Delta Woes Flown In From Saudi Arabia

NEW YORK - Recent reports on the Delta Air Lines pilots #39; agreement focus on the carrier #39;s pilots being the highest paid in the industry and on the possibility that the company may still declare bankruptcy, despite the \$1 billion cost-cutting deal


US Growth Under Forecast in 3rd Quarter

The US economy expanded at a 3.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter, below expectations but still bolstered by healthy consumer spending that was accompanied


Southwest Makes Midway Top Priority

Southwest Airlines says boosting its presence at Chicago #39;s Midway airport has just become its top priority, USA Today said Friday.


Ryanair makes EUR 4m offer over Charleroi

BRUSSELS - Low-cost airline Ryanair has finally struck a deal with the Walloon government over the EUR 4 million it owes following the European Commission ruling over Charleroi airport.


ChevronTexaco Profit Rises 62 on Higher Oil Prices (Update2)

ChevronTexaco Corp., the second- biggest US oil company, said third-quarter profit rose 62 percent on higher oil and natural-gas prices.


New  #39;Check 21 #39; law sinks check-floating practice

The practice of  quot;floating quot; a check until payday will become a thing of the past Oct. 28, when the new federal Check Clearing for the 21st Century


Microsoft Joins ISPs In Filing Anti-Spam Lawsuits

Joining America Online, EarthLink and Yahoo against spamming, Microsoft Corp. today announced the filing of three new anti-Spam lawsuits under the CAN-SPAM federal law as part of its initiative in solving the Spam problem for Internet users worldwide.


AMD has the PC for developing nations

Advanced Micro Devices has unveiled a stripped-down, low-cost computing device as part of a plan to move into developing markets. The chip maker aims to provide 50 per cent of the world with internet and computing


Drug-loaded contact lenses to treat eye diseases

When a person suffers from eye ailments today, nine times out of ten, he will be prescribed eye drops to treat his illness or relieve his discomfort.


PDA market in downward spiral reports IDC

palmOne is at the head of a downward spiral of the PDA market according to research group IDC. IDC #39;s figures showed a 8.7 per cent slump year on year for the third quarter of 2004 - the third successive quarter of year on year decline.


Chelsea sends Mutu packing

London, England (Sports Network) - Chelsea has told Adrian Mutu his services are no longer needed at the club after testing positive for cocaine use.


Manchester United manager wants to get to the bottom of  #39;Soupgate #39;

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants to get the bottom of the  quot;Soupgate quot; affair. Ferguson was forced to change clothes after United #39;s 2-0 victory Sunday over Arsenal.


Cricket: Fired-up Australia end 35-year drought as India hit new <b>...</b>

NAGPUR, India : World champions Australia conquered the final frontier here when they won their first series on Indian soil in 35 years with a 342-run rout in the third Test.


Chester gives Rush permission to talk with Wales

Chester has given Wales permission to talk with Ian Rush about the job as national team coach. A former Liverpool star, Rush took over the League Two team in August and has been mentioned as a successor to Mark Hughes.


Review: New 'Hawk' Game Most Thorough Ever (AP)

AP - There's only one thing better than riding a halfpipe ramp in "Tony Hawk's Underground 2"  #151; doing it in real life. Since I'm pretty sure that's never going to happen, I'll keep on defying gravity in this new game from Activision.


Fix EU executive  #39;crisis #39; urges Chirac

ROME, Oct 29 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac urged the head of the incoming European Commission Friday to take  quot;the appropriate decisions quot; to resolve a row over his EU executive team which has left the EU in limbo.


US Embassy warns diplomats to stay away from Marriott hotel

: Pakistani officials insisted that an explosion at the Marriott hotel in the capital city was caused by an electrical short-circuit, not a bomb, but the US Embassy today issued a warning


Ukraine challenger predicts mass cheating in vote

Liberal challenger Viktor Yushchenko predicted on Friday that Ukrainian authorities would resort to mass fraud to ensure victory for the establishment candidate in an increasingly tense weekend presidential poll.


Clear Channel Radio Ad Revenue Slips

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clear Channel Communications Inc.  CCU.N, the largest U.S. radio station chain, on Friday posted  higher operating earnings although radio advertising revenue  slipped on weak sales to its automotive and telecommunications  customers.


Thai PM to Address Nation as More Bombs Rock South

PATTANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Bomb blasts rocked southern  Thailand Friday as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told  southern Muslim leaders the deaths of 85 protesters in military  custody should have never happened.


HP, SuSE target German public sector

FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- The German subsidiaries of Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) and Novell Inc. are teaming to offer Linux-based products to the country's huge public sector.


Chinese vendor offers Linux mobile platform

FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- After launching two of the world's first Linux smart phones, China's E28 Ltd. is now offering handset manufacturers the opportunity to license its software and hardware designs based on the increasingly popular open-source operating system.


Move Over, Edison (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - MaryLou O'Malley wants to get something off her chest--or collarbone, more precisely. The 72-year-old is tired of having to adjust her necklace when it slips around her neck. Wouldn't it be wonderful, she says, if there were an adhesive to keep her jewelry stuck to her skin?


Accused Air India bomber is a victim of lies: defense lawyers (AFP)

AFP - A key prosecution witness is lying when he implicated one of the Sikh men charged with the mid-air bombing of an Air India plane that killed 329 people in 1985, the defense team argued in the closing arguments of the case.


GOP Seeks More Time for Military Ballots (AP)

AP - Under pressure from military voters and Republicans, Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell said Friday that he will ask a federal judge to extend the deadline for counting overseas ballots by one week.


Gravely Ill Arafat Arrives in France for Treatment

CLAMART, France (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser  Arafat, weakened by what doctors say may be leukemia, left the  West Bank for the first time in 2-1/2 years on Friday and flew  to France for treatment in a military hospital.


LookSmart Performs Despite MSN Split and Acquisitions\\LookSmart more or less broke even last quarter to the surprise of many analysts after LookSmart announced their financial results for the third quarter which ended on September 30, 2004. LookSmart currently provides paid search results through a distribution network that includes Lycos, CNET, ...


Vehicle for Change? (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - As Dieter Zetsche see it, DaimlerChrysler's diesel Jeep Liberty sport utility, due next month, should be an easy sell. Drivers in the U.S. need a powerful set of wheels that can travel 500 miles between fuel-ups. "This country should be the El Dorado for diesels," says the man who runs DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group.


Some Officials Seeking Shift From Pensions

Just days after the president of a huge California pension fund was ousted, some California officials are proposing that the state get out of the pension business and give state and municipal workers a 401(k) plan instead.


Nations voice concern for Arafat

Leaders around the world express concern for the health of ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.


Economy Grows at 3.7 Percent Annual Rate (AP)

AP - The economy grew at a 3.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter  #151; a pace slightly better than in the spring but not as strong as many analysts expected. Friday's government report was the last broad snapshot of economic activity before Election Day and provided political ammunition for both sides.


On the Run (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - The Bullrun is held every fall in Europe, every spring in the U.S. Routes change year to year. Entry fees ( #36;5,500 for Europe,  #36;14,000 for the U.S.) include hotels and food. Transportation to and from the race, gas, tolls, speeding tickets, the cost of your car and any repairs are extra. Participation is by invitation, so buttering up race organizers helps. ...


Washington Post Profit Up on Education,TV

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Post Co. WPO.N said on  Friday that quarterly profit jumped, beating analysts'  forecasts, boosted by results at its Kaplan education unit and  television broadcasting operations.


Packers' Favre, Green Miss Practice (Reuters)

Reuters - Green Bay Packers star\quarterback Brett Favre and top running back Ahman Green both\missed Thursday's practice with injuries.


Readers Say (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - We were surprised at the suggestion that Melaleuca is a "pyramid-selling organization" along the lines of Herbalife and Amway in "If You Believe" (Oct. 11, p. 89). That's as misleading as suggesting that a cow is similar to a cat just be-cause both are four-legged mammals.Whatever the similarities be-tween cats and cows, they do not make cats bovine nor cows feline. It's the many differences in our business model and culture that set Melaleuca apart from any multilevel marketing company. ...


Packers' Favre, Green Miss Practice

GREEN BAY, Wis. (Sports Network) - Green Bay Packers star  quarterback Brett Favre and top running back Ahman Green both  missed Thursday's practice with injuries.


Workplace Now Terrain of Politics (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - PELLA, Iowa  #8212; In this week's frenzied competition to boost voter turnout, the quiet effort of companies like Vermeer Manufacturing could prove crucial for the Bush campaign.


Horse Racing: Cream of US, Europe to Clash in Texas

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Reuters) - Betting on horses was  banned in Texas until as recently as 1987. Times have changed  rapidly since. Saturday, Lone Star Park race track hosts the  \$14 million Breeders Cup, global racing's end-of-season  extravaganza.


Intelligence Gathering: The Study of How the Brain Evolves Offers Insight into the Mind (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Is there really life out there?  Was a kinder, wetter Mars once dotted by bacterial blooms whose progeny now await our discovery?  Do unseen, alien microbes swim in the buried oceans of Europa, Callisto, or Ganymede?  What about Titan's sub-zero methane lakes?


NASA Prepares for Future Space Exploration Risk (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - CLEVELAND, OH \-- As NASA readies the space shuttle fleet to fly again, \the agency's risk management teams are also paying attention to risk issues that \affect the International Space Station.


Curfew in Liberia After Riots, Four Dead

MONROVIA (Reuters) - At least four people died in riots on  Friday in Liberia's capital, where U.N. peacekeepers fired in  the air to bring rampaging, stick-wielding youths under control  and a daylight curfew was in force.


Need a Yawner Investment?

If you're in the market for a safe little something for your portfolio, buy bonds.


US economy increases 3.7 percent in third quarter

The US economy increased at an annual rate of 3.7 percent in the third quarter of this year, the Commerce Department said in a report released on Friday.


#39;); //-- gt; Eye On Stocks

Bristol-Myers Squibb (nyse: BMY - news - people ) will report third-quarter earnings. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expect the pharmaceutical maker to earn 39 cents per share compared with 47 cents a year ago.


ChevronTexaco #39;s 3Q profit soars 62

ChevronTexaco #39;s (CVX) third-quarter profit improved 62 as the oil giant continued to cash in on record-high oil prices. The company said Friday that


Archer Daniels Midland Net Rises on Soy Processing (Update4)

Archer Daniels Midland Co., the world #39;s largest grain processor, said fiscal first-quarter profit rose 77 percent on improved results from sales of soy products, corn-based fuel and agricultural services.


Nexen to Buy EnCana #39;s UK Oil Business for \$2.1 Bln (Update4)

Nexen Inc. agreed to buy fellow Canadian energy company EnCana Corp. #39;s UK business for \$2.1 billion, gaining control of Britain #39;s biggest oil discovery in more than a decade amid record crude prices.


Update 1: Ad Sales Spur Growth at Washington Post

The Washington Post Co. earned \$82.5 million in its third quarter, the company reported Friday, well above the \$19.9 million it earned in the year-ago period, when results were weighed down by expenses for


Cassini spacecraft explores hazy Titan

The Cassini spacecraft, which provided scientists with amazing images of Saturn #39;s rings in July ( quot;Cassini-Huygens completes seven year journey to Saturn, quot; The Triangle, July 9, 2004) is now trying to repeat the feat with Saturn #39;s largest moon, Titan.


We May Not Be the Only Humans on Earth

A 3ft tall  #39;hobbit #39; discovered on a remote Indonesian island has raised the extraordinary possibility that our human species might not be alone on Earth.


AMD and VSNL to sell net communicator device in India

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has teamed with Videsh Sanchar Nigam (VSNL), a leading Indian telecommunications and internet services company, to market its Personal Internet Communicator (PIC) to consumers in India.


Forth Road Bridge corrosion found

A few broken steel wires and varying levels of corrosion have been found in the Forth Road Bridge #39;s support cables. The discovery was made during the first full-scale cable inspection in the bridge #39;s 40-year history.


A monkey off their back

THE wait is over. Australia yesterday stormed the barricades to its final frontier and plundered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with one of its biggest victories in Test history.


Queen honours former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola

Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has been chosen by the Queen to become an honorary citizen of the British empire. British ambassador to Italy Sir Ivor Roberts will present Zola with the honour Monday  quot;for his service to British football.


49ers QB Rattay questionable for Sunday

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Tim Rattay is listed as questionable for Sunday #39;s game against the Chicago Bears with a forearm injury.


Review: New  #39;Hawk #39; game most thorough ever

There #39;s only one thing better than riding a halfpipe ramp in  quot;Tony Hawk #39;s Underground 2 quot; - doing it in real life.


SEC PREVIEW

Tennessee at South Carolina (11:30 am): The 11th-ranked Volunteers (6-1, 4-1 SEC) continue on the road to Atlanta despite a misfiring offense.


Erdogan and Gul Sign EU Constitution

The signature ceremony for the European Constitution agreement and a final bill have been completed. Host country Italy #39;s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, made a speech at the ceremony saying that October


Liberia violence sparks daylight curfew

MONROVIA, LIBERIA - The capital of Liberia is under curfew Friday following an outbreak of violence that reportedly left churches and a mosque in flames.


The eternal circle of the Iraqi insurgency

In all likelihood, US troops and the nascent Iraqi military will storm the rebel city of Fallujah in the very near future. The so-called  quot;City of Mosques quot; has been under sustained air assault


Bristol-Myers Profit Down, So Are Shares

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. BMY.N on  Friday said quarterly profit fell 16 percent on special charges  and lower U.S. sales amid competition from rival brands and  cheaper generics.


Too Close to Call?

The votes won't be counted for another four days, but that's not stopping mathematicians, online bettors and traditional pollsters from trying to predict a Bush or Kerry victory. -washingtonpost.com


Mexico rats survive cat onslaught

Health officials in the Mexican state of Chihuahua fail in their effort to deal with a rat plague by sending in hundreds of cats.


DreamWorks Draws a Crowd

DreamWorks Animation has an IPO with more green than its signature ogre, Shrek.


Google Adds AdWords To Froogle Shopping Feed\\Google has announced in their Froogle Friends Newsletter that Froogle will be adding an Ad Automator to Froogle where merchants with over 1000 products who are also AdWords advertisers are invited to try out the beta release of their new ad-producing technology. This seems ...


Cavaliers Decline Option on Wagner (AP)

AP - Guard Dajuan Wagner will become a free agent after this season because the Cleveland Cavaliers declined their  #36;3.4 million contract option for 2005-06 on Friday.


Report: China's Imports of Steel Fall (AP)

AP - China's steel imports declined over the first nine months of the year in reaction to higher international prices, while exports soared, state media reported Friday.


Fierce clashes in Somali regions

Fighting erupts between forces of the self-declared Somaliland republic and those of Puntland, an autonomous region of Somalia.


Argonaut founder rebuilds empire

The founder of Argonaut games went into administration a week ago has bought back most of the group.


Andrew Rawnsley

They have been disappointed, those hoping that they might get to see David Blunkett pursuing his paternity case against Kimberly Quinn by donning a Batman suit and clambering on to the ledge of Buckingham Palace.


High-Tech Japan Aims to Stop Counterfeit Banknotes

TOKYO (Reuters) - Holograms and kaleidoscopes of shimmering  colors will be part of Japan's latest hi-tech response to the  growing number of banknote counterfeiting cases troubling  authorities.


Things that go bump on the Net

Sun President Jonathan Schwartz has a pre-Halloween case of the creeps--and for good reason.


Australia #39;s National Foods flags 14 per cent profit growth

Australian milk producer National Foods Ltd. said on Friday it expects its fiscal 2005 net profit to grow by about 14 per cent, spurred mainly by a raft of new products which lifted its market share.


Ryanair Won #39;t Use Aid, Pending Appeal

Ryanair Holdings PLC will repay 4 million euros (\$5.1 million) in aid from a regional government in Belgium while it appeals a European Union finding that the funding was illegal.


Merck Pain Reliever Gets Preliminary OK

The Food and Drug Administration told Merck  amp; Co. that it would approve the company #39;s successor drug to the now defunct pain reliever Vioxx if it provides further safety and


Washington Post Profit Up on Education,TV

Washington Post Co. (WPO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday that quarterly profit jumped, beating analysts #39; forecasts, boosted by results at its Kaplan education unit and television broadcasting operations.


Probe data reveal Titan #39;s etched face

Scientists analysing data captured by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft as it swept past Saturn #39;s moon Titan, have described a cold landscape carved by winds and perhaps puddled with organic lakes.


ISPs again go after spammers

For the second time this year, an alliance of major Internet providers - including Atlanta-based EarthLink -iled a coordinated group of lawsuits aimed at stemming the flood of online junk mail.


NASA mulls early retirement for space shuttle

Even as NASA gears up for the space shuttle #39;s return to flight next year, officials at the space agency are quietly studying the possibility of cutting back its number of missions


Montgomery, Gaines doping cases postponed

A hearing in the doping cases of US sprinters Tim Montgomery and Chryste Gaines that had been set for next week was postponed at the request of all parties, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Friday.


Rattay prospects for Bears growing dimmer

Time, they say, heals all wounds, with the possible exception of Tim Rattay #39;s ailing right forearm. As this week began, San Francisco 49ers coach Dennis Erickson


Ailing Arafat Rushed to Paris Hospital

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, suffering from a serious but mystery illness, was flown to France and rushed to a military hospital for treatment Friday - ending


Pakistani officials downplay Marriot Hotel blast

ISN SECURITY WATCH (29/10/2004) - A powerful explosion on Tuesday in the lobby of the Pakistani capitals five-star Marriott Hotel injured 10 people, including a US diplomat and three Italian nationals.


World digest

PATTANI, Thailand - Fresh violence erupted Thursday with the bombing of a bar in Thailand #39;s mostly Muslim south, while villagers held a mass burial for some of the 78 protesters who suffocated while in army custody this week.


Artists from new EU-member states put on historic display in Amsterdam (AFP)

AFP - Seven artists from the new eastern member states of the European Union display their vision of history in a special exhibition, celebrating EU enlargement, at the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum for modern art.


Demonizing for Dollars (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - To Texas litigator Scott Summy, methyl tertiary butyl ether, the gasoline additive that reduces air pollution, is the devil--and his savior. He claims to have proof that Big Oil knew that MTBE-laced gasoline would leak out of filling station tanks into the ground and contaminate water supplies across America--and is therefore culpable in a big public hazard. "We are talking about the public's drinking water, and these guys have intentionally contaminated it to the largest scale ever in this country," says Summy.


Arafat Conscious, Days Needed for Diagnosis-Aide

CLAMART, France (Reuters) - Doctors will need "several  days" to diagnose Yasser Arafat's illness but the Palestinian  leader was conscious and in good shape when he arrived in  France on Friday, a Palestinian diplomat said.


Black to Quit Hollinger Inc 'Within Days'

TORONTO (Reuters) - Former press baron Conrad Black will  quit as chairman and chief executive of his Canadian holding  company, Hollinger Inc. HLGc.TO, to facilitate his offer to  take the company private, his lawyer said on Friday.


Dozens held over identity fraud

Some 28 people are arrested in a global operation against a website allegedly involved in identity fraud.


Gadgets We Love (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - The new Motorola RAZR V3 is such a smack-me-gorgeous sliver of technolust that you want to keep it up to your ear all the time and show it off, telegraphing how indescribably hip-by-association you are to own it. But you don't get to, see, because it works so well with Motorola's new Bluetooth wireless headset, which frees up your hands for less vainglorious activities, like driving.


Surly Safin Slumps Out of St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG (Reuters) - Top seed and crowd favorite  Marat Safin was knocked out of the St. Petersburg Open  quarterfinals Friday, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Michael Llodra.


Spain OKs Stem Cell Research Conditions (AP)

AP - Spain's Socialist government approved new conditions governing research with embryonic stem cells Friday, allowing scientists to investigate using frozen embryos while seeking cures to diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and diabetes.


Boy held hostage in Iraq is freed

Kidnappers in Iraq have freed a seven-year-old boy a week after seizing him while on his way to school.


SAA asks public for 'great ideas'

Following heavy losses, South African Airways asks the public to send in 'great ideas' on how to turn the business around.


Tricks, Treats and Insulin

Health professionals and families have worked hard to turn Halloween into a day that children with diabetes can take delight in, not simply endure.


Web Site Helps Undecided Voters Choose

Presidential Guidester polls voters, matches their positions with those of candidates.


Reheated Bagle smokes out antivirus defenses

New version of mass-mailing worm, discovered Friday, tries to disable defenses on destination PCs.


Terrorism joins weather disruptions as election planning issue (AFP)

AFP - Amid fears of a possible terrorist attack, US authorities are tightening security for Tuesday's presidential election while taking pains not to discourage voters from turning out at the polls.


Lawyer introduces harassment scheme in Ovitz case

In the trial of former Walt Disney Co. President Michael Ovitz, the plaintiff #39;s lawyer accused the company #39;s former official of leaking rumors to the press accusing NBC West Coast chief Don Ohlmeyer of sexually


Update 4: FDA Wants More Safety Data on Merck Drug

The Food and Drug Administration told Merck  amp; Co. that it requires further safety and efficacy data before it will approve its successor drug to now defunct pain reliever Vioxx, the pharmaceutical maker announced Friday.


Stocks mixed as US, Canadian economies improve, oil edges higher

TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market was sent higher Friday morning by improvements in energy stocks as a two-day slide in oil prices skidded to a stop and signs of strong economic growth.


UK takes Linux to the heart of government

Open source software is a viable alternative to commercial proprietary software, with potential significant value-for-money benefits for government, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has concluded.


US Secret Service busts 28 ID fraudsters

A US-led operation targeting ID fraud crooks has led to the arrest of 28 people across seven countries this week. The arrests follow an undercover operation headed by US Secret Service agents that successful


Microsoft Faces Suit for Selling  #39;Defective #39; Game Systems

Plaintiff Sean Burke claims that  quot;the defective Xboxes stop working after minimal usage, after unreasonably, unconscionably, unusually and unexpectedly short amounts of time.


Call issued for tenders to inspect Regional Road bridge

An international call for tenders has been issued for the appointment of an engineer to carry out detailed inspections and determine the work which needs to be carried out on Manwel Dimech Bridge, along Regional Road.


Red Sox primed for encore

When you #39;re part of a team that has just captured its first World Series title in 86 years, it #39;s easy to get a little too caught up in the moment.


Tennis / Close but no cigar as Ram tests Youzhny

Andy Ram came close to pulling off the biggest upset of his singles career when he stretched No. 4 seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) in the first round of the \$1 million St.


Committee to succeed Arafat denied

The head of the Political Department in the Palestine Liberation Organization said Friday no committee was formed to succeed ailing Yasser Arafat.


British troops arrive at base in central Iraq

LONDON British defense officials say hundreds of British troops who were deployed to provide cover for US troops are now at their base near Baghdad.


CARE International leaves Iraq

A humanitarian agency with a long history of work in Iraq has ended its operations in the war-torn nation after its leader was abducted.


Leaders of 25 EU Countries Sign New Constitution

Leaders of the 25-nation European Union today signed the bloc #39;s new constitution in Rome, amid tight security around the city #39;s historic center.


Second Bomb Injures 9 in Thai South - Witnesses

A second bomb exploded near a food stall in southern Thailand on Friday, wounding at least nine members of a bomb squad investigating an earlier blast that wounded four people.


Jordan crash coach had two burst tyres

The burst tyre which led to yesterday #39;s coach crash tragedy in Jordan was the second tyre problem suffered by the vehicle that day, a couple who survived the tragedy said today.


Joke e-mail virus tricks users

A new version of the Bagle computer virus is spreading rapidly around the internet.


Hurricanes Were Their Own Worst Enemy

At the time, it didn #39;t seem like a big deal. On the Miami Hurricanes #39; first offensive possession Saturday against the Virginia Tech Hokies, running back Frank Gore ripped off a 9-yard run, seemingly giving


Merck #39;s FDA Delay, Pfizer #39;s Problem

NEW YORK - In a capstone to the withdrawal of Vioxx, the US Food and Drug Administration has decided to delay the approval of successor drug Arcoxia until more safety data are available.


UPDATE 1-Black to quit Hollinger Inc  quot;within days quot;

Former press baron Conrad Black will quit as chairman and chief executive of his Canadian holding company, Hollinger Inc. (HLGc.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , to


Could Hobbit-Like Creatures Still Live on Earth?

Mythical tales abound of a race of little people that dwell on the islands of Indonesia. Dutch explorers who colonized Flores 100 years ago were told stories of a human-like creature local


NASA Prepares for Future Space Exploration Risk

CLEVELAND, OH -- As NASA (news - web sites) readies the space shuttle fleet to fly again, the agency #39;s risk management teams are also paying attention to risk issues that affect the International Space Station (news - web sites).


William Rivers Pitt: Believe

Four score and six years ago, a relatively new Boston baseball team called the Red Sox won the World Series for the fifth time. Not long after, a man named George Herman Ruth, Jr.


Cricket #39;s final frontier conquered

DEEP in the heart of the Indian subcontinent, the Australian Test side last night was celebrating an historic victory, having conquered cricket #39;s final frontier with a Test to spare.


Surly Safin slumps out of St Petersburg

Top seed and crowd favourite Marat Safin was knocked out of the St Petersburg Open quarter-finals on Friday, falling 6-4 6-1 to Michael Llodra.


Cipollini signs deal with Liquigas

MILAN, Italy -- Italy #39;s former world champion Mario Cipollini has ended speculation that he is to retire by announcing that he will ride next season for the Liquigas Sport team.


Peek at the Week: Ben vs. the Streak

Yet another risky game for that Patriots winning streak, now at 21. Pittsburgh hasn #39;t lost at home, and rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hasn #39;t lost, period.


Cellular Companies Agree on Standards (AP)

AP - The nation's cellular companies have agreed on a common standard for multimedia messaging that should enable mobile phone users to exchange photos, video and audio clips just as they do e-mail, regardless of their wireless carrier.


Lebanon: Kidnappers Have Freed Boy in Iraq (AP)

AP - Kidnappers have released a 7-year-old Lebanese boy after a week they grabbed him as he was walking home from school in Iraq, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said Friday. It was not immediately clear if a ransom was paid.


Bands Debut Dual-Sided CD/DVD Hybrid (AP)

AP - A new hybrid CD format that offers standard CD audio on one side and the enhanced media capabilities of a DVD on the other made its nationwide debut this week.


Myanmar strongman vows to bring democracy, crush anti-Indian rebels (AFP)

AFP - Myanmar's military strongman Than Shwe wrapped up a visit to India with a pledge to bring democracy to his secretive state and said the junta will not let rebels against Indian rule operate from its soil.


Web Site Helps Undecided Voters Choose (PC World)

PC World - Presidential Guidester polls voters, matches their positions with those of candidates.


Billboard to Rank Cell Phone Ringtones (AP)

AP - Back at No. 1 for the 29th straight week, it's everybody's favorite ringtone. The music market tracker Billboard will begin ranking the customized mobile phone sound snippets beginning next week  #151; another sign that ringtones are fast becoming a staple of recording industry sales,


Montgomery and Gaines Hearings Postponed

LONDON (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)  has postponed its hearings with American sprinters Tim  Montgomery and Chryste Gaines who have been charged with  serious doping violations.


Marines Set for Sunni Triangle Battle

The U.S. Marines are preparing for a "decisive" battle in the Sunni Triangle area west of Baghdad, where insurgents are extending control outward from Fallujah through violence and intimidation, senior commanders said Friday.


Mexico rats survive cat onslaught

Health officials in the Mexican state of Chihuahua fail to deal with a rat plague by sending in hundreds of cats.


Software-patent battle set to flare up

In Europe, industry leaders, government officials and others debate whether patents would hinder or cultivate innovation.


Ex-manager at Oracle seeks \$679,000

IT sales account manager in England seeks compensation after winning her sex discrimination case.


Asian Markets Mixed on China Rate Hike (AP)

AP - Asian financial markets showed a mixed reaction Friday to China's first interest rate rise in nine years, which analysts welcomed as a shift toward capitalist-style economic tools and away from central planning.


Cal #39;s Arrington has record-tying 11th 100-yard game

California running back JJ Arrington needed less than three quarters to tie a 23-year-old Pac-10 Conference record against Southern Miss Saturday night at Roberts Stadium.


China hikes loans, deposit rates

Chinas move to hike interest rate has come as a surprise. The central bank raised the benchmark rate on one-year yuan loans to 5.58 per cent from 5.31 per cent and the rate on one-year deposits to 2.25 per cent from 1.98 per cent.


Update 2: Clear Channel Earnings Plummet 60 Percent

Clear Channel Communications Inc. #39;s third-quarter profit fell nearly 60 percent from the same period in 2003, which had been inflated by the nation #39;s largest radio station operator #39;s sale of its stake in a Spanish-language broadcasting network.


Detailed Image of Titan #39;s Surface

Summary - (Oct 29, 2004) This image of Titan was taken when Cassini reached the closest point of its flyby on October 26. At this point, it was only 1,600 km (994 miles) above the surface of Titan.


Secret Service Nabs 28 in Online Fraud Sting

The US Secret Service has arrested 28 people on charges stemming from an undercover investigation into cybercrime. Charges against the suspects include identity theft, computer fraud, credit-card fraud and consipracy.


Mutu #39;s agent hits out at Chelsea

Adrian Mutu #39;s agent has accused Chelsea of failing to offer sufficient support to the shamed striker. Mutu was sacked on Friday by Chelsea who stated:  quot;Any player who takes drugs breaches his contract with the club quot;.


Australia #39;s Champion Cricketers Conquer Indian Final Frontier #39;

Australia cemented its position as the dominant cricket team of the past decade with its first series win in India since 1969, conquering what former captain Steve Waugh called the final frontier.


Fitful Mauresmo Through to Linz Semifinals

Top seed Amelie Mauresmo reached the semifinals of the Linz Open when she continued her run of success against Ai Sugiyama by beating the defending champion 6-2, 6-4 Friday.


UN report: Lubbers guilty of sexual misconduct

AMSTERDAM - A UN inquiry has found UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers guilty of sexually harassing a female worker -ut Secretary-General Kofi Annan rejected the charges.


Antivirus companies warn of new Bagle variants

New versions of the Bagle worm rolled onto the Internet Friday, prompting antivirus companies to warn customers about the threat and to push out software updates to spot the new worms.


News: US Secret Service busts 28 ID fraudsters

A US-led operation targeting ID fraud crooks has led to the arrest of 28 people across seven countries this week.\


China Seeks to Soothe Markets on Rates

China sought Friday to soothe concerns over a surprise interest rate rise, its first in nearly a decade and one which is expected to kick off a series of increases to cool growth in the world #39;s seventh-biggest economy.


The long good buy

MICK Davis, the South African-born chief executive of Anglo-Swiss mining giant Xstrata, clearly has a thing for Australia. Perhaps it #39;s because this country keeps offering him the opportunity to buy great


Merck gets good news on drug to replace Vioxx

Drug giant Merck says the Food and Drug Administration wants more information, but is prepared to approve the company #39;s successor drug to recalled pain reliever Vioxx.


Rivals await Ford #39;s plans

Ford Motor Co. of Canada #39;s rivals will be watching closely today as the automaker makes a widely-anticipated announcement confirming its plans to build a \$1-billion flexible manufacturing plant in Oakville, Ont.


Mandrake Linux 10.1 Official

MandrakeSoft co-founder Gal Duval has announced the release of 32-bit Mandrake Linux 10.1 Official. 64-Bit Mandrake Linux 10.1 might be ready as early as next week.


Cycling: Bid to rein in cycling great

Next year #39;s Tour de France cycling race may give others a chance to test Lance Armstrong. The mountain-top finishes are less intense and the time trials shorter - meaning the six-time Tour winner possibly


AUSTRALIA ROMP TO HISTORIC WIN

Australia wrapped up their first series win in India in 35 years after an overwhelming victory by 342 runs in the third Test in Nagpur.


We prepared from 2001: Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist punching the air and embracing his teammates after Australia got the last Indian batsman out in the third Test; the Australian players gathering in a huddle made famous by the Indians; Brett Lee calling for the Australian flag from the tour


Cavs #39; Wagner will be free agent after season

Former Camden High School star Dajuan Wagner, who has had an injury-filled NBA career thus far, will become an unrestricted free agent after the season because the Cleveland Cavaliers declined to pick up the option on Wagner #39;s contract for the 2005-06


KU, OU to play in KC in  #39;05

For more than a month it has been public knowledge that Kansas was considering moving next season #39;s home football game against Oklahoma to Kansas City #39;s Arrowhead Stadium.


US marines prepare major assault in Fallujah

US marines are preparing for a major assault to whack rebels in the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, a senior commander said on Friday.


Redeployed Black Watch come under attack

Black Watch soldiers have come under attack within hours of moving into Iraqs rebel-held badlands, although none was injured. Troops and vehicles were halted in the searing desert by a series of roadside


Rapists to stay in jail they built

THE child rapists of Pitcairn Island next year will move into the jail they helped build. Judges yesterday showed the mercy which for so long has been absent


Suicide attackers  quot;ready to strike quot; Russia

Russia #39;s security service chief says that more than 80 suicide attackers have been trained abroad to attack the country, which he says has no adequate system of dealing with terrorism.


Several Insurers Are Named in Lawsuit (AP)

AP - Several major insurance companies are named in a class-action lawsuit alleging they conspired with California insurance broker Universal Life Resources to steer business the broker's way in exchange for kickbacks, according to court papers.


Nine Britons confirmed dead in Jordanian coach crash

Nine Britons are confirmed dead following a coach crash near the Jordanian tourist attraction of Petra yesterday. According to reports, a tyre of the tour bus blew out on a stretch of the Desert Highway motorway


Earnings of Electronics Makers Improve (AP)

AP - Two Japanese electronics makers reported improved fiscal first-half earnings Friday, with profits at Hitachi Ltd. surging nearly eight-fold, while Toshiba Corp. rebounded to profitability from a loss the previous year.


Italians, Canadians gather to honour living legend: VC winner Smoky Smith (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - CESENA, Italy (CP) - Italians and Canadians gathered in a town square beneath the walls of an 800-year-old castle on Friday to honour Ernest (Smoky) Smith, Canada's last surviving winner of the Victoria Cross.


Mauresmo Beats Sugiyama in Quarterfinals (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo eliminated defending champion Ai Sugiyama 6-2, 6-4 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Generali Ladies Open.


European Search Landscape - Search Engine Strategies Coverage\\I was a bit late getting to the Search Engine Strategies conference, but I made it here for the second track. I decided to attend a new session named European Search Landscape. Here are my notes, please excuse any typos, this was done ...


Bush Asked to Stop Using 'Still the One' (AP)

AP - The songwriter who helped pen the 1970s hit, "Still the One," is demanding that President Bush stop using the tune at campaign events, arguing that he's no fan of the Republican incumbent and the campaign never got permission to use the song.


Top Senate Democrat Fights for Political Survival (Reuters)

Reuters - Senate Democratic Leader Tom\Daschle, fighting for political survival, walked into Shorty's\Cafe in this farm town and asked for help in Tuesday's\election.


Revelations should cast Thomas in a different light

The news is not so much shocking as sad. Surely, everyone whose eyes were open suspected that Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds had been using performance-enhancing drugs for many years.


New 'Hawk' Game Most Thorough Ever

There's only one thing better than riding a halfpipe ramp in "Tony Hawk's Underground 2" - doing it in real life. Since I'm pretty sure that's never going to happen, I'll keep on defying gravity in this new game from Activision.


Things that scare Sun's Schwartz

Sun President Jonathan Schwartz has a pre-Halloween case of the creeps--and for good reason.


Secret Service busts suspected ID fraud ring

Federal agents and international allies arrest 28 suspects thought to have stolen credit card numbers and other financial information.\<br /> Photo: Shadowcrew site in federal custody


Microsoft Files Seven New Spam Lawsuits

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) filed seven lawsuits against senders of spam, or unsolicited e-mail, for transmitting messages without labeling them as sexually explicit


Thai PM Says Will Punish 'Wrongdoers' Over Deaths

PATTANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Bomb blasts rocked southern  Thailand on Friday as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra  promised to get to the bottom of the deaths of 78 Muslims in  military custody and punish any "wrongdoers."


News: Bagle variant outstrips Google-bashing worm

A new variant of the Bagle email worm is spreading rapidly across the internet today.\


London shares close lower, with NY down amid mixed data over US economy (AFP)

AFP - Leading shares closed in negative ground, while Wall Street was looking for direction over mixed data on the state of the US economy, dealers said.


IBM improves on autonomic toolkit (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - IBM on Friday gave its autonomic computing strategy is boost unwrapping an enhanced version of a toolkit designed to help developers more quickly integrate a number of self-managing functions into their existing applications and services.


Kerry Criticizes Delay in Hunger Report (AP)

AP - The Kerry campaign on Friday criticized the administration for putting off, possibly until after the election, issuing an annual report that could show an increase in the number of households that either don't have access to enough food or have experienced hunger.


Putin Gets Duma Nod for Reforms to Boost Power

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament backed on Friday  President Vladimir Putin's plan to scrap elections for  governors under sweeping political reforms aimed at  strengthening his grip on power.


Bush Recalls 9/11 Leadership with Victim Relatives (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush on Friday\appeared with relatives of some Americans killed on Sept. 11,\2001, and vowed the country "will not be held captive by fear"\in a message intended to remind voters of his leadership in\that tense period.


Students suspended for hacking

Two students are suspended by Oxford University after admitting infiltrating its computer systems.


New law sinks old practice of floating your checks

Floating a check became riskier Thursday under a new law that makes it possible for banks to process them in a matter of hours, rather than days.


ADM Profit Rises Sharply, Shares Up 9 Pct

Agribusiness company Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday posted a 77 percent jump in quarterly profit, helped by record North American harvests and lower


28 Arrested in Global Web Fraud Sting

By going undercover on the Shadowcrew.com Web site, US investigators were able to find out which of the site #39;s 4,000 members were taking part in criminal conduct.


Official Alleges 17 Mass Graves in Serbia (AP)

AP - Serbian territory has 17 mass graves containing bodies of ethnic Albanians slain during Kosovo's 1998-99 war, a former interior minister said Friday, accusing current authorities of a cover-up.


United prepare  #39;Battle of the buffet #39; evidence against Arsenal

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - The fall-out over the Old Trafford tunnel brawl between Manchester United and Arsenal continued with news that United were preparing to ask the Football Association to take action.


Juventus Dump Roma In The Rain

Rejuvenated attacker Alessandro Del Piero inspired Juventus to a 2-0 win over AS Roma that restored their five point title advantage on holders AC Milan.


Suha: controversial but estranged supporter of husband Arafat

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 29 (AFP) - Suha Arafat, the estranged wife of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, has remained one of his staunchest supporters despite courting controversy for her extravagant lifestyle and lack of tact.


IBM improves on autonomic toolkit

IBM on Friday gave its autonomic computing strategy is boost unwrapping an enhanced version of a toolkit designed to help developers more quickly integrate a number of self-managing functions into their existing applications and services.


Agassi Overcomes Verdasco Power

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Andre Agassi marched into the  Stockholm Open semifinals Friday, beating Spanish eighth seed  Fernando Verdasco 7-6, 6-2 in his hardest match of the  tournament.


British Ex-Guantanamo Detainees Sue Rumsfeld (Reuters)

Reuters - Four British former inmates of the\U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay sued Defense Secretary\Donald Rumsfeld and others Wednesday saying they were tortured\in violation of U.S. and international law.


Cellular Companies Agree on Standards

The nation's cellular companies have agreed on a common standard for multimedia messaging that should enable mobile phone users to exchange photos, video and audio clips just as they do e-mail, regardless of their wireless carrier.


Open Source Gets Nod From UK Govt.

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC), UK, has finally given the green signal persuading governments to consider the deployment of open source while implementing new systems.


Web Help for the Voting Disabled

A website goes the extra mile to make sure voters aren   rsquo;t confused this Tuesday.  Also: West Virginia organizes the first public supercomputer   hellip;.  FDA keeps its eye on a new pain relief drug   hellip;. and more.


Italians remember Canadians with fondness, gratitude as veterans return (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - CESENA, Italy (CP) - For a few stormy days in October 1944, a young Canadian tank sergeant became part of the Bocchini family in an ancient Italian town caught up in the whirlwind of a world war.


GDP Up, But Not Enough for Economists

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumers fed a pick-up in U.S.  economic growth in the third quarter but a sentiment survey for  this month showed oil prices were dampening their spirits,  government and private-sector data showed on Friday.


Martha Stewart: Scarier on Halloween

Lower sales, bigger losses, and a sneaky-looking accounting change mean investors should watch their wallets.


HP developing 'smart rack' to ease data center work

Company shows off labor-saving data center technology at Palo Alto research lab.


Oracle sex suit winner seeks \$679,000, apology

IT sales account manager in England seeks compensation after winning her sex discrimination case.


Netino banks on growth in bioinformatics outsourcing

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Netino SARL sees a bright future for outsourcing in drug discovery: The 2-year-old company just landed a 10-year contract to handle the bioinformatics activities of a major French pharmaceutical company.


Gunmen rob cricket legend Imran

Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan has been robbed by armed men in the country's capital, Islamabad.


Local and Shopping Search Are Growing Among Internet Users\\According to a recent consumer search behavior study conducted by BizRate.com and The Kelsey Group of 3,887 online respondents, findings show that while general search engines rank the highest in terms of usage, with 72 percent indicating they use general search engines ...


Clear Channel Earnings Plummet 60 Percent

SAN ANTONIO - Clear Channel Communications Inc. #39;s third-quarter profit fell nearly 60 percent from the same period in 2003, which had been inflated by the nation #39;s largest radio station operator #39;s sale of its stake in a Spanish-language broadcasting


Bank of America files for compensation in Parmalat case

MILAN, Italy - Bank of America Corp. said Friday it had filed for damages against former officials and auditors of collapsed dairy giant Parmalat at a preliminary hearing in Milan, as the bank attempts to avoid blame in the massive fraud scandal.


#39;Approved #39; Stem Cells Found Faulty

New research is casting doubts on the usefulness of the human embryonic stem cells available under the White House #39;s research policy.


E-voting: Can it be trusted?

com October 28, 2004, 1:15 PM PT. This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web Services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.


\$3.0 million team option

ST. LOUIS -- The Red Sox were the bold-faced headline on the 2004 season, the town crier in Kenmore Square. The long-suffering franchise fought its way through a cursed history to deliver a World Series triumph


Agassi overcomes Verdasco power

Andre Agassi marched into the Stockholm Open semi-finals on Friday, beating Spanish eighth seed Fernando Verdasco 7-6 6-2 in his toughest match of the tournament.


Top seed Safin slumps in St. Petersburg

Russia: Top seed Marat Safin was dumped out of the one-million-dollar ATP Saint Petersburg Open here on Friday following a shock straight sets defeat to Frenchman Michael Llodra.


Leicester get permission to speak to Levein

English Championship side Leicester were given permission to speak to Hearts coach Craig Levein in the hope of persuading him to succeed Micky Adams.


Athletics: Montgomery and Gaines doping cases postponed

LAUSANNE, Switzerland : Doping cases of world 100m record holder Tim Montgomery and Chryste Gaines have been postponed, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.


Cavs to let injury-prone Wagner become free agent

CLEVELAND -- Guard Dajuan Wagner will become a free agent after this season because the Cleveland Cavaliers declined their \$3.4 million contract option for 2005-06 on Friday.


Jones leads early push at Chrysler

Kent Jones started slowly on Friday but consecutive birdies as he made the turn have boosted him to the top of the leaderboard at the Chrysler Championship.


Ailing Arafat Heads to Paris for Treatment

Description: A French plane departs Amman, Jordan, carrying Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to Paris for urgent medical treatment.


Leaders sign EU #39;s first constitution

However, their celebration of unity has been marred by uncertainty over its ratification and turmoil over the stalled European Commission.


VIEW: Europes new dawn Jan Peter Balkenende

The Constitutional Treaty firmly enshrines fundamental rights in law and makes the EU more democratic, more transparent, and more effective.


FSB asks media to be responsible in covering terrorist attacks

MOSCOW, October 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The mass media must be invariably aware of their responsibility while covering terrorist attacks, FSB federal security service director Nikolai Patrushev told the State Duma on Friday.


Lucian Freud portrait of Kate Moss, nude and pregnant, goes on sale (AFP)

AFP - A portrait of the British super-model Kate Moss, heavily pregnant and looking uncharacteristically unglamorous, will be sold at auction next February, Christie's auction house said.


TransActing Up and Down

Do the third-quarter numbers mean continued volatility for this small-cap stock?


ChevronTexaco Profit Up, Misses Forecasts

NEW YORK (Reuters) - ChevronTexaco Corp.CVX.N, the No. 2  U.S. oil company, on Friday reported a 62 percent rise in  quarterly profit from record oil prices and gains from asset  sales, but the results fell short of Wall Street forecasts.


Defense deals lead in federal IT contracts

Study shows defense agencies accounted for three-quarters of the \$20 billion in federal IT contracts awarded last quarter.


Making the call as silly as the ring tone

PhoneBites' cellular service inserts sound clips into conversations. Ridiculous? The same was said of the multibillion ring tone market.


A Look at Arafat's Low Platelet Count (AP)

AP - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been sick for the past two weeks, and blood tests indicate he has a low platelet count. Platelets are tiny components of blood that help the clotting process by sticking to the lining of blood vessels. Produced in the bone marrow, platelets are vital to life, preventing massive blood loss from trauma.


AstraZeneca's Crestor May Harm Kidneys

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty-nine patients who took  AstraZeneca Plc's AZN.L AZN.N anti-cholesterol drug Crestor  have developed kidney damage, a U.S. consumer group said on  Friday as it called again for a ban on the medicine.


AstraZeneca's Crestor May Harm Kidneys (Reuters)

Reuters - Twenty-nine patients who took\AstraZeneca Plc's   anti-cholesterol drug Crestor\have developed kidney damage, a U.S. consumer group said on\Friday as it called again for a ban on the medicine.


Update 1: ADM #39;s Earnings Skyrocket; Stocks Soars

Archer Daniels Midland Co., the agribusiness giant, reported a 77 percent increase Friday in its first-quarter earnings, citing significant gains in oilseed and bioproducts processing and feed and ingredient sales and a major improvement in inventory


IDC sees decline in handheld market

The global market for handheld devices continues to dwindle, according to data released by IDC this week. The industry has recorded a year-over-year fall for the third successive quarter, the researcher said.


Hearts say coach Craig Levein to leave for Leicester

Heart of Midlothian Plc said head coach Craig Levein is holding talks to take over as manager at Leicester City in England after steering the Scottish soccer club to the group stage of Europe #39;s UEFA Cup this season.


Prince Charles visits Petra day after crash

The Prince of Wales has travelled to Petra a day after nine British pilgrim tourists were killed in a coach crash near the ancient Jordanian city.


Zimbabwe #39;s Parliament jails white member

Zimbabwe #39;s Parliament has sentenced to a year in jail one of its three white members for knocking down a government minister, the BBC reported Friday.


Telstra for sale at \$5 a share

TREASURER Peter Costello yesterday declared Telstra would not be sold until its share price was more than \$5. That came despite the Coalition having secured a Senate majority.


Philippines Rushes Relief to Flooded Areas

GENERAL NAKAR, Philippines (Reuters) - Philippine troops  rushed food and drinking water by foot and helicopters on  Sunday to areas cut off by four storms that left more than  1,300 people dead or missing as residents scrambled to flee the  region.


Ukraine votes for new leader as Russia and the West watch anxiously (AFP)

AFP - Hundreds of thousands of pro-Western and pro-Russian activists mobilized across Ukraine as the former Soviet republic headed into a stormy weekend vote that Washington warned would spark unspecified  quot;measures quot; if rigged by the state.


Colombia Offers Rebels Prisoner Swap (AP)

AP - Colombia's hardline government said Friday it is willing to meet with members of the country's main leftist rebel group in an unprecedented offer aimed at freeing dozens of rebel-held hostages, including three Americans.


Acer's 3Q Net Profit Plummets 63 Percent (AP)

AP - Acer Inc., the world's fifth-largest computer company, said Friday its third-quarter net profit fell 63 percent from the same period last year in part because of investment losses from affiliates.


Laboratory Mice Produce Human Antibodies (AP)

AP - For a small biopharmaceutical firm that has yet to get a drug on the market, Medarex Inc. has been keeping some impressive company. Top pharmaceutical and biotech firms, from Johnson  amp; Johnson to Amgen Inc., have been signing deals with Medarex to use its genetically engineered mice as they seek to develop new drugs. The doctored mice have the rare ability to produce human antibodies, which can help fight disease just as natural antibodies do.


Hurricanes Power Gillette's Duracell

Net profit growth is keeping investors from worrying about Gillette's free cash flow.


World oil prices fall on profit-taking ahead of US election

LONDON : Oil prices slid for a third day running as speculators banked profits ahead of next week #39;s US presidential election amid easing supply fears and China #39;s move to hike interest rates, analysts said.


US believes bomb caused Marriott blast in Pakistan, tells citizens to avoid area (AFP)

AFP - The United States believes a blast that wounded several people at the Marriott hotel in Islamabad was caused by an improvised bomb and not an electrical short circuit as Pakistani officials have said, the State Department said.


Univ. of Calif. Reaches Settlement with Lehman

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The University of California said on  Friday that Lehman Brothers has agreed to pay \$222.5 million to  settle a class action suit for the bank's role in the sale of  Enron Corp. securities to it and other plaintiffs.


You broke it. Who fixes it?

Apple thinks do-it-yourself PC repair is the wave of the future. But another PC maker has other ideas.


Lurking threats cast shadow on Net

The Bagle worm shifts shape to outsmart antivirus software. Plus: Media player patches and Feds' fraud crackdown.


Stem cells scientists can use are tainted

Washington -- All of the human embryonic stem cells available to federally funded scientists under President Bush #39;s 3-year-old research policy share a previously unrecognized trait that fosters rejection by the immune systems, diminishing their potential


Latest  #39;Leisure Suit Larry #39; lacking

Too bad the newest installment in the  quot;Leisure Suit Larry quot; series isn #39;t much of a video game. The challenging puzzles and clever character interaction that boosted earlier titles in the franchise


WSJ, CNBC honor Apple's Jobs

Business-focused publication, TV network, name Mac Maker's CEO the "Leader in Innovation." eBay's Whitman another honoree.


Webmail drops Windows for open source platform

Webmail.us, which provides hosted e-mail service for small and medium-size businesses, will announce next week a raft of improvements to its service, including a major migration of its core e-mail platform from Microsoft Corp. Windows to an open source platform.


S and P watching Shell for possible debt downgrade (AFP)

AFP - Standard and Poor's Ratings Services said it had its eye on Royal Dutch/Shell for a possible downgrade of the oil company's debt rating in case of a further restatement of its reserves.


Canada Eyes Internet Pharmacy Drug Supply to U.S. (Reuters)

Reuters - Canada may have to toughen up rules on\Internet pharmacies' sales of medicines to the United States,\Industry Minister David Emerson said on Friday, amid public\concerns of shortages or price spikes despite controls.


Stocks Flat on Economic Data Mixed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks barely budged on Friday  afternoon as data gave a mixed picture of the economy, which  grew at a slower-than-expected pace in the third quarter.


WRAPUP 2-US consumers help economic growth in third quarter

US consumers fed a pick-up in US economic growth in the third quarter but a sentiment survey for this month showed oil prices were dampening their spirits


FDA seeks more safety data on Vioxx successor

Merck  amp; Co. said the US Food and Drug Administration has requested additional safety and efficacy information on its Vioxx successor, Arcoxia, before it considers granting US approval for the drug.


Lehman Brothers settles Enron shareholder lawsuit

HOUSTON - Wall Street brokerage house Lehman Brothers has agreed to pay \$222.5 million to a class-action lawsuit alleging that it and other banks and brokerages helped Enron Corp.


Hollinger Shares Soar on Buyout Proposal

TORONTO - Shares of Hollinger Inc. soared Friday after embattled press baron Conrad Black announced plans to buy out other shareholders of the publicly traded Canadian company at the center of his business empire.


Radar Reaches Titan #39;s Surface Through Clouds

After making the closest-ever flyby of mysterious Saturn moon Titan this week, the Cassini probe has sent back radar data that reveals some facts about the planet-like moon #39;s surface.


EarthLink, Partners File Spam Lawsuits

October 29, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Internet service provider EarthLink (earthlink.com) announced on Friday that it has filed a new lawsuit in federal court in Atlanta as part of its continuing fight against spam.


Linux in Government: In Spite of Endorsements, Government Linux <b>...</b>

Latest report from the UK, although indicative of serious change, tells us again what we already know. On Thursday, October 28, the press was abuzz with news of the United Kingdom #39;s formal publication of its


Secret Service Busts Cyber Gangs

The US Secret Service Thursday announced arrests in eight states and six foreign countries of 28 suspected cybercrime gangsters on charges of identity theft, computer fraud, credit card fraud, and conspiracy.


Reheated Bagle smokes out antivirus defenses

com October 29, 2004, 8:21 AM PT. Cyber threats, chiefly viruses like NetSky and Sasser, make security an ongoing concern as it holds steady over software infrastructure as the third top priority.


Adults-Only rated Leisure Suit Larry now available

More nudity, more raunch, more sex scenes fill new  quot;Uncut quot; version of VU #39;s risqu college adventure. Is it even possible to make Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude--a video game characterized by nothing


Dravid blames batting for India #39;s debacle

NAGPUR: India stand-in captain Rahul Dravid refused to blame the Nagpur pitch for the team #39;s loss against Australia in the third Test, and instead, censured the batsmen for the team #39;s downfall, saying they were capable of much more.


Arkansas State will also play in KC in  #39;05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs will allow Kansas and Arkansas State to play one home game each at Arrowhead Stadium in 2005.


Future Looking Up for Flamel

As the nanotech/biotech company earns a profit, keep an eye on two drugs in phase 3 trials.


Massu and Koubek Reach Basel Semis

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - Double Olympic gold  medallist Nicolas Massu registered his best win since Athens on  Friday, striding into the semifinals of the \$1.26 million Swiss  Indoors tournament with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Bohdan Ulihrach.


UPDATE 1-Univ. of Calif. reaches settlement with Lehman

The University of California said on Friday that Lehman Brothers (LEH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to pay \$222.5 million to settle a class action suit for the bank #39;s role in the sale Enron Corp.


Bristol-Myers Squibb profit slips 16 percent

Bristol-Myers Squibb said its third-quarter profit dipped 16 percent from a year ago to 758 million dollars as the pharmaceutical giant boosted research in the face of expiring patents.


A new version of the fast-spreading Bagle mass-mailing worm was discovered Friday, with its threat level quickly rising to a moderate level, according to security experts.


Garcia battles for the lead

Valderrama, Spain - Overnight leader Sergio Garcia came back from a disastrous start to his second round of the Volvo Masters to keep himself atop the leaderboard here on Friday.


Mourinho Wary of Baggies Backlash

Jose Mourinho would rather be facing the likes of Arsenal or Manchester United than taking on managerless West Brom tomorrow. Frank Burrows will take charge of the Baggies against


Home star Sete grabs provisional pole.

Sete Gibernau still cannot hide his bitter disappointment at losing the world title to Valentino Rossi, but he managed a wry smile after leading the first qualifying session for the final MotoGP race of the season, the Valencia Grand Prix, in his Spanish


Rangnick showing magic touch with Schalke

Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sports Network) - Since taking the reigns of Schalke on September 28, coach Ralf Rangnick has orchestrated a turn-around that has the club thinking of a Bundesliga championship.


U.S. thinks Pakistan blast likely caused by a bomb (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. State Department said on Friday it believed a blast at an Islamabad hotel was probably caused by a bomb, differing from the Pakistani view that it appeared to be the result of an electrical fault.


Iraq death toll  #39;soared post-war #39;

Poor planning, air strikes by coalition forces and a  quot;climate of violence quot; have led to more than 100,000 extra deaths in Iraq, scientists say.


EU leaders sign first constitution

The 25 European Union leaders on Friday signed the EU #39;s first constitution that aims to boost the union #39;s presence on the world stage but will face a tough ratification test at the hands of European parliaments and voters before it can take effect.


Italy govt set to begin European Constitution ratification

The government, keen to make Italy the first country to ratify the EU constitutional treaty, was setto greenlight the necessary bill in a cabinet meeting late Friday afternoon.


Alaskans to Vote on Legalizing Marijuana (Reuters)

Reuters - Voters in Alaska will decide on\Tuesday whether to make their state the first in the country to\legalize the sale, possession or use of marijuana by adults.


Lucent, Unions to Talk Beyond Deadline

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Lucent Technologies Inc. LU.N and  unions representing roughly 10 percent of the  telecommunications equipment maker's work force said on Friday  they have agreed to extend talks a week beyond a midnight EST  Sunday contract deadline.


Bush and Kerry Offer Competing Visions of the Future

The president was in New Hampshire, the only state in the Northeast that he carried in 2000, while his Democratic challenger was in Florida.


Colombia Offers Rebels Prisoner Swap

Colombia's hardline government said Friday it is willing to meet with members of the country's main leftist rebel group in an unprecedented offer aimed at freeing dozens of rebel-held hostages, including three Americans.


British Black Watch soldier killed in Iraq vehicle accident (AFP)

AFP - A British soldier from the Black Watch regiment was killed and three others injured in a vehicle accident in Iraq's Babil province, where they had just moved from southern Iraq, a spokesman said.


Colorado could become the Florida of 2004 (AFP)

AFP - Whether President George W. Bush serves another four years or is ousted by challenger John Kerry may depend on a last-minute amendment to the Colorado constitution that has deeply divided residents of the western state.


Black 'to resign from Hollinger'

Lord Black will resign as chairman and chief executive of Hollinger Inc, enabling the board to consider his buy-out offer.


WR Grace Is Target of Federal Probe

WR Grace  amp; Co. said Friday it is the target of a federal grand jury investigation involving possible obstruction of federal agency proceedings as well as violations of and conspiracy to violate federal environmental laws.


Avon #39;s US Sales Drop Sends Shares Lower; Net Rises (Update5)

Avon Products Inc., the world #39;s largest direct seller of cosmetics, reported its first US sales decline in five years, sending the company #39;s shares down the most since 2000.


ADM #39;s Earnings Skyrocket; Stocks Soars

DECATUR, Ill. - Archer Daniels Midland Co., the agribusiness giant, reported a 77 percent increase Friday in its first-quarter earnings, citing significant gains in oilseed and bioproducts processing and feed


AOL Takes  #39;Spimmers #39; to Court

bulk messages clogging instant-messaging accounts. AOL and its Anti-Spam Alliance partners -- EarthLink, Microsoft, and Yahoo


NASA prepares for future risk

As NASA readies the space shuttle fleet to fly again, the agency #39;s risk management teams are also paying attention to risk issues that affect the International Space Station.


GAME REVIEW: New  #39;Grand Theft Auto #39; will pull you in

Like Al Pacino #39;s Michael Corleone says in  quot;Godfather III quot;:  quot;Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.


Discovery Shines Ray of Hope on Eye Diseases

Human retinal stem cells can regenerate when implanted into the eyes of chicks and mice, says a University of Toronto study. After being transplanted into the animals, the


New Bagle virus declares cyber war

IT security experts have warned that a newly intercepted mutant of the infamous mass-mailing Bagle worm, dubbed Bagle.bb, has begun to spread rapidly across the internet.


Road Bridge cable alert

SAFETY tests are to be carried out on the Forth Road Bridge after broken wires and corrosion were found inside its main cables. The weaknesses were discovered during the first full-scale inspection of the 40-year-old bridges two main cables.


Longhorns Hope to Bypass Holiday Bowl (AP)

AP - When Colorado coach Gary Barnett looks at the Texas roster or watches the Longhorns on tape, he comes to a simple conclusion. "They sure have a pretty team," he said. He means pretty, as in big, fast and talented. It's exactly the kind of team they should have at a school as renowned as Texas, which is why it's hard to understand how the Longhorns (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) keep winding up in the Holiday Bowl.


Garcia leads Volvo Masters by one after Valderrama victimizes <b>...</b>

VALDERRAMA, Spain (PA) -- Add Darren Clarke #39;s name to the list of victims claimed by one of golf #39;s most controversial holes.


Angry Safin upset by call, Llodra at St. Petersburg Open

a mark on the court. The point was replayed, and Llodra wound up holding serve. play dropped. Llodra broke him at love in the fourth game and then held for.


Nuggets pick up option on Nene

DENVER (Ticker) - Power forward Nene, who led Brazil to a bronze medal in the Goodwill Games in 2001, will have through at least the 2005-06 season to help the Denver Nuggets contend for an NBA title.


Moscow: 500-plus terror attacks foiled

Moscow says its anti-terrorism agents have foiled more than 500 terror attacks so far this year, Itar-Tass reported Friday. Nikolai Patrushev, the nation #39;s Federal Security


European Leaders in Rome for EU Constitution Signing

At an historic ceremony in Rome on Friday, European leaders signed the treaty establishing the EU Constitution. Before it takes effect, however, the document must be ratified by all member states -- a process expected to take about two years.


Report: Japanese Hostage Killed in Iraq (AP)

AP - A Japanese civilian taken hostage in Iraq by militants has been killed, Kyodo News agency reported Saturday, citing a member of Japan's ruling party. But national broadcaster NHK said the government was still trying to confirm the information.


Auburn Focused on SEC Championship Spot (AP)

AP - Tommy Tuberville returns to Mississippi with a trip to Atlanta on the line, and he's bringing his best Auburn team yet. The third-ranked Tigers need one win to lock up a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship game before their first off week of the season, and all they have to do is win Saturday at Mississippi  #151; where Tuberville hasn't lost since leaving Oxford for Auburn six years ago.


Headscarf row mars Turkey's 81st birthday (AFP)

AFP - Turkey celebrated the 81st anniversary of its foundation, but the festivities were marred by an embargo that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer slapped on women with Islamic headscarves at a reception in his palace.


New Bagle Virus Declares Cyber War

Luis Corrons, head of PandaLabs, said the Bagle worm variant  quot;is here to pick up the cyber war that started a few months ago between several groups of virus creators.


Study: PDA Market in Decline

Shipments of PDAs and similar handheld devices declined for the third consecutive quarter, according to the latest data from IDC. Third-quarter global PDA shipments fell 8.7 percent compared to the same period last year.


Schalke, Stuttgart Aim to Topple Wolfsburg

With the Bundesliga tightening at the top of the table, a resurgent Schalke 04 will take on a flagging VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. VfL Wolfsburg will try to fend off both teams as the league leader hosts Mainz 05.


Munoz recovering from a concussion

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee senior offensive tackle Michael Munoz has been plagued by lingering effects from a concussion suffered last week in the Alabama game.


Secret Service Nabs 28 in Online Fraud Sting (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - An undercover investigation led by the U.S. Secret Service has led to the arrests of 28 individuals suspected of being part of a global organized cybercrime network. Charges against the suspects include identity theft, computer fraud, credit-card fraud and conspiracy.


Study: PDA Market in Decline (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - For the third consecutive quarter, shipments of handheld devices, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), have declined, according to a study by IDC.


Verizon Wireless Boosts Parent Company (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) posted profit of US #36;1.796 billion for its third quarter, up from  #36;1.791 billion a year ago. The company attributed the slight rise to its wireless segment, which brought in an additional 1.7 million wireless customers.


Trusted Mobile Platform Launches Early Stage Specifications (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - IBM (NYSE: IBM), Intel and NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) have proposed a new industry platform to guide the development of security technologies in both software and hardware for wireless mobile devices. The companies are part of new group pushing the Trusted Mobile Platform.


Molik Beats Golovin in SEAT Open Quarters (AP)

AP - Alicia Molik came back to beat French teen Tatiana Golovin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the SEAT Open quarterfinals Friday, moving closer to winning her second WTA Tour title in two weeks.


Bristol-Myers Profit Lower, So Are Shares

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. BMY.N on  Friday said quarterly profit fell 16 percent on special charges  and lower U.S. sales amid competition from rival brands and  cheaper generics.


Study: 100,000 civilian deaths due to Iraq invasion

Today, the Lancet medical journal published a report which concludes that 100,000 civilians died in the US-led invasion of Iraq. This is an incredibly high estimate, and at first may seem too farfetched not to be propaganda. But it cannot easily be dismissed. The report's authors are researchers from Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, and Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad. The Lancet is a highly-respected, peer-reviewed publication. The report appears to be a serious academic attempt to study the public health consequences of the invasion.  Also, The New Republic magazine has conducted an interview with Prof. Gilbert Burnham, the report's main author.   Excerpts and comments below.


Reds Pick Up Casey's Contract Option (AP)

AP - The Reds picked up Sean Casey's contract option for 2006 on Friday, an indication they have no intention of trading the popular first baseman who is among the team's highest-paid players.


Schmid to Coach U.S. Under-20 Soccer Team (AP)

AP - Sigi Schmid was hired Friday as coach of the U.S. Under-20 team, his second stint in the job.


Intel to debut new Itaniums Nov. 8

Entire updated chip line to be unveiled, sources say. Newest top-line Itanium 2 boosts high-speed cache memory from 6MB to 9MB.


Grace responds to letter about investigation

WR Grace  amp; Co., a Columbia-based supplier of silica products, alerted shareholders Friday it received a letter saying it is the subject of a federal grand jury investigation.


Snecma and Sagem plan \$6 bn merger

The French government today backed the creation of a new champion in the aerospace and defence sector as Snecma, the part-privatised aero-engine maker, and Sagem, the electronics group, announced plans to merge in a deal valuing Snecma at about 4.


Black  #39;to resign from Hollinger #39;

Lord Black is to resign as chairman and chief executive of Hollinger Inc, clearing the way for the board to consider his offer to buy the firm.


Archeologists divided over  #39;Home floresiensis #39;

Archeologists are at odds over the discovery of the skeleton of a dwarf-sized human species on the remote island of Flores, which is said could rewrite the history of human evolution.


A sky-high Swedish farewell cake poisons 13 (AFP)

AFP - Thirteen employees of a botanical garden in Stockholm ended up in the hospital showing symptoms of drug poisoning after a departing intern served them cake as a goodbye gesture, police said.


Egypt, Israel free prisoners in exchange deal (AFP)

AFP - Egypt and Israel completed a prisoner swap under which six Egyptian students held for plotting attacks on soldiers were freed in return for the release by Egypt of an Israeli Druze held for spying.


UPDATE 1-Garcia retains lead after lost-ball incident

Sergio Garcia had to undergo an extensive investigation following a lost-ball incident at Valderrama on Friday before being cleared to keep his one-stroke lead in the Volvo Masters second round.


Reds pick up Casey #39;s option

At season #39;s end there was a lot of talk about the possibility of Sean Casey being traded. That notion became extremely unlikely on Friday afternoon when Reds general


Times of London Shrinks to Tabloid Format Only

After 216 years as a broadsheet newspaper, The Times will become a tabloid-only publication starting on Monday. The move follows a decision 11 months ago to publish the British national


SI.com #39;s BJ Schecter breaks down a key Big 12 showdown

The Sooners #39; offense is so dangerous because it has an array of weapons and can beat teams in a number of ways. Fantastic freshman Adrian Peterson is the nation #39;s top running back, rushing for at least 100 yards in all seven games.


Ukraine votes for new leader as Russia and the West watch <b>...</b>

KIEV : Hundreds of thousands of pro-Western and pro-Russian activists mobilized across Ukraine as the former Soviet republic headed into a stormy weekend vote that Washington warned would spark unspecified  quot;measures quot; if rigged by the state.


First EU constitution signed:

World News: Rome, Oct 29 : The 25 members states of the European Union (EU) signed the bloc #39;s first constitution at a historic summit in Italy Friday, reports Xinhua.


ASU, Cal Defenses Looking for Respect (AP)

AP - When two quarterbacks as good as California's Aaron Rodgers and Arizona State's Andrew Walter meet up, it usually leads to a thrilling game for fans  #151; and an embarrassing night for defenses.


Body Resembling Japanese Hostage Found in Iraq

TOKYO (Reuters) - A body resembling a Japanese hostage has  been found in Iraq and is being shipped to Qatar for  identification, Japanese officials said on Saturday.


New Photoshop Elements

Now shipping, Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 gives you the power to perfect and transform your digital photos like a pro. Oct 29


National Foods continues merger talks with SPC

MELBOURNE: Australian dairy group National Foods Ltd said yesterday it is continuing merger talks with SPC Ardmona despite becoming a takeover target itself.


Marlins Guarantee Mike Lowell's Contract (AP)

AP - New ballpark or not, Mike Lowell is staying with the Florida Marlins. Lowell, who could have opted out of his contract because the team hasn't secured new stadium financing, agreed Friday to a revised deal in which the team guarantees the remaining  #36;25.5 million on his contract.


Titan intrigues scientists

p2pnet.net OT News:- A  quot;cold landscape carved by winds and perhaps puddled with organic lakes quot;.  quot;The take-home message, although preliminary, is that Titan may be sculpted by fierce winds and cradle vast lakes of organic chemicals.


Angry Safin Upset by Call, Llodra

Marat Safin lost his temper and his quarterfinal at the St. Petersburg Open on Friday, getting surprised by seventh-seeded Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-1 after protesting a line call.


Terps #39; Jackson Plenty Motivated For FSU Clash

D #39;Qwell Jackson grew up in Largo, Fla., 300 miles from Tallahassee and almost 1,000 miles from College Park. Geography was one obstacle Ralph Friedgen overcame to sign Jackson, who played


Campaign fails to change attitudes on Iraq: poll (AFP)

AFP - For all their fussing and fuming over Iraq, the US presidential candidates have barely made a dent in the basic attitude of Americans towards the war, a new poll suggested.


Exiled Ansar founder could be linked to Allawi attack plot (AFP)

AFP - The founder of radical Islamist group Ansar al-Islam was questioned in Oslo by German police ahead of the arrests in Germany of three men suspected of plotting to attack visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allaiwi.


NASA Picks May 2005 for Launch Date (AP)

AP - NASA said Friday it is aiming for a mid-May launch of the first shuttle flight since the Columbia tragedy almost two years ago.


Snap-On Ratchets Down Expectations

The hand tool manufacturer beats estimates, but internal growth can't match competition.


Leaders Sign European Union's First Constitution

The treaty was the result of 28 months of sometimes acrimonious debate, and now faces ratification in national parliaments.


Henman Falls to Novak in Basel

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - British world number four  Tim Henman was knocked out of the quarterfinals of the \$1.26  million Swiss Indoors tournament Friday, falling 7-6, 7-5 to  unseeded Czech Jiri Novak.


Oil Prices Rebound on Supply Worries

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices bounced back on Friday,  ending this week's 8 percent slide as supply fears were  rekindled ahead of the winter heating season and dealers  squared their books in advance of next Tuesday's U.S.  presidential election.


Al-Jazeera Says Will Play Bin Laden Tape (AP)

AP - The Arab television station Al-Jazeera said Friday it would broadcast a tape from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden on an evening newscast.


Ukraine Challenger Predicts Mass Cheating in Vote

KIEV (Reuters) - Liberal challenger Viktor Yushchenko  predicted on Friday that Ukrainian authorities would resort to  mass fraud to ensure victory for the establishment candidate in  an increasingly tense weekend presidential poll.


Future's Cloudy for Clear Channel

Earnings are up, but sagging revenues are more annoying than static.


US Economy: 3rd-Qtr GDP Grew 3.7, Confidence Ebbed (Update2)

The US economy grew at a slower-than- expected 3.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter as rising oil prices contributed to a record trade deficit and companies added less to inventories.


Lord Black to resign from Hollinger Inc.

Conrad Black intends to give up his management positions with Hollinger Inc.,  quot;within a matter of days, quot; to avoid conflicts with his offer to the board to privatize the Toronto holding company.


Intel to debut new Itaniums Nov. 8

com October 29, 2004, 12:02 PM PT. ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October kept upgrading hardware at number two on the businesses radar throughout the year.


Suit Accuses Microsoft of Selling  #39;Defective #39; Xboxes

A Los Angeles man filed a class action suit yesterday against Microsoft, claiming that the company manufactured and sold thousands of defective Xbox video game systems.


Hard work paid off, says Gilchrist after series win

Australian bowler Jason Gillespie congratulated by teamates after taking the wicket of Indian captain Rahul Dravid on the fourth day of the third Test match in Nagpur on Friday.


Reds pick up Casey #39;s option

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds exercised the 2006 contract option for first baseman Sean Casey. Casey, who is a three-time All-Star, signed a three-year contract extension in February 2002 with a club option for the coming season.


Auburn focused on clinching spot in SEC championship

Tommy Tuberville returns to Mississippi with a trip to Atlanta on the line, and he #39;s bringing his best Auburn team yet. The third-ranked Tigers need one win to lock up a spot in the Southeastern Conference


Study puts civilian tollin Iraq at over 100,000

PARIS More than 100,000 civilians have probably died as direct or indirect consequences of the US-led invasion of Iraq, according to a study by a research team at Johns Hopkins University #39;s Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.


Iran Sees Small Chance of UN Economic Sanctions

Iran believes there is only a 10 percent chance the UN Security Council will impose economic sanctions on it if Washington succeeds in sending its nuclear case there, a senior security official said on Friday.


Labor Memo Suggests Bush to Win Election (AP)

AP - Labor Department staff, analyzing statistics from private economists, report in an internal memo that President Bush is likely to do "much better" in Tuesday's election than the polls are predicting.


Why Japanese Horror Films Are So Spooky

Following the success of The Ring and, more recently, The Grudge, a slew of Hollywood remakes of Japanese horror movies are in the pipeline. But audiences beware: These are not your typical monster-in-the-closet scary movies.


Jerusalem Strife Echoes Ancient History

It may be called the City of Peace, but no other city has been more bitterly fought over than Jerusalem. Eric Cline, a historian, archaeologist, and author of the new book <I>Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel</I> discusses the holy city's turbulent history.


Samoa Worm Sperm Spawns Annual Fiesta

Every October or November the reproductive swarming of an ocean worm known as the palolo is cause for a Samoan celebration. Fried in oil, baked into bread, or swallowed raw, worm sperm and eggs are a tasty treat.


Election Is Crunch Time for U.S. Secret Service

With just days to go before the U.S. presidential election, the candidates are darting from one stop to the next #151;putting the pressure on the Secret Service in the process.


Natl Geographic Film Fest Gives Voice to Unsung Cultures

This week the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival showcases indigenous filmmakers. Among the films, an Iranian documentary set in a public restroom, where women remove their veils, smoke, and discuss everything from drugs to sex to religion.


The Future of Alternative Energy

Residential energy use in the United States is predicted to increase 25 percent by 2025. A small but increasing share of that power will trickle in from renewable energy sources, experts say.


Where's the spark on power line Net?

The NYT has an optimistic overview on broadband over power lines, calling it "the ultimate plug and play." Broadband Blog


Future #39;s Cloudy for Clear Channel

Multimedia monster Clear Channel Communications (NYSE: CCU) turned up the volume today with a third-quarter report that was decidedly better than the headlines hyping a  quot;60 drop quot; in earnings.


Secret Service Busts Cyber Gangs

The US Secret Service Thursday announced arrests in eight states and six foreign countries of 28 suspected cybercrime gangsters on charges of identity theft, computer fraud, credit-card fraud, and conspiracy.


Bungie Founder Unearths New Game

Alex Seropian #39;s Stubbs the Zombie in  quot;Rebel without a Pulse quot; uses Halo engine in new third-person action game. October 29, 2004 - Aspyr Media and Wideload Games today dug up their newest creation, revealing


Molik stays on course for second tournament win in row

Alicia Molik came back to beat French teen Tatiana Golovin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the SEAT Open quarterfinals Friday, moving closer to winning her second WTA Tour title in two weeks.


Lowell under contract with Marlins through 2007

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Mike Lowell #39;s contract with the Florida Marlins is no longer contingent on the team getting a new stadium.


Thai PM Apologizes to Nation for Deaths in South

Thailand #39;s prime minister apologized to the families of at least 84 people killed when troops put down a demonstration in the country #39;s mainly Muslim south, but blamed the riot on troublemakers.


Island men convicted on sex charges

The mayor and five other men on the small Pacific island of Pitcairn were sentenced to as much as six years in prison for a string of rapes and sex attacks dating back 40 years on the remote and isolated home of the HMS Bounty


US says  #39;time running out #39; for Iran to comply with nuclear demands

WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (AFP) - The United States said Friday that  quot;time is running out quot; for Iran to avoid being hauled before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions by complying with international demands to halt uranium enrichment activities and come


Violence Prompts Curfew in Liberia Capital

Violence between Muslims and Christians engulfed Liberia #39;s war-battered capital Friday, with machete-wielding crowds rampaging through the streets and UN peacekeepers firing warning shots and tear gas to restore order amid burned mosques and churches.


Americans from Plattsburgh come to Quebec to get their flu shots (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - LACOLLE, Que. (CP) - Several hundred seniors from northern New York state  boarded buses and arrived in this Canadian border community on Friday to pay  #36;25 US each for their flu shots.


Oil Up on Supply Woes, Election Jitters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices bounced back on Friday,  ending this week's 8 percent slide on renewed winter supply  fears and jitters ahead of next week's U.S. presidential  election.


Oil Prices Fall Nearly \$4 Over Past Week

Oil prices bounced higher Friday following two days of sharp declines, but traders said they expect prices to move lower again by early next week in anticipation of the Energy Department's next petroleum supply report.


Delightful Discount or Devilish Decline?

Slowing sales and income plus a warning about future profitability at Deluxe shows just how thin the line between deep value and permanent decline can be.


Garcia Leads Volvo Masters by One Stroke (AP)

AP - Sergio Garcia recovered from a poor start and survived a rules scare, closing the second round with two birdies for a 2-under 69 and a one-stroke lead Friday in the Volvo Masters.


Jaguars Upgrade RB Taylor As Probable (AP)

AP - Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor was upgraded to probable Friday and should start at Houston despite a leg injury.


Phone Magic (BusinessWeek Online)

BusinessWeek Online - Hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons took one look at the Motorola  Razr V3 mobile phone and declared it "hot." After all, at half an inch thin and just 3.35 oz. -- with the look of a classic straight-edge razor -- the Razr is, well, quite sharp. But what's most remarkable about this svelte pocket pleaser is that it squeezes a video-clip player, zoom camera, and polyphonic speakers into a matchbook-thin frame no wider than a credit card. "Just like a cool pair of sneakers or a watch, a phone says something about who you are," says Simmons in an e-mail. ...


Klein's bizarre start to cakewalk election raises eyebrows in Alberta (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - CALGARY (CP) - Is Ralph Klein's political antenna broken?


Federal regulators want more data before approving new Merck pain <b>...</b>

Most analysts and doctors had not expected the FDA to give Arcoxia a green light now because Merck pulled Vioxx from the market last month after a study showed it doubled patients risk of heart attacks and strokes.


Say Goodbye to the Float as Checking Enters 21st Century

Consumer advocates are urging bank customers to be more careful about the checks they write now that new federal regulations designed to speed up check processing have taken effect.


ING Canada Files IPO Prospectus

ING Canada Inc., a unit of Dutch bank and insurance group ING Groep NV, on Friday said it has filed a prospectus for an initial public offering of its common shares in Canada.


King, Knave, or Village Idiot?

Troubled King Pharmaceuticals' latest accounting woes threaten to scuttle its merger with Mylan.


Human embryonic stem cells promising for replacement of blood <b>...</b>

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute are one step closer to understanding how blood cells develop through the use of human embryonic stem cells.


The Other Side of Oil

Most people think oil companies are awash in cash -- until they look at the balance sheet.


Mauresmo charges into Linz semis

Linz, Austria (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo of France led the parade into the semifinals at the \$585,000 Generali Ladies Linz tennis event.


Argonauts offer free tickets after 38-point loss

The Toronto Argonauts are offering a big giveaway to make up for a big loss. Apologizing to their fans after getting beaten 58-20 by the Montreal Alouettes, the CFL club said Friday that a ticket stub from


Diagnosis on Arafat Expected in a Few Days

The Palestinian Authority #39;s representative in France says a diagnosis of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat #39;s illness will not be available until he undergoes a series of tests that could take several days.


Japanese hostage in Iraq reportedly killed

TOKYO - There are conflicting reports about whether a Japanese man taken hostage in Iraq last week has been killed by his captors.


New Meta survey: Bush good for outsourcing

Almost half of the IT execs responding to a new Meta survey expect offshoring to increase if George Bush wins reelection as president. Offshoring Blog


Henman Falls to Novak in Basel

 By Mark Ledsom

 BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - British world number fourTim Henman was knocked out of the quarterfinals of the \$1.26million Swiss Indoors tournament Friday, falling 7-6, 7-5 tounseeded Czech Jiri Novak.


Muslim gathering ends with prayers for peace

Nearly 2 million Muslims from around the world have ended their three-day annual prayer for global peace and harmony outside the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka.


Update 1: Ovitz Says He Was Mistaken Over Bonus

Michael Ovitz, Walt Disney Co. #39;s former president, said Friday he was mistaken in his previous testimony that his annual bonus was tied to Disney chief executive Michael Eisner #39;s bonus.


Help for Dialysis Patients

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a chewable non-calcium drug that can help kidney patients on dialysis manage their phosphorus levels.


Germany Expands Same-Sex Couples' Rights (AP)

AP - German lawmakers expanded the rights of same-sex couples Friday, allowing registered domestic partners to adopt each other's children and making rules on splitting up and alimony similar to those for heterosexual marriages.


NASA Scientists Find Surface of Titan  #39;Very Alien #39;

The surface of Saturn #39;s moon Titan may be covered by thick drifts of combustible organic  quot;snow quot; floating on lakes of liquid methane or water and ammonia ice flows, NASA (news - web sites) scientists said on Friday.


Evolutionary Shrinkage: Stone Age Homo find offers small surprise

Big evolutionary insights sometimes come in little packages. Witness the startling discovery, in a cave on the eastern Indonesian island of Flores, of the partial skeleton of a half-size Homo species that


Eye on IT

The Office of Government Commerce #39;s report into the viability of using open-source software in the public sector was toned down in its praise of Linux security before release, silicon.


Marquee Matchup

Though they met in the preseason in Philadelphia, this is the game we #39;ve been waiting for since headline machine Terrell Owens spurned the receiver-needy Ravens for the receiver-needy Eagles this offseason.


Yankees Decline Options on Quantrill, Lee (AP)

AP - The Yankees declined their 2005 option on first baseman Travis Lee on Friday and their 2006 option on reliever Paul Quantrill.


Japanese hostage probably killed in Iraq

A body found in Iraq is probably that of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda, taken captive by an Islamic militant group in Iraq, according to information obtained by the Japanese government.


US urgres free, fair Ukraine vote

The US State Department Friday reiterated the need for free and fair elections in Ukraine and urged Russia to support such a process.


Promoting free trade promotes security for Canada and U.S., ambassador says. (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - VANCOUVER (CP) - The promotion of free trade around the world will help fight terrorism and is in the security interests of the U.S. and Canada, the U.S. ambassador to Canada said Friday.


Michigan to Face Rival Michigan State (AP)

AP - Bragging rights are at best the second-most important thing on the line for No. 12 Michigan when it plays rival Michigan State on Saturday.


Annan under fire as UN considers reform

New York - The United Nations last week unveiled a wide-ranging blueprint to reform the organisation, but found media attention more focused on calls for UN secretary-general Kofi Annan to resign.


US ; US: 21 Iraqis killed in three attacks

US News, A total of 21 Iraqis -- 17 civilians working for coalition forces and four Iraqi security personnel -- were killed Sunday in three separate insurgent attacks, US military officials said.


McDonald's Makes Millionaires

The company recently crowned a winner in its Monopoly game, one of its best promotional programs.


Alabama Congressional Candidate Injured (AP)

AP - A congressional candidate's antebellum home burned down early Friday, and he broke his knee jumping from the second floor.


Al-Jazeera Airs Video Said to Be of Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden directly admitted for the first time that he carried out the Sept. 11 attacks and promised to outline "the best way to avoid another Manhattan."


Blog Search Engine Adds MoBlog Search

Blog Search Engine Adds MoBlog Search\\Blog Search Engine and IceRocket Search have partnered to bring cell phone pic blogs, or MoBlogs, into the search engine world with a new search feature which produces image results of the latest MoBlogs images available. Blog Search Engine has over 10,000 blogs indexed in ...