetton Treviso on Wednesday night.


Skippered Indians to victory over M #39;s in  #39;95 ALCS

com. Nearly 10 years after managing a Cleveland Indians team that knocked Seattle out of its first American League Championship Series, Mike Hargrove has accepted the challenge of getting the Mariners back into the playoffs.


Thousands mourn elusive bandit at Indian funeral

Thousands of people in the south Indian city of Chennai have turned out for the funeral of the country #39;s most wanted bandit, Koose Muniswamy Veerappan.


Japanese Stocks Fall

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks fell by midday on  Thursday as concerns over domestic company earnings and the  impact on global economies of higher oil prices overshadowed  bargain hunting following the market's recent sharp losses.


Phased reforms in aviation sector: Patel

The Left #39;s displeasure notwithstanding, the Centre plans to go ahead with its plans of allowing more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in key sectors, including aviation.


Unravelling of human code paves way for new treatments

TAILORED therapies to target a range of diseases, such as diabetes and breast cancer, may be a step closer after the final draft of the gene-rich part of the  quot;human book of life quot; was published yesterday.


Household chores set to end at last with rise of the robot

FOR decades, science fiction has promised a future in which lifes most mundane chores are carried out by robots. Sadly, the clunky, wobbling automatons that have been wheeled out as examples of this brave


Terry and Gudjohnsen keep 100 per cent record intact

CHELSEA moved five points clear at the top of Group H last night, continuing their 100 per cent record in the Champions League group stage with a 2-0 win over CSKA Moscow.


Milan rivals steamroller Spain #39;s finest

THE Milanese giants flexed their considerable muscles last night, both gaining impressive victories in the Champions League. AC Milan won the glamour clash with Barcelona thanks to Andrei Shevchenkos 31st


FOOTBALL: LUCESCU: I #39;LL SAVE MUTU

MADCAP Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu has offered to sign shamed Chelsea star Adrian Mutu. The Romanian international striker is facing a possible two-year ban from football after


Brazilian duo leave Celtic down and out

DISASTER in Donetsk would be a catchy title, but it is unlikely that Celtic will be releasing a video of a Champions League match in which some initial bad luck was compounded by subsequent incompetence and disintegration, bringing the Parkhead side their


Belichick Seems to Praise Jets With a Wink and a Nod

Those were a handful of observations made Wednesday by New England Coach Bill Belichick, not about his Patriots, winners of 20 straight games, but about the Jets, the surprising owners


Deadly storms leave 18 dead as  #39;Tokage #39; closes in on Tokyo

AT LEAST 18 people were killed and 13 others missing yesterday as a powerful storm lashed Japan causing deadly mudslides, flash floods and prompting thousands to flee their homes.


Iran offers nuclear programme pact

Iran has offered Europe a compromise plan to resolve a stand-off over its nuclear programme as its president vowed to continue developing Iranian nuclear technology.


China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, 100 Missing

A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine in central China has killed at least 56 people and left scores missing, the Xinhua news agency said Thursday.


Gun crimes 'continuing to rise'

Home Office figures are expected to show a rise in firearms offences, but a fall in the number of deaths.


Champing at the Bit

The Bison have won four consecutive games, their longest winning streak since 1998, and are anxious to take on defending MEAC champion North Carolina A T on Saturday night.


Big Deal in Raleigh

ESPN's "College GameDay" crew will set up camp in Raleigh, N.C., for the first time Saturday as a backdrop to the North Carolina State-Miami game.


Iraqi Faults U.N. on Lack of Staff to Aid in Voting

The U.N. has not sent enough election workers to help monitor elections scheduled for January, Iraq's foreign minister charged.


From Troops, a Few Votes for a Quick Way Home

U.S. soldiers in Iraq are largely supportive of President Bush, but they also expressed widespread pessimism about the war.


Coming Soon to Your Pocket: High-Definition TV Phones

Miniature mobile phones, which already double as cameras, Internet devices and music players, are poised to merge with the largest of home appliances, the television.


Point, Click and Mock on the Wild, Wild Web

A mutant form of political animation born of the marriage of video games and Dada photomontage has been gaining ground on the Internet since Sept. 11, 2001.


News Corp move to US gets reluctant boost from major shareholder (AFP)

AFP - The chances of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp relocating from Australia to the United States have increased after one of its biggest institutional investors has chosen to abstain from a vote next week on the move.


Coca-Cola to share its fridges

Coca-Cola will open its fridges to its rivals after it reached a landmark antitrust settlement on Tuesday with the European Union, China Radio International reported on Thursday.


Cabinet hikes aviation FDI cap to 49 pc

NEW DELHI: The UPA government on Wednesday hiked the foreign equity limit in domestic airlines from 40 per cent to 49 per cent, but maintained the ban on international airlines from buying equity in the Indian carriers, even indirectly.


XM Buys Baseball #39;s Satellite Radio Rights

Major League Baseball announced yesterday that it would receive up to \$650 million over the next 11 years from XM Satellite Radio to beam locally produced games, like the Mets #39; WFAN broadcasts, to a national audience.


Sergeant in Abu Ghraib Case Pleads Guilty to 8 Counts

The highest-ranking Army reservist charged in the Abu Ghraib scandal pleaded guilty on Wednesday to eight counts of abusing prisoners and described in graphic


Aust, Iraq work for Hassan #39;s release

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the Government will provide any help it can to secure the release of CARE International #39;s director in Iraq, Margaret Hassan, who was taken hostage in Baghdad this week.


Australia asks Singapore to spare life of drug smuggler (AFP)

AFP - Australia will appeal directly to Singapore's president to spare the life of a Vietnamese-Australian facing execution for smuggling heroin into the city-state, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.


Typhoon Kills 44 in Japan, Deadliest in a Decade

TOKYO (Reuters) - Rescuers were searching through rubble  for survivors on Thursday after Japan's deadliest typhoon in a  decade triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 44  people and left 36 missing.


Garcia Marquez Has Last Laugh on Book Pirates

 By Alistair Bell

 MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Latin American literary giantGabriel Garcia Marquez has unintentionally won the last laughon copyright pirates by changing the ending of his latest book,the Nobel laureate's first novel in 10 years.


EU Approves Eight National Emissions Trading Plans (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Commission moved forward\with a landmark emissions trading system on Wednesday by\approving eight national plans that allocate how much carbon\dioxide (CO2) industrial plants are allowed to emit.


The Real Consequences of Pension Projections

The S.E.C. is examining whether corporations alter projections for health care costs, pension plan returns and other factors as a way of manipulating earnings.


S.E.C. Makes Its Point on Small Errors, and Auditor Pays \$10 Million

Auditors must pay attention to what Wall Street thinks is important about a company's performance and consider those figures no matter how small they are, the S.E.C. said on Wednesday.


Mac OS X Tip of the Week: Organize with Comments

Learn how to use Comments to help you keep track of your files in Finder windows by checking out the latest Mac OS X killer tip at the Apple Pro/ site. Oct 20


SEC Makes Its Point on Small Errors, and Auditor Pays \$10 Million

Auditors must pay attention to what Wall Street thinks is important about a company #39;s performance and consider those figures no matter how small they are, the Securities and Exchange Commission


Rockstar Speaks on San Andreas Piracy

Take-Two means serious business regarding the recent string of illegal content sharing on the net. October 20, 2004 - As several of our readers are no doubt aware by now, an illegal version of Grand Theft


Eyes of Texas are upon them

This may be Lone Star Park, but more than a few stars big and bright will be deep in the heart of Texas on Oct. 30 for the 21st Breeders #39; Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.


Mortgage loan fall points to slowdown

MORTGAGE lending fell again last month, a further sign that the housing bubble has burst. About 25.4bn was lent by banks and building societies last month, down 4 on August and the second monthly fall in


EU, Mercosur fail to reach trade pact, deadline extended

The European Union (EU) and the South American Mercosur trade bloc failed to reach an agreement aimed at creating the world #39;s largest free trade area, negotiatorssaid late on Wednesday.


Samsung unveils 5-megapixel camera phone

Samsung Electronics Co. yesterday unveiled the industry #39;s first 5-megapixel camera phone, which the company claims has similar picture quality as a high-end digital camera.


Formula One #39;s BAR-Honda wins contract dispute with Jenson Button

BAR-Honda won a contract dispute Wednesday to keep Jenson Button as its driver for next season. Button drove for BAR-Honda this season, but said several months ago he had signed a contract to join Williams-BMW for 2005.


Horna scores upset win over Ferrero

MADRID: Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was eliminated by Luis Horna of Peru 6-3, 6-1 in the second round of the Madrid Masters last night.


Focus shifts to bandit booty

Bangalore, Oct. 20: Veerappans booty, amassed over 30 years and tucked away in 6,000 sq km of dense forest along the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, could be up for grabs.


Two Illini Football Players Plead Guilty (AP)

AP - Two University of Illinois football players will serve eight-day jail sentences when the season ends after pleading guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor battery charges stemming from a barroom brawl.


Malaysian Company to Bid for Contract

Malaysia Airports Holding Ltd. and an Indian partner will jointly bid to redevelop and operate New Delhi #39;s Indira Gandhi International Airport, a newspaper reported Thursday.


Defender Terry Scores Again to Ease Chelsea #39;s Attacking Woes

John Terry made up for Chelsea #39;s attacking deficiencies by scoring in a third straight Champions League match and helping shut out CSKA Moscow in a 2-0 win.


Sportsview: La Russa Enhances Legacy (AP)

AP - He's been called the smartest man in baseball. Yet Tony La Russa was feeling anything but that as he stood on the top step of the St. Louis dugout in the 12th inning Wednesday night, craning his neck to watch Jim Edmonds' game-winning home run disappear over the Cards' bullpen in right-center field.


W.N.B.A. President to Step Down

Val Ackerman, the president of the Women's National Basketball Association since its inception, has decided to step down beginning next year.


China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, Scores Missing

BEIJING (Reuters) - A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine  in central China has killed at least 56 people and left scores  missing, the Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.


James Scores 16 in Cavs' Win Over Bobcats (AP)

AP - LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao had 16 points apiece, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 103-77 NBA exhibition victory Wednesday night over the expansion Charlotte Bobcats.


Islamic Leader Calls for Iraq Resistance (AP)

AP - In his most public support of militant Islamists, the leader of Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday called on Iraqis and Palestinians to step up their resistance against the United States and Israel.


Samsung Introduces First 5-Megapixel Camera Phone

Samsung is turning up the heat in the mobile camera phone market with the introduction of the world #39;s first mobile phone with a 5-megapixel camera onboard.


Blair #39;s pledge on Hassan worries her colleagues

BAGHDAD - Iraqi colleagues of kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan say they are deeply worried that Tony Blair #39;s repeated pledge to  #39;save #39; her is, in fact, putting her life in increased danger.


First fall in loans since 2000 shows bubble has burst

PREDICTIONS that the housing bubble has finally burst were confirmed yesterday by figures revealing the first year-on-year drop in mortgage lending for four years.


First Profit Since 2000 For Lucent

Lucent Technologies Inc, the nation #39;s leading telecommunications-equipment maker, recorded its first annual profit since 2000, fueled by rapid growth in its wireless telephone division, the company announced yesterday.


Online Search Universe Is Expanding

To get an idea of how hot Web search is, go talk to Raul Valdes-Perez, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who is leading a search technology start-up called Vivisimo Inc.


Sports: Red Sox 8 Yankees 3 after 7

NEW YORK After being stymied by Boston starter Derek Lowe for six innings, the New York Yankees struck for two runs against Pedro Martinez in a rare relief appearance.


Button left frustrated as F1 board tell him to stay put

Jenson Button has lost out in his bid to switch from BAR to Williams after the Formula One Contract Recognition Board decided he had to stay at his current team.


Iran Defiance Threatens Euro Bid to End Nuclear Row

Iran again vowed to continue enriching uranium, in a potential setback to a European plan to ease the nuclear standoff with Tehran by offering sales of nuclear fuel and a trade deal as incentives.


Record-Breaking Red Sox Clinch World Series Berth

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox crushed the New  York Yankees 10-3 Wednesday to complete an historic comeback  victory over their arch-rivals by four games to three in the  American League Championship Series.


Lucent Says Earnings More Than Triple

Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , among the world #39;s largest makers of telecommunications equipment, on Wednesday said its fourth-quarter earnings


Record-Breaking Red Sox Clinch World Series Berth (Reuters)

Reuters - The Boston Red Sox crushed the New\York Yankees 10-3 Wednesday to complete an historic comeback\victory over their arch-rivals by four games to three in the\American League Championship Series.


Music  #39;handhelds #39; are going visual

Hand-held entertainment gizmos don #39;t just play music anymore. They have morphed into general-purpose devices that display photos on full-color screens and, in some cases, even play video.


With One Life to Live, the Red Sox Want It Now

The Red Sox will either complete an amazing comeback tonight as the first team to rebound from a 3-0 deficit in postseason history, or the Yankees will stop them.


Boston: Dazed, Amazed

In just a week, fans in Boston have experienced emotions ranging from despair to elation as the Red Sox come back to win four straight games and advance to the World Series.


Final death toll in China mine blast likely to reach 148: official (AFP)

AFP - The final death toll from a coal mine explosion in central China is likely to rise from 56 to 148, as those still trapped have little chance of survival, an official in charge of work safety says.


Retaining Traffic after a Web Site Redesign

Your site gets great traffic from search engines, and yet it needs a new design.  How can you freshen up a site without risking a decline in rankings and a loss of traffic from search engines?


Damon Snaps Slump With Two Home Runs (AP)

AP - Johnny Damon stayed positive throughout the AL championship series, confident he would break out of his terrible slump.


Law protecting species studied

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Western governors convening a two-day summit on the federal Endangered Species Act heard a list of complaints: Too few plants and animals saved.


States, DC Join In Insurer Probes

Insurance commissioners nationwide, including those from Virginia, Maryland and the District, waded into the growing industry scandal yesterday, holding a teleconference to coordinate


Can eBay Keep the Mojo Going?

With eBay #39;s stock lingering near an all-time high of \$96.60, investors have been holding their collective breath since the third quarter closed Sept.


KPMG to Pay \$10 Million to Settle Charges Over Gemstar Audits

KPMG LLP yesterday agreed to pay \$10 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the firm and four accountants engaged in improper professional conduct, leading to repeated


Huizenga sells Boca Resorts for \$1.25 billion

H. Wayne Huizenga sold Boca Resorts Inc., whose properties include Boca Raton Hotel  amp; Club, Hyatt Pier 66 and the Radisson Bahia Mar, to a New York-based private investment group Wednesday for \$1.


Dollar at 3-Mth Low Vs Yen on Econ Woes (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar fell to a fresh three-month\low against the yen on Thursday as traders worried about the\U.S. economic outlook and the yawning trade deficit.


New GTA: San Andreas Tr

Rockstar has released a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas just before its release next week. The trailer shows more of the same drive-by shootings, but one tid-bit of information we didn #39;t know


Nintendo DS Box Art

The full archive of completed, final boxes for Nintendo #39;s launch line-up. All in glorious high resolution. October 20, 2004 - Every day brings us one day closer to the launch of the Nintendo DS system.


Einstein #39;s Warped View of Space Confirmed

Earth #39;s spin warps space around the planet, according to a new study that confirms a key prediction of Einstein #39;s general theory of relativity.


AFTER A LONG WAIT, BUTTON STAYS AT BAR

Just weeks ago, British driver Jenson Button announced that he would leave BAR.Honda team in 2005 for BMW Williams. Both teams went to court, but Button did not get his way.


HENMAN WARY OF LJUBICIC #39;S POWER

Tim Henman is well aware of the potential damage which his next opponent Ivan Ljubicic could cause in the third round of the Madrid Masters Series.


Kosovo's ramshackle economy threatens fragile stability (AFP)

AFP - The general election in Kosovo this weekend will mark another step on the path of democratic reform, but five years after NATO and the UN took control of the province, the ramshackle economy remains a major threat to stability, analysts say.


Europes big three gives Iran last chance to come clean on <b>...</b>

VIENNA - Europes three main states were Thursday to give Iran a last chance to reassure the world it is not secretly developing atomic weapons, offering valuable nuclear technology as a carrot and possible UN sanctions as the stick.


Coal mine blast leaves 56 dead, nearly 100 missing in central <b>...</b>

BEIJING - At least 56 workers were killed and nearly 100 were missing feared dead after one of the worst coal mine disasters in Chinas recent history, officials said Thursday.


Red Sox' Anguish and Yankees' Mystique and Aura Dissolve in Game 7

With a barrage of four home runs the Boston Red Sox eliminated the Yankees with a 10-3 victory in Game 7 of the A.L.C.S. at Yankee Stadium.


Boston Responds to Rodriguez's Slap With Knockout Punch of Its Own

The Slap. That is what most of New England will gleefully remember about Alex Rodriguez now that the Boston Red Sox have shocked the Yankees.


GBA SP invades China

Nintendo and iQue to release Game Boy Advance SP later this month in 21 different cities in China. TOKYO--Nintendo has announced that it will launch the Game Boy Advance SP in China on October 27, Bloomberg Japan reports today.


BUTTON DESTINED FOR WILLIAMS RETURN

Williams are likely to call on Jenson Button in 2006 despite losing their battle to sign the Englishman for next season. Button had signed a contract with Williams, claiming his previously-agreed deal with BAR was no longer valid due to a loophole.


Agassi after 18th Masters title with victory in Madrid

Second-seeded Andre Agassi, looking for his 18th masters title, edged Max Mirnyi of Belarus 7-6 (5), 6-3 Tuesday in the second round of the US\$3 million Madrid Masters.


MLB announces 11-year deal with XM Satellite Radio

com. Major League Baseball has expanded its availability to fans everywhere in yet another important way, announcing on Wednesday an 11-year, \$650 million agreement with XM Satellite Radio


Negotiation offer on Iraq hostage

THE Australian Government might help plead for the release of kidnapped CARE Australia worker Margaret Hassan, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.


Coalmine blast leaves 56 dead, 100 trapped in central China

BEIJING: At least 56 workers were killed and a further 100 were trapped after one of the worst coalmine disasters in China #39;s recent history, an official said Thursday.


PA Remains Doubtful Over Gaza Pullout

JERUSALEM, 20 October 2004 - Palestinian Authority officials remain doubtful that the Israeli prime ministers plan to withdraw from Gaza will go ahead given the fierce opposition the project has stirred among extreme right-wingers and Jewish illegal


Typhoon Tokage Kills at Least 51 in Japan (AP)

AP - Japan's deadliest storm in more than a decade unleashed flash floods that washed away hillsides, killing up to 51 people before it veered east into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday. At least 30 people were missing.


Richardson Leads Suns Over Jazz 108-67 (AP)

AP - Quentin Richardson scored 16 points and Joe Johnson had 14, leading the undefeated Phoenix Suns to their fourth exhibition victory, 108-67 Wednesday night over the undermanned Utah Jazz.


Eight great tips for converting to open source

Travelers on the road from proprietary to open source software won #39;t be driving on an Interstate. Enterprise open source deployments are still uncommon enough that companies


USOC Appeals on 2000 Relay Team #39;s Behalf

The US Olympic Committee has filed an appeal with the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to block a decision that would strip Michael Johnson and the rest of the US men #39;s 4x400 relay team members of their 2000 Olympic gold medals because of


WNBA President to Step Down

Val Ackerman, the president of the Women #39;s National Basketball Association since its inception in 1996, has decided to step down beginning next year to spend more time with her family, several


First school expulsions linked to new law banning religious signs

PARIS Two Muslim girls who refuse to remove their head scarves in school are being expelled for violating a law banning religious symbols from schools.


FT defamation case founders

London - The bulk of a brokerage firm #39;s 240 million (R2.7 billion) damages claim against the Financial Times (FT) could not proceed, a judge ruled yesterday.


Robotic Revolution

The use of robots around the home to mow lawns, vacuum floors, pull guard duty and perform other chores is likely to increase sevenfold by 2007, says a new UN survey, which credits dropping prices for the robot boom.


Big Game Is a Big Deal in Raleigh

ESPN #39;s  quot;College GameDay quot; crew will set up camp in Raleigh, NC, for the first time Saturday as a backdrop to the North Carolina State-Miami game.


First Profit Since 2000 For Lucent

Telecommunications-equipment maker recorded its first annual profit fueled by rapid growth in its wireless telephone division.
-The Washington Post


Online Search Universe Is Expanding

Several firms have released new services in the past year. Each offers its own innovative wrinkle with features that the search king, Google, lacks. -Leslie Walker


Innovators Find Alternative To Venture Capital

When Paul Brewer, co-founder of high-tech security company ObjectVideo, gave speeches to business school students about how to find funding, he used to focus about 80 percent of his talk on the art of landing venture capital. Now he spends most of his time on how to attract federal government funding, especially through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The managers of the program are more daring than venture capitalists, said Brewer, because they are more likely to fund an idea at its inception, before it has proved anything.


Defense Work Gives CACI Boost In Earnings

Lucrative Defense Department contracts, gained partly through acquisitions, helped boost CACI International Inc.'s first-quarter revenue and profit.


DEA Disavows Support Of Painkiller Guidelines

Federal officials say they rescinded support for the directive because the document was flawed in addressing the contentious question of when and how doctors can prescribe painkillers without risking prosecution.


Getting the Word on Intellectual Law From the Top

Many of them had heard the lectures from authority figures before: Don't illegally download songs and games from the Internet because people make their livings selling those products, stealing is a crime, every crime has unseen consequences, and so on.


Kerry Looks to Avoid Gore Recount Errors (AP)

AP - Sen. John Kerry, bracing for a potential fight over election results, will not hesitate to declare victory Nov. 2 and defend it, advisers say. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency.


KPMG to Pay \$10 Million to Settle Charges Over Gemstar Audits

KPMG LLP yesterday agreed to pay \$10 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the firm and four accountants engaged in improper professional conduct, leading to repeated audit failures at client Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.


General Dynamics Posts Profit

Defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. reported a 23 percent jump in profit in its third quarter yesterday despite escalating costs on a contract to build commercial oil tankers.


Computershare shares soar

Computershare Ltd shares have soared after its acquisition of leading American registry group EquiServe which pushed the Melbourne-based company onto the world stage.


Microsoft: 106 Million Downloads of Windows XP SP2

distribute 100 million copies of Windows XP Service Pack 2 within two months of the critical security update #39;s release. On Wednesday, Microsoft declared success.


Enjoying a Visit To Boston (Un)Common

My father-in-law, Irving  quot;Sheik quot; Karelis, was born in 1920 in New England, the very year the Red Sox sent Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees.


Astros bullpen steps up until Miceli slips up

His bullpen had already squeezed out 8 2/3 shutout innings and Dan Miceli was still available, making it logical for Houston Astros manager Phil Garner to take a chance


Motorsport: BAR win contract tug-of-war over Button

SAO PAULO - Briton Jenson Button will drive for BAR next year but is likely to join Williams in 2006 after Formula One #39;s Contract Recognition Board (CRB) ended a tug-of-war between the teams today.


SGI works on Linux performance software

SGI begins work on an open-source version of a development tool for high-performance computing programmers.


Nigeria 3rd Most Corrupt Country - TI

It may take 146 years for Nigeria to wipe out corruption from its system going by the latest report by Transparency International (TI) which gave the country the third position among the most corrupt countries of the world.


'Office' Promo Takes Wing with United (Reuters)

Reuters - The stationary life of\acclaimed British sitcom "The Office" is taking flight in a DVD\promotional campaign with United Airlines beginning next month.


Sun expands pay-as-you go supercomputing

Sun adds several business partners to a plan to offer supercomputing centers that customers can pay to use according power consumed.


KPMG hit with record 10 million dollar SEC fine over Gemstar <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON : The US Securities and Exchange Commission said that accounting firm KPMG had agreed to pay a record 10 million dollar sum to settle its  quot;improper quot; audits of Gemstar-TV Guide International.


Disney to  #39;give away #39; its stores

Disney reached a deal on Wednesday to sell its struggling nationwide chain of retail stores to the Children #39;s Place, the children #39;s clothing merchant.


GTA: San Andreas Website Update

Today, the official website for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was updated. Included in the update is a new official trailer. The easily offended (and those underage) should be warned: it #39;s set to 2Pac #39;s I Don #39;t Give aF***, uncensored.


quot;Daniel Egger Voted 2004  quot;Agenda Setter quot; for Role in Advancing <b>...</b>

Open Source Risk Management (OSRM), the only vendor-neutral provider of Open Source risk mitigation and warranty solutions, today announced that OSRM founder and chairman Daniel Egger was designated  quot;one of the 50 most influential individuals in tech


Earth warps space surrounding it

Earth #39;s spin warps space around the planet, according to a new study that confirms a key prediction of Einstein #39;s general theory of relativity.


Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

com. On a chilly, gray afternoon in St. Louis, Busch Stadium erupted on the sweet Jim Edmonds home run swing the Cardinals #39; faithful have come to know so well.


A forward pass

With yesterday #39;s report on its athletic department violations completed, the University of Washington says it is pleased to be able to move forward.


Friedgen #39;s QB call: Gametime

Terrapin quarterbacks Joel Statham and Jordan Steffy will compete the remainder of the week to start Saturday at Clemson. Coach Ralph Friedgen said yesterday his choice will be a  quot;game-time quot; decision.


Customs strike to disrupt Australia's international air and sea ports (AFP)

AFP - Australian customs officers will launch a 24-hour strike from midnight Thursday, disrupting traffic into the nation's major air and sea ports, union leaders said.


148 trapped coal miners feared dead

A senior work safety official saidhere Thursday morning that there is slim hope for the 148 trapped coal miners in central China #39;s coal mine blast to be rescued alive.


Israeli army chief stalls rabbis instigated mutiny

JERUSALEM: Israeli military authorities have launched a fierce counter-attack to calls by right-wing rabbis who have urged soldiers to disobey any orders to uproot settlers from the Gaza Strip.


Trump Hotels Said to Reach Deal to Avoid Bankruptcy

Trump Hotels has reached a preliminary agreement with its investors to restructure \$1.8 billion in debt, fending off a possible bankruptcy filing.


Profit Off 13 at J.P. Morgan; Trading Cited as Weak Spot

The nation's second-largest bank attributing the weaker performance to poor results in fixed-income trading.


roundup Plus: SGI works on Linux performance software...Good Technology supported by HP, Samsung...RealNetworks loss widens on litigation.


Tokyo Stocks Weak, Dollar Hurts Exporters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.69 percent  by mid-afternoon on Thursday as a fall in the dollar further  weakened investor confidence over company earnings, prompting  selling on exporters such as Canon Inc.


Little Saigon Voters Not Embracing Kerry (AP)

AP - In the teeming markets and cafes of Little Saigon, generational changes and misgivings over his policies have weakened President Bush's support among Vietnamese-Americans. Still, few are embracing his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry.


Football: Holders Porto face exit

Holders Porto face an uphill struggle to qualify, plus a round-up of Wednesday's Champions League action.


Coca-Cola #39;s Isdell Moves to Slow Price Increases as Pepsi Gains

Coca-Cola Co. raised the average price of soft drinks last quarter, prompting consumers to switch to less costly PepsiCo Inc. drinks and store brands like Wal-Mart Stores Inc.


Swatch announces new Swatch Smart Watch with MSN Direct Service

Swatch has joined with MSN Direct, a division of Microsoft Corp. to launch a new watch known as Paparazzi. With four new multicolored styles, Paparazzi offers wearers some exclusive entertainment information and the opportunity to meet celebrities.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) - Leaked to the web

That #39;s right. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has become the latest victim of piracy, with illegal copies of the game, its manual, and its cover appearing on various Web sites.


HORSE RACING NOTEBOOK Azeri going out with flare

From Horse of the Year in 2003, to her owner Michael Paulson being scrutinized for not retiring her. Paulson had also taken some heat for transferring training duties from Laura DeSeroux to D. Wayne Lukas last winter.


ON SOCCER Next generation of stars leads US team to city

When the US women #39;s national team won the gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games, it was the swan song for legends Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, and Julie Foudy.


Former Aeros bite old teammates

The Aeros got a painful reminder of the prowess of a pair of their former teammates Wednesday night. They saw two of their former players combine for a goal and two assists


Death toll rises to 48 in Japan #39;s typhoon strike

Typhoon No. 23 has killed at least 48 people and left 33 missing as of Thursday noon, the NHK TV station of Japan reported Thursday.


Bush Predicted No Iraq Casualties, Robertson Says

The Rev. Pat Robertson said President Bush dismissed his warning that the United States would suffer heavy casualties in Iraq and told the television evangelist just before the beginning of the war that "we're not going to have any casualties."


Typhoon Kills 55 in Japan, Deadliest in a Decade

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's deadliest typhoon in more than a  decade killed at least 55 people, officials said on Thursday as  rescuers searched frantically for 33 still missing in floods  and landslides.


Oil Back Up to  #36;55 on U.S. Winter Stocks (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices charged back up to  #36;55 a\barrel on Wednesday as a fresh fall in U.S. heating oil stocks\stoked worries over winter supplies.


State regulator plans to investigate all relevant areas

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - California #39;s top insurance regulator said Wednesday that he will be filing a civil suit shortly in the widening scandal over insurance industry sales practices.


Update 1: Siebel Systems Swings to 3Q Profit

Software maker Siebel Systems Inc. on Wednesday said its third-quarter results swung to a profit on improved licensing revenue. The company reported earnings of \$19.


Voluntary response key to BCA grading

The grade on the report card was  quot;F. quot; The University of Nevada was one of four colleges that failed to meet the standards for a football coaching search as outlined by the Black Coaches Association.


Singh has a few more goals

Vijay Singh #39;s next milestone on his record rise atop the PGA Tour #39;s money list should be as easy to reach as loose change under the sofa cushions.


U.S. Claims Taliban Rift Helps Karzai (AP)

AP - Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has fallen out with some of his lieutenants, who blame him for the rebels' failure to disrupt the landmark Afghan presidential election, the U.S. military said Wednesday.


Broker #39;s Directors Used Partnerships for Private Profits

Board members and senior executives of Marsh  amp; McLennan, the giant insurance broker that has been accused of cheating customers, put millions of dollars into a partnership that profited by


Iran Vows to Continue Enriching Uranium (AP)

AP - Iran vowed anew to continue enriching uranium, dealing a potential setback to a European plan to ease the nuclear standoff with Tehran by offering sales of nuclear fuel and a trade deal as incentives.


Boston Red Sox make history

Believe it, New England -- the Boston Red Sox are in the World Series. And they got there with the most unbelievable comeback of all, with four sweet swings after decades of defeat, shaming the dreaded New York Yankees.


Ecclestone #39;s Formula One Hold Menaced by Lawsuits, Tobacco Ban

Bernie Ecclestone, the 73-year-old former used-car dealer who became a billionaire by managing Formula One motor racing, faces a revolt by business partners and team owners that may end his grip on the sport after 23 years.


JETS RESIST HYPE OF PATS MATCH

Herman Edwards certainly wasn #39;t yesterday, when he stood before his 5-0 team and - in his own motivational style -tressed that Sunday #39;s smackdown against the 5-0 Patriots in Foxboro is not Armageddon.


ESPN GOES TO FIGHTS

boxing game. ESPN is teaming up with Main Events to hold two PPV events, seven Friday Night Fight cards and three  quot;special quot; cards that would be exclusive of Friday Night Fights.


North Korea Says Prospects Gloomy for Nuclear Talks

SEOUL (Reuters) - The prospects for more six-party talks on  North Korea's nuclear programs are gloomy because the United  States has pushed the negotiations to a stalemate, the North's  official KCNA news agency said on Thursday.


A Wise Decision Brings Boston Home

The Boston Red Sox are going to the World Series, and the Yankees aren't, because Joe Torre selected the wrong pitchers and Terry Francona chose the right pitcher.


Brown, Vazquez Flop for Yanks in Game 7 (AP)

AP - Kevin Brown had a chance to claim a place in Yankees postseason history with his start in Game 7 of the AL championship series.


Disney Directors on Trial for a Payout

Directors of the Walt Disney Company went on trial Wednesday on shareholder accusations that they rubber-stamped a decision by the chief executive, Michael D. Eisner


Business briefs, October 21

AT amp;T Corp. Chief Executive Officer David Dorman is accelerating his plan to shed 20 percent of the telephone company #39;s work force in an effort to reduce costs and stem a slide in profit.


EU ministers disagree on fuel tax breaks

European Union finance ministers failed early today to agree on tax breaks to ease the impact of high oil prices, despite sharp prodding from France and dire warnings that they were threatening economic growth.


Hacker exposes private data at UC Computer held personal files on <b>...</b>

In a potentially huge computer security breach, a hacker broke into a computer at UC Berkeley containing Social Security numbers and other personal data for about 600,000 Californians, the university said Wednesday.


A Misplaced Bet On Khin Nyunt

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has gone out of its way to protect Burma in regional and international arenas, believing - wrongly, of course - that peer pressure might in some way help transform this dictatorial pariah-state into an


Australian PM to crackdown on unions (AFP)

AFP - Australian Prime Minister John Howard has vowed to use his government's expanded control over parliament to push through industrial relations, laws which unions said would be the most restrictive in the western world.


Bid to end EU commissioner row

The incoming European Commission president is to meet parliament heads to defuse the crisis over his proposed justice commissioner.


Japan exports hit record levels

Exports from Japan hit their highest level for more than 50 years in September, but rising oil prices and imports could spell trouble ahead.


Transplant Arranged via the Internet Is Completed

Surgeons completed a kidney transplant Wednesday in what is believed to be the first operation where the donor and recipient met through a commercial Web site.


Business ; Tokyo Stocks Weak, Dollar Hurts Exporters

Business News, TOKYO - Japan #39;s Nikkei average fell 0.69 percent by mid-afternoon on Thursday as a fall in the dollar further weakened investor confidence over company earnings, prompting selling on exporters such as Canon Inc.


Peres voices optimism on Gaza withdrawal

Facing a major parliamentary vote next week on a plan for Israelis to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres


Armed Men Attack Baghdad Bus, at Least 4 Dead (Reuters)

Reuters - Gunmen attacked a bus carrying Baghdad\airport employees to work on Thursday, killing at least four\people and wounding several others, including the driver, an\airport employee said.


Japan cleans up as deadliest typhoon in decade kills at least 54 (AFP)

AFP - Japan teams are searching for survivors after the country's deadliest typhoon in more than a decade killed at least 54 people as it crushed houses, overturned trains and left passengers stranded on flooded highways.


EU-25 among least corrupt in global index

Corruption is rampant in sixty countries of the world and the public sector continues to be plagued by bribery, says a report by a respected global corruption watchdog.


U.N. to Debate Anti-Cloning Treaty (AP)

AP - The highly contentious issue of cloning is back on the U.N. agenda, with support among member states for a treaty banning human cloning but divisions over the use of human embryos for medical research.


Armed Men Attack Baghdad Bus, at Least 4 Dead

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen attacked a bus carrying Baghdad  airport employees to work on Thursday, killing at least four  people and wounding several others, including the driver, an  airport employee said.


California joins insurance industry crackdown

California #39;s insurance regulator has unveiled new rules to prevent brokers from taking secret commissions to steer customers to certain policies.


Bleak picture from US airline results

Major US airlines yesterday reported heavy third quarter losses, under pressure from record fuel prices and fierce competition with budget carriers.


Slowing house market quiets lending

Mortgage lending has declined for the second consecutive month as a result of the slowing housing market, says the Council of Mortgage Lenders.


Children #39;s Place to acquire Disney stores

Kid #39;s clothing retailer Children #39;s Place agreed to buy Disney #39;s 313 North American retail stores, the companies said yesterday.