Sony announces Disney Blu-Ray support

The next generation battle is heating up even further today with the announcement that Disney will be releasing its movies on the Blu-Ray format rather than Toshibas HD-DVD format.


Car Bomb Blast Near Allawi HQ in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber targeted a  police checkpoint on a road leading to the headquarters of  Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's party in western Baghdad on  Monday, killing at least two people, officials and witnesses  said.


China bans video game for allegedly offending Chinese sovereignty? <b>...</b>

China has banned British computer game  quot;Football Manager 2005, quot; saying it violated Chinese law by referring to Taiwan, Hong Kong and other regions claimed by China as separate countries.


Samsung Samples First 512Mbit GDDR3

Seoul, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has begun shipping a 512Mbit GDDR2 memory device, one it claims is the most advanced graphics double-data-rate synchronous DRAM available.


The US Approach to Climate Change

There is a major UN climate change meeting underway in Buenos Aires: the tenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-10).


Frazier Advances at ASB Women's Classic (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Amy Frazier advanced to the second round of the ASB Women's Classic on Monday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow American Laura Granville.


IBM Sale Reflects Unease in Personal Computer Sector

quot;Every PC maker has to deal with this, one way or another, quot; International Data Corp. analyst Roger Kay said. The problem is that it #39;s difficult to make money on PCs today, given how cutthroat competition has driven down prices.


DVD-copying system sparks legal battle

It #39;s a clash between the film industry and a consumer electronics company -- over a home theatre jukebox. The legal battle is over something called the Kaleidescape System.


Koeman wields Ajax captaincy axe

Ajax coach Ronald Koeman has sacked Rafael van der Vaart as club captain and replaced him with Czech international Tomas Galasek, the team said.


New Trouble for Mike Tyson

(New York- WABC, December 9, 2004 ) - Boxer Mike Tyson has had another run in with the law. Tyson was released yesterday after his arrest in Arizona.


US soldier killed, three wounded in Afghanistan ambush (AFP)

AFP - An American soldier has been killed and three others wounded in an ambush in eastern Afghanistan, in the second fatality suffered by US forces in the country in as many days, the US military said.


Stocks fall on worrisome news

NEW YORK An unexpected jump in unemployment claims and rising oil prices have stocks losing ground. Also, tech stocks are tumbling on poor sales forecasts from a pair of semiconductor makers.


Rumsfeld Visits India, Delhi Frets on Arms Sales (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States will build stronger\defense ties with India, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld\vowed on Thursday, but New Delhi said proposed U.S. arms sales\to Pakistan could affect relations with Washington.


Sonics Move Into Tie for NBA's Best Record (AP)

AP - The surprising Seattle SuperSonics stopped the San Antonio Spurs' long winning streak at home and moved into a tie for the NBA victory lead.


Envoy Complains of 'Anti-French Neurosis' in Israel (Reuters)

Reuters - France's ambassador to Israel\criticized Israelis on Thursday for what he called "anti-French\neurosis," drawing a rebuke from the Jewish state and touching\off a new diplomatic row between the two countries.


Khartoum, Darfur Rebels Split on Peace Chances (Reuters)

Reuters - Sudan's government said on Thursday it\hoped to reach a peace deal in talks resuming on Friday with\rebels in Darfur, where the United Nations says one of the\world's worst humanitarian crises has unfolded.


US defence secretary sidesteps India's concern over F16s for Pakistan (AFP)

AFP - US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met Indian leaders but sidestepped controversy after New Delhi urged Washington not to sell F-16 fighter planes to rival Pakistan.


Powell Says He Won't Run for Office (AP)

AP - Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday he won't seek political office, dismissing suggestions that he run for governor or senator in New York.


Bush: No Payroll Tax Hike for Soc. Sec. (AP)

AP - President Bush on Thursday flatly ruled out raising payroll taxes to ensure the solvency of Social Security, as he opened a push for historic changes in the retirement program.


Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maathai Answers Critics

OSLO (Reuters) - Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari  Maathai dismissed critics on Thursday who say ecology has too  little to do with peace to merit the award. She said most wars  are fought over natural resources.


NATO, Russia Deny 'Cold War' Rift on Ukraine

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former Cold War foes NATO and Russia  on Thursday played down weeks of tension over rigged  presidential poll results in Ukraine and issued a joint call  for free and fair elections at the end of the month.


Envoy Complains of 'Anti-French Neurosis' in Israel

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - France's ambassador to Israel  criticized Israelis on Thursday for what he called "anti-French  neurosis," drawing a rebuke from the Jewish state and touching  off a new diplomatic row between the two countries.


Khartoum, Darfur Rebels Split on Peace Chances

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's government said on Thursday it  hoped to reach a peace deal in talks resuming on Friday with  rebels in Darfur, where the United Nations says one of the  world's worst humanitarian crises has unfolded.


Crude Oil Rises as OPEC Ministers Call for a Production Cut

Crude oil rose for a second day on speculation that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will call for a production cut at a meeting tomorrow.


France Cuts Air France KLM Stake

France shed almost half of its 44 percent stake in Air France KLM on Thursday, kicking off a wider deal that could see its remaining stake cut to below


Air China raises \$8.3b with high-end price

Air China, the country #39;s largest airline, will raise HK\$8.36 billion after pricing its Hong Kong and London initial public offering (IPO) at the high end of its price range, sources said.


Jobless Claims Up, Import Prices Gain

US jobless claims unexpectedly rose again last week in more worrying news for the labor market, government data showed on Thursday, while other data offered more positive signals for America #39;s economy.


Study: Chicken Genome Fills Crucial Knowledge Gap

quot;The chicken genome fills a crucial gap in our scientific knowledge, quot; says Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.


HP revamps midrange storage line

DECEMBER 09, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Hewlett-Packard Co. yesterday announced several upgrades to its midrange storage products, including disk-to-disk or disk-to-tape backup functionality with its StorageWorks


Champions League: Group B review - Real Madrid Figo out how to <b>...</b>

Three teams went into Matchday 6 with an opportunity to qualify from Group B, with the big question being whether superstar-infested Real Madrid would be one of those to make it.


Clijsters likely to miss Australian Open

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters is not expected to play in next month #39;s Australian Open tennis tournament as she continues to recover from wrist surgery.


#39;US arms to Islamabad could impact India-Pakistan ties #39; (LEADS <b>...</b>

India News: New Delhi, Dec 9 : India Thursday expressed concern at a US decision to sell sophisticated weapons to Pakistan, saying it would adversely affect the  quot;sensitive quot; India-Pakistan peace process as well as growing India-US ties.


Disney Joins Blu-Ray Team

The entertainment company plans to release movies through Sony's HD DVD format. Also: France sells off stakes in Air France   hellip;.  GM in Europe announces future cuts   hellip;. and more.


Semiconductor Sector Sends Stocks Lower

US stocks fell on Thursday, led by a decline in the technology sector following a batch of sales warnings from chip makers and a jump in oil prices to nearly \$43 a barrel.


Disney Backs Blu-Ray Format for Its Movies (AP)

AP - The Walt Disney Co. plans to release its movies and other content in the Blu-Ray format, one of the two major contenders for next-generation DVDs that will deliver high-definition images to TV sets.


Glaus Agrees to 4-Year Deal With Arizona (AP)

AP - All-Star third baseman Troy Glaus agreed Thursday to a four-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hope the 2002 World Series MVP will rebound from a season cut short by an injured shoulder.


Samsung Doubles Graphics Memory Density

The Samsung device has at least twice the density of any graphics memory available today, offering gamers much richer textures and imagery, the electronics giant said.


COULTHARD IMPRESSES IN TESTING

David Coulthard was once again on the pace as he tested for Red Bull Racing in the hope of claiming a race seat there next season.


Report: D #39;backs sign Glaus

According to a report in the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks have signed third baseman Troy Glaus to a four-year contract worth \$45 million.


Els stalks leader in South Africa

Ernie Els made the most of his local knowledge with a five-under-par 67 in the first round of the Dunhill Championship. Els, who has a house on the course, carded five birdies and no bogeys after starting at 6:45am local time.


Regardless of age, Oklahoma tailback should win Heisman Trophy

Last week I solicited readers #39; opinions about what I should do with my Heisman ballot, and they responded to the tune of more than 1,000 e-mails.


Fans Mourn Slaying of Ex-Pantera Guitarist (AP)

AP - Stunned fans of the North Texas-based heavy-metal rock band Damageplan jammed the group's Web site Thursday after a gunman's attack on the band during an Ohio concert left its guitarist and four other people dead.


Powell Attacks European NATO Allies on Iraq (Reuters)

Reuters - Secretary of State Colin Powell\accused European allies of undermining NATO on Thursday by\refusing to allow staff seconded to the alliance to take part\in its military training mission in Iraq.


DS success shows public wants 'easy-to-play' video games: Nintendo (AFP)

AFP - Nintendo said its new DS hand-held console is beating sales expectations, showing that the public wants easy-to-play video games instead of elaborate high-tech machines.


Blair Said to Seek New Climate Pact with Bush (Reuters)

Reuters - British Prime Minister Tony Blair is\trying to involve the United States in a new international\treaty on global warming, The Times newspaper said on Thursday.


Glaus Headed to Arizona

PHOENIX (Sports Network) - The Arizona Diamondbacks made a  big splash in the free-agent market on Thursday by signing  third baseman Troy Glaus to a four-year contract.


Recommended Hubble Repair Mission Gets Measured Response from Congress (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - WASHINGTON -- The nbsp;announcement Wednesday by nbsp;the National Academy of \Sciences that NASA scrap its plan to robotically repair the Hubble Space \Telescope and instead plan a manned shuttle mission for the endeavor was met by \by nbsp;congressional leaders nbsp;with both support and \reservations.


Sharing SETI: A Personal Book List (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - As the holiday season approaches, book lists fill the entertainment sections of newspapers: fiction and non-fiction, prize winners of all sorts, the ubiquitous coffee-table large-format illustrated tomes, and children's literature. For me, it's always a tempting feast. It's an opportunity to expand my personal library or find a gift for someone special.


Opposition Gears Up for New Election Battle

KIEV (Reuters) - NATO and Russia put weeks of tension  behind them to call on Thursday for a free and fair election in  Ukraine as aides of liberal Viktor Yushchenko predicted victory  for their candidate in this month's re-run of a rigged vote.


Court Overturns Nigerian Woman's Stoning Sentence

NINGI, Nigeria (Reuters) - A young Nigerian mother  sentenced to death by stoning for having sex outside marriage  was acquitted and discharged by an Islamic appeals court on  Thursday.


Dungeness Crab

You know that winter has descended upon you when the days become long and you can feel the cold in your bones. It is also then that descending upon the west coast of North America, from San Francisco bay up to Alaska, is the Dungeness crab.


Canon loses printer recycling case

Refilling, reselling cartridges doesn't violate patents - Tokyo court


Britons growing 'digitally obese'

\Gadget lovers are carrying the equivalent of 10 trucks full of paper in weight, a study has found.


Nintendo's DS beats sales target

Nintendo raises its sales target for the DS handheld  games console after strong early sales.


GM cuts 10,000 jobs in Germany

General Motors' European unit is to cut 10,000 jobs in Germany as part of a plan to save  \$665m (347m) annually.


Mobile Phone Users Double Since 2000

GENEVA (Reuters) - Mobile phone subscribers around the  globe totaled nearly 1.5 billion by the middle of this year,  about one quarter of the world's population, the International  Telecommunication Union (ITU) said on Thursday.


Mickey Mouse Makes a DVD Pick

Disney is lining up behind Sony's new high-definition DVD format while other Hollywood players back the rival Toshiba format. Will the format wars scare consumers away from the next generation of DVD players? -washingtonpost.com


Simulation, War's New Teacher

Will Interactive is part of a prospering crop of Washington area firms trying to sell interactive training and simulation technologies to the military.-Ellen McCarthy


IBM Stops Offering Cash-Balance Pension

International Business Machines Corp., taken to court by workers over changes it made to its traditional pension plan, has decided to stop offering any such plan to new employees.


Musicians Are Making Tracks to Video Games

Winning a spot on Madden NFL's soundtrack is a new route to an old audience, as sure a bet as any when it comes to grabbing a prized demographic.


Cell Phones In Flight Considered

The Federal Communications Commission is considering loosening a ban on using cell phones in airplanes.


Congress to Back Aid for Internet Schools

Congress guaranteed the flow of Internet aid to schools and libraries and provided federal funds to upgrade emergency 911 services for calls from mobile phones in a communications bill approved Wednesday and sent to the president for his signature.


Oracle's Ellison Confident in PeopleSoft

Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison reiterated his determination to prevail in a long-running takeover battle with rival business software maker PeopleSoft Inc., predicting the proposed deal will create a more competitive company with improved customer service.


Mobile Phone Users Double Since 2000

\

 By Robert Evans

 GENEVA (Reuters) - Mobile phone subscribers around the\globe totaled nearly 1.5 billion by the middle of this year,\about one quarter of the world's population, the International\Telecommunication Union (ITU) said on Thursday.


Experts Urge People to Unplug Occasionally

Katie Achille grew up with the Internet. She was 9 when she first tapped into it - and quickly became an avid e-mailer, Web surfer and sender of instant messages. But when recent computer troubles left her without regular Web access, something unexpected happened: To her surprise, she suddenly felt free.


Waterproof IPod Housing All Wet

After you've joined the music revolution and plunked down \$250 for an Apple iPod mini, it's easy to become quite protective of the little gizmo.


Mountaineers to rescue juniper

Mountaineers are planting junipers on ledges to prevent them from being eaten by hungry sheep.


Rumsfeld Says He's Not Surprised by Troops' Complaints

The defense secretary said today that it was valuable to hear concerns directly from troops, but he offered no changes.


Outsource the CEO!

Knight-Ridder's Phil Robinson offers a "right and reasonable" solution to outsourcing.


GM Europe To Cut 12,000 Jobs in Deal

The world #39;s largest automaker launched negotiations with European employees after it unveiled the cost-cutting plans in October, triggering days of walkouts at GM #39;s German plants.


Weekly Jobless Claims Rise Again

New claims for jobless benefits moved higher last week, a possible sign that employers haven #39;t completely let go of their caution and are looking to cut costs.


Toll Brothers reels in record numbers

Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE:TOL), a developer of luxury homes, reported record fourth-quarter and fiscal-year-end results for earnings, revenue, contracts and backlog.


Hyatt buying AmeriSuites chain

The Hyatt hotels company is buying the AmeriSuites chain from its current owner, The Blackstone Group. The companies haven #39;t disclosed the purchase price, but published reports say Hyatt is likely to pay more than \$600 million.


Disney backs Sony DVD technology

Film giant Disney says it will produce its future DVDs using Sony #39;s Blu-ray Disc technology, but has not ruled out a rival format developed by Toshiba.


Zingy to Deliver Kanye West, Aaliyah Songs (Reuters)

Reuters - Mobile media company Zingy on\Monday said it signed deals to deliver voice recordings by\Grammy-nominated rapper Kanye West and songs from the late R B\singer Aaliyah to mobile phone users.


HP #39;s new offerings expand ILM portfolio

New releases of disk, tape and optical storage technologies, and enhanced information management software from HP will extend the company #39;s ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) portfolio.


Troy Glaus agrees to four-year deal with Arizona Diamondbacks

All-star third baseman Troy Glaus agreed Thursday to a four-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hope the 2002 World Series MVP will rebound from a season cut short by an injured shoulder.


Champions League: Group C review - Juve and Bayern in cruise <b>...</b>

And so to the terrifyingly dull event that was Matchday 6 in Group C. The only issue to be resolved here was whether it would be Ajax or Maccabi Tel Aviv who would secure the UEFA Cup spot.


Govt clears Chittagong as venue for matches

quot;On the basis of security team #39;s report the Government is advising the BCCI to go-ahead with the matches in Chittagong, quot; a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs told a news agency.


No. 6 Duke Rallies Past Clemson, 62-54 (AP)

AP - J.J. Redick had 20 of his 24 points in the second half and role player Lee Melchionni made two clutch 3-pointers, helping No. 6 Duke rally past Clemson 62-54 Sunday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.


NHL, Union Return To Bargaining Table

_ NHL officials and union leaders return to the bargaining table Thursday, marking their first talks since late summer. The players #39; association on Sept.


IRA pledges full disarmament

BREAKING months of silence, the Irish Republican Army declared today it was willing to get rid of all its weapons this month - but only if Protestants backed a new power-sharing


One billion kids  #39;miss childhood #39;

A report by a kids #39; group says more than half of the children in the world are suffering because of the effects of war, poverty and the HIV virus.


Palestinian car explodes in Gaza, wounding three militants

Witnesses and medical officials in Gaza Strip say one Palestinian militant and two of his bodyguards were wounded today when their car exploded.


New GNOME version is available for Linux users

A new version of GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) desktop interfaces is now available for download.


Researchers warn laptop users of infertility risk

Laptops should be used as desktops if men want to protect their reproductive health, according to a new study published Thursday.


Netline strikes deal with Novell

Netline Internet Service on Thursday announced that Novell has agreed to provide global training, maintenance, and support for its Open-Xchange Server product.


Nintendo DS Proves Popular

Company says sales of the handheld gaming device are much better than expected.


Disney Backs Blu-ray Standard

Company is the latest to pick a side in the battle of high-definition disc formats.


Microsoft Schedules Second Longhorn Event

Conference will allow developers to examine, discuss the successor to Windows XP.


Friendster, Eurekster Team Up for Personalized Search

Friendster has rolled out a new internet search service powered by Eurekster that taps into your online social network to personalize and enhance search results.


Warm signs detected from distant icy world

LONDON - A large, icy rock at the edge of our solar system was warm at some point, a finding that suggests planetary processes like volcanic activity, astronomers say.


Buried under rubble for 10 days

RESCUERS in the Philippines yesterday pulled at least four survivors from a building that collapsed in mudslides 10 days ago. The miraculous tale of survival came as officials


Eurekster and Friendster Partner for Friendster Search Engine\\Friendster, the social networking community, and Eurekster, the Internet search engine powered by community and social networking technologies, announced the launch of personalized Internet search and navigation services on Friendster networks in eight countries.\\Friendster Search, powered by Eurekster, shows search results that have ...


News: The strange death of the mass mailing virus

Mass mailing viruses will go the way of macro viruses and become much rarer next year.


News: Marine Corps deploys Fallujah biometric ID scheme

US forces in Iraq are attempting to tame Fallujah with biometric ID, according to an NBC news report broadcast last week.


Mac OS X  #151; Rock Solid

#147;The Macintosh, with its OS X operating system, is rock solid, #148; writes Walt Mossberg for the Wall Street Journal.  #147;It is elegant, and  #151; when you do a feature-by-feature price comparison with Windows competitors  #151; it #146;s surprisingly affordable. #148; Dec 09


What Price Privacy?

Tucked away in this week's \$388 billion spending bill is a rule that could put a privacy officer in every federal agency, no matter what its function. By Ryan Singel.


A Gift Guide for Game Geeks

Buying a game for a hard-core gamer with an extensive collection is a daunting task. You might be better off opting for one of the myriad accessories, soundtracks or tacky souvenirs designed for gaming fanatics. By Lore Sjberg.


Photo Site a Hit With Bloggers

Flickr, an online photo service that lets people share pictures, is gaining a strong following among bloggers and digital camera enthusiasts for its speed, simplicity and open standards. By Daniel Terdiman.


RSS: Show Me the Money

Like it or not, ads are coming to RSS. Sending information only to those who want it might be a way to keep subscribers from rioting. Commentary by Adam L. Penenberg.


Panel: Robot Won't Save Hubble

A report commissioned by NASA says the space agency won't succeed in its plans to send a robot to repair the ailing Hubble Space Telescope. Send humans instead, the report's authors recommend. By Amit Asaravala.


Getting Burned? Put on a Shirt

Sunscreen and floppy hats are the normal tools to fight UV radiation in Australia. Now you can add laundry detergent. By Stephen Leahy.


Why Nerds Are Unpopular

If you're too cool for school, you're probably not very smart. Some of us would rather build rockets than friendships. By Paul Graham from Wired magazine.


Laptops a Hot Fertility Issue

Researchers find that men who place portable computers on their laps are inadvertently raising the temperature of their scrotums -- and possibly damaging their sperm. By Amit Asaravala.


This Genome Is Fowl

Researchers have sequenced the genome of the chicken, and they hope it will increase understanding of embryonic development and help farmers breed disease-resistant birds. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Semiconductor Sector Slides, Stocks Down

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday, led by a  decline in the technology sector following a batch of sales  warnings from chip makers and a jump in oil prices to nearly  \$43 a barrel.


Costco Disappoints on Profit, Stock Falls

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale Corp. COST.O, the  largest U.S. warehouse club, on Thursday posted a 21 percent  rise in quarterly profit but its shares fell after it failed to  beat expectations.


GM cuts 10,000 jobs in Germany

General Motors #39; loss-making European division is to cut 12,000 jobs in a bid to save \$665m (347m) annually. The redundancies will affect a fifth of its workforce, with 10,000 positions going at Opel plants in Germany.


WMC Announces AU\$1 Billion Payout

WMC currently is fending off a AU\$7.4 billion takeover bid by Switzerland-based Xstrata PLC. The mining company upgraded its earnings forecast to around \$1.3 billion for the calendar year, above analysts #39; expectations.


Ford President Scheele to Retire

Ford Motor Co. President Nick Scheele will retire early next year after 38 years with the No. 2 US automaker, Ford said on Thursday.


Iger: Disney Throws Weight Behind Blu-Ray DVD Format

Once upon a time, Betamax was more than a winning answer in Trivial Pursuit: It was a real competitor with the VHS videotape format.


Siemens claims gigabit wireless breakthrough

German company Siemens has shown what it claims to be the fastest ever wireless network connection. The demonstration at its Munich laboratories on Tuesday reached speeds of 1Gbps, twenty times faster than


White Sox sign OF Dye to two-year contract

CHICAGO (USATODAY.com) - The Chicago White Sox did not offer arbitration to outfielder Magglio Ordonez. Evidently, it will be Jermaine Dye to pick up the slack.


Rumsfeld tries to soothe angry U.S. troops (Reuters)

Reuters - Under fire from troops who complain they are being sent to war in Iraq with inadequate gear, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld promised on Thursday that more would be done to protect forces.


Tyco Raises Dividend

BOSTON (Reuters) - Tyco International Inc. TYC.N        on  Thursday raised its dividend for the first time in five years,  the latest indication of change at the once scandal-tarnished  diversified manufacturer.


Ford's President and Vice Chairman to Retire; Padilla to Replace Scheele

Ford Motor Co. announced the retirements of president Nick Scheele and vice chairman Allan Gilmour on Thursday, two company veterans tapped by Bill Ford to help the company emerge from a sea of red ink during the past three years.


Palestinian presidential elections candidate beaten

The independent candidate for the Palestinian Presidential elections Mustafa al-Barghouthi said he was beaten yesterday by the occupation soldiers at a military checkpoint near Jenin to the north of the West Bank.


Stocks Rebound, National Semi Stock Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks recovered from earlier  losses and rose early Thursday afternoon, with National  Semiconductor Corp. NSM.N shares surging after the chip maker  said problems with excess inventory in the distribution channel  are behind it.


OPEC consensus emerging to cut oil over-production

CAIRO (AFP) - OPEC oil producers appeared set to agree on a reduction in crude output by stepping up quota compliance to thwart a feared drop in prices as global energy demand slows next year.


France sells 17.7 percent of Air France

The French government has announced its selling 17.7 percent of Air France-KLM Group, the manager of the sale said. France is going to sell 693 million of the Europe #39;s biggest airline, or \$922 million of


Ford #39;s Scheele to Retire as President on Feb. 1 (Update2)

Ford Motor Co. President Nick Scheele, who postponed his retirement three years ago after being called to the US to help stop losses, will retire Feb. 1. He turns 61 next month.


Tyco Raises Dividend

Tyco International Inc. (TYC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday raised its dividend for the first time in five years, the latest indication of change at the once scandal-tarnished diversified manufacturer.


Eli Lilly expects earnings growth in 2005; accelerated newer drug <b>...</b>

NEW YORK, December 9 (newratings.com) - Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.NYS) guided to earnings growth in 2005 today, driven by the accelerating sales of its newer drugs.


Hyatt to Buy AmeriSuites Hotel Chain

Hyatt Corp. on Thursday said it agreed to buy AmeriSuites, an upscale limited-service hotel chain that it said would complement its full-service portfolio.


Panel Wants People, Not Robots, To Fix Hubble

That #39;s the recommendation from a panel from the National Academy of Sciences concerning a mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.


Wireless network smashes world speed record

A new world record has been set for transmitting data across a wireless network, claim researchers in Germany. A team at Siemens Communications research laboratory in Munich, have transmitted one gigabit (one


Oracle Tackles Unstructured Data With New Content-Management <b>...</b>

Oracle revealed Wednesday an ambitious content-management system to help its customers branch out into managing unstructured data, such as E-mail, Microsoft Word and Excel spreadsheet documents


Samsung ships 512 Mbit GDDR3 memory

Samsung announced that it doubled the density of graphics DDR3 memory and has begun shipping samples to graphics card and game console manufacturers.


IT heavyweights line up on MegaGrid

quot;A-list quot; IT suppliers Oracle Corp, EMC Corp, Dell Corp, and Intel Corp have banded together to forge an alliance to develop the grid computing systems of tomorrow.


U.K., U.S. to Share Anti-Terror Technology (AP)

AP - The British government announced Thursday it had struck a deal to share counterterrorism technology and information with the United States.


Angulo apologizes for conduct in Champions League game

Valencia #39;s Miguel Angel Angulo apologized Thursday for his bad behaviour during his team #39;s stormy Champions League match with Werder Bremen and said he was prepared to suffer the consequences of his actions.


Hamm cements her legacy

She began her career as Mia Hamm, and ended it as Mia Garciaparra, wearing the last name of her shortstop husband on the back of her jersey for the first time during the second half of her final match on Wednesday night.


Amazon UK Launching DVD Rental Service (Reuters)

Reuters - The UK Web site of\Amazon.com Inc.  is launching a DVD rental service, the\online retailer's first foray into a market pioneered by U.S.-\based Netflix. Inc.


Analysis: Will Subscriptions Drown Out iTunes? (MacCentral)

MacCentral - It wasn't hard to figure out which company was on the minds of most of the attendees at the Music 2.0 conference in Los Angeles Wednesday. Whether representing record labels or online retailers, speakers at the digital music confab couldn't praise Apple enough for the success enjoyed by the company's iTunes Music Store -- that is, when those same speakers weren't predicting the store would soon tumble from its spot at the head of the online music market.


HP Embraces Open Source as Well as Linux (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - HP's worldwide director of Linux marketing sees HP embracing open-source software and exploring the Linux desktop.


McDonald Takes One-Shot Lead at Dunhill (AP)

AP - Bruce McDonald of Zimbabwe shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to take a one-shot lead over South Africa's Ernie Els at the PGA European Tour's season-opening Dunhill Championship.


Priest Holmes Placed on Injured Reserve

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sports Network) - Kansas City Chiefs  running back Priest Holmes will miss the remainder of the  season after being placed on injured reserve Thursday.


Oil Chemical Cleared of Damaging N.Sea Fish-Study (Reuters)

Reuters - Water spilled into the North Sea from\offshore oil and gas drilling is less of a threat to fish than\previously thought, a Norwegian study showed on Thursday.


Who's Left From Bush's First-Term Cabinet (AP)

AP - A look at the six people in President Bush's 15-member Cabinet who will remain in the administration in the second term:


Iraq's Neighbors Get  #36;2.9 Billion for Clean-Up (Reuters)

Reuters - The United Nations approved paying  #36;2.9\billion to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on Thursday for\environmental projects to clean up oil lakes and other\pollution from Iraq's 1990-1991 occupation of Kuwait, a\spokesman said.


Angry Forest Workers Cut Off Toe of Italy (Reuters)

Reuters - Angry forest service workers blocked\highways, halted trains and forced an airport to shut down on\Thursday, effectively cutting off the southern toe of Italy in\a protest against spending cuts that could cost hundreds of\jobs. The demonstrations across Calabria, the region that makes\up the tip of the Italian boot, are the latest by state sector\workers upset by the belt-tightening 2005 budget and follows a\general strike last week.


'Alternative Nobels' Awarded in Sweden (AP)

AP - The winners of this year's Right Livelihood Awards  #151; dubbed the "alternative Nobels"  #151; received their prizes Thursday from Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in a ceremony at parliament.


quot;Shrek 3 quot; Swamped Until 2007

Bad news for Shrek fans--a certain green ogre will not be emerging from his swamp anytime in the near future. On the heels of Pixar and Disney #39;s decision to push back the release of Cars from


IBM Could Lose Half Its PC Prospects To Dell, HP

Almost half of the US enterprises who were IBM PC prospects said that they #39;re ready to consider Dell or HP now that the Armonk, NY-based giant is dumping its desktop and laptop business, a research firm reported Thursday.


Update 4: GM Europe Offers Generous Buyouts in Deal

General Motors Corp. offered German workers generous buyouts Thursday to pave the way for up to 12,000 job cuts in Europe, where the world #39;s largest automaker is struggling to end years of losses amid fierce competition and weak demand.


Harley-Davidson CEO dismounts

CHICAGO - Harley-Davidson Inc. Chief Executive Jeffrey Bleustein will retire from his CEO post effective April 30 and be replaced by Chief Financial Officer James Ziemer, the motorcycle maker said Thursday.


France Sells Half Its Holding in Air France-KLM (Update12)

France reduced its stake in Air France-KLM Group, Europe #39;s biggest airline, by more than half, taking advantage of the carrier #39;s rising stock to pay off debt.


Update 2: China Aviation Oil Chief Faces Police

Police questioned the suspended chief of China Aviation Oil #39;s Singapore unit for a second day Thursday as a probe continued into trading losses of more than half a billion dollars by China #39;s largest jet fuel buyer.


Update 1: Altera, Xilinx Warnings Slam Sector

Shares of chip makers sank in Thursday trading after two US firms lowered their quarterly sales expectations, but the sector saw some relief after National Semiconductor Corp.


Boeing Gets \$4.1B Order From Singapore

Aerospace giant Boeing Co. on Thursday said it finalized a \$4.1 billion order from Singapore Airlines Ltd. for 18 of its 777-300 extended-range jetliners, following through on an initial agreement between the two companies in August.


Baxter Ends Flu Vaccine Trial; Cites Side Effects

Troubled hospital products maker Baxter International Inc. on Thursday said it halted a late-stage European trial of its experimental flu vaccine because of higher-than-expected rates of fever.


Update 4: Hyatt Purchasing AmeriSuites in \$600M Deal

Hyatt Corp. disclosed plans Thursday to buy the 143-hotel AmeriSuites chain in an estimated \$600 million-plus deal that analysts said makes the luxury hotel company more of a well-rounded rival to much bigger Marriott International Inc.


Clemens Leaning Toward Retirement (AP)

AP - Right now, Roger Clemens is leaning toward retirement. Fortunately for his Houston Astros, he's still making up his mind.


Ohio State Bans Postseason Basketball (AP)

AP - Ohio State imposed a one-year ban on postseason play by its men's basketball team in response to  #36;6,000 the university said former coach Jim O'Brien gave a recruit who never played for the school.


Bettis, Martin May Hit Milestone Together (AP)

AP - Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis have the opportunity to go over 13,000 career yards rushing in the same game when Bettis and the Pittsburgh Steelers play Martin and the New York Jets in a big AFC matchup Sunday.


Disney to go with Blu-ray next-gen DVD

The battle for supremacy in the realm of the next-generation DVD heated up Thursday as The Walt Disney Co. announced that it will distribute its features on the Blu-ray format.


Nintendo zaps handheld video game shortage

com December 9, 2004, 9:37 AM PT. Video game systems maker Nintendo said it will increase North American shipments of its popular DS handheld by 40 percent in order to address a shortage of the devices.


Mysterious Tremors May Portend California Quakes

Low-pitched rumbles from deep under California #39;s San Andreas fault may offer a way to predict future earthquakes, US geologists said on Thursday.


Panel Nixes NASA #39;s Hubble Fix

NASA #39;s plan to send a robot to do an astronaut #39;s job is too expensive, technically risky and too time-consuming to develop, said a scientific panel that


Amazon has launched its DVD Rental Service in the UK

Amazon.com announced to today that they have launched their DVD Rentals service for its UK customers. The service offers to plans right now.


Probably the simplest phishing trick in the world

Many popular browsers are affected by a vulnerability that makes it easy to spoof the content of websites, security firm Secunia warns.


A Favorite Emerges

A company with close ties to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is a leading candidate for a contract to help plan Washington's new stadium.


Food running so low aboard station that crew ordered to cut back <b>...</b>

Food is running so low aboard the international space station that flight controllers have instructed the two crewmen to cut back on calories, at least until a Russian supply ship arrives in a little over two weeks.


Huawei wins 3G contract from Telfort

Huawei Technologies, China #39;s leading telecommunications equipment maker, will build a third-generation network for Telfort, the Dutch mobile operator, its first such contract in Europe.


Kazaa talked to record firms about music swaps - court

SYDNEY: Kazaa, the world #39;s most popular internet file-swapping system, told a court yesterday it was worried about users exchanging unauthorised files and held talks with record companies in the United States about the problem.


AMD releases details of 90 nm Opterons, multicore chips

AMD quietly published first specs of the first 90 nm Opteron processors and talked about Opterons with up to eight cores during a conference with analysts.


Shaq, McGrady pace NBA best-seller list (AFP)

AFP - Shaquille O'Neal's new Miami Heat uniform is the most popular selling replica jersey among all National Basketball Association players, the league announced.


How the British GP was saved

The British Grand Prix has been confirmed with a five-year deal between the British Racing Drivers #39; Club - owner of the Silverstone circuit - and F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.


McDonald takes one-shot lead over Els in Dunhill Championship

Bruce McDonald of Zimbabwe shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to take a one-shot lead over South Africa #39;s Ernie Els at the PGA European Tour #39;s season-opening Dunhill Championship.


Black Caps duo cleared to play Australia

BRISBANE: Brendon McCullum and Scott Styris were last night forgiven for expressing pent-up frustration at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night and cleared to play the Chappell-Hadlee


Hughes picks up where he left off at Masters

Play has begun in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale in Melbourne with around half the field of 120 players completing their first rounds.


NHL-NHLPA talks break down in Toronto

At about 3:20 pm, the NHL Players #39; Association left the building and the negotiations ended. They met for about four hours, apparently breaking for lunch during that time.


Holmes hurt knee against the Bucs

The Kansas City Chiefs put running back Priest Holmes on the injured reserve list with an injured knee Thursday.  quot;Priest Holmes is making steady progress on the rehabilitation of his right knee, quot; team president Carl Peterson said.


Arizona sends a message of hope with Glaus signing

The stewards of the Diamondbacks kept saying in recent months that they intend to field a contending team in 2005. It #39;s just been a little hard to hear them.


Buckeyes won #39;t play in NCAA or NIT tourneys

COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio State has sanctioned its men #39;s basketball team, barring the Buckeyes from playing in the NCAA or NIT tournaments this season.


Four finalists selected in bids for 2009 Super Bowl

Atlanta, Houston, Miami and Tampa, Fla., were selected as the four finalists for the 2009 Super Bowl. The four were recommended by a committee of owners at a meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday.


Arizona Signs Glaus

All-Star third baseman Troy Glaus agrees to a four-year, \$45 million contract with the Diamondbacks.


Powell Criticizes Some European Allies on Iraq

In a fresh sign of lingering tensions over the Iraq war, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Thursday rapped European allies who declined to assist a NATO-led Iraq training


Sharon Wins Vote to Rescue Gaza Pullout

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon speaks to reporters after casting his ballot at the Likud party meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday Dec.9, 2004.


US denies push to oust Annan

The Bush administration is not seeking to push UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan out of office over an investigation into the world body #39;s handling of the Iraq oil-for-food program, the US ambassador to the United Nations has said.


PM to Rumsfeld: we can do a lot more if Pak builds on trust

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 9: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that India was ready to do more in taking forward the peace process with Pakistan if President Musharraf were to stick to his commitment on checking cross


Nobel peace laureate: Struggle for peace, environmental <b>...</b>

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai defended her selection as the first environmentalist to win the prestigious award, saying Thursday it would help others understand that the struggle for peace begins with protecting the


Only invitation entitles observers to Zimbabwe #39;s parliamentary <b>...</b>

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reiterated on Thursday that foreign observers to next year #39;s parliamentary election will come in strictly on the basis of invitation.


Berlusconi says he won #39;t get convicted

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he is confident a court will not convict him on charges of bribing judges.  quot;I don #39;t think there will be a conviction, quot; he said at the presentation


Mortar attack wounds Iraqi guards

Eight Iraqi National Guard members have been wounded in a mortar attack on their base in Baghdad, police said. Police said five mortars landed on the base in the al-Waziriya neighborhood of the capital on Thursday.


Peterson Could Break New Heisman Ground (AP)

AP - Adrian Peterson's arrival at Oklahoma was accompanied by impossible expectations. Before he even stepped on a practice field, he was hyped as one of the nation's best runners who would carry the Sooners to greatness.


Ohio St. Extends Matta's Contract, Bans Postseason Play

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Ohio State athletic  director Andy Geiger announced a one-year contract extension  for men's head basketball coach Thad Matta as a direct result  of the school imposing a ban on postseason play for 2004-05.


Official: OPEC to Cut Production Next Year

OPEC will cut back on oil production early next year in a bid to stave off a further decline in the world price, Kuwait's oil minister said Thursday.


Yukos Subsidiary Tomskneft Gets \$114 Million Tax Bill

Russian authorities have assessed a new tax claim for \$114 million on one of Yukos' smaller subsidiaries, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday, in the latest legal assault against the embattled Russian oil giant.


Mexico Seeks to Clean Up Shoddy Rights Record

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government plans sweeping  reforms to end rampant human rights violations, but experts  complain the plan lacks the teeth to stop police torture and  other abuses.


Ecuador judges' lock-in protest

Supreme Court judges in Ecuador lock themselves inside their offices in protest at a decision to sack them.


Bush vows action over troops' kit

President Bush says claims that US troops going to Iraq have  poor armour protection are being addressed.


Guitarist killer's motive unknown

US police say they still have no idea why a gunman shot and killed guitarist Darrell Abbott and three others at a rock concert.


A Bit of Self-Promotion

Worldwide Restaurant Concepts sounds like a company that is putting itself up for sale.


Hollywood, But Holly Shouldn't

Hollywood Entertainment's board wants shareholders to accept the lowest buyout offer. That's called negotiating?


Intel: The Return of Stuart Smalley

Intel smiles and proclaims all is well. Or is it a daily affirmation designed to keep angry investors at bay?


Firefighter Killed in Iraq Is Recalled as a Hero

Sgt. Christian Engeldrum, a New York firefighter who responded to the World Trade Center attack and died in Iraq, was mourned today in the Bronx.


Rio Fights Rampant Street Crime as Tourists Fly In

 By Andrei Khalip

 RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Police armed with riflesand wearing flak jackets manned checkpoints across Rio deJaneiro on Thursday to prevent muggings and other violence astourists flocked to the ocean city for the holiday season.


'Alternative Nobels' Awarded in Sweden

The winners of this year's Right Livelihood Awards - dubbed the "alternative Nobels" - received their prizes Thursday from Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in a ceremony at parliament.


Consumer Reports Adds Drugs to Price Comparison (Reuters)

Reuters - Consumer Reports magazine, best\known for comparing the prices and performance of cars,\televisions and washing machines, is adding drugs to its\coverage to help Americans save money on their health care.


America West: Will Not Bid for ATA (Reuters)

Reuters - America West Holdings Corp.  on\Thursday said it would not bid for assets of bankrupt carrier\ATA Airlines, saying the value does not justify the cost.


Athlete's Foot Seeks Bankruptcy Protection (AP)

AP - Sneaker retailer Athlete's Foot Stores LLC filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition Thursday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, according to court papers.


Consumer Reports Adds Drugs to Price Comparison

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer Reports magazine, best  known for comparing the prices and performance of cars,  televisions and washing machines, is adding drugs to its  coverage to help Americans save money on their health care.


Stocks Rise on Sprint/Nextel Merger Talk

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday  as investors hoping for a year-end rally bought shares.


Toll Brothers Profit Nearly Doubles

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toll Brothers Inc. TOL.N on Thursday  said quarterly profit nearly doubled and raised its outlook for  the new fiscal year, citing strong demand for its luxury homes.


National Semi Quarterly Profit Rises

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - National Semiconductor Corp.  NSM.N, a maker of chips used to manage power consumption in  electronics, on Thursday said quarterly profit rose, helped by  a one-time gain and a tax benefit, and it forecast a  smaller-than-usual sales decline in the current quarter.


Report: Robotic Hubble Mission Likely to Fail

Description: NASA is considering an unprecedented robotic mission to save the Hubble Space telescope. But a final report from the National Academy of Sciences says the robotic mission probably won #39;t be ready on time to save the telescope.


Is Intel Too Optimistic?

Plus, Amazon's British invasion, it's showtime for Martha, and GM's desperation gets noisier.


Ford Motor Co. announces changing of the guard

DETROIT (AFP) - The Ford Motor Co. announced that two company veterans who were instrumental in the company #39;s turnaround will retire from the company in February.


PalmSource Buy Yields New OS

December 9, 2004 - PalmSource Inc. has purchased China MobileSoft Ltd., Nanjing, a vendor of mobile phone software and operating systems.


ONE BILLION CHILDREN AT RISK

One billion children - half the world #39;s population of children - suffer from poverty, conflict, HIV and AIDS, according to the United Nations child rights organisation.


Stocks Rally, Sprint/Nextel Talk Helps

Stocks rose on Thursday as investors bet on a year-end rally, while talk of a possible merger by telecommunications companies Sprint and Nextel and upbeat earnings from chip maker National Semiconductor Corp.


Baxter shelves flu vaccine test

In a setback for flu vaccine development, Deerfield-based Baxter International Inc. said today it has suspended enrollment in a late-stage European trial for a cell-based flu vaccine.


Stocks Flat; Higher Oil Limits Gains

US stocks were little changed on Thursday as an upbeat earnings report from chip maker National Semiconductor Corp. (NSM) sparked some buying, but higher oil prices limited gains.


Are you Chicken? Genome study shows we share half their genes!

According to a recent study, a Chicken and a Human share half of their genes. Although the chicken genome contains considerably less DNA than the human genome, it has about the same number of genes.


Amazon #39;s British Invasion

The moment that DVD rental firms have been dreading is apparently close at hand. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) is launching a DVD rental service in the United Kingdom, beating Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) -- now officially a rival -- to the punch.


Industry Leaders Partner With Oracle to Support First True <b>...</b>

OPENWORLD, SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) today announced evidence of strong support for its content management offering through partnerships with leading technology


Siemens Clocks Record Speed in Wireless Race

quot;There #39;s a whole lot of factors that impact statements on speed, and the companies never include them. How far was it transmitted?


Home Theater Maker Kaleidescape Hit with Copyright Suit

Gartner #39;s research indicates that US consumers have certain expectations as to what fair use really is.  quot;When we #39;ve surveyed teens and adults, we #39;ve found that at least 60 percent of both groups


Food running low aboard station; Crew ordered to cut calories

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The crew of the international space station has been ordered to cut calories because the food supply is running low.


Gerrard playing for his future

Steven Gerrard #39;s thunderous volley against Olimpiakos Piraeus may have secured Liverpool #39;s progress in the lucrative and prestigious UEFA Champions League, but it also virtually ensured the skipper #39;s Anfield exit during the summer transfer window.


Attention to detail makes Manning great

It #39;s very easy to reel off the options Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has at his disposal. Soon-to-be free-agent WRs Marvin Harrison and Brandon Stokley, RB Edgerrin James, and TEs Dallas


D-Backs get Glaus

PHOENIX The Arizona Diamondbacks have worked out a four-year deal with third baseman Troy Glaus. The 2002 World Series MVP hit just .251 with 18 homers and 42 RBI #39;s in 58 games this year, missing much of the season due to shoulder surgery.


Sharon Wins Key Vote on Alliance for Gaza Plan

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s Likud party agreed on Thursday to a possible alliance with opposition Labour in a vote that averted a snap election and strengthened his Gaza withdrawal plan.


North Jersey Media Group

A SMALL but loud chorus of conservative voices is calling for the resignation of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. They say he is tainted by the UN oil-for-food scandal and should step down.


DreamWorks Shares Dip on  #39;Shrek #39; Delay

Shares of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. dropped 6 percent Thursday after the Hollywood studio told Wall Street it will push back the release of its next  quot;Shrek quot; movie until the summer of 2007.


Harley-Davidson CEO to retire in April

Jeffrey Bleustein, Harley-Davidson Co. chief executive officer, is retiring in April after 30 years with the company. Bleustein, 65, announced his retirement this afternoon at a company board meeting.


Baxter puts flu vaccine tests on hold

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Medical products maker Baxter International Inc. said Thursday it suspended flu vaccine testing being conducted in Europe after more participants than expected came down with mild fevers.


Mystery tremors may portend California quakes

deeper than most quakes. Some began just before a relatively large quake last September, they report in this week #39;s issue of the.


Oracle boosts content management in the enterprise

As expected, the company unveiled Files 10g, part of the Oracle Collaboration Suite product line, at the OpenWorld user conference here.


Space crew  #39;using up food supply #39;

It seems someone on the International Space Station has been super-sizing their meals: food is running so low that evacuation has been considered.


Bracewell sceptical about pitch

New Zealand coach John Bracewell is sceptical about the preparation of the pitch for the Chappell-Hadlee Series decider, suggesting the Australians want to neutralise Black Caps spinner, Daniel Vettori.


UPDATE 1-Tuncay hat-trick sinks Manchester United

Tuncay Sanli scored a classy second-half hat-trick to earn Fenerbahce a 3-0 win over a depleted Manchester United team in their final Champions League Group D match on Wednesday.


Country lags behind in saving  #39;children from deprivation #39;

The country representative of the United Nations Children #39;s Fund (UNICEF), Morten Giersing, sought cooperation Thursday from the rich of the society for the wellbeing of the children.


US welcomes Japan #39;s decision to extend forces in Iraq

The United States welcomed on Thursday Japan #39;s decision to extend the deployment of its forces in Iraq for an additional 12 months.


Shiite Groups Unite to Run in Iraq Elections Next Month

Iraq #39;s leading Shiite political groups formally announced today that they had formed an alliance to run in the national elections set for late January, saying their


Harley CEO Taking Off

You could say it #39;s been quite a ride for Harley-Davidson #39;s (HDI:NYSE - news - research) Jeffrey L. Bleustein. The motorcycle company said Thursday that Bleustein, 65, will retire as CEO, effective April 30, but continue as chairman.


America West: Will Not Bid for ATA

America West Holdings Corp. (AWA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it would not bid for assets of bankrupt carrier ATA Airlines, saying the value does not justify the cost.


Amazon.com Begins DVD Rental Service on UK Site (Update2)

Amazon.com Inc., the world #39;s biggest Internet retailer, began offering a DVD-rental service in the UK that will probably increase traffic on its site and could compete with Netflix Inc.


Banks, Law Agencies Team Up To Fight Phishing

Digital PhishNet is the latest effort to share information that leads to immediate action against phishers. By Thomas Claburn. A group of businesses and law-enforcement agencies Wednesday announced the establishment


Summary: Bush Has Full Agenda for January (AP)

AP - FIRST ON TAP: President Bush was meeting Monday with nine new senators and 41 new representatives joining the 109th Congress in a session that a spokesman said was aimed at "coming together."


Lycos email scam hides nasty Trojan

A malicious email purporting to offer a link to download Lycos #39; controversial spam busting screensaver is infecting users with a Trojan - proving that the fall out from the botched and now ditched service will continue to cause users pain.


Frozen heavenly body hints at a warm heart

The outer solar system may not be a cemetery full of dead, frozen bodies, suggest new observations of a large object called Quaoar.


Amazon adds DVD rental service to UK store

Amazon.co.uk has added a rental service to its DVD tab allowing customers to rent six DVDs a month for 9.99 or four DVDs for 7.99 additionally rental members will save an extra 10 per cent off of Amazons DVD prices.


OPEC may cut oil output

OPEC oil producers have said they will rein in oversupply to bolster falling prices and that the cartel would have to reduce output quotas early next year.


Icahn Blasts Mylan Board on King Deal

Veteran financier Carl Icahn said it was  quot;reprehensible and insulting quot; that the board of drug maker Mylan Laboratories Inc.


Powell Bids Nostalgic Farewell to NATO (Reuters)

Reuters - Secretary of State Colin Powell bid a\nostalgic farewell on Thursday to the NATO Western security\alliance he first served as platoon commander facing down the\Soviet army 46 years ago.


Correction: Morehead-St-Kentucky Story (AP)

AP - In a Dec. 8 story about the Morehead State-Kentucky basketball game, The Associated Press reported erroneously that in a 71-40 loss, Morehead State scored its fewest points in a game since early in the 1978-79 season, when the Eagles had 37 in a loss to Indiana. Morehead State scored 32 points in a 1995 loss to Kentucky.


Australia training its spies in Middle East: espionage chief (AFP)

AFP - Australia is sending its domestic intelligence agents to the Middle East for specialist training as part of a major effort to boost the fight against terrorism, the head of the country's main spy agency said.


Israel's Sharon Wins Crucial Likud Vote -Official

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's  Likud party voted on Thursday in favor of his bid to bring the  opposition Labour party into government, officials said.


Rio Fights Rampant Street Crime as Tourists Fly In

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Police armed with rifles  and wearing flak jackets manned checkpoints across Rio de  Janeiro on Thursday to prevent muggings and other violence as  tourists flocked to the ocean city for the holiday season.


Crude oil prices rise on concern about less OPEC output

Crude oil prices rose for the second day Thursday as traders worries that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) might trim excess oil output.


Baxter pulls flu vaccine from British test

Baxter International has pulled its flu vaccine from a clinical trial in Britain because of side effects. Baxter, of Deerfield, Ill.


Harley-Davidson CEO Bleustein to Retire

Harley-Davidson Inc. on Thursday said Jeffrey L. Bleustein will retire from his position as chief executive on April 30 after 30 years at the company.


Oracle Rolls Out Collaboration Suite 10g

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


Most Browsers Vulnerable to Pop-Up Attack

Five advisories issued by security firm Secunia warn that a pop-up attack could expose users to phishing scams on most Web browsers.


EU safer internet plans approved

The EU Council of Ministers has today approved plans for Safer Internet Plus - a programme designed to make the internet safer for children by tackling illegal, unwanted and harmful content -ncluding spam  - to promote awareness.


Klitschko-Williams: A Preview.

Suddenly, everyone wants to know about Danny Williams. Hypocrisy is a harsh term to level at anyone, but its like the Arsenal football shirt paraded around by Williams in Las Vegas, with its precision creases


Els in Dunhill contention

South African Ernie Els fired a bogey free - five under par 67 to leave him one shot off the lead in the Dunhill Championships. The World number three teed off at 0645 local time starting from the ninth, but


Don #39;t look back

o Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says his sport must get serious about steroid use. And now the players #39;union says it #39;s ready to talk about a testing plan.


Zimbabwe okays electoral reforms

ZIMBABWE #39;S ruling party used its parliamentary majority today to pass electoral reforms the opposition said did not go far enough, and ban foreign-funded rights groups, a move critics say would stifle dissent.


Money Funds Rose in Latest Week (AP)

AP - Assets of the nation's retail money market mutual funds rose by  #36;7.25 billion in the latest week to  #36;832.87 billion, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday.


U.N.: Mobile Phones Gaining Revenue (AP)

AP - Mobile phones are expected to generate greater revenue this year than traditional land lines with the nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America driving growth, a U.N. agency said Thursday.


Militant Chief Wounded in Israeli Strike in Gaza (Reuters)

Reuters - A militant leader survived an Israeli\missile strike on his car in Gaza on Thursday in Israel's first\assassination attempt in the Palestinian territories since\Yasser Arafat died in a Paris hospital.


Illicit Cameraphone Clicks Could Mean Jail (AP)

AP - Camera phones may make great Christmas gifts, but people better not use them for peeping-Tom photos on federal property.


Opec prepares to support oil price by enforcing quotas

OPEC oil ministers yesterday backed steps to end overproduction when members of the oil cartel meet in Cairo today. Saudi Arabia and others were authorised to open the taps in August as


France to sell 700m holding in airline

A 700 million (484 million) stake in Air France-KLM was put up for sale by the French Government yesterday, as part of an effort to more than halve its holding in the carrier to below 20 per cent.


Proctor  amp; Gamble, National Semiconductor move market higher

By George Chamberlin , Daily Transcript Financial Correspondent. Stocks moved higher late in the session on Thursday after Procter  amp; Gamble (NYSE: PG) released a positive forecast for sales and profits.


GPS Used to Track Teens' Driving (AP)

AP - Retired Gen. Tommy Franks has signed on to be the spokesman for a company that uses global positioning system technology in teens' cell phones to let parents know how fast they're driving.


Steelers' Burress to Miss Game With Jets (AP)

AP - Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Jets after missing practice with a sore hamstring Thursday, a day after he felt confident he was close to returning.


Samsung ships samples of world #39;s first 512Mb GDDR3

South Korean semiconductor maker Samsung Electronics has begun shipping the world #39;s first 512-megabit (Mb) GDDR3 memory device, a graphics double-data-rate synchronous DRAM for graphics card makers and electronic game console manufacturers.


T-Mobile USA Sees High-Speed Network 2 Years Off (Reuters)

Reuters - T-Mobile USA, the U.S. wireless unit\of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGn.DE), does not expect to offer\broadband mobile data services for at least the next two years,\its chief executive said on Thursday.


Artest, other suspended players meet with arbitrator; NBA stays <b>...</b>

An arbitrator heard six hours of testimony Thursday in a grievance hearing that the NBA refused to attend about the Pacers-Pistons brawl-related suspensions issued by commissioner David Stern.


Dress-up day is ratings winner

The four blokes in flowing dresses at the back of the eighth hole certainly didn #39;t think so. They were among the first arrivals yesterday to catch the action at Huntingdale, adding their own bit of colour


2006 World Cup: Japan drawn with North Korea in qualifiers

KUALA LUMPUR: Japan are faced with the task of having to travel to North Korea after being handed a tricky draw in the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup finals here Thursday.


Researcher Warns Male Laptop Users of Infertility Risk (PC World)

PC World - Heat generated by notebook use may harm reproductive health, study says.


Atkins Gets Tech-Savvy to Reach More Dieters (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. dieters will soon be able to\count their carbs on mobile phones, the company behind the\Atkins Diet said on Thursday.


US weapons for Pakistan will hurt peace talks: India

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday expressed concern over US arms sales to Pakistan, saying the India-Pakistan composite dialogue process poised at a sensitive juncture would be seriously affected.


IBM Halts Pension Plan for New Hires (Reuters)

Reuters - IBM  will offer future\employees a 401(k) pension plan instead of a fixed pension, the\company said on Thursday, backing away from a controversial\policy that reduced retirement payouts and stirred employee\ire.


President Prays at Menorah Lighting (AP)

AP - At a menorah-lighting ceremony Thursday on the third night of Hanukkah, President Bush prayed for the safety and quick return of U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq.


Space Telescopes Spy Dusty Debris of Planets (Reuters)

Reuters - Planet-building is dusty work, and\now two space telescopes have captured images of cosmic\construction materials: disks of dust circling stars about the\same size as our sun.


Mysterious Tremors May Portend California Quakes (Reuters)

Reuters - Low-pitched rumbles from deep under\California's San Andreas fault may offer a way to predict\future earthquakes, U.S. geologists said on Thursday.


EU Agrees Deal on Punishing Ship Pollution (Reuters)

Reuters - EU member states backed tough measures\against ships polluting European waters on Thursday to try to\head off any repetition of a disaster in 2002 that caused one\of Europe's worst oil slicks.


NY Bird Lovers Want Pale Male's Nest Restored (Reuters)

Reuters - The abrupt removal of the nest\belonging to Pale Male, a famous red-tailed hawk who lived on a\tony Manhattan apartment building, had bird lovers up in arms\on Thursday and demanding his home be restored.


OPEC Thwarts Climate Aid for Poor Nations - WWF (Reuters)

Reuters - OPEC nations and Saudi\Arabia in particular are standing in the way of getting\financial help to developing countries to cope with global\warming, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on Thursday.


Food Running Low Aboard Space Station (AP)

AP - Food is running so low aboard the international space station that the two crewmen have been instructed to cut back on calories, at least until a Russian supply ship arrives in a little over two weeks, NASA said Thursday.


Moral clarity blurs in Darfur crisis

Talks between Sudan's government and two rebel groups to resolve the nearly two-year battle resume Friday.


Japan beefs up its defense stance

With an eye to North Korea and China, Prime Minister Koizumi's Cabinet is set to pass new guidelines.


Ukraine's presidential campaign, Part II: a cleaner run?

A flood of foreign observers is expected for the Dec. 26 rerun of the presidential vote.


Why does Asia get all the cool stuff first?

Also: Congress OKs private spaceflight bill. News.com Extra


Offshoring gains momentum Down Under

New report on offshoring points to greater acceptance among Australians.


Game for a new tune?

It's not hip-hop. It's blip-pop. That's what the Gameboyzz Orchestra Project calls the sounds it squeezes out of a half dozen Game Boy consoles. Missing Links


Visiting Indian delegation gets earful

Visiting Indian delegation gets earful from U.S. workers dislocated by outsourcing.


McNealy innovates in trade-show theatrics

Scott McNealy for years has relied on Top 10 lists for comic relief during his tech show keynote speeches, but at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco Wednesday, he tried a new stunt. Missing Links


HDS slides into midrange storage market

Hitachi has released its first all Serial ATA array and has bundled it with switches and network interface cards to create a preconfigured low-to-midrange SAN that competes with products from EMC and IBM.


Novell to support Netline's Open-Xchange Server

Novell Inc. will no longer sell its branded version of SUSE Linux Open-Xchange Server next year and will instead provide its global maintenance and support services to users of Netline Internet Services' flagship Open-Xchange Server.


Tech groups praise parts of intelligence bill

Technology trade groups cheered parts of a comprehensive intelligence reform bill passed by Congress yesterday, but said the government's chief cybersecurity official should have a more prominent position.


Digital PhishNet launched to combat phishing scams

Several major industry players and law enforcement agencies are collaborating in a new effort to respond to the rapidly growing phishing problem.


Researchers warn laptop users of infertility risk

A combination of the heat generated by a laptop and the position of the thighs needed to balance it leads to higher temperatures that can be dangerous to a man's reproductive health.


Oracle boosts content management in the enterprise

Oracle yesterday launched its Files 10g content management software, which is part of the Oracle Collaboration Suite product line.


Q A Part 1: Cisco's John Chambers at company's 20-year mark

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Cisco Systems, and the company's CEO, John Chambers, took the time this week to talk about where his company has been, mistakes it has made and where it's going now.


Mobile phone users double since 2000

Mobile phone subscribers around the globe totaled nearly 1.5 billion by the middle of this year, about one quarter of the world's population, according to the International Telecommunication Union.


French government to cut stake in Air France-KLM

The French government entrusted Thursday two banks, Dutch bank ABN Amro and Societe Generale of France, to place shares on the market for best offers to cut state stake in


IBM Halts Pension Plan for New Hires

IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will offer future employees a 401(k) pension plan instead of a fixed pension, the company said on Thursday, backing away from


Harley Boss To Retire

According to CBS Marketwatch, Harley-Davidson Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bleustein said today that he will hand over chief-executive duties to CFO James Ziemer on April 30, 2005.


Vulnerability allows scammers to hijack pop-ups

Security researchers warned today of a vulnerability in most Web browsers that could allow scammers to launch phishing attacks from pop-up windows on trusted Web sites.


IBM looks to keep customers after PC division sale

After agreeing to sell its PC division to China's Lenovo Group, IBM now faces the task of keeping its corporate and government customers from abandoning its standard-setting brand.


More DS Units for Japan

Nintendo will ship 400,000 More DS units for Japan, bringing the total to an impressive 2.8 million by the year #39;s end. Also included is a potentially disturbing but familiar quote from Iwata!


Lycos pulls anti-spam screensaver after virus scare

Lycos Europe has axed the distribution of a controversial screensaver designed to target websites that profit from spam, claiming that the company has made its point.


EU wants to make Internet safe for children

The European Union has launched a 45 million euro (\$60 million) plan to protect children from pornography and racist sites when they surf the Internet.


Gerrard strikes mighty blow

Steven Gerrard #39;s glorious strike against Olympiakos on Wednesday night was so good that Sven-Goran Eriksson watched countless reruns of it in his Soho Square office yesterday.


Cheetham shadows Els

Bruce McDonald, a little-known Zimbabwean, took the first-round lead on 66 in the European Tour #39;s Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club.


Don #39;t count out Tiger just yet

And now for a shipment direct from the Department of Inevitable Results: Tiger Woods, the reinvention. Oh, not the marriage, which some would take to redefine Woods as a man on the grow for


Wasghington to be criticized at UN climate change summit in Buenos <b>...</b>

Over 1500 experts and politicians from 189 countries discuss global warming scenario after Russia ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Bush is the main target of delegates for his anti-ecological policy.


Microsoft readies Windows Server 2003 R2 beta

SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft Corp. has started recruiting testers for the first beta of Windows Server 2003 R2, an update to Windows Server that the vendor plans to ship in October next year.


China's Huawei deploys its first U.S. mobile network

Chinese network equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies is beginning to make inroads into the U.S. mobile telecommunications market about three years after establishing a subsidiary here.


Sprint: No comment on reported Nextel merger talks

WASHINGTON - Rumored merger talks between Sprint and Nextel Communications Thursday were met with a "no comment" from Sprint.
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Microsoft to court: Eolas didn't invent patented tech

WASHINGTON - An appeals court should throw out a half-billion-dollar patent infringement judgment against Microsoft Corp. because a lower court failed to recognize that the Web browsing patent was based on a technology that was not invented by the company awarded the money, a Microsoft lawyer argued Thursday.


Fraud, Feds top concerns as CSOs meet in New York

NEW YORK - The explosive growth in online fraud and the impact of tough new federal regulations were on the minds of information security executives who gathered in New York Tuesday for the second annual CSO Interchange, a gathering of chief security officers (CSOs).


Researcher Warns Male Laptop Users of Infertility Risk

Heat generated by notebook use may harm reproductive health, study says.


Search Engine Inclusion Techniques on Google   \\Over the years of its existence Google gained a well-deserved reputation as the top choice for internet users. Providing a comprehensive coverage of the web and returning searched queries with great relevancy in less than a second, Google certainly is the internet rsquo;s ...


Google Making Nearly \$.10 on Every Search Query\\John Battelle's Search Blog picked this up the other day from a blogger who dissected Google's public revenue records to come to the conclusion that Google earns about \$.09 per every search query - a hefty return. With the average cost per click ...


How Web Design Can Affect Search Engine Rankings\\Uniquely built web sites can create unique issues when being promoted on the search engines. From a basic 3 page brochure site to a corporate site with hundreds of dynamically generated pages, every web site needs to have certain design aspects in order ...


First US commercial flight to Vietnam since fall of Saigon takes <b>...</b>

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - A United Airlines jumbo jet took off from San Francisco at the start of the historic first US commercial flight to Vietnam since the fall of Saigon nearly 30 years ago.


Jobless Claims Up, Import Prices Gain

US jobless claims rose unexpectedly last week in more worrying news for the labor market, government data showed on Thursday, while other indicators offered more positive signals for the economy.


Oracle #39;s Ellison taunts 49ers owners

Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Larry Ellison aimed his famously barbed tongue outside the technology industry Wednesday, taunting the owners of the San Francisco 49ers for refusing to sell the  quot;worst team in football.


Wireless Internet Siemens Sets Wireless Data Speed Record

In order to achieve the speed of one gigabit per second, Siemens combined an  quot;intelligent antenna system quot; consisting of three transmitting and four receiving antennas with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.


EU Wants to Make Internet Safe for Children

The European Union has launched a 45 million euro (\$60 million) plan to protect children from pornography and racist sites when they surf the Internet.


Charges Have Been Filed In NBA Brawl

It #39;s official, the notorious brawl last month between the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and some fans has resulted in criminal charges.


Buckeyes screwed over by postseason ban

Members of the new Ohio State basketball staff have worked on fixing their current team for nearly six months. From the outside, it hasn #39;t seemed that long, but it probably felt like a year or more to the


Asian Stocks Fall in US, Led by Technology Shares; HDFC Drops

Asian stocks fell in US trading after Xilinx Inc. and Altera Corp., the largest makers of programmable computer chips, cut their sales forecasts.


US airline launches first commerical flight to Vietnam since war

America #39;s United Airlines has launched the first daily flight service to Vietnam from the United States since 1975. The flight represents the first such service by an American air carrier since the end of


Eagles' Westbrook Turning Into Elite Back (AP)

AP - No matter how Brian Westbrook gets the ball, he's a threat to score every time he touches it.


Space Diet: Space Station Crew Ordered To Cut Calories

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The crew of the international space station has been ordered to cut calories because the food supply is running low.


Denver's Rodney White Suspended by NBA (AP)

AP - Denver Nuggets forward Rodney White was suspended without pay for one game by the NBA on Thursday for pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a weapon.


Wizards go up for sale

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Lamar Hunt appears ready to get out of Major League Soccer and sever ties with the Kansas City Wizards.


Moral clarity blurs in Darfur crisis

Talks between Sudan #39;s government and two rebel groups to resolve the nearly two-year battle resume Friday. By Abraham McLaughlin  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Same-sex couples across Canada rejoice at Supreme Court ruling (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Rev. Barbara McDowall and her wife, Gail Donnelly, say all they ever wanted was the right to walk down the aisle just like any other couple in love.


Jobless Claims Up, Import Prices Gain

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. jobless claims rose  unexpectedly last week in more worrying news for the labor  market, government data showed on Thursday, while other  indicators offered more positive signals for the economy.


US Air Needs Cuts to Entice Investors

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - US Airways Group Inc. probably  will need more cost cuts or a boost in revenue to attract the  \$250 million in equity it says it needs to leave bankruptcy  next year, the company said on Thursday.


Stocks Up Amid Talk of Sprint/Nextel Deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday as investors  bet on a year-end rally, while talk of a possible merger by  telecommunications companies Sprint Corp. FON.N and Nextel  Communications Inc. NXTL.O fueled buying.


Vanguard Closes \$5.3 Billion Energy Fund

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Vanguard Group said on Thursday it  has implemented a temporary "cooling-off" closure period for  its \$5.3 billion Energy Fund, effective immediately.


IBM Halts Pension Plan for New Hires

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - IBM IBM.N will offer future  employees a 401(k) pension plan instead of a fixed pension, the  company said on Thursday, backing away from a controversial  policy that reduced retirement payouts and stirred employee  ire.


US Air Needs Cuts to Entice Investors (Reuters)

Reuters - US Airways Group Inc. probably\will need more cost cuts or a boost in revenue to attract the\ #36;250 million in equity it says it needs to leave bankruptcy\next year, the company said on Thursday.


When Picky Analysts Pick (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Back and forth. Back. And forth. No, this isn't baseline tennis. It's the Dow Jones industrial average, which has generally been stuck in a trading range--9000 to 10,500--for the past five years. "While the Fed is as accommodative as it's been since the late 1970s," says Brian Wesbury, chief economist at Griffin, Kubik, Stephens  amp; Thompson, "potential inflation could really knock earnings growth down to single digits." The market might get stuck in a trading range for a few years more.


DreamWorks Animation turns around in 3rd quarter

LOS ANGELES: Animated film studio DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc reported on Wednesday a profit from a year-earlier loss in its first earnings period since the company went public in October.


STOCKS  amp; BONDS Rising Dollar Helps Shares Gain Despite Higher Oil <b>...</b>

By The Associated Press. Investors resumed their December rally yesterday, looking past higher oil prices and focusing instead on building up their portfolios before the end of the year.


US Stocks, Dollar, Oil Rise, Bonds Slip

US stocks rose on investors #39; hopes for a year-end rally, while the dollar eked out gains and oil advanced again on Thursday as OPEC ministers supported supply cuts by applying official output quotas.


AmWest passes up bid to buy bankrupt ATA assets

PHOENIX America West Airlines has backed away from a potential bidding war for bankrupt ATA Airlines, paving the way for AirTran to take over ATA operations.


Oracle CEO: Data Hubs Would Have Prevented 9/11

(12/09/04)Oracle CEO Larry Ellison feels strongly about unified data hubs. In fact, he thinks the biggest terrorist attack in the United States could have been prevented if intelligence officials


Canada needs more efficient financial system: Bank of Canada <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - There is a perception in international financial circles that Canadian markets are the  quot;Wild West quot; and it hurts Canadian companies when they try to raise money abroad, Bank of Canada governor David Dodge said Thursday.


EU competition chief charges into the fray

BRUSSELS Neelie Kroes came out swinging Thursday in her first public appearance as Europe #39;s new competition commissioner, blocking a merger in the energy industry and slapping fines on three chemical companies for running a cartel.


#39;Best #39; ratings a response to rising costs, safety concerns

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- The magazine known for evaluating cars and electronics is setting its sights on finding the best value and quality of prescription drugs on the market.


US Air Needs Cuts to Entice Investors

US Airways Group Inc. probably will need more cost cuts or a boost in revenue to attract the \$250 million in equity it says it needs to leave bankruptcy next year, the company said on Thursday.


PalmSource To Release Linux Version Of Palm OS

After completing their purchase of mobile phone company China MobileSoft, PalmSource indicated a Linux version of their software would soon be available.


Worldwide Technology Nintendo Triples Shipment Forecast

Previous forecasts projected that shipments of Nintendo #39;s new DS handheld would reach 1 million by year end. However, during Thanksgiving week, the company sold half a million of the devices


Universal browser hole a gift for scammers

Security have warned about a new Web browser security hole which could allow scammers to launch phishing attacks from pop-up windows on trusted websites.


Major Vendors Explore Grid Frontiers

While grid computing vendors Sun and IBM are taking the reins of the utility computing market, the competition is collaborating to provide proof-of-concept projects to improve and showcase their services and offerings.


Hughes moves into lead after completing first round

Two-time champion Bradley Hughes of Australia shot an 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead at the Australian Masters on Friday, one day after the opening round was suspended by rain.


Carter out at least two games with Achilles #39; injury)

TORONTO Toronto Raptors guard Vince Carter will miss at least two games because of a strained left Achilles #39; tendon. Carter was injured in the second half in last night #39;s 90-to-86 overtime loss at Detroit.


Govt okays Chittagong matches

The government has advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to go ahead with the matches in Chittagong on the basis of its security teams report, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna announced today.


UPDATE 1-Van der Vaart stripped of Ajax captaincy

Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart was stripped of the Ajax Amsterdam captaincy on Thursday after he refused to play out of position in the Champions League game against Bayern Munich.


Wizards Suspend Kwame Brown

Washington, DC -- Former No. 1 overall pick Kwame Brown has been suspended by the Washington Wizards for conduct detrimental to the team.


White House expresses confidence in embattled Annan

UNITED NATIONS, New York: The Bush administration on Thursday eased the pressure it had been putting on Secretary General Kofi Annan since American calls for his resignation, saying for the first time that it had faith in him and did not want to see him


Despite 6 refusals, NATO will increase Iraq training staff

BRUSSELS The North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed on Thursday to enlarge from 60 to 300 the number of personnel stationed in Baghdad to train Iraqi soldiers, but not before there was a contentious discussion with the foreign ministers of six


Indian sensitivities in mind: Rumsfeld

NEW DELHI: Manmohan said India would address all issues with Pakistan, provided General Pervez Musharraf stuck to his commitment to stop terrorism against India.


IRA Will Disarm Under One Condition

In the final talks of negotiations between the Anglo-Irish drive for a peaceful Northern Ireland the IRA guerrillas said on Thursday that they would never be humiliated by photographing their actual disarmaments.


Explosions Rattle Italian Embassy in Iraq

A number of mortar shells have exploded near the Italian embassy in Baghdad, Defence Minister Antonio Martino said.  quot;Several mortar shells fell about 50 metres from the embassy but there were no Italian victims, quot; he said in Rome on Thursday.


PeopleSoft Stock Nears Peak on Reports (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares of PeopleSoft Inc.\ traded near a one-year high on Thursday after analysts\raised their earnings outlooks for the business software maker,\which continues to fight a  #36;9.2 billion hostile takeover bid by\Oracle Corp. .


Burress Out for Sunday Showdown with Jets

PITTSBURGH (Sports Network) - Steelers wide receiver  Plaxico Burress' injured hamstring will keep him out for a  third straight game when Pittsburgh welcomes the New York Jets  to town Sunday.


Democrats Must Do More for Hispanic Votes (AP)

AP - The Democratic Party has neglected Hispanic voters for a decade and risks severe election losses unless it changes course, Hispanic lawmakers wrote party leaders Thursday.


Heath Miller Wins Mackey Award as Top Tight End

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sports Network) - Heath Miller of Virginia  was named the winner of the John Mackey Award as the nation's  top tight end.


Shrimp Imports Tightened to Save Turtles (AP)

AP - Sea turtles stand to gain protection from accidental killings through a new federal policy announced Thursday to require stricter documentation on imports of shrimp and shrimp products.


A new weapon against 'cell yell'

Ever want to growl "shhhhhh!" to someone who's talking way too loudly on a cell phone? Rather than cause a scene, why not express your sentiments in a card? Missing Links


Mexico's Fox on Warpath Against Congress, City

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Vicente Fox, often criticized as a  paper cowboy for a tame performance in four years as Mexican  president, is now in a showdown with Congress and Mexico City's  popular mayor and at odds with Washington.


Court Orders Record Payout for Guatemala Massacre

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - An international court has  ordered Guatemala to pay a record sum of almost \$8 million in  compensation to survivors of a 1982 army-led massacre of  hundreds of civilians in the country's Maya Indian heartland.


Stocks: Shares rise on National Semiconductor profit

NEW YORK US stocks were little changed Thursday, recovering earlier losses after an upbeat earnings report from the chip maker National Semiconductor sparked some buying.


America West won #39;t bid for ATA

ATA Airlines Inc. #39;s future will fall to one of three bidders Friday while a fourth contender, America West Airlines canceled its buyout interest Thursday.


Sun Capital, TDR Buy HHG Units for 1.03 Bln Pounds (Update3)

Sun Capital Partners Inc. and TDR Capital LLP, private equity buyout firms, agreed to pay 1.03 billion pounds (\$1.98 billion) for HHG Plc #39;s UK-based life insurance units, their first investment in the industry.


Premier splashes out 70m on custard bid

Bird #39;s Custard and Angel Delight have been sold for 70m to Premier Foods, the group which owns Ambrosia rice pudding and Rowntree #39;s jelly.


Nintendo DS Soars

Sales of Nintendos new and controversial, handheld gaming system Nintendo DS are above analysts - and Nintendos -xpectations.


Food supply running low for space station crew

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Food is running so low aboard the international space station the two crewmen have been instructed to cut back on calories, at least until a Russian supply ship arrives in a little over two weeks, NASA said Thursday.


Space Telescopes Spy Dusty Debris of Planets

Planet-building is dusty work, and now two space telescopes have captured images of cosmic construction materials: disks of dust circling stars about the same size as our sun.


Novell tightens Netline partnership

Novell has extended a partnership to sell software for e-mail and other server functions from Netline Internet Service, the companies said Thursday.


iPod buzz reaches fever pitch

The buzz over Apple Computer #39;s next iPod music player has reached a fevered pitch after one web site posted details and a mock up drawing of the new device, which stores


EU Telecoms Council Promotes Safer Internet Use

Safer Internet Plus, the four-year program proposed by the European Commission in March, will have a budget of \$60 million to combat illegal and harmful Web content.


Chelsea refuse to abandon pursuit of 35m Gerrard

STEVEN GERRARD appeared to nail his colours to the Liverpool mast when he inspired his team to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League, but Roman Abramovich is steady in his belief that


Williams vs Klitschko: When A Comet Crashes Into A Tower

09.12.04 - By Janne Romppainen: Unlike many perhaps expected beforehand, in the year 2004 the heavyweight division has given the fans plenty of interesting fights.


Montgomerie, Woods, Furyk in three-way tie

Colin Montgomerie was thrilled to get an invitation from Tiger Woods to play in his year-end tournament with 15 of the best players in golf.


Kent joins Dodgers for two years

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Los Angeles Dodgers landed a dandy Thursday in free-agent infielder Jeff Kent. Kent, 36, agreed to a two-year contract, but financial terms were not disclosed.


English league sets standard for European elite

HAVING produced only one European Cup finalist in the last 19 seasons, England can suddenly claim pre-eminence in the games elite club competition with four teams through to the first knock-out round.


NHLPA #39;s proposal a small step in right direction

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged Thursday that one segment of the latest proposal from the players #39; union was significant, but stressed that much more lies ahead in solving the league #39;s fiscal problems.


NBA skips arbitration hearing on brawl suspensions (AFP)

AFP - National Basketball Association players union leaders met with an arbitrator to have suspensions from a brawl between players and fans reduced but league officials did not participate.


Likud Panel Backs Sharon #39;s Plan for Coalition Government

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won an important victory within his party today that greatly improves the likelihood his faltering government will survive and proceed with a plan


At risk: 1,000,000,000 of the world #39;s children

They are a billion strong. Diseased, malnourished, uneducated, they are a people on the run from wars that take the lives of their brothers and sisters.


Palestinian nonviolence may bring more than weapons did

This would appear to be an appropriate time to discuss the potential for Palestinian nonviolence and its ramifications for Israel.


Sportsview: Soccer Stars Will Be Missed (AP)

AP - Hers was the game that launched a thousand kicks, then tens of thousands, then millions, a rare blend of brains, beauty and hard-nosed grace that redefined what it meant to play like a girl.


Making Over Motorola (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Edward Zander always wanted to be in charge. After 25 years in high technology, including five years as a prominent second banana at Sun Microsystems, Zander got his wish. In January he became chief executive at Motorola, a fallen angel of mobile communications. It used to own the business. It doesn't anymore.


Osmond buys life funds for 1bn

Hugh Osmond, the entrepreneur better known for investing in the food and drink sector, on Thursday night sealed the UK #39;s largest closed life assurance deal with the


Sprint and Nextel merger might work

A possible merger of Nextel Communications, the fifth-ranked wireless carrier in the US, and Sprint, the third-largest, may be winning strategy, given the ferocious competition in the telecommunications industry.


US Airways Needs More Savings To Attract Investors

US Airways probably will need more cost cuts or a boost in revenue to attract the USD\$250 million in equity it says it needs to leave bankruptcy next year, the company said on Thursday.


Bio of outgoing Harley-Davidson Inc. CEO

Education: Bleustein holds a master #39;s degree and doctorate in engineering mechanics from Columbia University and a bachelor #39;s degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University.


How to use multiple iPods with one Apple Mac or Microsoft Windows <b>...</b>

Do you want to use more than one iPod with the same computer? There are a couple of different ways you can do it. Apple has posted an article about how to do so.


Five NBA players among 10 charged with assault

AUBURN HILLS (Michigan): Prosecutors issued assault and battery charges here on Wednesday against five National Basketball Association players and five spectators, with jail time possible for their actions in a November brawl.


McDonnell still spoiling for a fight

IN CASE anyone had forgotten, Jim McDonnell, Danny Williamss trainer, stood up at the last pre-bout press conference here on Wednesday and repeated his


Tiger says children in the near future

Now that he #39;s married, Tiger Woods says it won #39;t be long before he starts a family.  quot;I don #39;t want to be an old father, quot; Woods said Thursday.


Wizards #39; Kwame Brown suspended for one game

The Washington Wizards suspended Kwame Brown for one game Thursday for conduct detrimental to the team. Brown will miss Friday #39;s game against the New York Knicks.


Fergie stands by selection policy

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insists he has no regrets about fielding a second-string side against Fenerbahce last night. Sanli Tuncays second-half hat-trick consigned the Red Devils to a 3-0 defeat


Al Qaeda to Attempt Major Marine Attack -Report

Al Qaeda will attempt an attack on a key maritime target in the next 12 months with potentially devastating economic consequences, UK security experts said on Friday.


Ukraine government back to work as crisis eases (AFP)

AFP - Ukraine's civil servants went back to work for the first time in weeks as the opposition lifted its blockade of government buildings and a political crisis eased following a compromise with the ruling regime.


Shiites List Candidates for Iraq Election (AP)

AP - Under the guidance of Iraq's most powerful Shiite cleric, Shiite parties presented a list Thursday of 228 candidates for next month's parliamentary elections. Minority Sunni Arabs, who had been favored under Saddam Hussein, must now decide whether to join the race or renounce a vote that will help determine the country's future.


Bush manipulated NKorea intelligence like he did in Iraq: US expert (AFP)

AFP - The United States manipulated intelligence on North Korea's nuclear program in a similar fashion to its use of weapons of mass destruction to justify the war on Iraq, a US foreign policy expert said in an article.


Clarkson's budget, gun registry among items up for vote late Thursday (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Parliament was set to vote on pair of thorny government expenses late Thursday: the scandal-plagued gun registry and the Governor General's budget.


Summary Box: No Taxes for Social Security (AP)

AP - NO HIKE: President Bush ruled out raising taxes to finance an overhaul of Social Security to help the system survive an impending wave of retiring baby boomers.


That Certain Look: Animal Magnetism

The Metropolitan Museum's show is a sumptuous assemblage of animal products used to keep humans warm, make them look good and ratchet up their social status.


Russian stocks lose \$10 billion in value

Nearly \$10 billion was wiped off Russian stocks Thursday, the Moscow Times reported. The huge fall was caused by investors #39; fears that a surprise \$158 million tax claim against Russia #39;s No.


Osmond makes 1bn life insurance debut

Hugh Osmond, the pubs-to-pizzas entrepreneur, is to make a dramatic move into Britain #39;s life insurance market by leading a 1billion cash acquisition


America West declines to bid for ATA

America West Holdings Corp., of Phoenix, the parent company of America West Airlines, declined to bid for bankrupt ATA #39;s assets Thursday, America West said.


Artest Testifies About Basketball Brawl (AP)

AP - Ron Artest took the witness stand and described, in his words, one of the worst brawls in NBA history. Teammates Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal and Anthony Johnson did the same, and a union attorney and one of O'Neal's bodyguards also testified.


Space Station Crew Has Limited Food Supply

Astronaut, Leroy Chiao, and his crewmate have eaten through more food than Mission Control anticipated. (NASA). By GINA TREADGOLD.


Cisco snags routing start-up

Cisco systems announced on Thursday that it has finalized a definitive agreement to acquire privately held BCN Systems. Cisco had been an investor in the Santa Clara, Calif.


More top sports news

THE first pro opponent of Danny Williams believes the Brixton Bomber will cut 6ft 7in Vitali Klitschko down to size to be WBC heavyweight champion, writes STEVE BRENNER.