SEC Probes DaimlerChrysler

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG DCX.N  DCXGn.DE said on Thursday the U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission has opened a probe into the automaker's compliance  with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which includes  anti-bribery provisions.


In healthy Indian job market, developers want it all

BANGALORE, INDIA -- As hiring picks up in Bangalore, India, the city's software professionals are again acquiring the spoiled-brat image they had in the late 1990s, when the dot-com boom increased staff requirements at Indian outsourcing companies.


Edward C. Baig: Personal Tech - Google Desktop Search a cinch (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Google Desktop Search a cinch; superb though not perfect.


Dollar Falls, Market Ponders China's Move (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar fell in choppy trade on\Thursday as traders tried to sort out what a surprise interest\rate hike from China meant for currencies.


Japanese high-tech manufacturers enjoy higher profits but outlook mixed (AFP)

AFP - Major Japanese electronics makers posted higher profits in the six months to September but reported mixed forecasts for the year to March on uncertain US economic prospects and high energy costs.


Governments can override charter rights in some cases, Supreme Court rules (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Newfoundland was justified in deferring pay equity payments to female health-care workers more than a decade ago, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled.


Yahoo Jazzes Up Mobile Search

Yahoo Jazzes Up Mobile Search\\Google SMS started serving search results to mobile users in the US just a few days back. Now Yahoo! follows it with even more comprehensive feature set. Google SMS is currently text based for the results; Yahoo! jazzes them up with maps, website icons, as well ...


Economy builds steam in KC Fed district

The economy continued to strengthen in September and early October in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions covered by the Tenth Federal Reserve District, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said Wednesday.


China raises rates to cool growth

China has raised its core interest rates for the first time in nine years, as the country #39;s central bank moves to rein in the booming economy.


Tribune earnings fall 33 percent

CHICAGO - Tribune Co. said Thursday its third-quarter profits dropped 33 percent, pushed lower by investment losses and the cost of settling with advertisers following circulation scandals at two of its newspapers.


Gillette #39;s Income Up \$475 Mln for Quarter

Gillette Co. (GN: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday posted stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by sales of higher-priced products such as its battery-powered M3Power men #39;s


DreamWorks Animation debuts today

Riding the tail of a shark, DreamWorks Animation Inc. arrives on Wall Street today in the most high-profile entertainment company initial public offering in years.


Google buys digital mapping company

Keyhole maintains a multi-terabyte database of digital images of geographic locations, culled from satellite and aerial snapshots.


Russia Postpones Launch of Soyuz-M2 Space Booster

The Russian military has postponed the launch of the Soyuz-M2 space booster rocket scheduled for this week. The Soyuz-M2 booster was scheduled to lift off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northwest Russia on


Study finds spyware, viruses everywhere

By Carilyn Shropshire, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Scripps Howard News Service. Natalia Rudiak of Carrick could not figure out why her trusted laptop was acting sluggish and sometimes unresponsive.


Bjorkman battles past Arthurs

Australian tennis player Wayne Arthurs has lost his first round match at the Stockholm Open, losing in three sets to Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman.


Football365 #39;s Quotes Of The Week

On the  #39;tackle #39;, the penalty, Gary Megson on gardening, Jose #39;s fuzzy math, Keggy practicing for the Bar, Souney provides us with a fireside chat.


Leeds holds board meeting to discuss takeover of troubled soccer <b>...</b>

Leeds United called a board meeting Thursday to consider a 25-million-pound (\$55.7 million Cdn) takeover by a British-American consortium.


Soccer: Milan #39;s 3-0 victory keeps Juventus in sight

ROME : Three goals in a vastly improved second half gave AC Milan a 3-0 win against bottom club Atalanta and cut Juventus #39; lead at the top of Serie A to two points.


Polish Woman Abducted in Iraq

A Polish woman has been abducted in Iraq, according to a videotaped message by Iraqi extremists. The tape was aired by al-Jazeera on Thursday.


British soldiers take up positions south of Baghdad

Hassan al-Jarrah in Najaf, Nadeem Majeed in Baghdad and Tribune news services contributed to this report. BAGHDAD -- In a move intended to free US forces for an expected


Armed group kidnaps 11 Iraqi national guards: website

A militant group has abducted 11 members of the Iraqi National Guard, said a statement posted on the group #39;s website on Tuesday.


Britons die in Jordan bus crash

At least six Britons are believed to have died in a crash in Jordan near the ancient city of Petra.


Kerry Calls Red Sox 'America's Team' (AP)

AP - Count Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts among those Boston baseball fans who have waited a lifetime to see the Red Sox win the World Series.


Delta Stock Up After Pilots' Deal Reached (Reuters)

Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc.  has\reached a tentative contract with its pilots that will save the\cash-strapped airline  #36;1 billion annually, sending its shares\soaring almost 25 percent on Thursday.


Stocks Fall After China Raises Rates

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday morning  after China's central bank said it was raising interest rates  for the first time in nine years, fueling concerns that global  economic growth may slow.


Campbell delivers win

ATLANTA - Let there be no doubt: The Auburn football team is the undisputed champion of the Southeastern Conference. And let it be written that Jason Campbell made it so.


Delta Stock Up After Pilots' Deal Reached

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL.N has  reached a tentative contract with its pilots that will save the  cash-strapped airline \$1 billion annually, sending its shares  soaring almost 25 percent on Thursday.


Gateway taps out photo, MP3 player beat

The PC maker is coming out with its own hard-drive-based MP3 player--a miniature unit that displays color photos.


Yahoo Search Cleans Cluttered Look

Yahoo Search Cleans Cluttered Look\\Yahoo Search has introduced a Google clone search page but who will see it? If you visit the Yahoo home page, you'll see a couple of hundred links to all their services such as Yahoo Jobs, Yahoo Dating, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Movies, Yahoo Stores, ...


Shrek 3: The Wall Street Years

Hollywood has a new star this morning. But you won't find this star on the Walk of Fame. Instead, you'll have to head 3,000 miles east to Wall Street, where the much-anticipated IPO from DreamWorks Animation is having its debut. -washingtonpost.com


Call for curbs on discarded fish

Newcastle scientists urge the EU to ban fishermen catching fish which are later thrown back into the sea.


San Francisco to Expand Wi-Fi Program (AP)

AP - The mayor says San Francisco plans to rapidly expand its free wireless Internet access program and will soon make free computers available at housing projects and community centers.


Voters Checking Out Other Sides' Sites (AP)

AP - Are right-leaning voters spending all their online time on Rushlimbaugh.com? Are left-leaning voters locked into the like-minded Talkingpointsmemo.com?


Aspyr, Wideload offer Rebel Without a Pulse details (MacCentral)

MacCentral - In late August Aspyr Media Inc. and Wideload Games first announced plans to collaborate on a new game release. On Thursday Aspyr and Wideload Games offered the first details about the game, including platform information and a release schedule. "Rebel Without A Pulse" is the game, and it'll be published worldwide for Mac, PC and Xbox consoles in the summer of 2005.


British-Irish national kidnapped in Afghanistan: Straw (AFP)

AFP - A person with dual British-Irish nationality was one of three UN election workers kidnapped in Afghanistan, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.


Oil Extends Slide, U.S. Inventory, China

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil extended its retreat from record  highs on Thursday, taking two-day losses to six percent after  an unexpectedly large rise in U.S. crude inventories spurred  speculative funds to take profits.


Spaniard Lara Stung Into Action at Volvo Masters

SOTOGRANDE (Reuters) - Spain's Jose Manuel Lara was the  latest to be stung into action on the European Tour after  another wasp struck -- this time at the Volvo Masters.


Update 2: Viacom Posts Loss on Blockbuster Charge

Viacom Inc., the media conglomerate that owns CBS and MTV, posted a third-quarter loss of \$487.6 million Thursday as its earnings were hit by a \$1.


Loss-making FEER goes monthly

HONG KONG - Dow Jones  amp; Company, which publishes vital business and financial news and information, announced that the Far Eastern Economic Review will change its format from a news weekly to a monthly magazine of issues and ideas, largely written by


\$7.4bn bid for WMC

WMC Resources is almost certain to be taken over after the Anglo-Swiss Xstrata group put Australia #39;s last major diversified mining company in play with a \$7.


Coke Enterprises

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Coca-Cola Enterprises managed to top its recently lowered third quarter profit outlook by a tad, but slumping sales and volume tugged its bottom line lower and should keep the bottler in the soup for the rest of the year.


Mystifying findings

In its first close encounter with Titan, a planet-sized moon of Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft has given scientists intriguing glimpses of an alien world with fewer clouds than expected


Red Sox end wait with surprising ease

ST. LOUIS, Missouri This was for the believers. For Ted Williams and for Yaz and all the others who spent a career beneath a boulder that kept rolling down a hill.


2005 Tour de France to start on French island, go through Germany

PARIS - The route for the 2005 Tour de France was announced by organisers at the Palais de Congres in Paris Thursday and will start with a 19 kilometre time trial on the French island of Noirmoutier and will also have two stages in Germany.


Total control: PM seizes the Senate

JOHN Howard yesterday ended 8 years of Coalition frustration by winning outright control of the Senate. His breakthrough came after Nationals candidate Barnaby Joyce


THEN: VHS v Betamax

HOLLYWOOD studios are locked in a battle over adopting a standard for high-definition Digital Video Disc technology, in an apparent replay of the 1980s struggle between VHS and Betamax video formats.


Stocks Fall as China Raises Rates

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday morning  after China's central bank said it was raising interest rates  for the first time in nine years, fueling concerns that global  economic growth may slow.


SEC Probing DaimlerChrylser

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG DCX.N  DCXGn.DE said on Thursday the U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission has opened a probe into the automaker's compliance  with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which includes  anti-bribery provisions.


No Alcohol Found in Ex-NFL Player Who Died (AP)

AP - Former NFL player Justin Strzelczyk did not have alcohol or drugs in his system when he died after leading police on a highway chase, authorities said.


AOL to Give Away Anti-Virus Software to Members (Reuters)

Reuters - America Online, the world's largest\Internet service provider, plans to offer its 23.4 million U.S.\subscribers a premium anti-virus software service, McAfee\VirusScan Online, for free in November.


Twelve dead, including nine British tourists, in Jordan bus accident (AFP)

AFP - Twelve people, including nine British tourists, were killed when their bus overturned and crashed into a truck near the ancient city of Petra, a Jordanian official said.


Close-ups of Saturn moon received

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft #39;s flyby of Titan, the largest Saturnian moon, provided scientists Tuesday with ringside seats to view the solar system #39;s


Russia postpones test launch of new booster rocket

Russia has postponed the test launch of a new booster rocket scheduled for Friday, the Defense Ministry said Thursday. The launch of the Soyuz-2 medium-size rocket from Russia #39;s


O #39;Neill tries to lower expectations

Martin ONeill today warned the Celtic supporters to expect the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions to lose more points this season than in the past.


AOL to Give Away Anti-Virus Software to Members

NEW YORK (Reuters) - America Online, the world's largest  Internet service provider, plans to offer its 23.4 million U.S.  subscribers a premium anti-virus software service, McAfee  VirusScan Online, for free in November.


UPDATE 3-Viacom posts loss on charges; sets \$8 bln buyback

Viacom Inc. (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (VIA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday posted a quarterly loss on charges from spinning off the Blockbuster Inc.


New Web domain names get preliminary nod

Two new Internet domain names -quot;.post quot; and  quot;.travel quot;  -ld appear on-line as early as next year as the Internet #39;s key oversight board announced preliminary approval on Wednesday.


Nationals eye greater party room power

The National Party leader in the Senate says his party will have more influence now it has delivered the Coalition a majority in the Senate.


Switchboard.com: The King Of Local Search\\Forget about local search with Google, Yahoo! or MSN. They don't have a clue. When it comes to great local search, Switchboard.com is king! And no matter how hard Google, Yahoo! and MSN try, when it comes to local search, they'll never even be in ...


'Pirates' kill Bangladesh crew

The bodies of 14 Bangladeshi fishermen are found locked in the ice hold of their trawler in a suspected pirate attack.


Red Sox Fans Exult at End of World Series 'Curse'

BOSTON (Reuters) - Thousands of bleary-eyed Red Sox fans  showed up for work on Thursday still stunned and giddy after a  night of celebrating something many thought impossible: a World  Series victory for baseball's perennial also-rans that put an  end to an 86-year-old curse.


Nortel delays financial report--again

Accounting scandal continues to drag out as company once again delays reporting results for first half of 2004 and all of 2003.


Xstrata makes play for WMC

SHARES in WMC Resources surged 36 per cent yesterday after it revealed it had become a takeover target for Swiss mining giant Xstrata.


Red Sox Fans Exult at End of World Series 'Curse' (Reuters)

Reuters - Thousands of bleary-eyed Red Sox fans\showed up for work on Thursday still stunned and giddy after a\night of celebrating something many thought impossible: a World\Series victory for baseball's perennial also-rans that put an\end to an 86-year-old curse.


Edwards' Down-Home Style Fills a Gap for Kerry (Reuters)

Reuters - Democratic Sen. John Edwards\wasn't born a millionaire, and he doesn't let voters forget\that.


Backman Exits Mets' Managerial Hunt (AP)

AP - Wally Backman pulled out of the New York Mets' managerial hunt to focus on his bid to get a job with the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Viacom Posts Loss; Sets \$8 Bln Buyback

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc. on Thursday posted a  quarterly loss on charges from spinning off the Blockbuster  Inc. video rental chain, but its shares rose on a  larger-than-expected stock repurchase and higher cable network  advertising sales.


Bankrupt U.S. Airways Posts Wider Loss

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bankrupt US Airways Group Inc.  UAIRQ.OB on Thursday reported a wider third-quarter net loss  as storms and high fuel prices hurt results.


Exxon boosted by oil price boom

Exxon Mobil becomes the latest oil firm to report surging profits, driven by crude's recent record-breaking climb.


Deja Vu as Florida Struggles to Hold Pristine Election (Reuters)

Reuters - Lawsuits, missing absentee ballots and\accusations of bias -- from afar Tuesday's presidential\election in Florida already looks like the Third World-style\fiasco of 2000 that everyone wanted to avoid.


Arafat in Serious Condition, Foreign Medics Arrive

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Foreign doctors on Thursday  tended to seriously ill Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who  for decades has symbolized his people's struggle for statehood.


Nigerian Protection Force Arrives in Darfur

EL-FASHER, Sudan (Reuters) - An elite contingent of 50  Nigerian soldiers arrived in Darfur on Thursday aboard a U.S.  military plane, the first of 3,000 extra African Union troops  deployed to monitor a shaky cease-fire in Sudan's western  region.


Delta Dodges Bankruptcy Bullet

A tentative \$1 billion agreement reached by Delta Air Lines and its pilots union late Wednesday seemed to come at a painful, but practical cost.


AMD rolls out PIC

It #39;s called a  quot;personal Internet communicator, quot; described as an affordable and simple way to connect to the Internet, and it #39;s being marketed by Sunnyvale #39;s Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.


Linux vendors hit back at Ballmer #39;s email

In a 2,600-word email sent to Microsoft customers and partners on Wednesday, Microsoft #39;s Steve Ballmer drove home the key themes of Microsoft #39;s  quot;Get The Facts quot; campaign.


Part of the ECT News Network

The holiday gaming season officially opened Tuesday with the release of  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. quot; The third in the immensely popular line of video games is expected by analysts to sell at least 4.5 million copies, sales figures that would put it in


Wakefield Knows

Before Game 4 of the World Series, Tim Wakefield was asked what Boston would be like if its Red Sox finally won a world championship.


China set for at least three Euro golf events

The European golf tour will feature three, and possibly four, tournaments in China next season. The new schedule, released Thursday at the Volvo Masters, begins Nov. 25-28 with the China Open in Shanghai.


Police: No alcohol, drugs in ex-Steeler #39;s system

Former NFL player Justin Strzelczyk did not have alcohol or drugs in his system when he died after leading police on a highway chase, authorities said.


Terrorists release new video of Hassan

BRITAIN was bracing itself for another hostage outrage in Iraq as a harrowing video of the Care International worker Margaret Hassan was released.


Virus variant targets Google

A new variant of the Zafi virus attacks Google, Microsoft, and the Hungarian Prime Minister


Burned before, Kyocera recalls cell phone batteries

Cell phone maker flags defects in three product lines. The recall follows a rash of flaming or exploding devices.


Logic Express 7 Ships

Apple has begun shipping Logic Express 7, music composition and production software that delivers professional quality audio and MIDI tools at an affordable price of \$299. With new Apple Loops support, software instruments and high-quality effect plug-ins, Logic Express 7 allows musicians to create, record, edit, and mix music. Oct 28


Altana suffers new setback in launch of blockbuster asthma drugs (AFP)

AFP - German drug maker Altana said that it had postponed its application for approval of its new asthma treatment Roflumilast in the United States because additional clinical trials on the drug were taking longer than expected.


National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Saturn #39;s mysterious moon Titan held onto its secrets despite a close reconnaissance by the Cassini spacecraft #39;s cameras and instruments.


Volvo Masters lacking former pedigree

Els sealed the order of merit a few weeks ago and, just like last year when he became number one in Europe for the first time, could not be persuaded to play for love nor money.


UPDATE 1-Mauresmo joins Zvonareva in Linz quarter-finals

World number two Amelie Mauresmo shrugged off a thigh strain to cruise into the last eight of the Linz Open with a 6-4 6-0 win over Marta Domachowska on Thursday.


Stuttgart Slip Again Against Ten-Man Bremen

VfB Stuttgart blew a gilt-edged chance to go back to the top of the Bundesliga on Wednesday night after leading ten-man Werder Bremen for most of a match they eventually lost 2-1.


Henman back in form

LAST week, Tim Henman had blood tests that revealed a magnesium deficiency after defeat in Madrid. Yesterday, however, the British No 1 looked fully recovered with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over


Russian upper house ratifies Kyoto Protocol

Russia #39;s upper house of parliament has ratified the Kyoto Protocol, leaving President Vladimir Putin #39;s signature as the final step to kickstart global efforts to control climate change.


Fleeing MP arrested in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe police arrested an opposition MP as he tried to flee the country on Thursday to escape a one year jail term for assaulting the justice minister during a parliamentary debate over land seizures.


Some Car Dealer Groups Hurt by Weather

DETROIT (Reuters) - AutoNation Inc. AN.N and two other  car dealership companies on Thursday posted weaker quarterly  earnings, blaming the hurricanes that hit the U.S. Southeast  this summer or costly incentives used to boost sales.


Harmony #39;s hostile takeover bid sparks court challenge in South <b>...</b>

A battle over a hostile takeover bid to create the world #39;s largest gold mining group has spilled over into court, with Gold Fields Limited (GFI) accusing rival Harmony of being in breach of South African criminal laws.


NZ interest rates rise

The cash rate in New Zealand now sits at 6.5 per cent after Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) again raised interest rates by 25 basis points, the sixth such increase since January 2004.


Shanghai Auto signs deal to buy Ssangyong Motor

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. China #39;s largest carmaker, yesterday reached a final contract with creditors of Ssangyong Motor Co.


Overseas Surfers Barred From Bush Poll Site

Washington, Oct. 28 (NNN): Since Monday morning, surfers outside the US have been barred from visiting the official re-election site of President George Walker Bush.


ICANN Negotiates New Domains

Internet users may soon see two new domain name suffixes in their browser window:  quot;.post quot; to identify the postal community and  quot;.


Exxon Mobil Profit Up 56 Percent

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM.N, the world's  largest publicly traded oil company, on Thursday said quarterly  profit surged 56 percent, driven by soaring oil prices and  strong results from refining operations.


Bigger than the Boston tea party

FOR the first time in 86 years, there was no last-minute home run and no fielding error to break the hearts of the Boston Red Sox fans.


Australia press for crucial win

Nagpur - Simon Katich fell one run short of his century on Thursday as Australia moved toward a third Test win and their first series triumph on Indian soil in 35 years.


Vice chairman wants Wenger to stay for life

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein revealed he hoped Arsene Wenger would stay at the club for life after the manager agreed to extend his stay at Highbury.


Spaniard Lara stung into action at Volvo Masters

Spain #39;s Jose Manuel Lara was the latest to be stung into action on the European Tour after another wasp struck -- this time at the Volvo Masters.


ICANN Negotiates New Domains (PC World)

PC World - Net overseer moves toward approving industry-specific.post,.travel.


Andhra Pradesh to export farmers to East Africa (Reuters)

Reuters - Andhra Pradesh plans to send hundreds of farmers to east Africa to cultivate farmland in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, officials said on Thursday.


EL-FASHER, Sudan (Reuters) - A contingent of 50 Nigerian  soldiers arrived in Darfur on Thursday aboard a U.S. military  plane, the first of 3,000 extra African Union troops deployed  to monitor a shaky cease-fire in Sudan's western region.


Kroll Defends Arrested Employees

International security consultant Kroll Inc. took out ads in Brazil's largest newspapers Thursday to defend five employees arrested amid allegations Kroll illegally spied in its probe of a bitter corporate dispute.


Oil slides again, dips below \$52

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Oil prices tumbled again Thursday as traders anticipated lower demand from economic powerhouse China on the heels of an unexpectedly large rise in US crude inventories.


GLOBAL ECONOMY-China rate hike could avert global slowdown

China #39;s hike in interest rates was a double-edged sword for many investors and economists. At one level, it suggested that Chinese growth is


Road Trip: University of Wisconsin

There are many reasons to jump around in Madison. For one, that scary good Badgers football team. By Adam Duerson. The Wisconsin Badgers football team raise their helmets during the start of the game.


Aetna Posts \$1.29 Billion in Earnings

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Aetna Inc. AET.N on Thursday posted a  steep rise in quarterly profit as the health insurer boosted  its forecast for the rest of this year and gave a 2005 profit  estimate above analysts' views, pushing shares up 5 percent.


11 Iraqi troops executed, video shows

BAGHDAD - An Iraqi extremist group has posted a video on its website showing the exceution of 11Iraqi troops who #39;d been taken hostage near Baghdad.


Pak. will not show  #39;unilateral flexibility #39; on Kashmir: Kasuri

: Both Pakistan and India need to compromise over Kashmir, or else the issue will continue  quot;for another 100 years, quot; Pakistan #39;s Foreign Minister said today.


Grocer recovers from strike

Shares of Albertsons fell more than 8 per cent to \$23.65 after the number two US supermarket chain missed quarterly earnings expectations and warned full-year profit would be at the low end of estimates.


Photo: Gateway's MP3 Photo Jukebox player

The PC maker is coming out with its own hard-drive-based MP3 player--a miniature unit that displays color photos. \


U.K. government report cites merits of open source

LONDON -- Open source software proponents received a potential boost from the U.K. government on Thursday with a release of a report citing the well-documented advantages on the server side, but also growing maturity on the desktop front.


Study: Firms see mixed results in outsourcing

Survey of U.S. and European companies finds that less than half consider outsourcing financial functions to be cost effective.


News: Bush Web Site Bars Overseas Visitors

The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has barred people outside the United States from viewing its Web site following an electronic attack that took down the campaign's Internet address for six hours last week, according to computer security experts.\


Digital Agenda: 10 facts you should know about broadband

President Bush and Sen. John Kerry's positions on the issue are closer than anticipated.


QuickTime, RealPlayer Patch Security Holes

Flaws in media players could automatically download malicious code, let hackers in.


China Raises Interest Rates for First Time in 9 Years (Update6)

China #39;s central bank jolted global financial markets by raising its benchmark interest rates for the first time in nine years to cool the world #39;s fastest-growing major economy.


DaimlerChrysler posts \$1.2 billion net profit

The Auburn Hills-based Chrysler Group made a profit of \$269 million in the third quarter, even though worldwide sales and revenues declined, contributing to a \$1.


Gillette posts \$475M US profit in quarter on strong sales of <b>...</b>

Gillette Co. said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose 14 per cent as customers traded up to its premium-line shaving and dental care products and it sold more Duracell batteries due to the recent hurricanes.


King Pharmaceuticals profits drop, may restate returns

BRISTOL, Tenn. Bristol-based King Pharmaceuticals is reporting a 74 percent drop in third-quarter profits, and says it #39;s evaluating whether to restate results because of a high level of product returns.


Limited Bush Web Access Drives Away US Voters Abroad

Less than one week before the US presidential election, incumbent George W. Bush is denying access to potential voters who access his campaign website from foreign locations.


New MySQL Ready to Serve

MySQL AB has made version 4.1 of its database software available to the public after months of testing customer production deployments.


FA to investigate Chelsea-West Ham violence after League Cup match

The Football Association will investigate the crowd violence that marred Chelsea #39;s 1-0 win over West Ham in the League Cup. Mateja Kezman, who scored the only goal Wednesday night at Stamford


Iran-UN Nuke Showdown Likely

Iran is unlikely to accept European incentives aimed at getting it to suspend uranium enrichment, diplomats said Thursday, raising the likelihood of a showdown with the UN nuclear watchdog agency next month.


Editorial: Faint hope in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has won parliamentary endorsement of a plan to remove all 8,000 Israeli settlers and the troops who protect them from the Gaza Strip.


Missing ballots heighten fears of renewed voting chaos in Florida (AFP)

AFP - The bizarre disappearance of tens of thousands of ballots has fueled worries over Florida's ability to avert a repeat of the chaos of 2000, when Americans were kept guessing for 36 days who won the election.


Ryanair to repay illegal subsidy

Budget airline Ryanair puts 4m euros into an account, in order to repay illegal subsidies should it lose a European court case.


Taylor Charged With DUI

Free safety Sean Taylor was arrested by Virginia State Police on Thursday and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and refusing to take the alcohol breath test.


D'Backs to Open RFK

Washington's new Major League Baseball franchise, the former Montreal Expos, is tentatively scheduled to play its first game in the District on April 15 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Redskins' Taylor Arrested on DUI Charge (AP)

AP - Washington Redskins rookie Sean Taylor was arrested early Wednesday on charges of driving under the influence and refusing a breathalyzer test.


AOL to give antivirus software away in Version 9

Citing the urgent need to protect its users from online threats, America Online Inc. (AOL) will begin bundling antivirus software from McAfee Inc. with the latest version of its software, AOL 9.0, according to a statement from the company.


Q amp;A on the new check-cashing law

A federal law known as Check 21 takes effect Thursday, and whether that #39;s cause for celebration or commiseration is a matter of much debate.


Shell Pleases City with Anglo-Dutch Merger

Oil giant Shell swept aside nearly 100 years of history today when it unveiled plans to merge its UK and Dutch parent companies. Shell said scrapping its twin-board structure


Apple #39;s iPod Photo the next big thing

SAN JOSE - Apple Computer has introduced its new iPod that allows users to view and share photos. At the same time it has opened nine new iTunes music stores in Europe, spurring its rivalry with Microsoft and others.


AMD digs into high growth markets with PIC

AMD has teamed up with partners in India, Mexico and the Caribbean in an ambitious bid to equip half of the world #39;s population with internet connectivity and computing capabilities by 2015.


SanDisk ups capacity, again

SanDisk has announced new, high-capacity versions of many of its flash card formats. New versions of both the miniSD and RS-MMC card formats now push the maximum capacity to 512 MB.


Australian govt #39;s senate win opens Telstra sale

CANBERRA: Australia #39;s government cemented the most powerful mandate in nearly 25 years by winning control of the upper house, freeing it to push ahead with reforms such as the full sale of telecommunications group Telstra Corp Ltd.


Hawks Cut Lonny Baxter, Donnell Harvey (AP)

AP - Forwards Lonny Baxter and Donnell Harvey were cut Thursday by Atlanta, reducing the Hawks' roster to 15 players.


Afghan vote count finally ends with Karzai a landslide winner (AFP)

AFP - Afghanistan's protracted election vote count finally drew to a close with President Hamid Karzai the landslide victor, but an official declaration of his win still awaited the verdict of a fraud probe.


Less Drinking Hurts Coors, Molson Results

NEW YORK (Reuters) - North American brewers Adolph Coors  Cos. RKY.N and Molson Inc. MOLa.TO, which have agreed to  merge, reported lower-than-expected quarterly profits on  Thursday on weak sales in their home markets.


Infocus: Trends in Web Application Security

This article discusses current trends in penetration testing for web application security, and in particular discusses a framework for selecting the best tool or tools to use for these increasingly common type of application.


London shares close higher, as Amvescap, Shell offset a slide in miners (AFP)

AFP - Leading shares managed to close just above the gain line, as an eight percent rise in Amvescap together with an easing of the oil price, offset a slide in heavyweight miners and a weak showing in New York, dealers said.


Iran-EU Talks to Resume Nov. 5 as Deadline Looms

VIENNA (Reuters) - Nuclear talks between the EU and Iran  will resume in Paris on Nov. 5 with Tehran facing a looming  deadline to agree to freeze uranium enrichment or risk referral  to the U.N. Security Council, diplomats said on Thursday.


AOL 9.0 Packs Antivirus Protection

McAfee VirusScan Online will come bundled with AOL 9.0 Security Edition.


Cavs Pick Up Option on Drew Gooden (Reuters)

Reuters - The Cleveland Cavaliers\Thursday picked up the team's 2005-06 contract option on\forward Drew Gooden.


CNNfn Network to Close by Mid-December

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CNNfn, the financial news cable  network owned by Time Warner Inc. TWX.N, on Thursday said it  will cease business operations by mid-December due to the  growing competitive challenges.


Explosion Hits Islamabad Hotel, Causes Casualties (Reuters)

Reuters - An explosion hit the Marriott Hotel\in central Islamabad on Thursday, causing several casualties,\witnesses said.


Marsh reported near settlement

The bid-rigging case against Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. likely will be settled for at least \$500 million, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.


DaimlerChrysler Returns to Profit; VW Reports Decline (Update1)

DaimlerChrysler AG, the world #39;s fifth- biggest carmaker, reported a third-quarter profit as Chrysler #39;s US sales rose. Volkswagen AG #39;s earnings fell a seventh quarter in a row on higher sales incentives while Fiat SpA #39;s loss widened.


Battery Sales Power Gillette

Net income rose 14 to \$475 million, or 47 cents a share, thanks to a 15 increase in sales at its Duracell battery unit, which benefited from the series of hurricanes that hit Florida and other parts of the Southeast US during the period.


DreamWorks Animation Shares Rise as Much as 41 (Update2)

Shares in DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the producer of the Shrek movies, rose as much as 41 percent as investors bet the company can use \$700 million of proceeds from its initial stock sale to challenge Pixar Animation Studios.


Update 1: Coca-Cola Enterprises #39; Profit Falls

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. said Thursday its profit fell 20 percent in the third quarter, as volume was hurt by bad weather, a sluggish retail environment and a turn away from regular soft drinks.


Viacom Pegs \$8 Billion for Buyback

Viacom (VIAB:NYSE - news - research) reported 4 revenue growth for the quarter, increased its dividend and put a size on the stock repurchase program long promised by CEO Sumner Redstone.


1,000 spyware programs and he didn #39;t know

INTERNET users at home are not nearly as safe online as they believe, according to a nationwide inspection by US researchers. They found most consumers have no firewall protection, outdated anti-virus software


Sox fans dress up to celebrate

(Hartford-WTNH, Oct. 28, 2004 12:15 PM ) _ Connecticut Red Sox fans are already grabbing up those World Series shirts and hats. People are swarming local stores to get a piece of memorabilia.


Spanish pair claim Masters lead

Sergio Garcia and Jose Manuel Lara lead the way after the first round of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. The Spaniards carded four-under 67s to take a one-shot lead over England #39;s Brian Davis and Scot Alastair Forsyth.


Brazilian player collapses on field, game suspended

Sao Caetano defender Serginho collapsed on the field after suffering an apparent cardio-respiratory arrest during the Brazilian championship match against Sao Paulo on Wednesday.


Valentine back in Japan for Autumn camp

Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine is back in Japan to take part in his team #39;s Autumn training camp. Valentine, who had been mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Art Howe as manager


Leeds stall takeover

Leeds United have asked for proof of funding after considering a 25 million takeover deal headed by Sebastian Sainsbury. The Leeds board met this afternoon to discuss a proposed deal from a British-American


China stops included in  #39;05 European Tour

SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- The European Tour will feature three, and possibly four, tournaments in China next season. The new schedule, released Thursday at the Volvo Masters, begins Nov. 25-28 with the China Open in Shanghai.


Three Foreigners Kidnapped in Afghanistan

Three foreign election workers were kidnapped by armed men in the Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday, government officials said. The workers were from Britain, the Philippines and Kosovo, the


AOL Files Lawsuit Against IM 'Spim' (AP)

AP - America Online Inc. said Thursday it had filed a federal lawsuit accusing numerous unnamed defendants of violating federal and state laws by sending bulk messages known as "spim" to instant message accounts and Internet chat rooms.


AOL 9.0 Packs Antivirus Protection (PC World)

PC World - McAfee VirusScan Online will come bundled with AOL 9.0 Security Edition.


Liz Claiborne Earns Up, Raises Forecast (Reuters)

Reuters - Clothing maker and retailer Liz\Claiborne Inc. on Thursday posted a 14 percent increase in\third-quarter earnings, helped by its acquisition of ENYCE and\solid sales of brands such as Juicy Couture.


Liz Claiborne Earns Up, Raises Forecast

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clothing maker and retailer Liz  Claiborne Inc. on Thursday posted a 14 percent increase in  third-quarter earnings, helped by its acquisition of ENYCE and  solid sales of brands such as Juicy Couture.


Kerry Hammers Away on Explosives as Bush Shifts Focus

Both candidates are making their final blitzes through several swing states in the waning hours of the campaign, delivering punchier and sharper critiques.


Shareholders OK Wachovia-SouthTrust Merger

Shareholders of Wachovia Corp. and SouthTrust Corp. overwhelmingly approved a \$14.3 billion deal for Wachovia to acquire the Alabama-based bank on Thursday.


Gateway Launches Photo MP3 Player (PC World)

PC World - MP3 Photo Jukebox features 1.6-inch color LCD and 4GB of storage.


It #39;s black  amp; red and signed by U2

To fend off increasing competition from other players, Apple Computer has retaliated with a secret weapon. It has introduced a new larger-capacity iPod with a colour display as well as a first-of-its-kind digital compendium of the rock band U2 #39;s songs.


Ballmer: Linux Can #39;t Compare to Windows

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has made a  quot;pre-emptive strike quot; against Linux, which is fast becoming a bigger thorn in the software giant #39;s side.


Dreamworks shares surge on debut

Shares in Dreamworks Animation, the creators of Shrek and Shark Tale, jump 30 on their first day of trading.


IDC: Handheld sales continue downward journey

The firm attributes the overall decline to falling shipments from PalmOne and to the withdrawal of Sony and Toshiba from the U.S. market.


AMD debuts low-cost Net device

Company's \$185 machine will debut in India, Mexico and Caribbean and feature browser, e-mail and word processor.


Photo 5 of 5: New forms for iPod rivals

The PC maker is coming out with its own hard-drive-based MP3 player--a miniature unit that displays color photos. \


Delta chief warns that bankruptcy is possible

Delta Air Lines #39; CEO is cautioning that a tentative pact reached with pilots for a billion dollars in concessions doesn #39;t guarantee the struggling carrier has avoided a possible bankruptcy filing.


New national check processing law takes effect Thurs.

(New York-AP) Oct. 28, 2004 - Don #39;t write a check you can #39;t cover now. A new check processing system went into effect Thursday that speeds the time it takes for a check to clear.


US 30-,15-yr mortgage rates lowest since early Apr

Interest rates on US 30-year and 15-year mortgages fell to their lowest levels since early April, spurring more consumers to purchase their own homes, mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said on Thursday.


GMH Communities, ELong, Build-A-Bear also debut

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- DreamWorks Animation traded about 30 percent above its increased offering price as the creator of the hugely successful  quot;Shrek quot; movies drew a warm reception on Wall Street on Thursday.


AOL 9.0 Packs Antivirus Protection

Citing the urgent need to protect its users from online threats, America Online will begin bundling antivirus software from McAfee with the latest version of its software, AOL 9.0, according to a statement from the company.


Special edition: Bono shows off his U2 iPod beside a regular model

You can listen to all your favourite music on it ... now you can use it to look at your favourite pictures as well. A new breed of iPod has been unveiled by Apple as it tries to maintain its grip on the digital music player market.


Yahoo follows Google with mobile search service

Yahoo Inc. has followed Google into the mobile-search arena, launching a service that allows wireless users to query its search engine over their handsets.


Tech giants launch mobile security specifications

Intel, IBM and NTT DoCoMo have launched a security technology for mobile devices which they claim will bolster m-commerce services.


Truth  amp; Rumors: Oct. 28, 2004

Vikings owner Red McCombs backed away from some of the comments he made to SI. Contrary to what he told SI, McCombs said he has made no decision regarding the 2005 option on coach Mike Tice #39;s contract.


Watson out, Gillick interested in GM role

Bob Watson has taken his name off the list of potential general manager candidates for the Washington baseball club. Watson says he met with Major League Baseball president Robert DuPuy on Wednesday and declined


CNNfn Network to Close by Mid-December

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CNNfn, the financial news cable  network owned by Time Warner Inc., on Thursday said it will  cease business operations by mid-December due to the growing  competitive challenges.


Washington's Arrington, Hall Doubtful for Sunday

ASHBURN, Va. (Sports Network) - Washington Redskins  linebacker LaVar Arrington and kicker John Hall are listed as  doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Green Bay Packers.


India unveils policy to help make nation 'Internet superpower' (AFP)

AFP - India announced the creation of a national Internet service hub to connect all service providers and boost web traffic in the country of one billion people.


Explosion in Islamabad's Marriott hotel, injuries: hotel employee (AFP)

AFP - Several people were injured in a  quot;big quot; explosion at the Marriott hotel in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, a hotel employee told AFP.


Kerry Uses Bush's Own Words to Call Him Unfit (Reuters)

Reuters - Democratic challenger John Kerry\turned President Bush's own words into a weapon on Thursday and\said it was the Republican incumbent who had jumped to\conclusions in Iraq, disqualifying him from being commander in\chief.


Hitchhiker gets 1m web listeners

A million people have listened to internet repeats of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the BBC says.


PwC: Firms see mixed results in outsourcing

Survey of U.S. and European companies finds that less than half consider outsourcing financial functions to be cost effective.


Natural gas modestly lower after weekly US data

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Crude-oil futures fell under \$52 for the first time in more than two weeks Thursday, reflecting concerns that China #39;s first interest-rate hike in nine years will ease energy demand.


China announces hike in interest rates for the first time in nine <b>...</b>

China announced Thursday it will raise interest rates for most deposits and loans by more than a quarter point - the first rise in nine years - in a move to cool down the torrid Chinese economy.


Congressional act shortens check  #39;float time #39;

Congress recently passed the  quot;Checks for the 21st Century Act quot; - also known as  quot;Check 21 quot; - and it goes into effect today.


DaimlerChrysler posts \$1.27 billion US profit after loss last year

Automaking giant DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it earned nearly \$1.2 billion US in the third quarter on good performances from its financial services division and its US Chrysler arm, rebounding from a big loss a year ago when it had a


AMD debuts low-cost Net device

Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday formally announced a low-cost Internet device targeted at emerging markets. As reported earlier, AMD #39;s Personal Internet Communicator is designed to provide Net connectivity


ICANN Approves .post and .travel

October 28, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Two new domains, .post and .travel could appear next year after ICANN (icann.org), the organization that oversees the Internet address system, announced their preliminary approval on Wednesday, according


No More Curse, But No Windfall Either

NEW YORK - The curse is dead. Last night #39;s 3-0 win by the Boston Red Sox ended 85 years of World Series futility. Fans celebrated into the early morning, as they no longer have to endure chants of  quot;1918 quot; (the year of their last World Series win).


Leeds: No deal yet

Leeds United #39;s board have asked for proof of funding after considering a 25million takeover deal headed by Sebastian Sainsbury.


Australia take firm grip on third Test against India :

Sports India: Cricket  gt; Nagpur, Oct 28 : Australia Thursday took a firm grip on the third Test against India as the home bowlers looked completely ineffective, allowing the visitors to build an overall lead of 415 runs with two days still to go.


International charity CARE closes Iraq operations

AMMAN, Oct 28 (AFP) - The international charity CARE has shut down its operations in Iraq following the abduction last week of its director there, Briton Margaret Hassan, spokesman Arnoud Hekkens said in Jordan Thursday.


Japan races against clock to free hostage in Iraq

TOKYO, Oct 28 (AFP) - Japan raced against the clock Thursday to free a young Japanese hostage in Iraq but had little reason for hope hours before the deadline set by al-Qaeda-linked kidnappers for his killing.


Probe launched into fatal Russian mine blast

An official inquiry has been launched into the deaths of 13 miners in an explosion at a pit near Russia #39;s border with Mongolia.


Gay Ordination: Obasanjo Backs African Bishops

President Olusegun Obasanjo has praised Anglican bishops from Africa for what he called their principled stand against homosexuality.


Arafat to Fly to France for Medical Treatment

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Ailing leader Yasser  Arafat, the icon of the struggle for a Palestinian state, has  agreed to be flown to France on Friday for medical treatment,  Palestinian officials said.


Exxon Mobil Profit Up 56 Pct, Stock Off

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest  publicly traded oil company, on Thursday said quarterly profit  surged 56 percent, driven by soaring oil prices and strong  results from refining operations.


CNNfn Network to Close by Mid-December

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CNNfn, the financial news cable  network owned by Time Warner Inc. TWX.N, on Thursday said it  will cease business operations by mid-December, after fighting  a losing battle against the far larger rival CNBC.


Stocks Down After China Raises Rates

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as  investors took a breath after yesterday's broad-based rally and  a decision by China's central bank to raise interest rates for  the first time in nine years hit shares of companies that have  benefited from its rapid growth.


DreamWorks IPO opens at \$39.50

On Wednesday, the company #39;s shares (NYSE: DWA) were priced at \$28, according to media reports. That was above the \$23 to \$25 range predicted.


Update 6: DaimlerChrysler Posts 3Q Profit

DaimlerChrysler AG reported third quarter profits of almost 1 billion euros on Thursday, rebounding from a year-earlier loss, thanks to a strong performance from a Chrysler division rejuvenated by new models like the 300C sedan and Dodge Magnum wagon.


Mercedes Dulls DaimlerChrysler's Profit

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - An earnings stumble at  DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes flagship tarnished higher profits at  the world's fifth-biggest automaker on Thursday and stoked  questions about the loss-making Smart compact's future.


Apple Share Price Tops \$50

Apple Computer #39;s stock price hit its highest level in four years, passing the \$50 mark. The company recently announced that it shipped more than two million of its wildly popular iPod music


Yahoo Builds New Mobile Portal

Yahoo! has announced the debut of a new suite of search services for mobile users at the CTIA conference. This new search offering enables mobile consumers to search for local information, images and Web resources on mobile devices.


George Bush Site Rejecting Visitors

October 28, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- According to reports by research and analysis firm Netcraft (netcraft.com), earlier this week the official Web site for President George W. Bush began rejecting visitors from outside the United States


AMD Introduces Low-Cost Net Access Device in India

BOMBAY (Reuters) - U.S. chip maker Advanced Micro Devices  Inc. AMD.N has introduced a low-cost Internet access device  that could cost just a few hundred dollars, aimed at first-time  technology users in the developing world.


Aussies dominate in Nagpur

A knock of 99 from Simon Katich lifted Australia into a commanding position in the third Test against India in Nagpur. At the close of play on day three, Australia were on 202 for the loss off three wickets


I Can See My House From Here

Google buys a mapquest of its own. Also: Sharp takes us to the future of television in 3-D   hellip;.  PayPal finds a way to make amends for mistakes   hellip;. and more.


Redskins Rookie Taylor Arrested on DUI Charges (Reuters)

Reuters - Washington Redskins rookie\safety Sean Taylor was arrested on charges of driving under the\influence of alcohol and also refusing to take a breathalyzer\test.


AMD Introduces Low-Cost Net Access Device in India (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. chip maker Advanced Micro Devices\Inc.  has introduced a low-cost Internet access device\that could cost just a few hundred dollars, aimed at first-time\technology users in the developing world.


New Technology Powers Fuel Cells (PC World)

PC World - Smaller, cheaper, more robust notebook fuel cells could be available in 2006.


CNNfn Network to Close by Mid-December (Reuters)

Reuters - CNNfn, the financial news cable\network owned by Time Warner Inc. , on Thursday said it\will cease business operations by mid-December, after fighting\a losing battle against the far larger rival CNBC.


Deutsche Bank Board Member Quits (AP)

AP - A long-serving member of Deutsche Bank AG's supervisory board announced he was quitting Thursday in a dispute over strategy, Germany's biggest bank said.


Israeli Soldiers Kill Palestinian Girl (AP)

AP - Israeli troops on Thursday shot and killed an 8-year-old Palestinian girl who was on her way to school in a Gaza Strip refugee camp, while Palestinian militants fired mortars at a Jewish settlement, injuring nine people, witnesses and officials said.


Tennis Star Magnus Norman Retires (AP)

AP - Magnus Norman retired from tennis Thursday because of hip and knee injuries after a career in which he reached No. 2 in the rankings and was the 2000 French Open runner-up.


Supporters say Truscott has been an inspiration of calm, quiet strength (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - It's the apparent absence of any bitterness or anger that makes Steven Truscott remarkable, his supporters say.


Redskins Rookie Taylor Arrested on DUI Charges

ASHBURN, Va. (Sports Network) - Washington Redskins rookie  safety Sean Taylor was arrested on charges of driving under the  influence of alcohol and also refusing to take a breathalyzer  test.


Sweden's Former French Open Finalist Norman Retires

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's former French Open finalist  Magnus Norman announced his retirement Friday, citing a string  of injuries for his decision.


Arafat's Health Reported to Improve

Doctors were arriving from Arab countries to treat the ailing Yasir Arafat at his West Bank compound today, though associates said his condition was stable.


Henman Battles Into Basel Quarterfinals

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - British second seed Tim  Henman came through an unexpectedly tough second round match  with South Africa's Wesley Moodie to reach the quarterfinals of  the Swiss Indoors tournament Thursday.


Barely a Contest Among 53 House Races (AP)

AP - The five candidates vying to unseat Democratic Rep. Sam Farr of California have little in common  #151; except their office address and the likelihood they will lose.


India farmers may be Africa bound

The government of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh considers plans to send farmers to East Africa.


IDC: Handheld sales continue to slide

The research firm cites a decline in shipments from PalmOne and the withdrawal of Sony from the U.S. market.


As iPod evolves, rivals strive to keep pace

roundup \Gateway switches on a combo music-photo device two days after Apple debuts its own image-ready iPod.


New Technology Powers Fuel Cells

Smaller, cheaper, more robust notebook fuel cells could be available in 2006.


Delta trading takes off after pilots give up \$1 billion

Shares of Delta Airlines are taking off in record trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning, after the company and its pilots agreed to a deal the parties hope will signal a return to better times.


Yahoo Expands Search Wars to Mobile Service

Yahoo COO Dan Rosenweig called the mobile effort a  quot;crucial step quot; in the development of relevant search products and said it is intended to take advantage of the growing base of its existing


Sony Pegs PSP Price Under US\$200

Ken Kutaragi, an executive with Sony #39;s game business, denied that competition from Nintendo DS influenced the low PSP price. He said the price was possible because about half of PSP #39;s parts, including the main computer chip, are produced internally.


Stargazers enjoy total lunar eclipse

The Earth #39;s last total lunar eclipse for nearly two and a half years didn #39;t disappoint. Baltimore resident Davis Sherman visited the Maryland Science Center with his 15-year


Smaller, more powerful PC fuel cell is on the way

A new fuel cell for notebook PCs, more compact and powerful than competing technologies, could be on the market in early 2006 at a price of around US\$90, its Japanese inventors said Tuesday.


MySQL Version 4.1 Certified as Production Ready

MySQL AB, developer of the world #39;s most popular open source database, today announced the general availability of MySQL 4.1.


Brazilian ace dies

Brazilian defender Serginho today died in hospital after collapsing during a match between his team Sao Caetano and Sao Paulo. Serginho fell to the ground in the 60th minute with the ball at the other end of the pitch.


Parker #39;s contract negotiations on hold

The Express-News #39; Johnny Ludden reports that Tony Parker has ended his contract talks with the Spurs. The Spurs have offered Parker a six-year, \$64 million contract, but he is holding out for a better deal.


Watson doesn #39;t want to be DC team #39;s GM

Bob Watson does not want to be the Washington baseball team #39;s interim general manager, despite the efforts of Major League Baseball officials to convince him to take the job.


Shrek Maker Dreamworks Charms Wall Street

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Star-struck Wall Street gave a  dazzling welcome to DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. DWA.N on  Thursday, sending shares of the animated film maker up more  than 35 percent in their market debut.


EU Treaty Signing Overshadowed by Buttliglione Crisis

Tony Blair will tomorrow join other European Union leaders in Rome amid the growing crisis over the appointment of a new Brussels Commission.


British-Irish Woman Kidnapped in Afghanistan

A UN election worker with dual British and Irish nationality was among three foreigners kidnapped in Afghanistan today. The three were seized at gunpoint in the capital Kabul this morning sparking fears of Iraq-style atrocities.


Israel #39;s Gaza pull outplan

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon might feel relieved at the support of his party members and largely his opponents in the parliament to the controversial Gaza pullout plan, but whether it means the end of violence in the region is a worry that will


Kidd Cleared to Do Some Work on Court (AP)

AP - Jason Kidd was cleared for individual noncontact drills to get his surgically repaired left knee ready for the Nets' season.


Arctic Birds Use Scent to Find Their Mates (AP)

AP - Antarctic birds returning to a nesting colony after feeding at sea sniff out their mates, literally. Researchers studying the behavior of birds called Antarctic prions found the musky-smelling birds were able to discern the scent of their mates.


Blast at Marriott hotel in Pakistan's capital, several injured (AFP)

AFP - Several people were injured in a  quot;big quot; explosion at the Marriott hotel in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, a hotel employee told AFP.


Framing the Electoral College

The framers of the Constitution may not have created the perfect system for electing a National Executive, but the Electoral College works. However, just as we still debate the virtue of a Direct Election today, so too did the framers at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.  Among the framers that spoke on the subject were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and Charles Pinckney. The latter three served on the committee responsible for discussing the powers of and the election of the National Executive. What did they have to say about a Direct Election and how did they come to choose the Electoral College instead?


CNNfn Shutting Down

CNN said Thursday it will shut down its struggling CNNfn financial news network in mid-December, giving up its attempt to compete with CNBC after nine years.


Henman Battles Into Basel Quarter-Finals

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - British second seed Tim  Henman came through an unexpectedly tough second round match  with South Africa's Wesley Moodie to reach the quarter-finals  of the Swiss Indoors tournament Thursday.


USC-UCLA Notebook: Killeen comes through in the clutch for the <b>...</b>

If USC was going to have an off day in special teams play, fans would be quick to predict it would be their third-year kicker as the culprit.


Delta dodges bankruptcy with labor deal

Deal cuts pilots #39; pay by one third, saves \$1Ba year, avoids bankruptcy at No. 3 airline -- for now. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Delta Air Lines #39; pilots union said early Thursday it had reached a tentative agreement


JetBlue #39;s profit plunges on fuel prices, competition

NEW YORK (Dow Jones/AP) -- JetBlue Airways Corp. said Thursday its profit plunged 71 percent in the third quarter, cut sharply by industry competition, record-high fuel prices and the effects of hurricanes.


CNNfn network to close

CNNfn, the financial news cable network owned by Time Warner Inc., said Thursday it will cease business operations by mid-December due to growing competitive challenges.


Auburn likely bound for Sugar Bowl

The Georgia Dome was a sea of orange Saturday night, thanks to the school pride being donned by fans of both Auburn and Tennessee.


Today's Pop Stars in It for the URLs (Reuters)

Reuters - British rock band Marillion has gone a step further. Since\striking off on its own in 2000, the group has used its online\site, http://marillion.com, to raise over 500,000 pounds\( #36;913,200) from fans to finance its last two albums and support\its first North American tour since 1995.


You're from WHERE!!!!????

When I recently called up my local DSL provider, there was no doubt about the location of the person at the other end of the line. Offshoring blog


Hartson double boosts Celts

A double from top scorer John Hartson - his 14th and 15th goals of the Scottish Premier League season - fired Celtic back to the top of the SPL table for 24 hours at least on Saturday afternoon.


U.S. Eases Some Travel Rules for Nepal (AP)

AP - The State Department on Tuesday relaxed departure rules for nonessential U.S. Embassy employees and their families in Nepal but reiterated its advice for Americans to defer travel to the Himalayan country.


Arafat to Be Flown for Treatment in France

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Seriously ailing  Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat agreed on Thursday to be  rushed to a French hospital as fears grew for the icon of the  struggle for a Palestinian state.


DreamWorks stock soars on Wall Street

LOS ANGELES - DreamWorks Animation Inc., the film studio behind  quot;Shrek quot; and  quot;Shark Tales, quot; went public Thursday on Wall Street, and its new stock immediately shot up 36 percent.


US Airways Reports \$232 Million Loss

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Bankrupt US Airways says it lost \$232 million dollars July through September, more than twice as much as a year ago.


JetBlue Profit Tumbles, Misses Estimates

JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said third-quarter earnings plunged 71 percent, missing analysts #39; lowered estimates, as it struggled with skyrocketing


Viacom Profit Rises on CBS Ads; Plans \$8 Bln Buyback (Update9)

Viacom Inc., the third-largest US media company, said third-quarter profit from continuing operations rose 12 percent, boosted by advertising gains at CBS and MTV.


Sony Announces PlayStation Portable Price

The PlayStation Portable, or PSP, goes on sale in Japan on December 12th. Prices for the United States and Europe are still undecided, although overseas sales are


Bush Campaign Web Site Blocking Foreign Access

quot;Last week #39;s simultaneous outages of GeorgeWBush.com and RNC.org prompted speculation that an electronic attack may have occurred, as the two sites are hosted on separate Web servers, quot; Netcraft analyst Rich Miller said.


Henman Battles Into Basel Quarterfinals

British second seed Tim Henman came through an unexpectedly tough second round match with South Africa #39;s Wesley Moodie to reach the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors tournament Thursday.


Backman no longer interested in job

com. Wally Backman, whom New York general manager Omar Minaya was scheduled to interview Thursday in St. Louis, withdrew his name from consideration for the Mets #39; vacant managerial position.


AMD introduces low-cost Net access device in India (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has introduced a low-cost Internet access device that could cost just a few hundred dollars, aimed at first-time technology users in the developing world.


Three Iraqis were killed in Falluja, London studies hostage #39;s <b>...</b>

The American army killed three persons today at dawn in a raid launched by its warplanes against al-Golan quarters in Falluja to the west of Baghdad.


Lots Of Interest in Lucene Desktop

\\I've made a few passive mentions of my Lucene  Desktop prototype here on\PeerFear in the last few days and I'm amazed how much feedback I've had.  People\really want to start work on an Open Source desktop search based on Lucene.\\* Current Status *\\I have a prototype implemented that runs from the console and accepts a given\directory to index and writes it to /.lucene-desktop.  It then has a console\searcher that returns the output in grep format:\\file:rank\\I'm trying to get keyword in context to work but I haven't had a chance to hack\on this recently.  I need another 30 minutes to integrate the Lucene Highlighter\and then I should be done.\\At this point I will return:\\file:rank:hit ...\\


Review: 'Konga' Great for House Parties (AP)

AP - Nintendo has created what could be the ultimate house party video game with "Donkey Konga." It's the first title designed to work with the company's new DK Bongo controller. The plastic device looks like a real bongo drum and up to four of them can be plugged into a GameCube.


AOL Files Lawsuit Against IM Spam

America Online Inc. said Thursday it had filed a federal lawsuit accusing numerous unnamed defendants of violating federal and state laws by sending bulk messages known as "spim" to instant message accounts and Internet chat rooms.


Millions in Americas Watch Lunar Eclipse (Reuters)

Reuters - Millions of people in the Americas\stayed up on Wednesday to observe a total lunar eclipse that\bathed the moon in a coppery red glow and gave scientists a\chance to study the Earth's atmosphere.


Scientists Hope to Find More Tiny Indonesia Hominids (Reuters)

Reuters - Australian scientists who found a new\species of hobbit-sized humans who lived about 13,000 years ago\on an Indonesian island said on Thursday they expect to\discover more new species of hominids on neighboring islands.


Ancient Star Dust May Point to Human Origins-Study (Reuters)

Reuters - Star dust found deep beneath the\Pacific Ocean has led German scientists to speculate that a\supernova explosion 3 million years ago might possibly have\helped bring about human evolution.


Scientists Mystified by Images of Titan's Surface (Reuters)

Reuters - NASA scientists studying images\from the Cassini spacecraft's encounter with Saturn's moon\Titan, said on Wednesday they were mystified by masses of\bright and dark material and surprised at the celestial body's\apparent youthful surface.


Royal Dutch/Shell Announces Merger (AP)

AP - The Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Cos. unveiled plans Thursday to merge its two holding companies after nearly a century apart, a response to a scandal over its downgrading of oil reserves. The company, which posted third-quarter profits double those of a year ago, also warned it might further reduce its proven oil reserves.


Iraq Expected to Dog Next U.S. President (Reuters)

Reuters - The Iraq war that might have been\President Bush's defining glory may instead turn out to be his\Achilles heel -- or Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry's\complex inheritance.


Mauresmo Joins Zvonareva in Linz Quarterfinals

VIENNA (Reuters) - World number two Amelie Mauresmo  shrugged off a thigh strain to cruise into the last eight of  the Linz Open with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Marta Domachowska  Thursday.


quot;Hobbits quot; Found In Indonesia

Exploding through the newsnets is the discovery of the remains of seven members of a tiny, previously unknown human species that survived until at least 13,000 years ago, and perhaps co-existed with modern humans right up to the present day.  Adult Homo Florensiensis, nicknamed "Hobbits" by the dig workers who helped uncover the remains at the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia, were about the size of a three-year-old modern human child, but had a brain one-third the size. Stone tools and pygmy elephant bones found at the site indicate that these "Hobbits" hunted co-operatively together in groups, meaning that they must have had language. "The whole idea that you need a particular brain size to do anything intelligent is completely blown away by this find," commented Dr Henry Gee of Nature magazine to the BBC.


Delta Air Lines averts bankruptcy with pilot deal, faces more <b>...</b>

NEW YORK (AFP) - Delta Air Lines appeared to have averted imminent bankruptcy with a cost-saving deal with its pilots union, but still faces challenges ahead, analysts said.


The  #39;Float #39; Is Gone As  #39;Check 21 #39; Goes Into Effect

SEATTLE - Next time you write a check, be prepared for the money to come out of your account in record time. A new law gives banks access to your money within hours.


UPDATE 1-UAL posts narrower third-quarter net loss

Bankrupt UAL Corp. (UALAQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday reported a narrower third-quarter net loss. The parent of United Airlines posted a loss of \$274 million, or


UPDATE 3-ArvinMeritor to divest \$1 bln in operations

Automotive parts supplier ArvinMeritor Inc. (ARM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it plans to sell two businesses that account for about \$1


CNNfn going off the air

CNN has reported plans to shut down its CNNfn network in mid-December, cutting 60 jobs in the process. Some of the financial news network #39;s programming will shift over to CNN.


Polish PM refuses talks on Iraq kidnapping

Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka said Thursday his country would not enter into negotiations with the kidnappers of a Polish woman in Iraq.


Militants  #39;kill 11 Iraqi guards #39;

An Islamic militant group has claimed on its website to have killed 11 Iraqi national guardsmen it kidnapped near Baghdad last week.


Kerry and Bush Congratulate Red Sox (AP)

AP - Count Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts among those Boston baseball fans who have waited a lifetime to see the Red Sox win the World Series. President Bush says he's excited, too.


DreamWorks IPO Surges

DreamWorks #39; IPO was expected to raise more than US\$812 million in the first IPO by a major movie studio in seven years. Earlier this month, the company debuted  quot;Shark Tale, quot; and it has become a hit generating


Carling Cup has its uses

For some the Carling Cup is a dull and meaningless sideshow during the English football season and there would be no tears if it was scrapped off the calendar.


Owens keeps focus amid endless sideshows

Press conference day. The cameras line up and point at Terrell Owens and there Owens sits with a smile on his face, baseball cap on backwards with terrellowens.


Lafleur says locked out league should declare bankruptcy, start <b>...</b>

DARTMOUTH, NS (CP) - Hockey legend Guy Lafleur believes the National Hockey League should declare bankruptcy and start over again.


PM #39;s Senate win opens Telstra sale

CANBERRA - Australia #39;s Government cemented the most powerful mandate in nearly 25 years by winning control of the Upper House, freeing it to push ahead with reforms such as the full sale of telecommunications group Telstra.


Remorse-stricken Norwegian pays hotel bill 24 years late (AFP)

AFP - A remorse-stricken Norwegian has finally settled a hotel bill 24 years after he decamped without paying, the management of the Hotel Clarion in the city of Kristiansand said.


DreamWorks Animation Charms Wall Street

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Star-struck Wall Street gave a  dazzling welcome to DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. on Thursday,  sending shares of the animated film maker up more than 35  percent in their market debut.


CNNfn Network to Close by Mid-December

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CNNfn, the financial news cable  network owned by Time Warner Inc., on Thursday said it will  cease operating by mid-December, after fighting a losing battle  against the far larger rival CNBC.


OPEC asks US to tap its reserve

OPEC #39;s president said yesterday the United States should tap into its emergency petroleum reserve to help lower oil prices.  quot;We have asked the United States to use their oil reserves


UPDATE 2-UAL posts narrower loss despite higher fuel costs

Bankrupt UAL Corp. (UALAQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) parent of United Airlines, on Thursday reported a narrower third-quarter net loss even though fuel costs rose more than 56 percent for the world #39;s No.


Yahoo Takes Search to the Airwaves (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) is rolling out wireless search capabilities, extending the Internet portal's desktop services to the mobile masses and attempting to hold off the challenge from search-engine giant Google.


Apple Share Price Tops  #36;50 (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Wall Street apparently has rewarded Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), both for its fiscal 2004 fourth-quarter numbers and for its latest iPod and iTunes offerings: Apple's share price as of midday Thursday is just over US #36;50, its highest price in four years, and almost  #36;12 higher than its average share price the previous month.


Ballmer: Linux Can't Compare to Windows (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - With CEO Steve Ballmer as the point man, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has taken the\offensive in its ongoing confrontation with Linux and the open-source\community.


Novell responds to Microsoft email

Novell, responding to Steve Ballmer #39;s latest attack on Linux, is accusing Microsoft of selectively using biased reports to back up its claims.


Low Price Set for Sony Games Console

Sony has set a price of 19,800 yen (US\$186) for its new multimedia handheld games console, the Playstation Portable -- a much lower price than analysts had predicted.


New Video Game Stirs Up Controversy

It #39;s a long way from pac-man.  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas quot;, the latest installment of the popular criminal craze video game, is now on the streets firing up new debate.


SOE to launch web-based community service

Station Players will allow Sony #39;s online MMO customers to meet and greet online; set to launch alongside EverQuest II. Sony Online Entertainment today announced a Web-based service that will allow players


Individual acts undermining union #39;s argument

In a pitched battled with the league #39;s owners over a new collective bargaining agreement, NHL players have, for the most part, presented a strong, united front that suggests it will be a very


Arafat to fly to Paris for urgent medical treatment

Ramallah, West Bank: Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is to fly to France from his West Bank headquarters to treat what doctors have described as a potentially fatal blood disorder.


Coors' Glass Half Full

The brewery, struggling with domestic weakness, falls short of its earnings target.


Cardinal's Good News: No News

Cardinal Health took a major step toward rehabilitating itself with the release of its 10-K.


Is Verizon's Call Waiting?

Wireless revenues make up for lackluster landlines, but the industry at large is still on hold.


Asking Is Too Much for Jeeves

An unsatisfactory conference call and disappointing forecasts send the search engine's shares tumbling.


CNNfn Network to Close by Mid-December

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CNNfn, the financial news cable  network owned by Time Warner Inc. TWX.N, on Thursday said it  will cease operating by mid-December, after fighting a losing  battle against the far larger rival CNBC.


Delta: Workers Sigh With Relief

Workers at Delta Air Lines breathed a sigh of relief Thursday after hearing the news the airline #39;s pilots union agreed to \$1 billion in wage and benefits concessions.


ArvinMeritor to sell some operations

ArvinMeritor Inc. (NYSE: ARM), a Troy, Mich.-based auto parts manufacturer, announced Thursday that it plans to divest its interest in two businesses.


Cassini Probe Illuminates Saturn #39;s Moon

The photos sent back from the international Cassini spacecraft were taken during a flyby that took it within 745 miles of Titan. Scientists at NASA #39;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory declared themselves


ICANN Moves To Approve  #39;.travel #39; and  #39;.post #39;

The two new names reflect a bit of a shift in the naming structure, since they are designed for specific business or interest groups.


EverQuest II dated

Sony Online Entertainment today announced that EverQuest II, the long-awaited sequel to SOE #39;s massively multiplayer online role-playing game, will ship simultaneously to North American and European retail stores on November 8. Four years in development


Schilling coming to Verizon with President Bush

Red Sox pitching ace Curt Schilling will accompany President George W. Bush to his campaign stops in Manchester and Portsmouth on Friday.


Kezman Vows to Hit the Goal Trail

Mateja Kezman believes he can go on a goalscoring spree after finally opening his account for Chelsea. The former PSV Eindhoven striker scored the matchwinner in the 57th minute


Henman manages to see off Moodie

Britain #39;s Tim Henman had to work hard before overcoming South African Wesley Moodie in the second round of the Swiss Indoors in Basle.


Redskins #39; Taylor Arrested on DUI Charge

Photo released Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 by the Fairfax County, Va. Police Department of Washington Redskins rookie Sean Taylor who was arrested Thursday on charges of driving under the influence and refusing


Iraq ; Margaret Hassan calla upon Britain to quit Iraq

Iraq News, DUBAI - Iraqi-British hostage Margaret Hassan has again urged Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq and also to free Iraqi women prisoners, Al Jazeera television reports.


Zim parly upholds jail sentence

Harare - The Zimbabwean parliament on Thursday voted to uphold a prison sentence on leading opposition white lawmaker Roy Bennett for shoving Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa to the ground during a heated debate in May.


Oil Slumps Below \$51 a Barrel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices extended a two-day slide on  Thursday that has sliced more than 8 percent from the cost of a  barrel, as rising U.S. crude supplies eased fears of a winter  fuel crunch and China moved to slow its runaway economic  growth.


Liquid 'suggested' on Titan

Scientists examining pictures sent back from the Cassini spacecraft think they may be closer to showing there is liquid on Saturn's moon Titan.


China Hikes Interest Rates

China's central bank on Thursday raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade, signaling deepening unease with the breakneck pace of development and an intent to reign in a construction boom now sowing fears of runaway inflation.


Flaws found in Windows-based media players

Microsoft Windows users need to watch out for several flaws in non-Microsoft media players.


Brazil Race Debrief: Fernandos sterling drive

Once more, the eighteenth race of the season provided a perfect illustration of the young Spaniards tenacity and never-say-die spirit. Heres how


Turmoil Clouds EU Constitution Ceremony (AP)

AP - Incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday sought to ease conflict over his proposed executive team, as the turmoil threatened to cloud solemn ceremonies for the signing of the European Union's proposed constitution.


Ivory Coast Rebels Warn War Could Start Again

BOUAKE, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - Rebels in Ivory Coast said  on Thursday they were withdrawing from a long-delayed  disarmament process, warning that the war that broke out in the  world's top cocoa grower in 2002 could start again soon.


AOL, E-Mail Companies Sue Spammers

The nation's largest e-mail providers today filed a new round of lawsuits against Internet spammers allegedly responsible for shoveling millions of junk e-mail messages into computer users' in-boxes and their instant messaging screens. -washingtonpost.com


Spitzer Denies Wall Street Journal Report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Eliot  Spitzer, who is suing insurance broker Marsh   McLennan Cos.  MMC.N on fraud and bid-rigging charges, said on Thursday  negotiations with the company have just begun and no settlement  value has yet been discussed.


Delta still not out of the woods in terms of avoiding bankruptcy

Delta Air Lines Inc. has a tentative pilot deal on concessions and much-needed breathing room. But it has not detailed the progress of its key debt restructuring efforts.


Stocks Extend Rally As Oil Prices Plummet

Stocks extended their rally for a second session Wednesday as investors expressed relief over plummeting oil prices following a government report that showed a build in crude inventories.


China raises interest rates for first time in nine years

Beijing, Oct. 28 (PTI): China today raised its interest rates for the first time in nine years to consolidate macro economic adjustment and ensure healthy growth of the economy, the apex bank said here.


Ovitz: Disney Execs Knew of Agency Pact

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Michael Ovitz, Walt Disney Co. #39;s former president, said Thursday it was  quot;common knowledge quot; while he was at Disney that he was receiving payments for selling his stake in the talent agency he co-founded.


DaimlerChrysler reports \$1.2 billion profit after loss last year

Bolstered by strong sales of new models, Chrysler earned \$269 million in the third quarter, up from \$171 million a year ago, outperforming its larger US rivals in North America.


Fiat #39;s Overall Loss Widens

Fiat SpA #39;s overall net loss widened in the third quarter, and the company #39;s key auto unit slightly narrowed its losses, the Italian automaker said Thursday.


Yahoo Mobile Offers Search on the Go

Yahoo #39;s new Mobile Internet service lets users obtain localized search results on specific businesses, access maps, and make calls from the results page.


AMD Hopes PIC Unlocks High-Growth Markets

quot;The PIC is being sold to consumers through service providers, like VSNL, which is a different approach for computing devices, quot; said Shane Rau of IDC.


WiMax: Latest trend, or hype?

SAN FRANCISCO: At virtually every turn, Intel Corp executives are heaping praise on an emerging, long-range wireless technology known as WiMAX, which can blanket entire cities with high-speed Internet access.


Intel, IBM , DoCoMo push mobile device security

LONDON - Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo, Intel and IBM have started promoting a jointly developed specification for increasing the security of mobile commerce applications.


Enjoy it while you have it, Red Sox Nation

It looks like the Ghost of the Babe can now sleep forever. Last night the Boston Red Sox fully exorcized The Curse of the Bambino.


2005 Tour route is announced

With a single individual time trial on the penultimate day in St Etienne and fewer finishes at high altitude, July #39;s Tour could be a little less demanding than in recent years and give the likes of Jan Ullrich and Joseba Beloki more recovery time.


Sixers exercise Salmons #39; option

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Guard John Salmons had his fourth-year option exercised by the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, keeping him with the club through the 2005-06 season.


Coaches share mutual respect

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has won two of the past three Super Bowls, but he may be the only coach in the NFL who has motivated his team by employing Boston Celtics great Bill Russell and cartoon characters.


Mum #39;s the word

The tantalizing topic of Terrell Owens was dangled before the Ravens #39; ravenous defense Wednesday. Instead, they focused on facing an Eagles offense that #39;s eating the league alive.


New Washington Stadium Will Cost More, Mayor Told (Reuters)

Reuters - A new stadium for Major League\Baseball in Washington D.C. will cost around  #36;90 million more\than the mayor expects, the city's independent chief financial\officer told the City Council Thursday.


Russian mine explosion kills 13

Thirteen miners have been killed in an explosion in a coal mine in Siberia, according to Russian officials. The Emergencies Ministry said 90 miners working in the Listvyazhnaya mine in the Kuzbass coalfield had now been rescued, including 23 injured.


Zimbabwe MP arrested over brawl

A Zimbabwe opposition MP who assaulted a minister in parliament has been arrested trying to leave the country. A parliamentary committee recommended on Wednesday that Roy Bennett be jailed for a year after


Delta's Stock Takes Off After Pilot Deal

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL.N  jumped on Thursday after the company and its pilots union  reached a tentative contract that will save the cash-strapped  carrier \$1 billion a year.


Mauresmo, Sugiyama Reach Quarterfinals (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo reached the quarterfinals of the Generali Ladies Open by beating Polish teenager Marta Domachovska 6-4, 6-0 Thursday.


Strong inventories send crude oil prices lower

the steepest one-week plunge since the post September 11 period -- caught energy market observers by surprise. Speculators, who


Investors Stirred, Not Shaken by China (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. investors, spooked early on\Thursday by fears that China's first interest rate hike in\nearly a decade would cool the country's booming economy,\recovered their nerve in midday trading on the view that any\threat to American manufacturers would be short-lived.


Big Hurt Remaining with White Sox for 2005

CHICAGO (Sports Network) - Chicago White Sox slugger Frank  Thomas will remain with the team for 2005 after he exercised an  \$8 million option in his contract.


Kerry and Bush Tangle on Explosives, Character (Reuters)

Reuters - Democratic Sen. John Kerry attacked\President Bush's "shifting explanations" on missing explosives\in Iraq on Thursday, but Bush said Kerry lacked the conviction\and consistency to lead the nation at a time of war.


Arafat to Be Flown for Treatment in France

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Gravely ill Palestinian  leader Yasser Arafat agreed on Thursday to be rushed to a  French hospital as fears grew for the icon of the struggle for  a Palestinian state.


CNNfn going off the air

NEW YORK - CNN will shut down its CNNfn financial news network in mid-December after nine years on the air. Available to about 30 million US households, CNNfn could also be seen in Canada by viewers with grey market satellite dishes.


Ballmer Takes Anti-Linux Campaign to IT Executive E-mail List

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the company #39;s anti-Linux campaign to its IT executive e-mail list on Wednesday afternoon, with a 2,600-word message that restated Microsoft #39;s well-worn case against open source software.


French Market Watchdog Weighs Vivendi (AP)

AP - France's market watchdog questioned the current and former heads of Vivendi Universal SA on Thursday in a final hearing before it decides on sanctions for misleading financial communications allegedly published by the company between 2000 and 2002.


Informer (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Xinhua Financial Network, affiliate of the Chinese government's Xinhua propaganda arm, has asked a New York federal court to block an InternalRevenue Service summons for records concerning Loretta Fredy Bush (no kin to W.), an expatriate U.S. entrepreneur from Utah who has overseen XFN's overseas expansion (Feb. 16). The summons seeks records from United Business Media, the British parent of PRNewswire, which also owns part of XFN. ...


Location, Location, Location (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - The latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances shows that Americans invest their taxable accounts and their tax-deferred accounts--their 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts--almost identically, devoting just over two-thirds of each to stocks. Those who do this are stupid. They should put bonds into the sheltered accounts and stocks into the taxable accounts.


Penny-Pinched (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Faced with a choice between quality and quantity, FAMILY DOLLAR (27, FDO) chose the latter. The decision isn't paying off. A fast-growing, 5,500-store retailer that sells most of its wares (food, housewares, toys) for less than  #36;10, Family Dollar suffers from  understocked and disheveled outlets.


Other Comments (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - China is embarking on its first full-fledged United Nations peacekeeping mission. A group of 125 Chinese police officers will soon arrive in Haiti. The Carib-bean-bound officers of the People's Armed Police were rigorously chosen. During their three-month training, they were given lessons in French (but not Creole, the language most commonly used in Haiti). More importantly, they were brought up to speed on international norms of peacekeeping, with instructions on how to maintain order, diplomatic protocols and human rights.


The Good Old Days (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - My favorite gadget isn't to be found in the collection featured on the cover. Bruce Upbin, who put these vignettes together, wanted something newfangled, and the Singer model 201 sewing machine I got from a second-hand shop didn't qualify. But it's quite a marvel of mechanical ingenuity and as deserving of a testimonial as those cell phones and iPod docking stations (see p. 72).


Dialing for Tech Dollars (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Selling a  #36;1 million server software requires more finesse than selling a Crock-Pot, right? Maybe not. Some of the biggest names in technology, like Cisco Systems, Microsoft, BEA Systems and PeopleSoft, now use a tactic traditionally reserved for unwitting consumers after 6 p.m.: the cold call.


Nigerian soldiers head to Sudan's troubled Darfur region (AFP)

AFP - A US Air Force transport plane landed at El-Fashir airport in northern Darfur bringing the first Nigerian contingent of a reinforced African Union truce-monitoring force to the troubled region, officials said.


Bench-Pressed (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Benchmarks are a big part of how investors make decisions. Each quarter investors pore over the results from individual stocks, mutual funds and other types of portfolios--and then compare them to an index, a broad basket of stocks in their category. If a stock or fund trails the benchmark's performance for only a quarter, a distressing number of investors sell. Bad idea.


Stocks Inch Up, Oil Drop Offset by China

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks finished marginally higher  on Thursday after a drop in crude oil prices to near \$50 a  barrel was offset by China's first rate increase in nine years,  which triggered a sell-off in metals and mining stocks.


Brain Scans May Unlock Candidates' Appeal (AP)

AP - Applying some of the same brain-scan technology used to understand Alzheimer's and autism, scientists are trying to learn what makes a Republican's mind different from a Democrat's.


Daimler-Chrysler Waiting for Mercedes

No. 5 automaker hurt by slow Mercedes sales, but Chrysler remains steady.


All That Glitters Isn't Gold at Newmont

A massive gold producer makes money off of oil, copper, and a global distrust of the dollar.


Digging In at Phelps Dodge

Big copper has provided big results, but what's next for the share price?


RIAA files 750 new file-trading lawsuits

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on Thursday announced it has filed 750 new lawsuits against alleged file-traders using peer-to-peer (P-to-P) software.


Still undecided? Web site aids voters to make choice on presidential election

For those U.S. residents still unsure which presidential candidate to vote for -- and there appear to be quite a few who can't make up their minds less than a week before the election -- there's a new Web-based tool that can help voters match their positions to those of the major presidential candidates.


News.com Extra: When Hilary and Larry didn't come to blows

Also: Get your Ashlee Simpson karaoke iPod.


BellSouths RealPages to Sell Google AdWords

BellSouth's RealPages to Sell Google AdWords\\RealPages.com from BellSouth yellow pages and Google today announced an agreement whereby RealPages.com will become the first yellow pages publisher authorized to sell advertising through Google AdWords(R) to small and medium-sized local businesses. Under the multi-year agreement, BellSouth will include Google AdWords as an integral ...


Update 12: Delta Chief: Bankruptcy Still Possible

Delta Air Lines Inc. has a tentative pilot deal on concessions and much-needed breathing room, but hasn #39;t detailed the progress of its crucial debt restructuring efforts.


Update 3: AP: CNNfn Will Shut Down After 9 Years

CNN will shut down its struggling CNNfn financial news network in mid-December, giving up its attempt after nine years to compete in a market dominated by CNBC.


AOL, E-Mail Companies Sue Spammers (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - The nation's largest e-mail providers today filed a new round of lawsuits against Internet spammers allegedly responsible for shoveling millions of junk e-mail messages into computer users' in-boxes and their instant messaging screens.


Mauresmo, Sugiyama reach quarters in Linz

_Top seed Amelie Mauresmo reached the quarterfinals of the US\$585,000 (euro483,255) Generali Ladies Open at the Intersport Arena on Thursday, beating Poland #39;s Marta Domachovska 6-4, 6-0.


Top seed Suarez loses at SEAT Open

Spain #39;s Anabel Medina Garrigues eliminated Paola Suarez in the top-seeded Argentine #39;s opening match at the US\$225,000 (euro176,000) SEAT Open, rallying to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday and reach the quarterfinals.


TESTING FORTNIGHT FOR STEELERS

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles may be on a collision course for Super Bowl XXXIX. The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the NFL #39;s lone remaining unbeaten teams in the next two weeks.


Productivity's Battleground (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - At its Twinsburg, Ohio plant (below), Rockwell uses its own Logix controllers to make the 2.5 million circuit boards per year that power them. On one line, sensors scan boards as they move along a conveyor; if a match is found, a controller inches the conveyor forward. The same controller tracks the temperature of an oven used to cure the glue between the electronics and the board, adjusting the speed of the oven's conveyor based on the reading. All the controllers are lashed to an enterprise-management program that spits out productivity readings every two hours and looks for bottlenecks. ...


A Marvelous 2005 and 2006

Marvel issues its 2005 guidance and offers an impressive list of projects for 2006.


Expanding economy confirmed

With the economy continuing to rank as a top factor in the upcoming election, the latest  quot;beige book quot; confirms that economic activity continued to expand through early October.


Mortgage Rates Hit 6-Month Low

Freddie Mac said Thursday that 30-year mortgages have dropped to the lowest level since April 1, providing more of a boost to the housing industry.


Lexmark loses ink cartridge battle

Printer makers can #39;t be very happy, as Lexmark has just lost what could have been a landmark case for its profits and the future of printer ink cartridges.


Football fans clash with police

Eleven fans were arrested after clashing with police during Chelsea #39;s 1-0 win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.


Armstrong keeps Tour guessing

LANCE ARMSTRONG has left the question marks hovering over his participation on next year #39;s Tour de France. Armstrong claimed a record sixth yellow jersey in July when he eclipsed Tour legends Miguel Indurain


Astros decline option on Kent

Craig Biggio will return for 2005 with the Houston Astros, but the ballclub decided not to sign Jeff Kent for another season. The local Major League Baseball franchise on Thursday said it picked up an option to bring back Biggio for the 2005 season.


Molik stays hot; Suarez bows out in Luxembourg

Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg (Sports Network) - Aussie Alicia Molik began her quest for a second title in two weeks on Thursday, while top-seeded Argentine Paola Suarez was among the second-round upset victims at the \$225,000 Seat Open Luxembourg.


Salmons has fourth-year option picked up

PHILADELPHIA - John Salmons had the fourth-year option on his contract picked up by the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Salmons, a 6-foot-7 guard, has averaged 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per


IAEA Says It Warned U.S. About Explosives (AP)

AP - U.S. officials were warned about the vulnerability of explosives stored at Iraq's Al-Qaqaa military installation after another facility  #151; the country's main nuclear complex  #151; was looted in April 2003, the U.N. nuclear agency said Thursday.


Militants slaughter 11 Iraqi soldiers abducted south of Baghdad <b>...</b>

Insurgents slaughtered 11 Iraqi soldiers, beheading one, then shooting the others execution-style, and declared on an Islamic militant Web


Poll Watchers to Crowd Voting Venues (AP)

AP - Tens of thousands of poll monitors, challengers, lawyers and other activist observers are expected to clog voting precincts in battleground states Tuesday in what will probably be the most scrutinized U.S. election in at least 40 years.


Kidnappers Demand Foreign Troops Quit Iraq

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Militants piled more pressure on  Washington's military allies in Iraq on Thursday, seizing an  Iraqi-Polish woman and holding a Japanese man under threat of  death.


Glaxo's Mild Depression

British drug maker Glaxo sees increased generic competition for its anti-depressant drugs.


Don't Cry For SUV's (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - A kibitzer said I should write about the decline of the truck market. He figured I would be ahead of the curve in saying that this market has peaked from oversaturation, changing consumer tastes, rising gas prices and the recent appearance of some very attractive sedans and wagons.


Viacom Posts Profit; Sets \$8 Bln Buyback

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc. VIAb.N<VIA.N> on  Thursday said its quarterly profit from continuing operations  rose 12 percent on higher cable network advertising sales and  announced a larger-than-expected stock repurchase, sending its  shares up 3 percent.


The Troll Under The Bridge (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - The main border between the U.S. and Canada, our number one trading partner, stretches for 5,500 miles. The most precious fraction is tucked into the middle of the Great Lakes, where the Detroit River bisects the U.S. and Canadian auto industries. Between Detroit and Windsor, Ont., at the river's narrowest point, lies a ribbon of reinforced concrete roadway, 47 feet wide and less than 2 miles long, laid on suspended steel joists:the Ambassador Bridge. ...


Top-Seed Suarez Upset at SEAT Open (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Paola Suarez was upset in her opening match at the SEAT Open, losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Anabel Medina Garrigues on Thursday.


Giddy Red Sox Fans Savor Lifting of 'Curse'

BOSTON (Reuters) - Millions of bleary-eyed New Englanders  on Thursday savored a feeling lost generations ago: the joy of  a Red Sox World Series victory that ended an 86-year drought  and, some say, lifted a legendary curse.


PC distributor puts RFID tags in goods

A Singaporean IT products distributor is introducing radio tags to track inventory and delivery.