Colombia OKs Extradition of Drug Kingpin

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe late Monday authorized the extradition to the United States of drug kingpin Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, the president's spokesman said.


Peru Names Prosecutor to Oversee Retrial

The government named a special prosecutor for anti-terrorism cases Monday, moving to prevent a repeat of a trial disruption last week by the Shining Path rebel founder and his followers.


Colts Lead Vikings 14-6 at Halftime (AP)

AP - Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes and the Indianapolis Colts built a 14-6 halftime lead over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.


Nikkei Inches Up, Mazda Drives Higher (Reuters)

Reuters - Japan's Nikkei average edged up 0.27\percent by midsession on Tuesday as buyers went after shipping\firms with solid financial prospects while an upbeat earnings\result and outlook propelled Mazda Motor Corp. higher.


Manning-Harrison Set Completions Record (AP)

AP - Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison broke the NFL record for most completions by a quarterback-receiver tandem in the third quarter of the Indianapolis Colts' game Monday night against Minnesota.


Changes Sway Netherlands Slaying Suspect (AP)

AP - Two years before he allegedly killed a Dutch filmmaker in the name of radical Islam, Mohammed Bouyeri volunteered at his local community center and was a promising member of the second generation of Moroccan immigrants to the Netherlands.


Hezbollah Releases Drone Aircraft Footage (AP)

AP - Hezbollah on Monday released footage of an drone aircraft it had sent into Israeli airspace a day earlier, a flight which the United Nations said violated the U.N.-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel.


Police pull body of lost autistic man, 46, from Oakville creek (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OAKVILLE, Ont. (CP) - The body of a missing autistic man was pulled from a creek Monday, just metres from where a key piece of evidence was uncovered but originally overlooked because searchers had the wrong information.


Apple's Mac OS X Update Brings Word of Firewire Problems (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - Some users have said that after updating to Mac OS X "Panther" 10.3.6, their computers no longer recognize external Firewire 400 hard drives. Others report no such problems with the update, which includes networking optimizations and fixes for video and font glitches.


Bush Keeps Card As Chief of Staff (AP)

AP - Beginning to put his team in place for his second term, President Bush decided to keep Andy Card as White House chief of staff, retaining an unflappable veteran of the Reagan and first Bush presidencies.


Howard Dean Considering Bid to Chair Dems (AP)

AP - Former presidential candidate Howard Dean is considering a bid to become chairman of the national Democratic Party.


Mexico's Fox Says U.S. Migration Deal a Priority

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Vicente Fox said  on Monday he hoped President Bush's re-election meant a  bilateral accord on migration would be reached before his own  term runs out at the end of 2006.


6,500 GI #39;s and 2,000 Iraqis on Attack

Thousands of American marines and soldiers swarmed over a railroad embankment on the northern edge of Falluja on Monday night and early Tuesday


Judge Narrows Scope of Suit Over Boston Scientific Stents

Time is running out for Boston Scientific to resolve what could be a multibillion-dollar liability resulting from its foray into the stent business.


Microsoft opens portals for governments

The Solutions Sharing Network allows government entities to post their own tips, procedures and even in-house software.


GE sells 60 stake in Indian BPO arm

New Delhi: In one of the largest deals in the \$3.6 billion Indian BPO industry, US-based conglomerate GE announced it will sell 60 per cent stake in its Gurgaon-based BPO arm, GECIS, to private equity firms General Atlantic Partners and Oak Hill Capital


David Beckham breaks into Hollywood

Britain #39;s best-known soccer player, David Beckham, has signed up for a small part in a Hollywood movie, Sky News reported Monday.


Jets #39; Pennington out 2-4 weeks with shoulder strain

SPORTS NETWORK - New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington suffered a rotator cuff injury during Sunday #39;s game against the Buffalo Bills and is expected to miss the next two to four weeks.


Chavitos, Cubas new convertible currency

The Cuban Convertible Peso, CUC, or chavitos as they are called locally became effective this Monday substituting the widely circulated US dollar, with the Central Bank stating that control over the nation #39;s money circulation underlines sovereignty


Update 3: GE to Sell Stake in Global Outsourcing Unit

General Electric Co. said Monday it will sell a majority stake in its global outsourcing business to two US-based equity firms for \$500 million.


Brazilian Troops to Remain in Haiti (AP)

AP - Brazilian U.N. peacekeepers will remain in Haiti until presidential elections are held in that Caribbean nation sometime next year, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday.


Microsoft #39;s Xbox sequel  #39;Halo 2 #39; goes on sale at midnight

The company says thousands of retailers across the country are planning  quot;midnight madness quot; sales for eager gamers. Microsoft says it has 1.5 million pre-orders for the sequel to the popular  quot;Halo quot; game, which sells for \$50.


Judge Declines to Dismiss Pollution Suit (AP)

AP - A federal judge on Monday refused to dismiss a lawsuit accusing a Canadian mining company of polluting the Columbia River with heavy metals for decades.


Tottenham put faith in Dutch coach Jol

MARTIN Jol was named as Tottenham Hotspurs new head coach yesterday and immediately pledged to follow in the footsteps of Bill Nicholson and guide the club back to the halcyon days of the 1960s.


IAEA chief hopes Iran suspend enrichment process

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head, Mohammad ElBaradei, on Monday expressed his hope that suspension of uranium enrichment will be included in the preliminary Iran-EU agreement.


Panel Urges Washington to Finance Fast Computer

The panel of scientists also warned of a looming imbalance between hardware and software technology in high-performance computing.


Dancing to That Robotic Engineering Beat

The work of Prof. Naomi Ehrich Leonard at Princeton University shatters barriers, interweaving control theory, fluid mechanics, robotics, and biology.


F.A.A. Faced With Aging of Computers and Staff

The Federal Aviation Administration is facing some of the same problems that are driving the airlines to bankruptcy, rising costs and declining income.


Three Executives at Marsh Removed in Reorganization

Two of the highest ranking executives of Marsh   McLennan's insurance brokerage business and the company's general counsel were forced out.


Miniature People Add Extra Pieces to Evolutionary Puzzle

The miniature people found to have lived on an Indonesian island until 13,000 years ago have shaken up views of the human past.


#39;No free lunches in GE #39;

Soon after announcing the \$500 million deal to divest 60 per cent in GE Capital International Services (Gecis) to General Atlantic Partners and Oak Hill Partners, Pramod Bhasin, President  amp; CEO, Gecis, spoke to Business Standard.


Polar Bears May Face Demise

Global warming could cause polar bears to go extinct by the end of the century by eroding the sea ice that sustains them, according to the most comprehensive international assessment ever done of Arctic climate change.


Novell Linux Desktop Arrives

By the end of the week, Novell Inc. #39;s new Linux desktop for enterprise customers, Novell Linux Desktop 9, Powered by SuSE Linux, will be available for purchase through Novell channel partners for a suggested price of \$50 per system.


Minnesota built computer fastest in world

IBM #39;s still incomplete Blue Gene/L system being built in Rochester, Minnesota, has officially been named the fastest supercomputer in the world.


Toshiba Sues Over Patent Infringement (AP)

AP - In the latest squabble over patents between Japanese and South Korean electronics giants, Toshiba has sued Hynix Semiconductor's Japan and U.S. units, alleging patent infringement in flash-memory chips, key components in digital cameras and cell phones.


Legal boost for Microsoft

Microsoft said yesterday that it had finally laid to rest the anti-trust case against it in the United States when it reached an agreement with the Computer  amp; Communications Industry Association, the final group seeking to overturn itssettlement with the


In Tussle With Murdoch, Malone Seeks Leverage

On the surface it is a simple stock purchase, but on another level, the maneuvering is part of an angry chess game between two mega-entrepreneurs who are used to running the board.


Two top-ranking executives of the insurance brokerage unit at Marsh  amp; McLennan Company and the company #39;s general counsel were forced out yesterday as Marsh took another step in reorganizing


Skilling Lawyers Seek Change of Venue

Lawyers for former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeffrey K. Skilling yesterday urged a federal judge to transfer his blockbuster fraud trial out of Houston, citing a toxic atmosphere in which


Favorable Report on Mass. Wind Farm

A wind power plant proposed for the shallow waters south of Cape Cod would do no major harm to birds and other marine life and could lead to significant public health benefits


Toshiba seeks damage against Hynix

TOKYO (CBS.MW) -- Japan #39;s Toshiba Corp. said Tuesday it has field suit against South Korea #39;s Hynix Semiconductor Inc. in Japan and the United States, alleging infringement of Toshiba #39;s semiconductor flash memory patents.


Microsoft comes to small screen

Comcast Cable yesterday announced a plan to roll out Microsoft #39;s software across its digital-cable system in Washington state.


BA issues fuel cost warning as profit jumps to 335m

British Airways #39; chief executive, Rod Eddington, warned yesterday that he was preparing for a long, hard winter as the high cost of fuel eats into the national flag carrier #39;s profits.


UPDATE 1-IMF lauds  #39;exemplary #39; Australian economic record

The International Monetary Fund on Monday commended Australia for its strong economic performance and said the country #39;s outlook was favorable and unlikely to


MMC Makes Management Changes; Egan, Treanor Out

Marsh  amp; McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC) reported on Monday that Roger Egan, president and COO of Marsh Inc., its risk and insurance services subsidiary, and Christopher Treanor, Marsh Inc.


Comcast, Microsoft to deploy DVR units

REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. and cable television provider Comcast Corp. said Monday they would begin deploying set-top boxes powered by Microsoft software starting next week.


Arctic Thaw

NOT ONLY HAS it moved beyond the realm of science fiction, but the Arctic ice cap #39;s melting has been much faster than anyone has suspected.


But can it leap tall buildings?

US supercomputers once again are the fastest in the world, ending an uneasy 2 1/2 year period when a Japanese computer far outranked all competitors.


Stickers Put in Evolution Text Are the Subject of a Federal Trial

A federal judge began hearing testimony on Monday about whether the Cobb County School District should be allowed to leave stickers in biology textbooks saying that evolution


Bull Announces the Availability of NovaScale Servers Running the <b>...</b>

PARIS  amp; PITTSBURGH --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 8, 2004 -- Bull today announce that its range of NovaScale servers will run the latest Intel(R) Itanium(R) 2 processors, with a L3 cache up to 9 MB, and the new


A panel of leading computer scientists warned in a report issued on Monday that unless the federal government significantly increased support for advanced research on


Gamers line up to grab  #39;Halo 2 #39;

Video-game fans across the country stood in the chilly November air last night, eagerly awaiting the arrival of  quot;Halo 2. quot;.


AGs, artists urge top court to hear P2P case

com November 8, 2004, 5:08 PM PT. This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.


Russia launches Soyuz-2 booster rocket

Russia successfully launched a new model of booster rocket, the Soyuz-2, on Monday following two postponements. The rocket blasted off at 9:30 pm (1830 GMT) from the Plesetsk


World track glory pull for Radcliffe

PAULA Radcliffe is considering going for the 10,000 metres gold medal in the World Championships in Helsinki next summer. Max Jones, UK Athletics performance director, believes Radcliffe is eager to prove herself as a global track champion.


Beckham plays screen Goal

Real Madrid #39;s super soccer star and England captain David Beckham will reveal his talent, other than play football, in a film of \$100 million soccer trilogy -- GOAL.


Colts 31, Vikings 28

Peyton Manning provided the expected fireworks. Mike Vanderjagt #39;s leg sealed the win for the Indianapolis Colts. Manning threw four touchdown passes and Vanderjagt kicked a 35-yard field goal with 2 seconds


Now, Quincy must pass test

Midway through the fourth quarter of the Jets #39; 22-17 loss in Buffalo on Sunday, Chad Pennington went up to Herman Edwards on the sidelines.


ACC has three top-5 teams in preseason hoops poll

Top-heavy with Atlantic Coast Conference teams, The Associated Press preseason mens basketball poll gave the nod to Kansas of the Big 12 Conference.


Madness in Holland

THE ASSASSINATION last week of the Dutch filmmaker and writer Theo van Gogh was a repulsive crime. But the murder represents more than a garish incident on Amsterdam #39;s police blotter.


Russian Troops Kill 22 Chechen Rebels

Russian troops killed at least 22 rebels in separatist Chechnya on Monday, including a man officials said was linked to the assassination of Chechnya #39;s pro-Moscow president, media reported.


Suit Challenges Evolution Disclaimers on Textbooks

Description: A lawsuit challenges disclaimers stuck on biology textbooks containing evolution theory in Georgia #39;s affluent Cobb County.


Supreme Court urged to hear file-sharing case

LOS ANGELES - A disparate group made up of dozens of state attorneys general, labor unions, retailers, professional sports leagues and others urged the US Supreme Court on Monday to hear a claim brought by the recording and film industries against two


Low Turnout Sinks Macedonian Bid to Kill Rights Bill

A referendum bid to block a law that gives Macedonia #39;s Albanian minority more rights failed on Sunday, upholding a Western-brokered peace plan which ended ethnic fighting in 2001.


Paper peace doves set to fall over troubled southern Thailand in <b>...</b>

BANGKOK : Fifty aircraft were due to scatter 120 million paper birds across Thailand #39;s trouble-hit Muslim-majority south in a peace gesture that has captured the imagination of most of the nation, officials said.


Justice Dept. and S.E.C. Investigating Merck Drug

Federal prosecutors and the S.E.C. are investigating Merck in connection with its recalled pain reliever, Vioxx.


Last week, the chairman of Liberty Media, John C. Malone, said he might increase Liberty's voting interest in the News Corporation.


Two Agencies Probe Merck #39;s Handling of Its Vioxx Drug

Justice Department prosecutors and Securities and Exchange Commission regulators are investigating Merck  amp; Co. for its handling of the painkiller Vioxx, the pharmaceutical giant disclosed yesterday.


UPDATE 3-Two Marsh  amp; McLennan executives step down

Two Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. (MMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) executives linked to an insurance market bid-rigging investigation stepped down from their positions


Novell Linux Desktop launch this week

quot;Novell is focusing its enterprise desktop efforts on Linux deployments where users can gain the most benefit. quot; - Jack Messman, Novell #39;s chairman and CEO.


ATI Xpress 200 Review

November 08, 2004 - AnandTech have slapped up a great feature and review on ATI #39;s new chipset for AMD processors, which seems to give Nvidia a run for their money.


Manning, James carry Colts to 31-28 win

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 8, 2004) -- Peyton Manning provided the expected fireworks, including a left-handed pass for a key first down. Mike Vanderjagt #39;s leg sealed the win for the Indianapolis Colts.


Lucas released from hospital

KIRKLAND -- Ken Lucas returned to Seattle late yesterday after spending Sunday night in a Bay Area hospital because of a bruised lung.


Facing Iran, With Europe

FOR THE SECOND time in a year, European foreign ministers are close to striking an interim deal with Iran over its nuclear program.


Organizer identified among killed militants in Chechnya

Among over 20 killed separatists in combat in Chechen on Monday morning, one was identified as one of the organizers of the May 9 terrorism act in Grozny, in which Chechen President


Black Watch push on with mission

The death of a fourth Black Watch soldier in Iraq has made the troops more determined to complete their mission, a spokesman says.


Officials Lay Groundwork for Cleanup of Great Lakes

The United States and Canada signed a declaration on Friday that outlines a plan to clean up the Great Lakes and the major waterways that feed them.


Microsoft Gives Sharing Tools to Gov't. (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. has begun providing free tools so government organizations can better share technological information, in a move it says is aimed at helping cash-strapped customers save money.


Oil Hugs  #36;49, Concerns Over Heating Fuel (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices clung near the  #36;49 mark on\Tuesday, pausing from a 12 percent slide from record highs\ahead of key mid-week data on the health of winter fuel\stockpiles in the leading consumer, the United States.


Australian business confidence falls in October but still good: survey (AFP)

AFP - Australian business confidence about the near future fell slightly in October after a surge in September but views on current conditions registered a strong jump, a key survey showed.


Mavericks Beat Warriors 101-98 in Overtime (AP)

AP - Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, including the opening basket in overtime that put Dallas ahead to stay, and the Mavericks remained unbeaten with a 101-98 victory over winless Golden State on Monday night.


Another Buddhist Beheaded in Thai South Revenge

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim militants beheaded an  elderly man in Thailand's south in revenge for the deaths of 85  Muslim protesters last month, the second Buddhist decapitated  in a week, police said on Tuesday.


Firefox, Google and Web Search

Mozilla Firefox has Google, Yahoo and other search tools baked in, but they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to search capabilities available with this innovative new web browser that launched its first official version today.


NBA Wrap: Mavericks Come Back to Beat Golden State

DALLAS (Sports Network) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points  and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks overcame an  early 17-point deficit for a 101-98 overtime victory against  Golden State at American Airlines Center.


Cal might be headed our way

Cal could be coming to the Holiday Bowl instead of its anticipated dream trip to play Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The fourth-ranked Bears put themselves at the mercy of the voters and the Bowl Championship


Critics hit corps #39; Cape mill report

Opponents vowed yesterday to step up their fight against a giant wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod amid accusations that a new US Army Corps of Engineers study was inadequate and biased toward the developer who paid for it.


Standard Chartered Fires 200 in Hong Kong as Competition Rises

Standard Chartered Plc, a UK lender that makes two-thirds its profit in Asia, said it fired 200 people, or 5 percent of its employees, in Hong Kong where it #39;s making less money on home loans.


Four-TD Manning masters Minnesota

Peyton Manning won a shootout with opposite number Daunte Culpepper as the Indianapolis Colts claimed a last-minute 31-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.


Arsenal chairman backs Wenger over Ruud row

Arsenal won #39;t waver in their support for boss Arsene Wenger, despite the Frenchman being hit by an FA charge of misconduct last night.


BMW Williams to Test Webber, Davidson, Heidfeld, and Pizzonia

On Tuesday November 24, Mark Webber will undertake his first testing duties for the team in Barcelona, together with the team test driver, Antonio Pizzonia.


Pirates #39; Bay National League Rookie of the Year

After rewriting the Pirates #39; record book, Jason Bay was named the National League Rookie of the Year yesterday by the Baseball Writers Association of America.


Suez Canal blocked by crippled oil tanker

ISMAILIA, Egypt: Egypt #39;s Suez Canal has been blocked by a broken-down oil tanker and could stay shut for another two days, the most serious closure of the strategic waterway for almost 30 years, shipping sources said.


Israels nukes blocking Mideast peace: ElBaradei

SYDNEY - Israels nuclear weapons are an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday.


Chechen forces kill 22 separatist rebels

AP - Chechen security forces killed 22 separatist rebels, including the alleged leader of the assassination of the republic #39;s president, Chechen deputy prime minister Ramzan Kadyrov said, according to news reports.


Seeking an Enron Trial Far From Houston

It is no secret that the fortunes of Houston were long married to the success of Enron, the once highflying energy company that was the city #39;s premier corporate citizen.


ATI Launches Xpress 200 Chipsets

ATI Technologies has launched the Radeon Xpress 200 chipset with integrated DirectX 9 graphics for AMD desktop PCs. The latest chipset is aimed at gaming enthusiasts and high definition home entertainment.


Telecom offers broadband to go

Telecom mobile general manager Kevin Kenrick showed off the Harrier personal digital assistant at the launch of the company #39;s 3G mobile broadband network in Wellington yesterday.


Russia launches new space booster rocket

MOSCOW: Russia launched a new-generation space booster rocket today in a move that could eventually help send civilian cargoes into space, Itar-Tass news agency reported.


Suha blasted over  #39;deathbed coup #39; claim

GAZA CITY: Palestinians let rip at Yasser Arafat #39;s wife Suha yesterday after she alleged his top lieutenants were plotting a deathbed coup, accusing her of abandoning the nationalist struggle for the boutiques of Paris.


Africa backs French troops in Ivory Coast

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: The African Union (AU) said yesterday it supports United Nations and French intervention in Ivory Coast as UN Security Council held talks last night on a French resolution to impose an arms embargo on Ivory Coast.


EIGHT DIE AS BOMB EXPLOSIONS HIT BAGHDAD

BAGHDAD: At least eight people were killed and 45 wounded when two suspected car bombs exploded within minutes of each other outside two churches and a hospital in southern Baghdad last night.


I had faith in Paula

PAULA RADCLIFFES husband and coach Gary Lough always believed she would bounce back in style from her Olympic nightmare. Radcliffe, 30, pipped Kenyan Susan Chepkemei to win the New York


NFL Game Summary - Minnesota at Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes and Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 35-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Indianapolis Colts a 31-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at


SportsNetwork Game Preview

(Sports Network) - The winless Golden State Warriors start a five-game road trip tonight, as they visit the undefeated Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.


East Asia #39;s Economies to Grow Over 7 Pct.

A fifth year of powerful economic growth in East Asia and the Pacific has driven the number of people living in poverty in the region to its lowest level ever, but the World Bank warned Tuesday that oil prices could dampen the boom next year.


Boeing Probe Widens to \$100 Bln Contract

A criminal probe of Boeing Co. #39;s dealings with the US Air Force is widening to include a \$100 billion Army program it oversees, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.


Maker of Vioxx hit with criminal probe

Federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating Merck  amp; Co. in connection with Vioxx, the painkiller that was pulled from the market in September


FCC expected to exempt VoIP from state rules

The Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote today to exempt Internet-based phone companies from state regulation, a step that could help boost the emerging services.


Moody #39;s may downgrade Philippines

TOKYO (CBS.MW) -- Moody #39;s Investors Service said Tuesday it has placed on review for possible downgrade the Philippines #39; long-term foreign- and local currency ceilings and ratings due to concerns over the sustainability of the government #39;s fiscal and debt


Amazon.com has sluggish Monday

SEATTLE Amazon-dot-com says things are running normally again on its Web site after a sometimes sluggish Monday. A spokeswoman says the world #39;s largest Internet retailer began experiencing  quot;a slowness quot; Monday morning.


Ferrari will miss F1 team meeting

Team bosses will discuss their plans to cut costs in F1 including a proposal to cut testing to just ten days during the season for all teams.


Texas a step ahead of Utah in polls

Texas bumped Utah from the coveted No. 6 spot in the Bowl Championship Series standings released on Monday, improving its chance for its first major bowl in eight seasons.


Jets: Injured shoulder KO #39;s Pennington 2-4 weeks

But he felt unwanted in Dallas and resented that the Cowboys had brought in veteran Vinny Testaverde to challenge him this past off-season.


Knicks: Suhr replaces Helm as assistant

Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas has his coaching staff in place. Now all he has to do is fire Lenny Wilkens. Yesterday, the Knicks said 71-year-old assistant Dick


Danton Sentenced to 71/2 Years For Murder-for-Hire Plot

Mike Danton was sentenced yesterday to 7 1/2 years in prison for trying to have his agent killed. Danton said nothing in East St. Louis, Ill.


NBA Wrap: Mavericks Come Back to Beat Golden State

DALLAS (Sports Network) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks overcame an early 17-point deficit for a 101-98 overtime victory against Golden State at American Airlines Center.


Afghan Kidnappers Await Prisoner Swap Offer Response

Kidnappers threatening to kill a Northern Irish woman in Afghanistan were today awaiting a response to their demand for a prisoner exchange.


Pakistan wants respect to Kashmiri leaderships desire to hold <b>...</b>

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan said on Monday that Kashmiri leaderships desire to hold talks with Islamabad should be respected. Pakistan said on Monday that Kashmiri leaderships desire to hold talks with Islamabad should be respected.


Palestinians seek to visit Arafat

Top Palestinian officials are to meet the French president in the hope of visiting the ailing Yasser Arafat.


Petrino  #39;really happy here #39;

University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino, amid rumors of job offers coming his way, said after yesterday #39;s regular-season finale at Tulane that his first move


NEW YORK (Reuters) - A criminal probe of Boeing Co.'s  dealings with the U.S. Air Force is widening to include a \$100  billion Army program it oversees, the Wall Street Journal  reported on Tuesday.


Tokyo Stocks Slip on Banks, Insurers

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average closed down 0.17  percent on Tuesday as growing worries over the domestic  economic outlook hit banks and insurers, offsetting gains in  shipping firms and others with bright earnings prospects.


Air Force Seeks Contract Reviews

Department of Defense asked to lead review of contracts awarded by a former procurement official who has admitted giving Boeing Co. preferential treatment.


Skilling Lawyers Seek Change of Venue

Attorneys for former Enron chief executive cite a toxic atmosphere in which respondents to a recent poll they commissioned called Skilling a "crook," a "pig" and an "economic terrorist."


US Mulls Stopping Aid if No Peace Deal in S. Sudan

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States next week  intends to tell Sudan and its southern opposition that offers  of aid may be withdrawn if an agreement is not signed soon to  end Africa's longest-running civil war, its U.N. ambassador  said.


Korean Air Stun Guns Approved

The federal government has given approval for Korean Air Lines Co. to arm its crew members with stun guns aboard flights to and from the United States, but few other carriers have shown an interest in arming pilots with non-lethal weapons, the Transportation Security Administration said yesterday.


US watchdog investigates brokers

US regulators launch an inquiry into whether Wall Street's top brokers adopted trading practices which left clients out of pocket.


English Premiership round-up

Chelsea #39;s drive to claim the club #39;s first English title in half a century gathered pace on Saturday as Newcastle were blown away by four memorable late goals at Stamford Bridge.


Colts outscore Vikes in 31-28 victory

What #39;d you expect when the NFL #39;s two top-rated quarterbacks met on the same field as two of the league #39;s lowest-rated defenses?


NFL extends contracts with CBS, Fox for \$8b

CBS and Fox yesterday announced an \$8 million rights extension with the National Football League that gives the networks the right to continue televising


Consummate Bruin Bourque is enshrined among NHL #39;s finest

For 22 years, Ray Bourque had been preparing for last night. As he played each game of his National Hockey League career, he wasn #39;t cognizant


Palestinian leaders seek to visit Arafat

Abu Mazen, Abu Ala and Nabil Shaath to meet French president, ministers in bid to see their ailing leader despite Suha Arafats refusal.


Boeing Probe Widens to  #36;100 Bln Contract (Reuters)

Reuters - A criminal probe of Boeing Co.'s\dealings with the U.S. Air Force is widening to include a  #36;100\billion Army program it oversees, the Wall Street Journal\reported on Tuesday.


New lava dome grows inside Mount St. Helens

A new lava dome inside Mount St. Helens #39; crater has sprouted a growth that extends upward nearly 330 feet, US Geological Survey officials said Saturday.


Billups excited to be going back to Denver

His game hasnt tapered off at all coming off his MVP performance in the NBA Finals. After three games, he averaged 20 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds and was leading


Afghans Say to Kill UN Hostage if Demands Not Met (Reuters)

Reuters - A Taliban splinter group holding three\U.N. workers hostage demanded a response to its demands from\the government and United Nations by Tuesday afternoon and said\it would kill one of the captives if they were not met.


Uribe, Chavez Have a Lot of Similarities (AP)

AP - One is a center-right president and a close ally of the United States who is accused of being too soft on outlawed paramilitary groups. The other is a leftist president who allegedly favors Marxist rebels and openly criticizes U.S policy.


Criminals preying on Japanese quake victims, police warn (AFP)

AFP - Criminals are exploiting the chaos caused by Japan's deadliest earthquake in a decade by stealing and defrauding vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly, police warned.


Novell, Microsoft settle row

Novell Inc. of Waltham is getting a half-billion-dollar check from Microsoft Corp. to settle an antitrust case that #39;s never been filed.


GE sells 60 of pioneering India division

The General Electric Co. said Monday it had sold a 60 percent stake in its pioneering back- office unit in India to two private equity firms for \$500 million.


Murdoch tries to hold off takeover

Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp., the world #39;s fifth-largest media company and owner of the Fox broadcast network and Fox News Channel, adopted a plan to thwart any hostile takeover after John Malone #39;s Liberty Media Corp.


Moody #39;s May Cut Philippine Ratings on Budget Deficit (Update1)

The Philippines may have its long-term debt ratings cut by Moody #39;s Investors Service, which cited the government #39;s budget deficit and debt.


H amp;R Block faces charge

WASHINGTON -- US securities regulators have accused H amp;R Block Financial Advisors of fraud in selling customers some \$16 million US of Enron bonds in late 2001 as a safe investment when the energy-trading giant was imploding.


Warming hastens Arctic changes

EDMONTON -- Global warming is happening twice as fast in the Arctic as anywhere else and could cause everything from the extinction of polar bears to the flooding of large parts of Florida, says a report released yesterday.


Web power to the people

With the election over and the political signs coming down, Brandeis University freshman Jason Lustig plans to post fliers around campus this week for a new cause: the Firefox open source Web browser.


Russia successfully launches Soyuz 2-1A rocket

RBC, 09.11.2004, Moscow 09:25:54.Russia has successfully launched a new model of booster rocket, the Soyuz-2-1A. The rocket blasted off at 9:30 pm from the Plesetsk launch pad carrying a satellite model.


Terror Charges In Van Gogh Slay

An alleged Islamic radical accused of killing Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh will be tried on terrorism charges, prosecutors said Friday.


Tremour shook Taiwan

A strong earthquake hit Taiwan on Monday, shaking buildings in the capital Taipei for several seconds. No casualties were reported.


Surgery sidelines NBA sharpshooter Lenard (AFP)

AFP - One week into the National Basketball Association season, the season is over for Denver Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard.


State Department Counterterror Chief Quits (AP)

AP - J. Cofer Black, the State Department official in charge of counterterrorism, is leaving government in the next few weeks.


Specter, Opponents Press Senate Leaders (AP)

AP - Sen. Arlen Specter is working the phones and embarking on a media blitz in an attempt to cement his standing as future chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the face of demands from conservatives that he be passed over.


Summary Box: Congress Continuity (AP)

AP - THE THREAT: More than three years after Sept. 11, Congress hasn't decided how it would respond to a disaster that kills or incapacitates many members.


Iran Says Can Mass Produce Medium-Range Missiles

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday it was now able to  manufacture large quantities of its medium-range Shahab-3  ballistic missile, which defense experts say is capable of  hitting Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf.


U.S.-Led Forces Thrust Towards Central Falluja

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces thrust at least  one km (half a mile) into rebel-held Falluja on Tuesday and  were not far from the Iraqi city's heart, residents and an  Iraqi army officer said.


Mobile phones take over in India

Indian mobile phone users outnumber fixed line customers for the first time, the country's telecoms regulator says.


BT Group to buy Infonet

LONDON - BT Group, the British telecommunications company, said Monday that it #39;s buying US-based Infonet Services in a deal that values Infonet at \$965 million.


Euro soars as dollar nosedives

THE dollar sell-off gained fresh momentum in latest trading with the greenback tumbling to its lowest level for nine years against the currencies of its main trading partners.


Drop in crude futures a trend, say analysts

Crude futures prices fell yesterday, briefly sinking below \$49 US a barrel, as the US supply of oil grows and traders said institutional investors shifted their capital from commodities to equities.


Feds probing Merck

Already reeling from the Vioxx recall, Merck said late yesterday it faces a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice and an informal inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


SocGen profit beats forecast Reuters, Paris, November 9

French bank Societe Generales third-quarter profit rose a forecast-beating 10 per cent on consumer banking growth, gains in investment banking, and a sharp fall in bad debt provisions, it said on Tuesday.


Salvation Army seeks volunteers

The sounds of the holiday season are a joyous cacophony of loving banter, caroling and children #39;s laughter. Thanks to the classic film  quot;It #39;s a Wonderful Life, quot; everyone knows that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.


Comcast deal gives Microsoft entry into cable TV

Comcast is giving Microsoft something the software giant has struggled to get on its own: an easy way to expand from the desktop computer to the home-entertainment center.


NO OVITZ-SIGHT

Disney #39;s board of directors didn #39;t get to see all the details of Michael Ovitz #39;s fat employment contract or the deal that let him walk away with a \$140 million severance


Scientists warn Arctic is warming quickly

Scientists say changes in the earth #39;s climate from human influences are occurring particularly intensely in the Arctic region, evidenced


The Novell Linux Desktop

Novell Inc. has just announced details of its latest Linux offering for desktop computers. The software is to be known as the Novell Linux Desktop 9, hopefully to be shortened to NLD 9, and will be the first


Big Blue named top computer again

Big Blue has brought the title of the worlds fastest supercomputer back to the US for the first time in three years. IBMs still incomplete Blue Gene/L system has been officially named the fastest in the


Textbook disclaimer on evolution in Ga. court

A trial opened yesterday over whether a warning sticker in suburban Atlanta biology textbooks that says evolution is  quot;a theory, not a fact quot; violates


Bluetooth Version 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate Announced

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) today announced the adoption of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.0  EDR (Enhanced Data Rate).


Intel Updates Itanium

Intel Corp. is adding to its current Itanium 2 processor line with six new processors that the company says deliver performance increases of 15 percent for database transaction processing and up to 35 percent


Vocal biologist fired from wildlife agency

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has fired a biologist who publicly accused the agency of using bad science to approve construction projects in panther habitat.


\$1 million bail for spammer

LEESBURG, VA. -- Bail was set at \$1 million for a Raleigh man awaiting sentencing in the nation #39;s first felony prosecution of illegal distribution of spam.


Colts can #39;t win it all

History says they cant do this. History says the Indianapolis Colts cant win a championship in a league where offense sells tickets and defense wins Super Bowls.


BRITISH PEOPLE HELPED ME WIN IN NEW YORK

PAULA RADCLIFFE last night paid tribute to the  quot;incredible support quot; which helped her overcome her Olympic nightmare. Radcliffe fought back from her Athens heartbreak to win the New York Marathon


RUUD RAGE

ARSENE WENGER is preparing for outright confrontation with the FA over his right to call Ruud van Nistelrooy a cheat. Arsenal boss Wenger was charged with improper conduct by Soho Square for his comments after


Report indicates Wannstedt out

And it #39;s not often you hear a head coach asked for his response to all the  quot;vultures quot; who have shown up to witness his possible firing.


Robinson #39;s class act sweeps snobbery aside at last

New England captain Jason Robinson is setting new standards. Sam Wheeler looks at the career of the state-educated Leeds-born former rugby league star Thirty-two years after Clive Sullivan led Great Britain


Van Gundy paints offensive strategy

MIAMI  Stan Van Gundy called his players together at the end of Monday #39;s practice and warned them about overlooking the obvious.


Violence flares in Ivory Coast ahead of presidential visit

Joint patrols have begun in Ivory Coast #39;s commercial centre, Abidjan, in an attempt to maintain law and order after three days of disturbances.


US-Led Forces Thrust Towards Central Falluja

US-led forces thrust at least one km (half a mile) into rebel-held Falluja on Tuesday and were not far from the Iraqi city #39;s heart, residents and an Iraqi army officer said.


13 killed in hospital car bomb

AT least 13 people were killed and about 60 injured when a car bomb exploded outside the emergency unit of one of Baghdad #39;s main hospitals, medical officials said today.


After Arafat

In his press conference last Thursday, President Bush said people who don #39;t believe in the applicability of democracy to the Arab world cannot really believe in a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict with Israel.


US to enhance ties with Pakistan: Armitage

Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said here on Tuesday that the United States will further enhance its relations with Pakistan.


Powell unhappy at Sudan #39;s Darfur camp relocations

US Secretary of State Colin Powell voiced displeasure on Monday at Sudan #39;s movement of camps for people who fled their homes in Darfur.


Judge halts patent suits against Columbia

A federal judge in Boston dismissed patent claims filed by large biotechnology companies against Columbia University that alleged the New York school was improperly trying to extend its rights to a process widely used to engineer new drugs.


Novell, Microsoft settle row

Novell Inc. of Waltham is getting a half-billion-dollar check from Microsoft Corp. to settle an antitrust case that's never been filed.


Marsh ousts 2 top executives

Two top executives of scandal-tarred insurance firm Marsh Inc. were ousted yesterday, the company said, the latest casualties of an industry probe by New York's attorney general.


McDonald's sales push its stock to 2-year high

McDonald's Corp. yesterday reported another month of strong worldwide sales, sending its stock up modestly to its highest closing price in 2 years.


'Revenge' killing in S Thailand

\A second Buddhist man is beheaded in Thailand's south in apparent revenge for the deaths of Muslim protesters.


Network fighting huge Janet fine

TV network CBS fights the record \$500,000 fine imposed following Janet Jackson's breast-baring incident.


Ivory Coast loyalists in standoff

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- Thousands of government loyalists massed outside the home of the president yesterday, facing off against French armored vehicles in response to urgent appeals for a ''human shield quot; around the hard-line leader, amid fears of an overthrow.


22 rebels said killed, including key figure

MOSCOW -- Chechen security forces killed 22 separatist rebels, including the alleged organizer of the assassination of the republic's president, a top republic official said yesterday, according to news reports. Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov was quoted as saying the rebels were killed in an operation in the Vedeno region, about 30 miles southeast of Grozny, the Chechen capital. The ...


Iraqi envoy backs raid on Fallujah

UNITED NATIONS -- An assault on Fallujah was Iraq's ''least damaging choice quot; for providing security for civilians in the rebel-held city, Baghdad's UN ambassador said he told Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday.


Iraqi called uncooperative

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine major implicated in the death of an Iraqi prisoner testified at his court-martial yesterday that he thought the prisoner was uncooperative.


Prosettlement party to quit Sharon government over pullout

JERUSALEM -- A prosettlement party said yesterday that it plans to quit Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's coalition government over his plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, further eroding his hold on power.


Resentment high on Arafat's wife

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Suha Daoud Tawil Arafat, 41, has been the focus of resentment and controversy among Palestinians for most of the time that she has been married to the founder and chief symbol of the Palestinian national movement.


Exemplary assistance

The work of Bill Belichick's muted underlings was never more noticeable than during Sunday's 40-22 win over the St. Louis Rams, in these most challenging of times for these Patriots.


Things could heat up fast at Miami meetings

Good things happened for Theo Epstein the last couple of years when baseball's general managers gathered for their annual meetings. In Tucson, Ariz., two years ago, he went from promoting Billy Beane as the next GM of the Red Sox to effectively landing the job himself. Then he used last year's meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a springboard ...


Colts, Vanderjagt save best for last

Peyton Manning provided the expected fireworks. Mike Vanderjagt's leg sealed the win for the Indianapolis Colts.


Wannstedt said set to resign

Dave Wannstedt may have coached his last game for the Miami Dolphins. With his team at 1-8, Wannstedt is expected to resign today, according to reports late yesterday on The Miami Herald's website and two South Florida television stations. A third TV station, WTVJ, said Wannstedt already resigned.


Kovalev heading home

Movement continues to take place among NHL players -- but it's not toward North American teams nor arenas.


His little pain means big gain

He's not among the team leaders in points or minutes, two areas that Raef LaFrentz could well improve on as the NBA season moves along. But here's where he is undeniably at the top of the list for the Celtics: relief. He's playing, he's playing reasonably well ( quot;hot and cold, quot; according to coach Doc Rivers), and he's playing ...


Kansas, Tennessee top NCAA basketball polls

Kansas often grabs a spot in the upper half of the Associated Press men's preseason college basketball poll, but the school hasn't been No. 1 since Wilt Chamberlain suited up for the Jayhawks in the 1950s.


Eagles, Mountaineers in a summit meeting

Rich Rodriguez expects a tough, physical game -- as usual -- from Boston College, a team the West Virginia coach says has a defensive line with no weaknesses.


Framingham down, not out

The Framingham boys' soccer team was without two of its best defensive players yesterday, but not without a commitment to playing strong team defense.


Today's schedule

College hockey: MEN -- Worcester St. at Wentworth, 8 p.m.; WOMEN -- Rensselaer at MIT, 7 p.m.


For Marine, a case of glove love at first sight

Laura Barrow has learned quite a bit in her 20 years. For example, when you step into a boxing ring, forget what they taught you in ballet class. Tonight, when the Marine lance corporal from Dallas takes on Beverly's Nicki Silveira in the first stop of the Great Northeast Tour at the Roxy, she will remember that lesson.


Phelps in hot water now

Swimmer Michael Phelps , who won eight medals -- six of them gold -- at last summer's Olympics in Athens, was arrested last Thursday in Salisbury, Md., and charged with drunken driving. A trooper saw the 19-year-old go through a stop sign, state police said yesterday. The trooper saw signs of intoxication and arrested Phelps for driving under the influence. ...


Digital Gear: Slimming Down Systems and Users

A sleek desktop debuts, along with VR-like games that help you exercise--and a robot that doesn't.


Iran Says Can Mass Produce Medium-Range Missiles (Reuters)

Reuters - Iran said on Tuesday it was now able to\manufacture large quantities of its medium-range Shahab-3\ballistic missile, which defense experts say is capable of\hitting Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf.


Nokia Releases Newest Version Of SSL VPN (TechWeb)

TechWeb - New Secure Connector feature gives remote users secure network-level access, including access to business applications, data, and network services.


Novell wins windfall Microsoft settlement

As software disputes go, Novell #39;s decade-long antitrust claim against Microsoft was particularly drawn out. That made the \$536 million payoff announced Monday especially sweet.


World Bank reports drop in poverty levels in East Asia, Pacific

The World Bank says fewer people than ever are living in extreme poverty in East Asia and the Pacific due to economic growth of around seven per cent.


Guite defends use of fed slush funds

Ad agencies were given federally financed slush funds in order to cut through red tape and speed up the awarding of grants, according to the former head of the federal sponsorship program.


Halo 2 Hits The Streets

(Rochester, NY) 11/09/04 -- Workers in some Rochester-area toy and game stores worked late Monday night as fans of  quot;Halo 2 quot; lined up to buy a copy of the X-Box game that went on sale at midnight.


T #39;s CharlieCard #39; more than just a token effort

Nearly a decade in the making, the MBTA is entering the homestretch of a new \$140 million fare collection system as officials yesterday unveiled the CharlieCard, #39; #39; a debit-type card to be used on the T in 2006.


Woods moves to No. 2 in world

By wire services. Tiger Woods, who surrendered his record 264-week streak as the world #39;s top-ranked golfer to Vijay Singh in September, rose a place to No.


Ivory Coast loyalists fear leader #39;s overthrow

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - A pro-government  quot;Jeune Patriote quot; militia supporter holds a sign in French which translates to  quot;We are ready to fight the rebellion quot; at a demonstration in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday, Nov.


Lithuanians held over fake euros

Eleven Lithuanians are charged with masterminding what is believed to be Europe's biggest euro forgery operation.


Reaching out, Bush hews to stance

When President Bush walked into Halifax #39;s Pier 21 on Wednesday, the stage was literally set for him to usher in a new era of partnership


French Hospital Says Arafat's Condition Worsened

PARIS (Reuters) - Yasser Arafat's condition worsened  overnight and his coma has deepened, the French military  hospital caring for the Palestinian leader announced on  Tuesday.


Bomb Explosion in Nepal's Capital Wounds 38

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A bomb tore through a government  office in the Nepali capital on Tuesday, wounding at least 38  people in an attack police suspect was carried out by Maoist  rebels.


Exit Shinui

The moment after Shinui achieved its meteoric achievement of 15 Knesset seats, the question was: Can the party make the transition from a one-issue, one-election wonder to one of the top two national parties?


US top of supercomputing charts

IBM's Blue Gene/L was  named the fastest supercomputer in the world on Monday, pushing Japan off the top of the list.


Players sought for \$1m tournament

A Pop Idol type competition is being held to find UK gamers to take part in a \$1m tournament.


Young Wildcats receive the spanking on Initiation Day

Initiation Day concluded with the older guys raising their arms to provoke adoration and the younger guys walking away, heads lowered, shirts and egos untucked.


Microsoft settles two big fights

Microsoft agreed yesterday to pay more than \$500 million to settle a potential antitrust lawsuit by rival software maker Novell but will likely have to fight another part of Novell #39;s claim in court.


World Bank: Cambodia Economy to Slow Down

Cambodia #39;s economy will slow down significantly next year due to losses in the garment sector - the country #39;s main economic engine - although gains in tourism may help offset the downward tumble, the World Bank said Tuesday.


Toshiba takes Hynix to task in patent clash

Toshiba has accused Hynix of infringing its DRAM and Flash patents, and has begun legal proceedings against its South Korean rival in the US and Japanese courts.


Tasers OK #39;d for Korean airline

A foreign airline has been given permission by the federal government to carry electronic Taser stun guns on some of its flights in the United States to protect against hijackings or other attacks.


Rose axes four M amp;S directors

Stuart Rose today consolidated his authority at Marks  amp; Spencer as the ailing retailer announced a clear-out of top executives.


Marsh May Have to Cut Jobs as Earnings Decline, Investors Say

Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos., the US insurance broker accused of rigging bids and taking payoffs, #39; #39; may cut jobs to help mitigate a drop in earnings, investors said.


Fans Throng for First Crack at New Game 'Halo 2'

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It takes a special kind of person  to stay up all night and stand in a line nearly 250 people long  just to buy a video game -- but for rabid fans of the first  "Halo" on the Xbox video game console, it was well worth the  wait to buy the new "Halo 2."


ATI #39;s Radeon Xpress 200 chipset reviewed

Intel may be struggling a bit with its processors right now, but the company smacked one out of the park with the introduction of its 900-series chipsets.


Student Finds New Species of Amphibian

Vertebrate Paleontologist Amy C. Henrici of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh holds a stone fossil of a new genus and species of terrestrial adopted amphibian that lived in the Pennsylvanian Period, about 300 million years ago, Monday


Firefox Browser, a Microsoft Rival, Fully Released

The free Firefox Web browser, which has chipped away at the market dominance of Microsoft Corp. #39;s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Internet Explorer, has been readied for a full release including new features designed to make it more


Fans throng for first shot at  quot;Halo 2 quot; game

It takes a special kind of person to stay up all night and stand in a line nearly 250 people long just to buy a video game -- but for rabid fans of the first  quot;Halo quot; on


Bluetooth For Multi-Player Gaming?

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has unveiled a roadmap that outlines updates to the technology in performance, security, power optimization and usability.


Telecom Unveils its 3G Mobile

The New Zealand based company, Telecom, launched its high-speed third-generation (3G) mobile broadband service and is expecting strong demand from businesses and consumers.


File-swapping case finds friends in court

A broad list of copyright owners, artists, law professors and state attorneys general on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to hear a controversial case on the legality of file-swapping software.


Williams to trial 2005 hopefuls

Anthony Davidson and Nick Heidfeld will test for Williams next month as the team bids to finalise their line-up for next season. Davidson, third driver with BAR in 2004, will take to the track at Jerez in


\$8-billion deal for NFL, 2 networks

CBS and Fox will continue to televise NFL games on Sunday afternoons through the 2011 season. The price tag for the six-year deal: \$8 billion, 25 percent and 30 percent higher than the previous eight-year contracts for the two networks.


Swim phenom sinking on DWI

Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps was drowning in criticism from his coach and fans last night after being busted for drunken driving in Maryland.


Defending champions avoid second lost

Defending champions Detroit Pistons avoided second lost in the first four games of new season as they narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 99-96 after two overtimes Monday in Los Angeles.


Hall ceremony special nonetheless

Even with the NHL in the midst of a lockout, defensemen Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy and executive Cliff Fletcher were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night.


Class of 2004 announced

USA Track  amp; Field on Monday announced the inductees for the Class of 2004 for the National Track  amp; Field Hall of Fame. The inductees are modern athletes Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Johnson, Joan Benoit Samuelson


Arafat's Wife Attacks His Aides, Setting Off a Public Brawl

An old feud between the wife of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his senior advisers erupted into an extraordinary public brawl Monday after  Suha Arafat accused the aides of plotting against  her husband and they accused her of blocking access to the ailing leader and withholding information about his health.


Critics of Islam on edge after murder

LONDON - For some writers who criticize Islam, bullet-proof glass, bodyguards, death threats and pseudonyms are a part of everyday life.


Palestinian leadership hinges on Arafat fortune: Israel

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom says any debate among Palestinians as to who will lead in the absence of the ailing Yasser Arafat is related to Mr Arafat #39;s personal fortune.


Iraqi envoy backs raid on Fallujah

An assault on Fallujah was Iraq #39;s  quot;least damaging choice quot; for providing security for civilians in the rebel-held city, Baghdad #39;s UN ambassador


Basayev associate killed in Vedeno operation

GROZNY. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Guerrilla commander Rezvan Isayev, a close associate of Chechen separatist leader Shamil Basayev, is among the fighters killed in a recent large-scale operation in Chechnya #39;s Vedeno


Train wreckage operation begins

A painstaking operation to lift the mangled wreckage of the Berkshire train crash from the tracks has been taking place. The exact events surrounding the crash which killed seven people are still being investigated


High Stakes in Vegas vs. Macau

Glittery Las Vegas gambling has arrived in seedy Macau, promising new charms for China's inveterate players, and this former Portuguese colony may never be the same.


Brazilian Troops to Remain in Haiti

Brazilian U.N. peacekeepers will remain in Haiti until presidential elections are held in that Caribbean nation sometime next year, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday.


AOL to Be Split Into Four

America Online Inc. Monday put new leaders in senior posts and revamped its corporate structure in a sweeping overhaul.
 -The Washington Post


Microsoft Ends Disputes

Company settled legal disputes Monday with two of its largest remaining antagonists in a move that will ensure its antitrust deal will not be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. -The Washington Post


Halo 2 Poised to Ring Up \$80M in Sales

Video game is creating the kind of buzz usually reserved for a Hollywood opening of, say, "The Incredibles." -The Washington Post


Lockheed CEO Sees World  of Potential

Named Lockheed's top executive in August, Robert J. Stevens presides over the biggest defense contractor in the world at a time of shifting military priorities and precarious defense budgets.-The Washington Post


Brown seeks out global challenge

Chancellor Gordon Brown tells the CBI his mission is to build a "shared national economic purpose".


Bomb Explosion in Nepal's Capital Wounds 38 (Reuters)

Reuters - A bomb tore through a government\office in the Nepali capital on Tuesday, wounding at least 38\people in an attack police suspect was carried out by Maoist\rebels.


AOL to Be Split Into Four Units (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - America Online Inc. yesterday put new leaders in senior posts and revamped its corporate structure, undertaking a sweeping overhaul just one month before the company plans to slash costs by firing more than 700 employees.


Public hostility to Iraq war at record levels: poll (AFP)

AFP - Public distaste with the Iraq war in Britain has hit its worst-ever level, with fewer than a third of people thinking it is the right thing, an opinion poll said.


Fans Throng for First Crack at New Game 'Halo 2' (Reuters)

Reuters - It takes a special kind of person\to stay up all night and stand in a line nearly 250 people long\just to buy a video game -- but for rabid fans of the first\"Halo" on the Xbox video game console, it was well worth the\wait to buy the new "Halo 2."


Ponting "dug his own grave", says controversial Test pitch curator (AFP)

AFP - A former India captain who prepared the crumbling pitch for last week's Bombay Test against world champions Australia defended himself by passing the blame on touring skipper Ricky Ponting.


Summary: Student Finds New Amphibian (AP)

AP - THE DISCOVERY: A University of Pittsburgh geology student on a field trip stumbles across the fossil of an oversized, salamander-like creature that lived about 300 million years ago.


Student Finds New Species of Amphibian (AP)

AP - A freshman geology student on a field trip stumbled across the fossil of an oversized, salamander-like creature with vicious crocodile-like teeth that lived about 300 million years ago, paleontologists said.


Google Blazes Lonely IPO Trail

Few experts who tried to predict how Google's much-antipated IPO would perform managed to get it right, and no firms have opted to follow its auction approach. By Joanna Glasner.


Toshiba Sues Hynix for Patent Infringement

In the latest squabble over patents between Japanese and South Korean electronics giants, Toshiba has sued Hynix Semiconductor #39;s Japan and US units, alleging patent infringement in flash-memory


WTO complaint filed against US, Canada

The European Unions head office said Monday it had filed a complaint against the United States and Canada for failing to lift sanctions against the EU over its ban on imports of hormone-treated beef.


11 banks under review for possible ratings cut--Moody #39;s

MOODY #39;S Investors Service said it had placed on review for possible downgrade the foreign currency long-term deposit ratings of 11 banks.


Target drops kettles from Salvation Army

Target Corp. has banned Christmas kettle donations in front of its stores, costing the local Salvation Army fund drive about \$20,000 a year, the organization #39;s area commander said Monday in kicking off its annual holiday campaign.


Telkom Welcomes Black Consortium As Strategic Shareholder

JOHANNESBURG (Dow Jones)--Telkom SA Ltd (TKG) said in a statement Tuesday it welcomes the sale of a 15.1 stake in the company to a black consortium.


RPT-CORRECTED-US #39; Al Gore starts sustainable growth firm

In LONDON story of Nov. 8 (not Nov. 2) headlined  quot;US #39; Al Gore starts sustainable growth fund firm quot; please read in fifth paragraph ... Peter Knight, a former campaign manager ... instead of ... Peter Harris, a former campaign manager ... (corrects surname).


System X takes seventh place

Virginia Tech #39;s  #39;System X #39; computer has fallen to seventh place in the Top500 supercomputer ratings, with G5 manufacturer, IBM, dominating the chart.


Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Released

The Mozilla Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving choice and promoting innovation on the Internet, today announced the worldwide availability of the Mozilla Firefox 1.0 web browser.


AMD signs foundry for 64-bit CPU production

AMD is to outsource AMD64 processor production - or at least a portion of it - the chip maker announced today. The move is one part of a larger deal struck with Singapore #39;s Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing


Fish and Wildlife Service delays panther protection plan

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has delayed the adoption of a plan designed to protect Florida panthers from encroaching development.


British hostility to the war deepens as another Black Watch <b>...</b>

THE British publics opposition to the war in Iraq has risen to record levels amid signs that the continued violence could be a major factor in next years expected general election.


Baghdad Car Bombing Kills 13 People Outside Hospital, AFP Says

At least 13 people were killed and 56 were injured when a car bomb exploded outside the emergency unit of one of Baghdad #39;s hospitals, Agence France-Presse reported, citing medical officials.


Ideas Stolen Right From Nature

Nature is pretty good at solving engineering problems, so designers are increasingly turning to biomimetics to improve their products and ideas. By Rowan Hooper.


Stop Trying to Persuade Us

A PBS documentary makes the case that Americans have tuned out marketers pitching everything from cars to candidates. The result: even more crass attempts to get through, and a fragmentation of American society. By Jason Silverman.


The Great Southwest Salt Saga

How an accidental oasis in the Mexican desert sank Arizona's \$250 million desalination plant. A case study in the law of unintended consequences. By Jeff Howe from Wired magazine.


Everything Is Green at This Fair

San Francisco's Green Festival is a cornucopia of environmentally conscious products and services, displaying everything from a corn-based disposable printer to hemp bars. Daniel Terdiman reports from San Francisco.


Life-or-Death Question: How Supernovas Happen

Lately, supernovas have become signal events in the life of the cosmos, as told by modern science.


Long After Kinsey, Only the Brave Study Sex

Scientists say one thing has remained constant since Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey's work: Americans' ambivalence about the study of sexuality.


Germs, Germs Everywhere. Are You Worried? Get Over It.

The fantasy of a germ-free home is not only absurd, but it is also largely pointless.


A Melting Glacier in Tibet Serves as an Example and a Warning

Compelling evidence from a remote glacier suggests "drastic climate change," according to scientists.


Japanese carrier KDDI to tie up with BT on data communications (AFP)

AFP - Japan's number two telecoms operator KDDI said it had agreed with major British carrier BT to join hands on international data communications services for corporate clients.


A Diabetes Researcher Forges Her Own Path to a Cure

Dr. Denise Faustman, who has cured diabetes in mice, thinks she has a shot at curing it in humans.


Key cable TV deal for Microsoft

US pay TV firm Comcast is set to roll out set-top boxes featuring Microsoft software, in a crucial test for Microsoft's cable TV ambitions.


News Corp. plans poison pill to thwart Liberty

WASHINGTON - Two of the world #39;s media titans may be getting set to square off in a clash that will have a wide impact across the industry.


Update 8: Crude Futures Change Little

Crude futures rose Tuesday as traders awaited US oil inventory data, and analysts said the market fundamentals were pointing to higher prices in the coming weeks.


Schwab ex-CEO to get almost \$10M

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Charles Schwab Corp. is paying David Pottruck, ousted as chief executive officer in July, a lump-sum payment of \$6.


Telkom welcomes BEE deal, shares soar

Following Monday #39;s announcement that a black economic empowerment (BEE) consortium had concluded an agreement to acquire the remaining 15.


DeKalb wins new Target center

Target Corp. Monday said it plans to build a regional distribution center in DeKalb - its first in Illinois - and employ up to 1,000 workers thanks to a \$9.


UK firms 'embracing e-commerce'

A minister hails progress on e-commerce after a study suggests UK firms are the third most sophisticated users of IT.


Blue Gene quits ivory tower

Fresh from setting a supercomputer performance record, IBM has announced it will make a commercial version of its Blue Gene system available for businesses and scientific researchers.


New game  #39;will blow past anything Hollywood has #39;

Microsoft #39;s Halo 2 video game launched in stores across Canada at midnight this morning, its accompanying media frenzy and record-breaking sales confirming blockbuster games are becoming as profitable -- and as culturally important -- as first-run movies.


P2Pers ask Supreme Court to reject RIAA ban request

StreamCast has formally asked the US Supreme Court to reject the request made by the Motion Picture Ass. of America (MPAA) and Recording Industry Ass.


Spansion maps out future for 8Gbit memory parts

Spansion, the flash memory joint venture between AMD and Fujitsu has laid out its plans to develop 8Gbit memory parts based on 65nm lithography.


Supercomputing Windows skips Itanium 2

Microsoft will support only x86 processors with 64-bit extensions when it releases a special version of Windows Server for high-performance computing next year, leaving support for Intel #39;s Itanium 2 chip to a later, unspecified date.


The Music Mess: Advantage, Microsoft

Imagine buying a CD at Best Buy (BBY ) only to discover that it won #39;t work on the CD player you bought at Circuit City (CC ). Absurd as it sounds, this sort of situation is the rule rather than the exception in the world of legally downloaded music.


Colts Finish One Stride Ahead of the Vikings

Two minutes 50 seconds on the clock. Tie game. The ball in Peyton Manning #39;s hands. Is there really any question? Manning led the Colts down the field, and Mike Vanderjagt


Sales of 'Shrek 2' DVD seeing green, possibly sinking 'Nemo' (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - The big green ogre may be about to reclaim his DVD sales crown from that little orange clown fish. Already the top-grossing movie of 2004, Shrek 2  is now the biggest DVD of the year after just the first three days of sales.


He's jazzed up over Couric (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - "You should see me blushing right now," says Chris Botti, speaking on his cell phone from Germany. That's because the jazz trumpeter, 42, is being pressed - gently, of course - to talk about new squeeze Katie Couric.


Two Afghan hostages phone home

KABUL, Afghanistan - Two of three UN workers kidnapped in Afghanistan have called home to say they are OK, officials and relatives said Tuesday, and one hostage said she expected to be released soon.


Another Buddhist killed in  #39;revenge attack #39;

Thailand - Unknown assailants on Tuesday beheaded a 60-year-old Buddhist plantation worker in the southern province of Narathiwat in an act of revenge for 87 Muslims slain in a government crackdown there in October.


Kidnapped UN hostages call home

KABUL - Two of three UN workers kidnapped in Afghanistan telephoned home to say they are OK and one expressed hope she soon would be free, officials and relatives said Tuesday.


Russian Troops Kill 22 Rebels in Chechnya Operation  Kadyrov

At least 22 Chechen rebels were killed by Russian troops in the separatist republic, including a man officials say was linked to the assassination of Chechnya s pro-Moscow president Akhmad Kadyrov.


#39;LoC fencing by India would complete in March 2005 #39;

SRINAGAR: Illegal fencing by India of Line of Control in Kashmir has been going in violation of agreements and most of the projected work is reportedly nearing completion.


Stocks Look to Open Lower; Cisco Awaited

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a  slightly lower open on Tuesday as investors stay cautious after  last week's three-day rally and await results from networking  gear maker Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO.O which will set the  direction for technology stocks.


Chunghwa Telecom earnings ahead of forecast (AFP)

AFP - Taiwan's leading telecom operator, Chunghwa Telecom, said it had a net profit of 43.45 billion Taiwan dollars (1.32 billion US) in the 10 months to October or 4.0 percent ahead of its full year target of 41.58 billion dollars.


Dlr Regains Poise After ZEW Slump

LONDON (Reuters) - News German investor confidence had  plunged to its lowest level in almost 2 years gave the dollar  much needed support on Tuesday and European shares eased from  6-month highs after a mixed bag of earnings results.


Dollar Steers Clear of Record Low Vs Euro

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar on Tuesday held almost a cent  above its record low against the euro, winning respite from  recent heavy selling ahead of U.S. trade data and an expected  rise in U.S. interest rates on Wednesday.


Dutch film maker to be cremated

The funeral is expected to take place on Tuesday of the Dutch film maker, Theo van Gogh, who was shot and stabbed to death in Amsterdam a week ago.


Bomb Explosion in Nepal #39;s Capital Wounds 38

A bomb tore through a government office in the Nepali capital on Tuesday, wounding at least 38 people in an attack police suspect was carried out by Maoist rebels.


Bottom-Dwelling Marine Life Found in Ga. (AP)

AP - Researchers working off coastal Georgia have discovered what could be three new species of bottom-dwelling creatures known as sea squirts.


Major Brokerages' Trades Investigated

NEW YORK, Nov. 8 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether more than a dozen big brokerage firms failed to execute certain trades at the best possible prices for individual investors, sources familiar with the probe said.


NASD Files Charges Against H R Block

The NASD yesterday lodged fraud charges against H R Block Financial Advisors Inc. for selling \$16.4 million of Enron Corp. bonds to investors without warning of risks, shortly before the energy trading company filed for bankruptcy protection.


Firefox browser takes on Microsoft

Few people get excited when some new software is released, especially when the program is not a game or a music or movie player. But the release of the first full version of a web browser called Firefox has


Pleat casts doubt over foreigners

David Pleat says Tottenham #39;s managerial problems have been caused by too many foreign coaches at White Hart Lane. The former Spurs manager told BBC Five Live:  quot;To understand how the game works in this country


Eagles pay for inability to stop run

Thirteen points in the last two games... not much of an onslaught from offensive savior Terrell Owens and his mates. Yet, with that influx of talent in


Vancouver Sun

Jason Bay proved this past baseball season he could consistently hit a major league curveball. On Monday, the Trail native proved he can also handle a soft-lobbed verbal knuckleball with suitable diplomacy.


Defense Lawyers Say Rapport with Milosevic Ruined

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The lawyers appointed to defend  Slobodan Milosevic in his war crimes trial renewed their plea  on Tuesday to be allowed to withdraw from the case, saying  their relationship with the defendant had been irreparably  damaged.


Mio 8390 smart phone

Reg review Windows Mobile 2003 in a clamshell


MS - NHS tie up unsettles Reg readers

Letters And a job offer for the brainiest woman


The definitive guide to PHP Power Programming

Site Offer Save 30 on 1000's of titles!


District Court, appeal court rulings clear enough


Firefox browser takes on Microsoft

Microsoft's popular Internet Explorer has a serious rival in the Firefox browser.


E-university's record 'abysmal'

The failure of the UK's e-university was blamed on weak marketing by the higher education minister.


Slowdown Forces Many To Wander for Work

Information technology workers face rising unemployment and are having mobility thrust upon them as companies change the way they staff computer-related jobs.


E-Mail Firms Seek Spam Solution

Representatives from America's largest e-mail companies will meet in Washington today and Wednesday to look for a way to reduce the amount of "spam" clogging the nation's e-mail accounts, but experts said a concrete solution remains months or even years away. -washingtonpost.com


'Phishing' on the Rise, But Don't Take the Bait

Jan Boldt can hardly believe the number of fake e-mail warnings she receives almost daily from crooks impersonating the security divisions at eBay, AOL, PayPal and other businesses. She usually deletes them without even looking.


Polar people 'will need to adapt'

The indigenous peoples of the Arctic are told their culture will be threatened by climate warming.


UK: M amp;S reports lower profit, reshuffles management

UK food and clothing retailer Marks  amp; Spencer has reported lower profits for the first half, and announced management changes as it tries to turn around its business.


Ad:tech Celebrates Industry Revival

NEW YORK -- Online advertising executives celebrated the rejuvenation of their industry from its dormancy following the dot-com bust, yet warned that marketers need to tread carefully in how they communicate with consumers.


Firefox browser fully released

The free Firefox Web browser, which has chipped away at the market dominance of Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer, has been readied for a full release including new features designed to make it more stable, backers of the program say.


How big is  #39;Halo 2 #39;?

Xbox game could make \$75 million in 24 hours, give Grand Theft Auto a run for its money. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - How big is  quot;Halo 2 quot;?


Summary: Yasser Arafat in a Coma (AP)

AP - HEALTH STATUS: Yasser Arafat is in a coma and his condition worsened overnight. Hospital spokesman Gen. Christian Estripeau did not issue a prognosis but suggested the chances of a recovery were poor.


Powerful bomb injures 32 civilians in Kathmandu (AFP)

AFP - A powerful bomb planted by suspected Maoist rebels exploded in a brand new government office block in the centre of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, injuring 32 people, police said.


Palestinian Delegation to Visit Comatose Arafat

PARIS (Reuters) - Yasser Arafat slipped deeper into a coma  overnight and his health worsened, a doctor treating him said  on Tuesday before Palestinian officials arrived at a French  military hospital for a visit Arafat's wife adamantly opposed.


U.S.-Led Forces Reach Central Falluja-U.S. Source

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. forces punched to the heart  of Falluja on Tuesday after fierce fighting with guerrillas in  Iraq's most rebellious city, a U.S. military source said.


SEC Considers Suing Ex-Lucent Officers

Lucent Technologies, the nation #39;s biggest telecommunications equipment maker, said yesterday that the Securities and Exchange Commission was considering suing three former executives over possible


Christmas assistance

Families who are approved will receive a Christmas food box and gifts for their children through the Angel Tree program. Those applying need to appear in person at The Salvation Army, 200 E. Ninth in Shawnee.


The new browser on the block

Imagine if everyone watched television using the same set, listened to the radio using the same audio system or surfed the Web using the same browser.


IBM regains No.1 supercomputer rank

Blue Gene L leads the group followed by SGI #39;s NASA installation and NEC #39;s Earth Simulator Center in the third position. NEW YORK: IBM, the world #39;s biggest computer maker, has regained its position at the head


Two-year Bluetooth roadmap laid out

Bluetooth short range wireless connectivity is to receive a number of upgrades over the next two years, according to the body that controls development of the technology.


James Lawton: Only Beijing can bury agony for Radcliffe

Paula Radcliffe got so many things right in New York. In winning another marathon she achieved all of her goals except the one that was beyond her.


EU, India sign strategic partnership deal

New Delhi (VNA) - India and the European Union on Monday signed a  quot;strategic partnership deal #39; #39; aimed at tightening economic and political ties.


Dining with the dolphin hunters

Paul Kenyon confronts the drive hunt fishermen of Taiji in Japan and the intermediaries who sell the animals to dolphinariums.


Can IT fuel clean energy technologies?

With crude hovering near \$50 a barrel, Nicholas Parker heads a VC group seeking out investments in "clean" technologies.


Photos: Invasion of "Half-Life 2"

Screen shots of the video game show tripods towering over crumbling cities.


Crude Oil Little Changed as US Inventory Gain Expected

Crude oil was little changed in London after falling 12 percent from a record two weeks ago as rising US inventories, steady imports and mild temperatures generated optimism refiners will make enough heating oil for the winter.


The dollar on Tuesday held almost a cent above its record low against the euro, winning respite from recent heavy selling ahead of US trade data and an expected rise in US interest rates on Wednesday.


Case centers on Saudi Arabia bribery investigation

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- The former chairman of Lucent Technologies and two other past employees likely will face civil enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with a bribery investigation in Saudi Arabia, the company


Computer gaming #39;s Steam-powered war

For weeks now, bits and pieces of Valve Software #39;s  quot;Half-Life 2, quot; one of the year #39;s most hotly anticipated computer games, have been trickling onto nearly 2 million computers around the world.


Tennessee, Kansas Begin At No. 1

Pat Summitt #39;s team took the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press #39; preseason women #39;s basketball poll Monday, the 11th time it has started the season atop the rankings - and first since 1998.


Mbeki tries to restore calm in Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST - South Africa #39;s president flew to Ivory Coast to try to quell the violence between government forces, French troops and civilians that has wounded more than 600 and killed at least 20.


UN Panel Begins Probe of Genocide Claims in Sudan

A United Nations team has arrived in Sudan to study if genocide has occurred in the western Darfur region, where fighting has displaced more than 1.5 million people.


Officials Attempt to Visit Comatose Arafat

Yasser Arafat is in a coma and his condition worsened overnight, a hospital spokesman said Tuesday, as Palestinian officials sought to visit their critically ill leader over his wife's angry objections.


EU Threatens to Go It Alone on Nuclear Fusion (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Union warned on\Tuesday it may go ahead and build the world's first nuclear\fusion reactor with whatever partners it can find if there is\no global deal to put the project in France at talks in Vienna.


EU Threatens to Go It Alone on Nuclear Fusion

BRUSSELS/VIENNA (Reuters) - The European Union warned on  Tuesday it may go ahead and build the world's first nuclear  fusion reactor with whatever partners it can find if there is  no global deal to put the project in France at talks in Vienna.


China in for Extreme Weather as Climate Change Felt (Reuters)

Reuters - China can expect more droughts, floods\and other extreme weather as it struggles to balance rapid\development with environmental concerns, a report on climate\change released on Tuesday said.


Pakistan Wins U.S. Praise Over Afghan Vote

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official commended  Pakistan on Tuesday for its help in ensuring the success of  last month's Afghan election and said the United States wanted  to accelerate and broaden its cooperation with Pakistan.


Australian Farm Group Announces Research (AP)

AP - Farmers said Tuesday they are investigating alternatives to slicing flesh from live sheep to prevent them from becoming infested with flies, after animal advocates urged a boycott of Australian wool to protest the "grossly inhumane" practice.


Anthrax Kills Nearly 200 Hippos in Uganda (AP)

AP - An anthrax outbreak has killed 194 hippos in western Uganda, wildlife officials said Tuesday, and scientists are struggling to develop a way to quickly diagnose and contain the disease.


Microsoft to end antitrust issue

Microsoft will pay as much as \$500 million as a part of settlement of the antitrust lawsuit that may be filed by rival software maker Novell, the company said Monday, within an attempt to end its antitrust fight.


Update 11: EU Head Office Backs ECB Warning on Euro

The European Union #39;s head office on Tuesday echoed comments by the European Central Bank chief, warning that  quot;excessive volatility quot; of the euro #39;s exchange rate against the US dollar could damage economic growth in Europe.


US Rejects EU That Hormone-Treated Beef Ban Is Justified

The US Trade Representative on Monday rejected the European Union #39;s assertion that its ban on beef from hormone-treated cattle is now justified by science and that US and Canadian retaliatory sanctions should be lifted.


GE plans sale of outsource business

General Electric Co. said Monday it will sell 60 percent of GE Capital International Services, its global outsourcing business, to General Atlantic Partners and Oak Hill Capital Partners, two US-based equity firms, for \$500 million.


EchoStar Posts Profit, Adds Subscribers

EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said third-quarter profit rose on an aggressive campaign to add more new subscribers.


British Bank Shifting 1,000 Jobs to India

Banking group Lloyds TSB said Tuesday it will transfer about 1,000 British jobs to India by the end of next year. The group will transfer jobs in its information technology and group operations departments


Lucent Reaches Tentative Deal with Unions

Lucent Technologies Inc. said on Tuesday it has reached a tentative agreement with the unions representing 10 percent of the telecommunications equipment maker #39;s work force.


Trade gap shrinks as UK exports surge ahead

BRITAINS trade gap with the rest of the world narrowed unexpectedly in September as goods exports surged to their highest level in more than two years, official data revealed today.


Arafat Worsens as Tension Grows Between Wife and Political Heirs

Yasir Arafat's wife, Suha, has used French privacy laws to keep the state of her husband's health a mystery to the world.


Novell Launches its First Branded Linux Desktop 9

Novell has announced its latest Linux offering for desktop computers. Christened the Novell Linux Desktop 9, the software will be the first  quot;Novell branded quot; Linux desktop offering supplied by the company following


IBMs Blue Gene/L is the Fastest Supercomputer in the World

IBM has brought the title of the world #39;s fastest supercomputer back to the United States for the first time in three years... IBM #39;s still incomplete Blue Gene/L system was officially named the fastest in the


Mozilla: The next Internet Explorer?

At the Office of Information Technology computing cluster in Perkins Library, junior Alexandra Oliveira was among the many students browsing the Internet.


Firefox browser available today

Mozilla Foundation #39;s Firefox browser will be available for free download today after 19 months of development, news.com reports.


Parakeets long gone, but DNA makes some wonder

EXTINCT BIRD: The last unconfirmed siting of a Carolina parakeet was in 1933. Pretty much all that remains of the bird are in books and its egg shells in museums.


Intel tops out server range with data-crunching Itanium chips

Intel has updated its heavy-duty Itanium 2 server range to include chips with 9MB of cache and clock speeds of 1.6GHz. The new processors comprise 1.6GHz chips with 9, 6 and 3 MB of L3 cache (two models, with


China homespun 3G unravels in trials

The future of Chinese 3G technology and how it is licensed by the government is in doubt today after it failed a five month trial.


Beckham takes football movie role

Footballer David Beckham will take his first major acting role in movie Goal!, in which he will play himself. Directed by Judge Dredd film-maker Danny Cannon, Goal!


Steelers won #39;t get too giddy

They have dispatched the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles to stake a claim as the NFL #39;s top team. Now the Pittsburgh Steelers could become the team everybody wants to beat.


How young Hughes impressed Saint

When Bill Shankly signed this young lad from Blackpool, we couldn #39;t believe the energy this boy had, he was always in the front of the queue at training.


Oklahoma Strenghens Number Two Spot In BCS Poll

It #39;s still a USC/Oklahoma one two punch in the latest Bowl Championship Series poll. In fact, Oklahoma strengthened its lead over third place Auburn in this week #39;s BCS poll; the Tigers were idle last week and have a huge game this week with Georgia.


Mbeki in African Union bid to halt new Ivory Coast clashes

ABIDJAN (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki was to meet his Ivory Coast counterpart Laurent Gbagbo, hoping to ease tensions after a weekend of violence that has evoked fears of a return to the conflict that has split the west African state for two


Kathmandu bomb injures 12

At least a dozen people were injured Tuesday when a powerful bomb went off in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. Police attributed the blast to Maoist rebels who have waged an eight-year insurgency in the Himalayan state.


Berlin marks anniversary of Wall #39;s fall

Subdued observations were held in Berlin Tuesday to mark the 15th anniversary of the tearing down of the Cold War-era Berlin Wall.


New browser takes on Microsoft

Microsoft's popular Internet Explorer has a serious rival in the Firefox browser.


ADV: Get a Great Deal on a Home Loan

More lenders, more options, more solutions. America #39;s Lending Partners can get you a great deal on home loans. Fill out one form and you #39;ll get up to 4 great offers from prominent lenders nationwide.


Stealing movies: Why the MPAA can afford to relax

Analysis Spinning the exploitation cycle


May Dept. Posts Lower Profit, Sales Fall (Reuters)

Reuters - May Department Stores Co. ,\parent of Lord   Taylor and David's Bridal retail chains, on\Tuesday posted a lower quarterly profit on disappointing sales\of dresses and home furnishings.


Marsh   McLennan to Lay Off 3,000 Workers

Embattled insurance brokerage Marsh   McLennan Companies Inc. said Tuesday that it will lay off 3,000 employees, or about 5 percent of its work force, as it struggles to deal with the fallout from a bid-rigging probe by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.


UK oil balance moves into deficit

The UK's oil trade balance sank into the red for the first time in 13 years in September, official figures show.


Race on to Build Fiber Optic Networks - Alvarion

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Broadband services using fiber optic  networks are expected to grow in the coming years with the race  now on among companies to develop this technology, the chairman  of Israel's Alvarion Ltd. ALVR.O said on Tuesday.


Court Urged to Hear File-Sharing Case

A disparate group made up of dozens of state attorneys general, labor unions, retailers, professional sports leagues and others urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to hear a claim brought by the recording and film industries against two Internet file-sharing firms.


Convicted Spammer's Bail Set at  #36;1M (AP)

AP - Bail was set at  #36;1 million Monday for a North Carolina man awaiting sentencing in the nation's first felony prosecution of illegal distribution of junk e-mail, or spam.


Euro reaches new high against the US dollar

The euro surged to an all-time high of \$1.2987 yesterday, putting pressure on Europe #39;s largely export-driven economic recovery and prompting European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet


EchoStar Earnings Nearly Triple in 3Q

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Satellite TV giant EchoStar Communications Corp. on Tuesday reported its third-quarter earnings nearly tripled as the parent company of Dish Network, the nation #39;s second largest satelite TV service, added about 350,000 new subscribers.


Stocks Seen Slightly Lower; Merck Down

US stock futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Tuesday as investors take a step back after last week #39;s three-day rally, with shares of drug maker Merck  amp; Co.


Race on to Build Fiber Optic Networks - Alvarion (Reuters)

Reuters - Broadband services using fiber optic\networks are expected to grow in the coming years with the race\now on among companies to develop this technology, the chairman\of Israel's Alvarion Ltd.  said on Tuesday.


Microsoft offers governments sharing tools

As part of its ongoing efforts to woo public sector customers, Microsoft Corp. has begun giving governments tools for collaborating and sharing technology information with other organizations so that they can learn from each other's experiences and cut development costs.


Mozilla Launches Firefox 1

Mozilla Firefox 1.0 has launched following a two-month preview that drew 8 million downloads of the alternative Web browser. ADVERTISEMENT.


Intel Rolls Out Single-Core  #39;Madison #39; Chips

Intel Corp. is refreshing its 64-bit Itanium 2 processor line with six new chips based on the Madison core. The new processors represent the last single-core Itanium chips that the Santa Clara, Calif.


Modernized version of Soyuz rocket launched

An updated version of Russia #39;s venerable Soyuz rocket took its first flight Monday, placing a dummy satellite into orbit during a successful qualification launch.


Mac-based supercomputer drops to 7th place on Top500 (MacCentral)

MacCentral - With performance almost double that of the Earth Simulator, in Yokohama, Japan, IBM Corp.'s Blue Gene/L on Monday was officially ranked first on the Top500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers. IBM built four of the top ten machines on the biannual list, which was set to be announced Monday evening at the SC2004 conference in Pittsburgh. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reappeared on the list, finishing in seventh position five months after dropping off the June list because of a hardware upgrade to Apple Computer Inc.'s Xserve systems. ...


Emlyn Hughes factfile

Born August 28 in Barrow-in-Furness, the son of former Barrow and England rugby league player Fred Hughes. After just 31 league and cup appearances for the Seasiders, signed by Liverpool manager Bill Shankly for 65,000, aged just 19.


Take it to the bank -- It #39;s USC, Sooners

College football #39;s goofy formula for selecting the finalists for the national championship game on Jan. 4 is clicking about as well as the University of Washington #39;s offense, right?


Sri Lanka keeper calls it a day

The 34-year-old decided to quit after being left out of the training squad for next month #39;s tour to New Zealand. He played 49 Tests and 189 one-day games, including the 1996 World Cup final when Sri Lanka beat Australia.


Marsh   McLennan to Cut 3,000 Jobs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Marsh   McLennan Cos. MMC.N, at the  center of a bid-rigging scandal rocking the insurance industry,  on Tuesday said it will cut 3,000 jobs and said third-quarter  profit fell 94 percent as it set aside money for legal and  regulatory expenses.


Armitage talks India with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told Pakistani officials on Tuesday that Washington wants closer ties with the Muslim nation, a key ally in the US war on terrorism, officials said.


Microsoft to skip Itanium with supercomputing Windows

Microsoft Corp. will support only x86 processors with 64-bit extensions when it releases a special version of Windows Server for high performance computing (HPC) next year, leaving support for Intel Corp.'s Itanium 2 for a later, undefined date.


Update: Toshiba sues Hynix on memory patents

Japan's Toshiba Corp. filed patent infringement lawsuits in Japanese and U.S. courts on Monday against South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor Inc., it said Tuesday.


Intel: Volume shipments of Montecito expected in 2006

Montecito, the first dual-core processor based on Intel Corp.'s Itanium 2 architecture, will not begin shipping in volume until 2006, company executives revealed during a conference call with the press Monday.


Before the Bell: Merck Fall, Sears Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Merck   Co. MRK.N fell  about 3 percent before the bell on Tuesday after the drug maker  said federal authorities are investigating circumstances  surrounding its withdrawal of pain-relief medicine Vioxx.


May Dept. Posts Lower Profit, Sales Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - May Department Stores Co. MAY.N,  parent of Lord   Taylor and David's Bridal retail chains, on  Tuesday posted a lower quarterly profit on disappointing sales  of dresses and home furnishings.


Music Surprises to Boost Vivendi Revenues

PARIS (Reuters) - A second consecutive quarter of surprise  growth at Universal Music helped boost revenues at French media  group Vivendi Universal, but future sales at the unit, home to  Nelly and U2, remained uncertain.


Lucent Reaches Tentative Deal with Unions

NEW YORK (Reuters) -  Lucent Technologies Inc. said on  Tuesday it has reached a tentative agreement with the unions  representing 10 percent of the telecommunications equipment  maker's work force.


Cablevision Posts Narrower Loss

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cablevision Systems Corp. CVC.N on  Tuesday posted a smaller third-quarter net loss as revenue rose  20 percent..


Two Palestinians killed in Gaza

Israeli troops shoot two Palestinians who entered a closed military area in Gaza, near the Israeli border.


Sales Help Narrow Loss for Sotheby's (Reuters)

Reuters - International auctioneers Sotheby's\Holdings Inc.  on Tuesday said its third-quarter loss\narrowed slightly on higher sales.


Marks  amp; Spencer Announces Shakeup

Troubled British retailer Marks  amp; Spencer Group PLC announced a management shakeup Tuesday as it reported lower profits in the six months ending Oct. 2. Chief executive Stuart Rose, who recently fought off


UPDATE 2-Marsh  amp; McLennan to cut 3,000 jobs as profit sinks

Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. (MMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , at the center of a bid-rigging scandal rocking the insurance industry, on Tuesday said it will cut 3,000 jobs and said


Halo sequel delivers on the hype

Halo 2 has the feel of an instant classic, with addictive gameplay and impressive graphics.


East Germany Becoming a Retro Utopia 15 Years On

The yellowing linoleum and faded wallpaper in the former prison of the East German secret police would be ultra hip in any German bar.


Dozens casualties in Nepal bomb explosion

A heavy bomb exploded near a government office in the Nepal capital, wounding at least 38 people. According to the police three men left a bomb on the first floor of the office of the Employees Provident Fund.


Euro stops short of 1.30 dollars as officials raise rhetoric

LONDON (AFP) - The euro wavered after failing to pierce the symbolic 1.30-dollar threshold, as eurozone officials expressed disquiet at the currency #39;s rise to record highs against the greenback.


Polar people  #39;will need to adapt #39;

The four million inhabitants of the Arctic will have to change their way of life if warming trends in the region continue apace, leaders have warned.


Freeney finishes with 3 tackles, 2 sacks

Maybe it #39;s true, as the old adage suggests, that the best revenge is living well. Just don #39;t try convincing Indianapolis Colts standout defensive end Dwight Freeney that


Slain Dutch filmmaker is cremated

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands Mourners in the Netherlands have gathered for the cremation of a Dutch filmmaker allegedly slain by a Muslim extremist.


Rebels Kill 45 in Attacks in Iraq #39;s Baquba

Insurgent attacks and clashes killed 45 people in the Iraqi city of Baquba on Tuesday, a hospital morgue official said. Guerrillas attacked three police stations and a river bridge


Musharraf #39;s options on J amp;K forward thinking: Armitage

Terming Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf #39;s recent formulation to resolve the Kashmir issue as a  quot;very forward thinking, quot; US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage today said he was  quot;very much interested quot; in the proposals.