BTC launches Bulgaria's third GSM network (AFP)

AFP - The Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) launched the country's third GSM mobile phone network, ringing in the new service by phoning from Sofia to a landline in Bourgas on the Black Sea.


Global health suffering because of toilet taboo, hygiene experts say (AFP)

AFP - Long-held silence over the taboo subject of toilets is taking its toll on global health and holding back developing countries, hygiene experts warned at a world toilet summit here.


Nepal police killed by landmine

Eight policemen die when their vehicle hits a landmine laid by Maoists in western Nepal, authorities say.


Japan's Docomo Unveils 3G Phones with 3D Sound

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's largest mobile operator, NTT  DoCoMo Inc. 9437.T, unveiled on Wednesday a new line of  advanced mobile phones with stereo-quality surround sound,  high-resolution digital cameras, and a special chip that allows  owners to use their phones as a debit card.


Tech, Media, Telecoms Chiefs Brace for Slow 2005

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Technology, media and telecoms chiefs  are expected to be cautious about 2005 when they gather in  Barcelona this week at Morgan Stanley's annual TMT investor  conference.


Microsoft, Dassault Systemes in Strategic Alliance

PARIS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp., the world's largest  software maker, and France's Dassault Systemes have forged a  global, 5-year strategic alliance to deliver Dassault's 3D  software to firms using the Microsoft software platform.


Economy Expands Despite Rising Oil Prices

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Surging energy costs drove up U.S.  consumer prices a hefty and larger-than-expected 0.6 percent  last month, while industrial output grew strongly after  rebounding from hurricanes and housing starts leapt, government  reports showed on Wednesday.


Oil Prices Retreat as U.S. Supplies Build

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices extended heavy recent losses  on Wednesday as U.S. government data showed crude stocks  building for an eighth straight week ahead of winter.


Abbas Fails to Win Palestinian Militant Truce Pledge

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas failed at  talks with militants on Wednesday to win a commitment to end  attacks on Israelis in the run-up to Jan. 9 elections for a  replacement to Yasser Arafat, political sources said.


Brazil Official Eyes Secret Military Files

A Brazilian government party official on Wednesday urged the opening of sealed records that could contain details of citizens tortured and killed by the former 21-year military dictatorship.


Bombings at Two Buenos Aires Banks Kill 1

Homemade bombs exploded in two Buenos Aires banks Wednesday, killing a security guard and shattering windows, police said.


Homemade bombs exploded in two Buenos Aires banks Wednesday, killing a security guard, police said.


Bombs Hit Three Argentine Bank Branches, One Dead

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Bombs exploded at threebanks in the Argentine capital on Wednesday, including twobranches of U.S. giant Citibank, killing one security guard andinjuring one other person, police said.


Microsoft to spread software through U.N.

Software maker teams up with UNESCO to boost the number of languages in which its applications are offered.


Abbas Fails to Win Palestinian Militant Truce Pledge (Reuters)

Reuters - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas failed at\talks with militants on Wednesday to win a commitment to end\attacks on Israelis in the run-up to Jan. 9 elections for a\replacement to Yasser Arafat, political sources said.


Hyper Growth = Hot IPO

InPhonic finally made its public debut amid insatiable investor demand for IPOs.


Palestinians Head to Paris to Probe Arafat's Death (Reuters)

Reuters - Palestinian leaders plan to\send a delegation to Paris to seek details on what caused the\death of President Yasser Arafat last week at a French\hospital, officials said on Wednesday.


British soldier wounded in roadside bomb in Iraq (AFP)

AFP - British soldiers operating south of Baghdad were targeted in two bomb attacks, including one suicide car bombing and another attack that left one soldier injured.


Wal-Mart Still Sees Sales Up 1-3 Pct.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest retailer, on Saturday said it still expects a 1 percent to 3 percent increase in December sales at its US stores open at least a year.


Microsoft, Dassault Systemes in Strategic Alliance (Reuters)

Reuters - Microsoft Corp., the world's largest\software maker, and France's Dassault Systemes have forged a\global, 5-year strategic alliance to deliver Dassault's 3D\software to firms using the Microsoft software platform.


Ontario to dedicate  #36;12.5 million to water studies and watershed protection (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The effects of urban sprawl and industrial development on Ontario's ecologically sensitive watersheds will be more closely examined under a  #36;12.5 million provincial initiative.


Ohio Provisional Ballots Seem Legitimate (AP)

AP - The vast majority of provisional ballots cast in Ohio were legitimate, say election officials who are poring over thousands of presidential election ballots.


Pink Locusts from North Africa Swarm Through Cairo (Reuters)

Reuters - Swarms of pink locusts swept through the\Egyptian capital on Wednesday, evoking the biblical description\of the plagues which struck in the time of Moses.


Treasuries Prices Rising

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasuries rallied on Wednesday as  U.S. retail inflation rose less than many had feared,  suggesting the Federal Reserve could stay measured when raising  interest rates.


Treasuries Prices Rising (Reuters)

Reuters - Treasuries rallied on Wednesday as\U.S. retail inflation rose less than many had feared,\suggesting the Federal Reserve could stay measured when raising\interest rates.


Kmart swings to profit in 3Q

Discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp. reported a third-quarter profit Wednesday, reversing a year-earlier loss, as asset sales and cost containment helped offset a further decline in sales.


Update 1: Snow Says US Dealing With Budget Deficit

US Treasury Secretary John Snow reassured critics Wednesday that America is dealing with its huge budget and trade deficits, but discounted any suggestions of official intervention to prop up the ailing US dollar.


World Bank predicts growth for countries

The world #39;s developing countries this year will turn in the strongest economic growth in three decades and should continue to enjoy solid expansion in 2005 and 2006, the World Bank predicted Tuesday.


SBC Tunes in Microsoft #39;s IP TV

In its latest move in an ongoing battle with cable companies, SBC Communications today announced a 10-year, \$400 million deal to use Microsoft #39;s (Quote, Chart) IP television platform.


Vivendi rings up blistering third-quarter profits

PARIS, Nov 17 (AFP) - Media and mobile telephone group Vivendi Universal said on Wednesday that third-quarter profits had risen by nearly six-fold and upgraded its full-year profit outlook owing to a change in tax arrangements.


PBHG Funds, Founders Settle Charges (Reuters)

Reuters - The founders of the PBHG mutual funds\agreed to pay  #36;160 million in restitution and civil fines, and\to accept a lifetime ban from the securities industry to\resolve allegations they facilitated improper trading in the\funds, regulators said on Wednesday.


Indian Prime Minister Takes Peace Proposals to Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan  Singh took his proposals for peace to the Kashmiri people on  Wednesday, holding out the promise of further troop withdrawals  on his first visit to the region.


Hollywood Strikes Back: MPAA Lawsuits Filed Today

The Motion Picture Association of America has escalated its hunt for Internet movie pirates with the filing of several lawsuits against individuals the MPAA says are distributing pirated movies.


Top Researchers Ask Web Users to Join Science Grid

IBM and top scientific research organizations are joining forces in a humanitarian effort to tap the unused power of millions of computers and help solve complex social problems.


Pulp Fiction Writer Sues Microsoft over Yoga Game

According to the lawsuit, screenwriter Roger Avary met with the Microsoft team and pitched them a detailed concept for a video game designed to lead players through yoga poses using Microsoft #39;s Xbox.


Sun Releases Solaris 10 for Free

November 15, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- In an effort to win back some lost market share, Sun Microsystems (sun.com) released Solaris 10, the latest version of the company #39;s Unix-based operating system software, for free on Monday.


Creative plans US\$100m advertising campaign for its MP3 players

Creative Chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo is aiming for a 40 percent share of the global market for MP3 players next year. To achieve its target, the Singapore-based company will


Federer, Hewitt ready for US Open rematch in Houston

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Reigning world No. 1 Roger Federer and former top-ranked star Lleyton Hewitt will meet in a blockbuster  quot;Red Group quot; round- robin match Wednesday at the ATP #39;s season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.


Unlucky Aussies

MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will not forget this match at Craven Cottage early this morning. His woeful error cost Australia victory in a 2-2 draw with Norway.


Source: Thompson to step down at end of season

East Carolina football coach John Thompson will step down at the end of the season, a school source told The Associated Press on Wednesday.


Philadelphia 76ers Team Report - November 17

(Sports Network) - The 76ers saw a three-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday night, falling 103-95 to the Seattle SuperSonics at the Wachovia Center.


Wrexham Handed Two-Week Stay of Execution

Wrexham have been given a stay of execution after the High Court granted the club more time to solve their financial problems. However, the Coca-Cola League Two outfit have been given just two weeks to sort out the crisis or face a winding-up order.


Hassan #39;s Family, Officials, Respond To Apparent Killing

The husband of Iraqi aid worker Margaret Hassan has asked Islamic militants to return his wife #39;s body to him so that she can, in his words, rest in peace.


Bombs hit three Argentine bank branches

Bombs have exploded at three banks in the Argentine capital, including two branches of US giant Citibank, killing one security guard and injuring one other person, police say.


PBHG Funds, Founders Settle Charges

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The founders of the PBHG mutual funds  agreed to pay \$160 million in restitution and civil fines, and  to accept a lifetime ban from the securities industry to  resolve allegations they facilitated improper trading in the  funds, regulators said on Wednesday.


SBC Gives Microsoft \$400 Mln Internet TV Deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - SBC Communications SBC.N will use  Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O technology to launch video services  over upgraded high-speed data lines, the companies said  Wednesday.


USA : Oil price lifts mens apparel prices

Wholesale prices for domestically produced mens and boys apparel rose 0.6 percent in October 2004, which economists attributed to higher energy costs rather than real pricing power, the Labor Departments Producer Price Index revealed on Tuesday.


Seagate announces 400 GByte harddrive

Hitachi #39;s 400 GByte Deskstar got company: Seagate announced it is shipping its Barracuda 7200.8 to retail stores and system builders, also offering up to 400 GByte storage space.


Hewlett-Packard strikes Blu note for DVDs

PC buyers can look forward to DVDs with up to 10 times the storage they now have when Hewlett-Packard rolls out machines supporting next-generation DVD technology next year.


Casey #39;s anti-US comments not that smart, says Verplank

Englishman Paul Casey will be in for a hard time on the US Tour next year after his outspoken remarks about American golfers, Scott Verplank warned on Wednesday.


Spurs #39; Richards says chances of tumour  #39;extremely low #39;

Tottenham Hotspur defender Dean Richards says there is an  quot;extremely low quot; chance that he has a tumour after a scan had revealed an  quot;abnormality on the brain quot;.


Young US squad set to face Jamaica

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - With the United States men #39;s national soccer team having already booked a place in the final round of World Cup qualifying, head coach Bruce Arena is likely to put a young squad on the field Wednesday against Jamaica at


Wrexham win stay of execution

Wrexham have been given just over two weeks to solve their financial problems by the High Court, a day after the club applied to go into administration.


Houston Rockets Team Report - November 17

(Sports Network) - The Rockets came up short on Tuesday, falling 88-84 to the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. Yao Ming made good on 13-of-15 shot attempts in a 27-point, 11-rebound performance for the Rockets, who have lost three of four.


Stocks Gain on Retail Merger, HP Earnings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks jumped on Wednesday on news of  a merger between retailers Kmart and Sears,  better-than-expected earnings from computer maker  Hewlett-Packard and government data showing a moderate rise in  a key U.S. inflation measure.


Dollar Sinks to All-Time Low Vs Euro

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar plunged to an all-time low  against the euro on Wednesday ahead of an upcoming G20 finance  ministers' meeting in Berlin, as analysts fretted that  officials would do little to stem the greenback's fall.


Preview: South Africa Bids to Underline Strength

SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - South Africa will underline  their strength in depth if Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini  can retain their title at the WGC-World Cup of Golf starting on  Thursday at Seville's Real Golf Club.


New York Unveils Olympic Bid

A massive plan to attract the 2012 Summer Olympics to New York, touting the city's diversity, financial and media power, was unveiled today.


U.N. Approves Global Gene-Test Standard (AP)

AP - The World Health Organization said Wednesday it approved the first international standard for a human genetic test to help laboratories improve the accuracy and quality of their results.


US Pounds Falluja Diehards, Violence in North

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. artillery pummeled Falluja  on Wednesday and troops hunted guerrillas still fighting days  after Washington said its offensive had destroyed rebel control  of the Sunni Muslim city west of Baghdad.


Enbridge pays US\$613M for Shell natural gas pipelines in Gulf of <b>...</b>

CALGARY (CP) - Pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. is going south with a \$613-million-US purchase of Shell #39;s natural gas network in the Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana and Mississippi.


IBM launches global research grid

US IT giant IBM and a number of research organisations have launched the World Community Grid, a global humanitarian effort that applies the unused computing power of individual and business computers to help address the world #39;s most difficult health and


Gates: Signs Paris Deal To Bring More Computers To Third World

Making the world safe from Linux? Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) Chairman Bill Gates is in Paris this morning, signing an agreement with UNESCO to boost computer literacy in developing countries.


Indian soldiers kill militants

Indian soldiers killed two militants after a fierce gunbattle in Kashmir #39;s main city last night, as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began a visit to promote peace in the disputed region.


Iran #39;s nuclear gamesmanship

Having been duped last year by Iran, negotiators for France, Germany and Britain labored mightily over the past months to produce what they hoped would be an airtight agreement that would force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.


Ivory Coast Rebel Leader Travels to South Africa

The leader of the northern rebels in Ivory Coast is traveling to South Africa to meet with President Thabo Mbeki to discuss the peace process in the world #39;s number one cocoa-producing nation.


Species disappearing at an alarming rate, report says

The world #39;s biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, the recognized global watchdog on endangered species said Wednesday in announcing its annual list of most vulnerable wildlife.


Bears Wide Receiver Terrell Arrested

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (Sports Network) - Chicago Bears wide  receiver David Terrell has been arrested for traffic  violations.


RIM's BlackBerry Subscribers Top 2 Mln

TORONTO (Reuters) - The BlackBerry wireless e-mail device  is now being used by a record two million subscribers, less  than a year after it topped the one million market, Research In  Motion Ltd. (RIM) RIM.TO said on Wednesday.


U.S. Pounds Falluja Diehards, Violence in North

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. artillery pummelled Falluja  on Wednesday and troops hunted guerrillas still fighting days  after Washington said its offensive had destroyed rebel control  of the Sunni Muslim city west of Baghdad.


Sears and Kmart to Merge

When resurgent discount retailer Kmart (Nasdaq: KMRT) branded a new CEO, it was rumored that chairman Edward Lampert might have designs on merging the company with Sears (NYSE


Microsoft Turns On IPTV

Microsoft has turned the channel on its slow-moving television software business by winning a key contract for its new Internet-based TV platform from SBC Communications.


Historic Hypersonic Flight for NASA  #39;Scramjet #39; Made in Tennessee

An unmanned NASA jet that set a speed record of almost 7,000 miles per hour was built by a Tennessee company. The 12-foot-long X-43-A supersonic combustion ramjet, or Scramjet, flew on its


MPAA Files Movie Piracy Lawsuits

Andrew Bridges, an intellectual property lawyer in the San Francisco office of Winston  amp; Strawn, said the MPAA could fare better than the recording industry, which has experienced slow progress


IPass To Offer Flat-Rate Hotspot Pricing

Aggregator says it expects flat-rate pricing to simplify budgeting for enterprises and to increase usage of hotspots. By Mobile Pipeline News.


Building up ties between the All Blacks and Welsh

All Black assistant Steve Hansen wants to develop a relationship between traditional foes New Zealand and Wales. He has instigated talks about the twinning concept, a year out from plans to have


Anti-APEC protesters unite

POLICE fought street battles today for a second straight day with university students protesting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile and the weekend arrival of US President George W. Bush.


Bears Wide Receiver Terrell Arrested (Reuters)

Reuters - Chicago Bears wide\receiver David Terrell has been arrested for traffic\violations.


Sears and Kmart to Merge

After much speculation, two discount giants move to create third-largest retailer.


'Monday Night Football' Rankles FCC (AP)

AP - The nation's chief media regulator expressed disappointment Wednesday over the steamy locker room opening to ABC's "Monday Night Football" broadcast.


Internet auction house eBay launches Philippine operations (AFP)

AFP - Online auction site eBay said it has launched its operations in the Philippines.


UPDATE 1-Founders of PBHG funds settle market timing case

The founders of the PBHG mutual funds agreed to pay \$160 million in restitution and civil fines, and to accept a lifetime ban from the securities industry to resolve allegations they facilitated improper trading in the funds


Wake-up call on climate change

The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment has released an alarming report on the impacts of climate change across the Arctic. The ACIA is a multiyear evaluation of the impact of climate change and increased ultraviolet radiation across the Arctic region.


Microsoft launches Windows-based hosting solution 3.0

US software maker Microsoft has announced the general availability of the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting version 3.0.


Sony Introduces Double-Layer DVD for Macintosh

Sony #39;s new double-layer DVD player for the Mac will give Macintosh users access to higher-capacity removable storage. The device, which is available in both internal and external versions, can record up to four hours of video on a single disk.


Racism riddles Spanish football

The racist abuse suffered by England #39;s Under-21 stars against Spain on Tuesday is a regular part of the Spanish game, says an anti-racism campaign body.


Mutu forces Chelsea on to back foot with appeal

Disgraced Romanian international striker Adrian Mutu lodged an appeal against his sacking by Premiership leaders Chelsea for taking cocaine.


Wrexham Crisis Moves into Extra-Time

Wrexham today breathed a huge sigh of relief after being given a stay of execution by the High Court - but the Coca-Cola League Two club have been given just two weeks to sort out the crisis or face a winding-up order.


Report Says Dozens Of Iraqi Policemen Abducted

A policeman who says he escaped from the ambush said a group of around 20 armed men attacked a hotel occupied by the policemen near the Jordanian border.


Analysis: Rice to spearhead realization of Bush #39;s vision for <b>...</b>

US President George W. Bush #39;s plan to play midwife to a Palestinian state took another turn Tuesday with his decision to appoint National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as his new secretary of state.


EU urged to  #39;get back to work #39; after three-week limbo

Incoming European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday urged the EU to  quot;get back to work quot;, ahead of a vote expected to end an unprecedented limbo and let him take office three weeks late.


EU warns of sanctions on US

The European Union threatens to impose sanctions on some US imports unless Washington repeals its anti-dumping law.


Computer, TV Merger Begins

SBC and Microsoft strike a \$400 million deal to provide internet TV.   Also: Gates agrees to computer charity work in developing countries   hellip;.  Japan gives us surround-sound cell phones   hellip;. and more.


RIM's BlackBerry Subscribers Top 2 Mln

TORONTO (Reuters) - The BlackBerry wireless e-mail device  is now being used by a record two million subscribers, less  than a year after it topped the one million market, Research In  Motion Ltd. (RIM) RIM.TO said on Wednesday.


Jack in the Box Has 32 Pct Hike in Profit

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fast-food chain Jack In The Box  Inc. JBX.N on Wednesday reported a higher-than-expected 32  percent rise in quarterly net profit, helped by sales of new  products like sourdough sandwiches and a lower tax rate.


Miers Picked As White House Counsel (AP)

AP - President Bush has decided to name Harriet Miers, a longtime Texas associate, as White House counsel, a senior administration official said Wednesday.


Broncos DT Elliss to Miss Sunday's Game (Reuters)

Reuters - Denver Broncos veteran defensive\tackle Luther Elliss is listed as out for Sunday's game at New\Orleans with a calf injury.


Trucking Industry Won't Fight Diesel Rules (AP)

AP - After years of resistance, the U.S. trucking industry says it will not try to impede or delay a new federal rule aimed at cutting diesel pollution.


China Eliminated From World Cup Qualifying (AP)

AP - China was eliminated from qualifying for the 2006 World Cup despite a 7-0 victory Wednesday night over visiting Hong Kong, with Kuwait finishing first in the group on the fifth tiebreaker.


2 Pilgrim-Baxter Fund Founders to Settle (AP)

AP - The two founders of the Pilgrim-Baxter mutual fund family have agreed to pay  #36;80 million each to settle regulators' charges of improper trading of their funds to benefit themselves and friends at the expense of longer-term shareholders, the authorities announced Wednesday.


Feelin' Blue About Blue Nile

Investors didn't appreciate news of their management's plans to sell shares.


Enbridge to Buy Shell #39;s Gulf Pipelines for \$613 Mln (Update4)

Enbridge Inc., Canada #39;s second- largest pipeline company, agreed to buy Shell Gas Transmission LLC for \$613 million to gain pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time.


US scramjet clocks nearly 10 times speed of sound

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California (AFP) - A US hypersonic experimental scramjet, the X-43A, raced into the record books, flying at a world-record speed nearly 10 times faster than sound, NASA confirmed.


MPAA Sues First Movie Swappers

Industry group will offer a free program to help users find and eliminate illegal files. The Motion Picture Association of America this week announced that it has begun filing lawsuits against people who use


ebay Fun and Holy Toast!

The Internet megasite eBay yelled  #39;hold the cheese #39; when they found a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that its owner says bears the image of the Virgin Mary being auctioned off on its website.


#39;World Community Grid #39; seeks to harness unused computers

NOVEMBER 17, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - IBM and officials from some of the world #39;s leading science, education and philanthropic organizations yesterday launched a global grid computing project aimed at harnessing unused global computing power to help solve a


Seagate ships 400GB hard disk drive

NOVEMBER 17, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Seagate Technology LLC said yesterday that it has started shipping a hard disk drive, targeted at PCs, that offers 400GB of storage space.


English FA lodges protest over abuse of black players in Spain

LONDON (AFP) - The Football Association has written to UEFA and FIFA to complain about racist abuse suffered by England #39;s black players in an under-21 international against Spain in Madrid on Tuesday night.


Denis Doyle/Getty Images

1. ABC and the NFL are still wiping the egg of their face for the racy lead-in to Monday Night Football in which Desperate Housewives co-star Nicollette Sheridan dropped her towel and jumped into the arms of Eagles wideout Terrell Owens.


Thousands remember former England captain Emlyn Hughes

SHEFFIELD, England - Thousands paid their respects Wednesday at the funeral of Emlyn Hughes, the former England and Liverpool captain who was one of the greatest English soccer players of his generation.


WORLD/ASIA

vSAMARRA, Iraq, Nov 17 (AFP): Saboteurs attacked a domestic oil pipeline west of the restive Iraqi city of Samarra Wednesday in the latest in a barrage of attacks against Iraq #39;s crucial insustry, police said.


Game Review: Classic NES Is Nostalgia Trip (AP)

AP - Nintendo has wet my old-school whistle, yet again. I spent a majority of my earlier years plopped in front of the TV screen playing NES games, and blowing into the cartridges to get the games to work (which Nintendo, apparently, does not condone).


Mutu forces Chelsea on to back foot with appeal (AFP)

AFP - Disgraced Romanian international striker Adrian Mutu lodged an appeal against his sacking by Premiership leaders Chelsea for taking cocaine.


Quebec TV producer Guy Cloutier pleads guilty to five sex-related charges (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - Guy Cloutier, one of Quebec's best-known TV and music producers, pleaded guilty Wednesday to five charges, including sexual assault, indecent assault and having sex with a female under 14 who was not his wife.


Vodafone to hand back \$16b

LONDON - Vodafone Group plans to hand 6 billion (\$16 billion) back to shareholders this year after doubling half-year and full-year dividends and boosting a multibillion-pound share buyback programme.


Bill Gates to Seal Unesco Partnership

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will sign a co-operation agreement with Unesco today to improve access to computers, the Internet and IT training in developing countries.


Trucking Industry Won #39;t Fight Diesel Rules

After years of resistance, the US trucking industry says it will not try to impede or delay a new federal rule aimed at cutting diesel pollution.


IT Forum 2004: Microsoft rolls out Windows-Based Hosting

Microsoft has announced general availability of Windows-Based Hosting Version 3.0, which is a platform for service providers to sell hosted offerings.


PARIS HOPE TO LEARN FROM PAST FAILURE

Paris launched their candidature file for the 2012 Olympics on Wednesday with bid leaders insisting they have learned their lesson from past failures.


Wales dare not speak of All Blacks

Wales have not beaten New Zealand for 51 years and in their efforts to end that barren run, they are banning all references to the All Blacks before Saturday #39;s Test at the Millennium Stadium.


Hot Stove Truth  amp; Rumors: Nov. 17, 2004

Signing shortstop Cristian Guzman and third baseman Vinny Castilla indicate that Washington GM Jim Bowden takes seriously his pledge to aggressively assemble a competitive team.


Burris highlights CFL Players of the Week

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Quarterback Henry Burris of the Saskatchewan Roughriders was among the CFL players recognized Wednesday for their outstanding performances in the division finals.


Study Looks at Minority Coaching Hires (AP)

AP - The low number of minorities coaching college football teams reflects a lack of diversity among college and conference leaders, according to a University of Central Florida study released Wednesday.


Sudan conflict under UN spotlight

UN Security Council  diplomats are in Kenya to push for a Sudan peace deal and progress on Darfur.


Yukos faces \$6.2bn tax deadline

Russian oil giant Yukos says it is about to miss a deadline on a back tax payment of more than \$6bn due from 2002.


Pulp Fiction writer sues Microsoft

Pulp Fiction co-writer Roger Avary is suing Microsoft, accusing the software giant of stealing his idea for a virtual yoga studio.


Culpepper Leading Pro Bowl Voting (AP)

AP - Daunte Culpepper was leading Pro Bowl fan balloting through Wednesday with 325,383 votes.


Humans Were Born to Run, Scientists Say (Reuters)

Reuters - Humans were born to run and evolved from\ape-like creatures into the way they look today probably\because of the need to cover long distances and compete for\food, scientists said on Wednesday.


Ancient Sea Reptiles Gave Birth to Live Young (Reuters)

Reuters - Fossils of ancient marine reptiles that\lived 230 million years ago show the prehistoric creatures gave\birth to live young, scientists said on Wednesday.


French Harvests Show Hot Spots Over the Centuries (Reuters)

Reuters - Grape harvest records have enabled\French scientists to track variations in summer temperatures in\France since the 14th century.


ScanSoft Scans for Deals

On the surface, speech technologies make a lot of sense. But it may still be too early for them to make it in prime time.


US Economy: Consumer Prices, Industrial Production Rise

US consumer prices rose in October, spurred by energy and food costs, and industrial production and housing starts surged, suggesting the Federal Reserve may keep raising its benchmark interest rate.


Cisco buys IT management start-up

IT management is firmly anchored at number six, with outsourcing, cost control, and process improvement the order of the day. Cisco Systems signed an agreement on Wednesday to acquire network management start-up Jahi Networks for \$16 million.


FCC boss chides ABC for racy MNF intro

WASHINGTON - The nations chief media regulator expressed disappointment Wednesday over the steamy locker room opening to ABCs Monday Night Football broadcast.


Talk NASCAR with Mike Massaro

Welcome to The Show! On Novemeber 21 in Homestead, Fla, NASCAR will crown a champion when the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup concludes.


Batting first likely option in Brisbane

Winning the toss is probably a  quot;bat first quot; proposition in the first cricket test between Australia and New Zealand starting at the  #39;Gabba on Thursday.


Microsoft, ScanSoft pair up for speech software

Text-to-speech technology will be featured in a range of Redmond's server products, beginning with Speech Server 2004.


Microsoft invests in interoperability specialist

The new recipient of Redmond's bounty, Vintela, sells software that integrates Unix and Linux tools with Windows environments.


Bush Turns to Adviser for Education Secretary

Margaret Spellings has been a close adviser to President Bush since his days as Texas governor.


Staley Questionable, Bettis Probable for Steelers (Reuters)

Reuters - Pittsburgh Steelers running\back Duce Staley is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at\Cincinnati with a hamstring injury.


New Nuclear Weapon to Surpass Others, Putin Says

Reiterating previous statements, though providing no new details, President Vladimir V. Putin said Russia would continue to emphasize its nuclear deterrent.


Union prez threatens nationwide strike against 26 airlines

Flight attendants union president Patricia Friend has threatened a nationwide strike against 26 airlines if US Airways ditches its union contracts while in bankruptcy.


PBHG Funds Founders Barred from Business

The founders of PBHG mutual funds agreed to pay \$160 million in restitution and civil fines and to be banned for life from the securities industry to resolve allegations they facilitated improper trading in the funds, regulators said


UPDATE 2-ConocoPhillips reaffirms production outlook

No. 3 US oil company ConocoPhillips (COP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday forecast higher capital spending in coming years and reaffirmed its production targets, banking on rising output in the Asia-Pacific region.


Internal Revenue Service launches website

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has improved its services to the nation through the establishment of a customer oriented Internet website to enhance voluntary tax compliance and lower cost of collection.


Try scratching this DVD

Researchers at electronics giant TDK have developed a tough new coating that promises to make scratched DVDs a thing of the past and that will help usher in an emerging data storage format with 10 times the capacity of the current DVD standard.


Windows XP SP2: A bandage, not a panacea

NOVEMBER 17, 2004 (INFOWORLD) - SAN FRANCISCO - Unless you #39;ve been living in a cave for the past few months, you already know Microsoft Corp.


NTT DoCoMo Launches Wi-Fi 3G Cell Phone

Japan #39;s NTT DoCoMo has released a dual-mode phone that works on both 3G FOMA cellular networks and wireless local area networks.


Henson out to make NZ statement

Wales centre Gavin Henson says he is determined to show-case his talent against New Zealand on Saturday. The 22-year-old was given his Wales debut by current New Zealand coach Graham Henry against Romania in 2001.


Tottenham #39;s Richards remains positive

Tottenham defender Dean Richards has confirmed that a specialist has told him the chances of him suffering a brain tumour are  #39;extremely low #39;.


New nukes system for Russia

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin served notice today that Russia intended to remain a major nuclear power by deploying a new weapon in the coming years that other states lack and are unlikely to develop in the near future.


Dozens killed in Iraq unrest

DOZENS of people, many of them women and children, were killed or wounded in attacks across Iraq overnight amid reports that more than 60 Iraqi policemen have been kidnapped.


Buenos Aires banks bombed

The explosions on Wednesday occurred near ATM machines in branches belonging to Citibank and Banco Galicia, damaging the building #39;s facades, officials said.


APEC leaders to don chamantos

CHILE said it will make US President George W. Bush and fellow leaders wear poncho-like  quot;chamantos quot; at this weekend #39;s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, answering what is always a burning question.


Portuguese PM defends income tax-cutting 2005 draft budget (AFP)

AFP - Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes defended his government's budget for 2005 on the eve of its vote in parliament, arguing it will maintain budgetary rigor even as it cuts income taxes and raises pensions and civil servant salaries.


Polish rejection may derail EU patent directive

The future of the controversial European Union (E.U.) software patent directive was thrown into doubt Wednesday after the Polish government indicated it could no longer support the legislation in its current form.


Linux distributors team up to push standardization

Four major Linux players are to unite their distributions around a common core based on the Linux Standard Base (LSB) 2.0, in an effort to push Linux standardization to a new level. MandrakeSoft of France, Conectiva of Brazil, TurboLinux of Japan, and Progeny Linux Systems of the U.S. say the venture, called the Linux Core Consortium (LCC), has broad industry support from companies such as Red Hat, Novell, and Hewlett-Packard.


SBC switches on Microsoft in major IPTV deal

Microsoft has turned the channel on its slow-moving television software business by winning a key contract for its new Internet-based TV platform from SBC Communications.
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AMD-Fujitsu venture plans 'mega' Japanese chip plant

Spansion, the joint venture memory-chip maker formed by Advanced Micro Devices and Fujitsu, plans a major expansion of its chip-making capacity in Japan as part of its drive to overtake Intel and Samsung Electronics in the competitive flash memory market.


Seagate ships 400GB PC hard disk drive

Hard-disk drive maker Seagate Technology has started shipping a drive targeted at personal computers that offers 400GB of storage space, it said Tuesday.


McNair Questionable for Game Against Jacksonville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sports Network) - Tennessee quarterback  Steve McNair is questionable for Sunday's home game against  Jacksonville with a chest injury. McNair missed the Titans'  last two games with a bruised sternum.


Staley Questionable, Bettis Probable for Steelers

PITTSBURGH (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Steelers running  back Duce Staley is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at  Cincinnati with a hamstring injury.


Five Across introduces server, adds RSS to IM client

Five Acrosshas upgraded its workgroup instant messaging client by adding RSS support and developed its first workgroup instant messaging server, the Palo Alto, California company plans to announce Wednesday.


Update: Motorola to acquire MeshNetworks

Motorola has agreed to buy MeshNetworks, a developer of technology and products for rapidly deployed, self-creating wireless mobile networks.


Wall Street Doubts Kmart Strategy

Since emerging from bankruptcy in May 2003, the company has undergone a dramatic turnaround, seen an almost eight-fold increase in its stock price and now plans to buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck (S:NYSE - news - research) for about \$11


Flight Attendants #39; Union Threatens Strike

NOVEMBER 17, 2004 -- Pittsburgh, Pa. -- The largest union representing flight attendants yesterday threatened strikes against airlines that seek to abrogate contracts through bankruptcy proceedings.


Eisner: Lawyer said Ovitz couldn #39;t be fired for cause

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner testified Wednesday that he relied on advice from the company #39;s top lawyer in determining that former Disney President Michael Ovitz couldn #39;t be fired for cause.


Computer, TV Merger Begins

SBC said it signed a 10-year, \$400 million agreement with Microsoft to provide next-generation television services using Microsoft #39;s TV internet protocol television edition software platform.


ConocoPhillips hikes stake in Lukoil to 10 percent

MOSCOW ConocoPhillips has upped its stake in the Russian oil giant Lukoil to ten percent. That #39;s according to a Lukoil official.


Humans Were Born to Run, Scientists Say

Humans were born to run and evolved from ape-like creatures into the way they look today probably because of the need to cover long distances and compete for food, scientists said on Wednesday.


Time for Red Sox to say goodbye to Pedro?

So Pedro Martinez slipped off to Tampa for a brief, none-too-secret rendezvous with George Steinbrenner. Was this supposed to make Theo Epstein and the Red Sox brass jealous?


Big 12 North still a mess

OK, maybe one more.  quot;How many Big 12 North teams does it take to pull a float in a bowl parade? quot;. Colorado, the team that spent most of the offseason giving the conference a black eye, is 6-4


A look around the Big Ten

Can the Bagers bounce back from last week #39;s debacle? Will Noah Herron maintain his momentum against Illinois? Will Minnesota be home for the holidays?


India Offers Kashmir Talks, Pulls Troops

India #39;s prime minister offered Wednesday to hold unconditional talks on Kashmir  quot;with anyone and everyone quot; as his country began withdrawing troops from the divided Himalayan region as a goodwill gesture to rival Pakistan.


Fatah movement demands causes of Arafats death

The Palestinian Fatah Movement threatened to boycott the upcoming presidential elections unless the cause of Yasser Arafat #39;s is revealed.


EBay Outlines Policy on Racist Language (AP)

AP - Following complaints, eBay has announced a new policy regarding use of racially offensive terms in its listings.


Lewis: Kmart Profit Lets CEO Do  #39;More With More #39;

Aylwin Lewis is smiling. He #39;s the president and chief executive of Kmart Holding (nasdaq: KMRT - news - people ), which posted its fourth straight quarterly profit on Wednesday.


IBM Introduces  #39;World Community Grid #39;; Public Invited to Donate <b>...</b>

Yesterday, a biotech company in Australia announced they would be sharing their line of embryonic stem cells to an  quot;open source quot; research community -- for the good of mankind, at no cost.


Haan bows out as China suffer World Cup heartbreak

Disconsolate China coach Arie Haan stepped down after his team suffered an embarrassing early exit from World Cup qualifying despite thrashing Hong Kong 7-0.


Rapper Snoop Dogg works out with top-ranked Trojans

LOS ANGELES -- Rap artist Snoop Dogg donned football gloves and a red University of Southern California sweat suit Tuesday to run through drills with the top-ranked Trojans football team.


Lightning Get Rings in Private Ceremony (AP)

AP - It should have been an occasion for the Tampa Bay Lightning to bask one more time in the glow of winning the Stanley Cup.


Deutsche Telekom sells remaining 7.3 pct stake in SES Global (AFP)

AFP - Deutsche Telekom said it had sold its remaining 7.3 percent stake in SES Global, the world's leading satellite operator, for approximately 345 million euros (449.5 million dollars).


War on landmines 'shows success'

The number of people killed and injured by landmines last year fell, says a report - but there are still thousands of victims.


Consumer Prices Surged 0.6 Percent in October

Pushed by higher energy prices, US consumer prices rose in October, the Labor Department said today. The seasonally adjusted consumer price index rose 0.6 percent in October, the largest gain since May.


Update 1: ConocoPhillips Hikes Stake in Lukoil

ConocoPhillips has increased its stake in Lukoil to 10 percent, an official in the Russian company said Wednesday, positioning the US oil giant to claim a seat on the board of the world #39;s No.


First step a go in shooting down missiles

A team in California led by Boeing Co. successfully completed the first laboratory trial of a system to destroy ballistic missiles just after they are launched.


Culpepper Ahead in Pro Bowl Voting

NEW YORK, (Sports Network) - Minnesota Vikings quarterback  Daunte Culpepper is ahead of all players in voting for the 2005  Pro Bowl, while Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb is one of three  Eagles in the top-10.


Jo-Ann Stores Threading Water

Sales are flat for the company, but the valuation still appears to be fair.


Bombings at Two Buenos Aires Banks Kill 1 (AP)

AP - Homemade bombs exploded in two Buenos Aires banks before they opened Wednesday, killing a security guard, police said.


Bombs Hit Three Argentine Bank Branches, One Dead

 By Mary Milliken

 BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Bombs exploded at threebanks in the Argentine capital on Wednesday, including twobranches of U.S. giant Citibank, killing one security guard andinjuring a bomb squad officer, officials said.


Piracy funds terror, <cite>Guardian</cite> lesson tells schools

Balanced discussion of copyright issues begins


Snow prods Europe on economic growth

US Treasury Secretary John W. Snow began a European tour yesterday, aiming to highlight the need for stronger economic growth in Europe as Washington tries to blunt criticism over massive


Hollinger sells Jerusalem papers

Hollinger International yesterday announced a \$13.2m (7.2m) deal to sell the Jerusalem Post, leaving the one-time media powerhouse and former owner of the Daily Telegraph with just a handful of assets in North America.


China Sees Heavy Investment in Argentina in Decade

China and Argentina signed accords on Tuesday that could bring nearly \$20 billion in investment from the Asian giant over the next 10 years for the capital-starved Latin American economy.


Debt Quality Boosts Credit Agricole in 3Q

Lower bad loan provisions helped Credit Agricole SA #39;s third-quarter profit to rise 71 percent, the French bank said Wednesday.


Cisco buys IT management start-up

Cisco Systems signed an agreement on Wednesday to acquire network management start-up Jahi Networks for \$16 million. Jahi, a San Jose, Calif.


Two More IE Holes Surface

Security researchers are warning of another pair of vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp. #39;s Internet Explorer browser affecting users on fully patched Windows XP Service Pack 2 systems.


iPass Introduces New Flat-Rate Pricing Plans for US Wi-Fi Hotspot <b>...</b>

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- iPass Inc. today announced new monthly and annual flat-rate subscription plans for use of the Company #39;s US Wi-Fi connectivity.


Angels Outfielder Guerrero Claims MVP Award

Anaheim Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero claimed the American League MVP award on Tuesday, turning what was supposed to be a tight race into a runaway victory.


Tiger looking for his first win in Japan

Miyazaki - Tiger Woods will be looking for his first win in Japan when he tees off on Thursday in the Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament.


Pinball: Argos can score off the field

OTTAWA (CP) - The Toronto Argonauts have the green light to score off the field this week. Argos head coach Pinball Clemons was asked during the Grey Cup coaches #39; news conference Wednesday if he would allow


Buenos Aires banks bombed

Banks in Buenos Aires were today hit in series of explosions that left a security guard dead. Two branches of Citibank and a Banco Galicia branch in the Argentinian capital were targeted in the attacks.


UN envoy discusses Fallujah fighting with Iraqi president

17 November 2004 - The top United Nations envoy for Iraq today discussed the situation in Fallujah with Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar, focusing on humanitarian conditions in the town and the impact of the hostilities on the civilian population


Iraqi Man's Slaying Dominates Arab Media (AP)

AP - The chilling video of a U.S. Marine shooting and killing a wounded and apparently unarmed man in Iraq dominated the Arab world's media Wednesday, overshadowing the slaying of a British aid worker who had been kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents.


Evolution made humans marathon runners

We are born to run. According to new research, our bodies are highly evolved for running long distances, an ability that allowed our ancestors to conquer the African savannahs.


ABC Says Sorry Over  #39;Monday Night Football #39; Intro

Youd think that the people tuning in to watch the Eagles face the Cowboys on Monday night wouldn #39;t have a problem seeing a naked woman on TV.


Pacific Rim Nations Meet on Trade, Security (AP)

AP - Top ministers from 21 Pacific Rim nations convened high-level talks on free trade and global security Wednesday, while police battled university students protesting the summit and a weekend visit by President Bush.


Next-gen Net addresses move ahead

Nokia yesterday demonstrated streaming video over mobile phones using IPv6, the slow-building successor to today's Internet addressing system. Broadband Blog


Group aims to smooth kinks out of Linux

Four Linux companies start a global effort to homogenize one version of the open-source operating system.


FX Platform FXall Launches Money Market Service

LONDON (Reuters) - Multi-bank currency trading platform  FXall has launched a money markets service, the company said on  Wednesday.


Putin Says Russia Working on New Nuclear Systems

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is working on new nuclear missile  systems that other powers do not have in order to protect  itself against future security threats, President Vladimir  Putin said on Wednesday.


A Price As Good As Gold Kist

The chicken company, formerly a cooperative, is now making money as a for-profit corporation.


No Jamboree for Gymboree

The company's latest earnings met analysts' estimates but uncertainty still lingers.


Zale Keeps Its Luster

The company turned in a wider Q1 loss but is still on track for a profitable year.


Economy Expands Despite Rising Oil Prices

Rising energy costs drove up US consumer prices a larger-than-expected 0.6 percent in October, while industrial output and housing starts rebounded strongly from the prior month.


Pilgrim Baxter Founders Agree to \$160 Million Settlement

The honor of paying the stiffest penalty in the long-running mutual fund trading scandal goes to former investment advisers Harold Baxter and Gary Pilgrim.


Experimental Jet Just Misses Mach 10

An experimental NASA jet has flown at just under 10 times the speed of sound, a record that is a step forward for the plane and its experimental scramjet engine.


Software Gives Parents Chance to Snoop

As part of three-pronged, anti-piracy attack launched Tuesday, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) plans to release free software to help parents determine what movie and music titles their children have stored on a computer, along with any


Bidding war for  #39;Virgin Mary sandwich #39;

MIAMI - A decade-old grilled cheese sandwich bearing what could be the image of the Virgin Mary is garnering intense interest on an internet auction site.


Rival engines catch up with Google

GOOGLE, the world #39;s number one search engine, has lost its edge. That #39;s the considered view of software engineers who have been testing an early version of Microsoft #39;s MSN Search service, released last week.


Paris confident it can win bid for 2012 Summer Olympics

Paris is confident of maintaining its status as the odds-on favourite to host the 2012 Olympic Games, citing widespread political backing, strong financial support, affordable tickets and 80 per cent of venues within 10 minutes reach.


Ringing true

Some players don #39;t attend the private ceremony, called a  quot;joke quot; by an angry Tim Taylor. By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer.


PM unveils gift of peace, a knot in the wrapping

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh waves as Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad claps during a public rally in Srinagar on Wednesday. Reuters. SRINAGAR: Less than a week after announcing a troop cut, the biggest confidence


Putin: Russia Developing New Kind of Nuclear Missile

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is developing a new type of nuclear missile. Mr. Putin spoke at an annual meeting of the armed forces #39; senior leadership.


Chilean police, students clash in run-up to Asia-Pacific summit

SANTIAGO (AFP) - Chilean anti-riot forces fired tear gas and water cannon at student protesters, three days before President George W. Bush #39;s arrival for a weekend Asia-Pacific summit.


Analysis: Israel hand seen in Ivorian clash

New allegations that Israeli arms dealers helped the army of Ivory Coast attack a French military base look likely to reignite long-tense relations between Israel and France.


The Plot Thickens: Testing European Tolerance

BRUSSELS: The killing of controversial Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh by a suspected Islamic extremist and the subsequent spate of retaliatory attacks on Muslim targets are a damaging blow to relations between European Union #39;s 15 million Muslims and their


KMart to Buy Sears in \$11.5 Billion Deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp.  KMRT.O will buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck    Co. S.N in a \$11.5 billion deal unveiled on Wednesday,  creating the third-largest U.S. retailer.


Stocks Up on Sears Deal, But Gains Lag

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday after news  of an \$11.5 billion retailing deal and solid earnings from  computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ.N, but a rise in oil  prices caused stocks to trim gains.


Wife of Ex-Enron Chief Stock Sale Probed

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors are investigating  whether the wife of former Enron Corp. ENRNQ.PK Chairman Ken  Lay illegally sold shares in the company just before it went  bankrupt, a lawyer for Lay said on Wednesday.


Wife of Ex-Enron Chief Stock Sale Probed (Reuters)

Reuters - Federal prosecutors are investigating\whether the wife of former Enron Corp.  Chairman Ken\Lay illegally sold shares in the company just before it went\bankrupt, a lawyer for Lay said on Wednesday.


US lawmaker charges BNP Paribas may have stood by in Iraq oil-for-food swindle (AFP)

AFP - France's BNP Paribas received hundreds of millions of dollars from the scandal-plagued UN Oil-for-Food program in Iraq, while possibly ignoring rampant abuses in the program, a top US lawmaker charged.


Anorexic Girls Bond on Web to Dismay of Doctors (Reuters)

Reuters - An underground subculture of\teenage girls who bond over their eating disorders and glorify\bone-thin celebrities has surfaced on the Internet, in a\growing trend that experts say frustrates treatment.


UK 'needs more foreign workers'

The UK must lure foreign talent if it is to compete with the growing economic challenge of countries such as India and China, the government warns.


United Loses Nelsen

Ryan Nelsen, the defensive force behind D.C. United's MLS championship run this season, will not return to the club.


UPDATE 4-Kmart to buy Sears in \$11.5 billion deal

Discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp. (KMRT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) will buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co.


SBC Inks Deal with Microsoft for IP TV

Although telcos need to position themselves as strong competition to cable operators and VoIP providers, IDC #39;s Amy Harris questioned whether SBC #39;s effort will pay off.


DoCoMo to launch 5 new 3G FOMA cell phone models

TOKYO - NTT DoCoMo Inc said Wednesday it has developed five new models for the 901i series of 3G FOMA cell phone handsets, featuring an enhanced audio system, and will market one model, the SH901iC, nationwide Nov 26 with other models to follow.


Aquilini buys half of Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Local businessman Francesco Aquilini bought half of the Vancouver Canucks from American John McCaw.


Russia rebound with four-goal win

Russia rebounded from last month #39;s 7-1 thrashing by Portugal with a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Estonia in a World Cup qualifier in Krasnodar on Wednesday.


One killed in Buenos Aires bank attacks

Bombs have exploded at three banks in the Argentine capital, two owned by US giant Citibank, killing one man and injuring a bomb disposal expert - but police said the identity of the attackers remained a mystery.


White House reacting cautiously to Putin nuclear missile remark

WHITE HOUSE The White House is reacting cautiously to Vladimir Putin #39;s announcement that Russia #39;s developing an entirely new nuclear missile.


Over 60 Iraqi policemen kidnapped after training in Jordan

More than 60 Iraqi policemen were kidnapped by unknown gunmen after the officers finished a training course in Jordan, said Iraqi police.


Ukranian Pro-Democracy Group Protests (AP)

AP - KIEV, Ukraine  #151; Their name means "It's Time." Their slogan shows a ticking clock, and their ability to bring thousands of students to the streets is spooking the government as the country prepares for Sunday's pivotal presidential election.


FCC Reviews 'Desperate Housewives' Football Promo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications  Commission on Wednesday reviewed complaints about ABC's steamy  "Desperate Housewives" promotion before "Monday Night Football"  and while the agency's chairman expressed disappointment, it  was not clear whether government would tackle the network.


Appeals Court Doubt Tobacco Penalty

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A divided U.S. federal appeals court  panel on Wednesday expressed skepticism about whether the  government had the authority to force cigarette makers to pay  billions of dollars in past profits as part of its racketeering  case against the industry.


Heating Oil Price Drops for 2nd Week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The average price U.S. consumers pay  to warm their homes with heating oil declined for the second  week and inventories of distillate fuel are expected to start  rising later this month as more refineries ramp up their  operations, the government said on Wednesday.


House Panel Questions Role of French Bank (AP)

AP - Lawmakers are questioning whether a French bank failed to comply with U.S. money-laundering laws, possibly helping Saddam Hussein manipulate the  #36;60 billion U.N. oil-for-food program. The bank denies any wrongdoing.


Kmart to Buy Sears in \$11.5 Billion Deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp.  will buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck   Co. in a  \$11.5 billion deal unveiled on Wednesday, creating the  third-largest U.S. retailer.


SBC, Microsoft Ink  #36;400M Internet TV Deal (AP)

AP - SBC Communications Inc. will use a Microsoft Corp. software system to transmit television over high-speed Internet connections like the ones SBC will offer after replacing the local arteries of its copper telephone network with fiber-optic cables.


Palestinian Inquiry Probes Arafat's Death (AP)

AP - Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia ordered an inquiry Wednesday to determine the cause of death of former leader Yasser Arafat.


SBC Plans Nationwide VoIP Rollout (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - SBC Communications (NYSE: SBC) is jumping on the voice over Internet (VoIP)\bandwagon with the launch of service in selected markets and a proposed\nationwide rollout designed to help the company keep pace with the\competition.


NTT DoCoMo Launches Wi-Fi 3G Cell Phone (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Japan's NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) has launched a Wi-Fi/cellular phone that telecom industry analysts say is the first of its kind.


LG Handset Receives Digital Video (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - LG Electronics, the South Korea-based wireless handset manufacturer, has launched the first terrestrial DMB (digital multimedia broadcast) cell phone.


Microsoft To Beef Up Interoperability with Vintela Investment (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has become a minority investor in Vintela, a Utah-based maker of software that allows the Windows operating system to communicate with other software types, such as Unix, Linux or Mac OS.


Researchers Cruise in Purdue Data Cave (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - High-performance computing and artificial intelligence software may blast through barriers in data management to create a so-called "data cave," like the one Tom Cruise uses to catch crooks in the movie "Minority Report".


Product Review: SMC 2804WBRP-G Wireless Barricade G Router (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - SMC's new 802.11g wireless router likely will spark considerable interest because of its inclusion of a USB print server. This feature is attractive to residential households or small businesses that would like to use a single printer across multiple computers.


Pacific Rim Nations Meet on Trade, Security

Top ministers from 21 Pacific Rim nations convened high-level talks on free trade and global security Wednesday, while police battled university students protesting the summit and a weekend visit by President Bush.


Bombings at Two Buenos Aires Banks Kill 1

Homemade bombs exploded in two Buenos Aires banks before they opened Wednesday, killing a security guard, police said.


Roses in the Pig Sty

Whenever an entire industry is beset by scandal, look for the participants who are clean.


Abkhazian police defiant

Police in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region refuse to take orders from the government.


(10) Virginia Tech 16 (9) Miami 10

MIAMI Virginia Tech reigns in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The tenth-ranked Huskies won the ACC title outright today with a 16-to-10 victory over ninth-ranked Miami.


Oil prices flounder after US inventory data

LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices see-sawed, failing to sustain a brief rally on news of a surprise fall in US distillate stockpiles, including heating fuel, and an unexpectedly small increase in crude inventories.


Credit Agricole third-quarter profit jumps 70 pct on lower <b>...</b>

PARIS (AFP) - French bank Credit Agricole posted a better-than-expected 70.9 percent surge in third-quarter net profit thanks to lower provisions and despite an overall decline in revenues.


Virgin Mary sandwich toast of bidders

The eBay auction of a cheese sandwich said to bear the image of the Virgin Mary has drawn cheesy spoofs, including victuals meant to resemble the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.


MGS 3: Snake Eater cooks up retail

It #39;s been three years since the last all-new Metal Gear Solid game, MGS 2: Sons of Liberty, hit the PlayStation 2. In that time, there have been various remakes of installments from the series, including: Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, which was basically


Spain to ramp up security with 35,000 police for Madrid Games bid

MADRID (AFP) - Spain will draft some 35,000 police to beef up security, according to a dossier handed to the International Olympic Committee who were mulling the specifics of Madrid #39;s 2012 Olympic bid.


NBA finals preview? Wolves vs. Pistons

Reigning league MVP Kevin Garnett has picked up where he left off last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The same cant be said for the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons.


Iran  #39;has blueprint for nuke #39;

Vienna - Equipped with black-market blueprints of a nuclear bomb and some weapons-grade uranium, Iran is defying the United Nations by secretly continuing supposedly suspended activities as it presses ahead with plans to have atomic arms by next year, an


Politics-Ivory Coast: South Africa Attempts to Diffuse Tensions

South African President Thabo Mbeki is engaged in political fire-fighting in the Ivory Coast, where fears of a full-scale civil war between government and rebel forces loom large.


Linux keeper, SpikeSource CEO talk up open source (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -- Accommodating large patch sets in Linux is expected to mean forking off of the 2.7 version of the platform to accommodate these changes, according to Andrew Morton, lead maintainer of the Linux kernel for Open Source Development Labs (OSDL).


If Oracle Backs Off, PeopleSoft Could Rebound (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Oracle's (Nasdaq: ORCL) promise to step away from its pursuit of PeopleSoft (Nasdaq: PSFT) if less than 50 percent of the company's shares are tendered by Friday may not be the last word in the deal.


Stocks Gain on Sears Deal, But Trim Gains

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday  after Kmart's plan to buy Sears in an \$11.5 billion  deal was  announced and computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ.N posted  solid earnings, but higher oil prices prompted some investors  to sell equities.


NASD Calls for Soft Dollar Deal Limits

BOSTON (Reuters) - The NASD on Wednesday submitted  recommendations to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission  to limit the use of soft dollar deals and increase disclosure  about such practices.


More Troops May Be Needed in Ivory Coast -Mbeki

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki  said on Wednesday it might be necessary to send more troops to  Ivory Coast to quell tension unless there is a deal soon  between the government and rebels.


Taking care of business

They don #39;t call it the Grand National Drunk for nothing. Temptations abound during Grey Cup Week and it #39;s easy for players on both sides to get caught up in all the hoopla.


French soldiers group slaps Gbagbo with wrongful death suit

LILLE, France, Nov 17 (AFP) - A French soldiers #39; advocacy group on Wednesday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo for an air strike November 6 that killed nine French peacekeepers.


Australian Train Derails, Injuring 100 in Queensland State

More than 100 people were injured, at least two critically, when a passenger train derailed in Australia #39;s north-east, Queensland Rail chief executive Bob Scheuber said.


GIs Find Belongings of Once-Missing Marine (AP)

AP - U.S. troops have recovered personal effects of a U.S. Marine who was once feared beheaded by Iraqi insurgents after disappearing from his unit, U.S. officials said.


Oil Up as Winter Heating Supplies Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices abruptly ended a losing  streak on Wednesday, jumping nearly \$1 after a U.S. government  report showed heating oil stockpiles down 16 percent from last  year ahead of winter.


USDA Tests Another Louisiana Field for Soy Rust (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. Agriculture Department\expected test results late Wednesday on whether soybean rust\had infected another Louisiana field, the sixth in a week, a\spokesman said.


NASA Calls Off Launch of Black Hole Hunter (AP)

AP - With just hours left in the countdown, NASA called off the launch Wednesday of a spacecraft that will hunt for emerging black holes.


Revamped art museum 'like teacup'

The architect behind New York's revamped Museum of Modern Art likens it to a Japanese teacup.


Leading Democrat Senator Won't Block Confirmation of Gonzales

President Bush's nominee for attorney general, Alberto R. Gonzales, was all but guaranteed Senate confirmation today.


Africa Lobbies for More AIDS, TB, Malaria Funds (Reuters)

Reuters - African leaders lobbied the\Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria for more money\on Wednesday to solve a cash crunch but were told a new round\of funding was likely to be delayed by several months.


Sears, Kmart match could pinch rivals, experts say

The coupling of Martha Stewart housewares and Kenmore #39;s appliances could make the combination of Kmart Holdings Corp (KMRT.O: Quote, Profile, Research


Aussie dollar reaches nine-month high

On the cross rates it was at 60.1 euro cents, 81.29 Japanese yen, 42.17 pence sterling, and 1.105 New Zealand dollars. On Wall Street stocks have jumped on news of a merger between retailers Kmart and Sears


Crude futures bounce around \$46 per barrel range

Crude futures prices traded near two-month lows on Wednesday after the US government reported that commercially available oil supplies increased for the eighth straight week.


Oil slides on supply fears

NEW YORK: Oil prices extended a streak of losses last night as dealers anticipated that strong Opec output and recovering production in the US would boost lean stockpiles in time for peak winter heating demand.


Analysis: China #39;s risks in investing in Argentina

China could be Argentina #39;s next best friend, especially at a time when the country is facing more enemies than allies as it is now.


Wife of Enron Founder Under Investigation

The wife of Enron founder Kenneth Lay is under federal investigation for possible insider trading because she arranged for the Lay family foundation to sell half a million shares of Enron Corp.


Beat this for speed: Mach 10

Imagine travelling from Los Angeles to New Delhi in little over an hour. Or completing a round of the globe in five hours flat. On Tuesday, NASA moved the concept of dream planes closer to reality as its hypersonic


Expert explains grilled cheese miracle #39; #39;

Brace yourself. There may be a less-than-miraculous explanation for that image of the Virgin Mary a Florida woman says appeared in her grilled cheese sandwich.


NTT DoCoMo To Launch New Mobile Phone Models

Three of the five new NTT DoCoMo models are equipped with Sony #39;s FiliCa contactless IC card technology that enables the handsets to function as electronic money.


Pulp Fiction writer sues Microsoft

Always in the courts for something, this time its writer and consultant to games makers Roger Avary who is involved in legal action with Microsoft.


Cambridge SoundWorks gives digital music a spin

Home theater company Cambridge SoundWorks is helping consumers tackle the time-consuming task of converting CDs into digital files.


NASA calls off launch of black hole-hunter

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- With just hours left in the countdown, NASA called off the launch Wednesday of a spacecraft that will hunt for emerging black holes.


Seagate Hatches 400GB Barracuda

Seagate announced today the availability of a 400 gigabyte (GB) Barracuda 7200.8 model for high-end PC #39;s and entry-level servers.


Two More Internet Explorer Holes Discovered

Firefox fortune hunters <nobr>CNET News.com</nobr>


Nokia Demos IPv6 Mobile

Looking to the future of the internet, voice over IP, streaming video, and other applications, Nokia has developed a prototype handset that supports Mobile Internet


No World Cup for China

China has been denied a second straight trip to the World Cup finals despite a 7-0 victory over Hong Kong, failing to advance in qualifying when Kuwait won Asia #39;s Group Four by one goal.


Moscow details its 2012 Olympic bid

Moscow has promised tight security, more than a dozen new sports facilities, mid-range hotel rooms and improvements in the city #39;s smog-belching traffic if it hosts the 2012 Olympic Games.


Tigers sign closer Percival

DETROIT (SportsTicker) - The Detroit Tigers are willing to take a chance on aging closer Troy Percival. By George Nikitin, AP. The Tigers on Wednesday signed the 35-year-old Percival, who had spent his entire


NBA Roundup: Sonics fly high again in Philly

PHILADELPHIA - Wide open or contested, the Seattle SuperSonics hit three-pointers from all over the court. Ray Allen scored a season-high 37 points, Rashard Lewis had 21 and Vladimir Radmanovic added 20, leading


Bomb explosion at banks kills one in Argentine

One person was killed, another injured when three bombs exploded in a branch bank of US Citibank on Wednesday. A private guard of the bank died and a policeman was injured


Blair and Chirac to Hold Downing St Talks

Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac will hold talks in London tomorrow - with Downing Street insisting their differences over Iraq and the UK-US relationship need not be a barrier to progress on other issues.


Powell calls on Israel to enable Palestinian elections

FM Shalom, who met US secretary in Washington, said Israel would do all that it can to enable elections, as long as it would not harm our security.


The threat at home

European elites, like American elites, are having trouble understanding the recent American elections. How can 59,054,087 people be so DUMB?


Britain, Ireland Launch 'Final' N.Irish Peace Push (Reuters)

Reuters - The British and Irish prime ministers\presented bitterly divided Northern Ireland politicians on\Wednesday with what their governments insist is their final\plan for restoring home rule in the province.


EBay Agrees to Limit Racial Slurs on Auction Site (Reuters)

Reuters - Internet auction house eBay Inc.\said on Wednesday it would limit the use of racial slurs after\U.S. city officials complained the offensive terms were being\used to advertise lawn jockeys and other antiques.


Pink locusts swarm over Cairo (AFP)

AFP - Swarms of locusts descended on Cairo and around the fertile Nile Delta, but the authorities insisted the insects posed no serious threat to agriculture.


Militant Wanted in Pearl Abduction Killed (AP)

AP - An Islamic militant wanted in connection with the murder of American Journalist Daniel Pear was killed in a shootout with police, according to Pakistani authorities on Wednesday, who also announced the arrest of a suspect in the deadly bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi two years ago.


Garcia, Jimenez Favorites at Home for Cup (AP)

AP - Chomping on a cigar, his unruly ponytail flowing from his cap, Miguel Angel Jimenez smiled as he said, "Buenos dias" to the clubhouse guard at the Real Club de Golf.


Economy Expands Despite Rising Oil Prices

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Surging energy costs drove up U.S.  consumer prices a hefty and larger-than-expected 0.6 percent in  October, while industrial output and housing starts rebounded  strongly from the prior month.


Thompson Resigns from East Carolina Post

GREENVILLE, N.C. (Sports Network) - East Carolina head  football coach John Thompson announced his resignation,  effective at the end of the season, on Wednesday.


CORRECTED: Cocoa Drops, Metals Jump on Weak Dollar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cocoa prices sank on Wednesday as  exporters in top-grower Ivory Coast kept up with the arrival of  the new crop, which was halted several times this month by an  outbreak of civil violence and a farmers strike.


Ticket Process Begins

The Expos seek deposits from fans who had registered for season tickets, although the process begins a day earlier than expected.


Founders of Pilgrim-Baxter fund settle charges of improper trading

WASHINGTON The two founders of the Pennsylvania-based Pilgrim-Baxter mutual fund family have agreed settle regulators #39; charges of improper trading.


Applied Materials 4th-Qtr Profit Rises to Highest in Four Years

Applied Materials Inc., the world #39;s biggest maker of semiconductor-production equipment, said fourth- quarter profit rose to its highest level in four years on demand from chipmakers for new machines.


Britain, Ireland Launch 'Final' N.Irish Peace Push

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The British and Irish prime ministers  presented bitterly divided Northern Ireland politicians on  Wednesday with what their governments insist is their final  plan for restoring home rule in the province.


Microsoft Swings at Novell

Microsoft is offering new migration tools to tempt NetWare users to move to Windows Server 2003. Along with the tools comes a promise that NetWare customers will get online training and unlimited technical support via newsgroups.


Sun Microsystems to give away new operating system

HOPING to attract more developers worldwide, Sun Microsystems is giving away its latest operating system, Solaris 10, after spending years of development and investing roughly 500 million dollars into the software.


Urbina #39;s future in doubt after Tigers sign Percival

The Detroit Tigers have said improving their bullpen was their No. 1 priority this off-season. To that end, they have signed free-agent closer Troy Percival away from the Anaheim Angels.


Verplank, Tway to represent US

SEVILLE, Spain -- South Africa will underline their strength in depth if Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini can retain their title at the WGC-World Cup of Golf at Seville #39;s Real Golf Club.


Defender one of six available in expansion draft

Defender Antonio de la Torre will celebrate his 27th birthday Thursday as a member of the Rapids. Where he #39;ll celebrate next year is anyone #39;s guess.


Rapper practices with USC football team

USC #39;s football team may be in the hunt for one of the two coveted spots in the national championship game, but that doesn #39;t mean the Trojans aren #39;t trying to enjoy the ride to a possible Orange Bowl berth.


Argentina: Bank bomb blasts kill one

A series of bombings ripped through three banks in downtown Buenos Aires Wednesday killing one security guard and injuring a member of the bomb squad.


Taiwan Takes Active Role at APEC Meetings in Chile

Representatives of 21 Pacific Rim economies are in Santiago, Chile for preliminary meetings leading up to this weekend #39;s meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.


Palestinian commission to investigate Arafat #39;s cause of death

RAMALLAH, West Bank The Palestinian prime minister has ordered an investigation into the cause of Yasser Arafat #39;s death. A statement from Ahmed Qureia #39;s (AHK #39;-mehd kuh-RAY #39;-uhz) office says a commission will


Security Council members arrive in Nairobi ahead of session on <b>...</b>

17 November 2004 - Members of the United Nations Security Council arrived today in Nairobi ahead of a two-day meeting devoted to the civil conflicts engulfing Sudan, including the crisis in the western region of Darfur and the long-running war in the


After Saint Colin, an unprincipled doctor

Saint Colin is no more, and like many a consecrated counterpart there was always more plaster to the man than marble. Gone is the administration  quot;moderate, quot; and while radicalism is not necessarily


EG coup plans aired in court

Pretoria - Nick du Toit and Simon Mann were the masterminds of a planned coup in Equatorial Guinea, and Sir Mark Thatcher, who has denied involvement, was financially implicated.


Fears for policemen #39;s lives

There were fears tonight for the lives of 31 Iraqi policemen who were kidnapped as they returned from a training camp in Jordan. They were abducted on Sunday when gunmen stormed the hotel they were staying


Summit demands clean loos for all

Laugh all you want, say public hygiene experts at the World Toilet Summit, but the importance of having loos you can use is no joke.


Kmart, Sears Join Forces

Plus, Hewlett-Packard's marginal margins, Yahoo! courts singles, and hyper growth equals one hot IPO.


SBC to use Microsoft software

SAN ANTONIO SBC Communications will use a Microsoft software system to transmit television over high-speed Internet connections. Those are like the ones San Antonio-based SBC will offer after replacing the


Applied Materials Signals Caution

Applied Materials (AMAT:Nasdaq - news - research) posted sharply higher net income in its fiscal fourth quarter but said it had seen demand decelerate recently.


US FDA: Pfizer #39;s Contraceptive Can Weaken Bones

The US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) on Wednesday ordered a strong, new warning for Pfizer Inc. #39;s injectable contraceptive called Depo-Provera, saying it could permanently weaken bones.


Yahoo upgrades its email service

Yahoo #39;s email service has begun to use the company #39;s DomainKeys authentication technology, almost a year after Yahoo first unveiled this antispam project.


Sharp Unveils Blu-Ray Disc Recorder with Hard Drive, DVD

Sharp #39;s new recorder has a dual Blu-ray disc/DVD tray to allow digital dubbing in six directional combinations to and from the hard drive, Blu-ray discs, and DVDs, including the ability to dub five DVDs (4.7 GB) onto a single Blu-ray disc (25 GB).


Afghan militants to decide fate of UN hostages

Kabul: A murky Taliban splinter group which has held three UN workers hostage in Afghanistan for three weeks said it would decide on their fate Wednesday, as the US military expressed hope they would be released.


ATP Tour to Give Nutritional Supplements (AP)

AP - The ATP Tour will supply players with nutritional supplements checked by a WADA-affiliated laboratory starting next season.


Microsoft, Dassault Systemes in Strategic Alliance

PARIS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O, the world's  largest software maker, and France's Dassault Systemes  DAST.PA have forged a global, 5-year strategic alliance to  deliver Dassault's 3D software to firms using the Microsoft  software platform.


Cocoa Drops, Metals Jump on Weak Dollar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cocoa prices sank on Wednesday as  exporters in top-grower Ivory Coast kept up with the arrival of  the new crop, which was halted several times this month by an  outbreak of civil violence and a farmers strike.


Stocks Rise on Sears, HP; Oil Trims Gains

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed higher, reviving  their recent rally on Wednesday after Kmart's plan to buy Sears  in a \$10.85 billion deal was announced and computer maker  Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ.N posted solid earnings, but a rise  in oil prices capped session gains.


Student group grabbing Ukrainian spotlight ahead of presidential election (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Their name means "It's Time." Their slogan shows a ticking clock, and their ability to bring thousands of students to the streets is spooking the government as the country prepares for Sunday's pivotal presidential election.


Percival Joins Tigers

DETROIT (Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers have signed  free-agent closer Troy Percival. According to a source, the  deal is for two years and worth \$12 million.


NASA Scramjet Breaks Aviation Speed Record

Description: The scramjet is a new plane that can fly at nearly 10 times the speed of sound. NASA conducted a successful test-flight Tuesday.


Presse Economique / Technologique

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2004--AMD (NYSE:AMD) a clbr aujourd #39;hui le premier anniversaire de son alliance stratgique avec Sun Microsystems, Inc.


NASA Delays Swift Launch

Launch of NASA #39;s Swift spacecraft has been delayed at least 24 hours due to a concern with Range Command-Receiver Decoder equipment on the launch vehicle.


SDForum: Open source becoming first option

Enterprises that in the past may have been leery of open source alternatives to commercial software have opened up to the concept, panelists said on Tuesday at an SDForum conference entitled  quot;Open Source - Entering the Mainstream.


FCC to review steamy intro to  #39;Monday Night Football #39;

WASHINGTON - The US Federal Communications Commission is reviewing whether the steamy locker-room opening to ABC #39;s Monday Night Football this week warrants a full-blown investigation.


Chirac, Blair hope to put bad blood behind them

British officials were on diplomatic tenterhooks as they awaited the arrival on Thursday of French President Jacques Chirac for a two-day state visit to Britain.


Seattle Starting LB Out for Season (AP)

AP - Seattle Seahawks linebacker Anthony Simmons will have season-ending surgery to repair a broken left wrist.


Hornets' Davis Out With Inflamed Disc (AP)

AP - Hornets guard Baron Davis will miss at least five games after being put on the injured list Wednesday because of an inflamed disc in his lower back.


Top Judges Have Doubts on Tobacco Penalty

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A divided U.S. federal appeals court  panel on Wednesday expressed skepticism about whether the  government had the power to force cigarette makers to pay  billions of dollars in past profits as part of its racketeering  case against the industry.


Update 12: Kmart Acquires Sears in \$11 Billion Deal

A resurgent Kmart, home of the blue light special, is buying the once-dominant Sears department store chain in a surprising \$11 billion gamble it is counting on to help both better compete with Wal-Mart and other big-box retailers.


US Stocks Rise as Sears, Kmart Gain; Technology Shares Climb

US stocks rose as Kmart Holding Corp. #39;s \$11 billion offer for Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co. lifted retailers and Hewlett-Packard Co.


Cisco To Acquire Network Management Vendor

Cisco Systems on Wednesday said it plans to acquire Jahi Networks, a privately held network management appliance vendor, in a \$16 million deal.


Can #39;t say I didn #39;t tell you so

Previously, I have asked what happens to the software industry if enterprises expect to acquire their software for free via open source.


Plenty of Blame to Go Around in Monday Night Meltdown

Sometimes you have to wonder what the geniuses at the major network sports divisions are imbibing or inhaling when they make critical decisions about what we watch.


Haristeas double hands Greece much-needed victory

Two first-half goals from Werder Bremen striker Angelos Haristeas helped Greece secure a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Wednesday and kickstart their World Cup qualifying campaign.


Chilean police arrest 120 demonstrators against globalization <b>...</b>

Around 120 protesters were arrested here Wednesday after they crashed with police in a rally against globalization and US President George W. Bush, who will arrive here for


New push to stop child soldiers

New report shows commitment by 85 countries to end the practice - but enforcement still lags.


Redskins Audition Ramsey As Offense Chief (AP)

AP - The fans' constant chants for Patrick Ramsey were a source of locker room humor among the Washington Redskins over the last few weeks, including one running gag involving Ramsey's wife.


Identity politics: Is a Christian or Kurd 'a Turk'?

Multiculturalism is stirring a bitter public debate about national identity in Turkey.


Putin woos Ukraine with a Russian common market

The choice in Sunday's presidential election: move closer to Europe or Russia?


Hokies Take It One at a Time (AP)

AP - No. 15 Virginia Tech is all alone in first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with three games left, including one against Virginia and another against Miami.


Dollar Sags to Record Low Vs Euro

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar dropped to an all-time low  against the euro on Wednesday ahead of a G20 finance ministers'  meeting as analysts fretted that officials would do little to  stem the currency's fall.


Seattle Starting LB Out for Season

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Anthony Simmons will have season-ending surgery to repair a broken left wrist.


Microsoft's Bill Gates in Paris to seal UNESCO partnership, meet Chirac (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - PARIS (AP) - Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates signed a co-operation agreement with UNESCO on Wednesday to improve access to computers, the Internet and information technology training in developing countries.


Gannon No Longer Wearing Neck Brace (AP)

AP - Rich Gannon no longer needs a bulky, plastic brace to protect the broken vertebra in his neck.


Treasuries Stage Rally Despite Inflation

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices rallied on  Wednesday as inflation gains excluding food and energy, one of  the Federal Reserve's preferred price measures, proved less  dramatic than bond bulls had feared.


MPAA Fights Film Swapping with Suits and Software

The real question is whether the movie industry, unlike the recording industry, can provide an answer to P2P that is as convenient and valuable to users.


EBay Agrees to Limit Racial Slurs on Auction Site

Internet auction house eBay Inc. said on Wednesday it would limit the use of racial slurs after US city officials complained the offensive terms were being used to advertise lawn jockeys and other antiques.


Percival agrees to two-year deal with Tigers

Free agent Troy Percival and Detroit agreed Wednesday on a two-year contract, giving the Tigers two closers for their bullpen. Percival, 35, was 2-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 33 saves last season with the Anaheim Angels, who made no attempt to re-sign him.


Arsenal reserve goalkeeper Graham Stack charged with rape

Arsenal reserve goalkeeper Graham Stack was charged Wednesday with raping a 21-year-old woman at his home in London. The offence was alleged to have taken place in Beckenham, southeast London, on Sept.


Indias leader makes peace overtures in Kashmir

INDIA withdrew about 1,000 troops from Kashmir yesterday as Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, made his first visit to the disputed territory since coming to power.


World mourns murder of Hassan

Australia joined the world yesterday in mourning the apparent murder of Iraqi aid worker Margaret Hassan. British-born Mrs Hassan, 59, headed CARE International #39;s work in Iraq, a position funded by CARE Australia


New Nuclear Weapon to Surpass Others, Putin Says

President Vladimir V. Putin, meeting with Russia #39;s defense officials and military commanders here, said today that the country would soon deploy new nuclear missile


Bank bomb blasts kill one

A series of bombings ripped through three banks Wednesday in downtown Buenos Aires killing one security guard and injuring a member of the bomb squad.


Arms embargo imposed on Ivory Coast

Villagers have to drink dirty well water in Ivory Coast #39;s Northern areas controlled by the rebels, Nov. 15, 2004.The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday to impose an immediate arms


Giants Know It's Not All Up to Eli (AP)

AP - Two days into the Eli Manning era, the New York Giants really aren't expecting the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft to turn their season around, at least by himself.


Kabul Museum's "Lost" Treasures: Photographs

More than 22,000 antiquities survived 25 years of turmoil in Afghanistan in a secret vault. The discovery that they are safe and intact is a ray of hope in the quest to restore Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage. <b>Photo gallery.</b>


Did Humans Jog to Their Destiny?

The emergence of modern humans may be tied to the evolution of running, a new study suggests, a new study suggests.


Climate Researchers Toast Vintners' Grape Harvest Records

While oenophiles may pore over grape harvest records in search of the perfect vintage of wine, a team of French scientists and historians are raising their glasses in a toast to the insight the records yield on past climate.


Could Kinsey's Sex Research Be Done Today?

When Alfred Kinsey's sexual-behavior studies were published half a century ago, the United States was shocked. The topic remains so sensitive that some scientists think Kinsey would not have been able to do his work today.


Fear Is Spread by Body Language, Study Says

Menacing body posture can be as threatening as a frightening facial expression, according to new research. The finding may explain how fear spreads.


Disney Relaunches Muppets on Web Site (AP)

AP - Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and their pals are starring in their own Web site  #151; the first in a series of new creative efforts launched by The Walt Disney Co. since buying the Muppets in April.


How "Jesus Lizards" Walk on Water

Scientists have figured out how so-called Jesus lizards are able to scurry across the surfaces of ponds and streams.


Calstrs pension fund sees \$23.1 billion shortfall

Calstrs, the third largest US pension fund, faces a \$23.1 billion funding shortfall and many other public pension funds may face similar gaps, the deputy chief executive of the third largest US pension fund said on Friday.


Poland withdraws support for EU patent plan

Opponents of the proposal say Poland's move delivers a serious blow to attempts to make software patentable in Europe.


Shape-shifting robot shows off its moves

Plus: eBay outlines policy on racist language. News.com Extra


RCMP Commissioner signed papers approving B.C. legislature raids (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - VICTORIA (CP) - The RCMP in British Columbia sought the written approval of the top Mountie in Canada before conducting a raid on the B.C. legislature last December, documents obtained from a federal Access to Information request show.


US Seeks Jail for Man in Advance-Fee Stocks Scam (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. prosecutors said on Wednesday\they are asking a judge to jail a former Miami, Florida, man\accused of setting up a half-dozen boiler-room financial scams\that faked Web sites and government documents.


Sorenstam Still Queen of LPGA Mountain (AP)

AP - Having won more than  #36;2 million each of the last four years, surely Annika Sorenstam could afford to hire someone to paint the inside of her summer home in Lake Tahoe.


Applied Materials Profit Up

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Applied Materials Inc. AMAT.O,  the largest producer of chip-making equipment, on Wednesday  said demand for advanced manufacturing tools pushed quarterly  profit and sales higher, but warned that chip oversupply would  lead to lower orders and sales in the current quarter.


PBHG Funds Founders Banned from Industry

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The founders of PBHG mutual funds  agreed to pay \$160 million in restitution and civil fines and  to be banned for life from the securities industry to resolve  allegations they facilitated improper trading in the funds,  regulators said on Wednesday.


SEC Delays Annual Report Filing Deadline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission said on Wednesday it was postponing by one year a  deadline for large corporations to speed up filing of  annual  and quarterly financial reports with the SEC.


Stocks close up on retail merger but off highs on oil price <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Stocks finished higher Wednesday but well off highs of the day, as a runup in the price of oil cooled investor response to a merger between US retail giants Kmart and Sears, Roebuck and strong economic data.


Inflation Spike, Oil Price Hike Temper Rise in Stocks

That enthusiasm was tempered somewhat today when the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6 percent in October, the biggest increase since June and


Washington Cold-Shoulders Europe on Currencies

European complaints over a strengthening euro are falling on deaf ears in Washington, where officials see a weaker dollar as a key to unwinding global economic imbalances, analysts say.


Oil slips under \$46, awaits expected US stockbuild

SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended losses to fall below \$46 Wednesday ahead of weekly US data expected to show fuel stocks rising in time for peak winter demand.


Burst: Microsoft policy led to critical e-mails #39; destruction

Software giant Microsoft Corp. developed policies to destroy internal e-mails and other documents crucial to ongoing lawsuits, according to a motion filed by a California software company.


Iran May Seek to Mate Missile, Nuclear Warhead-US (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States has seen\information suggesting Iran is working on the technology to\deliver a nuclear warhead on a missile, Secretary of State\Colin Powell said on Wednesday.


TiVo Users to Still See Many Ads

NEW YORK (Reuters) - TiVo Inc.TIVO.O, maker of digital  television video recorders, will next year add ways for viewers  to see advertising and corporate logos even as they try to skip  commercials, the company said on Wednesday.


MPAA Introduces P2P  #39;Spyware #39;

The Motion Picture Association of America has opened a second front in its war against online sharing of movies, offering a free program that will detect the presence of peer-to-peer file-sharing software and downloaded songs or movies.


Four vendors team up on new standardized Linux

NOVEMBER 17, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Four small Linux vendors have joined together to create a new Linux Standard Base 2.0-compliant binary set that they hope will attract independent software vendors and hardware makers to port their wares to the new code


Seagate Offers Record 400 GB Hard Drive

Seagate #39;s native SATA interface technology with Native Command Queuing (NCQ) allows the Barracuda 7200.8 to match the performance of 10,000-rpm SATA drives without sacrificing capacity


Prehistoric reptile didn #39;t lay eggs: study

LONDON - A prehistoric reptile gave birth to live young rather than laying eggs, fossil evidence suggests. Scientists weren #39;t sure if the ancient reptiles, called sauropterygians, hatched from eggs on land like sea turtles or were born alive in the water.


Let #39;s Bring Racism into Football...or not

With the ill-tempered England - Spain game in Madrid at the Bernebau drawing to a close, and England currently 1-0 down; what are the mindless Spanish supporters doing?


Marijuana charges against Nuggets #39; Anthony dropped

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Denver forward Carmelo Anthony had marijuana charges dropped by the city district attorney Wednesday.


Parcells Has Run Out of Answers

What does Bill Parcells do now? The Dallas Cowboys #39; coach has been unable to coax inspired play out of his downward-spiraling team, and now the situation has become truly desperate in the aftermath


Bombs explode at Bueno Aires banks

BUENOS AIRES - Two homemade bombs have exploded at two banks in Buenos Aires, killing a security guard. The explosions occurred near ATM machines in branches belonging to Citibank and Banco Galicia, shattering windows and the building facades.


France #39;s vision is not ours

BEFORE ARRIVING in London this morning for his state visit, President Chirac took pains to ridicule Tony Blairs vision of building a bridge between Europe and America.


New push to stop child soldiers

A report released Wednesday shows commitment by 85 countries to end the practice - but enforcement still lags. By Mike Crawley  Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor.


Rams Hold Another Physical Workout (AP)

AP - It worked for the St. Louis Rams last week, so Wednesday was another good day for full-contact scrimmaging.


Big Lots Posts Wider Third-Quarter Loss (AP)

AP - Big Lots Inc., the country's largest closeout retailer, Wednesday posted a wider loss for its latest quarter, as charges for the prepayment of debt and liabilities from its former KB Toys Inc. unit hurt its bottom line.


Williams standing firm in dispute with Ottawa over offshore revenues (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams came out swinging again Wednesday in his ongoing dispute with Ottawa and Prime Minister Paul Martin over the province's claim to offshore oil revenues.


TiVo Users to Still See Many Ads (Reuters)

Reuters - TiVo Inc., maker of digital\television video recorders, will next year add ways for viewers\to see advertising and corporate logos even as they try to skip\commercials, the company said on Wednesday.


Bush Presents Awards for Arts, Humanities (AP)

AP - Musicians, composers and authors were among the more than two dozen people Wednesday honored with National Medal of Arts and National Humanities awards at the White House.


Sun to offer utility pricing for desktops

Thin-client Sun Ray product hasn't taken off yet, but Sun hopes subscription pricing will boost its popularity.


Iran May Seek to Mate Missile, Nuclear Warhead-US

MANAUS, Brazil (Reuters) - The United States has seen  information suggesting Iran is working on the technology to  deliver a nuclear warhead on a missile, Secretary of State  Colin Powell said on Wednesday.


Study: Fill Gov't Science Posts Faster (AP)

AP - Presidential appointments to senior science and technology posts should be filled more quickly and without regard to political affiliation, a new report from the nonpartisan National Academies urged Wednesday.


Colts Could Be Missing 2 Starting Guards (AP)

AP - The Indianapolis Colts could be without their starting guards Sunday against Chicago.