Cardinals Down Astros, Move to World Series

Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen chase Houston starter Roger Clemens with two key hits as the Cardinals top the Astros, 5-2, to advance to the World Series against Boston.


Car production in 1st 3 quarters lower than expected

China #39;s car production and sales this year will be lower than expected and also the lowest increasesince China #39;s entry to the World Trade Organization three years ago, according to industry experts.


No. 15 West Virginia Beats Syracuse 27-6 (AP)

AP - Rasheed Marshall set a Big East career rushing mark for quarterbacks and threw three touchdown passes while leading No. 15 West Virginia over Syracuse 27-6 Thursday night.


Cavs Fall Short Again

Virginia's men's soccer team loses to visiting Duke, 3-0, on Saturday and fails to make the NCAA semifinals for the eighth time in nine years.


Myanmar state media confirms leader's India visit (AFP)

AFP - Myanmar's state media confirmed that the military regime's leader General Than Shwe would visit India, just days after the ousting of the nation's premier for alleged corruption.


Sudan prepares litany of charges against Darfur rebels

KHARTOUM, Oct 21 (AFP) -- Sudan has reportedly drawn up a list of charges against rebels in the troubled region of Darfur that it hopes to present to the United Nations during a meeting with representatives of the world body.


Cardinals Get to Clemens and World Series

The St. Louis Cardinals suddenly erupted against Roger Clemens, startling the Houston Astros, 5-2, Thursday night to take Game 7 of the N.L.C.S.


Terry, Howard Leads Mavs Over Knicks (AP)

AP - Jason Terry and Josh Howard each scored 17 points and the Dallas Mavericks cruised to a 112-74 preseason victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday night.


Smith Political Dinner Gets Bush, Carey (AP)

AP - Because President Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry were deemed too divisive for the annual Alfred E. Smith political dinner, the crowd heard from former President Bush and former New York Gov. Hugh Carey instead.


Nottingham to hold Danielle vigil

A vigil in Nottingham for murdered teenager Danielle Beccan will call for an end to the city's gun culture.


China #39;s economy up 9.5 in 1st 9 months

China #39;s economy grew by 9.5 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of this year, Spokesman Zheng Jingping for the National Bureau of Statistics announced in Beijing Friday.


Yahoo Buys Privately Held Stata Labs

Internet media and Web search company Yahoo Inc. (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it bought privately held e-mail search company Stata Labs, jumping into the nascent


Israel carries out new air strike on Gaza City

GAZA CITY, Oct 22 (AFP) - Israel carried out another air strike on Gaza City overnight Thursday, witnesses said Friday. Helicopter gunships fired three missiles at the house of a local chief of the so-called People #39;s Resistance Committees.


Compromise maystop commissionand MEPs clashing

A POLITICAL compromise to save the job of the new European Commissioner who thinks homosexuality is a sin was put to Euro MPs in Brussels yesterday.


Williams Propels Grizzlies Past Bucks (AP)

AP - Jason Williams scored 16 points and had five assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 97-75 preseason victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.


Raptors Fall to Cavs

Drew Gooden and LeBron James both score 27, leading the Cavaliers to a 105-97 win over the feuding Raptors, who didn't have Vince Carter.


Kerry hunts for votes; trade shots with Bush on health (AFP)

AFP - John Kerry literally went hunting for the support of gun-lovers and then tapped the power of  quot;Superman quot; to trade shots with President George W. Bush on health, as the two scouted votes that could swing a race still too close to call.


Consumption increase  quot;encouraging quot;: statistics official

A spokesman for China #39;s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said here Friday that the 9.7 percent increase of consumption in the first three quarters this year is  quot;encouraging quot;.


Red Sox Face Old Nemesis in Cardinals (AP)

AP - Paint the World Series red  #151; Red Sox and Redbirds, a classic matchup filled with a rich history.


The Other, Bigger Growing Deficit

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released Living Planet Report 2004the current edition of an annual index that tracks global species abundance and human use of natural resources.


Court Rules on Hamm Medal

New York - Paul Hamm says Thursday #39;s decision from sports #39; highest court confirms what he #39;s always felt in his heart. That he was champion in the men #39;s all around that night at the Athens Games and Olympic gold medalist.


Open snub riles hot Hensby

Victorian-born golfer Mark Hensby charged into a tie for second after the first round at the Funai Classic at Disney World, before revealing he would skip next month #39;s Australian Open to play in South Korea.


Preseason roundup

Zach Randolph had 34 points and 17 rebounds, leading an overwhelming inside game that gave the Portland Trail Blazers an 88-85 preseason victory Thursday night over the Toronto Raptors.


No. 15 West Virginia 27, Syracuse 6

Rasheed Marshall set a Big East career rushing mark for quarterbacks and threw three touchdown passes while leading No. 15 West Virginia over Syracuse 27-6 Thursday night.


Ogunleye has ligament tear in ankle

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye says he has a small tear in the ligament of his right ankle and won #39;t play Sunday against Tampa Bay.


Milosevic pleads to represent himself on war crimes charges

THE HAGUE - Former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic is pleading for the right to represent himself at his trial before the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.


Mixed Results for Bush in Battles Over Judges

After more than three years of appointment battles, President Bush's ambitions for the courts are clear, but his record is mixed.


Cards Secure World Series Clash with Red Sox

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Scott Rolen belted a two-run,  tie-breaking homer off Roger Clemens in the sixth inning to  give St Louis a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros at Busch  Stadium Thursday, earning the Cardinals a World Series berth.


Red Sox Get Ready to Play Encore

Hugs and celebrations over, Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona announced his rotation on Thursday afternoon.


In a Fan's Eyes, the World Turns Upside Down

There was a breakdown in the cosmic order Wednesday night. At least that's how it felt to Yankees fans.


Mo.-Based Charity Denies Terror Support (AP)

AP - The attorney for an Islamic charity whose office was searched by FBI agents last week says the charity has no ties to global terrorism or to a Sudanese group with a similar name that is under federal investigation.


Techs Lead Tokyo Stocks Up

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average was up 0.61  percent by midsession on Friday as strong gains in U.S.  technology shares encouraged investors to buy local peers such  as NEC Corp. that have recently fallen heavily.


Kidde rejects United Technologies bid

United Technologies made a 1.35 billion pound bid for Kidde, but the fire-fighting equipment maker has rejected the offer, saying it undervalues the company.


Chips are down in china merger

TROUBLED china maker Royal Doulton has revealed that it has held talks about a takeover by rival Waterford Wedgwood. Stoke-based Doulton, which said in March that it would close its last UK factory in the


Lampard: Eidur Is Gud to Go

Frank Lampard expects Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen to be back to top form in front of goal soon. The Icelander netted his first club strike since the opening day of the Barclays


New Magic Stars Key Win Over Hornets

Orlando Magic #39;s Steve Francis (3) drives to the basket in front of New Orleans Hornets #39; Baron Davis (1) in first half of a preseason game at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss.


NCAA Game Summary - Syracuse at West Virginia

Morgantown, WV (Sports Network) - Rasheed Marshall passed for 144 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 15 West Virginia over Syracuse, 27-6, in a Big East contest from Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.


LEONARD FRUSTRATED FOR WILKINSON

Jason Leonard, the former England prop, declared it would be  quot;a crying shame quot; if Jonny Wilkinson #39;s injury denied him the chance to captain his country in next month #39;s internationals against Canada, South Africa and Australia.


Search Engine Forums Spotlight

Links to this week's topics from search engine forums across the web: Google Is Doomed Long Term - Search Engine Friendly E-Commerce Design From Ground Up - Why Does Google Still Value 'Bought Links' - SEO for Google Using CSS - Cloaking 101 - Questions and Answers - No Joy With Listings in Yahoo!


Cardinals Bunt and Bash Their Way Into the Series

Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen powered St. Louis back to the World Series with a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the N.L.C.S.


Marshall Leads WVU

Rasheed Marshall throws three touchdown passes and sets a Big East career rushing mark for quarterbacks, leading No. 15 West Virginia past Syracuse, 27-6, Thursday night.


MLS Postseason Preview

Playoff format: Each team hosts a match in the two-game, first-round series, with total goals determining the winner. If the series is even after the second game, a 30-minute overtime period and, if necessary, a penalty kick tiebreaker will...


China's Economic Boom Still Roaring (AP)

AP - China's economic boom is still roaring despite efforts to cool sizzling growth, with the gross domestic product climbing 9.5 percent in the first three quarters of this year, the government reported Friday.


Yahoo Acquires Another E-Mail Startup (AP)

AP - Yahoo Inc. appeared to move a step closer to challenging Google Inc. in searchable Web mail, acquiring the startup behind the powerful e-mail application Bloomba.


Microsoft revenue up 12 in quarter

A Microsoft Corp. division that competes head-to-head with the open-source Linux operating system posted sharply improved financial results, helping to fuel a strong quarter for the Redmond software company.


Shareholders put Disney board in dock

Walt Disney #39;s board of directors went on trial this week on shareholder accusations that it merely rubber-stamped a decision to hire Michael Ovitz and allowed him to walk away


FP amp;L seeks consent for rate increases

Florida Power  amp; Light plans to ask regulators for an increase in what it can charge customers for electricity in part to recover costs from three hurricanes that hit its service area in August and September.


Alaska Air #39;s net beats analysts #39; projections

Alaska Air Group Inc. earned \$79.2 million in net income in the third quarter, making more money than financial analysts projected as traffic increased and it worked to cut costs.


Fincke #39;s space odyssey in its final day

Emsworth #39;s Mike Fincke returns to Earth on Saturday, six months after leaving for the space voyage he had dreamed of since he was a young boy.


Symbol Technologies Announces Court Approval of Shareholder <b>...</b>

HOLTSVILLE, NY --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 21, 2004 -- Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM), today announced the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New


SPORTS OF THE TIMES Clemens Meets Match at Hands of Cardinals

They hit for average and power, run with abandon and last night, they went through one of baseball #39;s greatest pitchers to earn their way into the World Series.


'Rocket' Fizzles Out as Astros Fall to Cardinals (Reuters)

Reuters - Roger Clemens is still heading to the\Hall of Fame, even though his Houston Astros team will not be\going to the World Series following a 5-2 defeat by the St\Louis Cardinals Thursday.


Death toll rises in Chinese coal mine explosion

The death toll in a gas explosion in a Chinese coal mine rose to 64 on Friday and chances that 84 missing miners might still be alive were  quot;quite slim, #39; #39; the government said.


Diplomats: Iran likely to reject incentives

Iran is unlikely to accept European incentives to get it to suspend uranium enrichment, diplomats said yesterday, raising the prospect of a showdown next month between Tehran and the UN nuclear-watchdog agency.


Israel strikes Gaza City with missiles

An Israeli aircraft fired two missiles into a crowded Gaza City street Thursday night, killing a senior Hamas explosives expert who was blamed in the deaths of dozens of Israelis, according


Microsoft: 1Q Earnings Up 12 Percent (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. reported healthy earnings and revenue growth for its fiscal first quarter, but investors instead focused on concerns about prospects for long-term corporate contracts and the long wait for a new version of the company's dominant Windows operating system.


Raich Wins Men's World Cup Slalom

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado (Reuters) - Benjamin Raich of  Austria won a men's Alpine ski World Cup slalom race Sunday  with a time of one minute 51.06 seconds, according to  provisional results.


Wakefield Starts Game 1 for Red Sox

Tim Wakefield Will Start Game 1 of World Series for Boston Against St. Louis on Saturday Night. Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona faces reporters during a news conference at Fenway Park, in Boston, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004.


Ricky Williams #39; lawyer disputes drug test

While nomadic running back Ricky Williams is taking classes at an unidentified Northern Californian university, his attorney laid the groundwork for his possible return to the Dolphins and NFL.


COL FB: West Virginia 27, Syracuse 6

Rasheed Marshall threw for 144 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night in sending 14th-ranked West Virginia coasting past Syracuse, 27-6.


Dollar Gains Ground on Yen

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar regained some ground against  the yen on Friday, moving away from four-month lows hit the  previous day, as the market remained reluctant to push the U.S.  currency below the closely watched 107 yen mark.


Showdown In The Ruhr Valley

Deep in the heart of Germany #39;s Ruhr Valley, a column of 25,000 angry blue-collar workers and their families has taken to the streets of Bochum, waving banners and red union flags, beating drums and blowing whistles.


Verizon takes on cable cos.: Parts of Bay State will see benefits <b>...</b>

Stepping up its counterattack against cable TV outfits encroaching on its turf, Verizon will offer its own video packages, plus ultra-high-speed Internet access, to customers in six more


China economy continues strong growth

BEIJING - China #39;s growth rate slowed slightly in the third quarter, according to figures Friday, suggesting that government efforts to cool the economy are having some but possibly not enough of an impact.


Battling Oracle -- and Surviving

Despite its ongoing fight to thwart a takeover, investors still got to celebrate stronger-than-expected earnings. Can this be sustained?


Unemployment rate rises slightly

The state #39;s last monthly job report before the presidential election shows Arizona #39;s job-creation machine has shifted into neutral.


Sox flex their arms

The beauty, from purely a baseball perspective, is that the New York Yankees stats, schedule made all the mistakes the Red Sox stats, schedule usually do.


St Louis clinch World Series spot

The St Louis Cardinals joined the Boston Red Sox in the World Series after they overcame the Houston Astros 5-2 at Busch Stadium on Thursday.


Hamm allowed to hold his gold

Two months after a judging error overshadowed one of the most stunning comebacks in Olympic history, Paul Hamm is no longer stuck in limbo.


Go on the take with Tennessee: Revenge unlikely for bitter  #39;Bama

If emotion is the key to great football, tomorrow #39;s showdown between Alabama and Tennessee should be a classic. That #39;s because the Vols are coached by Phillip Fulmer - insultingly


Notes: Olerud weighing options

John Olerud isn #39;t sure whether he #39;ll be wearing a Yankees uniform come Opening Day 2005, but the first baseman isn #39;t ruling out that option.


76ers need OT to keep Spurs winless

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia 76ers appear to be taking the preseason more seriously than some of their opponents. The 76ers rallied in the fourth quarter to force overtime before taking the lead


Iraqi Aviation Staffers, Aides to the President Killed on Way to Work

BAGHDAD, Oct. 21 -- Two attacks on vehicles carrying Iraqi women to their jobs Thursday morning claimed the lives of six women and one man and severely wounded more than a dozen people, witnesses and government officials said.


Garcia Marquez Alters  Novel

The Latin American literary giant won the last laugh on book pirates by finely tuning the ending of his latest novel, "Memories of My Melancholy Whores."


China Mine Blast Kills 64, Hopes Fade for Survivors

BEIJING (Reuters) - Rescue teams scrambling to reach 84  trapped miners after one of China's worst mine disasters in  years pulled two more bodies from the rubble on Friday, leaving  the toll from the blast at 64, state media said.


69 Dead in Japan Typhoon as Hopes Fade for Missing

TOKYO (Reuters) - As the death toll rose from Japan's  deadliest typhoon in two decades, experts warned on Friday that  climate change could bring a stormier future.


China's economy grows by 9.5 percent in first three quarters (AFP)

AFP - China's economy grew by 9.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2004 compared to the same period last year, China's National Bureau of Statistics announced.


World Report Shows Andean Success Story (AP)

AP - While a new environmental report gives a gloomy assessment of human management of the Earth, buried among its charts and graphs is one Andean success story that bucks the trend of a decline in wildlife species: the vicuna, a smaller, fleet-footed cousin of the camel.


Tokyo Stocks Up as Steel Firms Rise

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average was up 0.88  percent by mid-afternoon on Friday, bolstered by gains in  Nippon Steel Corp. and its rivals after firm Chinese growth  data eased concern over a slowdown in one of Japan's biggest  export markets.


Insurance Probe Hits Home in D.C. Region

New York Attorney General has subpoened major players in the Washington area insurance market as part of an investigation into steering and bid-rigging.


Martha Stewart Wants Conviction Overturned

Stewart said, in court documents released Thursday, that her criminal trial was "fundamentally unfair" because prosecutors suggested she was accused of insider trading.


Williams Industries Blames Congress

Williams Industries Inc. said its \$780,000 loss in the past fiscal year was due, in part, to "political haggling" over highway spending.


Sportsview: Clemens at Fenway Not to Be (AP)

AP - All of New England would have been quaking with anticipation. Just imagine: Roger Clemens back at Fenway, wearing the enemy's colors for a fourth time in the postseason, this time in Game 7 of the World Series.


Insurance Probe Hits Home in DC Region

Some of the insurance brokers and carriers under investigation in New York Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer #39;s probe of steering and bid-rigging are major players in the Washington area insurance market.


Australian Dollar Heads for Weekly Gain; China #39;s Economy Grows

The Australian dollar headed for its sixth weekly gain, the longest winning streak in more than a year, on optimism raw-material exports to China will increase after a report showed economic growth there.


No color blindness in this World Series

Red Sox Nation vs. Cardinals Nation. Redbirds vs. Red Sox. Can we start this thing off by banning each and every use of the phrase  quot;Red October quot; right now?


WEST VIRGINIA 27, SYRACUSE 6 Mountaineers Roll Over Orange

Rasheed Marshall told a teammate at the start of the season he thought he would break Donovan McNabb #39;s Big East rushing record for quarterbacks against Syracuse.


Sixers grab preseason win over Spurs

Another victory escaped the clutches of the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. This one eluding them in overtime. The Philadelphia 76ers (4-1) topped


Caging Instigator: Pakistan Security Hits Militants Hideouts

WANA (South Waziristan): As the crusade against al-Qaeda militants got stepped-up in the tribal belt of Pakistan to put in cage Abdullah Mehsud, the ringleader of Chinese engineers captivity, dozens of families left their mountainous abode near the


Europe Seeking New Role in World Affairs (AP)

AP - The 25-member European Union  #151; now comprising eight ex-communist nations and considering membership for Muslim-dominated Turkey  #151; is busily crafting a "Wider Europe" as well.


Disney directors face shareholder scorn

(OfficialWire) -- 10/22/04 -- The board of the Walt Disney Company went on trial Wednesday, facing shareholder accusations that it simply rubber-stamped a decision


Multi-factors push up housing price: official

A spokesman from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said here Friday that multi-fators have pushed up the housing price. Statistics show that the prices of housing and


FCSA board terminates Rabobank deal

Both Nebraska Sens. Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel said Thursday they will continue to work with state producers and bankers following an announcement Thursday by the Omaha-based Farm Credit Services


American Express #39;s Chenault Seen Extending Profit-Growth Streak

American Express Co. Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Chenault probably will say earnings rose more than 10 percent for the 11th straight quarter, the best performance of all the companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.


Business as usual: Streaking Pats prepare for Jets

Under normal circumstances, the hype surrounding the Patriots stats, news-Jets game Sunday at Gillette Stadium would come with its own set of pressures, what with their identical


Around The NBA

Now that he has decided to stay with the New Jersey Nets, Rod Thorn must make a decision on whether all-star guard Jason Kidd should go.


RFK due to retain prime soccer seating

DC United will retain its lucrative base of sideline seats at RFK Stadium despite the arrival of baseball at the 43-year-old stadium, according to plans being developed by the DC Sports  amp; Entertainment Commission.


Hamas Leader Killed in Israeli Air Force Strike Near Gaza City

Ednan Al-Ghoul, a Hamas leader responsible for developing the Qassam rockets fired by Palestinians at Israeli towns, was killed in a missile strike near Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said.


GM workers hold European-wide day of action against job cuts

By our reporters. Some 50,000 auto workers took part Tuesday in protests against plans to cut 12,000 jobs at General Motors European subsidiaries.


Australia's Labor meets to rebuild

Australia's Labor opposition begins putting together a new team, after its damaging loss in this month's election.


Death Toll 69 in Japan Typhoon, 19 Still Missing (Reuters)

Reuters - As the death toll rose from Japan's\deadliest typhoon in two decades, experts warned on Friday that\climate change could bring a stormier future.


Oil weighs on blue chips, eBay results boost techs

NEW YORK Stocks were mixed in a volatile session yesterday, with blue chips weighed down by oil prices and a new investigation of the insurance industry.


China says economic growth slows again

Annual economic growth in China has slowed for the third quarter in a row, to 9.1 percent, responding to Beijing #39;s efforts to rein in breakneck investment and lending, third-quarter official data shows.


Hilbert House

Indianapolis - October 21 - The Hamilton County sheriff talks about a home owned by one of Indiana #39;s richest men. The founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Conseco.


Giants: Punt returns a top priority

In his never-ending search for areas that need improvement, coach Tom Coughlin found one in the phase of the game he is known to emphasize: special teams.


Kerry #39;s Goose Hunt Reflects Need for Sportsmen Vote to Win Ohio

John Kerry may not win Ohio without attracting votes from sportsmen. That #39;s why he took time in the final weeks of the election campaign to hunt geese in Boardman, Ohio, yesterday.


China mine blast kills 64

in years have pulled two more bodies from the rubble, leaving the toll from the blast at 64, state media say. the fastest economic growth of any major world economy.


Delegates gather for Darfur peace talks

ABUJA (AFP) - Sudanese rebels and government envoys began arriving here on Thursday to restart talks to end the conflict in their country #39;s western province of Darfur, as the African Union confirmed it will multiply its truce-monitoring force in the


Microsoft Q1 profit reaches \$2.9 billion

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Microsoft said Thursday that its fiscal first-quarter net income rose 11 percent from a year earlier as client software sales, server revenue and Xbox sales all rose.


Update 4: Crude Oil Prices Remain Steady

Oil futures prices were little changed Thursday as traders anxiously watched for indications that the supply or demand picture would change in some way to add pressure to the market or take some away.


Reebok posts 30 rise in Q3 profit

CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Reebok International Ltd. reported a 30 percent pop in profit for the third quarter Thursday and said that its chairman will take on the day-to-day duties of the company.


NEWSDAY TAPS SUN EXEC FOR CIRC POST

Newsday named Paul Barbetta, director of circulation for The Baltimore Sun, to head its circulation department after a scandal over inflated figures.


TRUMP PUMPED UP

The Donald will remain at the helm of his troubled casino company under a new plan to salvage it for a second time. Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts said yesterday it will file for bankruptcy


Oil Bubbles Near \$55, China Supports

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices simmered near \$55 a barrel  on Friday on rising fears of a winter fuel supply crunch and  robust but slowing economic growth in China, the world's number  two oil user.


Ethnic Peace May Be in Jeopardy in Myanmar (AP)

AP - One of the few unchallenged accomplishments of Myanmar's military junta  #151; securing peace with the country's armed ethnic rebel groups  #151; may be in jeopardy after Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt lost his job this week.


Peace Doves Dropped on South Thailand

PATTANI, Thailand, December 5 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - A fleet of military and civil aircraft and helicopters dropped Sunday, December 5, some 120 million paper birds across Thailands troubled Muslim-majority south, described by activists as


Qwest to Pay \$250 Million in Fraud Probe

Qwest Communications International Inc. yesterday agreed to pay \$250 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the company fraudulently booked \$3.


Verizon Betting on A Bundle

Verizon Communications Inc., the nation #39;s largest telephone company, announced yesterday it is digging up streets and stringing wire in six states, including Washington #39;s Maryland and Virginia


FCC Fines 2 Networks For Violating Limits On Kids #39; Show Ads

Children #39;s television networks owned by Viacom and Disney have agreed to pony up \$1 million and \$500,000, respectively, to end Federal Communications Commission investigations into whether


Lewis Fires 62 to Lead Funai Classic (AP)

AP - J.L. Lewis matched his best score on the PGA Tour and was kicking himself for two easy birdie putts that got away.


Knicks suffer second straight trouncing

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks have 13 days before they play their season opener. From the looks of things, they have plenty of work to do.


Hamas Rocket Mastermind Killed In Israeli Strike

Dubai, Oct. 22 (NNN) :Hamas rocket mastermind Adnan al-Ghoul and an aide travelling with him were killed in an Israeli air strike on a car in the north of the Gaza Strip.


29 North Koreans enter South Korean school in China--report

Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. SEOUL, Korea (North) -- A group of 29 people claming to be North Koreans entered a school for South Koreans


China's economic boom slows down

China's economic growth slows for a third straight quarter as efforts by the government to rein in booming expansion continue to take hold.


Vikings Lucky to Have Tight End Wiggins (AP)

AP - Cornerback Antoine Winfield and wide receiver Marcus Robinson were the two most heralded free agents signed by Minnesota last March.


Famous Faces Add Luster to House Races (AP)

AP - Clooney, Paterno, Bird, Sheen: The guest list at a party for Hollywood "A"-listers and sports legends? No, just some of famous names running for House seats or helping House candidates around the country.


Colts' Jefferson Ready for First Action (AP)

AP - Joseph Jefferson's right knee might never be completely healthy. He can't worry about it now.


Badgers' Starks Goes From Goat to Hero (AP)

AP - Making the most of second chances is second nature to Wisconsin senior Scott Starks.


World ; Insurgents kill 23 Iraqis countrywide

And later on Sunday, gunmen killed two National Guards and wounded four others in an attack near Latifiya, a town south of Baghdad that has seen persistent unrest, officials said.


Spitzer #39;s insurance fight gains steam

At least two more states are planning to join New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in suing the insurance industry over allegations of bid-rigging and collusion.


Oil price hike has had  quot;limited quot; impact on China #39;s economy <b>...</b>

BEIJING: Record oil prices have had only  quot;limited quot; impact on the Chinese economy but the country needs to be keep a close watch on the issue, a senior official said.


Ancient bird fossil found

Washington - The fossil of what may be one of the earliest baby birds has been found in northeast China. The fossil, estimated at 121 million years old, is curled up as though still in its shell.


Mutu keen on Serie A return

Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu says he has has no future at a Premiership club after his bust-up with boss Jose Mourinho and his drug shame.


Melo #39;s friend takes blame

One of Carmelo Anthony #39;s friends flew to Denver Thursday to claim responsibility for the marijuana found last week in the Nuggets star #39;s carry-on bag and to attempt to clear Anthony #39;s name.


FALL OF FIDEL

The 78-year-old Communist dictator stumbled, tumbled to the ground and fractured his left knee and right arm as he left the podium at a graduation ceremony Wednesday night in Santa Clara, central Cuba.


Defense sources: Killing of top Hamas man will weaken terror

The killing of Adnan Al-Ghoul, the No. 2 leader of the Hamas military wing, is one of the most important assassinations Israel has carried out in the last few years, defense establishment officials told Army Radio on Friday.


In Dallas, Knicks See Big Man They Wanted

Erick Dampier got everything he wanted this summer: money, security, a shot at a championship. The Knicks wanted Dampier this summer, but instead, they got a heavy dose of disappointment.


Europe's bourses seen starting higher (FT.com)

FT.com - Europe's bourses are expected to track the climb on the Nasdaq overnight and open slightly firmer. Ericsson though is likley to suffer following a disappointing update and VW will be in focus after rejecting an union pay cuts offer as insufficient.


Israel to consider releasing Palestinian prisoners

Israel says it #39;s considering releasing some Palestinian prisoners -- as part of a deal in which Egypt has freed an Israeli Arab man convicted of spying.


Hopes fade for China mine victims

Rescuers express mounting fears for 86 people still missing after a gas explosion in a China coal mine killed 62.


Bankrupt airlines steer clear of cutting frequent-flier perks

The two major US airlines in bankruptcy have made tough choices about jobs and wages while largely protecting the free tickets and other perks offered to their frequent fliers.


Court approves Interstate Bakeries financing

Bankrupt Interstate Bakeries Corp. (IBC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread, received court approval on Thursday to incur new debt


20 7E7s ordered

A startup company becomes the first domestic airline to place an order for the Boeing jet. By Bryan Corliss. An airline that started service six months ago with just one jet plans to buy 20 7E7s from the Boeing Co.


Supercomputer hits the shops

JAPANESE TIN maker NEC has released a mass produced supercomputer computer which it claims knocks the socks off Big Blue #39;s Blue Gene/L.


Google patches one security hole, but another surfaces

Search engine darling Google has patched a hole in its search engine the could have allowed malicious hackers to modify the content of the Google search results page or silently modify search results, but a new hole may have already appeared.


IBM expands China research site in midmarket push

IBM on Thursday opened an expanded research center in China to bulk up its technology portfolio for midsize businesses worldwide. The SMB Innovation Center was added to the company #39;s research lab in Beijing


Yankees GM knows his next mission

Told his job is safe for now, Cashman will seek answers to team #39;s pitching collapse. By Mike Fitzpatrick. NEW YORK -- Brian Cashman #39;s job is safe -- at least for now.


Hamm keeps gold

More than two months after he won it in Athens, Olympic gymnastics champion Paul Hamm will get to keep his all-around gold medal.  quot;This is obviously a great day


Ricky #39;s rep, NFL talk

An attorney for Ricky Williams met with NFL officials on Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif., hoping to pave the way for the former Dolphins running back to return this season.


China's economic boom slows down

China's economic growth slows for a third straight quarter as efforts to rein in booming expansion continue to take hold.


Nikkei Ends Up as China Data Lifts Steel

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average closed up 0.63 percent  on Friday, led by gains in Nippon Steel Corp. and its rivals  after data showing only a minor slowdown in China's robust  economic growth eased concerns about a sudden downturn in one  of Japan's biggest export markets.


Microsoft rings up multibillion dollar profit

The world #39;s biggest software company, Microsoft Corporation, said last night that its first quarter profits swelled to \$2.9 billion as consumers and businesses pumped up demand for new computers.


China #39;s economic boom slows down

China #39;s economic growth has slowed for a third straight quarter as efforts by the government to rein in booming expansion continue to take hold.


Judge OKs \$200M for operations

Interstate Bakeries Corp. received bankruptcy court approval Thursday to use \$200 million in financing as it tries to reorganize its business.


Israel Kills Top Hamas Militant Ahead of Gaza Vote (Reuters)

Reuters - Israel killed Hamas's top bomb and rocket\maker in Gaza and launched a missile strike on the home of\another leading militant on Friday in the run-up to a key\parliamentary vote on a plan to quit the occupied territory.


OECD Report Boosts Turkey's EU Case (AP)

AP - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the most of an upbeat economic report on his country to press its case for membership in the European Union.


Oil Bubbles Near  #36;55, China Supports (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices simmered near  #36;55 a barrel\on Friday on rising fears of a winter fuel supply crunch and\robust but slowing economic growth in China, the world's number\two user.


China, India will sustain global economy despite high oil prices, BHP says (AFP)

AFP - Rising oil prices are slowing growth across the world but key emerging economies such as China and India will continue to support the near-term outlook for commodities, the world's largest mining company said Friday.


Feathered embryo found in China

A 121 million-year-old baby arboreal bird, fossilised while still curled in its egg, has been found in China, Science magazine reports this week.


Google your personal computer

Do you love Google? Thanks to the search site, anyone can easily find the capitals of states, pictures of Lego pieces and the name of that NKOTB guy on The Surreal Life (Jordan Knight).


Yahoo Buys E-Mail Search Startup

Yahoo Inc. continues its recent buying spree of e-mail startups with the acquisition of Stata Laboratories Inc. Yahoo confirmed on Thursday that it had bought Stata Labs, the maker of search-based e-mail client Bloomba.


IBM Taps into China SMBs

Officials announced the launch of an IBM Innovation Center in Beijing Thursday to find better ways to get software from ISVs (define) around the world into the computers of small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in China.


Nvidia aims to take lead in K8 chipset market with nForce 4 MCP

With its recent introduction of the PCIe-enabled Nvidia nForce4 media and communication processors (MCP) for Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) processors, Nvidia expects to extend its lead against other chipmakers for the worlds K8 chipset market, said Drew


Cardinals complete a classic matchup

Red Sox and Redbirds, a classic matchup filled with rich history. After finishing off the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox face their biggest National League nemesis, the St.


Button unhappy with  #39;advice

Jenson Button has revealed dissatisfaction with the way his management handled a fouled switch to Williams. Not only did the move not come off, his reputation may have been irreparably damaged amid news headline


Small Martinsville track can cause big problems for drivers

Martinsville track can be difficult: Midway through their 10-race playoff, the Nextel Cup Series contenders are at the shortest and slowest oval on the NASCAR circuit - a place four-time series champion Jeff Gordon insists can be as damaging to title


New Zealand dominates Bangladesh to claim first test (Updated on <b>...</b>

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori claimed six wickets to demolish the Bangladesh second innings and help New Zealand claim the first test Friday by an innings and 99 runs.


Arsenal confident Vieira OK for Man Utd

Arsenal are confident captain Patrick Vieira will be fit for Sunday #39;s showdown with Manchester United. Boss Arsene Wenger said Vieira only had a 20-80 chance of facing United, but the player has responded


Melo #39;s image going to pot

The amount of grass found in the backpack of Carmelo Anthony was not enough to stoke a party. But a scathing story grew like a weed across the nation.


Coach Hawkins the ringmaster of Boise #39;s biggest show

BOISE, Idaho - It #39;s all a little funky. In a city where a cosmopolitan feel meets Jeeps and jean jackets, the football coach is reclining comfortably in his office outside the football stadium, the one with


Typhoon kills 66 in Japan, deadliest in 22 years

Japan #39;s deadliest typhoon in more than two decades killed 66 people, news reports said on Thursday as rescuers searched frantically for 22 still missing in floods and landslides.


29 N. Koreans flee into South Korean school in Beijing

A group of 29 North Koreans fled into a South Korean school in Beijing yesterday to seek asylum, exactly one week after an earlier group defected under similar circumstances.


The real dirt on Mawae

Patriots safety Rodney Harrison was voted the dirtiest player in football in a recent poll conducted by Sports Illustrated of 354 current and former NFL players. Surprised?


Hamm keeps gold

More than two months after he won it in Athens, Olympic gymnastics champion Paul Hamm will get to keep his all-around gold medal.


From Russia with oar

It was not easy for Nikolay Kurmakov to leave the country where he was a national champion rower, enjoying as good a life as there was to be had in the old Soviet Union.


It was a heavenly Game 7

Sometimes, when you're living through an event, you can be too close to what's happening to realize the magnitude of it.


Hamilton says hearing will clear him

Yesterday, Olympic gold medal cyclist Tyler Hamilton of Marblehead said he will clear his name at a January hearing in Colorado, and asked critics and supporters for patience over his positive test for blood doping last month. Hamilton faces a potential two-year ban from cycling after tests taken at the Spanish Vuelta race indicated he had received a blood transfusion ...


When team hits road, Ortiz will take field

Even though David Ortiz has started only two games at first base in the last three months, he will play the position when the Red Sox face the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in Games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary) of the World Series. The way the Sox see it, they have no choice but to go with ...


Collapse gets New York's goat

So how did the New York press treat the Yankees after their epic collapse. Some snippets from the pages of New York's newspapers:


But seriously, folks

The game came down to one play, no time remaining, and the Patriots already had won the contest. There was not a thing at stake . . . except the fact that if the Seahawks punched it into the end zone, they would cover. My thoughts turned immediately to the folks who had a  quot;vested quot; interest in the game and ...


Revolution in fighting mood

The Revolution are apparently prepared to fight to extend their season. Clint Dempsey and Pat Noonan shoved each other and flailed away briefly yesterday at the Gillette Stadium practice field, while the team prepared for tomorrow's playoff game against the Columbus Crew.


Bentley's Eddy is ready for passage into elite club

In New England college football history, only Doug Flutie and Glenn Foley of Boston College have thrown for 10,000 yards.


College football games on TV

NORTHWESTERN (3-3) vs. WISCONSIN (7-0) When, where: Tomorrow, noon, at Madison, Wis. TV: ESPN.


Key New England games

NORTHEASTERN (3-3) vs. MAINE (3-3) When, where: Tomorrow, 2 p.m., at Orono, Maine. Radio: WJIB-AM (740). Last season: Northeastern won, 20-14. Comments: Northeastern (2-1 in conference) is looking to keep its lead at the top of the Atlantic 10 North Division. Last week, the Huskies suffered a 41-14 loss to Harvard. QB Shawn Brady is 86 of 137 for 1,271 ...


West Virginia in a rush to win

Rasheed Marshall set a Big East career rushing mark for quarterbacks and threw three touchdown passes while leading No. 15 West Virginia over Syracuse, 27-6, last night.


Mass. launches insurance probes

Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly and the state Division of Insurance have each opened separate investigations of insurance companies and brokers to determine if any engaged in price fixing or other illegal sales practices that cheated customers out of the best prices for policies.


Google's earnings more than double

Web search provider Google Inc., posting its first financial results as a public company, yesterday said its third-quarter earnings and revenues both more than doubled from a year ago on the strength of an online advertising boom that continues to gather steam.


Cape Ann teams set for collision

The battle for the Cape Ann League begins tomorrow. With four teams undefeated in league play and three boasting 6-0 overall records, the final four weeks of the season will pit prolific offense against immovable defense. The fight for supremacy begins as Wilmington (6-0) travels to Pentucket at 2 p.m.


Major glory, maybe,but major gains? No.

Phones across Boston went down yesterday when World Series tickets went on sale. Hotel rooms are already so scarce that Major League Baseball booked rooms at a dozen hotels to come up with the 800 it needs.


Billerica deals Andover its first loss

The Billerica girls' soccer team took a unique approach to yesterday's match against Andover. It didn't worry about Andover's star scorers, Jackie Powers and Emily Pallotta.


On foot or by phone, fans chase few tickets

Fans flocked to Fenway Park and tied the Boston phone system in knots yesterday trying to snare the few World Series tickets remaining after Major League Baseball, its corporate sponsors, and season ticket holders received their allotments.


Joe Herra

Wilmington quarterback Joe Herra is a terror under center. A starter at the position since his freshman year, he has the Wildcats sitting pretty with a sterling 6-0 record going into tomorrow's game against unbeaten Pentucket. Herra, a junior, parlays that experience into this week's Q  amp;


This week's picks

Boston Latin over Acton-Boxboro -- Please take this prediction cum grano salis. Wilmington over Pentucket -- The always accurate Boston.com 100 has Wilmington (No. 37) ranked over Pentucket (39). Can't argue with that.


Verizon plunges into cable wars with new technology

Verizon Communications Inc. said yesterday it will extend a powerful new fiber-optic network capable of delivering cable television to 1 million US homes and businesses by year's end, including more than 100,000 in suburban Boston.


This week's schedule

TODAY'S GAMES Division 1 BIG THREE -- Brockton at Durfee, 7. GREATER BOSTON -- Arlington at Everett, 7; Cambridge at Peabody, 7; Somerville at Revere, 7.


Leading indicators fall for 4th straight month

NEW YORK -- A closely watched barometer of future economic activity fell in September for the fourth consecutive month, suggesting that the recovery may be cooling. A separate report from the Labor Department, however, suggested modest improvement in the job market.


Microsoft profit up 11 percent

Microsoft made almost \$3 billion in profit in the past quarter, but it was Google that captured investors #39; fancy yesterday. The current and former Wall Street darlings reported their earnings after the stock


Insurance broker says no to commission

Insurance broker Coyle Hamilton Willis is to stop accepting controversial contingent commissions from insurers, according to a report this morning.


China economy slows

They suggest that government efforts to cool the economy are having some but possibly not enough of an impact. For the three months to September, the economy grew 9.1 per cent compared


Little startup carrier is first to buy 7E7s in US

Boeing finally has a US launch customer for the 7E7 Dreamliner, but it is a virtually unknown carrier with just one 15-year-old plane in its fleet.


Stewart #39;s lawyers file 89-page appeal

Even as she adjusts to prison life, Martha Stewart continues to try to clear her name. In an 89-page appeal filed Thursday, Stewart #39;s lawyers urged the US Circuit Court here to


China, techs give Asia a lift

Asian stocks in the shipping, steel and trading sectors bounced higher Friday after China said its economy expanded 9.1 percent in the year to the end of September.


Lazard go-ahead has sting in tail

MICHEL David-Weill, the septuagenarian chairman of investment bank Lazard, has finally given his consent to a 1.7bn Wall Street float that would end more than 150 years of private ownership for the venerable City firm.


The Vole has learnt a lot about security

SOFTWARE  #39;MOTH Microsoft has admitted that it can #39;t beat hackers all the time, but will do its best. That argument was quietly put forward by the softly spoken, shy and retiring, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer


IBM launches research centre for SMEs

Information technology (IT) giant IBM is ready to grab more shares in the IT related market of China #39;s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with more products at affordable prices.


CONTROVERSIAL MOVE TO LET AMERICANS HIT REBEL POSTS HARDER

In a step fraught with risks for Prime Minister Tony Blair, Britain agreed yesterday to send 850 of its soldiers from relatively peaceful southern Iraq to a volatile area near Baghdad


Dollar Regains Ground on Yen

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar regained some ground against  the yen on Friday, moving away from four-month lows hit the  previous day as the market proved reluctant to push the U.S.  currency below the 107 yen mark.


Britain moving troops nearer to insurgents

LONDON -- Responding to a US request, Britain agreed yesterday to transfer 850 troops from relatively calm southern Iraq into a stronghold of the Iraqi insurgency near Baghdad.


5 charged with bidto kill president

NIGERIA LAGOS -- The Nigerian government yesterday disclosed a foiled coup plot, charging four military officers and a civilian with conspiring to topple the government by shooting down a helicopter carrying President Olusegun Obasanjo. Major Hamza al-Mustapha, former chief of personal security to the late military dictator General Sani Abacha, and four others, were each charged with two counts of ...


Israeli airstrike kills a Hamas leader

GAZA CITY -- An Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a car traveling in the Gaza Strip late yesterday, killing a senior Hamas commander who was among the government's most-wanted fugitives -- the latest in a series of Israeli assassinations that have weakened the militant group.


Castro injures knee, arm in fall

HAVANA -- Cuban President Fidel Castro's advancing age -- and ultimately his mortality -- were brought home yesterday, a day after he fractured a knee and arm when he tripped and fell at a public event.


Religious leaders ahead in Iraq poll

WASHINGTON -- Leaders of Iraq's religious parties have emerged as the country's most popular politicians and would win the largest share of votes if an election were held today, while the US-backed government of interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is losing serious ground, according to a US-financed poll by the International Republican Institute.


Among flu variables, officials weigh losses in worker productivity

WASHINGTON -- This year's flu vaccine shortage could cost the nation up to \$20 billion in lost productivity -- almost twice as much as in a typical year -- depending on the severity of the outbreak, according to one estimate.


Hamas Leader Killed in Airstrike

JERUSALEM, Oct. 21 -- A senior military leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas,  was killed late Thursday in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.


Syrian Ally Named as Lebanon's Premier

BEIRUT, Oct. 21 -- Lebanon's president appointed a staunchly pro-Syrian politician, Omar Karami, as prime minister on Thursday, asking him to form the next government in a move that consolidates Syria's hold on Lebanese politics.


U.S. to Aid Albania in  Destroying  Chemicals

Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) described the move  as a breakthrough in the elimination of such stockpiles around the world.


News of AIG federal inquiry drags blue-chips into the red

US BLUE-CHIP stocks slid lower yesterday, pulled down by industrial bellwether Caterpillar, but technology shares remained higher after EBay posted strong earnings.


Kidde Nixes United Technologies #39; Takeover

The board of Kidde PLC said Friday that it had rejected a tentative takeover bid from United Technologies Corp., saying it significantly undervalues the company.


FOCUS: Ericsson Market Share Gains Set To Continue

STOCKHOLM (Dow Jones)--Expectations for Telefon AB LM Ericsson #39;s (ERICY) third-quarter performance imply that while sales of mobile telephony equipment are expected to have dipped, the company


Declining habitat having an effect on bird populations

It #39;s not just winter that drives birds away from Wisconsin. It #39;s us, says a report released this week by the National Audubon Society.


Bank Joins Team Fighting Man Utd Takeover

Japanese investment bank Nomura has been working on a financial package to block a takeover of Manchester United, it was reported today.


Molder and Wilkinson share lead Miami

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Bryce Molder and Tim Wilkinson each fired rounds of seven-under-par 64 on Thursday to share the lead during the suspended first round of the Miccosukee Championship.


Blair grants US call to move 850 troops

LONDONPrime Minister Tony Blair #39;s government has taken the politically risky decision to send British troops to back up an expected US military assault on the Iraqi rebel stronghold of Falluja.


Home phones face uncertain future

The fixed line phone in the home could soon disappear, a study by mobile firm Nokia shows.


Microsoft sees profits climb 11

Microsoft, the world's largest maker of computer software,  reports an 11 rise in  quarterly profit but says sales may disappoint in the current period.


China stages modest economic slowdown

China #39;s economy has slowed modestly for the third successive quarter, raising hopes of success in a delicate battle to reduce the risk of overheating without provoking a crash.


Update 1: Tech Giant Ericsson Reports Solid Quarter

Wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson posted a third-quarter profit that was in line with analysts #39; expectations and said its mobile networks were expected to show signs of slight growth in the coming months.


Colo. bird population reported in sorry state

By building homes on prairies, draining wetlands and clearing forests, humans are diminishing bird populations, according to a new National Audubon Society study.


Lincicome: Woe are the Red Sox? Maybe next week

And, so, pending World Series gaffes, please, what we know about the Boston Red Sox is that they are not, after all, immune to the Heimlich maneuver.


Cardinals punch ticket to Series

Put an end to all the pinstripes talk. The St. Louis Cardinals now stand between the Red Sox and their first World Series title since 1918.


Clijsters and Hewitt break up, cancel wedding plans

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Former top-ranked tennis players Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt broke up and abandoned their wedding plans less than four months ahead of their planned marriage.


SGT GETS 8YRS FOR BEATINGS

Staff Sgt Ivan Frederick, 38, admitted eight charges of humiliating and abusing the inmates at Abu Ghraib jail in Baghdad. In one incident he punched a prisoner so hard in the chest that he needed resuscitation.


SKorea investigates suspected NKorean asylum seekers in Beijing

A South Korean embassy spokesman in China has confirmed that a group of people, claiming to be North Koreans, has entered a school for South Koreans in Beijing seeking asylum.


Ericsson returns to quarterly profit as world markets show growth (AFP)

AFP - Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson reported a return to net profit in the third quarter, lifted by healthy growth in its international markets.


Auburn #39;s sweet and sour season: Sugar Bowl, no BCS title berth

That #39;s the question confronting Auburn #39;s football team after the Tigers eased past Tennessee 38-28 in last night #39;s Southeastern Conference Championship game.


Astros' Beltran Keeping Options Open (AP)

AP - Carlos Beltran's bat was silent in Game 7 of the NL championship series. Now, the Houston Astros center fielder will take some quiet time to ponder his future.


'Treasure hunt' for bandit's loot

Police in India warn people not to look for bounty stashed by the outlaw Veerappan, after his death earlier in the week.


Robots set to get homely by 2007

The number of robots helping out and entertaining in the home is set to soar sevenfold by 2007, says the UN.


Teams to lobby for Silverstone

The F1 teams will lobby Bernie Ecclestone to include the British GP on next years calendar - but admit that there isnt much they can do to sway the F1 supremo.


Jenson vows he can thrive at BAR

In a remarkable - and predictable -hange of tune, Jenson Button says he can thrive at BAR next season. Having signed a contract with Williams for the next two seasons because he believed they offered


The war in Darfur

Khartoum - War in western Sudan #39;s Darfur province is often called a clash between Arab herders and African farmers, but it #39;s not that simple: Combatants on both sides are largely black Africans, for example, and the divide between them is more about


Pakistan assembly discards anti-speaker motion (Reuters)

Reuters - Pakistan's National Assembly discarded a no-confidence motion against its speaker on Friday after opposition deputies declined to vote when the deputy speaker refused to allow all 107 of those present to speak.


Irish eyes not smiling after Meyer #39;s decision

And so it goes for poor, poor Notre Dame in the aftermath of losing its dream coach -- Pope Urban IX -- to those soul-less sinners down in Florida.


Coke reports drop in profits

For the three months ending Sept. 30, Coke said it earned \$935 million compared to a profit of \$1.22 billion a year earlier. ATLANTA - The Coca-Cola Co.


Disney overpaid Ovitz, witness says

Walt Disney Co. could have fired Michael Ovitz as president without paying him \$140 million in severance, a law professor testified Thursday in the trial of an investor lawsuit seeking return of the money.


Verizon #39;s hiring 5,000

Verizon, the largest US phone company, will hire as many as 5,000 workers from Massachusetts to Virginia to build a fiber-optic network to 3 million homes by the end of next year.


Stewart files appeal of conviction

Martha Stewart asked an appeals court to overturn her obstruction conviction yesterday, saying misconduct by jurors and government prosecutors kept her from getting a fair trial.


Six for Vettori as New Zealand ease to victory

Daniel Vettori took six wickets as New Zealand romped to victory by an innings and 99 runs against Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first test on Friday.


West Virginia pounds Syracuse

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Rasheed Marshall set a Big East career rushing record for quarterbacks and threw three touchdown passes while leading No.


Pacers #39; O #39;Neal Sidelined by Foot Injury

Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said yesterday that O #39;Neal probably would miss the remaining five games to rest a strained ligament in his left foot.


Mark Grace eliminated from team #39;s managerial search

The Arizona Diamondbacks are starting to shorten their list of managerial candidates, and Mark Grace is out of the running for the job.


US soldier jailed for Abu Ghraib atrocities

A military judge jailed a US army sergeant to eight years in prison for sexually and physically abusing Iraqi prisoners. The sentence for Staff Sergeant Ivan  #39;Chip #39; Frederick, 38, is by far the toughest of


Google Posts Big Gains

Google Inc. reported Thursday that sales and profit more than doubled in third quarter, despite an expense of more than \$200 million, as the company issued its first quarterly financial report since going public.


Qwest to Pay \$250 Million in Fraud Probe

Qwest agreed Thursday to settle with the Securities and Exchange Commission over charges that the company fraudulently booked \$3.8 billion in revenue over nearly three years.


Verizon to Build New Fiber Optic Network

Verizon announced Thursday it is digging up streets and stringing wire in six states, including Maryland and Virginia, to deliver high-speed Internet service and cable-style television to customers.


Profit Up As Amazon Adds More Products

Amazon.com Inc. officials reported a quarterly profit that just missed analysts' estimates, but the company said it expects a record holiday season and outlined a heady expansion plan.


MedImmune Quarterly Earnings Fall Again

MedImmune Inc. reported a third-quarter loss Thursday, despite a \$61 million, 25 percent increase in sales of its lead product, Synagis, over the same period a year ago.


Microsoft Profit Up; Forecast Mixed

Microsoft Corp.'s quarterly earnings rose 11 percent over the comparable quarter last year, with strongest growth in sales of server software.


Diamondbacks Pass on Grace for Manager (AP)

AP - The Arizona Diamondbacks are starting to shorten their list of managerial candidates, and Mark Grace is out of the running for the job.


Knee Injury Forces Roddick to Withdraw (AP)

AP - Andy Roddick withdrew from next week's Stockholm Open because of a knee injury, tournament organizers said Friday.


Those Witty, Mocking Germans

Two local shows go beyond comic grotesque or the new objectivity and suggest that German modernism before World War II was united by a relentless scrutiny of the world.


Dowie backing for striker Johnson

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie refused to blame striker Andy Johnson after his penalty miss in the defeat to Charlton.  quot;I wouldn #39;t blame Andy Johnson as he has been fantastic like he has been all season, quot; said


Cisco in  #36;74M network security deal (TheDeal.com)

TheDeal.com - The networking gear maker buys privately held network security software developer Perfigo.


Brando Jr 'murder link' dismissed

A US judge rules there is no evidence linking Marlon Brando's son with the murder of actor Robert Blake's wife.


Ericsson Posts 3rd-Qtr Profit; Stock Drops on Outlook (Update4)

Ericsson AB, the biggest maker of mobile-phone networks, reported a fourth straight quarterly profit, helped by cost cuts and equipment demand.


Vivendi, EMI hit by Spitzer probe

Shares of Vivendi Universal, the owner of Universal Music Group, and Britain #39;s EMI Group each traded down over 2 percent Friday amid a report that New York Attorney General


Week 7 preview: Unbeaten Patriots, Jets collide for AFC East lead

The New England Patriots are finally getting what they say they #39;ve been craving - a game in which their record winning streak is secondary.


Vettori spins NZ to big win

DANIEL VETTORI captured six wickets as New Zealand completed a hat-trick of victories over Bangladesh after clinching the opening Test by an innings and 99 runs in Dhaka today.


One strike away: The standard for booting victory is set

The 1986 Red Sox were one strike away from winning the World Series. They came closer to winning - without actually winning - than any team in baseball history. When you watch a tape of Game 6 (shelved in the sci-fi/horror section of New England video stores), it's still impossible to believe.


Don #39;t cry for Barry

THERE WILL be an asterisk next to Barry Bonds #39; home-run records. It may not appear in Major League Baseball #39;s official archives, but it will be ingrained in the public mind.


TI puts digital TV on mobiles

Texas Instruments has announced development of the wireless industry #39;s first digital TV on a single chip for mobile phones, code-named  quot;Hollywood quot;.


Baseball 101: How to watch the World Series

So you #39;re a casual baseball viewer who watches the game only when the playoffs roll around. Now, with the World Series about to begin Saturday, you realize you have no idea who #39;s playing, how they got there and how they play this game.


NEW YORK JETS  NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS BETTING ODDS

New England Patriots have won 14 consecutive home games including play-offs and so on the face of it should be very confident of extending their unbeaten record.


Black Watch to take on Iraq rebels

The Black Watch is being deployed as part of a US Marine expeditionary unit to take  quot;decisive action quot; against insurgents in Iraq, Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Michael Walker has revealed.


VW rejects union's salary offer

Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, rejects a trade union offer  to limit workers' pay rises, saying it does not go far enough.


Egg agrees 96m French disposal

Online bank Egg agrees to sell its French credit card and loans business to Banque Accord for about 96m.


Safety probe into arthritis drugs

European drug regulators are conducting a safety review of four arthritis drugs amid reports that they could increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks.


Science 'excludes black people'

British black scientists are vastly under-represented in their chosen field, says a leading commentator.


Chips Coming to a Brain Near You

Researchers working with slices of rat brains come up with a microchip that mimics the part of the brain responsible for creating memories. They hope to create a prosthesis for the human brain within 15 years. By Lakshmi Sandhana.


Pumping Up the Power of the IPod

Replacement batteries for older iPods give the gizmos a new lease on life. Newer Technology's high-capacity battery can double the life of an original iPod, granting an amazing 22 hours of continuous play. By Leander Kahney.


Contraception Controversy

Advances in medical science should lead to improvements in birth control methods -- but current debates remain hung up on teenagers' sex lives. Adult women and men looking for better options shouldn't be left out in the cold. Commentary by Gina Lynn.


Indian Mounds Mystify Excavators

Vast man-made mounds are nearly all that remain of an ancient city now called Cahokia, built along the banks of the Mississippi. In its heyday around A.D. 1050, the city was a bustling metropolis. Michelle Delio reports from Collinsville, Illinois.


On the Trail of the Analemma

How do you photograph the sun's yearly figure-eight path in the sky? With a huge amount of patience, say the small handful of photographers who have managed the tricky feat. By Amit Asaravala.


Raise the Roof: Power Source

Solar panels are a good source of home energy, but they can be an eyesore. Manufacturers want to make solar more popular by gussying up panels and integrating them into roofing materials. John Gartner reports from San Francisco.


Candidates Sound Off on Tech

A computer industry group asks President Bush and Sen. John Kerry a dozen questions so voters can compare the presidential contenders' tech plans. By Staci D. Kramer.


Anti-Cloning Treaty Divides U.N.

Two competing resolutions are put before members of the United Nations as they  debate the contentious issue of whether to ban cloning or to allow human embryos to be used for research.


Government measures slow China #39;s GDP growth

Annual economic growth in China has slowed for the third quarter in a row, falling to 9.1 per cent, third-quarter data shows. The slowdown shows the economy is responding to Beijing #39;s efforts to rein in break-neck investment and lending.


Boeing signs first domestic 7E7 customer as SEC probes pension <b>...</b>

Boeing on Thursday said regulators are seeking information on its pension-fund accounting, the same day it announced it landed its first domestic order for its new 7E7 aircraft from a carrier that #39;s far from a household name.


Spitzer Said to Pursue Record Labels - NYTimes

New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has confronted the financial services industry over its business practices, is now turning his attention on the record industry #39;s influence over the public airwaves, the New York


Intel finally cancels Digital TV screen project

In another development in what is becoming a depressing year for Intel, the company has announced that it has finally abandoned plans to get into the digital TV screen business.


Color of your shirt determines if it was comeback or collapse

A forest of trees will fall and a lake of ink will be emptied hashing and rehashing the baseball games played in Boston and New York over the past four days.


Pujols runner-up no more

Runner-up in National League Most Valuable Player voting the last two seasons, Pujols was an obvious choice as MVP of the NL championship series after the St.


Mutu set to be charged by FA

Adrian Mutu is expected to be charged by the Football Association today following his positive drugs test. The Chelsea striker had an informal meeting with FA officials on


Game over for Hewitt and Clijsters

Kim Clijsters has stunned the tennis world by announcing her break up with Lleyton Hewitt, just four months before their scheduled wedding.


Julien plays target golf

Swiss golfer Julien Clement would give anything today for a repeat of his seven-under first-round 64 at the Madrid Open. The 23-year-old is 174th in the European Order of Merit and must finish first or second in Spain to keep his tour card for next year.


US continues airstrikes, ground assaults against insurgent targets <b>...</b>

US Marines clashed with insurgents on the outskirts of the rebel bastion of Fallujah and launched airstrikes at militant targets, the US command said Friday.


Death Toll 75 in Japan Typhoon, 15 Still Missing

TOKYO (Reuters) - As the death toll rose from Japan's  deadliest typhoon in two decades, experts warned on Friday that  climate change could herald a stormier future.


Eisner defends \$140 million pay for fired Ovitz

ORLANDO, Fla. - Michael Eisner #39;s fighting back. The embattled Disney boss is gearing up to defend his hiring and firing of former Hollywood superagent Michael Ovitz as Disney #39;s No.


United Tech seeking holder support for its bid

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Kidde, the British fire safety equipment maker, surged for a second day on Friday on speculation investors will see an improvement to a 1.3 billion pound (\$2.


Leipzig Hopes to Gain DHL Hub

Courier service DHL is expected to set up an intercontinental hub either in Vatry, France, or Leipzig, Germany. For the eastern German city, a lot is at stake.


Update 1: CEO of James Hardie Resigns

Asbestos victims voiced outrage Friday at a multimillion dollar golden handshake given to the chief of building products group James Hardie Industries NV, who resigned in the wake of a scandal about the company #39;s treatment of thousands of people poisoned


Vettori spins Kiwis to victory

Daniel Vettori bowled New Zealand to victory in the First Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka today. The home side crashed to defeat by an innings and 99 runs as they were dismissed for 126 immediately after lunch on the fourth day.


Israeli settlements pounded in revenge attacks

Defiant Palestinian militants pounded Jewish settlements in the southern Gaza Strip with mortar fire today, following the killing of a top Hamas militant in an air strike.


Summary: Elections Find Kosovo Divided (AP)

AP - TENSE ELECTIONS: Elections to fill Kosovo's 120-seat assembly on Saturday will test the depth of the province's ethnic divide and international attempts at reconciliation.


Army to Let Halliburton Keep Iraq Payment (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. Army is laying the groundwork\to let Halliburton Co. keep several billion dollars paid for\work in Iraq that Pentagon auditors say is questionable or\unsupported by proper documentation, the Wall Street Journal\reported on Friday.


Dollar Stabilizes Above Recent Lows

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar edged up against the yen and  steadied against the euro on Friday, but kept within sight of  multi-month lows hit this week on worries about the U.S.  economy and its ability to attract global investors.


Iraq Vote Preparations Said on Schedule (AP)

AP - Preparations for the crucial January election are "on track" and the absence of international observers due to the country's tenuous security should not detract from the vote's credibility, the top U.N. electoral expert here said.


Peoplesoft bounces back to profit

Peoplesoft, the software maker that is the target of a hostile takeover bid from industry heavyweight Oracle, returns to profit in the third quarter.


NY Stocks Seen Soft; Google Shines

LONDON (Reuters) - Wall Street was set for a soft start on  Friday as rosy results from Internet search engine Google  GOOG.O fails to dispel disappointment over software giant  Microsoft's MSFT.O downbeat outlook.


Coca-Cola posts sharp decline in 3Q profits

NEW YORK, October 22 (newratings.com) - Coca-Cola Company (KO.NYS) reported a 24 decline in its 3Q04 profits, driven primarily by the sluggish sales of its soft drink, juice and bottled water products in the US and European markets.


UK economy slows in third quarter

The UK #39;s economic growth slowed in the third quarter as manufacturing output declined, preliminary data has shown. Gross domestic output (GDP) increased 0.4 in the three months to 18 October, according to


Qwest to pay fraud settlement

Qwest agreed to pay \$250 million Thursday to settle allegations that the telecommunications company falsified the books by at least \$3.


Einstein #39;s theory finds proof

By measuring variations in satellite orbits, scientists have found the first direct evidence of one of the hallowed tenets of Albert Einstein #39;s theory of general relativity - that the Earth and other large celestial bodies distort space and time as they


Babies born after transplant surgery on eggs

Twenty children have been born after doctors performed a kind of transplant surgery on the eggs of their mothers, for whom normal IVF had failed.


Cisco adds to NAC framework with acquisition

Cisco Systems Inc is to buy Perfigo Inc for \$74 million, adding an endpoint security policy enforcement system aimed at small and medium sized organizations to the developing portfolio of products under its Network Admission Control program.


A Classic Series Awaits

At approximately 12:05 yesterday morning, history was made in perhaps the most remarkable way imaginable. Amid the shouts of euphoria from transplanted Bostonians in rainy Collegetown, one singular theme could


Hamm gets to keep gold medal

US gymnast Paul Hamm can keep the gold medal he won in the men #39;s all-around event at the Athens Olympics, a sports tribunal ruled Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland.


PRINCE IN NIGHTCLUB PUNCH-UP: HEIR GOES SPARE

THIS is the moment Prince Harry went spare at photographers early yesterday. The prince, third in line to the throne, snapped as he left a London club after four hours of knocking back cocktails.


6 Battlegrounds for Governors

The presidential election may be decided along party lines, but in six states with close races for governor, local concerns prevail.


Sony wares win innovation award

Electronics giant Sony has won an innovation award for its "brave" commitment to design.


Sacking  #39;sensible #39;: Ziggy

SACKED Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski has conceded his departure was  quot;sensible quot; for the company and its shareholders.


Google wows investors with first results since IPO (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Internet search giant Google, which raised  #36;1.7 billion in a highly publicized IPO, announced its first quarterly earnings as a public company Thursday, and the results were stellar. Google reported revenue of  #36;805.9 million, more than double last year's  #36;393.3 million.


Intel cancels chip for flat-panel TVs (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Intel suffered another setback Thursday when it canceled a chip for flat-panel television sets.


PeopleSoft logs profit, rising sales (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - PeopleSoft reported a profit and rising revenue Thursday, as the Pleasanton software company sought to steady its footing after several setbacks in its fight against rival Oracle's  #36;7.7 billion hostile takeover bid.


Tech revival gains oomph with Microsoft earnings (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Microsoft said Thursday that its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 11, beating analysts' expectations, as the company benefited from stronger-than-expected computer and server shipments.


Stocks Seen Weak on Oil Prices, Microsoft

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures were lower on  Friday, indicating a weak market open, as climbing oil prices  and a disappointing revenue outlook from software powerhouse  Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O weighed on Wall Street.


Dollar Stabilizes Above Recent Lows

The dollar edged up against the yen and steadied against the euro on Friday, but kept within sight of multi-month lows hit this week on worries about the US economy and its ability to attract global investors.


Live digital TV arrives on mobile phones

TV addicts need never again be far away from their next digital telly fix, thanks to a chip being developed by Texas Instruments (TI) for mobile phones.


Yahoo! buys email search firm

Yahoo! Inc has bought Stata Labs Inc, maker of email search software, in a move apparently aimed at beefing up its Yahoo! Mail property in the face of competition from Google Inc #39;s Gmail service.


Gartner, IDC have different takes on Q3 PC market

Warm or hot? What you believe about the state of worldwide PC shipments in Q3 depends on who you listen to. According to Gartner, Inc.


Palestinians Shell Gaza Settlements

Palestinians medics wheel a wounded man to the Shifa hospital following an Israeli air strike at a car used by Adnan al-Ghoul,a senior member of the Hamas militant group, killing him and another militant, late Thursday Oct. 21, 2004.


MedImmune to Produce Additional Flu Vaccine

The Gaithersburg-based biotech firm MedImmune Inc. will resume production of its nasal-spray influenza vaccine and deliver an additional million doses by early January, the company and federal officials announced yesterday.


AT T Reports \$7 Billion Loss

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 -- AT T Corp. reported a third-quarter loss of \$7.12 billion Thursday because of huge charges resulting from the company's retreat from traditional telephone services, which included at least 7,500 more job cuts and a write-down in the value of the company's long-distance network.


AIG Says It Is Target of Midwest Inquiry

Already under scrutiny from regulators in Washington and New York, the American International Group disclosed yesterday that it was the target of a federal grand jury investigation over


Three more judges rule Hamm gets gold medal

Sports #39; highest court rejected an appeal from a South Korean gymnast on Thursday, ruling that Hamm is the rightful champion in the men #39;s all-around competition at the Athens Games.


UK troops prepare for Iraq move

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs the deployment would last  quot;weeks rather than months quot;, and that the troops would stay under British command.


Bush Holds Two-Point Lead Over Kerry: Reuters Poll (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush holds a slim\two-point lead on Democratic rival John Kerry in the stretch\run of a tight race for the White House, according to a\Reuters/Zogby poll released on Friday.


EADS Co-CEO Hertrich to Step Down in 2005

BERLIN - Rainer Hertrich, a co-chief executive of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., will leave his position in 2005 when his contract expires, a company spokesman said Sunday.


GDP growth slows in third quarter

Economic growth slowed sharply in the third quarter of 2004 to its weakest since the run-up to the Iraq war early last year, reinforcing expectations


Peoplesoft bounces back to profit

Peoplesoft, the software maker that is the target of a hostile takeover bid from industry heavyweight Oracle, has returned to profit.


Intel bumps up the speed of fastest Centrino

Intel added a faster Pentium M processor speed-grade to its Centrino chip-set bundle for laptops onn Wednesday (Oct. 20). The Pentium M 765 runs at 2.1-GHz, packs 2-Mbytes of level 2 cache, and uses Intel #39;s


Grand Theft Auto leaked on the web

Internet pirates have released illegal copies of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the web just days shy of its official release.  quot;The proper authorities are investigating the theft and are continuing to investigate


Non-Cal computer linked to hacking

A non-campus computer and server that were hooked to the campus network without proper security precautions have been linked to a University of California, Berkeley, hacker


Kidde rejects US takeover offer

Fire equipment manufacturer Kidde saw its share price rise by 20 on Friday after it confirmed it had rejected a 1.35bn (\$2.46bn) takeover offer.


Better bet the Boss will be rebuilding his empire

quot;What a Choke, #39; #39;  quot;Hell Freezes Over, #39; #39;  quot;Damned Yankees, #39; #39; and  quot;Monumental Collapse #39; #39; were found on the front and back pages of Thursday #39;s New York newspapers.


Yahoo Acquires Another E-Mail Startup

Yahoo Inc. appeared to move a step closer to challenging Google Inc. in searchable Web mail, acquiring the startup behind the powerful e-mail application Bloomba.


Intel Cancels TV Chip Project

In another change of plans, semiconductor giant Intel Corp. canceled a project Thursday to develop a chip for projection TVs and said it planned to focus its resources in other areas.


Castro Says He's Working Despite Injuries (AP)

AP - Demonstrating he retains firm control over Cuba after fracturing his knee and arm in a fall at a public event, President Fidel Castro told of conducting government business by cellular phone during an ambulance ride and later refusing general anesthesia.


North Korea Sells Food Aid on Local Market-South

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has been selling on its  domestic market international food aid aimed at helping to ease  food shortages in the impoverished country, South Korea's  Unification Ministry said on Friday.


EU's Solana Heads for Darfur, May Offer AU Funding

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana  heads for Africa on Friday where he is likely to announce a  contribution of more than 100 million euros to an African Union  force in Sudan's Darfur region, an EU diplomat said.


Doubts Increase Over Myanmar Democracy Plans

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar's military junta has pledged to  stick by its "roadmap to democracy," but analysts said on  Friday what little credibility the plan had has been shattered  by the purge of its main promoter, Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.


Iceland firms linked to Easyjet

Shares in low-cost airline Easyjet jump by 15 on speculation it is a takeover target for one of three Icelandic carriers.


PeopleSoft Posts Profit

\

 By Spencer Swartz

 SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc. <PSFT.O> on\Thursday returned to profit in the third quarter from a year\earlier with a 12 percent rise in sales that upended market\fears that Oracle Corp.'s takeover bid had damaged PeopleSoft's\business in the quarter.


North Korea Sells Food Aid on Local Market-South (Reuters)

Reuters - North Korea has been selling on its\domestic market international food aid aimed at helping to ease\food shortages in the impoverished country, South Korea's\Unification Ministry said on Friday.


Dollar in the doldrums amid economic jitters (AFP)

AFP - The dollar hovered close to eight-month lows against the euro and a four-month trough against the yen amid worries about the US economic outlook.


Sri Lanka extend lead to 164 runs against Pakistan (AFP)

AFP - Sri Lanka extended their lead to 164 runs against Pakistan on the back of an unbeaten half century by Sanath Jayasuriya on the third day of the first Test at Iqbal stadium here.


Oil prices climb towards \$55

World oil prices marched towards 55 dollars today on worries about low stocks of US heating fuel and tight crude supplies amid strong demand in key markets ahead of the northern hemisphere winter.


Coke Profit Drops on US, European Sales

Coca-Cola Co. (KO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday reported a 24 percent drop in third-quarter net income due to weak sales of its soft drinks, juices and bottled


US Air Pilots Vote to Take 18 Pay Cuts

Pilots at US Airways have voted in favor of giving \$300 million in annual wage and benefit concessions to the struggling airline, becoming the first major labor group to accept permanent


Trump cuts new deal to lessen debt load

A month after a previous deal fell apart, Donald Trump announced a plan yesterday that he hopes will give his casino company a second act and make it a contender in Atlantic City once again.


Nearly All Lazard M amp;A Partners Back IPO - Source

More than 99 percent of the around 120 Lazard partners who focus on mergers and acquisitions have signed or agreed to sign in favor of the investment bank #39;s plan to sell shares to the public, a source close to the matter said.


Intel backs away from TV chips

Intel Corp. is scrapping plans to enter the digital television chip business, marking a retreat from a major component of its consumer electronics initiative.


Coulthard eyes Williams

DAVID COULTHARD has thrown his hat in the ring to fill Jenson Buttons void at Williams. Williams had expected Button to partner Mark Webber next season but were left looking for a new driver after Formula


Death toll rises in Chinese coal mine explosion.

Safety standards are ignored in the pursuit of profits. In the first nine months of this year, 4,153 miners were killed. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The death toll in a gas explosion in a Chinese coal mine


Powell May Push China for Information on New York Times Researcher

US Secretary of State Colin Powell may press Beijing for information regarding a New York Times researcher arrested for allegedly passing state secrets to foreigners.


Two Palestinians and one Israeli killed in Gaza

Thursday, October 21: Israeli troops killed two Palestinian gunmen on Thursday while a soldier died in a militant attack on the territory #39;s border with Egypt, the army said.


US blames Islamic charities for funding Iraq attacks

MARK COLVIN: In Baghdad, the family of the kidnapped head of CARE International have pleaded with the British Prime Minister to stop even speaking Margaret Hassan #39;s name.


Google sales, profit double on ad revenue

Google Inc. said third-quarter profit and sales more than doubled as it sold more advertising and attracted more Internet surfers to its Web sites.


Schlumberger Reports 3rd-Quarter Profit of \$318.2 Mln (Update1)

Schlumberger Ltd., the world #39;s second- largest oilfield-services company, had third-quarter net income of \$318.2 million after a year-earlier loss of \$55.


Stocks down 4.46 points; peso at 56.325:\$1 at mid-day

The Phisix shed 0.2525 percent on Friday as the main index lost 4.46 points to close at 1,762.14. The All-shares, commercial-industrial, banks and financial services, property and mining subindicators retreated while the oil sector was unchanged.


economy slows in third quarter

The UK #39;s economic growth slowed in the third quarter as manufacturing output declined, preliminary data has shown. Gross domestic output (GDP) increased 0.4 in the three months to 18 October, according to


Lazard chairman backs flotation - at a price

MICHEL DAVID-WEILL has approved a flotation of Lazard that values the investment bank his family founded at \$3.4 billion. The approval is on condition that Bruce Wasserstein, the Wall Street dealmaker running the firm, resigns if the deal fails.


Review: AMD Athlon 64 FX55

AMD has proved time and time again that its processors offer better performance than the competitions - and better value for money too.


Clijsters and Hewitt call off engagement

The 21-year-old Belgian former world No 1 announced the split on her website but did not divulge any further details about the break-up of her long-term relationship with the 23


75 killed in Japan by Typhoon Tokage

Rescue workers in Japan say the death toll from the country #39;s worst typhoon in two decades now stands at 75, and that 15 people are still missing.


New leader: Democracy for Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar - Military-ruled Myanmar will stick to its plans for gradual democratization despite the abrupt appointment of a new prime minister believed to hold a hard line in dealing with the countrys political reform movement, Foreign Minister


Before the Bell: Ericsson Falls 6.8 Pct.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Swedish company Ericsson  ERICY.O fell 6.8 percent before the bell Friday after the  world's biggest producer of mobile phone networks reported a  big jump in third-quarter profits but said market growth would  slow next year.


Scana Third-Quarter Profit Falls

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. power company Scana Corp SCG.N  on Friday said quarterly profit fell, on litigation costs and a  writedown related to an investment in a telecommunications  business.


148 Feared Dead in China Mine Blast

BEIJING, Oct. 21 -- Nearly 150 miners were feared killed by a gas explosion in a coal shaft in central China, the highest toll in a series of recent mine tragedies affecting the country's hard-pressed energy industry, the government said Thursday.


Detainees Returning to Conflicts From Cuba

Detainees released from Guantanamo Bay have been recaptured or killed fighting U.S. forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan.


North Korea Tops Powell's Agenda in Asia

Four years ago this weekend, then-Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright visited North Korea, in what appeared to be a breakthrough in U.S. relations with the reclusive Stalinist government. Today, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell leaves on what may be his last official visit to East Asia -- hopping through Japan, China and South Korea over three days -- with the crisis over North Korea's nuclear ambitions at the top of his agenda.


Second-Guessing Actions in Afghanistan

Soon after arriving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Oct. 1, 2001, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers raised doubts about the war plan -- days from execution -- to topple the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Gen. Tommy R. Franks, then chief of U.S. Central Command, planned a single thrust toward the Afghan capital from the north.


Schlumberger 3Q Profit Misses Expectations

Oilfield and information services firm Schlumberger Ltd. said Thursday that third-quarter sales and profit missed Wall Street expectations as hurricanes and a slowdown in drilling activity in Mexico hurt results.


Stocks Seen Flat as Microsoft Weighs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures fell slightly on  Friday, indicating stocks would open little changed, as Wall  Street weighed climbing oil prices and a disappointing revenue  outlook from software maker Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O.


HCA Net Falls, Hurt by Florida Hurricanes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - HCA Inc.HCA.N, the largest U.S.  hospital chain, reported on Friday lower third-quarter profit  due to unpaid patient bills and hurricanes that hurt admissions  at the company's hospitals in Florida.


Marsh   McLennan CEO May Be Ousted - WSJ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The outside directors of Marsh    McLennan MMC.N have talked to New York's attorney general  about having its chief executive step aside amid a probe into  its business practices, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday.


Marsh  amp; McLennan CEO May Be Ousted - WSJ

The outside directors of Marsh  amp; McLennan (MMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) have talked to New York #39;s attorney general about having its chief executive step aside amid a probe into its business practices, the Wall Street Journal said


Nasdaq Ends Up, Dow Slips

The tech-driven Nasdaq Composite Index got a 1 percent boost on Thursday on gains in the semiconductor sector, but the blue-chip Dow ended down slightly after Caterpillar Inc.


Intel abandons digital TV chip project

NEW YORK, October 22 (newratings.com) - Global semiconductor giant Intel Corporation (INTC.NAS) has called off its plan to develop a new chip for the digital projection televisions.


Ballmer flags security features for a pre-Longhorn Windows  #39; <b>...</b>

Speaking at the Gartner Symposium and ITxpo 2004 in Orlando, Florida, yesterday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer outlined new security initiatives, some of which would make it into a pre-Longhorn  #39;Release 2 #39; for Windows, next year.


Netscape: A decade of survival

The Netscape browser turned 10 years old last week as a shadow of its former self, but the lights haven #39;t gone out yet on one of the most storied brands in Web history.


Golden treasure unearthed

Bulgaria - Hundreds of tiny gold jewels crafted some 5 000 years ago have been discovered in Bulgaria, suggesting the country could have been the home of Europe #39;s earliest civilisation, a leading Bulgarian archaeologist said on Friday.


Curses! Gimme a break

Consider the circumstances: The Boston Red Sox defeated the vaunted Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, and did so in the House That Ruth Built.


Mutu says cocaine was a sex pill

ADRIAN MUTU admits he took drugs but claims it was not cocaine but a drug to improve his sex life.  quot;The only reason I took what I took was because I wanted to improve my sexual performance, quot; said the 25-year


Trial date set for defendant in Abu Ghraib prison abuse case

A military judge ordered a US Army reservist on Friday to stand trial Jan. 7 in Baghdad for allegedly abusing Iraq inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad.


Harry tussle:  #39;Apology to Charles #39;

LONDON, England -- Britain #39;s Prince Harry has apologized to his father, Prince Charles, over his scuffle with a paparazzi photographer outside a nightclub, a London newspaper reported.


US presses Iran to respond to European nukes offer

The United States pressed Iran to meet the demands of the UN nuclear watchdog after the three big European countries made a last-chance offer to make Tehran comply.


UN and US must stop the genocide

Ruth W. Messinger is the president and executive director of American Jewish World Service, an international development and emergency relief organization.


Red Sox Fan Killed by Police Projectile (AP)

AP - A college student celebrating the Red Sox come-from-behind victory over the New York Yankees was killed after a police officer called in to control the rowdy crowd shot her in the eye with what was designed to be a non-lethal projectile.


HCA Net Falls, Hurt by Florida Hurricanes (Reuters)

Reuters - HCA Inc., the largest U.S.\hospital chain, said on Friday its third-quarter earnings fell,\hurt by hurricanes that hit the southeastern U.S. earlier this\year, causing disruption and a drop in admissions at the\company's hospitals in Florida.


Weyerhaeuser 3rd-Quarter Earnings Rise (Reuters)

Reuters - Weyerhaeuser Co.'s \third-quarter profit rose on higher prices for lumber and a\large gain from the sale of timber lands in Georgia, the \company said on Friday.


Nextel's Profit Rises, Ups Outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - Nextel Communications Inc., the sixth\largest U.S. mobile company, on Friday said its third-quarter\profit rose amid strong customer growth and it raised its\earnings forecast for the full year.


Nextel 3Q Profit Rises, Boosts 2004 View

Wireless communications service provider Nextel Communications Inc. on Friday posted 69 percent growth in third-quarter earnings based on demand across its business sectors, and raised its outlook for 2004.


Ericsson Warns on Growth

A predicted slowdown in future market growth has taken the shine off Ericsson AB #39;s (Nasdaq: ERICY - message board) impressive third quarter results today, sending its share price spiraling down (see Ericsson Ups Q3 Profit).


German government miffed by Bundesbank's scepticism on growth (AFP)

AFP - The German government expressed annoyance at the Bundesbank following a press report which suggested the German central bank was sceptical about Berlin's growth forecast for next year.


Nextel's Profit Rises, Ups Outlook

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nextel Communications Inc., the sixth  largest U.S. mobile company, on Friday said its third-quarter  profit rose amid strong customer growth and it raised its  earnings forecast for the full year.


Dollar Hits 8-Month Lows Vs. Euro

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar hit 8-month lows against the  euro and traded near multi-month lows against other major  currencies on Friday on worries about the U.S. economy and its  ability to attract global investors.


Google patches new hole

Google says it has patched a hole in its search engine that could have allowed hackers to modify the content of the Google search results page, reports PC World.


SCH-S250 phone has 5-Megapixel camera

Samsung Electronics has showcased a mobile phone that integrates a 5-Megapixel digital camera. At present the highest resolution camera phones have 3-Megapixel class image sensors.


Germans Open UEFA Cup in Style

It may be seen by some as the poorer relation to the Champions League but for those German teams in the UEFA Cup, it is an opportunity to go for European glory.


Israeli Airborne Attack Kills Inventor of Qassam Rocket

Adnan Al-Gul, the inventor of the Qassam rockets used by Palestinians to attack Israel, was killed yesterday in an air attack on Gaza.


Castro governance intact

HAVANA Cuban President Fidel Castro is recovering from surgery but leaving no question about his ability to govern. The 78-year-old Cuban leader fell Wednesday after a speech.


Prince Harry talks to father about nightclub fracas

LONDON A spokesman says Prince Harry has talked to his father, Prince Charles, about his scuffle with a photographer outside a London nightclub.


Russia to vote on climate change

Russia's lower house of parliament is to vote on ratification of  the international treaty on climate change.


'Nuclear' bishop quits campaign

The former Bishop of Birmingham resigns from Friends of the Earth in a row over the promotion of nuclear power.


Bush, Kerry on swing-state tours

US presidential candidates George W Bush and John Kerry tour states seen as important to win November's poll.


Verizon Betting on  A Bundle (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Verizon Communications Inc., the nation's largest telephone company, announced yesterday it is digging up streets and stringing wire in six states, including Washington's Maryland and Virginia suburbs, to build a new fiber-optic network that will deliver high-speed Internet service and cable-style television to homes and businesses.


EU to Rule on Oracle's Bid for PeopleSoft (AP)

AP - European Union regulators will decide Tuesday whether Oracle Corp.'s hostile  #36;7.7 billion bid for rival business software concern PeopleSoft Inc. can proceed, the EU's antitrust chief said Friday.


Football games look to score

A raft of football games are aiming to score with gamers\, but which top the league and which are heading for relegation?


Update 1: EU Trade Chief Seeks Tariff Break Overhaul

The European Union #39;s top trade official proposed an overhaul of trade discounts to developing countries Wednesday, a move likely to anger China and India, both of which might no longer qualify for EU trade preferences for such products as clothing and


No excuses from Tim

TIM HENMAN refused to make any excuses for his third-round defeat to Ivan Ljubicic in the Madrid Masters. The top seed had a blood test on Wednesday to discover the cause of his fatigue, but insisted his 4-6, 6-4, 2-6 loss was down to his own poor play.


Broadhurst makes move

FORMER Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst moved into a share of the lead at the Madrid Open today. Three birdies in a back nine 32 took the 39-year-old to seven under par alongside Switzerlands Julien Clement


Paterno tries to light fire under Nittany Lions

The head coach is revved up and ready to go. Is his Penn State team? By FRANK BODANI. If nothing else, at least 77-year-old Joe Paterno is still breathing fire to try and work his team out of it #39;s three-game slide.


Bulgaria dig suggests rich past

Archaeologists say they have unearthed jewels dating back 5,000 years, possible proof of Europe's earliest civilisation.


Google says net profit, sales double (AFP)

AFP - Internet search engine Google Inc said its net profit and sales more than doubled in the third quarter, spurring a spectacular jump in its share price.