Panel Questions Hubble Mission

A leading panel of experts handed NASA #39;s leadership a sharp reproof today, concluding that the space shuttle should be used to service the Hubble Space Telescope and can do the job without posing unacceptable risks to shuttle astronauts.


War Of The Worms: Windows Worms Dominate The 2004 Virus Charts

Sophos, a world leader in protecting businesses against viruses and spam, has released a report revealing the hardest hitting viruses of 2004.


BEA Systems to Host Financial Analyst Conference on December 9 <b>...</b>

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (http://bea.com/more_info.jsp?p8 amp;r=1.4.6 ) -- BEA Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:BEAS), the world #39;s leading application infrastructure software company, today announced


Cisco Fights Aggressively In Telecom Space

Cisco Systems, which has been under growing competitive pressure lately in the high-end router space, announced a series of initiatives this week designed to improve its market position, as well as bolster its relationship with telecom service providers.


EDS: IT upgrade caused software glitch at UK agency

DECEMBER 08, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Some 40,000 computers in the UK #39;s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were unable to access their network last month when an IT technician erroneously installed a software upgrade.


Trojan Mimics Controversial Lycos Europe Screensaver

According to antivirus company F-Secure, the file inside the e-mail attachment is not the Lycos  quot;Make Love Not Spam quot; screensaver.


Arsenal, Bremen make last 16

London: Holders Porto produced a thrilling fightback to beat Chelsea 2-1 and grab a Champions League lifeline as Arsenal and Werder Bremen booked their places in the next round on Tuesday.


#39;Hold 2nd Test in Dhaka as well #39;

NEW DELHI: The Indian security team has ruled against Chittagong as the venue of the second Test match as well as the first of the three one-dayers with Bangladesh.


Gerrard stars in dramatic comeback

LIVERPOOL, England -- Steven Gerrard crashed home a stunning half-volley as four-times European champions Liverpool came back to beat Olympiakos Piraeus 3-1 on Wednesday and reach the Champions League knockout stage.


Patrick adds allure to Rahal Letterman, IRL

Danica Patrick #39;s dreams of competing in Formula 1 or Champ Cars have been put on hold as the 22-year-old was announced Wednesday as Rahal Letterman Racing #39;s third IRL IndyCar


Montreal Might to Lose 2005 World Championships

Montreal could be forced to pull out of hosting next year #39;s world championships if help with funding is not forthcoming, according to the chief executive of the organizing committee.


British, Irish leaders unveil Northern Ireland peace package <b>...</b>

The British and Irish prime ministers unveiled a sweeping new Northern Ireland peace plan Wednesday that offered solutions to issues -articularly Irish


EU Not Yet Ready to Lift China Arms Embargo

The European Union says it is not yet ready to lift a 15-year-old ban on selling arms to China, but is working toward that goal. The arms embargo dominated a one-day EU-China summit in the


India, Pak to talk again

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 8: The first technical discussions on the proposed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service concluded today without much progress.


Former Marine in Iraq: We fired on unarmed civilians, wounded <b>...</b>

A former Marine on the front lines of Iraq, a witness for an American seeking to become the first US soldier granted asylum in Canada, said Wednesday several men in his unit were  quot;psychopaths


Virgin and BA battle on discordantly

Holidaymakers descending on Australia could see fares fall by as much as 30, as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways (BA) prepare for a discordant battle regarding routes to Australia.


Phoenix Salvation Army sites accept donations with debit and <b>...</b>

PHOENIX - Donors will be able to use credit and debit cards to donate to Salvation Army bell ringers for the first time on Wednesday.


5 NBA Players and 7 Fans Are Charged in Brawl

The prosecutor in Oakland County, Mich., today filed criminal charges against five Indiana Pacers and five fans for their parts in a brawl last month in a game against the Detroit Pistons.


UEFA to investigate Mestalla incidents

Nyon, Switzerland (Sports Network) - UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Valencia and Werder Bremen after a heated Champions League match Tuesday night between the two clubs.


Israeli ambassador calls peace conference idea  #39;counterproductive #39;

A broad international peace conference that has reportedly been suggested by Egypt could be  quot;counterproductive quot; and shouldn #39;t be discussed until after the Palestinian election, Israel #39;s


Barghouti Sets Conditions for Withdrawing from the Election Race

(IsraelNN.com) Imprisoned arch terrorist Marwan Barghouti has reportedly set conditions for complying with Fatah leadership demands that he withdraw from the PA leadership race.


Fishermen under Pressure as EU Proposes New Catch Bans

The European Unions head office today proposed unprecedented bans on fishing in popular northern waters to safeguard threatened species such as the common cod, a traditional dinner favourite from Sweden to Portugal.


Apple In Battle For ITunes Address

A 22 year-old from London, England has made life a little difficult for computer company Apple. In an effort to secure the rights to the .


National science academy panel urges NASA to launch astronauts to <b>...</b>

NASA should use astronauts, not a robot, to carry out a crucial life-prolonging mission to the acclaimed Hubble Space Telescope one last time, a National Academy of Sciences panel concluded Wednesday.


Cyper Security Alliance Urges Federal Action

Computer security experts have urged the White House to address threats to US IT systems. The group made 12 recommendations, including creating a backup communications network in case of a major Internet outage


Cisco decries  #39;Wild West #39; of IP networking

Cisco Systems has announced an eight-slot single-shelf version of its CRS-1 Carrier Routing System, which is designed to let service providers offer services like edge, core and peering for


Apple web hole still open

com. Apple Computer Inc. has still not properly fixed the HFS filesystem named fork vulnerability discovered last week, according to the company that first noticed it, NetSec Inc.


Sharon defends Israeli Army despite civilian deaths

The Israeli military has acknowledged it has killed about 30 innocent Palestinians during operations in the West Bank this year. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has defended the Army, describing it as  quot;more moral than any other army I know quot;.


Snow to Remain as Treasury Secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush asked Treasury  Secretary John Snow to stay in his job on Wednesday and Snow  agreed to do so, ending a frenzy of speculation that the  65-year former railroad executive was about to be replaced.


Stocks End Up; Merck Helps Dow; Dollar Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed higher on  Wednesday, as the dollar strengthened and shares of Merck   Co.  MRK.N helped lift the Dow after the drugmaker gave a forecast  that was not as weak as some on Wall Street had expected.


Dollar Rises in Corrective Bounce

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar rebounded on Wednesday as  investors focused on relative interest rates, which  increasingly were expected to favor the dollar, and reversed  some bets against the currency.


Pentagon Seeks Check on RAND Air Tanker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon, under fire for rushing  an outside report on ways to replace the U.S. Air Force's aging  KC-135 mid-air refueling tankers, is seeking a second opinion,  the top U.S. weapons buyer said Wednesday.


DreamWorks Animation Flips to Profit

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


Martha Stewart gets new TV series

Jailed US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart signs a deal to present a new show for NBC from late next year.


Dollar makes gains against euro

The dollar recovers from record lows against the euro, but analysts say underlying greenback weaknesses remain.


Snow stays as US Treasury chief

US Treasury Secretary John Snow agrees to stay in his job for George W Bush's second presidential term.


Pixar's Waiting for Summer

Plus, IBM's win-win, Eli Lilly bares all, and a ticking retirement time bomb.


Vimpel Is No VIP in Russia

Russia is trying to collect back taxes from wireless telecommunications company Vimpel.


Saudi Arabia cool on OPEC output cuts

Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi Wednesday questioned the need for OPEC oil producers to rein in oil supply, saying the cartel #39;s reference crude price was still above its official target despite steep recent falls.


China Aviation Oil chief arrested

SINGAPORE - Singapore authorities on Wednesday arrested the chief of beleaguered China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp following his return from China, a police spokesman said.


Justices Hear Cases on Shipping Wine

Lawyers for Michigan and New York argued yesterday that the direct shipping bans are not discriminatory because the Constitution #39;s 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition in 1933, also permits states to regulate the alcohol industry.


Report: NASA should send shuttle to fix Hubble, not robot

NASA #39;s plan to service the Hubble Space Telescope with a robotic device is more risky than a manned shuttle mission and would leave the orbiting observatory inoperative for a longer period


PalmSource Agrees To Buy Linux Developer China MobileSoft

PalmSource Inc., which has seen its share of the handheld computer market plummet, said on Wednesday that it has agreed to acquire China MobileSoft Ltd.


Bush Told to Get in Step with Cybersecurity

The Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA) has recommended that the Bush administration get a handle on cybersecurity issues, and has issued a 12 point recommendation to the White House to aid in the education process.


Fannie Mae Agrees to forfeit \$7.5 Million to DOJ

Fannie Mae has agreed to forfeit some \$7.5 million in an accord with the Justice Department, which had accused the mortgage giant of accepting money it knew had been lost by a federal agency in a fraud scheme.


White Sox agree to two-year deal with Hermanson

Pitcher Dustin Hermanson and the Chicago White Sox agreed Wednesday on a two-year, \$5.5 million contract that contains a club option for 2007.


Sandy Alomar Jr

The Rangers signed Sandy Alomar to a one-year contract. The AP reports that the team envisions Alomar backing up Rod Barajas this season, meaning Gerald Laird will begin the year in the minors.


Competition Heats Up as IBM Sells PC Unit to China #39;s Lenovo

On 7 December 2004, IBM and China #39;s Lenovo announced that Lenovo will acquire IBM #39;s PC business for a total of \$1.75 billion in cash and shares.


Saudi Oil Minister Unmoved by Oil Prices

Saudi Arabia Oil Minister Ali Naimi said today he #39;s not concerned about a sharp further fall in the price of oil, saying prices remain relatively high.


Buyers back on Wall Street after two-day selloff

Investors resumed their December rally Wednesday, looking past higher oil prices and focusing instead on building up their portfolios before year #39;s end.


Players' Union Offer May Decide Season (AP)

AP - Any hope of saving the NHL season hinges on whether the next proposal by the players' association stirs serious negotiating.


American Combat Deaths in Iraq Hit 1,001

Guerrillas carried out a series of raids in the city of Samarra on Wednesday, stealing weapons from a police station, blowing it up, and exchanging fire with police and US troops.


Stoudemire Scores 50 Points in Suns' Win (AP)

AP - Amare Stoudemire scored 50 points to lead Phoenix to a 117-98 win over Portland on Sunday night.


World Bank Chief to Step Down in '05

The comment was the first public acknowledgement by James D. Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, 71, that he is unlikely to win the backing of the Bush administration for a third term.


Gas Pipeline Explodes in Southern Russia (AP)

AP - A natural gas pipeline just outside the southern Russian city of Makhachkala exploded Wednesday, sending flames soaring into the air and lighting up the night sky.


Justin Trudeau says his wedding will be in Montreal this spring or summer (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - Justin Trudeau, formerly a very eligible bachelor, says he's still working on his wedding plans but won't be married before next spring.


Dean Urges Dems to Stick to Convictions (AP)

AP - Howard Dean, with an eye on leading the Democratic Party in the wake of widespread election losses, said Wednesday that Democrats must campaign on their convictions and not give into the temptation to behave like Republicans.


Bush Pushes MLB to Address Steroid Issue (AP)

AP - President Bush called on Major League Baseball on Wednesday to take "strong steps" to confront the use of steroids and other illegal performance-enhancing substances by players.


Company Recalls 158,000 Light Bulbs (AP)

AP - A company is recalling about 158,000 fluorescent light bulbs because they can overheat and spark, the government said Wednesday.


Former Nazi Guard Loses Canadian Court Ruling (Reuters)

Reuters - Canadian immigration\officials won a victory on Tuesday in their bid to revoke the\citizenship of a former Nazi SS prison guard convicted of war\crimes in Italy.


Iraqis May Extend Election Amid Violence

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq may modify plans for its first  free election to give people more time to vote next month,  officials said on Wednesday as suicide bombers and gunmen again  struck Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital.


Israel's Sharon Lines Up Support for Likud Vote

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  marshalled support on Wednesday for a Likud party vote to bring  the Labour Party into government, a move that would avoid snap  elections and pave the way for a Gaza withdrawal next year.


'Unknowns' stirring Palestinian race

Some say Mustafa Barghouthi's campaign may lead to the creation of a viable secular opposition in Palestinian politics.


A hotbed of energy waits to be tapped in Indonesia

Geothermal sources remain untapped as leaders focus instead on the country's reserves of fossil fuels.


Ukraine's Yushchenko hails reform

Ukraine's opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko hails "a great victory" after parliament passes wide-ranging reforms.


Defying Speculation, Snow Will Remain Treasury Secretary

John W. Snow will stay on as treasury secretary, the White House said this afternoon, dashing speculation that he would soon be forced out of the Cabinet.


Police, Peddlers Clash in Venezuelan City

Police and National Guard troops fired tear gas and plastic bullets at crowds of angry street vendors in Venezuela's capital Wednesday as officers tried to remove merchants from zones where they are barred from selling their wares.


Potential Guidant Merger Could Be Blow for City

(Indianapolis-December 8, 2004) - As the City of Indianapolis tries to build an image as a center for the life sciences, one of its premiere biotechnology companies could be leaving.


US stocks: Merck helps lift US stocks higher, dollar up

New York - US stocks closed higher on Wednesday, as the dollar strengthened and shares of Merck  amp; Co. helped lift the Dow after the drugmaker gave a forecast that was not as weak as some on Wall Street had expected.


Toshiba comes out with dual capability hybrid DVD

Hardware manufacturers are in fix when it comes to settling down for a standard for DVDs. Toshiba, NEC and Sanyo are favoring a next-generation DVD standard called HD (high-definition) DVD while Sony and other


Gerrard rocket sends Liverpool through

Steven Gerrard #39;s stunning late goal caps a remarkable Liverpool comeback as they beat Olympiakos Pireaus 3-1 to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.


Pacers image hurting after brawl, charges

For the Indiana Pacers, its been a long three weeks since a brawl with Detroit fans scarred the image of what was once considered one of the NBAs model franchises.


Sox agree to terms with Hermanson

com. He liked the  quot;juice of the ninth inning, quot; according to White Sox general manager Ken Williams.  quot;But the eighth innings can be just as important, quot; added Williams during a Wednesday


EU to consider lifting arms embargo on China

THE HAGUE - The European Union and China on Wednesday pledged to boost bilateral ties at their annual summit here, with the European Union saying it would consider lifting its 15-year-old embargo on arms sales to China.


No deal on Kashmir bus

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan said on Wednesday they would need to hold more talks on starting the Kashmir bus service. Two days of discussions between the two countries on what is seen as a key symbolic step


Pakistan test fires Hatf-IV missile

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday successfully test fired a medium range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, capable of hitting targets deep inside India, the military said.


Colts Sign Gramatica for Kickoffs

INDIANAPOLIS (Sports Network) - The Indianapolis Colts have  signed kicker Martin Gramatica to handle kickoffs.


IBM brand loyalty holds key for Lenovo

Lenovo #39;s purchase of IBM #39;s PC business is such an unprecedented coup for a Chinese technology company that even some local journalists joined the cheers when it was announced on Wednesday.


Stocks End Higher Helped by Merck, Dollar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed higher on  Wednesday, as the dollar strengthened and shares of Merck   Co.  MRK.N helped lift the Dow after the drugmaker gave a forecast  that was not as bad as some expected.


In Japan, recovery is stalling

TOKYO Japan #39;s once-robust recovery slowed to a near standstill in the third quarter as consumer spending weakened more than expected, according to revised growth figures released on Wednesday.


Some Salvation Army #39;s bell ringers taking donations via plastic

PHOENIX Salvation Army bell ringers are accepting more than coins in the kettle this year. The charity is equipping some bell ringers to take donations on credit cards.


Ontario Teachers #39; Pension Plan buying Alliance Laundry Holdings <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - The Ontario Teachers #39; Pension Plan has struck a \$450 million US deal to buy American laundry equipment maker Alliance Laundry Holdings - the Canadian fund #39;s first acquisition in the United States without a partner.


Mozilla Releases Thunderbird

(Article Central) The Mozilla Foundation launched version 1.0 of its email management software Thunderbird in advance of the official release this Tuesday.


Nvidia will supply graphics chip for new PlayStation

Nvidia will supply the graphics chip for the successor to the PlayStation 2 games console being developed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEI), the companies announced on Tuesday.


Report urges shuttle mission to service Hubble

WASHINGTON: An expert panel on Wednesday recommended sending a manned shuttle mission to repair the aging Hubble Space Telescope, instead of the robotic mission NASA had envisioned.


Dell #39;s CEO rejects the idea of buying IBM #39;s PC business.

Michael Dell has seen the future and it #39;s a 128-node  quot;MegaGrid quot; running the Linux operating system on Dell servers at Oracle #39;s lab in Austin, Texas.


Mobile phones: An ear full of worms

DECEMBER 08, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - They #39;re coming to mobile phones -- those nasty viruses, worms and Trojan Horses that have, on more than one occasion, crippled PCs.


Group B: Real breeze through behind Bayer

Real knew they had to win against the Italians to be assured of a place in the next round and went ahead in the ninth minute when after a lengthy passing move, Zinedine Zidane put in Ronaldo and the Brazilian lifted the ball past the advancing Roma keeper


Lampard confident

Frank Lampard believes Chelsea can overcome the disappointment of losing to Porto in the Champions League to extend its lead over Arsenal in the English Premiership when the two clubs meet in a top-of-the-table clash at Highbury on Sunday.


Harrison Signs  #36;66M Deal With Colts (AP)

AP - Marvin Harrison is remaining with the Indianapolis Colts as Peyton Manning's primary target.


Blair win would endorse war: PM

THE re-election of British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be seen as an endorsement of the military action in Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard said today.


S Korean president visits troops in Iraq

SEOUL - President Roh Moo Hyun made a surprise visit Wednesday to South Korean troops stationed in northern Iraq, the Blue House presidential office announced.


Japan's stressed crown princess pledges early return to official duties (AFP)

AFP - Japan's Crown Princess Masako, the former career woman who has kept out of the public eye for a year due to stress, promised on her 41st birthday she would try to get back to her official duties soon.


Al-Qaida may be hiding messages in computer files, Mounties warn (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The RCMP has warned its investigators to be on the lookout for cleverly disguised messages embedded by al-Qaida in digital files police seize from terror suspects.


Bill Would Nearly Double Border Patrol (AP)

AP - Congress' intelligence overhaul provides the largest buildup in border guards in the nation's history, but many House Republicans won't be satisfied until states are forbidden from giving illegal immigrants driver's licenses that the lawmakers say enable terrorists to operate in the United States.


Annan Rejects Calls for His Resignation (AP)

AP - Secretary-General Kofi Annan rejected calls for his resignation from several U.S. lawmakers, saying Tuesday he will "carry on" at the helm of the United Nations for the next two years.


Colts Extend Harrison

The Indianapolis Colts keep Peyton Manning's favorite target for six more season as Marvin Harrison signs a six-year, \$66-million contract on Wednesday.


#39;Shrek 3 #39; delayed until 2007

Fans of the Shrek movies will now have to wait until 2007 for the third film in the franchise, DreamWorks announced today. Shrek 3 was previously scheduled to be released in November 2006, but has now been put back to May 2007 for financial reasons.


Alamosa to Buy AirGate for \$392 Million

Alamosa Holdings Inc. (APCS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) will acquire AirGate PCS Inc. (PCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) for \$392 million in stock creating the largest Sprint Corp.


Astronauts, Not Robots Should Upgrade Hubble-Panel

Shuttle astronauts would do a better job of upgrading NASA (news - web sites) #39;s aging Hubble Space Telescope (news - web sites) than space-faring robots -- with


Palmsource buys Linux mobile OS developer

The news that PalmSource bought China MobileSoft for its knowledge of the exploding Chinese market for mobile devices makes a lot of sense.


New DVD Dual Layer HD-DVD/DVD Format

This is fantastic news and could possibly make the HD-DVD format the winner over the competing Blu-Ray technology.... Two Japanese companies said Tuesday they have developed a DVD that can play on both existing


2004 Virus Activity Collaborative and More Clever, Says Security <b>...</b>

The Netsky-P worm, which was first seen in March, accounted for almost a quarter of all virus incidents reported during 2004, says security firm Sophos, making it the hardest-hitting virus of the year.


#39;Human Error #39; Crashed Britain #39;s DWP

A software upgrade was inadvertently given to PCs not intended to receive it, which made payment processing systems at Britain #39;s Department for Work and Pensions stop working, EDS #39; investigation revealed.


Gerrard stunner seals comeback

STEVEN GERRARD scored one of the finest - and most dramatic -oals Anfield #39;s famous Kop has ever witnessed today. And it was enough to fire Liverpool into the knockout stages of the tournament with a gut-wrenching victory.


Champions League round-up

Real Madrid got the win they needed against Roma to progress to Champions League knockout stages. An early goal from Ronaldo and a Luis Figo brace gave Real a 3-0 victory, in a match played behind closed doors at the Stadio Olimpico.


Harrison signs new \$66 million deal with Colts

Harrison agreed to a six-year, \$66 million contract with the team on Wednesday that includes a \$22 million signing bonus, according to a league source who requested anonymity.


UN General Assembly gives Annan what its president calls vote of <b>...</b>

8 December 2004 - The United Nations General Assembly today gave Secretary-General Kofi Annan a standing ovation and a lengthy round of applause, in what its president called a  quot;rare and valuable homage quot; and a vote of confidence - a characterization


Outgoing Notre Dame President Hits Firing (AP)

AP - Notre Dame's outgoing president criticized the decision to fire Tyrone Willingham after just three seasons, saying he was surprised the coach was not given more time to try to succeed.


Snow to Remain as U.S. Treasury Secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush asked Treasury  Secretary John Snow to stay in his job on Wednesday and Snow  agreed to do so, ending a frenzy of speculation that the  65-year-old former railroad executive was about to be replaced.


Russian Cellphone Carrier Faces Tax Claim

VimpelCom, the No. 2 cellphone company in Russia, received a first notice for \$157 million in back taxes on Wednesday, sending its stock plunging and prompting fears of another Yukos-style tax investigation.


Lilly Debuts Clinical Drug Trial Web Site

INDIANAPOLIS - Eli Lilly  amp; Co. debuted a Web site Wednesday for clinical trial data on its prescription drugs, including Prozac and its new antidepressant, Cymbalta.


White Finalist for a Second Heisman Trophy (AP)

AP - Jason White has a chance to join Archie Griffin as a two-time Heisman Trophy winner.


Security Bytes: Injection flaw in popular browsers

com staff. Danish security firm Secunia has reported a  quot;moderately critical quot; window injection vulnerability in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Netscape, Safari and Konqueror.


Toshiba Develops Hybrid DVD

Toshiba Ltd. and Memory-Tech said this week that they plan to bring to market a hybrid DVD disc that can be used both for standard-definition and HD content.


Telenor Boosts Hungarian Wireless Position

Telenor will remain a key player in the Hungarian wireless market after it announced its Hungarian mobile arm, Pannon GSM, acquired a UMTS license in Hungary.


A Time Line Of The IBM PC Business Dec. 8, 2004

From the introduction of its first PC in 1981 to this week #39;s sale of its PC business to Lenovo of China for about \$1.75 billion in cash, IBM has had a quite a few milestones in the PC industry.


The computer crash that shut down systems at Britain #39;s Department for Work and Pensions only caused delays in dealing with new and amended claims, according to the agency.


IT Heavyweights Form Grid Computing Alliance

Dell, EMC, Intel and Oracle have sealed an alliance to develop grid computing technology. The move is an effort to develop a standard approach to building and deploying enterprise grid computing infrastructures.


Tom Brady Keeps Winning for Patriots (AP)

AP - Tom Brady hasn't completed more than 20 passes in five games. He's thrown for fewer than 175 yards each of the past two weeks and for three touchdowns just once this season  #151; on opening day.


Roundup: 5 Pacers charged for fighting fans

Five Indiana Pacers players were charged in Detroit on Wednesday for fighting with fans in the stands and on the court during the brawl that broke out at a Pistons #39; game last month.


Harrison signs \$66M deal with Colts


Redskins Daily 12/8

LaVar Arrington practiced for the first time since undergoing knee surgery. Now the Redskins have to wait and see if he #39;ll be able to play.


Oklahoma's White Could Win Second Heisman (AP)

AP - Growing up in a small Oklahoma town, Jason White would try to throw a football through a tire. Usually, he'd miss. But there was this consolation: He sure could run.


NATO, Belgium Sign Deal to Build New HQ (AP)

AP - NATO and the Belgian government signed an agreement Wednesday to build new alliance headquarters adjacent to the current site, confirming Brussels as the home of the military bloc and underscoring improved relations between the host and the United States.


More U.S. Soldiers Survive War Wounds (AP)

AP - For every American soldier killed in Iraq, nine others have been wounded and survived  #151; the highest rate of any war in U.S. history. It isn't that their injuries were less serious, a new report says. In fact, some young soldiers and Marines have had faces, arms and legs blown off and are now returning home badly maimed.


Rwanda Tells U.N. It Put Troops on Congo Border

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Rwanda, appearing before the  U.N. Security Council, denied again on Wednesday that it had  sent soldiers into neighboring Congo in pursuit of Hutu rebels  but acknowledged it had massed troops along the border.


US punishes troops over stun guns

Four members of a US special operations unit in Iraq are disciplined for using electric stun guns on prisoners.


La Scala Is the Star at Its Own Reopening

The choice of Antonio Salieri's long-forgotten opera "Europa Riconosciuta" seemed just right when La Scala reopened on Tuesday night after nearly three years of renovation.


Appeals Panel Hears Arguments in Leak Inquiry

A three-judge panel heard arguments on whether two journalists should be jailed for refusing to name their confidential sources to a grand jury, and it seemed to reject their main argument, based on the First Amendment.


Minnesota gives new license technology a test drive

Minnesota next week will begin issuing a first-of-its-kind driver #39;s license designed to thwart counterfeiters -n issue that has taken on greater urgency since the Sept.


Thunderbird is go

Finally, and with less fanfare than the release of its sibling application, Firefox 1.0, a few weeks ago, the email client called Thunderbird has reached its coming of age.


High price for high-speed mobile licenses in Hungary

The T-Mobile unit of Deutsche Telekom and the Pannon GSM unit of Telenor said Wednesday that they had won licenses to provide high-speed mobile phone service in Hungary, but analysts said they might have paid too much in their effort to stay ahead in the


Four Teams Advance at Champions League

Real Madrid #39;s Luis Figo of Portugal, right, and Roma #39;s Traianos Dellas of Greece, top left, and Philippe Mexes of France reach for the ballr during their Champion #39;s League Group B soccer match between Roma and Real Madrid, in Rome #39;s Olympic stadium


UEFA to probe Valencia-Werder Bremen incidents

UEFA will be launching disciplinary proceedings against Valencia and Werder Bremen following the incidents that marred their Champions League match at the Mestalla on Tuesday.


Bettis endorses former Steelers assistant Clements as Notre Dame <b>...</b>

PITTSBURGH - Steelers running back Jerome Bettis remains upset that Notre Dame fired football coach Tyrone Willingham but supports former Steelers assistant coach Tom Clements as his successor.


Bryant surprised by Malone #39;s reaction

Kobe Bryant would love to have Karl Malone back with the Los Angeles Lakers, and believes comments he made in a recent radio interview were misunderstood.


Snow to Remain as U.S. Treasury Secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Wednesday asked  Treasury Secretary John Snow to stay in his job and Snow  agreed, ending a frenzy of speculation that the former railroad  executive and loyal Bush foot soldier was about to be replaced.


UTC raises its offer for Kidde and gets closer to 1.4bn deal

Kidde moved a step closer yesterday to being bought by America #39;s United Technologies, which increased its offer for the UK fire extinguisher maker to 1.39bn.


Supreme Court hears initial arguments regarding state bans on <b>...</b>

The Supreme Court heard initial arguments Tuesday regarding state laws in Michigan and New York that ban interstate sales of wines through the Internet.


5 Pacers, 7 Fans Charged in Detroit Brawl (AP)

AP - Five Indiana Pacers and seven fans were charged Wednesday in the melee that broke out at the end of a nationally televised game against the Detroit Pistons last month, one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history.


Use humans to fix Hubble, panel tells NASA

WASHINGTON - NASA should turn to astronauts, not robots, to repair the aging Hubble Space Telescope, an expert panel recommended on Wednesday.


BEA Continues Service Oriented Architecture Push

BEA Systems is set to release Diablo, an SOA-based application server that is the cornerstone of the upcoming WebLogic Platform 9.0.


Gaza Settlers Seek to Keep Communities (AP)

AP - Residents of some Jewish settlements in the northern Gaza Strip have proposed that their entire communities be moved to locations inside Israel under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza next year, a lawmaker said Wednesday.


Silence is golden for relieved Real

The Sword of Damocles no longer hangs over Real Madrid. Trailing Barcelona by nine points in the Spanish league, defeat here last night would have put them out of the competition they consider their own.


Alex Smith is a Heisman Finalist

He was chosen today as one of five finalists for college football #39;s most prestigious individual title. Joining Smith for Saturday #39;s award ceremony in New York will be Oklahoma teammates Jason White and Adrian


Liverpool keep dream alive

Running on pure adrenalin, attacking in relentless red waves towards a beseeching Kop, Liverpool fought back magnificently against the dying of their Champions League light last


UEFA not informed of racist chanting

UEFA have received no reports of racist chanting by Porto fans during the Champions League game against Chelsea in Portugal on Tuesday night.


Time for Celtic #39;s money men to fund O #39;Neill #39;s ambition

ITS TIME to take stock. Those were Martin ONeills words late on Tuesday night as he tried to quantify the effect upon Celtic of watching their European season plunge into darkness.


Almunia feels he can hold on to his place

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia insisted that he was ready to face Chelsea in Sunday #39;s table-topping London derby despite a nervous performance on his Champions League debut, in Tuesday #39;s 5-1 win over Rosenborg.


Coulthard fits the bill at Red Bull

David Coulthard #39;s season-long search for a Formula One drive next year is almost over. Negotiations between Red Bull Racing and Coulthard, who tested for the Austrian team for the first time


US soldiers would kill civilians, says Marine

A former US Marine has claimed that he saw American troops in Iraq routinely kill unarmed civilians, including women and children.


EU wants fishing ban in fifth of North Sea

Around a fifth of the North Sea would be closed to fishing next year under European Commission plans for an unprecedented ban to help rescue cod stocks from collapse.


Papal Solidarity Offered for Iraqi Catholics After New Attacks

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 8, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed his closeness to Iraqi Catholics shaken by two new terrorist attacks which destroyed an Armenian-Catholic church and the Chaldean bishop #39;s palace in Mosul.


Panel Pushes for Energy Security Funding (AP)

AP - A bipartisan panel of energy experts said Wednesday that regulation of climate changing pollution and improved automobile fuel efficiency must be an essential elements of the nation's energy agenda  #151; a view that clashes with the White House and many members of Congress.


Details of \$36 Billion Bipartisan US Energy Plan

WASHINGTON - The bipartisan National Commission on Energy Policy on Wednesday urged the US Congress to end a two-year stalemate and adopt a broad package of proposals addressing climate change, oil security, natural gas supplies and fuel efficiency in


Sony, Nvidia Codeveloping Graphics Processor for New Game Console

Tokyo, Dec. 7 (Jiji Press)--Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said Tuesday it is developing a graphics processor with Nvidia Corp. of the United States for its planned new video game console.


Apple pitches music industry on U2-style promos

U2 has been a familiar sight to iTunes Music Store visitors in recent weeks, with the online music store featuring everything from a U2-themed iPod to a digital boxed set of the Irish rock band #39;s recordings.


It #39;s time for some fans to pay a high price

On the day the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit clowns were charged with various crimes against civility, Indiana guard Anthony Johnson put the whole sad, absurd thing into perspective.


White among Heisman candidates again

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Oklahoma quarterback and last year #39;s Heisman Trophy winner Jason White was once again named as a candidate for college football #39;s most prestigious individual honor.


Chelsea lose and CSKA Moscow drop out despite victory

PARIS: Captain Sergei Semak grabbed a hat-trick as CSKA Moscow won 3-1 at Paris St Germain on Tuesday but a late goal in Porto denied the Russian team a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, handing Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich a


Ranieri apologises for outburst over referee

PERHAPS we should call him the Temperman from now on. Linguistic problems were an entertaining hallmark of Claudio Ranieris stint as Chelsea head coach, but on Tuesday night a misguided verbal


Wengers big problem now is in deciding which keeper to field

LONDON: Arsenal recovered their poise to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 5-1 thrashing of Rosenborg Trondheim and now face a crucial decision before Sunday #39;s league match with leaders Chelsea.


Colts ink Harrison to extension: source

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - It appears Marvin Harrison will be the recipient of Peyton Manning #39;s passes for years to come. An anonymous NFL source revealed Wednesday that Harrison has agreed to a six-year, \$66-million


Dead reckoning

The phrase  quot;body count quot; is grim reminder of how the US army boasted of the toll of enemy dead during the Vietnam war - a classic example of the dehumanisation of language in wartime.


Poachers leave bonobo at risk

Humankind's closest relative is facing extinction in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo.


IBM buying Apple? No dice

As soon as rumors began to fly about the IBM-Lenovo deal, bloggers and others began to buzz about the possibility that IBM would use the opportunity to buy Apple. The contract posted by Lenovo, however, says no. Missing Links


Japan recovery running out of steam

The Japanese economy is close to stagnation, according to revisions to official figures yesterday that cut the estimate of GDP growth to just 0.1 per cent.


Infineon to invest in Asian plant

Infineon Technologies, the second-largest chip maker in Europe, said Wednesday that it planned to invest about \$1 billion in a new factory in Malaysia to expand its automotive chip business and be closer to customers in the region.


Cavs' Traylor Out With Broken Finger (AP)

AP - Cavaliers forward Robert Traylor will miss three to four weeks after breaking his left pinkie during a game against the New Jersey Nets.


Panel: Robot Won #39;t Save Hubble

NASA #39;s plan to send a robot into space to repair the ailing Hubble Space Telescope is unlikely to succeed, according to a new report from the National Academy of Sciences.


Chicken gives up genetic secrets

Scientists have published a detailed analysis of the chicken genome, the biochemical  quot;code quot; in the bird #39;s cells that makes the animal what it is.


China, Linux Could Put PalmSource in the Catbird Seat

Opinion: While the Palm Inc. spinoff has had a tough infancy, its acquisition of China MobileSoft promises to position it as a formidable contender in the emerging mobile market.


To obscurity and beyond for the quiet space hero

ONE of Americas greatest unsung heroes, an astronaut who touched the stars yet barely scraped the surface of public recognition, is to retire.


Brazil Rain Forest Burning A Major Greenhouse Gas Cause

The burning and deforestation of Brazils vast Amazon rain forest causes nearly 3 of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, according to a government report released yesterday.


Sony gaming supply shortage extends

Sony Corp, which on Tuesday confirmed a shipping halt on the Suez Canal disrupted delivery of its newest PlayStation 2 to Europe, said supply shortages of the game console extend to the United States.


Giants Plan to Honor Bonds' Milestones (AP)

AP - The San Francisco Giants will honor Barry Bonds' home run milestones and other achievements as they always have  #151; with great fanfare.


Real Madrid advances in Champions League

It was an important win for Real Madrid in Rome as they progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League. They were in third position with just eight points when the match started leveled with Bayer Leverkusen.


Liverpool 3 Olympiakos 1

Chelsea were poised with a renewed 30million bid for the midfield genius had Liverpool gone out of the Champions League. But Gerrard drilled his beloved Reds into the last 16 with a blistering


Gators hoops assistant arrested on drug charges

GAINESVILLE, Fla. Florida assistant basketball coach Major Parker has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest on drug charges.


Florida Assistant Arrested on Drug Charges (AP)

AP - Florida assistant basketball coach Major Parker has been arrested on charges of selling half a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover officer, a U.S. attorney said Wednesday.


Australian Open Exec Says Clijsters Out (AP)

AP - Kim Clijsters' left wrist injury will keep her out of the Australian Open, tournament chief executive Paul McNamee said Thursday.


South Korean president makes surprise visit to troops in Iraq

SEOUL : South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun made a surprise visit to his troops in northern Iraq on his way home from a European tour, a top presidential aide said.


Congress Passes Historic Spy Agencies Bill (AP)

AP - Congress on Wednesday ordered the biggest overhaul of U.S. intelligence in a half-century, replacing a network geared to the Cold War fight against communism with a post-Sept. 11 structure requiring military and civilian spy agencies to work together against terrorists intent on holy war.


EPA Nears New Storm Sewage Guidlines (AP)

AP - The Environmental Protection Agency is leaning toward allowing sewage plants to skip some stages of treatment during heavy rains or melting slow as long as the treated water meets all permits and other safeguards are provided, agency sources said Wednesday.


Nortel, Symantec partner on network security

Nortel Networks yesterday announced several products as well as a partnership with Symantec in moves designed to expand the company's offerings in the network security space.


EDS: IT upgrade caused software glitch at U.K. agency

Some 40,000 computers in the U.K. Department for Work and Pensions were cut off from their network last month when an IT technician erroneously installed a software upgrade, according to EDS.


AT T to build \$1B communications network for Treasury Dept.

The U.S. Treasury Department has signed a deal worth up to \$1 billion with AT T Government Solutions and its partners for a new secure high-speed network that will connect more than 1,000 Treasury Department locations around the U.S.


Sophos: 2004 was the year of Netsky worm

Netsky-P, an e-mail computer worm that disrupted tens of thousands of businesses and homes worldwide, was the hardest-hitting virus of 2004, according to Web security firm Sophos.


Oracle vows 'oversupport' for PeopleSoft customers

Oracle is concerned PeopleSoft customers might abandon maintenance contracts that could help it spend more on new software products to compete with SAP AG, the world's biggest business software maker.


Users say IBM PC division sale a reflection of the times

IBM's decision to sell its PC division to a China-based company prompted a range of reactions today from technology users, from disappointment to a belief that the move reflects the times and the impact of globalization.


Analysis: IBM adjusts to harsh PC market

IBM's decision to sell its PC business to China's Lenovo Group Ltd. underscores the challenges manufacturers face in the modern PC business, even for a company synonymous with the product.


China's Lenovo to buy IBM's PC business

China's Lenovo Group Ltd. has agreed to acquire IBM's personal computing division for \$1.25 billion in cash and equity, a move expected to transform it into the world's No. 3 PC maker.


McNealy: Sun still strong on Oracle

SAN FRANCISCO -- Despite Oracles strategic push for Linux- and Intel-based deployments, Sun Microsystems retains its position as the leading platform for Oracle, Sun Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy said Wednesday at the Oracle OpenWorld conference here.


PalmSource to add Linux OS to offerings

PalmSource surprised the mobile vendor community today with the announcement that it will acquire China MobileSoft (CMS), ostensibly to leverage that company's expertise in building a mobile version of the Linux operating system.


MCI adds managed services

MCI announced on Wednesday a line of managed LAN services available at three different service levels.


Part of the ECT News Network

Stocks rallied today, with all averages finishing up as the US dollar performed better against overseas currencies for the first time in weeks.


Siemens records 1 Gbit/s over mobile transmission

For the first time, data were transferred in real time via mobile communication at a speed of one gigabit per second (Gbit/s), or 1,000 megabits per second (Mbit/s).


Crash in Benefits System Caused by Human Error

Human error caused the crash that left 80 percent of staff without access to benefits payment processing systems at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last month, supplier EDS has acknowledged.


Dell bashes  #39;big iron #39;

com December 7, 2004, 4:22 PM PT. SAN FRANCISCO--Top Dell executives disparaged the  quot;big iron quot; approach of building large, powerful servers on Tuesday--a dig at rivals IBM, Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard.


CL Preview: Liverpool-Olympiakos

On Wednesday night Olympiakos travel to take on Liverpool knowing that any positive result will pave the way for their passage into the qualifying stages of the Champions League.


Blair called upon to produce an official record of Iraqi deaths

TONY EASTLEY: According to some news agencies, the US military passed a grim milestone this week, with 1,000 American troops killed in combat in Iraq.


YEARENDER: Phelps Shines Brightest on Biggest Stage

SYDNEY (Reuters) - It is lucky for Michael Phelps that he  is blessed with broad shoulders and an arm span like the wings  on a jumbo jet. Not only does it enable him to swim like a fish  but it also helps him to carry the burden of his own great  expectations.


S America to create single market

South American leaders are set to create an economic and political bloc modelled on the European Union.


Some Cardholders Fight MNBA's Switch

Cardholders have been surprised to find that the MBNA Corporation has switched their accounts from Visa or MasterCard to American Express, MBNA's new partner.


U.S. Board Close to Backing a Bidder for ATA Airlines

The federal loan board that was created to oversee an airline industry bailout is about to play a key role in determining the next phase of industry competition.


IBM marks end of an era

Two decades after it virtually invented the personal computer industry, IBM yesterday sold out to the Chinese government. The deal, which IBM hopes will leave


Update 5: Tokyo Stocks Mixed, Dollar Up Against Yen

Tokyo stocks were mixed early Thursday amid profit taking and buying on the back of the US dollar #39;s strength against the Japanese yen.


Can Thunderbird ride the Firefox wave?

The Mozilla Foundation is back at it. Following its recent launch of its Firefox 1.0 browser that ignited heavy interest, the organization this week launched the Thunderbird open-source e-mail client.


Chicken nuggets could save world

A bird known by her wing band number, 256, is about to cause a huge flap in genetics, one which could change our understanding of human evolution and bird behaviour and help to prevent another global influenza pandemic.


Liverpool defy odds to secure progress

The impossible was merely delayed. An opener from Rivaldo left Liverpool requiring to win by two goals to reach the next phase of the Champions League.


Padres ink Williams, Blum

com. The Padres signed two players Wednesday, bringing back right-handed pitcher Woody Williams and adding infielder Geoff Blum. Both are one-year deals with Williams getting an option year in 2006.


Report: Harrison has new deal with Colts

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - The Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Marvin Harrison have reportedly agreed to a new contract.


Klitschko feels weight of a nation

With a laugh Vitali Klitschko admits he will never forget the day he met Danny Williams for the first time, at a bizarre press conference at the Labour Party #39;s Millbank headquarters to publicise a World Boxing Organisation title fight between the


Closing the curtain on a hard life

Mr. Charles Jenkins on Tuesday arrived in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, together with his wife Ms. Hitomi Soga, a former abductee to North Korea, and their two daughters after serving a short sentence for desertion from the US Army.


Greek Farmer Finds 2,000-Year-Old Monument (AP)

AP - A farmer tending a cotton field in central Greece has uncovered a stone monument marking the spot where the Roman army stopped a major westward offensive more than 2,000 years ago, a Greek archaeological official said Wednesday.


S America creates single market

South American leaders create an economic and political bloc modelled on the European Union.


Libraries Reach Out, Online

With downloadable books and information portals, the new reading room is anywhere and everywhere.


GDP revised downward to annual 0.2

The economy grew an annualized 0.2 percent in the July-September quarter, not the 0.3 percent stated in the preliminary report last month, the government said Wednesday after tweaking the nation #39;s gross domestic product under a new calculation method.


ATA Airlines gives rivals a shot at Chicago market

Bankrupt ATA Airlines #39; withdrawal from Chicago #39;s Midway International Airport presents a juicy opportunity for another airline to beef up service in the Midwest


Altera Guides Lower Midquarter

Chipmaker Altera (ALTR:Nasdaq - news - research) lowered fourth-quarter sales guidance after the bell Wednesday, citing a more severe decline in its communications segment.


Sony, Nvidia make PlayStation collaboration official

TOKYO - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) and Nvidia Corp. revealed that they have been collaborating for about two years to develop the graphics engine for SCEI #39;s next-generation game machine powered


Ajax Make UEFA Cup After Bayern Draw

Ajax Amsterdam qualified for the UEFA Cup after a 2-2 Champions #39; League Group D draw with Bayern Munich at the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday evening.


Williams rejoins Padres rotation

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Free-agent pitcher Woody Williams rejoined the San Diego Padres more than three years after he was traded away.


Infineon To Build Production Plant In Malaysia  gt;IFX

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Infineon Technologies AG (IFX) said it will build a new front-end production plant in Kulim High Tech Park, Malaysia.


IBM-Lenovo Deal Shows China #39;s Growing Might

For China, the country #39;s biggest computer supplier buying out a unit of IBM is more than just a business deal. Lenovo Group #39;s decision to purchase IBM #39;s PC group for \$1.75 billion could be


NVidia Will Supply Graphics Chip for New PlayStation

NVidia will supply the graphics chip for the successor to the PlayStation 2 games console being developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.


European giants dash minnows #39; hopes at the death

PARIS (AFP) - Multiple European Cup winners Real Madrid and Liverpool squeezed through to the last 16 of the Champions League after winning their respective final group matches.


Blair rejects tally of Iraq War dead

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected calls for an independent commission to calculate the number of civilians killed and injured since the US-led alliance invaded Iraq in March 2003.


Former CEO of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) returns to Singapore

Chen Jiulin, former CEO of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp., returned to Singapore on December 8 to help investigate the company #39;s huge-sum losses on derivatives trades.


DVD/HD-DVD Combo Developed

December 08, 2004 - Memory-Tech Corp. and Toshiba have announced that they have developed a dual-layer disc that can store both standard DVD and HD-DVD formats, on different layers.


Siemens Claims Wireless Speed Record

German vendor develops experimental system that transmits data at 1 Gbps using a new antenna system and OFDM. By Mobile Pipeline News.


Pavano Meets With Seattle Officials (AP)

AP - Carl Pavano wrapped up talks Wednesday with the Seattle Mariners and moved on to Anaheim, where he's expected to attend the winter meetings later this week and visit the Angels.


Russia #39;s VimpelCom hit by \$158m claim for back taxes

Russian authorities yesterday claimed \$158m (94m) in back taxes from VimpelCom, the country #39;s second-largest mobile phone company, raising fears of new political interference in business.


China Blocks World Meeting on Workers #39; Rights

China on Wednesday abruptly blocked a meeting of global union and business leaders scheduled for next week that aimed to press Beijing to do more to protect workers #39; rights.


No. 10 Kentucky Drubs Morehead St. 71-40 (AP)

AP - Kelenna Azubuike scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half to lead No. 10 Kentucky past intrastate rival Morehead State 71-40 on Wednesday night, the fewest points scored by the Eagles in 25 years.


Hubble repair mission  #39;exorbitant #39;

The Hubble space telescope #39;s chances of survival were dealt a blow yesterday after the US National Academy of Sciences said plans for a robotic repair mission were both exorbitant and risky.


NASA Urged to Scrap Hubble Robot Rescue

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA should use astronauts, not a robot, to carry out a crucial life-prolonging mission to the acclaimed Hubble Space Telescope one last time, a National Academy of Sciences panel concluded Wednesday.


We #39;re closer to knowing why the chicken crossed the road

THE enduring mystery of why the chicken really did cross the road has come a step closer to being solved definitively, following a detailed analysis of the birds genetic blueprint.


Chicken Genome Should Boost DNA Research

In their first detailed and comprehensive look at the DNA of chickens, scientists have found that 60 percent of the bird #39;s genes have close cousins in humans.


Australia backs Annan against calls for his resignation as UN <b>...</b>

Australia on Thursday backed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan against calls for his resignation over the world body #39;s scandal-plagued oil-for-food program for Iraq.


US arms sale: India to express concern

India will express strong concern over United States #39; proposed sale of surveillance aircraft and anti-tank missiles to Pakistan to the visiting US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.


EU wants big cut in North Sea

About a fifth of cod fishing grounds in the North Sea would be closed for the whole of next year under draconian proposals by the European commission, published yesterday and designed to replenish seriously depleted stocks.


Fury in Japan as ashes found not to be remains of kidnapped girl

NORTH Koreas solemn return of the remains of a 13-year-old Japanese girl they kidnapped decades ago have proved to be a cruel trick, a furious Japan said yesterday.


Nuggets Halt Wizards

The Wizards are undone by Andre Miller's season-high 34 points and Denver's running offense in Wednesday's 111-105 loss.


Arrington Practices

LaVar Arrington participated in his first practice since Oct. 25, when he aggravated a knee injury that sidelined him for 10 games.


Ravens Look Ahead

The uncharacteristic performance of the Ravens' defense is still a touchy subject with linebacker Ray Lewis.


President Blasts Firing

Notre Dame's outgoing president criticized the decision to fire Tyrone Willingham after just three seasons, saying he was surprised the coach was not given more time to try to succeed.


ND Stops Indiana

Chris Thomas, Chris Quinn and Torin Francis each scored 13 points and Francis had 13 rebounds to lead Notre Dame past Indiana, 55-45.


Illini Could Be the 1

Illinois, off to a 7-0 start entering Thursday's game against Georgetown, felt all along it was the best team in the country.


Cavs Slip Past Furman

After their first loss of the season, the 19th-ranked Cavaliers came away with a sluggish 70-67 victory over Furman at Alumni Hall on Wednesday night.


Christians in Egyptian Church Stone Police (AP)

AP - Several thousand Christians who packed a cathedral compound in the Egyptian capital hurled stones at riot police Wednesday to protest a woman's alleged forced conversion to Islam. At least 30 people were injured.


Supreme Court challenges lawyer for Rwandan accused of triggering slaughter (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - A Supreme Court justice challenged a lawyer Wednesday who defended his Rwandan client's call in 1992 for the extermination of ethnic Tutsis prior to a bloody genocide in the African country.


Australia to Upgrade Embassy Security (AP)

AP - Australia's foreign ministry said Wednesday it will boost security spending at its embassies by  #36;452 million after a terror attack on the U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia left nine dead earlier this week.


U.S. Warns Iran Against Iraq Interference (AP)

AP - The Bush administration cautioned Iran on Wednesday against trying to influence the outcome of Iraq's election, reacting to fears that Tehran is trying to produce a Shiite-dominated Islamic government in Baghdad.


Troops' Queries Leave Rumsfeld on the Defensive

Iraq-bound troops complained that they were being sent into combat with insufficient protection and aging equipment.


Lockout in N.H.L. Puts Businesses on the Brink

In the many smaller cities that are reliant on hockey to enliven downtowns at night, the loss of a season is a significant blow.


US group raises Kidde offer

American engineering group United Technologies (UTC) yesterday moved a step closer to buying fire extinguisher maker Kidde. Kidde confirmed it was planning to open its books to UTC after receiving a revised 165p-a-share offer from the group.


Amazon burning makes Brazil a leading polluter

has made the country one of the world #39;s leading polluters, a long-delayed government report shows. up to 30 percent of the planet #39;s animal and plant species.


Pop-up Loophole Opens Browsers to Phishing Attacks

Security firm Secunia has warned that most Web browsers are vulnerable to a simple  quot;phishing quot; technique that could make fraudulent content appear genuine.


United Finish Second After Fener Defeat

An unfamiliar-looking Manchester United team slumped to their first defeat of this Champions League campaign as Uefa Cup-bound Fenerbahce won 3-0 in Istanbul.


6 Egyptians return back to their families, Azzam is grateful for <b>...</b>

The 6 Egyptian students who arrived from Israel, arrived in their houses in the outskirts of Cairo, amid joys and happiness of their families after they had spent one full day of investigations with the Egyptian security and intelligence forces.


Karzai turns to war on drugs and insurgents

Freshly installed Afghan Pres-ident Hamid Karzai was gearing up yesterday to address tribal leaders on the need to eliminate this war-ravaged country #39;s booming drug trade, an aide said.


5 Pacers and 5 Fans Are Charged in Fight

No Pistons players were charged for the Nov. 19 brawl the brother of Detroit's Ben Wallace, was charged for throwing punches at the Pacers' Fred Jones.


Death toll in Asian quake disaster passes 144,000 (AFP)

AFP - The number of people killed in the massive earthquake and tidal waves that hit Indian Ocean shorelines a week ago passed 144,000.


Browser phishing  #39;flaw #39; could hook users

com December 8, 2004, 4:50 PM PT. A function built into all major browsers could be co-opted by attackers to fool Web site visitors into surrendering sensitive information, a security firm warned on Wednesday.


Skis Rossignol stock sizzles on Quicksilver (AFP)

AFP - Shares in French group Skis Rossignol, the biggest manufacturer of ski equipment in the world, sizzled upwards by 12.66 percent in the first trading session of the New Year followiing a newspaper interview that US sports group Quicksilver was stalking a stake.


Garey Has the Answer

Maryland's Jason Garey has the second-highest goal total in the country this season, and could emerge as the key figure in Friday's College Cup semifinal against defending champion Indiana.


Patriots Finally Prevail

George Mason's 70-62 over Georgetown has everything a local rivalry should have: wild momentum swings, scrappy play and even a little blood.


Pistons Prevail in OT

Richard Hamilton scores six of his 19 points in overtime as Detroit holds off Toronto, 90-86, Wednesday night.


I.B.M. Prepares Substitution for Pensions of New Hires

I.B.M. is planning to close its employee pension plan to new employees at the end of the year and give all new workers a 401(k) plan instead.


Amazon's 'morning nightmare' lasts 11 days, and counting

Peak-time woes bedevil merchants, customers


Snow to Remain Treasury's Chief, White House Says

Treasury Secretary John W. Snow will remain in his job after weeks in which Republicans had talked openly about his impending departure.


Oracle to 'Oversupport' PeopleSoft Customer -Ellison

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Business software maker Oracle  Corp. ORCL.O will do everything it can to support PeopleSoft  Inc. PSFT.O customers, who are vital to the success of  Oracle's proposed \$9.2 billion takeover of PeopleSoft, Oracle  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Larry Ellison said on Wednesday.


HP Pressured to Sell PC Business After IBM Deal

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ.N will be  under pressure to sell its personal computer business after  IBM's decision to sell its PC operations to China's top PC  manufacturer, but analysts said the No. 2 computer maker would  hold on to its \$25 billion PC division for now.


Ex-U.S. Cyber Security Chief Sees Curb on Phishing

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A former White House Web security  chief predicted on Wednesday that technology companies and law  enforcers could soon stamp out most Internet "phishing" scams  that aim to trick people into giving away personal and  financial information.


Chinese Companies Seen Following Lenovo-IBM Lead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - China, already a manufacturing  powerhouse, is flexing its financial muscles as companies based  there snatch up famous-name products from established companies  in the United States and Europe looking to divest low-margin  businesses.


South America Eyes EU-Style Integration

CUZCO, Peru (Reuters) - South American leaders on Wednesday  launched a regional integration pact they said would go beyond  rhetoric and usher in European-style unity, but only half the  future bloc's 12 presidents turned up to sign it.


Sun Plans to Call on Lenovo After IBM Deal-CEO

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Scott McNealy is looking forward  to making an early sales call on Lenovo's new CEO as soon as  the company's \$1.25 billion deal to buy IBM's PC business  closes, the Sun Microsystems CEO said on Wednesday.


Film Industry Sues DVD Jukebox Maker

A film industry group has sued a high-end consumer electronics company, claiming its home theater jukebox system makes illegal copies of movie DVDs.


D.C.-Area Video Game Stores Targeted in Piracy Raid

Federal authorities raided three Washington, D.C.-area video game stores and arrested two people for modifying video game consoles to play pirated video games, a video game industry group said Wednesday.


Groups Debate Slower Strategy on Gay Rights

Gay rights leaders are debating if they should moderate their goals after 11 states approved constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriages.


Pain of War Draws Bead on New York Region

Since Nov. 7, 19 servicemen from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have been killed in Iraq.


Senate Approves Intelligence Bill

The Senate vote, 89 to 2, ended a debate that began last summer with the release of the final report of the 9/11 panel.


Lenovo acquires IBM #39;s personal computing division

Chinese PC vendor Lenovo announced its acquisition of IBM #39;s Personal Computing Division (PCD) for a combination of cash and stock totaling US\$1.25 billion.


Ellison: Oracle Will Ship PeopleSoft #39;s Next-Generation Products

SAN FRANCISCOOracle Corp. will complete development and ship the next version of PeopleSoft #39;s flagship enterprise applications even if it ultimately succeeds in buying out its competitor.


Australian Nickel Miner Announces Upgrade

Australian mining company WMC Resources Ltd. on Thursday forecast record profits for 2004 and announced plans to return up to 1 billion Australian dollars (US\$761 million; euro570 million) to shareholders


Steering California #39;s Fight on Emissions

Fran Pavley, a soft-spoken, retired schoolteacher who went into California politics, probably never thought she would find herself defending the environmental credentials of Gov.


Panel Urges Shuttle Mission to Help Hubble

Contradicting NASA policy in a long and bitter debate over science and safety, a panel of the National Academy of Sciences said Wednesday that the


Disney Picks Sony Format for DVD #39;s of Its Films

The Walt Disney Company and its home video division, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, said yesterday that they would release films in the next-generation high-definition DVD format being developed


Astronomers Contemplate Icy Volcanoes in Far Places

Hundreds of tiny worlds circling beyond Neptune have been thought of as frozen in time, almost unchanged since they formed at the birth of the solar system five billion years ago.


China Bans British Football Computer Game

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


5 Pacers and 5 Fans Are Charged in Fight

Nearly three weeks after the brawl that left an indelible scar on the NBA, five Indiana Pacers and five Pistons fans were charged Wednesday with misdemeanor assault and battery.


Captain Gerrard Helps Liverpool Overcome Champions League Odds

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said he thought his team was heading out of the Champions League midway through yesterday #39;s match against Olympiakos.


Real Madrid beat Roma

Two second-half goals from Luis Figo made sure Real Madrid put a recent bad streak behind them and qualified for the UEFA Champions League #39;s last 16 knockout round.


Redknapp unrepentant about move from Portsmouth to Southampton? <b>...</b>

Harry Redknapp shocked Portsmouth two weeks ago by quitting to take a break from soccer. Now those same fans are in a rage _ he #39;s joined the one club they despise.


Juve draw showed Maccabi deserved place in elite - coach

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Nir Klinger said his side fully deserved their place in the Champions League despite finishing bottom of Group C after a 1-1 home draw with Juventus on Wednesday.


Karimi named AFC Player of the Year

Iranian striker Ali Karimi was named 2004 Asian Player of the Year on Wednesday at the Asian Football Confederation awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


No. 10 Kentucky 71, Morehead St. 40

A strong defensive effort helped Kentucky overcome poor shooting against instate rival Morehead State on Wednesday night. Kelenna Azubuike scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half


Iraqis may extend election amid violence

Iraq may modify plans for its first free election to give people more time to vote next month, officials said on Wednesday as suicide bombers and gunmen again struck Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital.


NATO seeks to boost image in Middle East

Middle East. But the results have been patchy, with many in the Arab world regarding it as a. and social reforms in the Middle East and Africa.


Knicks Swat Hornets 86-79 (AP)

AP - Stephon Marbury had 22 points and nine assists to help the New York Knicks end a three-game losing streak with an 86-79 victory over New Orleans on Wednesday night, dropping the Hornets to 0-9 at home.


Pistons Stop Raptors 90-86 in Overtime (AP)

AP - Richard Hamilton scored six of his 19 points in overtime as the Detroit Pistons held off the Toronto Raptors 90-86 on Wednesday night.


Boston Red Sox Sign Pitcher Matt Mantei (Reuters)

Reuters - The World Series Champion Boston\Red Sox have signed relief pitcher Matt Mantei to a one-year\contract worth  #36;750,000.


Boston Red Sox Sign Pitcher Matt Mantei

BOSTON (Sports Network) - The World Series Champion Boston  Red Sox have signed relief pitcher Matt Mantei to a one-year  contract worth \$750,000.


Padres Sign Williams and Blum

ST. LOUIS, Mo., (Sports Network) - San Diego signed pitcher  Woody Williams and infielder Geoff Blum on Wednesday to  one-year, free-agent contracts.


Oracle mixes messages on PeopleSoft support

At its user conference on Wednesday, Oracle continued sending mixed messages to PeopleSoft customers concerned about how Oracle will support their products if it succeeds in its \$9.2 billion takeover bid.


Oracle CEO: Centralizing data took 5 years

Oracle's recently completed consolidation to a single, global system for enterprise data took five years, Oracle Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison told OpenWorld attendees Wednesday during his keynote address at Oracle's user conference being held in San Francisco.


Giant Retailer Web Sites Hit With Outages

Walmart.com, Amazon.com suffer site performance problems during holiday shopping.


NVidia Will Supply Graphics Chip for New PlayStation

PlayStation 3 graphics chip will also be available for Sony digital consumer products.


Gazprom Gets \$10 Bln Loan, Plans Bond, Bankers Say (Update2)

OAO Gazprom, the world #39;s biggest natural-gas company, will borrow \$10 billion from six banks led by Deutsche Bank AG to help finance a bid for OAO Yukos Oil Co.


Automakers draw battleline with California

Toyota, General Motors and seven other automakers filed suit on Tuesday to block California #39;s new greenhouse gas regulation, which was approved by the state in its final form in September.


Mobile firms sign 'Super 3G' deal

NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone and 24 other mobile phone firms and manufacturers join forces to develop the next generation of high-speed networks.


NO NERVES FOR CONFIDENT ALMUNIA

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia insists he can handle the pressure if he keeps his place for Sundays Barclays Premiership showdown with Chelsea.


Gaza Settlers Seek to Keep Communities

Residents of some Jewish settlements in the northern Gaza Strip have proposed that their entire communities be moved to locations inside Israel under Prime Minister Ariel


Gazprom board approves Yukos bid

MOSCOW (AFP) - The Russian gas giant Gazprom said its board of directors had given its go-ahead for the state-controlled firm to bid for the main production unit of embattled oil group Yukos.


Cheaper flights to Britain

VIRGIN Atlantic chairman Sir Richard Branson yesterday promised Australian travellers cheaper flights to Britain and attacked the cosy duopoly of Kangaroo route leaders Qantas Airways Ltd and British Airways.


Cheers Greet Rescuers in Aceh, Children Suffer

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - U.S. helicopters shuttled  injured refugees, many of them children, out of some of the  worst hit parts of tsunami-devastated Aceh province, even as  reports surfaced of trafficking in orphans from the disaster.


Asia Tech Stocks Weak, Dollar Firm (Reuters)

Reuters - Weak tech stocks dragged Asian shares\lower on Thursday, outweighing the positive impact on exporters\of a dollar rebound, and knocking 1.2 percent off Tokyo shares\to threaten the biggest one-day fall since Nov. 22.


Doubts raised about robots fixing Hubble

The nation #39;s most prominent science advisers Wednesday urged NASA to send shuttle astronauts instead of robots on a repair mission to the aging Hubble telescope because humans have a substantially greater chance of fixing it.


Scientists Crack Chicken #39;s Genetic Code

Scientists have cracked the genetic code of the chicken, showing it shares about 60 percent of its genes with humans and has a common ancestor that lived about 310 million years ago.


Amazon creates greenhouse gas

THE burning and deforestation of Brazil #39;s vast Amazon rain forest causes nearly 3 per cent of the world #39;s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a government report released today.


Ministry of Culture bans Premier Manager 2005

Ministry of Culture recently demanded the various cultural departments across the country to ban a kind of computer named Premier Manager 2005, or Soccer Manager 2005.


Knicks swat Hornets 86-79

Stephon Marbury had 22 points and nine assists to help the New York Knicks end a three-game losing streak with an 86-79 victory over New Orleans on Wednesday night, dropping the Hornets to 0-9 at home.


IBM Reassures Workers After Milestone China Deal

During an IBM employee meeting here Wednesday, a worker got up and asked a question that perhaps only 10 years ago would have been unthinkable: If he wanted


Auto Makers Sue to Block New California Emission Rule

DALLAS -- Auto makers filed suit Tuesday to block California from forcing the companies to make cars and trucks that emit lower levels of global-warming gases.


Hospitals Use Technology to Aid Patients (AP)

AP - Lucille Lamarca could feel her heart begin to beat at a worrisome pace as she lay there alone in the intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital with a heart condition. Then from a speaker came a reassuring voice.


IceRocket Launches RSS Feed Builder

IceRocket Launches RSS Feed Builder\\IceRocket is at it again! The search engine that brought the world a hip alternative to Google along with news, blog, and MoBlog search has just added an excellent tool for web site publishers, an RSS Feed Builder. IceRocket's RSS Builder is an easy to use ...


Google AdSense to Introduce Animated Banner Advertising\\Google has announced a number of changes for their Adsense advertising program that has become the mainstay of many blogs and websites. In what could be considered somewhat contriversial, Google has announced as part of an expansion of its image ad program they will ...


Search Engine Friendly Blog URLs and other Word Tricks

Search Engine Friendly Blog URL's and other Word Tricks\\When writing a blog, particularly for the first time, the last thing many bloggers consider is the use of Search Engine Friendly (SEF) Blog URL's. SEF Blog URL's are an important tool for driving traffic to your blog utilising the billions of ...


Blingo Search Engine Offers Prizes To Users\\Blingo is a new search engine offering users something extra along with their search results. Every time users search on Blingo, they also have a chance to win a prize instantly. Don't confuse Blingo with Plinko, the Price is Right game where we all ...


EffectiveBrand Showcases Travelocity Travel Search Toolbar\\Busy travelers shopping for the right priced flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals have turned to Travelocity on many occassions for their online travel needs. Making Travelocity one of the premier online travel sites - compared with Yahoo Travel and MSN's Expedia. Such popularity in ...


Oracle piles Files, App Server and Collab Suite on users

McNealy warns Ellison: 'Beware of our Redmond friends'


For Satellite Radio Fans, Northern Exposure

Canadian musicians may get more exposure if satellite radio, with its hundreds of channels, is approved in Canada.


All This, and They Take Pictures, Too

What will \$300 buy in a digital camera this year? A comparison of a dozen models to see how much quality (and how many megapixels) you can get.


Giving Gamers Another Window on Their World

The newest piece of hardware in the video game wars, the Nintendo DS hand-held console, is out to prove that two is better than one.


Tom Swift's New Camera, Ready for Space and Spies

Clifford Ross has invented a camera capable of producing negatives containing 100 times as much data as the average professional digital camera.


Campina and Arla churn up dairy merger

Falling milk prices, evaporating European Union subsidies and tougher demands by supermarket chains yesterday nudged two of Europe #39;s leading dairy companies into the biggest merger in the continent #39;s dairy industry.


DreamWorks Animation delays release of Shrek 3 by six months

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the studio behind the animated hit Shrek 2, said Wednesday that Shrek 3 will be released six months later than previously scheduled as the result in a shift in marketing strategy.


Economy expands, but only marginally

The economic growth rate in the July-September period was revised slightly downward from an already weak preliminary report, the government said Wednesday.


UTC makes new offer for Kidde as deadline looms

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES (UTC), which has just seven days left to launch a formal bid for Kidde, is likely to ask the Takeover Panel for a deadline extension, after raising its offer by 42 million to 1.39 billion yesterday.


Giving a little bit back

Its mid-morning and a cold breeze scuttles leaves and small debris past Kenny Banks as he stands in the shade of Kmarts entrance, ringing his bell.


Supreme Court Limits Trademark Protection

By Bloomberg News. The United States Supreme Court limited the scope of federal trademark protection yesterday, saying that rival companies in some cases can use proprietary terms even when that might cause confusion among customers.


Tech Buying Guide: DVD Players and Recorders

DVD players: Buying a DVD player shouldn #39;t be a problem these days, but understanding all the features crammed into it may be.


MN to issue high-tech-driver #39;s licenses

Minnesota will soon begin issuing new driver #39;s licenses that contain high-tech features to curb counterfeiting, as well as a  quot;status check quot; that will show a driver #39;s immigration status.


Shaq Leads Heat Past Bucks 101-96 (AP)

AP - Shaquille O'Neal scored eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Miami Heat to a 101-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.


Raptors Carter Hurt; Pistons Roll in OT

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 8 (Ticker) -- Richard Hamilton scored 19 points, including six in overtime, as the Detroit Pistons outlasted the Toronto Raptors, 90-86.


Knicks Swat Hornets 86-79

New York Knicks #39; Stephon Marbury (3) fires over New Orleans Hornets #39; Dan Dickau (2) during the second half in New Orleans Wednesday night, Dec. 8, 2004.


Sands Eyes More Casino-Hotels in Macau (AP)

AP - U.S. gaming company Las Vegas Sands Inc. wants to build six more hotels that include some casinos in an area of the southern Chinese gambling enclave of Macau it hopes to model after the Las Vegas Strip.


Singapore growth set to contract

Singapore's economy grows by 8.1 in 2004,  as a surge in manufacturing demand drove its best performance since 2000.


Aborigines Accuse Gov't. of Humiliation (AP)

AP - The Australian government has been accused of humiliating Aborigines plagued by a blinding infection after offering to provide their community with a gasoline pump if they agreed to make their children wash their faces twice a day.


College Basketball: Kentucky, Virginia Win

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sports Network) - Kelenna Azubuike poured  in a game-high 21 points, Shagari Alleyne added 11 points and  Kentucky rolled past Morehead State, 71-40, in non-conference  play at Rupp Arena.


Billboard awards honour hitmakers

R B stars Usher and Alicia Key  dominate the Billboard Awards in Las Vegas.


Attacks Sabotage Iraq Reconstruction

While attacks on U.S. soldiers remain fairly random and opportunistic, insurgent fighters are targeting places that Iraqis rely on for assistance, frustrating politicians, police and U.S. Army officers.


Powell Urges Europe To Reconcile With U.S.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell urged Europeans on Wednesday to put aside their differences with the United States over the Iraq war, arguing that Americans and Europeans have common values and face similar threats that should outweigh the controversies of recent years.


A Rousing Comeback For Home of the Beatles

Two decades ago, when this seaport city was mired in a deep and seemingly endless recession, Mike Byrne, a local musician and businessman, sought public funds to help build an exhibition dedicated to Liverpool's most famous native sons, the Beatles.


Gunfire Wounds 14 as Venezuela Street Vendors Riot

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan police firingtear gas and shotgun pellets clashed with rioting streetvendors in Caracas on Wednesday and 14 people were treated forgunshot wounds, officials and witnesses said.


Halliburton Focuses on Brazil Project

Halliburton Co. has finalized an agreement to resolve outstanding issues with a troublesome project off the coast of Brazil, the company announced Wednesday.


Halliburton Settles Brazil Oil Project

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oilfield services company HalliburtonCo. <HAL.N> on Wednesday said its KBR unit had settled alloutstanding issues with state-owned Brazilian oil companyPetrobras over the Barracuda-Caratinga project, which has beenplagued by delays and cost overruns.


Oil chief held over \$550m trading loss

China Aviation Oil (Singapore) chief executive Chen Jiulin, who was suspended last week after the company lost about \$550 million (R3.16 billion) trading derivatives, was arrested on his return to Singapore from China, police said yesterday.


Brown to press for  #39;Marshall Plan for Africa #39;

Gordon Brown has declared that the creation of a  quot;Marshall Plan for Africa quot; is at the heart of the government #39;s agenda for its presidency of the Group of Eight in 2005, seeking


Oil Prices Rise for Second Day in a Row (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices rose for the second day in\a row on Thursday with an Arctic blast forecast to hit the\United States next week, ramping up demand for heating fuels.


Nikkei Falls as Xilinx Hits Tech Shares (Reuters)

Reuters - Japan's Nikkei stock average fell to a\one-week low by midsession on Thursday after some tech issues\were hit by a bearish outlook from U.S. chip maker Xilinx Inc.


Oil Prices Rise for Second Day in a Row

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for the second day in  a row on Thursday with an Arctic blast forecast to hit the  United States next week, ramping up demand for heating fuels.


Nikkei Falls as Xilinx Hits Tech Shares

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average fell to a  one-week low by midsession on Thursday after some tech issues  were hit by a bearish outlook from U.S. chip maker Xilinx Inc.


Dollar Extends Recovery Against Euro, Yen

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar rebounded for a second session  on Thursday as traders and investors took profits on bets  against the U.S. currency before the year draws to a close.


Fannie Mae Settles Case in Mortgage Scam

Fannie Mae yesterday agreed to pay the government \$7.5 million to settle a case in which the Justice Department alleged that the giant housing-finance company knowingly accepted proceeds of a mortgage scam.


New DVD Has Dual-Layered Surface (AP)

AP - Two Japanese companies said Tuesday they have developed a DVD that can play on both existing machines and the upcoming high-definition players, raising hopes for a smooth transition as more people dump old TV sets for better screens.


Scientists decode chicken DNA

The latest creature to have its DNA fully decoded is the chicken. Scientists from 49 countries announce the completion of the International Chicken Genome Sequencing Project today in the science journal Nature.


Oracle, Dell, Intel, and EMC join to develop Megagrid

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--Oracle, Dell, Intel, and EMC are joining forces on a project aimed at combining their core technologies and technical resources to develop an enterprise grid computing


REVIEW: Waterproof IPod Housing All Wet (AP)

AP - After you've joined the music revolution and plunked down  #36;250 for an Apple iPod mini, it's easy to become quite protective of the little gizmo.


U.K., Irish Leaders Unveil Peace Package (AP)

AP - The British and Irish prime ministers unveiled a sweeping new Northern Ireland peace plan Wednesday that offered solutions to issues  #151; particularly Irish Republican Army disarmament  #151; that have bedeviled negotiations for a decade.


Congress Votes to Free Up E-Rate Funds (Reuters)

Reuters - Legislation to free hundreds of\millions of dollars in subsidies for school Internet\connections that had been frozen by a change in accounting\rules won final approval on Wednesday from the U.S. Congress.


UN members give Annan standing ovation in first appearance after <b>...</b>

UNITED NATIONS - Secretary General Kofi Annan received a standing ovation Wednesday from diplomats representing the 191 UN member states, a rare public display of support for the beleaguered UN chief following recent calls for his resignation from


Karzai turns attention to Afghanistans drug trade

KABUL - Only two days after his inauguration, President Hamid Karzai is already trying to get the message out -- Afghanistan needs to stem its booming drugs trade if the country is going to move forward.


N-capable Hatf-IV test-fired

ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan successfully test-fired Hatf-IV (Shaheen-I), a nuclear-capable medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, it was officially announced here on Wednesday.


Palestinian presidential candidate says Israeli soldiers beat him

RAMALLAH - Palestinian presidential candidate Mustafa Barghouti said on Wednesday that Israeli soldiers had beat him at an army checkpoint south of Jenin in the West Bank.


Worldwide PC Market Is Expected to Grow (AP)

AP - The global personal computer market is expected to grow at a modest pace in 2005 as the economic recovery slows, according to a report Wednesday by a market research firm.


Alamosa to Buy AirGate for  #36;392 Million (Reuters)

Reuters - Alamosa Holdings Inc.  will\acquire AirGate PCS Inc.  for  #36;392 million in stock\creating the largest Sprint Corp.  wireless affiliate,\the companies said on Wednesday.


McNealy: Sun still strong on Oracle (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - SAN FRANCISCO -- Despite Oracle #8217;s strategic push for Linux- and Intel-based deployments, Sun Microsystems retains its position as the leading platform for Oracle, Sun Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy said Wednesday at the Oracle OpenWorld conference here.


Oracle's Ellison Confident in PeopleSoft (AP)

AP - 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.


HP Pressured to Sell PC Business After IBM Deal (Reuters)

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co.  will be\under pressure to sell its personal computer business after\IBM's decision to sell its PC operations to China's top PC\manufacturer, but analysts said the No. 2 computer maker would\hold on to its  #36;25 billion PC division for now.


Apple pitches music industry on U2-style promos (MacCentral)

MacCentral - U2 has been a familiar sight to iTunes Music Store visitors in recent weeks, with the online music store featuring everything from a U2-themed iPod to a digital boxed set of the Irish rock band's recordings. And if Apple has its way, other musical acts will enjoy a similar promotional push as part of an effort to bolster business at the online store, the director of iTunes product marketing told a gathering of music industry executives Wednesday.


Blair Seeks New Global Climate Pact with Bush -Paper (Reuters)

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


Pygmy Chimpanzees on Brink of Extinction -WWF (Reuters)

Reuters - Pygmy chimpanzees, one of\humanity's closest living relatives, have been pushed to the\brink of extinction in the war-battered Democratic Republic of\Congo, conservation group WWF International said on Thursday.


Astronauts, Not Robots Should Upgrade Hubble-Panel (Reuters)

Reuters - Shuttle astronauts would do a better\job of upgrading NASA's aging Hubble Space Telescope than\space-faring robots -- with less risk, astronautical experts\reported on Wednesday.


NASA Urged to Scrap Hubble Robot Rescue (AP)

AP - NASA should use astronauts, not a robot, to carry out a crucial life-prolonging mission to the acclaimed Hubble Space Telescope one last time, a National Academy of Sciences panel concluded Wednesday.


Pygmy Chimpanzee May Be Near Extinction (AP)

AP - One of man's closest relatives, the pygmy chimpanzee, may be much closer to extinction than previously thought, a conservation group said Thursday.


Chicken Genome Should Boost DNA Research (AP)

AP - In their first detailed and comprehensive look at the DNA of chickens, scientists have found that 60 percent of the bird's genes have close cousins in humans. They say such analysis should prove valuable in learning more about the human genome.


Summary: New Drug Fights Breast Cancer (AP)

AP - THE REPORT: Doctors are reporting that a new breast cancer drug, Arimidex, and others in its class outperform the tried-and-true tamoxifen at preventing recurrence in older women.


Sox Meet With Martinez

Pedro Martinez briefly meets with Red Sox owner John Henry and president Larry Lucchino while passing through the airport.


Alomar Signs With Texas

Six-time All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. agrees to a one-year contract with the Rangers to be a part-time player next season.


The Season's Seesaw of Sales

Shoppers expecting big, across-the-board price cuts in the run-up to Christmas may be in for an unpleasant surprise.


Chiron's  Suspension Extended

British regulators have extended their suspension of Chiron Corp.'s license to manufacture flu vaccine, jeopardizing the company's ability to sell millions of flu shots in the United States next flu season.


Job Provision Born of Riggs Scandal

Congress's newly passed intelligence  bill contains a provision adopted in response to the Riggs Bank scandal: It requires senior federal bank examiners to wait a year before accepting private-sector jobs with financial institutions they regulated as government employees.


'Retired' Rapper Finds a Job Atop Def Jam

Proving yet again that he is the hardest-working retiree in music, the rap megastar Jay-Z has agreed to become the president of Universal Music Group's Def Jam Recordings label.


NBC Gives Martha Stewart an After-Prison Show

Martha Stewart will host an hour-long, daily syndicated show with a live audience when she gets out of prison, her company said today.


Top Russian Mobile Operator VimpelCom Handed \$157M Tax Bill

Russias Federal Tax Service has presented the countrys second largest mobile operator VimpelCom with tax claims for 2001. The total amount of claims including fines and penalties is 4.4 billion rubles (\$157 million).


NBA Wrap: Timberwolves Rout Sixers by 35 Points (Reuters)

Reuters - Eddie Griffin scored a career-high 27\points and Latrell Sprewell returned from suspension to score\24 as Minnesota clobbered the Philadelphia 76ers 119-84 in


Georgias Pollack wins Lombardi Award

The schools all-time leader in sacks with 33, the senior defensive end added something even more prestigious to his legacy Wednesday as he was named winner of the Lombardi Award by the Rotary Club of Houston.


Grizzlies 97, Hawks 89

ATLANTA The Memphis Grizzlies beat Atlanta 97-to-89 tonight for their third win in four games under new coach Mike Fratello. Mike Miller and Stromile Swift added 13 points, and Lorenzen Wright and Earl Watson each had eleven for the Grizzlies.


BLAIR PEACE HOPES

A HISTORIC deal to end IRA violence forever will be struck, Tony Blair insisted yesterday. The PM remained optimistic after Ulster #39;s politicians failed to come to a landmark agreement.


Nato Holds Key Talks with Israel and Arab States

Nato has held unprecedented ministerial talks with Israel and six Arab nations aiming to strengthen ties with friends on the alliances volatile southern and south-eastern flanks.


Soccer: Real, Liverpool Advance in Champions League

LONDON (Reuters) - Former European champions Real Madrid  and Liverpool scored vastly contrasting victories to reach the  knockout round of the Champions League Wednesday.


Search Engine Optimization For Blogs

Search Engine Optimization For Blogs  \\Blogging software is really a simple Content Management System (CMS) that easily adds new pages and integrates them into your site's navigational structure and linkage. Blogs and blog posts are naturally search engine friendly because they are text-rich, link-rich, frequently-updated webpages that use stylesheets ...


Campina, Arla agree to merge to form largest dairy cooperative

LONDON, December 8 (newratings.com) - European dairy firms, Arla Foods AmbA (ARU.ISE) and Campina BV, have agreed to merge and form the worlds largest farmer owned dairy cooperative.


Sophos declares Netsky-P worst virus of 2004

com December 8, 2004, 9:37 AM PT. Netsky-P tops the list of the worst virus outbreaks in 2004--a year marked with nearly a 52 percent increase in new viruses, according to a report


Ajax make point to grab UEFA slot

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Ajax Amsterdam qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing third in Champions League Group C with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.


Carter injured in Raptors OT loss

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Toronto Raptors extended the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons to overtime but to little avail, losing 90-86 and Vince Carter to injury.


No. 16 Minnesota 60, Wis-Green Bay 51

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Janel McCarville had her usual double-double down low, but it was two big outside shots from the guards that made the difference for No.


Differences on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus minor hiccup: Tarigami

New Delhi, Dec. 8 (PTI): Terming the differences between India and Pakistan regarding the proposed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service a  quot;minor hiccup quot;, CPI(M) leader from Jammu and Kashmir Yusuf Tarigami, said he was hopeful of the bus link starting soon.


Shares of PC maker Lenovo slump after IBM deal

HONG KONG : Shares in China #39;s largest personal computer-maker Lenovo fell in Hong Kong trade, as they resumed trading after the company #39;s purchase of American IBM #39;s PC-making business.


Colgate-Palmolive cuts back

Colgate-Palmolive, the consumer products company, said yesterday that it would close about a third of its factories and cut more than 4,400 jobs over the next four years as part


High Court decants controversial cases over direct shipment of <b>...</b>

On Dec. 7, wine became an issue in the halls of the US Supreme Court. Oral arguments were heard in two cases that challenge bans on interstate, direct-to-consumer wine shipments in Michigan and New York, meaning


Oh, Christmas Tree

For the past five years, Margaret and Phillip Moore have been making the three-hour drive up from Atlanta to choose and cut their own Christmas tree from Ds Trees, a farm located on Cane Creek in Cullowhee.


South America Eyes EU-Style Integration (Reuters)

Reuters - South American leaders on Wednesday\launched a regional integration pact they said would go beyond\rhetoric and usher in European-style unity, but only half the\future bloc's 12 presidents turned up to sign it.


US Special Forces Punished for Iraq Prisoner Abuse (Reuters)

Reuters - Four U.S. troops serving on an elite\special operations task force have been disciplined for abusing\prisoners in Iraq, including unauthorized use of Taser\electric-shock weapons, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.


Benitez Laughing All the Way to the Bank

Rafael Benitez won a prized reputation in Spain as a lucky manager...and hes certainly brought all that good fortune with him to Liverpool.


Woods give up number one to Vijay

Fame is nice. Fame gets you money, women and if you just so happen to be an athlete, your name in video games. Thousands of professional and college athletes around the country participate in these video games


Car Bomb Blast Near Allawi HQ in Baghdad Kills 2

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.


Tsunami Aid Faces Destruction and Possibly Pirates

BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) - The massive Asian tsunami  relief operation faces absolute chaos and "a wall of  devastation" in Indonesia as well as the threat of pirates  plundering aid, relief groups struggling to help thousands in  camps said on Monday.


Missile test will not affect dialogue process with India: Pak :

Islamabad, Dec 8 : Pakistan said today #39;s test-firing of its nuclear-capable ballistic missile, having a range of 700 km, will not affect the ongoing dialogue process with India and create a tense atmosphere between the two countries.


British court orders release of files in Britain-Indonesia probe (AFP)

AFP - A British court has ordered the release of files disclosing payments by a leading British arms company to the daughter of former Indonesian president Suharto, the Guardian newspaper reports.


Australian government offers Aborigines petrol if they wash their children (AFP)

AFP - Australia's conservative government has offered to supply a remote Aboriginal township with fuel if parents agreed to wash their children, under a controversial plan to end health problems plaguing indigenous communities.