Wade #39;s 37 points, Jones #39; clutch shots lift Heat

WASHINGTON - Shaquille O #39;Neal and Eddie Jones were in foul trouble, the Miami Heat kept fumbling the ball away, and the Wizards #39; terrific perimeter players were raining down shots.


Safin beats Stepanek for third Paris Masters crown

Marat Safin overpowered Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 with the help of 16 aces Sunday to win his record-tying third Paris Masters title.


Bara Open Up Breathing Room

Samuel Etoo tapped home from Ludovic Giuly on 36 minutes as Barcelona moved six points clear in Spain with a 2-1 defeat of visiting Deportivo la Corua.


Arafat Has Liver Failure, Officials Say

Yasser Arafat lay critically ill with liver failure on Sunday and his condition was getting no better, a Palestinian official said, as Palestinian leaders adopted in his absence a plan to restore order in their areas.


Microsoft to help users prep for patching

NOVEMBER 04, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Microsoft Corp. will give customers advance notice of its monthly security updates in an effort to help them prepare to install related software patches, the company announced today.


Radcliffe Wins Closest NYC Marathon

Radcliffe Makes Up for Olympic Heartbreak With Close NYC Marathon Win; S. African Wins Men #39;s Race. Great Britain #39;s Paula Radcliffe, left, and Kenya #39;s Susan Chepkemei, embrace after crossing the finish line at the New York City Marathon Sunday.


Basketball: Sore Shaq finds his new Kobe as Wade keeps Heat <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON : A strained left hamstring hinders Shaquille O #39;Neal, but the mighty center and his new Kobe Bryant - Olympian guard Dwayne Wade - have sparked the unbeaten Miami Heat to its best start since 1995.


Manchester United draws and makes it harder for themselves

If Arsenal is having a bad time in the English Premiere League after their defeat to Manchester United, they are not alone. Even Manchester United is failing to capitalize on that win with more draws in the league.


Barcelona defender Belletti out for two weeks

Barcelona defender Juliano Belletti will be out of action for about two weeks after suffering a slight ankle strain during Saturday #39;s 2-1 victory over Deportivo Coruna.


Arafats liver fails

Yasser Arafat lay critically ill with liver failure today and his condition was not improving, a Palestinian official said, as Israel finalised plans to bury the Palestinian president in the Gaza Strip.


Six killed in train crash

UFTON NERVET, Nov. 7. - Six people died and 11 were seriously injured when a train derailed during a collision with a car at a crossing in southern England, medics said.


Bush senior: US will work with Blair on Mideast

Prime Minister Tony Blair #39;s call for a new Mideast peace push  quot;was heard loud and clear in Washington, quot; former US President George HW Bush said in comments broadcast Sunday.


France Says Hostages Still Alive a Few Days Ago (Reuters)

Reuters - France said on Sunday two French\reporters held hostage with their Syrian driver in Iraq were\still alive a few days ago.


Rogue pilot ruffles feathers on migration

As a pilot, crane impersonator and chief executive officer of Operation Migration - the whooping crane migration organization - Duff #39;s emotional well-being relies upon making sure his cranes are happy and healthy.


UPI NewsTrack TopNews

The Iraqi government declared a 60-day state of emergency Sunday in response to the escalation of violence by militants. The emergency declaration covers the entire nation, with


Black Watch block Fallujah supply line

British Black Watch troops are blocking a key bridge on the River Euphrates in the regiment #39;s biggest mission since it was redeployed to Iraq.


Hezbollah claims to send its first reconnaissance drone over <b>...</b>

Hezbollah sent a reconnaissance drone into Israeli territory over northern Jewish settlements Sunday in the first hostile aerial incursion from Lebanon since a hang glider attack 17 years ago killed six soldiers.


French nuclear shipment heads towards Germany after protest

A train carrying a shipment of highly radioactive waste was on its way to a German storage dump on Sunday, after being delayed for two hours by anti-nuclear protestors in eastern France.


British police search for clues on the train crash that killed 7 (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - LONDON (AP) - Police on Sunday searched the site of a train crash that killed seven people and seriously injured 11 for clues to what caused a car to be on the tracks as the high-speed train approached.


Leaders consider life after Arafat

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Senior Palestinian officials, seeking to fill the void left when Yasser Arafat dies, reached out Saturday to Islamic fundamentalists who remain the wild card in a post-Arafat era.


French Troops on Streets After Ivory Coast Unrest

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - France deployed troops in Ivory Coast's  main city on Sunday to protect its citizens from mob violence  which erupted after French forces destroyed most of the West  African nation's small air force.


U.S. Jets Hit Iraq's Falluja, Fierce Ground Clashes

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes pounded the rebel-held  Iraqi city early on Monday as ground forces fought fierce  clashes with insurgents on the outskirts of the city, witnesses  said.


Singh asks Left to see US reality

The Hague, Nov. 7: India did not expect any hiccups in its relationship with the US after the re-election of George W. Bush to the presidency, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here today.


Vioxx Recall Draws Attention To Pfizer #39;s Celebrex

The recall of Merck #39;s arthritis drug Vioxx has drawn attention to drug overall safety, more specifically, a similar drug known as Celebrex, by the drug maker Pfizer.


Goosen Holds Off Woods to Win Tour Championship

ATLANTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Retief Goosen recovered from a  four-shot deficit to shoot a final round 64 and hold off Tiger  Woods and Jay Haas in the \$6 million Tour Championship at East  Lake Golf Club on Sunday.


Game for a festive fight

It #39;s the first of the festive season duels and it #39;s one of high stakes and even higher interest. The two major videogame consoles, Sony #39;s Playstation 2 (PS2) and Microsoft #39;s Xbox, are involved in a multi-million


Violence still boosts companies #39; bottom line

In the grisly video game Manhunt, players lurk in the shadows and use plastic bags, shards of glass and hammers to murder their enemies.


-UNSC Marines whispering as Master Chief kills another Covenant

Its not much of an exaggeration to say Halo did to videogames what The Lord of the Rings did to feature films. Epic in scale and addictive in entertainment, the first Halo, like The Fellowship of the Ring


Trend of Foreign Whites Adopting Black US Kids

Description: NPR #39;s Tavis Smiley talks with reporter Dawn Davenport about her latest article,  quot;Born in America, Adopted Abroad, quot; featured in the October 27 edition of The Christian Science Monitor.


Radcliffe finds the old character for her next book

When Paula Radcliffe #39;s autobiography My Story So Far hits the bookshelves next week it will already be out of date, because it will not include the tale of her dramatic victory in the New York City Marathon here yesterday.


Champ has  #39;couple of beers #39;

A VICTORIOUS Kostya Tszyu didn #39;t sleep a wink last night, but nothing could wipe the smile off his face as he emerged from his Phoenix hotel today.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Named as the starter last month by Jon Gruden, Griese continued his outstanding play, throwing for 296 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 34-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in an interconference game.


Que wins inaugural Vietnam Masters

Angelo Que of the Philippines carded a final-round 70 on Sunday to capture a two-stroke win in the inaugural Vietnam Masters golf tournament.


Morning dawns for championship

Motorsport.com. The hotly contested Champ Car World series concludes the years competition today as nineteen drivers will determine the outcome of what has been the most thrilling season in recent memory.


Sunday #39;s NFL Capsules

The Pittsburgh Steelers are accomplishing feats never seen in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers combined their new quarterback with a touch of the old -- a Jerome


UPDATE 2-Inter and Milan fail to take advantaqe

Title hopefuls AC Milan and Inter Milan were held to draws in Serie A on Sunday failing to take full advantage of leaders Juventus #39; first defeat of the season.


NFL Game Summary - NY Jets at Buffalo

Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Willis McGahee ran for 132 yards and a touchdown to lead the Buffalo Bills to a 22-17 victory over the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium.


Self-Described 'Bad Marathoner' Takes Men's Race

Many thought Hendrik Ramaala of South Africa might never get the hang of the marathon.


US heading into major urban assault in Iraq

More than 10,000 US forces are poised to attack and occupy the rebel operations base of Fallujah.


Pittsburgh Ends Another Win Streak

The Steelers combined their new quarterback with Jerome Bettis to dominate the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.


Death toll of England #39;s train crash rises to seven

The number of people who were killedwhen a high-speed train hit a car in southeastern England on Saturday rose to seven Sunday, including the drivers of both the car and train.


Iraq Declares State of Emergency as Insurgents Step Up Attacks

Faced with a surge in deadly guerrilla attacks, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi declared martial law across most of the country today as American and Iraqi troops made final


Egypt road crash kills 33

Thirty-three people have been killed and 14 injured after a minibus and a truck collided on a desert road in southern Egypt on Sunday, police sources say.


High stakes of taking Fallujah

The impending attack could decentralize the Iraqi insurgency and increase the risk of violence during elections.


Anti-French mood roils Ivory Coast

Mobs of government supporters looted French businesses and attacked French nationals Sunday.


Dutch debate a 'values' divide after slaying

The murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh underscores growing tensions in the Netherlands over Muslim integration.


Some Retailers Offering Online Rebates (AP)

AP - The rebate check is no longer a reward reserved for penny-pinchers with an abundance of paperwork skills and patience. Paperless, online rebates are finally gaining momentum in retail, an industry that has long offered customers electronic options for virtually every other type of transaction, from simple purchases to coupons.


8 eBay Sellers Admit to Phony Bids (AP)

AP - Eight eBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly  #36;90,000 in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


Buccaneers Hold Off Chiefs 34-31 (AP)

AP - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found a way to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. They simply outscored them. Michael Pittman scored one of his three touchdowns on a team-record 78-yard run and Tampa Bay held off the Chiefs 34-31 Sunday, giving the Bucs consecutive victories for just the second time since they won the Super Bowl two years ago.


Steelers Pummel Eagles

Jerome Bettis, subbing for an injured Duce Staley, grinds out 149 of the Steelers' 252 rushing yards in Pittsburgh's 27-3 pounding of the previously unbeaten Eagles.


PM arrives in the Hague

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here tonight to participate in the India-European Union (EU) summit during which a proposal for a strategic partnership will be finalised.


Bills Scouting Report

(November 7, 2004) - Beating Arizona was a nice and much-needed boost, but if the Bills dont follow suit with another victory over the Jets today, they can almost start planning for 2005.


CLARKE URGES BLUES TO TAKE CHANCE

Chelsea #39;s assistant manager Steve Clarke insisted it was vital the side kept up the pressure on wobbling Arsenal by going top of the Premiership.


Researchers Identify Nicotine Addiction Gene

The finding was made by breeding mice that lacked specific receptor subunits and testing their response to nicotine. Mice lacking the subunit designated beta2 had reduced sensitivity to nicotine


Arroyo asks Muslims for help on Filipino hostages

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appealed to world Muslim leaders today to help secure the release of Filipino hostages in Afghanistan and Iraq as anxious relatives prayed for their safety.


Gas Prices Drop As Crude Oil Supply Rises

CAMARILLO, Calif. Nov 7, 2004 - An increase in the worldwide supply of crude oil contributed to a dip in US prices at the gas pump over the last two weeks, an industry analyst said Sunday.


CBI calls for police help against terrorism

THE UK should set up a dedicated police force to help companies protect themselves from terrorist attacks, says the Confederation of British Industry.


BT poised to expand in US with \$1bn deal

BT GROUP is likely to clinch a controversial \$1 billion (550 million) expansion deal this week in a third attempt to build a substantial overseas presence in America.


Microsoft seeks pre-dividend shift in stock plan

SEATTLE - For Microsoft Corp. shareholders, the holidays will likely come early this year in the form of a one-time \$3 dividend thats part of the companys plan to return some of its \$64.


Health-Care Worker To Jail For Identity Theft

A health-care worker at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance has been sentenced to serve 16 months in prison for stealing the identity of a cancer patient, and subsequently running up credit card bills in his name.


SK Corp. faces legal challenge

SEOUL Sovereign Asset Management, the largest shareholder of SK Corp., said Sunday that it would take legal action after directors of South Korea #39;s biggest oil refiner refused a request for an extraordinary general meeting.


Menatep plans to sue Kremlin

Yukos #39; core shareholder, Group Menatep, has taken the first step toward suing the Russian government, the Moscow Times reported this weekend.


Bush win not a cure-all for stocks

The market may have been relieved over the resolution of the presidential race, but investors should be careful about rushing into sectors they think might do well in the second Bush administration: All may not be as it seems.


Enron barge jury deliberating sentencing factors

HOUSTON Deliberations will resume tomorrow for jurors who convicted five men of playing roles in pushing through Enron #39;s late 1999 sham sale of power barges to Merrill Lynch.


Next Space Race Under Way

(CBS) If you thought that the drive, determination and spirit that carried the United States to the moon is gone, that  quot;The Right Stuff quot; is history, think again.


Tesco jumps on to digital downloading bandwagon

TESCO, the UKs largest supermarket, is to go head to head with iTunes and Napster by launching digital music downloads on its website.


Sneaky spyware becomes scourge of Internet

Spyware, an amorphous class of software that mostly gets onto computers without their users knowledge, has become epidemic in the past year as people spend more time online and spyware developers get more aggressive.


Nokia unveils three new camera phones

The worlds largest mobile phone maker Nokia presented three new camera phones on Tuesday, including the 7710 media device, which it said would hit Asian stores in the last quarter of this year.


Crunch, squelch or splash on Saturn #39;s moon Titan?

The prospect of the Huygens probe landing on a hard, soft or liquid surface when it lands on Titan next January still remain following further analysis of data taken during the Cassini mother ship #39;s closest encounter with Saturn #39;s largest moon during its


Radcliffe redeemed with marathon win

THE sight of Paula Radcliffe crying at the side of the road as her dreams of marathon glory were shattered remains one of the lasting images of the Athens Olympics.


Mauresmo through to final as Sharapova withdraws

NEW YORK: Title holder and top seed Amelie Mauresmo received an easy passage into the final of the Advanta Championships in Philadelphia on Saturday when Maria Sharapova was forced out of the event with a sore shoulder.


Schalke wins club-record sixth in a row

BERLIN -- Schalke pulled even on points with first-place Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, rallying with two goals in the final 11 minutes to beat Hamburg 2-1 SV.


Jol wants full-time job at Tottenham

LONDON: Tottenham #39;s stand-in manager Martin Jol admitted he wants the job full-time after seeing his side lose 3-2 at home to Charlton on Saturday.


Spears, Sucha advance to Bell Challenge final

QUEBEC (CP) - Slovakia #39;s Martina Sucha captured the \$170,000 US Bell Challenge women #39;s tennis tournament Sunday, defeating American Abigail Spears 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in the final.


Steelers winning the old fashioned way -- they pound it

PITTSBURGH -- When Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher looked for an offensive coordinator in January he didn #39;t start by asking candidates what they thought about Tommy Maddox, Hines Ward or Plaxico Burress.


San Diego Chargers

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Even with the highest scoring offense and the third highest-rated quarterback, Marty Schottenheimer wasn #39;t afraid to reach into his bag of tricks.


Jets QB Pennington pulled after bruising right shoulder

Jets quarterback Chad Pennington bruised his right shoulder Sunday and missed most of the fourth quarter in New York #39;s 22-17 loss to Buffalo.


Designers unveil plan for Olympic park

London 2012 has revealed a glimpse of its ambitious plans for the next-but-one summer Olympics. The spectacular main stadium, designed by Spanish architect Alejandro Zaero-Pollo of the practice Foreign Office


La Liga Sunday Wrap: Real Go Second As Ches Crash Again

After leaders Barcelona equalled their best ever start to a season, coming from behind on Saturday night to make it 26 points out of a possible 30 with a 2-1 win over Deportivo, arch-rivals Real Madrid moved up to second in La Liga with a 2-0 victory at


Israel ensures security during the funeral of the Palestinian <b>...</b>

Israel will allow Yasser Arafat to be buried in the Gaza Strip, the territory occupied by Israeli troops, if the Palestinian President dies.


Train crash may have been due to motorist #39;s suicide bid

Police investigating the Berkshire rail disaster believe the motorist involved may have driven on to the track to commit suicide. Police sources said the man #39;s car looked as if it had been deliberately parked


Agreement close on atom deal with Iran

Iran appeared yesterday to have reached a tentative deal with Britain, France and Germany that would avert the threat of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme.


Russia #39;s holiday soup

MOSCOW: Russia celebrated a holiday on Sunday that under the Julian calendar was in October, that commemorates the beginnings of a state that no longer exists.


Thaksin vows  #39;iron fist #39; against rebels in south

BANGKOK Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra headed to a Muslim-dominated part of southern Thailand on Sunday after promising to act aggressively against militants and illegal weapons they have used in deadly attacks there.


Protester killed in anti-nuclear demonstration

AVRICOURT, FRANCE - An anti-nuclear protester was killed in France Sunday when his leg was cut off by a train carrying radioactive waste to Germany.


Saudi call for jihad

A group of Saudi religious scholars have signed an open letter urging Iraqis to support jihad against US-led forces.  quot;Fighting the occupiers is a duty for all those who are able, quot; they said in a statement posted on the internet at the weekend.


Meyer just says no to Notre Dame, will coach at Florida

Names Coaching Notre Dame is still Urban Meyer's dream job. It just isn't the one he's taking. Meyer said yesterday the professional and financial opportunity presented to him by Florida was too good to pass up. And by the time Notre Dame called, Meyer already knew he was heading for The Swamp, not the Golden Dome. Florida athletic director Jeremy ...


Nearly Half European Birds Species at Risk -Report (Reuters)

Reuters - Over 40 percent of all bird species\in Europe face an uncertain future and some are so threatened\that they may disappear soon due to intensive agriculture and\climate change, scientists said on Monday.


Manmohan welcomes EU proposal for strategic partnership

NEW DELHI, NOV 7: India has welcomed the European Unions proposal for a strategic partnership, to be finalised at the fifth Indo-EU summit at the Hague.


Australia #39;s Stockland Plans Statement About GPT

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian property investor Stockland Group (SGP.AU) said Monday it sought a trading halt on its securities pending the release of a statement  quot;about a proposal involving General Property Trust quot; (GTP).


Crude may fall as output spurs supply

Crude oil futures may fall on speculation that rising production and slowing demand growth will boost inventories, a Bloomberg survey showed.


Plane skids off runway at Kota Kinabalu airport

KOTA KINABALU: An AirAsia plane with 110 passengers skidded off the runway at the international airport here but all on board escaped without any serious injuries.


Convictions In Enron Scandal

The polls are closed and results are starting to come in - finally. At times it seems as if the Enron scandal has been with us forever, lingering just


Patriots Defeat Rams, 40-22 (AP)

AP - Adam Vinatieri beat the St. Louis Rams with his leg in the 2002 Super Bowl. This time, he used his leg and his arm.


Give the e-mail spammer a life-time of internet pop-up messages

This may be a calumny on Leesburg, Virginia, but somehow it doesn #39;t sound like the sort of place we would associate with a liberal judiciary.


Chargers Trounce Saints, 43-17 (AP)

AP - Drew Brees and Antonio Gates are making it look too easy. Brees, the quarterback the front office didn't want coming into this season, threw four more touchdown passes  #151; three to tight end Gates  #151; and the San Diego Chargers beat the punchless New Orleans Saints 43-17 on Sunday.


Not so fast for US skiers

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. -- Following a historic day for the US Ski Team Friday, the 1-2 punch of Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves got KO'd on the tricky giant slalom course yesterday.


Tszyu looks for next fight

World Boxing Association super lightweight champion Vivian Harris says he is interested in fighting International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Kostya Tszyu.


Steelers, Bettis overwhelm undefeated Eagles

PITTSBURGH 27, PHILADELPHIA 3 -- PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Super Bowl XIV title team.


Seattle vs. San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Jerry Rice became the NFL #39;s most prolific wide receiver while he was with the San Francisco 49ers. On Sunday, the 42-year-old Rice makes his return to San Francisco as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.


Netherlands Reports Anti-Muslim Incidents (AP)

AP - Arsonists and vandals angered over the alleged Muslim-inspired slaying of a controversial Dutch filmmaker have conducted a series of attacks on Islamic targets, including attempts to burn down two mosques, Dutch media reported Sunday.


Kazakhstan Coal Mine Blast Kills 23

ALMATY (Reuters) - A powerful blast ripped through a coal  mine in Kazakhstan on Sunday, killing 23 people, a spokesman  for the Central Asian state's emergencies agency said.


Goosen Tops Woods

Retief Goosen fires a 6-under 64 in the final round of the Tour Championship to overtake Tiger Woods's even-par round and win by four strokes.


Texas Instruments Chip Brings TV to Cellphones (Reuters)

Reuters - When Texas Instruments\needed a code name for its newest chip, the company settled on\Hollywood. That's a clear indication of TI's goal for its\latest development, the wireless industry's first single-chip\digital television for mobile devices.


Bears Defeat Giants, 28-21 (AP)

AP - The Chicago Bears stole the New York Giants' early-season formula for success  #151; again and again and ...


China to Keep to Stable Yuan Policy-Paper (Reuters)

Reuters - China will maintain a stable monetary\and yuan policy as it tries to keep inflation in check, state\media cited a central banker as saying, amid resurgent\speculation Beijing may tinker with the rigidly held currency.


Dollar Retests Record Lows Vs Euro

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar retested record lows against  the euro on Monday as traders continued to shun the U.S.  currency on concerns about bloated deficits in the United  States.


China to Keep to Stable Yuan Policy-Paper

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China will maintain a stable monetary  and yuan policy as it tries to keep inflation in check, state  media cited a central banker as saying, amid resurgent  speculation Beijing may tinker with the rigidly held currency.


Mauresmo Wins Fifth Tournament of 2004

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo shook off a slow start and beat Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to successfully defend her Advanta Championships title for her fifth tournament victory of 2004. Mauresmo seems poised to make a splash in next week's season-ending WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles. The Frenchwoman has won two straight tournaments, including in Austria last week.


Pittman Pops Chiefs

Michael Pittman scores three touchdowns as Tampa Bay holds off the Chiefs, 34-31, on Sunday, putting both squads at 3-5.


Arafat's Lieutenants to Fly to Paris to See Him

PARIS (Reuters) - Yasser Arafat's senior deputies were to  fly to France on Monday hoping to visit the critically ill  Palestinian president after approving a plan for maintaining  law and order in the West Bank and Gaza.


Steelers Hand Eagles First Loss, 27-3: NFL Week 9 (Update1)

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns to help the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-3, knocking off the National Football League #39;s last undefeated team.


Earnhardt wins; championship battle tightens

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made up for his big mistake of a week earlier, pulling away from Jeff Gordon Sunday in a pair of overtime laps to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway and tighten the championship chase with two races to go.


PA endorses domestic security plan

The Palestinian Authority #39;s National Security Council on Sunday endorsed a security plan designed to restore law and order in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but stopped short of calling for an end to attacks on Israel.


Opponents: Macedonian Referendum Will Fail on Low Turnout

An official of Macedonia #39;s ruling coalition says Sunday #39;s referendum challenging ethnic Albanian autonomy will go down to defeat for lack of sufficient turnout.


Guerrillas Kill Two U.S. Soldiers in Iraq's Mosul

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Guerrillas attacked a U.S. patrol in  Mosul on Saturday, killing two American soldiers and wounding  four, the U.S. military said on Sunday.


Mine Explosion Kills 21 in Kazakhstan

Twenty-one people died Sunday in an explosion at a mine in the Karaganda region in Kazakhstan, the Interfax news agency said. About 100 miners were at the Shakhtinskaya mine at the time of the incident, which took place in the early hours of Sunday.


Enter a Category

By genetically enhancing these brain proteins in mice, Henry Lester and colleagues at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena created a mouse that was far more sensitive to nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco.


Doubt removed: Steelers simply looking Super

Two weeks ago, the NFL was as certain and predictable as a German train schedule. All you needed to do was page ahead to February to see which two trains were going to meet at the Super Bowl station.


More French Troops Deploy in Ivory Coast Amid Protests

France dispatched another 600 troops Sunday to help calm the volatile situation in the Ivory Coast, where French forces, deployed to enforce a shaky cease-fire, and ordinary civilians have been the targets of violence.


Palestinian leaders visit dying Arafat

TOP Palestinian politicians are to visit Yasser Arafat in hospital and consult doctors about his condition amid claims that the veteran leader has suffered liver failure.


Frantic attempt to stop the train - then utter devastation

A suicidal car driver may have caused the train crash which killed seven people and injured 150, it emerged yesterday. Police are investigating whether a man who stopped his car on an unmanned level crossing


Seahawks' Lucas Bruises Chest vs. 49ers (AP)

AP - Seattle cornerback Ken Lucas left the field on a cart after bruising his chest Sunday in the Seahawks' game against the San Francisco 49ers.


Earnhardt Gets Win

Dale Earnhardt Jr. pulls away from Jeff Gordon Sunday in a pair of overtime laps to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.


Roadside bomb kills 11 in Kashmir

A remote-controlled roadside bomb blew up an army patrol car in a pre-dawn attack today in the violence-torn territory of Kashmir, killing an army major and 10 other men, police said.


Satellite launch the fortieth in past 8 years

With the third  quot;ZY-2 quot; research satellite successfully entering into orbit on Saturday morning, China has accomplished the launch of its 40th satellite since October 1996.


Radcliffe, Raamala win New York marathon race

Britain #39;s world record holder Paula Radcliffe won the women #39;s New York marathon in two hours 23 minutes 10 seconds on Sunday in the race #39;s closest finish and redeem herself


Chargers rain on Saints parade

The San Diego Chargers won convincingly for the second straight week, beating the New Orleans Saints 43-17 with sporadic rain drops raining down.


Ten-man PSG clinch seventh straight win over Marseille

Ten-man Paris St Germain clinched their seventh consecutive victory over arch-rivals Olympique Marseille with a 2-1 triumph in Ligue 1 on Sunday thanks to a second-half winner by substitute Edouard Cisse.


Troops set for Christmas homecoming

Black Watch troops spent their first day off the front line and thinking ahead to Christmas at home. The troops have returned to Basra after their controversial month-long mission to Camp Dogwood near the Sunni  quot;Triangle of Death quot;.


Nikkei Erases Gains

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei erased opening gains by  mid-morning on Monday as caution over the yen's rise offset  optimism about the post-election outlook for Wall Street.


Palestinian heads to visit Arafat

Yasser Arafat's top officials plan to travel to Paris to assess the exact condition of their ailing leader.


Nikkei Dips Down, Yen Weighs on Exporters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average edged down  by midsession on Monday after erasing opening gains as investor  caution over the yen's rise offset optimism about the  post-election outlook for Wall Street.


Tesco begins music-download site

UK supermarket chain Tesco  launches an online music service it hopes will rival Apple's market-leading iTunes.


Bombings kill 16 in Baghdad, Mosul

At least 16 people died in suicide bombings in Baghdad and Mosul yesterday as insurgents stepped up their campaign to undermine Iraq #39;s security forces and sow ethnic tensions before elections scheduled for January.


Upside to a Dollar That's Falling

THE stock market is rising, but the dollar is falling. And the decline of the dollar is more likely to continue than the rally of the stock market.


S.E.C. Is Said to Examine Stock Pricing By Big Brokers

About a dozen brokerage firms are suspected of failing to secure the best available price for stocks they were trading for their customers.


Microsoft Seeks Video Game Winner With Halo 2

The anticipated release of Halo 2 is the latest and perhaps the best indication of how the blockbuster mentality of Hollywood has pervaded the videogame industry.


Australian Job Advertisements Rose 5 Last Month (Update2)

The number of jobs advertised in major Australian newspapers rose in October to the highest level since January 2001 as employers face difficulties finding workers as the economy expands.


Australian Gasoline Prices May Ease, Treasurer Costello Says

Australia #39;s inflation rate was contained and gasoline prices may ease in coming months, Treasuer Peter Costello told reporters in Melbourne.


British firms increasingly outsourcing jobs abroad: survey

BIRMINGHAM, England : British companies are under increasing pressure to relocate parts of their business overseas to remain competitive, with Asia and Eastern Europe the chosen destinations, a survey showed.


Stockland to Make Proposal That Involves General Property Trust

Stockland, Australia #39;s second-biggest property trust by market value, plans to make a proposal involving General Property Trust, the subject of aA\$7.


Knowledge Learning Buying KinderCare

The Knowledge Learning Corporation has signed a deal to buy KinderCare Learning Centers, which operates preschool and child care centers, for \$550 million and the assumption of debt.


Vinatieri, Dillon Pace Pats

Adam Vinatieri hits four field goals and tosses his first career touchdown pass to help New England bounce St. Louis, 40-22, on Sunday.


Bears Defeat Giants, 28-21

The Chicago Bears stole the New York Giants' early-season formula for success - again and again and ...


Arafat's Wife Opposes Leaders Visiting Him (Reuters)

Reuters - Yasser Arafat's senior deputies hoped to\travel to France on Monday to meet the critically ill\Palestinian president but his wife was opposed to the visit, a\senior Palestinian official said.


Goodbye, Numminen

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." Similarly, if it were left to me to decide on a winter without hockey, or hockey without winter, I'd actually lean toward a Thrashers-Wild tilt.


THECHAT

When Republican Michael G. Fitzpatrick is sworn in as the new congressman from Pennsylvania's 8th District, the longtime Philadelphia sports fan will face some important decisions. Chief among them, of course . . .


Radcliffe avenges Athens

How something so elephantine can be so simultaneously light on its feet is a mystery. But maybe the New York City Marathon can be explained a bit by Paula Radcliffe #39;s presence yesterday.


Buddha teaches Safin to be master of himself

Marat Safin, on current form, will start the favourite for the Masters Cup that begins in Houston a week today, the 24-year-old Russian having won his third Paris Indoor Open in five years yesterday with a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 victory over the Czech qualifier


Smith Off as Manchester Derby Drawn; Newcastle Loses (Update1)

Alan Smith was sent off with two minutes remaining as Manchester United was held 0-0 at Old Trafford by Manchester City. Newcastle lost 4-1 at home to Fulham, while Bolton drew 1-1 at Middlesbrough.


Cardinals flip the flailing Dolphins 24-23

Eight seconds into the game, the Arizona Cardinals lost a fumble. They sputtered on offense, committed nine penalties and blew a late lead.


Redskins 17 - Lions 10: Post-Game Quotes

The Detroit Lions dropped a second consecutive game on Sunday, falling 17-10 to the Washington Redskins -- and to .500 for the first time this season at 4-4.


Seahawks lose CB Lucas in win

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas will spend the night in a San Francisco hospital after suffering a chest contusion in Sunday #39;s 42-27 victory over the 49ers.


Between chaos and progress

The epic script of the Middle East conflict could have had Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, kaffiyeh-clad and armed, emerge from his junkyard compound as a born-again peacemaker or guns blazing in martyrdom.


21 shot dead in Iraq police station massacre, two US soldiers <b>...</b>

RAMADI, Iraq, Nov 7 (AFP) - Gunmen rounded up and killed 21 policemen and two US soldiers died in separate attacks in Iraq Sunday, one day after car bombs and clashes killed 36 people in the restive Sunni heartland.


Ivorian Leader Urges End to Anti-French Violence (Reuters)

Reuters - President Laurent Gbagbo appealed for\an end to anti-French crowd violence which erupted after France\destroyed most of Ivory Coast's small air force in retaliation\for the killing of nine French peacekeepers.


Nikkei Dips Down, Yen Weighs on Exporters (Reuters)

Reuters - Japan's Nikkei share average edged down\by midsession on Monday after erasing opening gains as investor\caution over the yen's rise offset optimism about the\post-election outlook for Wall Street.


On-Demand Apps Break Enterprise Barriers (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Now with easy customization and process integration, will utility apps dominate?


Microsoft Seeks Change Before Dividend (AP)

AP - For Microsoft Corp. shareholders, the holidays will likely come early this year in the form of a one-time  #36;3 dividend that's part of the company's plan to return some of its  #36;64.4 billion cash horde back to shareholders. But Microsoft won't hand out the cash unless shareholders allow the company to alter its stock compensation plans, so employees who hold stock options and stock awards aren't hurt by the dividend payout.


Eye on Open Source (TechWeb)

TechWeb - More Choices for BI on Linux; MySQL Might Have Jumped the Gun


Lucent, Unions Delay Contract Deadline (AP)

AP - Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed Sunday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike.


Macedonians Vote on Ethnic Albanian Rule (AP)

AP - Macedonia's national referendum Sunday on abolishing local autonomy for the country's ethnic Albanian minority failed, authorities said.


Philippine Envoy Pleads for Captive (AP)

AP - The Philippines' top envoy on Sunday appealed to Iraqi militants for the release of a Filipino accountant kidnapped earlier this month in Baghdad.


17 Iraqis Working for Coalition Killed (AP)

AP - Gunmen firing from two cars killed 17 Iraqis as they were heading to work Sunday at a U.S. military facility in the northern city of Tikrit while separate attacks killed four Iraqi security personnel in nearby towns.


Ed Hardin: Must-see TV: UNC is for real

CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina made its national debut Saturday afternoon in a long-running reality series starring the ACC. Carolina #39;s 91-78 win over No.


U.S. Marine Tanks Prepare for Falluja Offensive

NEAR FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Gunfire crackled from a  nearby junkyard used by insurgents on Monday when a U.S. Marine  tank company and infantry units began moving into a desert  staging position for an expected offensive on Falluja.


Undefeated Tigers outscore Vols, unlikely to get shot at national <b>...</b>

Auburn gave the Bowl Championship Series suits what they were looking for Saturday night. Auburn #39;s Cole Bennett (87) recovers a fumble in the end zone to score the Tigers #39; first


Shopping With My Friendsters

Social networking features are popping up on auction and shopping sites, allowing visitors to compare notes and turn e-commerce into a social experience.


Iran Jails More Journalists and Blocks Web Sites

Iran has moved against pro-democracy Web sites, blocking hundreds of sites in recent months and making several arrests.


One Internet, Many Copyright Laws

A battle over copyright infringement on the Internet heats up. No, not over music. Over the classic 'Gone With the Wind.'


CU drops Big 12 title to Sooners

Buffalo football fans who were parked on barstools nonchalantly shrugged off Saturday night #39;s Big 12 big blowout. The second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners pounded the University


Marketing for the Third Screen

Marketers are about to aim at the third screen: the one on the cellphone in your pocket.


When Etiquette Isn't Enough, a Cellphone Cone of Silence

The deliberate private creation of cellphone dead zones is an act bound to infuriate phone users and the cellphone industry alike.


Nikkei Down at Midsession

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average was lower at  midsession on Monday as caution over the yen's rise offset  optimism about the post-election outlook for Wall Street.


Pittsburgh: Where the Unbeaten Go to Die

Instead of a letdown after stopping the New England Patriots' winning streak at 21 games last Sunday, Pittsburgh pounded Philadelphia, which started the day 7-0.


Bruins manifest spirit

A three-touchdown point spread and a recent history of late-season collapses had many thinking the UCLA football team would provide little opposition to rival USC #39;s march to the BCS-championship game at the Orange Bowl.


Giants Slip and Vanish in a Torrent of Turnovers

The Giants coughed up three straight second-quarter turnovers and dissolved in a torrent of penalties in a baffling loss at Giants Stadium.


Goosen Does Unthinkable and Gets Woods Thinking

When Tiger Woods and Jay Haas faltered, Retief Goosen knew how to finish, with a brilliant six-under-par 64 and a victory at the Tour Championship.


American men picking up speed

Beaver Creek - In a quiet moment the day before the first World Cup race this season, US Ski Team men #39;s coach Phil McNichol scoffed at those who were predicting a duel for supremacy between the mighty Austrians and the upstart Americans.


Cropp Lacks Votes

D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp said Sunday that she appears short on votes to support her alternative proposal to construct a major league ballpark adjacent to RFK Stadium.


Roundup: Win keeps US alive in Davis Cup final

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States stopped Spain #39;s momentum in the Davis Cup final. The Bryans defeated Tommy Robredo and Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on


Palestinian Delegation Hoping to See Arafat

Senior Palestinian officials said they planned to travel to Paris on Monday to assess the health of the Palestinian leader and meet with doctors and French authorities.


Dollar Hits Record Euro Low (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar slipped to a record low\against the euro on Monday on concerns about bloated U.S.\budget and current account deficits, weighing on Asian\exporters' stocks and sending gold to 16-year highs.


SuperSonics Beat Spurs, 113-94 (AP)

AP - Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen added 24, leading the Seattle SuperSonics to a 113-94 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.


UK Plc under pressure to move jobs offshore

British business is facing increasing pressure to move jobs abroad to cut costs and there is no sign that this global trend is set to reverse, an industry survey shows.


#39;No need #39; for Australian rate rise

Australia #39;s central bank says there is no pressing need for higher interest rates just now, although it still expects to tighten policy again at some stage in the current expansion amid  quot;favorable quot; economic circumstances.


Update 2: Tokyo Stocks Move Lower; Dollar Falls

Tokyo stocks dipped Monday morning as investors took profits from recent gains. The US dollar was down against the Japanese yen. The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues fell 24.


Eight eBay sellers ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 in restitution <b>...</b>

Eight eBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 (euro 70,000) in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


China lets in a little more light

China, having surprised the world 10 days ago with its first interest rate rise in nine years, took another unusual step last week by publishing for the first time the annual report on its economy by the International Monetary Fund.


Crude price falls further

CRUDE futures continued to fall today furthering a 10-per-cent decline in the past two weeks on the belief that rising US crude supplies will meet demand for the northern winter.


Westpac Reports 16.3 Percent Profit Boost

Australia #39;s fourth largest bank, Westpac Banking Corp., announced Monday a 16.3 percent rise in net profit in fiscal 2004 and said it was confident of strong performance next year despite intensifying competition.


Estimating credit score is easy

Research shows consumers know very little about their credit score, yet that tally goes a long way to determining credit eligibility, the rate someone gets on loans and much more.


South Korean oil company chairman faces legal action

A Monaco-based fund which holds a stake in SK Corp threatened yesterday to take legal action against a corruption-tainted chief executive at the company, South Korea #39;s largest oil refiner.


China Netcom to fund expansion with IPO proceeds

China Netcom Group Corp. (Hong Kong) Ltd., China #39;s second-biggest fixed line phone company, plans to spend half of the net proceeds from its HK\$9.


Anti-Nuclear Protester Killed in France (AP)

AP - A French anti-nuclear protester was killed Sunday in eastern France when his leg was severed by a train carrying radioactive waste to Germany, officials said.


NBA Wrap: Toronto Beats Portland, 101-97 (Reuters)

Reuters - Vince Carter drilled a\tiebreaking three- pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining to lift\the Toronto Raptors to a 101-97 victory over the Portland Trail\Blazers at Air Canada Center.


German FM meets with Palestinian leadership ahead of talks in Israel (AFP)

AFP - German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer arrived in the West Bank for talks with the new Palestinian leadership ahead of a meeting later in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.


Tesco launches music download business

Leading supermarket chain Tesco has launched a music download service, entering a market dominated by Apple Computer #39;s iTunes.


Xbox builds on  #39;Halo #39; effect

Millions of video-game enthusiasts will soon see if Master Chief can successfully defend Earth from an invasion of Covenant forces.


Hobbits #39; boost tourism figures

The discovery of remains of a tiny human closely related to man on the remote Indonesian island of Flores and tales of Hobbit-like creatures who still roam its jungles have triggered an influx of visitors in search of a fabled lost world.


Hatton to pursue champion Tszyu

British light welterweight Ricky Hatton has pledged to sacrifice home advantage for a crack at IBF king Kostya Tszyu. Hatton, who was on hand to watch Tszyu impressively dismantle Sharmba Mitchell in Phoenix


Marat Safin to face Radek Stepanek in Paris Masters final

Sixth-seeded Marat Safin of Russia overcame a twisted ankle Saturday to reach the final at the Paris Masters for the fourth time in six years and will meet qualifier Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic for the championship.


Bills #39; McGahee Hits Pause and Then Runs Fast Forward

With winds gusting to 30 miles an hour at Ralph Wilson Stadium and with the Buffalo Bills 12 yards from the Jets #39; end zone on Sunday, Willis McGahee took the handoff, cradled the ball and paused.


Warner #39;s Mistakes Costly for Giants

Giants quarterback Kurt Warner walked off the field looking a bit like a chastened child, eyes cast down, licking his lips. He did not yet know that Coach Tom


Busch stays on top as the Chase turns at Phoenix

Points leader Kurt Busch spun out and ran out of fuel, and his misfortune was one of the reasons crew chief Jimmy Fennig elected not to pit with 20 laps to go.


Another quake hits northern Japan

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake has rocked northern Japan near the area where the country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck in October.


Castro Shown on Cuban TV in a Wheel-Chair

Cubans saw President Fidel Castro in a wheel-chair on Sunday in television images that showed the Cuban leader looking rested after shattering his left knee and fracturing his right arm in a fall on Oct. 20.


Nintendo sells 500,000 DS handhelds in first week

Nintendo sold 500,000 Nintendo DS video game devices during the first week of sales in US stores for the new handheld featuring two screens for game playing, the Japanese game maker said Wednesday.


Cognos brings software to Linux on Power

Firm's ReportNet product now is available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux running on IBM's pSeries servers.


President Feels Emboldened, Not Accidental, After Victory

President Bush is reveling in winning the popular vote and feels he can no longer be considered a one-term accident of history.


Guantnamo Prisoners Getting Their Day, but Hardly in Court

Each day, detainees in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, argue before anonymous military officers that they should not be there. The hearings have come under heavy criticism.


More French Troops Are Sent to Ivory Coast as Violence Flares

France sent 600 more troops to Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abijan, as mobs rampaged against French expatriates.


Early Target of Offensive Is a Hospital

American Special Forces and Iraqi troops seized a hospital considered a refuge for insurgents and a center of propaganda.


Taiwan to Rule on Chip Packagers' China Plans -Paper

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has agreed in principle to allow  microchip packaging firms to set up units in China, but final  approval will have to wait until local elections are completed  next month, a newspaper said on Monday.


Job ads on the rise

Job advertising in Australia #39;s major newspapers has recorded a significant jump, pointing to a rebound in employment growth in the lead-up to Christmas.


Study ties molecule, nicotine addiction

A single molecule may be partly to blame for nicotine #39;s addictive allure, a finding that researchers say could lead to potential therapies to help millions of smokers quit a life-threatening habit.


Radcliffe wins New York marathon

World record holder Paula Radcliffe rebounded from her Athens Olympics traumas on Sunday with a dramatic victory in the closest finish yet to the women #39;s New York City marathon.


Bears 28 Giants 21

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ Anthony Thomas ran for two touchdowns and the Chicago Bears forced five turnovers in a 28-to-21 win over the New York Giants.


Preview: Spurs vs. SuperSonics

It hasn #39;t taken long for Brent Barry to see why he joined the San Antonio Spurs. Barry returns to the city where he spent his previous five NBA seasons as the Spurs, coming off two wins over perennial title contenders, visit the Seattle SuperSonics.


Iraq Rebels Strike Before US Attack on Falluja

Rebels shot dead 21 Iraqi policemen in cold blood on Sunday, a day after killing 34 people in attacks on security forces, in a clear show of force ahead of an


Broncos Pummel Texans, 31-13

Denver Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie reaches to catch a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Houston Texans in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004.


Six people killed in high-speed train crash in England

Six people were killed and 11 seriously hurt Saturday when a high-speed train derailed after colliding with a car at a rural crossing in southern England.


ANZ Australia Newspaper Job Ads 5.0 In Oct Vs Sep

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--The number of job advertisements in Australian newspapers rose 5.0 in October from September, and climbed 5.2 from a year earlier, Australia  amp; New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.


Honda Expanding Production in China

Japanese automaker Honda says it plans to meet growing demand in China by boosting production at one of its two car-assembly plants there.


US Gasoline Prices Fall to \$2.01/gallon

The average US retail price of gasoline fell 2.67 cents in the past two weeks, its first decline since early September due to increased crude oil production, a leading industry analyst said on Sunday.


Allawi declares emergenct rule

IRAQ declared a state of emergency in much of the country yesterday, based on the national safety law which was passed in July soon after the US-led coalition formally handed over power.


Warning of terrorists #39; threat to businesses

BRITISH business is open to the threat of terror attack unless it works more closely with the Government to assess and counter active security risks, a former intelligence chief will tell the CBI today.


Lend Lease, Stockland, GPT under trade halts

Some of Australia #39;s biggest property interests have placed their shares under a trading halt amid speculation of further major consolidation in the sector.


Plummer thrives in conservative attack

Novembers are defining months in the Mile High City. It #39;s around the time of year when Super Bowl teams gather confidence for the stretch run.


Hamas agrees to avoid infighting

Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, has appealed to all political and military factions to avoid violence while Yasser Arafat lies critically ill in a French military hospital - and after he dies.


Karzai #39;s amnesty offer to Taliban

All facts,challenges and problems considered, and there are many (from the security issue to the mobilization of a brand new free nations with very little if at all infrastructure and functioning civil society to ethnic, economical and political factor


Bus Carrying Egyptian Workers Crashes (AP)

AP - A passenger bus returning to Egypt from Saudi Arabia collided with a truck Sunday, killing 33 people, police said.


Airlines Only to Profit if Oil Drops-IATA

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Air passenger numbers will grow again  in 2005 but the global airline industry will only post its  first profit in five years if oil prices drop by some \$15 a  barrel, an industry expert said on Monday.


Nuclear summit opens in Australia

Asia-Pacific leaders meet in Australia to discuss how to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of extremists.


Region's Affluence Yields Stable Returns

Washington area's job growth and well-educated consumers attract plenty of nationally-known retailers willing to compete for space, driving up rent prices.


Australia May Boost Interest Rates

Australia #39;s central bank said Monday that an expected increase in inflation next year could force it to raise interest rates. The government has pledged to keep interest rates low, but prices have been rising


Mitsubishi Motors hit by first half loss

Scandal-hit Mitsubishi Motors of Japan has reported a group net loss of \$A1.824 billion in the first half of the 2004 business year, compared with a loss of \$A1 billion a year earlier.


China to cut public spending in 2005

The Chinese Government will trim spending next year in an effort to slow economic growth to a more sustainable pace. Vice Finance Minister Lou Jiwei says China will reduce the


Big Tax Plans, Big Tax Risks

Hardly anybody likes the current tax system. But as President Bush undertakes the potentially historic task of coming up with something better, he is confronting


Infy approves Sponsored ADS

Infosys Technologies on Monday announced that its Board of Directors approved Sponsoring a Secondary ADS Offering ( quot;the Offering quot;), against equity shares held by its existing shareholders in India.


Pfizer faces black boxes

New York - Pfizer, the world #39;s largest drug maker, is discussing with US regulators whether to add a stronger warning to its Bextra painkiller about rare, serious skin reactions.


Microsoft to change share plans

FOR Microsoft shareholders, Christmas may come early this year in the form of a one-off \$US2.35 (\$3) dividend that #39;s part of the company #39;s plan to return some of its \$US50.


Xbox uses Halo 2 to herd players online

Halo 2, the stunning Xbox video game nearly three years in the making, goes on sale at midnight tonight, with Microsoft pulling out the stops to herald its launch as a pop culture event.


IBM #39;s Blue Gene/L goes on sale

The machine began life as a research project in 2000, is presently the world #39;s fastest supercomputer, and has only four publicly announced customers.


Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally

Looking to tap into discontent with Microsoft, Novell is set to deliver this week a package of Linux-based software for the PC that includes Office-like productivity applications, along with e-mail and Web browsing programs.


P2P Use Increases as Students Return to Campus

America #39;s students are back to school, but it seems they have yet to learn their lesson about file sharing. Despite the efforts of digital music services, record


Goosen Overtakes Woods at the End

A clutch shot and flawless performance by US Open champion Retief Goosen. A rare collapse by Tiger Woods. In a fitting end to the PGA Tour season, the unflappable Goosen closed with a 6-under-par 64 to win


Federer still the man to beat, says born-again Safin

Reborn Russian star Marat Safin basked in the glory of clinching his third Paris Masters title but insisted that world number one Roger Federer is still in a league of his own and is on his way to becoming one of the greatest players of all time.


NFL ROUNDUP: Steelers ground Eagles

The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing things never seen before in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.


Malaga keeper Calatayud aware of Real Madrid, Liverpool interest

Malaga goalkeeper Juan Calatayud has played down talk of a summer switch to Real Madrid. The 25 year-old is expected to move to Real at season #39;s end after signing a new contract extension with a revised buyout clause of a knockdown 5 million.


Coughlin should give Manning the ball

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Eli Manning could have flopped this Sunday, could #39;ve watched that wretched Bears offense rip off four straight touchdowns, and the Giants could have scored a few points in the process.


Road finally gets easier for Raiders Streak ends at Carolina, but <b>...</b>

Charlotte , NC -- The strange sensation of accomplishment, coupled with an odd bit of euphoria and a good measure of relief, was all so new to Tyler Brayton, the Raiders #39; second-year defensive end wasn #39;t sure how to act.


Snooker: Eddie Charlton dies

Australian snooker star Eddie Charlton dies in New Zealand following an operation.


House price growth 'still strong'

House price growth remains strong despite concerns about interest rate rises, Land Registry figures indicate.


UPDATE: Stockland To Unveil A\$7.5B Bid For GPT - Sources

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian diversified property group Stockland (SGP.AU) is set to launch a share-based bid for General Property Trust (GPT.


French troops sent to quell Ivory Coast unrest

ELEANOR HALL: Hundreds of French reinforcements have been sent to stop escalating violence in Ivory Coast. On the weekend, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the commercial capital Abidjan to


County in New Train Death

A person has died after being hit by a train in Berkshire, a day after the Ufton Nervet carnage. A British Transport Police spokesman said a train hit someone standing on the tracks at


Africa ; Majority backs Macedonia #39;s multi-ethnic future

The Socialist-led coalition government is committed to achieving membership of NATO and the EU, which has sent a questionnaire containing 3,000 questions that Macedonia must answer before talks about membership of the bloc can start.


Iraq declares martial law, US bombs Falluja

US warplanes pounded Falluja on Monday as ground forces battled guerrillas on the outskirts of the rebel-held city that American and Iraqi forces were poised to storm.


Men arrested as Dutch religious tensions increase

Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men who allegedly called for the beheading of a Dutch politician in the name of Islam.


#39;Pakistan impeding Kashmir talks #39;

India has accused Pakistan of trying to derail its plan to begin talks with Kashmiri separatists. The accusation was made by Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil who is visiting the Indian-administered Kashmir.


Four Palestinian millitants killed in Jenin

JENIN: Four Palestinian militants were shot dead in their car on Sunday by undercover Israeli forces here, Palestinian medical and security sources said.


Moscow Marks Anniversary of Communist Revolution

Russians celebrated their Revolution Day holiday Sunday with marches and rallies in Moscow and many other cities. In contrast to monolithic displays of devotion to the Soviet state, a feature of that marked


Buddhist plea for help in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhists in Thailand have implored Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to end violence targeting them on an almost daily basis in the south of the country.


Match-fixers targeted NZ captain

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was offered 200,000 to join a match-fixing syndicate in 1999.


Steelers earn their way into NFL elite

Another dominating triumph against another unbeaten team raises the stakes: These Steelers just might be the class of the NFL. By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


Supersonics sink Spurs

Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen 24 to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a shock 113-94 victory Sunday over the San Antonio Spurs.


Crash probe focuses on car driver

Police say they are not assuming that a car driver committing suicide caused Saturday's rail crash.


Italy's green primary school

A village in the Ligurian hills is home to one of Italy's first envrionmentally friendly schools.


Guantnamo Prisoners Getting Their Day, but Hardly in Court

Each day, detainees in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, argue before anonymous military officers that they should not be in custody. The hearings have brought heavy criticism.


Strong Quake Jolts Northern Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  5.9 jolted northern Japan Monday in the latest aftershock to  hit a region struck by a deadly tremor last month.


Mitsubishi First-Half Earnings Decline

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its losses jumped for the first half of the fiscal year as the Japanese automaker struggled to recover from an auto-defect scandal that has sent sales plunging.


Treasuries Decline on Concern Fed to Lift Rates Amid Debt Sales

US 10-year notes fell in Asia as traders prepared to bid for \$51 billion of debt being sold this week and on expectations the Federal Reserve will raise its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point in two days.


Gas prices drop as crude oil supply increases

CAMARILLO, Calif. An increase in the worldwide supply of crude oil contributed to dip in US prices at the gas pump over the last two weeks.


China to cut deficit, curb government investment in 2005: official

BEIJING : The Chinese government will try to cut its huge deficit next year and curb investment financed from public coffers, state media said, quoting Vice Finance Minister Lou Jiwei.


Stockland Bids A\$7.5 Bln for General Property Trust (Update1)

Stockland, Australia #39;s fourth-biggest property trust, offered to buy General Property Trust for A\$7.5 billion (\$5.7 billion) in stock in an attempt to foil a rival bid by Lend Lease Corp.


Tesco aims to take a bite out of Apple #39;s iTunes

Supermarket group Tesco is launching itself into the world of digital music with an online download service designed to take on the might of Apple #39;s iTunes.


Microsoft Seeks Video Game Winner With Halo 2

mostly men in their late teens and 20 #39;s - will line up near Union Square in New York, eagerly awaiting their first glimpse of the sequel to a science-fiction blockbuster.


Smooth criminal

When it was revealed that developer Rockstar Games #39; Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas would be three times larger than their previous epic,Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, I almost cringed.


Mauresmo makes waves at Advanta

VILLANOVA - The difference between Amelie Mauresmo and Vera Zvonareva in the WTA rankings is less than 10 places. The difference between Mauresmo and Zvonareva on the court is considerably wider.


Safin hammers Hewitt in Paris

Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt has been knocked out of the Paris Masters by Russian sixth seed Marat Safin. Safin put down the battling challenge of the Australian second seed to reach the semi-finals


Time running out for class of 1996

Some things never change. Manchester City are still looking for their first win at Old Trafford in three decades. Kevin Keegan is still moved to tears whenever he encounters Sir Alex Ferguson and Alan Smith


Scoring Summary: Bears 28-Giants 21

The defense setup the offense all day, but a 41-yard touchdown run by Anthony Thomas in the fourth quarter helped seal the upset victory over the Giants.


English Premier League match reports

The Manchester derby ended goalless despite faltering United having several good chances, possibly the best of which came in the 63rd minute when Alan Smith #39;s acrobatic effort was cleared off the line by City #39;s Steve McManaman.


US warplanes pounded Falluja early today as ground forces battled insurgents on the outskirts of the rebel-held city that American and Iraqi forces were poised to storm.


21 Iraqi policemen shot dead west of Baghdad

At least 21 Iraqi policemen were killed by an armed group that stormed a police station Sunday in a small town located 200 kilometres west of Baghdad, a police officer said.


Families of dead British soldiers lash out at Blair

Relatives of the three soldiers of the British Black Watch regiment killed in Iraq have lashed out at the UK government #39;s decision to send them into a more dangerous zone.


US Forces Set for Imminent Assault on Falluja

Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (L) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) after talks in Brussels November 5, 2004 ahead of the second day of a EU summit.


Gunmen kill 22 police in attacks in western Iraq

Gunmen stormed police stations in western Iraq on Sunday and shot dead up to 22 Iraqi policemen in cold blood, a day after attacks on security forces killed 35 people, police and witnesses said.


RUSSIA * LEFTISTS * RALLY

MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti) - Communists and other Left-wing opposition forces rallied on Theater Square, in Moscow #39;s center, on the 87th Bolshevik Revolution anniversary.


Nuclear terrorism threat real--UN nuclear watchdog chief

Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. SYDNEY, Australia -- Nuclear terrorism is a real threat which the world must take immediate action against in


Va. Tech, Research Group to Team Up

University and the Institute for Genomic Research agree to jointly pursue experiments and federal funding in genomics, human health, agriculture, veterinary medicine and biodefense. -The Washington Post


Interest rates unlikely to rise before Christmas

ELEANOR HALL: During the Federal election campaign the Howard Government stressed that interest rates were more likely to rise under a Labor government than under the Coalition.


Gas Prices Drop As Crude Oil Supply Rises

An increase in the worldwide supply of crude oil contributed to a dip in US prices at the gas pump over the last two weeks, an industry analyst said Sunday.


Sunday #39;s NFL Roundup

The Pittsburgh Steelers are accomplishing feats never seen in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers combined their new quarterback with a touch of the old - Jerome


Jones back on offense

MIAMI - Just when it appeared Eddie Jones was becoming a has-been offensively, the 33-year-old reached back in time Saturday against Washington and had one of the best rapid-fire showings of his five-year Heat career.


Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally

Firm set to release its first Linux desktop package since acquiring SuSE Linux and Ximian. Will it unseat Microsoft Office?


Lakers Defeat Hawks, 106-90 (AP)

AP - Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, Caron Butler added 22, and the Los Angeles Lakers handed Atlanta its third straight lopsided loss, beating the winless Hawks 106-90 Sunday night.


Matrix's 3D memory chips target game devices

Mattel and a Japanese manufacturer have adopted these high-rise chips. Will Nintendo be next?<br /> Photos: Matrix's high-rise chips


Ravens Pummel Browns, 27-13 (AP)

AP - Burned for a touchdown on the game's first play, it was hard to imagine the Baltimore Ravens would win on the strength of their special teams. A spirited defensive stand, capped by an NFL-record 106-yard interception return by Ed Reed, didn't hurt, either.


New clusters emerge at supercomputing show

At SC2004 show, Dell and HP plan to unveil servers that can be networked into a single high-performance technical computer.


Guerrillas Kill Two U.S. Soldiers in Iraq's Mosul (Reuters)

Reuters - Guerrillas attacked a U.S. patrol in\Mosul on Saturday, killing two American soldiers and wounding\four, the U.S. military said on Sunday.


Restitution Is Ordered in eBay Sales (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - ALBANY, N.Y. -- Eight eBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly  #36;90,000 in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


NFL Wrap: Buffalo Bills Defeat New York Jets (Reuters)

Reuters - Willis McGahee ran\for 132 yards and a touchdown to lead the Buffalo Bills to a\22-17 victory over the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium.


IBM's Blue Gene/L goes on sale

World's fastest supercomputer can now be yours for only \$1.5 million. Machine combines exotic and mainstream technology.


News Corp. Acts to Block Bids (Reuters)

Reuters - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. moved\on Monday to prevent a hostile bid from U.S. cable company\Liberty Media Corp., launching a plan to issue stock options\that would dilute the stake of any predator.


No need for rate rise yet as Australian economy bounds along: central bank (AFP)

AFP - Australia's central bank has eased fears of a pre-Christmas interest rate rise, saying it sees no need yet for an increase in a buoyant economy firmly underpinned by global recovery and strong commodity prices.


Emerging India set for special EU partnership

BRUSSELS - Once written off as the poor cousin of Asian powerhouse China, India is to open talks today to forge a strategic partnership with the European Union, a status so far restricted to just five big countries.


US Treasuries flat in Asia, market eyes rate rise

0530 GMT - US Treasury prices little changed in Asia as market shifted focus to a policy-setting meeting of US Federal Reserve later in the week, which market expects to raise interest rates by 25 basis points.


China Said to Cut Spending, Trim Deficit

China will selectively reduce spending to help trim its ballooning fiscal deficit, state media reported Monday, citing top economic officials.


South Koreans Widen Microsoft Probe

South Korean regulators have widened a probe into Microsoft #39;s local subsidiary over allegations the US software giant violated trade rules by tying its Media Player program to its Windows operating system, the regulators said Monday.


UN nuclear watchdog chief calls for rethink on nuclear terrorism (AFP)

AFP - Nuclear terrorism is a real threat which the world must take immediate action against in order to prevent a nuclear September 11-style outrage, according to the head of the UN's atomic energy agency.


21 Iraqi guardsmen were kille

Around 200 fighters stormed a police station in Haditha, west of Baghdad, and another smaller station in the nearby village of Haqlaniya.


Two Black Watch soliders fighting for their lives in Iraq

United States troops have stormed key areas of Fallujah just hours after two soldiers of the Black Watch battle group were seriously injured in an attack by a suicide bomber.


Gutierrez brought new flavor to cereal company

Carlos Gutierrez #39;s life story is the kind that President Bush admires: The son of a Cuban political refugee, he worked his way from delivering Frosted Flakes in the toughest


Crucial TV test for Microsoft

Comcast trials will provide a big clue about the software giant's prospects for cable success.


Mozilla Firefox: The Searcher's Browser

Looking for an alternative to Internet Explorer that addresses IE's notorious security flaws and has killer search capabilities to boot?  Look no farther: Firefox is truly a searcher's browser.


No going back on reforms: PM

THE HAGUE (THE NETHERLANDS): Assuring foreign investors of continuity in policies and that India will never become an  quot;international liability, quot; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was no question of going back on the economic reforms initiated 13


Gas drops to lowest price in 2 months

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - The average price of gasoline fell nearly 3 cents per gallon for the first time in two months, according to a national survey released Sunday.


Honda to invest US\$340 million to boost auto output in China

TOKYO : Japanese automaker Honda is to spend 340 million dollars to quadruple capacity at its joint plant with Dongfeng Motor in Wuhan, China, to 120,000 units by 2006.


Stockland Makes Scrip Bid For GPT -2-

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Stockland Group (SGP.AU) said Monday it has made an all-scrip bid for Generap Property Trust (GPT.AU), valuing the company at A\$3.


Trade regulator to probe unfair trade allegations -report

TOKYO (CBS.MW) - South Korea #39;s anti-monopoly watchdog said Monday it has expanded investigations into Microsoft Corp. after RealNetworks Inc.


Australian Shares Midday:No Buyers To Support S amp;P/ASX 200

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Consideration is being given to the effects of the high Australian dollar against the US dollar, with  quot;buyers being held back while the currency remains at 76 cents, quot; says Peter Morgan, of Tolhurst Noall in Sydney.


Decision time: Last chance for 2004 tax strategies

Year-end tax planning involves making moves before Dec. 31 that will save on this year #39;s taxes. The tactic involves the timing and the method by which your income is reported and your deductions and tax credits are claimed.


Oil Heads Down, Holds Above \$49

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Monday but held  above \$49 a barrel as easing concerns about a winter supply  crunch pulled the market further away from record highs set two  weeks ago.


News Corp. Tries to Fend Off Liberty

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. moved  to ward off any hostile bid from U.S. cable company Liberty  Media Corp. with a plan to issue stock options to dilute the  stake of any predator.


Thai PM under pressure on South

Thai academics say policies in the country's south are not working, and call on Thaksin Shinawatra to apologise.


'Biological' kidney implant hope

The first human trial of an artificial 'bio' kidney offers \hope of a working implant for patients, say experts.


Foolproof performance

ST. LOUIS -- Over the last three years, the New England Patriots have defined the word  quot;team. quot; Yesterday they redefined it and along the way embarrassed an ill-prepared team that couldn't execute, the St. Louis Rams, 40-22, at the Edward Jones Dome.


Jitters before assault wearing on soldiers

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The hulks of the 69-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks were barely visible on the dark desert plain, but the rumble of their engines filled the night.


There's no faking a team effort like this

ST. LOUIS -- Look for the drop-kick next week. And while they're at it, don't forget the Statue of Liberty play, the fumblerooskie, and the time-tested  quot;everybody go long quot; that's worked so well in schoolyard playgrounds during recess through the years.


As Ivorian crisis deepens, so do concerns for region

NIAMEY, Niger -- French troop reinforcements flew to the coastal city of Abidjan in riot-torn Ivory Coast yesterday amid rising concerns that the conflict between government and rebel forces was on the verge of spiraling out of control and could dramatically hurt its West African neighbors.


Train surprises, kills antinuclear protester in France

NANCY -- A French antinuclear protester was killed yesterday in eastern France when his leg was severed by a train carrying radioactive waste to Germany, officials said. Paramedics quickly cared for protester Sebastien Briat, 21, after the accident near the town of Avricourt, but he died on the way to a hospital, officials said. He had been surprised by the ...


Ramirez cuts short Japan tour

TOKYO -- Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez cut short his tour of Japan today (Japan time), electing to fly back to the United States. Ramirez, who participated in a home run derby yesterday and played five innings last night, getting two hits, told team officials that his left hamstring was bothering him. Officials decided that if Ramirez was unavailable to ...


Arafat's wife says leaders aim to 'bury him alive'

PARIS -- Yasser Arafat's wife accused Palestinian leaders hoping to travel to France today to visit her critically ill husband of plotting to ''bury him alive. quot;


Brown pulls double duty for defense

ST. LOUIS -- It was bad enough that Bill Belichick had to design a defensive game plan with Asante Samuel and Randall Gay at cornerback. But four minutes into the game, the Patriots coach watched in dismay as Samuel went off with a shoulder injury that sent him to the locker room.


Low turnout sinks Macedonia referendum

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- A referendum bid to block a law that gives Macedonia's Albanian minority more rights failed yesterday, upholding the Western-brokered peace plan that ended ethnic fighting in 2001.


Preliminary nuclear pact OK'd, Iran says

TEHRAN -- Hoping to avoid a UN showdown, Iran and the European Union's three big powers reached a preliminary agreement over Tehran's nuclear program, Iran's chief negotiator said yesterday.


St. Louis defenders didn't know what hit them

ST. LOUIS -- It seems most everyone on the St. Louis sideline figured out the Patriots were up to something when they lined up for a field goal midway through the third quarter. The problem was they couldn't get the message to the 11 Rams on the field at the time.


Envoys dispatched to explain emergency

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, is dispatching envoys to neighboring Arab states to win support for his handling of the insurgency in his homeland, a government spokesman said yesterday.


Jets can't weather McGahee, Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The wind and Willis McGahee are providing the Buffalo Bills a formidable 1-2 punch.


On the road to . . . mediocrity?

The Arizona Cardinals have taken to losing like a beatnik to Berkeley. Consider this contrast: the man brought in to reverse the desert doldrums, Dennis Green, was gunning for his 100th regular-season coaching victory yesterday at Pro Player Stadium in Miami; you have to go back to 1986 to account for the last 100 Cardinals wins, when the franchise was ...


Messing with perfection

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers made certain there's nobody unbeaten now in the NFL, except for Ben Roethlisberger.


Giants turnovers the turning point for Bears

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Chicago Bears stole the New York Giants' early-season formula for success -- again and again and again.


After that trip, no going back

TORONTO -- When the Bruins embarked on their annual February trip in 2000, prospects for a successful season were grim. They were racked with injuries, and the losing was weighing on everyone. Ray Bourque, who began playing in Boston in 1979, always thought he would finish his career in the black and gold, but he started rethinking that as the ...


Off ice, his shifts are semi-regular

TORONTO -- Precious few professional athletes leave their sport on their terms. Even fewer depart having won a championship in their final game. Injuries, diminished skills, and burnout can cut short careers.


Playing with poise

With the exception of some late-game trash-talking between the Boston bench and some boisterous New York fans at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics handled their first win of the season with considerable restraint. There were high-fives and hugs, but nothing over the top despite a 34-point rout of the Knicks Saturday night.


Maine shuts out Wildcats

Junior Jimmy Howard and freshman Matt Lundin combined to make 24 saves yesterday as Maine blanked New Hampshire, 3-0, in a Hockey East game before a sellout crowd of 5,641 at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine.


BC has mountain to climb

A year ago, Boston College coach Tom O'Brien described his team's 35-25 victory at Rutgers as  quot;the greatest gut-check I've ever been around, quot; after the Eagles rallied from a 22-13 halftime deficit to earn their all-important sixth win of the season, making them bowl eligible.


Power play showdown

The people have been calling for it, two (or three) communities have been looking forward to it for weeks, and yesterday, it finally happened: a battle of two of the top teams in the state, a game that pitted two undefeated squads, a game so important it had to be held at the neutral site of Chelmsford High.


Window of opportunity

CAMBRIDGE -- Three-year-old Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. already has seen its share of milestones. Its scientists cloned the first Heparin sugar-degrading enzyme, a breakthrough in understanding the role of complex sugars as a conduit for viruses and diseases. Its executives recruited medical luminaries like M. Judah Folkman and Eugene Braunwald to the company's scientific advisory board.


Microsoft dividend depends on stock-plan change

SEATTLE -- For Microsoft Corp. shareholders, the holidays will likely come early this year in the form of a one-time \$3 dividend that's part of the company's plan to return some of its \$64.4 billion cash hoard to shareholders.


Don't let your blog get lost in the fog

It's official. Weblogs matter. A few of them anyway. In the election cycle just ended, the blogs made a serious presidential candidate of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.


Lucent, unions delay pact deadline

TRENTON, N.J. -- Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed yesterday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike.


Delta details its plans to cut 7,000 jobs

NEW YORK -- Delta Air Lines Inc. , the number three US carrier, said yesterday it will cut 2,000 aircraft-maintenance jobs, up to 3,100 customer-service jobs, and between 1,600 and 1,800 supervisory and administrative personnel as part of a previously announced plan to cut total staffing by 7,000.


Netherlands brings me luck: Manmohan Singh:

World News: The Hague, Nov 8 : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says a visit to the Netherlands brought him luck. It was on his return from a visit to this country in 1991 that he was called upon to


Eight eBay sellers admit phony bids

EBAY VENDORS were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


Tokyo stocks finish lower, US dollar slides against euro, yen? <b>...</b>

Tokyo stocks finished lower Monday as investors took profits from recent gains. The US dollar fell to an all-time low against the euro and a seven-month low against the Japanese yen amid worries about the US current account and budget deficits.


More British jobs set to go abroad

A British industry survey has shown that business is facing increasing pressure to move jobs abroad to cut costs, with no sign that this global trend is set to reverse.


Lucent, unions delay pact deadline

Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed yesterday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike. Both sides faced a midnight


Labor groups upset over likely Wal-Mart

A proposal to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Laveen, the area #39;s first south of the Rio Salado, has drawn the ire of labor groups, but local leaders call the project needed and the cornerstone to good growth in the area.


\$10 Million Payday: SpaceShipOne Gets Prize

ST. LOUIS -- It #39;s a big day for a big check in St. Louis where the team behind a rocket plane called SpaceShipOne has accepted a \$10 million prize for advancements in private space travel and tourism.


Industry, regulators ramp up anti-piracy fight

Industry and regulators continue to intensify the fight against intellectual piracy, with the movie industry the latest to crack the whip.


RSA predicts looming identity crisis

A DIRECTOR of technology for security outfit RSA Security has warned online customers are not  quot;authenticated enough quot; and there needs to be moves towards toward a mandated identity policy.


Public buildings may go wireless

Wireless Internet access, already pervasive in other cities, could debut at top Indianapolis locations such as the airport and the Convention Center as early as next year.


Goosen puts a fitting end to the year

Tiger Woods tried to get a read on Retief Goosen when they faced each other in the Presidents Cup.  quot;I mean, I played him in two matches and he didn #39;t say one single word, quot; Woods said, smiling at the memory.


Earnhardt remains in control

He follows team orders, stays clean late in race to win, steps up in chase for title. By Mike Harris. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.


Frenchman wins Champ-car title

He won the season-ending Champ-car Mexican Grand Prix, leading wire-to-wire to take his seventh victory of the 14-race season. Pole-sitter Bourdais began the race with a 22-point lead over front-row neighbour Bruno Junqueira.


Pittman gets upper hand on Kansas City #39;s Holmes

At the start of their work day on Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes was the man with the reputation and big-time stats.


Supersonics surprise Spurs

Seattle SuperSonics, who lost their opener by 30 points to the Clippers, took a second straight victory at home Sunday night after downing the San Antonio Spurs 113-94.


SMITH BREAKS RECORD IN DENVER WIN

Plummer threw four touchdowns and Smith became the Denver Broncos #39; all-time leading receiver in a 31-13 victory over the Houston Texans.


Iran reaches preliminary nuke deal with EU

Asked to freeze enrichment, Iran says its atomic plants geared solely to electricity generation, but it will never give up its right to develop such technology entirely.


Earthquake rocks Northern Japan again

Tokyo- An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude at Ritcher Scale rocked the Northern Japan on Monday. It is an earthquake prone area where country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck last month.


Killing of Filmmaker Yields Indictments in Netherlands

Description: Dutch authorities have indicted seven people in murder of a provocative filmmaker. Theo Van Gogh made films critical of Islamic violence against women and insulted Christians, Jews and others.


Afghan militants demand 26 pisoners

Militants holding three foreign UN workers Sunday gave Afghan officials a list of 26 prisoners whom they want released, with Tuesday the new deadline.


Tesco challenges iTunes #39; domination

Supermarket giant Tesco launches a new digital download store today, becoming the latest entrant in the music downloading market - a 25m a year business dominated by Apple #39;s iTunes.


Schalke  amp; Stuttgart Close In On Wolves

Schalke 04 and VfB Stuttgart moved closer to to the Bundesliga summit with impressive wins in Sunday #39;s league programme. Ralf Rangnick #39;s Schalke made it six wins out of six in beating Thomas Doll #39;s Hamburger SV 2-1 at the AOL Arena.


Arizona trips inept, 1-8 Miami

quot;You go four years and win over 10 games a year, and it #39;s taken for granted, quot; he said.  quot;We did not play any harder when we were winning 10 and 11 a year, I promise you that.


Patriots Rebound By Being Ram Tough

ST. LOUIS -- How do you beat the Greatest Show On Turf with two rookie cornerbacks, one of whom just arrived from the practice squad?


Consecutive turnovers destroy Giants

It was three plays that stood out like Howard Stern in a crowd of pre-schoolers. Three plays that made your eyes bulge and mouth flap in disbelief.


Annika achieves historic four-peat

OTSU (Japan): World number-one Annika Sorenstam shot into the history books with a solid nine-stroke victory in the Mizuno Classic yesterday, becoming only the second player to win an LPGA event four years in a row.


Rocky Mountain low clouds postseason hopes

If you allowed yourself to think the unthinkable and harbor dreams of a Texans playoff berth in 2004, this was your  quot;Stagger Lee.


Explosion damages Muslim school in southern Netherlands town

An explosion blew the door off a Muslim school in a southern Dutch town and shattered windows across the street Monday, Dutch television reported.


Bush faces foreign challenges

The international problems facing President Bush look no less daunting in the rosy dawn of a new term. But if Iraq stabilizes enough to give the president breathing room, the


Strong Earthquake Jolts Northern Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  5.9 jolted northern Japan on Monday in the latest aftershock to  hit a region struck by a deadly tremor last month.


Runaway Annika equals record

ANNIKA SORENSTAM matched Laura Davies #39; LPGA Tour record for consecutive victories in a tournament today, closing with a seven-under 65 for her fourth straight Mizuno Classic title in Otsu, Japan.


Computers snared by spyware

EDITOR #39;S NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series on the spyware epidemic. NEW YORK - David Eckstein turned on his computer one day and launched his Web browser, just as he had every day.


La Liga Preview: GetafeValencia

The Che are gasping for air in the turbulent waters of La Liga. Now they must fight to ensure their next breath is not their last in the quest to retain the Championship when they travel to new boys Getafe.


Sorenstam Wins Mizuno to Match Record

Swedish Annika Sorenstam is all smiles as she holds winner #39;s trophy following her victory on the final round of the US \$ 1million (euro 780,000) LPGA Mizuno classic at Seta golf course in Otsu western Japan, Sunday, Nov 7, 2004.


Plummer steps up, Smith sets record as Broncos win big

BRONCOS 31, TEXANS 13: At Denver - Rod Smith set records he could savor, the good Jake Plummer showed up again and Denver won a game it simply had to have.


Reed #39;s record interception saves Ravens

With the Cleveland Browns on the verge of forcing overtime, Ravens Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed entered the NFL record book with the longest interception in league history.


Tesco starts music download service

GIANT SUPERMARKET chain Tesco has decided to launch a music download service of its very own. According to a SpokesGrocer, songs will be available at www.


Attack on spyware should go further

If you use a computer, you should be thankful that Congress is aiming to outlaw the scourge known as spyware. But if you think making spyware illegal will end the pop-up ads, hijacked browsers and gridlocked


Group warns of threat to UK birds

More than 200 European bird species, including 70 in the UK, are under threat, a study warns.


Oil Heads Down, Holds Above \$49

Oil prices slipped on Monday but held above \$49 a barrel as easing concerns about a winter supply crunch pulled the market further away from record highs set two weeks ago.


Nicaraguans Vote in Municipal Elections (AP)

AP - Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista Front sought to capitalize on the recent fracturing of a rival party during municipal elections Sunday amid ongoing attempts to remove the country's president from office.


Fleming 'alarmed' by Aussies' thorough planning (AFP)

AFP - New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said he was alarmed at the scale of planning Australia had put in to conquer their final cricket frontier in India.


Fast Arctic Thaw Threatens People, Polar Bears (Reuters)

Reuters - Global warming is heating the Arctic\almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet in a thaw that\threatens the livelihoods of millions of people and could wipe\out polar bears by 2100, an eight-nation report said on Monday.


Struggling Mitsubishi Motors slips deeper into loss

TOKYO : Scandal-hit Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors interim net loss nearly doubled to 146.16 billion yen (1.38 billion dollars) and is to downgrade its full-year earnings forecast.


FDA TO CONDUCT IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ITS DRUG SAFETY PROCEDURES

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday its intentions to conduct a major evaluation of its approach in dealing with safety concerns involving drugs, primarily those that are already marketed.


RSA CEO: Beefed Up Security Needed for E-Commerce to Succeed

Better IT security and identity management is necessary if online commerce and e-government services are to succeed, RSA Security chief executive Arthur Coviello said.


Quiet Goosen roars to victory

Commotion simply isn #39;t part of his makeup, the level of Retief Goosen #39;s stoic personality fast approaching legendary proportions on the PGA Tour.


The Premiership: Robben #39;s rhapsody in blue

Jose Mourinho sounded his most magnanimous as Chelsea opened a two-point lead at the top of the Premiership.  quot;I don #39;t want the credit when I don #39;t deserve it, quot; the west London club #39;s Portuguese


Palestinian deputy en route to Paris

Senior deputies to the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who is critically ill in France, are due to fly to Paris today to get first-hand information on his condition.


Sharon #39;s Reason To Mourn

For the Israelis who hated and feared him, the Palestinians who chafed at his corruption, or the Western and Arab diplomats who despaired at his mendacity and unwillingness to settle the conflict


Bears nab giant surprise

Somewhere in the recesses of first-year coach Lovie Smith #39;s wish list for his Chicago Bears (3-5), he had Sunday #39;s 28-21 win over the New York Giants in mind.


Macedonia #39;s referendum fails to give Albanians more autonomy

A referendum on territorial law that intends to give Macedonia #39;s Albanian minority greater autonomy failed to pass the turnout minimum, the Macedonian State Election Commission (SEC) announced Monday.


BT, Weaker Dollar Weigh on Euro Shares (Reuters)

Reuters - European shares eased on Monday despite\lower oil prices as the euro at a new record high against the\dollar hurt exporters, and BT weighed after the telecoms\operator made an acquisition of nearly  #36;1 billion.


China and Asia should brace themselves for US trade friction: economist (AFP)

AFP - China and other Asian economies should brace themselves for possible severe trade friction with the United States due to large American trade deficits, a top US economist says.


US forces in Afghanistan "hopeful" on release of UN hostages (AFP)

AFP - The US-led military in Afghanistan expressed hope that three foreign UN employees being held hostage by suspected Taliban remnants would be freed soon.


Zimbabwe ruling party elects country #39;s first woman vice-president

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe #39;s ruling party elected longtime cabinet minister Joyce Mujuru as the country #39;s first woman vice-president at the end of a party congress.


Mitsubishi crashes into the red

Japanese car maker Mitsubishi, hit by a defect cover-up scandal earlier this year, posts heavy losses as sales plunge.


BA sees profits more than double

Airline British Airways reveals pre-tax profits more than doubled to 220m in the July to September period.


GE sells India outsourcing unit

US giant General Electric sells a majority stake in its Indian outsourcing arm for \$500m to two private equity firms.


UK firms to look abroad, CBI says

CBI director general Digby Jones says shifting jobs abroad will help UK firms  survive globalisation and raise staff skill levels.


Radcliffe, Ramaala prove themselves

NEW YORK -- This was all about Athens, about redemption for one and validation for the other. Britain's Paula Radcliffe, the fastest female marathoner in history, failed to finish either of her Olympic races last summer. South Africa's Hendrik Ramaala was a five-ringed dropout, too, reinforcing his reputation as a man who could go only half the distance.


Islamic School in Netherlands Damaged in Blast

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - An explosion damaged an Islamic  school in the southern Dutch town of Eindhoven Monday, police  said, the latest attack on a Muslim institution following the  murder of a filmmaker critical of Islam last week.


Mounting concern Blunkett used tabloids to wreck lover #39;s marriage

DAVID Blunketts pregnant former lover and her family believe he colluded with Britains most salacious tabloid newspaper in a desperate attempt to break up her marriage.


Two Issues Could Hinder Deal to Freeze Iran's Nuclear Program

A European deal to freeze Iran's nuclear program, provide the Islamic republic with lucrative trade incentives and keep it out of the U.N. Security Council could be signed by midweek if two critical issues can be quickly resolved, U.S., European and Iranian officials said in interviews Sunday.


Ivory Coast to Pull Troops Back

Ivory Coast forces will immediately pull back from front lines, the presidential spokesman said Sunday, after a day of clashes with French peacekeepers that left the West African nation's air force in shreds.


Ghana 'coup plotters' await fate

Ghana's authorities are to decide whether to press charges against seven people held over a coup attempt.


Sex case island picks woman mayor

Pitcairn Island selects its first woman mayor in its 214-year history after its former mayor - a convicted rapist - was sacked last week.


Incredibles tops Nemo film record

Animated film The Incredibles beats Disney/Pixar's previous US box office record for Finding Nemo.


GE to sell 60 stake in outsourcing unit for \$500 mln

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- General Electric Co. (GE) said it will sell a majority interest in its India-based global business-processing operation GE Capital International Services for \$500 million in cash to private


UK #39;s BT Group says committed to dividend policy

BT Group Plc (BT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) is committed to its existing dividend policy, Britain #39;s dominant fixed-line telecoms operator said on Monday, seeking to allay concerns its latest US purchase may come at the expense


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Fall After Three-Day Rise

Tokyo stocks sank on Monday as the dollar #39;s fall against the Japanese yen and euro and the benchmark stock index #39;s three-day rally prompted investors to lock in profits on blue chip exporters.


Mitsubishi Reports First Half Earnings

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its losses grew in the first half of the fiscal year as the Japanese automaker struggled to recover from an auto-defect scandal that has sent sales plunging.


DHL buys control of Blue Dart

MUMBAI: DHL has agreed to pay \$125 million for a majority stake in Indian courier firm Blue Dart Express, sparking a rally in its rivals on hopes of consolidation in India #39;s fragmented courier industry.


EBay bid-riggers hit with big fines

Eight EBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 US in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


Western tops Maclean #39;s rankings

The University of Western Ontario is ranked third among Canada #39;s biggest universities in the annual Maclean #39;s magazine ratings that hit newsstands today.


CBI backs British jobs going abroad

INDUSTRY is gearing up for a push to reform the European Union #39;s sluggish markets and to boost the skills of Britain #39;s workforce as hundreds of thousands of jobs are sucked away to Asia or Eastern Europe.