\$28,000 for mother of all sandwiches

A grilled-cheese sandwich said to bear the image of the Virgin Mary has been sold for \$28,000 in an eBay auction, according to the online casino that bought it from a woman in Hollywood, Fla.


Intel aims for Microsoft #39;s Linux jugular

CHIP GIANT Intel is making a concerted attempt to push the Linux OS in China and India, countries with citizens numbering over two billion.


The VHS is Dead

Ronnie Coote writes  quot;The UK #39;s largest retailer of electronics is phasing out VHS VCRs. Sales of DVD players have outstripped VCRs by 40-to-1 recently.


Pakistani and Indian prime ministers hold rare talks in New Delhi

Amid repeated cautions that no breakthrough was expected, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan came together Wednesday for a rare meeting, despite tough positions stated


Bhutto wants to return to Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto has demanded the right to return to Pakistan, a day after her husband #39;s release on bail after eight years in jail, the BBC reported Tuesday.


Hearing Set After Microsoft Rivals Quit (Reuters)

Reuters - The judge considering Microsoft\Corp.'s appeal against European Union sanctions has convened a\closed meeting for Thursday after two more major opponents of\the U.S. software giant withdrew from the case, a court\spokesman said on Wednesday.


Parents need to understand video games: expert

A US group released its annual warning about antisocial video games, but a University of Toronto professor says he #39;s only really worried about a very narrow category of such interactive entertainment.


Naming Mount St. Helens New Dome Confusing (AP)

AP - A dome by any other name would erupt so strong. But, alas, what's in a name might have tormented Shakespeare as it has even the most savvy of scientists.


Tiny carbon cylinders set record

Researchers at Oxford and Nottingham universities create the smallest "test tubes" known to science.


S.Africa Says Thatcher Must Answer Equatorial Guinea (Reuters)

Reuters - Mark Thatcher must\submit to questioning in a South African court this week over\charges he was involved in a foiled coup plot in oil-rich\Equatorial Guinea, the Cape High Court ruled Wednesday.


India, Pakistan differ over gas pipeline from Iran (Reuters)

Reuters - India said on Wednesday that a proposed  #36;4-billion gas pipeline from Iran via Pakistan could be built only if overall economic ties with Islamabad improved, but Pakistan said the project itself could boost relations.


Tiny carbon cylinders set record

Researchers at Oxford and Nottingham universities make it into the record books by creating the smallest "test tubes" known to science.


How lizards walk on water

The mystery of how a type of lizard "walks" on water may have been solved, a group of US scientists believe.


'Sympathy' for England over tour

World cricket boss Ehsan Mani hints England could pull out of Zimbabwe without penalty.


FDA Approves a Multiple Sclerosis Drug

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a drug for multiple sclerosis that has shown early evidence of being more effective than existing drugs.


Web holiday shopping up 25 in 2004

U.S. online retailers rang up holiday sales of \$23.2B between Nov. 1 and Dec. 26, up 25 from the same period in 2003, according to a survey released today by Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen/NetRatings.


Red Cross tsunami victims' Web site overwhelmed

A Red Cross Web site designed to help relatives locate survivors of last week's Indian Ocean tsunami partially crashed last week after being overwhelmed by traffic in its first 24 hours, a spokesman said.


Wenger will not yield

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has vowed to fight his FA misconduct charge as he defended his right to criticise Ruud van Nistelrooy in public.


Liverpool #39;s Luis Garcia out for up to a month

Liverpool #39;s Spanish midfielder Luis Garcia will be out of action for up to a month after limping off with a hamstring injury after just two minutes of their 1-0 Champions League defeat in Monaco on Tuesday.


FERGIE READY TO RING CHANGES

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will rest some of his star players for the final Champions League group game against Fenerbache on December 8. With qualification to the last 16 assured after Tuesday


Iowa upends No. 15 Texas

Pierre Pierce hit a 25-foot jumper with 44 seconds left to give Iowa the lead for good, and the Hawkeyes beat No. 15 Texas, 82-80, last night in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.


RuSPORT teleconference transcript

Q: You mentioned several times about chemistry being so important. Whenever you get a group of demanding people together, it is extremely important.


Kabul kidnappers release three UN workers

The Afghan government denied making a deal with the kidnappers who released three UN hostages after four weeks in captivity yesterday.


Indonesian police arrest Australian embassy bombers

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian National Police Chief General Da #39;i Bachtiar said on Tuesday that the police had captured the alleged perpetrators of the bomb blast in front of the Australian embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Sept.


Malki: Abu Mazen should oversee transition

If Marwan Barghouti really wants to be chairman of the Palestinian Authority, he should withhold his candidature at this time and allow Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to take responsibility for the transition into the post-Arafat era.


US shutters Mumbai offices

The United States closed diplomatic offices in the Indian commercial hub of Mumbai Tuesday. Its action was based on intelligence that terrorists may be planning attacks on US interests in New Delhi


Guardian panel Nobody is quaking

The Guardian panel, broadly representative of people across Britain, was established in the run-up to the last general election. In 2001 most of the respondents, after some reservations, backed Labour.


Chinese crash black boxes found

The flight recorders from a plane that crashed in northern China at the weekend, killing 55 people, have been found after a three-day search.


County plant to produce MS drug

Biogen Idec and Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. won government approval yesterday to sell a new multiple sclerosis drug, Tysabri. The drug, which some analysts predict will bring in \$2 billion


What happened to the Chiefs?

In August in River Falls, Wis., it was raining. A feeling of unease came over Dick Vermeil. Coaches are sensitive to what others would regard as of little importance, none more so perhaps than the emotional Vermeil.


UN: N.Korea Sends Positive Message on Atomic Talks

The South Korean Unification Ministry said Nov. 24, 2004, that North Korea gave a visiting UN official a  #39;very positive message #39; about resuming stalled six-way talks on its nuclear programs.


Dollar keeps falling against euro

The dollar hits yet another record low against the euro on Wednesday amid speculation Russia may increase reserves of the single currency.


Hearing Set After Microsoft Rivals Quit

The judge considering Microsoft Corp. #39;s appeal against European Union sanctions has convened a closed meeting for Thursday after two more major opponents of the US software giant withdrew from the case, a court spokesman said on


Skulls: is it a malware for Symbian based devices or not?

Symbian downplayed current reports of a new malware developed specifically for smartphone devices based on Series 60, a platform developed by Nokia and based on the Symbian OS.


PARCELLS LOOKS FOR BETTER

Bill Parcells had a bad first Thanksgiving Day experience as coach of the Dallas Cowboys but is hoping for a better one this year when the Chicago Bears visit Texas Stadium.


Shaun Rogers Emerges As One of NFL's Best (AP)

AP - Shaun Rogers is in the backfield as often as some running backs. Whether teams dare to block Detroit's star defensive tackle with one player or follow the trend of double-teaming him, he often rips through offensive lines with a rare combination of size, speed, strength and nimble footwork.


Russian Scientist Jailed for Spying for China (Reuters)

Reuters - A Russian scientist convicted of spying\for China was sentenced to 14 years in a high security jail\Wednesday, Russian news agencies reported.


Australia welcomes arrest of embassy bomb suspects

The Australian Government has welcomed the arrests of four key suspects in the bombing of Australia #39;s embassy in Jakarta in September.


S.Africa Says Thatcher Must Answer Equatorial Guinea

Mark Thatcher must submit to questioning in a South African court this week over charges he was involved in a foiled coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, the Cape High Court ruled Wednesday.


Court Sentences Russian Scientist Danilov to 14 Years for <b>...</b>

A court in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Siberia, on Wednesday sentenced Russian physicist Valentin Danilov to 14 years in prison for spying for China.


Spurrier Takes Over at South Carolina (AP)

AP - Steve Spurrier might give his brash, visor-throwing style an overhaul now that he has returned to college football.


Ukraine Opposition Marches on President's Office

KIEV (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Ukrainian opposition  supporters marched on the president's office on Tuesday seeking  to install their leader in office, defying poll results they  said had been rigged by a pro-Moscow government.


Chavez Visit to Spain Sparks Coup Controversy

MADRID (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's  fence-mending visit to Spain sparked political uproar on  Tuesday when Madrid for the first time backed his allegations  that the previous government supported a coup against him.


Straw begins Middle East mission

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrives in Israel for two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.


Conference Urges Iraq To Involve Opposition

Representatives of two dozen nations and international organizations attending a conference on the future of Iraq pressed the country's interim government Tuesday to work harder to encourage opposition forces to participate in elections scheduled for January.


Medics Testify to Fallujah's Horrors

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The first time Jose Ramirez saw a human body ripped apart by a rocket, it took hours for him to regain his composure. Nothing in his training as a Navy medical corpsman had prepared him for the sight of the dead Marine brought in September to the military field hospital outside Fallujah.


Report: HIV Spreading Faster Among Women

The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus  infection is growing more rapidly in women \than in men in almost every part of the world, according to a new report.


Lost Generation Coddles Its Young

As a growing economy produces new wealth and a spreading middle class in China, the epochal Cultural Revolution has receded to the distant past in just one generation.


Pennsylvania Turnpike workers go on strike

Toll collectors and other Pennsylvania Turnpike workers went on strike Wednesday, union officials said. The strike began in the pre-dawn hours of the day before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year.


United Marks Ferguson Milestone With Champions League Success

Alex Ferguson said Manchester United #39;s best form is returning after the team marked his 1,000th game as manager by reaching the single-elimination stages of soccer #39;s Champions League for the eighth straight year.


ON FOOTBALL Parcells had a plan, and he stuck with it

Watching Parcells use the media this week provided another example of why he #39;s one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. Parcells has used his regular news conferences to send messages to


Freed hostages meet Karzai

and smiled for photographers after discussing their captivity with him at his presidential palace in Kabul. Reporters were not allowed to ask questions, but Nayan said he was well and grateful for the support he received from home.


Thatcher: I feel like a corpse in a river

Sir Mark Thatcher today told how his life had been  quot;destroyed quot; by charges that he helped finance a failed African coup. The son of former prime minister


Palmer: Americans Need to Widen Horizons

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Arnold Palmer has taken a swing at  America's top players, criticizing their increasing reluctance  to travel abroad to play in tournaments.


Mass. home sales fall 5.3

Offering evidence of a possible shift in the housing market, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported yesterday that sales of single-family homes fell for the third straight month in October and that the number of homes and condos on the market is up 7.6 percent from a year ago.


Amid suburban glut, project rises

It may not look monumental. But the fact that it's happening is significant.


Skinner gets shareholders #39; vote of confidence

Investors gave new McDonald #39;s Corp. Chief Executive Jim Skinner a vote of confidence Tuesday, driving the company #39;s shares up 72 cents to \$30.10, a 2.45 percent gain, the day after Charlie Bell resigned the top job.


Elan gets FDA approval for Tysabri MS treatment

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Elan (UK:ELA) (ELN) and partner Biogen (BIIB) said the FDA has approved new drug Tysabri to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.


Illinois group warns parents of potentially dangerous toys

As the holiday season gears up, consumer advocates are again warning parents to do their homework and be vigilant about keeping dangerous toys out of the hands -- and mouths -- of kids.


US braces for trade backlash

WASHINGTON - The World Trade Organization is set to give the go-ahead today for sweeping retaliation against the United States from Canada, Europe and others for its continuing refusal to dismantle illegal trading laws.


#39;Gold Fields acceptances up #39;

increasing, marketing director for world number four gold miner Harmony (HAR) Ferdi Dippenaar said on Wednesday. However, Dippenaar wouldn #39;t disclosure the exact level of acceptances received from Gold Fields #39; shareholders.


Cingular To Cut 10 Percent of Workforce

ATLANTA - With the merger of AT amp;T Wireless complete, Cingular is making plans to cut its 68,000-person workforce by 10 percent, the companys CEO told The Associated Press on Tuesday.


Airgo Says Linksys to Use Chips for Wireless Gear

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Airgo Networks said on Monday the  Linksys unit of Cisco System Inc. will use its chips in  equipment for high-speed wireless networking, bolstering  support for the start-up chip maker's technology.


Copycat killer of JFK to net \$100,000

A new downloadable computer game is offering online gamers a jackpot of \$100,000 for the most accurate interactive copycat killing of President John F. Kennedy.


First malicious virus invades cellphones

A virus has struck Nokia smartphone users. Once downloaded, the virus, called Skulls, replaces all phone desktop icons with images of a skull.


NASA #39;s O #39;Keefe to meet Chinese space agency chief

The head of the Chinese space agency, Laiyan Sun, will meet for the first time with NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe Dec. 2 in Washington for an  quot;informal quot; session.


AMD launches Sempron for low power notebooks

AMD has released the Mobile AMD Sempron processor 3000  #39;for Thin and Light Notebooks #39;. The low-power processor is aimed at entry-level notebooks, as opposed to the 3000 Mobile AMD Sempron Processor for Full-Size Notebooks.


Playing the Touching Game

Think fast -- Mario #39;s plummeting to Earth, and there #39;s nothing for the poor little guy to hang onto. So you take your stylus and draw him a trampoline.


Two fans charged for racial taunt of Yorke

Two men were charged with public disorder Tuesday for for alleged racially taunting Birmingham City striker Dwight Yorke, police said.


ROUND-UP United through put Liverpool falter

Roy Keanes Manchester United booked their place in the knock-out stages of the Uefa Champions League with a victory at home to French champions Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday, but Liverpool were defeated by their own French nemeses, last seasons


Lucas sparks Oklahoma State

John Lucas III scored 22 points, Joey Graham added 16 and No. 6 Oklahoma State pulled away in the second half to beat Arkansas-Little Rock 90-65 Tuesday night.


Carmelo Up Close

com. DENVER (News 4) Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony says he has a tactic when he finds himself in frustrating situations with opposing fans.


Powell hails tsunami relief bid

US Secretary of State Colin Powell pledges America's full support for the tsunami aid effort, as he visits Thailand.


Professor Spurrier back in college; get ready to take notes

The NFL made him look inferior. His old school wanted him to stand in line and take a number. The more things change, the more Steve Spurrier remains the same.


Dolphins save swimmers from shark attack

A school of Dolphins has saved a group of swimmers from a great white shark attack. The amazing rescue happened when lifeguard Rob Howes took his daughter and her friends for a swim off the northern New Zealand coast.


Ex-Israeli army chief drowns

Former Israeli army chief of staff Rafael Eitan has died after drowning at Ashdod Port, south of Tel Aviv. He was 75. Eitan reportedly fell from a breakwater structure into


DRC: UN sex abuse probe teams arrive in the Congo

NAIROBI, 24 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - The UN has sent two teams to investigate 150 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by civilian and military personnel serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a senior UN official in New York City told


Russia jails scientist for spying

A Russian physicist convicted of spying for China has been jailed for 14 years by a court in Siberia. Valentin Danilov was cleared in 2003 of passing space secrets to China, but the result was later overturned.


World Bank warns Sri Lanka to watch taxes, peace bid (AFP)

AFP - The World Bank has welcomed Sri Lanka's move to boost tax revenues and pump money into rural areas, but warned a return to war with separatist Tamil rebels could be disastrous for economic stability.


Airport back in Ivory Coast hands

French troops in Ivory Coast pull back from some of their positions at the main airport in the largest city, Abidjan.


Housing report slams US and Sudan

The US, Russia and Sudan are accused of being the biggest violators of housing rights.


China stresses N Korea 'stable'

\A senior Chinese official bolsters ally North Korea, amid contradictory reports of possible changes.


How good is UK.gov at its own security agenda?

Comment Joined-up thinker wanted


Grenade blast in Kashmir wounds six (Reuters)

Reuters - Separatist militants threw a grenade at a paramilitary picket in Indian Kashmir on Wednesday, wounding six civilians, a police officer said.


Pacers Give Fans Something to Cheer About (AP)

AP - The Indiana crowd jumped to its feet with a jubilant roar when Jamaal Tinsley scored off a steal by Fred Jones in the third quarter. After a long weekend of enduring the embarrassing fallout from their brawl in Detroit, the Pacers used a makeshift lineup and gave their fans plenty to cheer about.


More injury woe for Liverpool boss

Rafael Benitez is without Luis Garcia for up to a month as his injury list lengthened last night. Garcia suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the 1-0 Champions League defeat at Monaco and will be sidelined until around Christmas time.


Golovin gives Fed Cup holders France 1-0 lead

Tatiana Golovin, making her Fed Cup singles debut, beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-3 to give under-strength champions France an early 1-0 lead in their semi-final against Spain on Wednesday.


Parcells hints Henson has good chance of opening at QB

Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells shied away from serious talk about rookie Drew Henson playing quarterback in Thursday #39;s game in a conference call with Chicago media Tuesday, but admitted to hometown writers there is a  quot;good chance #39; #39; he will make his


Bradley slips past Loyola; Iowa upends No. 15 Texas

Marcellus Sommerville scored 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and stole the ball three times Tuesday night to spark Bradley #39;s 64-62 victory over Loyola in Peoria.


Spurrier back in the game

Steve Spurrier might give his brash, visor-throwing style an overhaul now that he has returned to college football. Spurrier took over yesterday at South


Red Sox putting fans #39; cash into Fenway revamp

A day after rolling out another hike to baseball #39;s priciest tickets, Red Sox brass scrambled to show the Nation #39;s faithful that the extra cash will be put to good use.


Auburn Defeats Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (Sports Network) - Jason Campbell passed for  195 yards and a touchdown, Auburn's defense solidified its  status as one of the nation's toughest, and the third-ranked  Tigers completed the first perfect season in school history  with a 16-13 victory over No. 9 Virginia Tech in the Sugar  Bowl.


Indonesia Arrests Four Suspects in Embassy Blast

Indonesian police have arrested four suspects, among them a bomb-maker, over a blast outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta that killed 10 people in September, police chief Da #39;i Bachtiar said Wednesday.


International Iraq conference, window-dressing

Many words, little action from international conference which was meant to help solve bloody violence in Iraq. By Marc Burleigh - SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt.


Palestinian economy  #39;in decline #39;

Despite a short-lived increase in Palestinian jobs in 2003, the economy is performing well below its potential, said a World Bank report.


No. 7 Stanford Beat Eastern Washington (AP)

AP - Candice Wiggins scored 18 points and No. 7 Stanford defeated Eastern Washington 91-50 Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout.


Elan Corp. Shares Jump on US Drug OK

Shares in Elan, Ireland #39;s major pharmaceutical company, jumped nearly 3 percent Wednesday after American authorities approved a new drug engineered to help sufferers of multiple sclerosis.


New CEO predicted to follow same path

McDonalds Corp. s choice of an insider to replace ailing Chief Executive Officer Charlie Bell should keep the company on the path that has led


Update 1: Time Warner expected to pay SEC \$750 million to settle <b>...</b>

Time Warner is nearing settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department on the accounting scandal in AOL.


Genting gets lift from plan to build casinos in Britain

KUALA LUMPUR Shares of Genting, Asia #39;s biggest publicly traded casino group, rose Wednesday on expectations that the company #39;s plan to develop Las Vegas-style casinos in Britain with Stanley Leisure would bolster profit.


WMC finds more ore in Outback

SINGAPORE Ever since WMC Resources rejected Xstrata #39;s \$5.8 billion takeover offer last month, saying it was insufficient, WMC #39;s chief executive, Andrew Michelmore, has been saying that there was more to his company than meets the eye.


Durable Goods Orders Slip Unexpectedly

Orders for long-lasting US-made goods unexpectedly slipped 0.4 percent last month as demand for computers, cars and civilian aircraft slumped, a government report showed on Wednesday.


Jobless Claims Down in Latest Week

The ranks of Americans filing initial claims for jobless pay shrank by more than expected last week to 323,000, government data showed on Wednesday, while continued claims fell to a 3-1/2 year low in more good news for the US labor


Nortel Says Exchanges Don #39;t Take Delisting Action (Update1)

Nortel Networks Corp. said the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange won #39;t commence suspension or delisting actions because of the company #39;s delay in filing certain financial reports.


Regulators study gift-giving firms

NASD, which is the regulatory arm of the Nasdaq stock market, and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating about two dozen firms, including brokerage firms and mutual fund companies, to determine whether brokers handed out expensive gifts


Book ranks Fairbanks high in crime

Fairbanks has been labeled the fourth most dangerous metropolitan area in the nation by the publisher of a reference book,  quot;City Crime Rankings.


Urgent meeting in Microsoft case

A new round has opened in the European Commission anti-trust battle against Microsoft as the judge hearing its appeal called for a closed meeting.


41-cent stamp could be on way

The US Postal Service is expected to start seeking approval for a double-digit percentage increase in postage rates early next year.


Gold Fields loses US bid judgment

Gold Fields says it is confident it will fend off a hostile takeover from rival gold producer Harmony despite losing a key legal challenge.


GE to Buy Ionics for  #36;1.1 Billion (Reuters)

Reuters - General Electric Co.  on Wednesday\said it would buy Ionics Inc.  for about  #36;1.1 billion to\build out its water treatment and services business.


Jobless Claims Down in Latest Week (Reuters)

Reuters - The ranks of Americans filing\initial claims for jobless pay shrank by more than expected\last week to 323,000, government data showed on Wednesday,\while continued claims fell to a 3-1/2 year low in more good\news for the U.S. labor market.


Durable Goods Orders Slip Unexpectedly (Reuters)

Reuters - Orders for long-lasting U.S.-made\goods unexpectedly slipped 0.4 percent last month as demand for\computers, cars and civilian aircraft slumped, a government\report showed on Wednesday.


Before the Bell: Connetics Falls (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares of Connetics Corp. \fell 15.5 percent before the opening bell on Wednesday after\the drugmaker said the U.S. health officials concluded that its\drug for treatment of seborrheic dermatitis was not effective.


Jobless Claims Fall to Three-Month Low (AP)

AP - America's factories saw orders for big-ticket goods drop in October after brisk activity in the previous month, highlighting the sometimes bumpy recovery experienced by the nation's manufacturers.


Virgin Mary toastie sells for 15,000

A grilled cheese sandwich bearing the image of the Virgin Mary has been sold for nearly 15,000 on eBay. Florida jewellery designer Diana Duyser auctioned off the ten-year-old toastie saying it was time to share her  quot;miracle quot; with the world.


Citrix buys Net6

Server-based computing firm Citrix yesterday announced a deal to acquire SSL VPN vendor Net6 for approximately \$50m cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.


Torvalds denounces EU patent law

Three prominent open-source software developers have urged the EU to reject a law that would codify the practice of granting software patents in Europe.


AMD #39;s 2005 mobile push off to early start

Gericom and Packard Bell NEC plan to use the Mobile Sempron 3000 chip in new notebooks before the end of the year, but AMD #39;s new processor looks unlikely to overturn Intel #39;s solid advantage in the notebook market.


Scientists flood the Grand Canyon to restore sandbanks and save <b>...</b>

A man-made flood is roaring through the Grand Canyon in a bold experiment to restore the sandbanks of the Colorado river and to save fish and plants that have been disappearing over the past 40 years.


New browser wins over net surfers

The proportion of surfers using Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer (IE) has dropped to below 90, say web analysts. Net traffic monitor, OneStat.


BT #39;s New Music Service Hopes To Be Different

Blueprint, in conjunction with BT, plan to launch a new service for hosting, managing and distributing digital music and related content online, which could substantially accelerate the growth of the market to the benefit of artists, record companies


Automated phishing on the rise, experts say

Fraudsters are achieving higher levels of automation for phishing scams, using software tools and botnets to increase the reach of their work, according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group.


Be your own telecom, wireless firm suggests

A local startup is selling technology to enable the average person to set up and manage their own WiFi wireless network. BeeTelecom Inc.


NBA Needs to Look in Mirror, Not Just at Artest

Ron Artest has some time off now to assess where his life and his career are going. He can get some help. He is only 25 and it #39;s not as if he can #39;t revive his career next season.


Real rue missed opportunity against Leverkusen

Real Madrid were in rueful mood after missing out on securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen at the Bernabeu.


Bayern back in confident mood after Maccabi win

Whatever problems Bayern Munich face in their quest for a European and domestic treble this season, a lack of self-belief is unlikely to figure among them.


Roundup: Jos Anigo resigns as Marseille coach

Anigo, 43, had taken over in January from Alain Perrin. He will be replaced by another former Marseille coach, Albert Emon, who was in charge of the reserve team.


Dechy, Golovin put France up 2-0 on Spain after singles

MOSCOW -- Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin gave France a comfortable 2-0 lead in its Fed Cup semifinal against Spain after winning their opening singles Wednesday.


Buono needs bypass

According to a source close to the family, the 54-year-old CFL coaching legend, who spent 16 seasons in the Calgary Stampeders organization, has known for the past six weeks but kept the shocking news a closely guarded secret.


Indian PM accepts invitation to visit Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has accepted an invitation Wednesday to visit Pakistan from his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz.


New Coalition Offensive Leads to Arrest of Dozens of Insurgents in <b>...</b>

American, British and Iraqi troops are continuing their effort to root out insurgents south of Baghdad, in an operation aimed at clearing the way for elections to be held in January.


Straw welcomes Israeli poll pledge

The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, today welcomed Israel #39;s announcement that it would allow international observers to monitor forthcoming Palestinian presidential elections.


US consulate reopens in Mumbai after terror threat

The United States reopened its consulate in Mumbai on Wednesday after closing it the previous day saying that it had information about a terrorist threat.


Hundreds Pay Last Respects to Rafael Eitan

(IsraelNN.com) After 11:00am, the coffin of former IDF Chief of Staff and former Minister of Agriculture Rafael (Raful) Eitan arrived at his home community of Tel Adashim.


Asia-Pacific Upbeat on Economic Outlook

A global survey of consumer confidence released Wednesday shows that European consumers are generally pessimistic about the economic outlook for the next 12 months, people in the Asia-Pacific are optimistic and Americans lie somewhere in between.


Durable Goods Orders Slip Unexpectedly

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Orders for long-lasting U.S.-made  goods unexpectedly slipped 0.4 percent last month as demand for  computers, cars and civilian aircraft slumped, a government  report showed on Wednesday.


Stock Futures Steady Before Flow of Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures rose  on Wednesday,  pointing to a higher market open, before a slew of U.S.  economic data, as oil prices dipped lower ahead of weekly  inventory figures.


Mortgage Applications Fell Last Week -MBA

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for home mortgages in the  U.S. fell last week even as mortgage rates edged down, an  industry group said on Wednesday.


HEADLINE STOCKS: Stocks to Watch, Nov. 24

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks to watch on Wednesday  include H R Block Inc., Michaels Stores Inc., Tech Data Corp.,  and Microsoft Corp.


Hearing Set After Microsoft Rivals Quit

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The judge considering Microsoft  Corp.'s appeal against European Union sanctions has called a  closed meeting for Thursday to decide what action to take after  two more major opponents of the U.S. software giant withdrew  from the case.


Merck Maintains Quarterly Dividend

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co. Inc. MRK.N has declared  its regular quarterly dividend, maintaining its status as one  of the richest dividend payors among blue-chip stocks, even  following the withdrawal of its arthritis drug Vioxx and  subsequent loss of nearly \$27 billion in market value.


Durable Goods Orders Fall in October

America's factories saw orders for big-ticket goods drop in October after brisk activity in the previous month, highlighting the sometimes bumpy recovery experienced by the nation's manufacturers.


Rumsfeld: Druyun Had Little Supervision

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld blamed an Air Force procurement scandal on high turnover in top management positions, which he said reduced the amount of "adult supervision" of major weapons contracts over the past decade.


Gold Fields loses US bid judgment

Gold Fields loses a key legal decision in its fight against Harmony's \$8.2bn hostile takeover bid but remains confident that its shareholders will reject the bid.


Economy 'stronger than forecast'

The UK economy probably grew at a  faster than predicted pace in the third quarter, putting pressure on the Bank of England to raise rates again.


Hi-tech tools fuel phishing boom

Reports suggest phishing gangs are turning to automatic tools to mount more attacks than ever.


Election Protests Continue in Ukraine

Tens of thousands of supporters of opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko demonstrated in Ukraine's capital for a third day Wednesday, and one of his allies said the only thing to negotiate with government authorities is the transfer of power.


Iran Making New Uranium Demands

Iran is demanding that it be allowed to make an exception in its commitment to freeze all uranium enrichment activities so it can operate about about two dozen centrifuges, diplomats said Wednesday.


Airgo Says Linksys to Use Chips for Wireless Gear (Reuters)

Reuters - Airgo Networks said on Monday the\Linksys unit of Cisco System Inc. will use its chips in\equipment for high-speed wireless networking, bolstering\support for the start-up chip maker's technology.


UPDATE 1 Marseille coach Anigo quits, replaced by Emon

Olympique Marseille coach Jose Anigo resigned on Tuesday because of poor results. Anigo, who took over in January from Alain Perrin, will be replaced for


Iran  quot;will never end quot; nuclear programme

Iran #39;s foreign minister says that Tehran will never fully dismantle its nuclear capabilities, also voicing the country #39;s concerns about the threat of a pre-emptive strike by Washington.


Embassy bomb chief escaped with bribe #39;

INDONESIAN police have arrested another four men over the September carbombing of the Australian Embassy amid suggestions the bomb mastermind - and most wanted -r


Sudanese Cease-Fire Breaks After New Clashes

Government helicopters and warplanes bombed the town of Tawila in North Darfur on Tuesday after rebel fighters attacked police stations there Monday, breaking a renewed


Former Pakistani PM wants to end exile

Pakistan #39;s former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, has demanded the right to return from exile, one day after her husband was freed on bail after eight years in prison.


Safety advocates warn of potentially fatal toys

The yo-yo water ball -- a liquid-filled ball attached to a stretchy elastic cord -- looks like it could provide a lot of entertainment for children.


Air France KLM Sees Growth After Strong Quarter

Air France KLM posted stronger than expected second-quarter operating profits on Wednesday and maintained its sights on full-year growth despite the strain on its fuel bill from escalating oil prices.


Video games turn sharply to violence

This season #39;s blockbuster video games give players the opportunity to hijack cars, mow down the walking undead with heavy artillery, shoot police officers and ogle topless women.


Torvalds comes out against EU patent directive

In the statement, issued Tuesday, the three developers argued that the legislation, called the software patent directive, would be harmful to the European economy.


BT And Blueprint Jointly Develop Innovative Music Distribution <b>...</b>

In yet another move in the legitimate digital music market, BT and Blueprint have jointly developed a new service based on Blueprints Open Royalty Gateway (ORG) and Song Centre software that allows copyright holders to take more control of their


India could have forced result: Ganguly

Captain Sourav Ganguly today said India would have forced a result in the first cricket Test against South Africa on a lifeless track had they won the toss and batted first.


Thoughts on Tysabri #39;s Approval

For those that missed it last night, Biogen Idec (BIIB:Nasdaq - news - research) and Elan Pharmaceuticals (ELN:NYSE ADR - news - research) received FDA approval for their new multiple sclerosis drug, now called Tysabri (formerly known as Antegren.


10 of jobs on the block at Cingular; office jobs targeted

Cingular Wireless will cut close to 10 of its 68,000 jobs over the next 12 to 18 months as it combines operations with the recently acquired AT amp;T Wireless, the chief executive of the nation #39;s largest cell phone company said Tuesday in an


Wall Street stocks end mixed amid another rise in oil prices

Wall Street stocks were mixed Tuesday as crude oil prices again topped 50 dollars per barrel, while brokerage downgrade hurt technology stocks.


Rebels keep up attacks in central and north Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 20 - Violence surged through central and northern Iraq on Saturday as a tenacious insurgency led by Sunni Arabs kept up relentless assaults in several major cities, including Baghdad, Ramadi


UN Congo staff investigated over abuse

THE UN is investigating about 150 allegations of sexual abuse by UN civilian staff and soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, some of it recorded on videotape, a senior UN official confirmed yesterday.


China #39;s space chief coming to US

Another possible step toward cooperation in space between the United States and China is now on the calendar. The head of the Chinese National Space Agency will travel to Washington


Hamburg Gets New NFL Europe Franchise (AP)

AP - The Hamburg Sea Devils joined NFL Europe on Wednesday, meaning five of the league's six teams are in Germany.


Authorities intend to file charges in NBA brawl (AFP)

AFP - Prosecutors expect to file charges against Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons supporters in the wake of a brawl last Friday that led to record suspensions and at least nine people injured.


Man Accused of Scamming NFL Players (AP)

AP - A 29-year-old Maryland man was charged with theft after calling NFL players Donovan McNabb, Darrell Green and Warren Sapp and convincing them to wire him money.


Rwanda Threatens to Attack Rebels in Congo -UN (Reuters)

Reuters - Rwanda has threatened to attack a\Rwandan rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of\Congo, the United Nations mission in Congo said on Wednesday.


Easy Victory for Tar Heels in Semifinals

Rashad McCants scored 27 points and North Carolina rode a sharp first half to a 94-81 victory over Tennessee last night in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.


Straw arrives in Middle East

Foreign secretary Jack Straw is today beginning two days of talks in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Mr Straw will meet Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon before travelling on to the West Bank for


CRIME FIGHT TOPS UK AGENDA

The British government will introduce new laws to fight crime, terror and drugs in the run up to the next general election. The legislative programme outlined in the Queen #39;s speech includes plans to introduce


Women Voters Declines San Diego Appeal (AP)

AP - The League of Women Voters of San Diego said Tuesday that it will not appeal a judge's ruling in the city's mayoral election, dealing another setback to Councilwoman Donna Frye's write-in bid.


Boxing Dispute Clouds Copyright Bill (AP)

AP - Congress will have a narrow opportunity when it returns to pass legislation making it a crime to use video cameras to record films in movie theaters, but the bill could be floored by a fight over a federal boxing commission.


NATO Chief to Open Arab Relations Drive in Algeria

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The head of NATO will make an  unprecedented visit to Algeria on Thursday, the opening move in  a drive to beef up cooperation with the Arab world on  counter-terrorism, defense reform and military training.


Pakistan's PM Says Peace with India Hinges on Kashmir

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz  said on Wednesday he remained hopeful that peace could be  achieved with India, but progress on the bitter dispute over  Kashmir represented the key to better ties.


Iran Wants to Amend Nuke Freeze, EU Says No

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has requested that it be permitted  to continue conducting "research and development" with  centrifuges, machines that can be used to develop material for  nuclear weapons, diplomats said on Wednesday.


Dutch Shocked by Public Death Wish from Muslim

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch leaders on Wednesday condemned  comments by a Muslim teacher who said he hoped for the death of  a popular politician, further stoking religious tension  prompted by the murder of a filmmaker critical of Islam.


UN ex-hostages' joy at release

Three UN workers released after being held hostage in Afghanistan speak of their joy at being freed.


Sales of existing homes drop

WASHINGTON - Sales of existing homes edged down a less-than-expected 0.1 percent in October as low mortgage rates continued to support a record year, a trade association report showed Tuesday.


Kenya author returns to testify

Ngugi wa Thiong'o, goes back to Kenya to give evidence against four men accused of attacking him and his wife.


Ruling Is Awaited on Death Penalty for Young Killers

A Texas high school student convicted of a double murder waits on death row as the Supreme Court weighs the constitutionality of the juvenile death penalty.


UFJ Holdings bank reports large half-year loss

TOKYO UFJ Holdings, Japan #39;s fourth-largest bank, reported a large net loss of 674.3 billion for the first half of its fiscal year on Wednesday as it scrambled to reduce its bad loans before a takeover by Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group.


American Express to Replace Auditor (Reuters)

Reuters - American Express Co.  said on\Wednesday that it will replace Ernst   Young LLP with\PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as its independent registered public\accountant.


US jobless claims fall again

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell unexpectedly to 323,000 last week, down 12,000 from a week earlier, the US Labour Department said today.


Microsoft called back to court over Novell settlement

The judge overseeing the software giant #39;s appeal of a European Commission ruling has summoned both parties to appear at an  quot;informal hearing quot; on Thursday.


Taking Inventory Of Analog Devices

Credit Suisse First Boston lowered estimates for Analog Devices (nyse: ADI - news - people ) after the maker of integrated circuits provided disappointing guidance.


Video recreation of JFK assassination marks a new low

A spokesman for Sen. Edward Ken- nedy had an apt description of a video game that shamefully exploits the assassination of John F. Kennedy: The release of  quot;JFK: Reloaded quot; on Monday -- the 41st anniversary


Groups protest sex, violence in video games

Video games that have players shoot rival gang members, watch bare-breasted women and recreate the assassination of President Kennedy were criticized Tuesday by advocacy


Google sued by Perfect 10

Google has been sued by adult site Perfect 10 for alleged copyright infringement. Perfect 10 #39;s suit says that Google #39;s Web search engine allows people to see copyrighted images owned by the company (access


Turinui leaps over Rogers

MORGAN Turinui has leapfrogged over the troubled Mat Rogers to take over at outside centre for Australia in Saturday #39;s rugby Test against England at Twickenham.


College Basketball: Iowa Upsets No. 15 Texas

MAUI, Hawaii (Sports Network) - Jeff Horner posted 27 points while Pierre Pierce added 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, as the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated a ranked team for the second night in a row with an 82-80 victory over No.


Hot demand for travel packages to Capital One Bowl

The Hawkeyes are headed to Florida for the Capital One Bowl in Orlando on New Year #39;s Day. Travel agencies say travel packages are selling fast.


France Leads Spain 2-0 in Fed Cup Semis (AP)

AP - Defending champion France took a 2-0 lead over Spain in the Fed Cup semifinals Wednesday behind singles victories by Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin.


Pakistan links Kashmir to granting India MFN status

Pakistans Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that granting the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to India was closely related to the solution of the Kashmir dispute.


Queen outlines crackdown on terror

LONDON: The British Government has detailed a range of new measures to fight global terrorism and organised crime, as the Queen set out its new law-making agenda ahead of expected elections next year.


Russia sends scientist to jail for spying

A Russian court has sentenced a physicist Valentin Danilov to 14 years in a Siberian prison for passing space secrets to China. Danilov, 53, a professor at Krasnoyarsk


Indonesian police confirm four arrested over Australian embassy bombing (AFP)

AFP - Indonesian police said they have arrested four key Muslim extremists for the deadly bombing of Australia's Jakarta embassy in what was hailed as a breakthrough in the hunt for militants behind a series of attacks in the country.


Nortel to Maintain Certain Accounting

Nortel Networks Corp. on Wednesday said it will not be required to change its accounting treatment of optical products sales, and it received verbal confirmation that two stock exchanges do not plan to begin any suspension or delisting procedures.


Holiday travel may exceed record

If so, leave early. Travel experts predict traffic congestion, poor weather and possible job actions by Pennsylvania Turnpike toll takers and US Airways workers at Philadelphia International


Weak Demand for Delta Debt Swap

Delta Air Lines (DAL:NYSE - news - research) said Wednesday its debt exchange has ended, with the intermediate and long-term portions receiving insufficient interest from bondholders.


Virgin Mary On Grilled Cheese Sandwich Sells on eBay

The online casino, GoldenPalace.com, bid \$28,000 to purchase a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that supposedly bears the image of the Virgin Mary.


IBM introduces Workplace Resource Center

IBM has unveiled, under its Workplace platform strategy, an online developer resource centre that will give corporate and third-party developers access to tools to help develop products and services for the platform.


Former star bowler Lillee ends coaching role at Australian academy

Fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has cut ties with Australia #39;s Cricket Academy after failing to come to terms on a new coaching contract.


Spurrier named football coach at South Carolina

One day after his good friend Lou Holtz announced his retirement, Spurrier on Tuesday was named the Gamecocks #39; new football coach.


BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Diogu lifts ASU to victory over Delaware

TEMPE - Double- and triple-teaming don #39;t bother Ike Diogu. He gets his points from the line. Arizona State #39;s junior center had 32 points and nine rebounds, almost singlehandedly lifting the Sun Devils (2-0


It #39;s official: Bowl bids accepted by trio of Big Ten teams

Iowa, Purdue and Wisconsin accepted bowl bids on Tuesday, and the news didn #39;t stop there for the Hawkeyes and Boilermakers. *Iowa will head back to Florida for the holidays, this time to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.


UMich Finds Consumer Sentiment Up a Bit (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. consumer sentiment brightened\slightly in November, helped by cheaper gasoline and a better\jobs outlook, a survey released on Wednesday showed.


GE unit plans \$1.1 billion purchase of Mass.-based water treatment <b>...</b>

WATERTOWN, Mass. -- A unit of General Electric Co. said Wednesday it will buy Ionics Inc. for \$1.1 billion in cash, not counting about \$200 million in debt GE will assume in its purchase of of the water treatment company.


NETHERLANDS: Ahold says Q3 loss highlights  #39;year of transition #39;

Dutch retail giant Ahold has reported a third-quarter net loss, as its results were impacted by exceptional costs and asset impairment charges.


Iran 'Atomic Bomb' Militia Stage Show of Strength (Reuters)

Reuters - To shouts of "No compromise" tens of\thousands of Iran's Basij militia staged a show of strength on\Wednesday, a day before the U.N. nuclear watchdog meets to\discuss Iran's disputed nuclear program.


Pakistan's PM says peace with India hinges on Kashmir (Reuters)

Reuters - Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday he remained hopeful that sustainable peace could be achieved with India after a friendly meeting with his counterpart Manmohan Singh.


Game should be pulled

I was just shy of a year and a half old when John F. Kennedy was killed by an assassin #39;s bullet 41 years ago this week. But like so many of my generation - the so-called baby boomers - I believe


Redknapp quits as Portsmouth manager

Two weeks after Portsmouth appointed Croatian unknown Velimir Zajec as executive director, Harry Redknapp quit as manager on Wednesday, citing the need to take  quot;a complete break from the game quot;.


Freed UN electoral workers in Afghanistan look forward to resuming <b>...</b>

24 November 2004 - Three United Nations election workers freed yesterday nearly a month after being abducted in Afghanistan today thanked the Afghan people for the support shown during their ordeal and said they were looking forward to getting back to


Syria ready to resume Israeli talks  #39;without conditions #39;: UN envoy

DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to reopen negotiations with Israel  quot;without conditions, quot; visiting UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen revealed.


Russian Scientist Jailed for Spying for China

A Russian scientist convicted of spying for China was sentenced to 14 years in a high security jail Wednesday. Physicist Valentin Danilov was initially acquitted of selling


Afghan bomb kills two US soldiers

Two American soldiers are killed by a homemade bomb in central Afghanistan, the US military says.


Jobless Claims Down; Goods Orders Slip

Orders for long-lasting US-made goods unexpectedly slipped 0.4 percent in October, hinting at manufacturing softness, but new claims for jobless aid shrank last week, government reports showed on Wednesday.


US October New Home Sales Rise 0.2 to 1.226 Million Rate

US new home sales unexpectedly rose 0.2 percent in October to 1.226 million at an annual rate, the third highest ever, as hiring improved and borrowing costs fell.


Delta exchange offer expires, volume lower than goal

Delta Air Lines Inc. announced Wednesday that its offer to exchange unsecured notes for secured bonds fell short of a company goal, but that enough investors had tendered their short-term securities for a debt exchange to occur.


Hard Rock to display Virgin Mary sandwich

The handover for the infamous Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich is to take place at 1 pm, Wednesday, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel  amp; Casino in Hollywood.


The Portsmouth fiasco: a fan #39;s view

One of the good things about supporting Portsmouth is that no one has ever had any expectations. A life of mid-table mediocrity - as the unlamented former manager Graham Rix promised the


#39;Honda out to stop Ant #39;s Williams test #39;

Honda still appear to be smarting from Williams #39; attempt to sign Jenson Button and in an apparent case of tit-for-tat they #39;re reportedly trying to stop Anthony Davidson #39;s Williams test.


We gave a good fight: Ganguly

India  quot;gained a lot quot; from the drawn cricket Test against South Africa and would now carry the confidence into the deciding second match in Kolkata, skipper Sourav Ganguly said in Kanpur on Wednesday.


Flatley returns to Wallaby team for England match

Morgan Turinui will start as centre and Elton Flatley returns as fly half for Australia #39;s rugby match against England at Twickenham on Saturday as coach Eddie Jones rearranges his side to deal with injuries.


New Homes Sales Rise 0.2 Pct. in October (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. new home sales rose 0.2 percent\in October to the third-highest level on record following an\upwardly revised gain in September, a government report showed\on Wednesday.


The Fool's Look Ahead

Think you can make it through the week ahead? Here is some financial news to look out for, plus crafty tips to make the leftovers go down smoothly.


A Fool Looks Back

Doughnuts, macadamia nuts, and toy nuts were in play in a short yet lively week in the market.


Biogen, Elan up on MS drug approval

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Elan Corp. and Biogen Idec rose in premarket trade Wednesday after the US Food and Drug Administration approved the companies #39; multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri.


Update 1: GE Unit to Buy Ionics for \$1.1 Billion

A unit of the industrial, financial and media conglomerate General Electric Co. said Wednesday it will buy the water treatment company Ionics Inc.


UMich Finds Consumer Sentiment Up a Bit

US consumer sentiment brightened slightly in November, helped by cheaper gasoline and a better jobs outlook, a survey released on Wednesday showed.


The \$28K Sandwich That Grew No Mold

With a winning bid of \$28,000, the online casino GoldenPalace.com won the auction for one of eBay #39;s most coveted oddities: a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich, one side of which bears the Virgin Mary #39;s image.


Answers.com: Get to know more than one browser

In the past, I have taken great pride in informing you, my readers, about new and cutting-edge technology. Sometimes it is also necessary to re-examine existing or older technologies.


The Sims 2 - First Expansion Announced

The first expansion for the Sims 2 game will be The Sims 2 University. With the University expansion, your Sims will be able to enroll in college, attend classes and of course, party.


DS Dead Pixels Issue

If you got a Nintendo DS, you may have been one of the unlucky few to have gotten systems with a  quot;dead pixel. quot; This dead pixel is a tiny dot on the screen that is stuck on one color and never changes.


Researchers Develop 3-D Phone Technology (AP)

AP - It's an idea that was popularized by Princess Leia's plea for help in Star Wars: sending a 3-D hologram. Now, two Japanese scientists have developed technology they hope will one day turn the humble telephone booth into a high-tech chamber for beaming holographic images.


Liverpool Football Club eye Italian

The Reds are in desperate need for a striker following the injuries to Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros, whilst Luis Garcias hamstring problem has hardly helped matters.


BAR Dashes Davidson #39;s Williams Hopes

BAR dashed Briton Anthony Davidson #39;s hopes of racing for Formula One rivals Williams on Wednesday. A month after they fended off the BMW-powered team #39;s bid for highly-rated


UK #39;s Straw Gets Israeli Pledge on Palestinian Vote

Israeli leaders told Britain #39;s foreign secretary on Wednesday they would do their utmost to let Palestinians hold elections but criticized the top presidential candidate


US Troops End Nine Years in Bosnia Peace Force

The US military on Wednesday ended a 9-year peacekeeping role in Bosnia but kept on a small contingent to hunt down top war crimes suspects Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.


Saved from the jaws of death

DOLPHINS saved a former St Ives man and his daughter from a shark attack as they swam off the northern New Zealand coast. The bottlenose dolphins surrounded Rob Howes, 47, his daughter Niccy, 15, Helen Slade


Chirac arrives in Libya for first ever visit by French head of state (AFP)

AFP - President Jacques Chirac arrived in Libya in the first ever visit by a French head of state, confirming maverick leader Moamer Kadhafi's gradual return to international respectability.


GAME OFF' URGED (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - An assortment of politicians, religious leaders and social advocacy groups lashed out Tuesday at the video-game industry and retailers, saying they make violent and racy games too accessible to children.


Foreign troop withdrawal only when Iraq stable: Mubarak (AFP)

AFP - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said he was not disappointed that a two-day conference on the future of Iraq, hosted by his country earlier this week, failed to set a date for the withdrawal of foreign troops.


Linux Server Sales Hit a New High (PC World)

PC World - For the first time, sales top  #36;1 billion in one quarter, researcher says.


Hearing Set After Microsoft Rivals Quit (Reuters)

Reuters - The judge considering Microsoft\Corp.'s appeal against European Union sanctions has called a\closed meeting for Thursday to decide what action to take after\two more major opponents of the U.S. software giant withdrew\from the case.


IPod creates its own economy (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Investors usually get nervous when a company relies on the sales of one product. The exception is when that product is an Apple iPod. Just as consumers can't seem to get enough of the iPod, investors are foaming over companies having anything to do with the digital music player.


Arctic States Agree to a Vague Plan to Slow Thaw (Reuters)

Reuters - Eight Arctic countries agreed to a\vague plan to counter a rapid melt of the region on Wednesday\with indigenous peoples accusing the United States of blocking\stronger action aimed at slowing global warming.


New World Conservation Boss Eyes Climate, Oceans (Reuters)

Reuters - The newly elected president of the\World Conservation Union (IUCN) said Wednesday that global\warming and the lack of protected marine zones were key\challenges that needed to be hoisted high on the green agenda.


Archaeologists Discover Bronze Age Site (AP)

AP - Archaeologists said Wednesday they have comprehensively dated the contents of a Bronze Age site in Scotland, probably the first time such a site has been dated in its entirety.


US sweeps Iraqi Sunni 'hotspots'

Thousands of US-led troops target lawless areas south of Baghdad known as Iraq's "triangle of death".


Math Whiz Breaks Calculation Record (AP)

AP - A 38-year-old with degrees in psychology, education and computer science needed only 11.8 seconds to calculate the 13th root of a 100-digit number in his head, setting a new record, organizers said.


Utility Will Pay \$7.2 Million in Electrocution

Consolidated Edison has agreed to pay the family of a woman who was electrocuted on a city street more than \$6.2 million and to set up a \$1 million scholarship fund in her name.


Dutch actress to authenticate breasts online

No implants up top, insists <cite>Playboy</cite> model


Urgent meeting in Microsoft case

A judge in a major EU anti-trust case against Microsoft calls a sudden meeting after high-profile departures.


New browser wins over net surfers

\The proportion of surfers using Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) has dropped to below 90, say web analysts.


"2046" makers deny "Oscars" snub over Wong exclusion from gong list (AFP)

AFP - Stars of Wong Kar-wai's acclaimed movie "2046" may skip Asia's glittering version of the Oscars next week, aides said, while denying the cast was snubbing the event in protest at Wong's absence from the best director nominees' list.


GAO to Investigate Voting Irregularies (AP)

AP - The Government Accountability Office, responding to a request from Democratic lawmakers, will investigate the way votes were counted in the Nov. 2 election.


AMD Says Demand Rebounded After Election Hiccup

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Computer chip demand turned  positive after a "hiccup" around the time of the U.S.  presidential elections, an Advanced Micro Devices Inc.  executive said on Tuesday.


Finland Says Could Cancel Tele2's 3G License

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland may withdraw a third  generation mobile network license from Suomen 3G, an operator  owned by Sweden's Tele2 TEL2b.ST, due to delays in building  the high-speed network, it said on Tuesday.


Linux Ready for Prime Time, Intel Says

Despite all the Linux hype, the open-source movement has yet to make a huge splash in the desktop market.  That may be about to change, thanks to chipmaking giant Intel Corp. -washingtonpost.com


MedImmune Forms Research Partnership

MedImmune Inc. will pay a New Jersey biotech company \$15 million to collaborate with it on potential new treatments for autoimmune diseases, starting with lupus. - The Washington Post


Hearing Set After Microsoft Rivals Quit

\

 By David Lawsky

 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The judge considering Microsoft\Corp.'s appeal against European Union sanctions has called a\closed meeting for Thursday to decide what action to take after\two more major opponents of the U.S. software giant withdrew\from the case.


FCC: 8M Wireless Users Keep Cell Numbers

Nearly 8 million mobile phone users have switched carriers and kept their cell numbers since a new rule allowing that flexibility went into effect one year ago, the Federal Communications Commission disclosed Tuesday.


Online Movie Pirate Ordered to Pay \$23.8M

A Malaysian man must pay film studios \$23.8 million for running a Web site that allowed paying members to watch pirated movies, the Motion Picture Association said.


Group Cites Video Games for Violence, Sex

Video games that have players shoot rival gang members, watch bare-breasted women and recreate the assassination of President Kennedy were criticized Tuesday by advocacy groups that said, at the least, they should be kept away from children.


'Half-Life 2' a Tech Masterpiece

It's been six years since Valve Corp. perfected the first-person shooter with "Half-Life." Video games have come a long way since, with better graphics and more options than ever. Still, relatively few games have mustered this one's memorable characters and original science fiction story.


Genes to blame for restless sleep

\If you can't get a good night's sleep it's likely that your parents are at least partly to blame.


Barrow Placed on IR

The Redskins have placed linebacker Mike Barrow on the injured reserve list, which means he will not play a down for them this season.


Authorities Seize Tape

Federal authorities have seized a videotape believed to be at the center of an alleged blackmail attempt against Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield and his wife, a prosecutor said.


Biogen gets the first in 8 years FDA approval for a multiple <b>...</b>

Today was a day of good news for multiple sclerosis patients: FDA granted approval to a new anti-multiple sclerosis drug Antegren developed by Biogen Idec Inc.


After AT amp;T merger, Cingular Wireless expects to cut 6,800 jobs

NOVEMBER 24, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - With its acquisition of AT amp;T Wireless Services Inc. complete (see story), Cingular Wireless LLC is preparing to lay off about 10 of its 68,000 workers over a 12- to 18-month period starting next year.


Time Warner Nears Settlement on AOL Charges

Under a deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is still under discussion, Time Warner would not admit any wrongdoing but would pay \$750 million to settle the case.


Malaysia #39;s Genting in JV with UK casino operator

KUALA LUMPUR - Genting International Plc, a subsidiary of Malaysia #39;s Genting Berhad, has agreed to set up a 50:50 joint venture with the United Kingdom #39;s largest casino operator, Stanley Leisure.


Judge Blocks RIAA Mass Suits

Last week, members of the Motion Picture Association of America filed 11 lawsuits against hundreds of people they accused of using file-sharing networks to share copies of movies.


UPDATE 2-GE to buy water treatment company for \$1.1 billion

General Electric Co. (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will buy Ionics Inc. (ION.N: Quote, Profile, Research) for \$1.1 billion to build out its water treatment and services business


If Turnpike Strike Hits, No Tolls On First Day

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has decided that drivers will get a free ride Wednesday if toll collectors and other unionized employees go on strike.


Mixed Economic Data Fog US Outlook

Orders for long-lasting US goods slipped unexpectedly in October, but new home sales rose, consumer sentiment brightened a bit this month and claims for jobless aid fell, a mixed bag of reports showed on Wednesday.


US consumer sentiment rises slightly

NEW YORK - US consumer sentiment brightened slightly in November, helped by cheaper gasoline and a better jobs outlook, but came in below market expectations, a survey released Wednesday showed.


#39;Virgin Mary #39; toast sold on net

A piece of toast said to bear a picture of the Virgin Mary has sold on the internet for a whopping \$28,000. It #39;s actually a toasted cheese sandwich that was made 10 years ago, and the burn marks on it look like the Biblical figure.


Three major music labels tie up with P2P service

Three major music labels have signed up to allow their music to be used by the Peer Impact peer-to-peer (P2P) service, according to a report from the Reuters news agency.


AMD Shows Off 2005 Mobile Line

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has expanded its increasingly popular mobile line of chips, named Sempron. The new processor has higher performance and integrated EVP anti-virus technology.


With budget set, NASA plans next move

Flush with a newly approved \$16.2 billion budget, NASA will be able to flesh out a way to save the Hubble Space Telescope, choose a new spacecraft and develop new ways to get back to the moon, Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe said Tuesday.


Citrix buys hybrid VPN vendor

Editor #39;s Summary: Citrix is acquiring VPN provider Net6 for \$50 million in a move to expand its presence in the security space.


Report On Video Games

Parents heading out to buy holiday gifts, listen up. There #39;s a warning out Wednesday about extremely violent and explicit video games.


The News and Observer

MSN Search has a few features that go beyond Google, but it #39;s generally disappointing. Granted, the new MSN search is still in the  quot;beta quot; phase, and Microsoft is expected to make the technology part of its main MSN site early next year.


Kazaa to dial up a respectable living

Kazaa, the internet site which attracted the fury of the music industry by allowing users to download tunes for free, has ventured into the telecoms sector.


New software detects fake art

p2pnet.net News:- Software to help authenticate paintings, prints and drawings has been developed by researchers at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire in the US.


Huygens probe gets clean bill of health

The European Space Agency #39;s Huygens probe, carried millions of miles to Saturn on board the NASA Cassini space craft, has completed its final series of checks before separation.


WRAPUP 1-Russia, France close in on Fed Cup final

Fed Cup favourites Russia and France are firmly on course to meet in the final after taking commanding 2-0 leads in their semi-finals on Wednesday.


Luis Garcia becomes latest Liverpool casualty

Liverpool, England (Sports Network) - Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia pulled his hamstring during Tuesday #39;s 1-0 loss to Monaco in Champions League action and will be out of action for about a month.


Bayern keen to restore European reputation

MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Having qualified for the last sixteen of the Champions League German powerhouse Bayern Munich are determined to repeat their 2001 success to prove they are back as a force in European football.


BAR block Davidsons Williams test

According to BAR, the team had originally consented to the test as part of an agreement whereby Davidson could drive for Williams in 2005, with BAR keeping a conditional option on his services for the following season.


JPM FASTEST ON MCLAREN DEBUT

Juan Pablo Montoya ended his first day as a McLaren driver at the top of the Barcelona timesheets. The Colombian was half a second faster than former Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher, who was making his Toyota debut.


INDIANAPOLIS (7-3) At DETROIT (4-6)

KEY MATCHUP - Colts QB Peyton Manning vs. Detroit secondary. No one has stopped Manning this season. The Lions #39; defense hasn #39;t stopped much at all.


After making nuke deal, Iran reportedly wants exception

Iran is demanding that it be allowed to make an exception in its commitment to freeze all uranium enrichment activities so it can operate about about two dozen centrifuges, diplomats said Wednesday.


Israel  #39;Calls for UK to Be Peace Mediator #39;

Israel today appealed to Britain to act as a bridge between them and the Palestinians in an effort to restart the Middle East peace process.


PeopleSoft  #39;Poison Pill #39; Hearing on Ice

A federal judge has postponed his decision on PeopleSoft #39;s last hostile takeover defense against Oracle until next month. Delaware Chancery Court Judge Leo Strine said he would need more information from both


Cingular Confirms Job Cuts

Layoffs at Cingular Wireless were inevitable after it acquired AT amp;T Wireless, but what #39;s with the timing? A Cingular spokesman yesterday confirmed an Associated Press report that Cingular


Judge to rule on MyTravel

By Alistair Osborne, Associate City Editor (Filed: 23/11/2004). A high court judge will rule tomorrow whether MyTravel, the troubled package holiday group, can force through an 800m debt-for-equity swap without the consent of its bondholders.


Pennsylvania Turnpike Workers Go on Strike

Motorists coasted through Pennsylvania Turnpike toll plazas for free on Wednesday morning after roughly 1,300 unionized toll collectors and maintenance workers went on


U.S. May Add Advisers to Aid Iraq's Military

The top commander in Iraq is reviewing a proposal to add hundreds of U.S. military advisers to work directly with Iraqi units.


Corporate p2p network?

p2pnet.net News:- Wurld Media, which, among other things, boasts its,  quot;partnered with the USArmy, quot; says it #39;s struck a deal with three of the Big Four record label cartel members to peddle their  #39;product #39; through what it calls a peer-to-peer service


AMD Mobilizes Against Centrino

AMD (Quote, Chart) took the wraps off a batch of new mobile processors it hopes will steal market share away from Intel #39;s Centrino empire.


BT, Blueprint develop digital music service

British telco BT and media technologies company Blueprint have announced plans to jointly develop a digital music service using Blueprints Open Royalty Gateway and Song Centre software.


Finally, a way to Google your hard drive

You can usually find information more easily on the vast Internet than you can on your own computer #39;s hard drive. The reason, of course, is that the search tools designed to index the Internet are much better developed than those for personal computers.


Sports need to regain control of fans, players

From time to time, basketball players are referred to as  quot;cagers. quot; The term dates back to the early years of basketball when courts were surrounded by chicken wire to separate players from unruly fans.


Juan Pablo Montoya makes West McLaren Mercedes debut

Juan Pablo Montoya made his debut for the West McLaren Mercedes Formula One team as preparations for the 2005 season commenced at the Circuit de Catalunya


R. Williams Could Be Eligible to Start Next Season

Ricky Williams #39;s representatives apparently are close to completing an agreement with the NFL that could make the retired Miami Dolphins tailback eligible to play at the outset of the 2005 season.


Former Gamecocks ready for Spurrier era

quot;I #39;m excited as I can be, quot; said legendary Bradwell Institute football player Candler Boyd.  quot;I hated to see anybody go out like coach Holtz did.


Afghan hostages grateful, eager to work

Three UN election workers freed nearly a month after being abducted in Afghanistan thanked the nation #39;s people for the support shown during their ordeal.


AIG settles over accounting probe

The  world's largest insurance group pays \$126m in fines as part of a settlement with US regulators over its dealings with two firms.


Oil prices hold as US stocks rise

Oil prices remain steady in New York trade as official data showed the first rise in US crude stocks in 10 weeks.


Judge Approves MyTravel Survival Plan

A High Court judge on Wednesday approved a debt-for-equity survival plan developed by MyTravel, clearing the way for the troubled travel company to present the proposal to shareholders and creditors next month.


UBS Raises Its Rating on Delta; Shares Up

Shares of US airlines took off in Wednesday trading after UBS Investment Bank raised its rating on Delta Air Lines Inc., saying the cash-strapped carrier #39;s latest survival moves are lessening prospects of bankruptcy.


P2P start-up gets record label deals

A small peer-to-peer start-up has won rights from three of the four major record labels to distribute their music online. The deals with Peer Impact , a new division of online marketing company Wurld Media


Select Comfort Monthly Recap

We keep up with what's important about Select Comfort, in case you don't have time.


Auditor to Army: Dock Halliburton Pay (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. Army should withhold some\future payments to Halliburton  for work in Iraq due to\billing disputes, a government auditor said on Wednesday, a\move that could cost the contractor tens of millions of\dollars.


The Tiny Next Big Thing

As nanotechnology evolves, the smart investor will keep an eye on the players most likely to be left standing -- and making money.


30-Year Mortgage Rates Inch Down in Week (Reuters)

Reuters - Interest rates on U.S. 30-year\mortgages edged slightly lower in the latest week, continuing\to offer an enticing rate to prospective home owners, mortgage\finance company Freddie Mac said on Wednesday.


Target Is the Target

Eddie Lampert is looking for Target-type valuations in the merger of Kmart and Sears.


Time to Hang Up the Boots?

WWE's revenue rundowns no longer shock investors. But the drop in earnings and free cash flow should.


United Re-Signs Namoff

D.C. United inks defender Bryan Namoff to a multiyear contract extension on Monday afternoon.


Good Ol' Gottschalks

The regional department store company is gearing up for the all-important holidays.


GE to Buy Water Treatment Co for \$1.1 Bln

\

 BOSTON (Reuters) - General Electric Co. <GE.N> will buy\Ionics Inc. <ION.N> for \$1.1 billion to build out its water\treatment and services business, one of its major growth\initiatives, the companies said on Wednesday.


Browns Start Searches

The Cleveland Browns have a few names in mind for both head coach and general manager with coordinators from Philadelphia and New England on the list.


House G.O.P. Voids Rule It Adopted Shielding Leader

After fierce criticism, House Republicans reversed a rule change that would have allowed a party leader to retain his position even if indicted.


Judge Blocks RIAA Mass Suits

The music industry's tactic of mass file-sharing lawsuits is improper, a California judge rules. Also: Japanese scientists work on holographic phones....  Microsoft's antitrust case delayed but not over   hellip;. and more.


Police Seek Chair Thrower in NBA Brawl (AP)

AP - Police said Wednesday they have received some tips in their effort to determine who threw a chair during the brawl that broke out during last week's Pistons-Pacers game.


Indians Sign Closer Wickman for One Year (AP)

AP - Free agent closer Bob Wickman agreed to a  #36;2.75 million, one-year deal Wednesday and returned to the Cleveland Indians, whose shaky bullpen without him early last season cost them any chance of winning the AL Central.


Analysts See More U.S. Newspaper Consolidation Ahead (Reuters)

Reuters - A wave of consolidation in the U.S.\newspaper industry could be on the way as publishers grapple\with a maturing industry that faces stiff competition from\television and the Internet, publishing experts say.


Report: Pinochet's Assets Frozen (AP)

AP - A judge investigating Gen. Augusto Pinochet's secret multi-million dollar bank accounts in the United States has ordered the assets of the former dictator frozen, a local newspaper reported Wednesday.


PCCW delays UK broadband roll-out (FT.com)

FT.com - PCCW, the Hong Kong telecoms group, has ruled out a nationwide roll-out of its UK wireless broadband service in the near term in a move that will reduce competition in the market for fast internet access.


Police arrest activists protesting against Shell in Nigerian oil city (AFP)

AFP - Police in southern Nigeria arrested three activists of a minority rights group who were protesting against the activities of the Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, the group's spokesman said.


Deadly Afghan Blast Follows Hostage Drama (AP)

AP - A bomb ripped through a U.S. patrol in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing two American soldiers and wounding another, a reminder of the country's insecurity after a newly resolved hostage drama.


Linux Ready for Prime Time, Intel Says (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Despite all the hype about Linux and other open-source operating systems, the fact remains that Microsoft Corp. continues to dominate the desktop universe, with 90 percent or so of the world's personal computers powered by one version of Windows or another.


Cincinnati QB Might Miss Louisville Game (AP)

AP - Cincinnati star quarterback Gino Guidugli broke a bone in his throwing hand when he slipped outside his home, and he might miss Saturday's game at No. 7 Louisville.


Dec. Hearing Set for Oracle-PeopleSoft (AP)

AP - The trial of Oracle Corp.'s attempt to upset PeopleSoft Inc.'s antitakeover measures will continue in December, the judge overseeing the case said Wednesday.


Top-Giving PACs Favor GOP Candidates 10-1 (AP)

AP - The top-giving corporate political action committees didn't hedge their bets in the fall elections despite the narrow division between the GOP and Democrats in Congress. They favored Republican candidates 10-to-1.


Genetic Factors Influence Female Infidelity -Study (Reuters)

Reuters - Genetic factors influence female\infidelity and the number of sexual partners women have,\British scientists said on Wednesday.


US Military Taps Bugs and Weeds in War on Terror (Reuters)

Reuters - Don't squash that bug! Cockroaches,\beetles, spiders and worms may be the U.S. government's next\line of defense in the war on terror.


Three UN hostages released unharmed and healthy in Afghanistan (AFP)

AFP - Three United Nations hostages were freed in Afghanistan unharmed and healthy after almost four weeks in captivity amid conflicting claims over whether the government promised to free Taliban prisoners in exchange for their release.


Satellite TV Made Available From the Back Seat (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - With the advent of a new generation of relatively affordable mobile antennas, satellite television is about to jump from the living room to the back seats of vans, recreational vehicles and family cars.


NASA's Moon-Mars Initiative Harms Science: American Physical Society Report (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - A new report released by an American\Physical Society (APS) Special Committee on NASA Funding for Astrophysics has\questioned the space agency's Moon, Mars and Beyond initiative. The APS\assessment warns that t  he cost of overcoming technological\challenges to make real the plan could far exceed budgetary projections and that\numerous nbsp;approved science programs could be jeopardized.


Chile plans jail for Pinochet men

Chile's government says it will build a  prison for officers convicted of human rights abuses in the Pinochet era.


Minors held in Spanish porn swoop

Spanish police arrest 90 people, including 21 minors, in one of its largest ever operations on child pornography.


Barcelona Testing, Day 1, 24/11/04

Fisico's first run for Renault as Franck begins development work for 2005.


Pigeons 'sense magnetic field'

Homing pigeons use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate their way home over long distances, scientists claim.


Offense to Begin Anew

Ravens offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh will not return for the 2005 season after meeting with Coach Brian Billick on Monday.


Election Commission in Ukraine Affirms Early Results

As opposition protests entered a third day, Prime Minister Viktor F. Yanukovich was declared the winner.


Isaac Newton in the Kitchen

The revision of Harold McGee's 1984 book, "On Food and Cooking," answers eternal kitchen questions, including those related to Thanksgiving.


France's Chirac Makes Historic Libya Trip (AP)

AP - French President Jacques Chirac, arriving Wednesday in Libya for the first visit there by a French head of state in more than half a century, said that turbulent times were over as the two countries embark on a "dynamic and positive phase."


Hormel Credits Atkins for Sales Up 15 Pct (Reuters)

Reuters - Hormel Foods Corp.  on\Wednesday reported a quarterly profit that was little changed\from a year earlier, but topped Wall Street's estimates by a\penny as strong demand for pork and turkey offset higher\expenses.


US actor fined over Oscars piracy

An Oscar voter is fined 300,000 after copies of movies he was sent ended up on the internet.


Minors held in Spain porn swoop


Md. Group Finds Problems With Voting Machines

An organization that put more than 400 poll watchers in Maryland precincts on election day reported Tuesday that its volunteers found scattered problems with the state's electronic voting machines.


Sports Authority Getting in Shape

The sporting goods retailer trims its quarterly loss and maintains its outlook.


Neandertals Beaten by Rivals' Word Skills, Study Says

Neandertals may have died out like a bad movie #151;by word of mouth. Modern humans' complex use of language sounded the defeat of their big-browed cousins, a new study says.


Magnetic Beaks Help Birds Navigate, Study Says

Homing pigeons may use a magnetic "map" inside their beaks to navigate, according to new research.


Lizards Help Explain Survival of the Not-So-Fittest

Is it possible to outrun evolution? Two new lizard-behavior studies look at why it's not always just the fittest that survive.


Artful Software Spots Faked Masterpieces

A new digital authentication technique supplies forensic art experts with a new tool to distinguish paintings by masters from those by imitators, scientists say.


Birding Column: Backyard Bathing Beauties

Birder Mathew Tekulsky describes the bathing habits of birds, explaining the dependence of birds on water.


Comeback Beavers Butt Heads With Humans

Once harvested almost to extinction in the northeastern U.S., beavers have returned in such huge numbers that they are becoming a nuisance in some areas.


Gartner: Offshore IT spending to hit \$50 billion

Upcoming Gartner study on IT spending for offshoring.


Cingular works to certify Audiovox smart phone for its network

Cingular Wireless LLC is testing Audiovox #39;s Windows Mobile smart phone for use on its network, a move indicative of the complications surrounding the carrier #39;s combination with AT amp;T Wireless Services Inc.


Time Warner Shares Rise on Settlement Talks Report

Shares of Time Warner Inc rose 2 percent on Tuesday after a report that the world #39;s largest media company was near a settlement with regulators that could limit potential


Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Free Due to Strike by Workers

The busiest travel weekend of the year is upon us and there will be no tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It #39;s not some good will gesture on the part of the state, it #39;s due to a strike called by toll collectors.


Group finds 85 hazardous toys

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) has published its annual list of toys that it claims can harm or kill children, particularly those with small parts.


US Postal Service wants price hike

NEW YORK - The US Postal Service is set to ask early next year for a rise in postage stamp prices of at least 10 percent, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.


Orders for US durables retreat in October

The US manufacturing sector continued to demonstrate that its road to recovery is anything but smooth in October as orders for big-ticket items unexpectedly fell.


Virgin Mary Cheese Sandwich

I am surprised this is still making news after so many days. However, if someone pays 28000 dollars for a grilled sandwich it is something.


Linus Torvalds against EU patent directive

They are asking the European Union Council to reject this proposal. They claim that software patent directive would be harmful to the European economy.


Now Cellphones Can Get Nasty Virus, Too

If you #39;re a Nokia smart phone user, better pay attention...come to think of it, better pay attention even if you aren #39;t. The first malicious virus to attack cell phones seems to target Nokia smart phones.


5.6 Million Choose Firefox In First Two Weeks

More than 5.6 million copies of the Firefox 1.0 stand-alone browser have been downloaded in the first two weeks of its release, the Mozilla Foundation said this week.


Anfield #39;s big three make Kop appeal

Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia have appealed to the Kop to inspire a reprisal of Liverpools great European performances when Olympiacos visit Anfield next month for a critical Champions League match.


Champions League: Group C - Bayern Munich join Juventus as <b>...</b>

The big winners of the night in Group C were Bayern Munich, whose 5-1 drubbing of Maccabi Tel Aviv ensured their passage to the knockout stages.


Dodgers Ink Tracy For Two More Years

Los Angeles, CA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed manager Jim Tracy to a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the club through the 2006 season.


Celtic invited to make complaint

Glasgow Celtic FC have been invited to make an official complaint after manager Martin O #39;Neill claimed one of his players was the victim of racism.


Guidugli might miss Louisville game Saturday

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli broke a bone in his throwing hand when he slipped outside his home and might miss Saturday #39;s game at Louisville (No.


Iran wants to exempt centrifuges from nuclear freeze

It wants to be allowed to operate dozens of centrifuges  quot;for research purposes quot; -- an activity banned under a uranium enrichment freeze Iran just agreed to.


Kashmir is key to peace, says Pakistani PM

NEW DELHI:  quot;Who could say some 20 years ago that the Berlin Wall would be a thing of the past, quot; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told his Pakistan counterpart Shaukat Aziz on his arrival on Tuesday.


Indonesian police to investigate bribery allegations

Indonesia #39;s chief of police is to investigate allegations that the most wanted terrorist in the country, Dr Azahari Husin, escaped arrest by bribing a policeman.


Letter from Jerusalem

THIS WEEK, we #39;ve had snow in the north and of locusts in the south, which seems like a pretty fitting illustration for the extremes that exist in this small sliver of the globe.


Bahrain offers to play host as Baghdad urged to expand dialogue

Bahrain yesterday offered to host a national conference for Iraq as the interim Iraqi government came under international pressure to broaden dialogue


Mbeki Plans 3-Day Mission to Ivory Coast--Aide

South African President Thabo Mbeki is determined to work hard to end the conflict in Ivory Coast and is likely to spend up to three days there next week, his spokesman said on Wednesday.


Desiring Stability

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs expects few major personnel changes in the offseason and wants to instill a culture of stability in Washington.


Jerusalem Unimpressed with Assads Statements

(IsraelNN.com) Officials in Jerusalem responding to statements quoting Syrian President Bashar el-Assad report there is nothing new in Syrias position.


Report: Microsoft paid CCIA official

The antitrust settlement between Microsoftand the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) announced earlier this month included a payment of \$9.75 million to the CCIA's president, according to a report published Wednesday.


Microsoft offers to replace fake copies of Windows XP

Software pirates' increasing skill at creating counterfeit versions of Windows XP has prompted Microsoft to introduce a pilot program that offers to verify whether consumers' software is legitimate and replace fake versions with authentic goods.


Intel ramps up support for Linux in Asia

Intelhas released its Quick Start Kit for Linux, stepping up support for Asian system integrators that offer Linux-based desktop PCs.


Linux Server Sales Hit a New High

For the first time, sales top \$1 billion in one quarter, researcher says.


E-Voting Problems Found in Maryland

Reported incidents were likely a small percentage of actual problems, group says.


Report Identifies Dangerous Toys

There are still lots of dangerous toys lurking on store shelves across the United States, says a nationwide survey released Tuesday by the US Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG).


Call Service with a Sneer (Reuters)

Reuters - Score one for the faceless functionary\on the other end of the telephone line.


BEST OF ECT NEWS Biometrics: ThinkPad and Beyond

quot;Everything is a trade-off, and the techniques used to find the bad guys will be balanced by our democracy and drive for rights of privacy, quot; said security expert Evan Scott.


France and Russia head for final

MOSCOW, Russia -- France and Russia both secured two singles victories apiece in their Fed Cup semifinals against Spain and Austria on Wednesday to edge closer to a final showdown.


Dodgers ink Tracy for two more years

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed manager Jim Tracy to a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the club through the 2006 season.


Rangers #39; chief speaks in fans #39; defence

Rangers chairman David Murray tonight hit back at Celtic manager Martin O #39;Neill #39;s claims that the Ibrox fans are racist and reminded officials at both clubs of their  #39;responsibility in ensuring safety and fair play #39;.


NFL THANKSGIVING DAY FIXED ODDS BETTING PREVIEW

On Thursday evening, Sky Sports viewers can tuck into two Thanksgiving Day NFL games. First up is Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions, which is then followed by the slightly less appealing Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys.


Google and the History of Link Building

Google and the History of Link Building\\I can't begin to tell you how sick I am of reading articles and posts that mention the two words "Google" and "penalty" in the same sentence!\\So many webmasters are walking on eggshells these days when it comes to Google, and it just doesn't ...


Ask Jeeves and Lycos Enter the Search Engine Optimization Field\\In a highly surprising move, two well known smaller search engines have entered the organic search engine optimization market!  Ask Jeeves and Lycos are both offering services in a sector has traditionally maintained a symbiotic but arm's-length relationship with search ...


Ask Jeeves Asks Googles AdWords

Ask Jeeves Asks Google's AdWords\\Have you ever spoke with an expert in a field and asked them a question about a topic they should have the answer to, but they respond that they need to ask someone else? Well, what about Ask Jeeves? You do a search at Ask Jeeves, ...


MSN Search Beta Not Ranking MSN Search Blog\\Ok, I lied in the title of the thread (original title was "penalizing MSN Search Blog"), but it did get you to click over from your RSS feed aggregator, didn't it? ;) But there is some truth to this title, MSN Search Beta ...


Mozilla Firefox Internet Browser Market Share Gains to 7.4\\The latest survey from OneStat.com shows what was expected. Firefox is gaining on Internet Explorer and pretty rapidly. As per the reports, Mozilla Foundation has taken a 7.4 market share gaining more than 5 since May. Microsoft rsquo;s Internet Explorer has dropped down ...


Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sells on eBay for \$28,000\\Remember the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich that was put up on eBay and hit bids up to \$16,000 last week. Well, the bidding in finally done on the miracle hot lunch and the final bid on the blessed sandwich came in ...


News: Poison applet peril affects IE, Opera and Firefox

A vulnerability in a Java plug-in from Sun Microsystems used by most web browsers poses a risk for users of IE and alternative browsers alike.


News: Career database 'wide open' to hijacking

An on-line database containing the career and contact details of over 22 million business people can be edited by anyone.


Airlines Cough Up Passenger Data

After initial complaints about the government order, U.S. airlines finally comply, turning over a massive amount of information about travelers so the feds can test a screening system. By Ryan Singel.


Playing the Touching Game

Its touch panel makes the Nintendo DS a unique and fun gadget, although the system and the current crop of games don't use it to its fullest. By Chris Kohler.


Newspapers Should Really Worry

It's no secret that the internet threatens the newspaper business. But there's increasing evidence that young people are dumping print in favor of screens at a faster clip than anyone suspected. Commentary by Adam L. Penenberg.


Dive! Dive! Dive!

Next fall, a team will venture to the Mariana Trench to drop a remotely operated camera system 7 miles down to the bottom of the deepest spot on Earth. Here are some milestones on the voyage to the bottom of the sea. By Michael Menduno from Wired magazine.


The Drive to Discover

The need to push our boundaries is in our DNA. We can't afford not to go to Mars -- or anyplace else, for that matter. By James Cameron for Wired magazine.


Database Flawed, Not Malevolent

Although Florida election officials are chastized for being lax in monitoring the company that built a lousy database for tracking felons and dead voters, an internal audit concludes that there was no intent to disenfranchise anyone.


Retailers Hope to Lure Shoppers Into Malls (AP)

AP - The nation's retailers are hoping furry ponchos, fur-lined flip-flops, and sweater sets adorned with multiple broaches will excite shoppers this holiday season and lure them into stores and malls earlier than in previous years.


Falluja Rebels Had Enough Arms to Rule Iraq -U.S. (Reuters)

Reuters - Arab militants and\insurgents who ruled the volatile city of Falluja before a\U.S.-led offensive this month had enough weapons to take over\all of Iraq, Marine officers said on Wednesday.


US consumer confidence falls short in November

US consumer sentiment improved at a slower pace than expected in November despite an improving labour market and easing energy prices.


Cavaliers Activate Forward Luke Jackson (AP)

AP - Cavaliers forward Luke Jackson was activated Wednesday after missing five games because of tendinitis in his right knee. Cleveland also placed forward Sasha Pavlovic on the injured list.


Cassini captures Tethys in all her glory

In a portrait of perfect composition, Saturns moon Tethys has been captured hanging suspended in space just below the planets horizon.


AMD #39;s Mobile Sempron Takes On Intel

AMD #39;s latest Mobile AMD Sempron 3000 is set to go head to head with Intel #39;s high-end Centrino CPUs. The AMD processor offers Enhanced Virus Protection designed to prevent the spread of malicious viruses when


Add-ons Extend Firefox Growth

The recent success of the Firefox movement -- thousands of volunteers spreading the Gospel of Mozilla to every corner of the Internet -- is spawning a new kind of growth.


Rafter dies in Grand Canyon National Park

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - A 62-year-old man from Phoenix died after his boat overturned on the Colorado River, a Grand Canyon spokeswoman said Wednesday.


The sun sets on the VCR

The likely death of the video recorder - as reflected in the decision of Dixons not to stock them any more because of the popularity of DVDs - will come as a post-dated relief for millions of adults who claimed never to be able to programme them in the


Report Shows Uptick in Automated Phishing

eBay, PayPal, Microsoft and others -- is increasing. The report gave greater focus to the server side of


Ryanair, easyJet expand flights to Italy after Volare bankruptcy (AFP)

AFP - Ryanair and easyJet both announced plans to expand in the Italian market following the collapse of the low-cost airline Volare, which has declared insolvency and suspended flights and ticket sales.


Davidson #39;s F1 test with Williams in limbo

According to some reports, Honda are prepared to put their foot down on Davidson #39;s planned outing with the rival F1 team next month in Jerez, Spain.


Freed UN hostages meet Karzai, prepare to head home (AFP)

AFP - Three UN workers freed after almost four weeks in captivity in Afghanistan met President Hamid Karzai and said freedom felt "wonderful" as the first of them flew home for a reunion with his family.


Deputy Director: CIA Not 'Dysfunctional' (AP)

AP - Countering severe criticism of the CIA, the agency's departing deputy director called for an end to the "tirades and hyperbole" that he said are hampering constructive debate about needed intelligence reform.


Israel offers UK key peace role

The UK can play a "key role" in helping Israel and the Palestinians achieve peace, Israel's Foreign Minister says.


Roethlisberger, Vilma See Early Successes (AP)

AP - Rookie quarterbacks don't have immediate success in the NFL. Neither do first-year middle linebackers. The positions simply are too complicated and too critical, and coaches won't trust them to the novice.


No cherries at Pak PMs breakfast

The accent betrays his days as a banker in New York. The subject of his opening comments-the possibilities on trade, South Asias poor record on human development despite its rich human potential, etc sounds almost like Manmohan Singh.


US sweeps Iraqi Sunni  #39;hotspots #39;

More than 5,000 US-led forces are sweeping through lawless hotspots in an area south of Baghdad known as Iraq #39;s  quot;triangle of death quot;.


Sirius Shares Fall on Analyst Downgrade

Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. slipped more than 10 percent in Wednesday trading after a J.P. Morgan analyst downgraded the stock and told investors to take profits following a three-month run-up.


Update 1: Judge Won #39;t Approve PeopleSoft Settlement

A proposal to settle a lawsuit brought last year by shareholders of PeopleSoft Inc. failed to clear court Wednesday after a judge found it unfairly cut off their right to sue over the company #39;s resistance to a takeover by Oracle Corp.