Gay happy to get his chance

Patriots right cornerback Randall Gay realizes he has been the opposition's No. 1 target, and will remain so in Sunday night's game against Buffalo.


The rap on Artest: He is off-key

My daughter called yesterday morning. Said she wouldn't be making it for her usual dinner at Mom and Dad's house the next couple of Wednesdays.


Optimistic signs ahead?

At the stroke of midnight last night, the Red Sox reached a milestone as one of their best pitchers since Cy Young and their best catcher since Carlton Fisk led 14 teammates into full-blown free agency.


NFL games on TV

BALTIMORE (5-3) vs. NY JETS (6-2) When, where: Sunday, 1 p.m., at East Rutherford, N.J. TV: Ch. 4. Last meeting: Ravens won, 34-20, in 2002. Comments: Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is out 2-4 weeks with a strained right rotator cuff, leaving Quincy Carter under center against the man-eating Ravens (fifth in total defense, allowing 281 yards per game). Pennington was ...


Coach's position is clear, isn't it?

Of course, he conceded that it was his fault, but Bill Belichick couldn't get much work done the other day. Not with the line he had outside his office. Practice was over, the guys were free to go where they wanted, but many of them remained at Gillette Stadium. They wanted a word with Belichick, whose coaching decisions in last ...


But seriously, folks

We have reached a most glorious part of the season. The final week of open dates.


Keeping frustrations in reserve

Jiri Welsch may vent his frustrations in Czech on the court, but his body language during games and unusually short answers to questions after practice yesterday need no translation. Although a team player, Welsch has been frustrated with his second-unit duties. In a system suited to his abilities and basketball intelligence, Welsch has struggled to make meaningful contributions, ...


Finley shelved by ankle

Dallas Mavericks guard Michael Finley was placed on the injured list yesterday with a sprained right ankle, and team officials believe the two-time All-Star will need at least two weeks before returning. Finley, who was injured in the third quarter of Tuesday night's loss at Orlando, must sit out at least five games. Finley averaged 17 points in Dallas's first ...


US stocks hit highest levels for months

Stocks rallied strongly in the US last night, with both the Dow and the Nasdaq at their highest for months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above its end 2003 level for the first time in more than four months.


Jones Apparel Group will acquire luxury retailer Barneys New York

In its first foray into the luxury market, the shoe and clothing marketer Jones Apparel Group Inc. said Thursday it is buying upscale clothier Barneys New York Inc.


Business briefs, November 12

The three top executives at the American Stock Exchange received Wells notices from the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an investigation into options trading and


Nikkei closes up 1.6

Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average jumped 1.6 percent by the close on Friday as a rally on Wall Street and lower oil prices ignited broad-based buying, with weak Japanese GDP data causing only a brief stutter at the start.


#39;Future of Ice #39; is a poetic and urgent frontline report

This Tuesday came another report by scientists who stress that global warming is advancing with dire consequences in the Arctic regions and beyond, while the Bush administration continues to insist that such reports contain  quot;nothing new quot; to cause it to


Telstra launches international Wi-fi roaming

Telstra has launched Wi-fi roaming with five international wireless broadband operators giving Telstra customers travelling abroad access to WiFi hotspots in the UK (BT Group), USA (T-Mobile USA), Japan (NTT DoCoMo), Singapore (StarHub) and Malaysia (Maxis


Bientt de l #39;AMD chez Dell?

Dell, premier constructeur de PC au monde, s #39;est toujours refus  quiper ses machines avec autre chose que des processeurs Intel.


Death toll rises to 10 in Quezon train mishap (10:50 am)

PADRE BURGOS -- A speeding passenger train derailed and fell into a ravine in Quezon province, overturning several times and killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 118 others, officials said.


Indian peace move brightens hope for Kashmir peace

Kashmiris weary of years of violence welcomed on Friday India #39;s surprising offer to reduce the number of its troops in the Himalayan territory, a move that could prompt old foe Pakistan to respond similarly.


Quake shakes Indonesia

Atleast six people were killed and over six injured in an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale shook an island in eastern Indonesia today.


Bush, Blair discuss peace prospects

Prime Minister Tony Blair sought consensus with President Bush on Thursday to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority, exploring whether the death of Yasser Arafat offers


China and Taiwan Vie for Vanuatu Ties

China said on Thursday that the coalition government of Vanuatu had withdrawn an agreement by its prime minister to switch diplomatic relations to Beijing #39;s rival, Taiwan.


Two US soldiers killed, four wounded during attack in Mosul

Two US soldiers were killed and four wounded when their patrol came under attack in the northwestern city of Mosul, the military said Sunday.


Blair, Bush Meet to Discuss Mideast Peace (AP)

AP - Convinced that the road to Jerusalem doesn't run through Baghdad, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is trying to turn President Bush's attention from Iraq to the stalled Mideast peace process.


U.S. Forces Say Rebels Trapped in Southern Falluja

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces have trapped  insurgents in southern Falluja, Marines said on Friday, the  fourth day of an assault that has killed "hundreds" of rebels.  Eighteen American and five Iraqi troops have also died.


College games on TV

PITTSBURGH (5-3) vs. NOTRE DAME (6-3) When, where: Tomorrow, 2:30 p.m., at South Bend, Ind. TV: Ch. 7. Ranking: Notre Dame is No. 24. Last season: Notre Dame won, 20-14, at Pittsburgh. Comments: The Fighting Irish put up their dukes last Saturday, knocking off ninth-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville, 17-13. Notre Dame, playing its final home game of the season, has ...


Local entries facing tall tasks

March Madness is four months away, but November Numbness is upon us as the NCAA kicks off tournaments in field hockey and women's soccer, with the New England area a prominent host.


This time, Bentley gives advance notice for playoffs

Bentley coach Peter Yetten knows that increased success breeds increased expectations. Yetten's Falcons are returning to the NCAA Division 2 tournament one year after their first-round loss to eventual repeat national champion Grand Valley State. It being the program's first foray into postseason play, just being there was accomplishment enough.


Clarett is charged up but can't dent Ohio St.

The story du jour in college football is former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett publicly unloading a truckload of charges against the Buckeyes, including cash payments, summer jobs for which he and other football players were paid without showing up, fiddling with grades, gut courses that ensured his continued eligibility, and free loaner cars arranged by the coaching staff.


No stopping Whelan, Weymouth

Piling up seven goals and two assists in three games is an incredible feat. Doing it while playing on a severely sprained ankle is all the more impressive. Weymouth's Catie Whelan has done exactly that this postseason.


Japan says mystery sub was Chinese

Japan is to formally protest to China after saying a submarine found in its waters on Wednesday was Chinese.


Q  amp; A Julius Williams

No matter the time, place, or situation, East Boston's Julius Williams never seems to run out of gas. The No. 2 scorer in Division 3A (18 touchdowns, seven 2-point conversions), Williams is coming off a 230-yard, four-touchdown performance against Boston English. Williams, a senior, explains why he is the city's best running back in this week's Q  amp; A.


This week's schedule

Durfee over Acton-Boxboro -- This Fall River Dream will be a nightmare for the Colonials.


BSE 'link to different CJD types'

Eating BSE-infected meat could lead to people developing different types of CJD, research suggests.


Hundreds expected at Peel funeral

Music fans from across the world are expected to attend the funeral of legendary DJ John Peel.


With eye toward future, Palestinians mourn Arafat

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinians yesterday mourned the death of Yasser Arafat, quickly installed new officials in the top positions that he held, and vowed to create the first true democracy in the Arab world.


A sense of loss, but dream of statehood endures

NEW YORK -- Wearing the traditional black-and-white checked headdress that Yasser Arafat had made his personal trademark, Linda Sarasour, a Palestinian-American who works in a part of Brooklyn with many Arab residents, yesterday described the controversial leader as ''our Martin Luther King. quot;


America increases pressure on Annan over UN scandals

There is growing fear among United Nations officials that Secretary-General Kofi Annan may have lost the confidence of the organisation #39;s most powerful constituent, the United States.


Summary: Coke Scales Back Growth Goals

REVIEW RESULTS: Coca-Cola Co. lowered its targets for earnings and sales volume growth amid continuing weakness in key markets including North America.


Consumer relief as oil prices fall

Heating bills will still be higher this winter, but costs appear to have peaked last month. By Ron Scherer  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Tech strength, drop in oil prices spark Wall Street rally

NEW YORK : US stocks resumed their rally on Thursday, getting a lift from a sharp drop in crude oil prices and bullish broker comments on the tech sector.


GM, Ford target SUV rollovers

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., responding to growing concerns about the safety and stability of sport utility vehicles, said Thursday


Rockets 77, 76ers 76

Tracy McGrady had 17 points, including the winning basket with 25 seconds to play, as the Houston Rockets ended a five-game losing streak with a 77-76 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.


Japan says submarine that intruded into its waters was Chinese (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TOKYO (AP) - Japan has determined a submarine that briefly intruded into Japanese territorial waters earlier this week without identifying itself came from China, an official said Friday.


Novell foray into Linux market targets large enterprise customers

Strong words  the likes of which the industry has heard before  accompanied Novell Inc. #39;s release of its next-generation Linux desktop for enterprise customers, Novell Linux Desktop 9, powered by SUSE Linux.


Nuggets knock Pistons

Helping the poor-shooting Nuggets get well with bad defense, the Pistons fell to 1-1 on their western trip, losing, 117-109, Thursday night at the Pepsi Center.


Talkin Boxin - November 11th Edition

quot;Holy Moley Captain Foley quot;. The headline in a British newspaper blared,  quot;How could 59 million Yanks be so Stupid ? quot; That of course was a reference to the recent re-election of President George W. Bush.


AL Cy goes to Santana

He battled back from a debilitating injury to reach the pinnacle of his profession. But even on the most rewarding day of Johan Santana #39;s


Syracuse rolls after fast start

NO. 6 SYRACUSE 104, N. COLORADO 54: At Syracuse, NY - Syracuse had lost its last two season openers. The Orange weren #39;t about to make it three in a row.


Arafat #39;s funeral today, world leaders arrive in Cairo to pay last <b>...</b>

Leaders from various parts of the world have started arriving in the Egyptian capital Cairo to pay their last respects to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died on Thursday morning.


Japan to protest to China over intruder submarine

A submarine that intruded into waters off Japan earlier this week has been identified as Chinese, Japan #39;s top government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda said on Friday, adding that Tokyo would protest to Beijing.


7,000 Delta pilots OK cut in pay

Fliers also forgo raises through 2009 in move that saves firm \$1 billion yearly and increases stock prices. By Doug Gross / Associated Press.


Stocks rise as Dow erases loss for 2004

US stocks rose, sending the Standard  amp; Poor #39;s 500 Index to its highest close in more than three years and erasing the Dow Jones industrial average #39;s loss for 2004.


Circulation Fraud Contained, Audit Group Says

The chairman of the newspaper industry #39;s circulation-auditing body said Thursday that the organization would work to repair its image, tarnished by circulation scandals over the past year at four large US newspapers.


Visteon offers worker buyouts

Blaming shrinking sales to key automotive customers, Visteon Corp. told its 8,300 white-collar workers Thursday that it plans to offer buyouts to a  quot;significant quot; number of employees by the end of the year.


BBC reporters' log

BBC correspondents record events in the Middle East and their thoughts as the funeral of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat takes place.


Vera Drake up for European prize

Vera Drake and Bad Education are among the nominees for the European Film Academy Awards.


Microsoft to back customers in infringement cases

Borrowing a line from Allstate Insurance, Microsoft says it wants customers to know they are in good hands when they choose its software.


Chance seen to pursue peace

He stood only 5 feet 2 inches but Yasser Arafat cast a long shadow on the world stage, and many leaders, diplomats, and analysts saw in his passing


Cairo hosting Arafat funeral

A military funeral for the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, will be held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo this morning. After the funeral President Arafat #39;s coffin will be flown by helicopter to Ramallah for burial.


Clash of civilizations has landed in Holland

Those who want proof the United States #39; efforts in Iraq have plunged the world into danger need only look at the usual suspects: Iran, Israel, Syria.


Criminals 'joining finance firms'

Members of organised crime are joining financial firms to commit fraud, a new report by the industry watchdog reveals.


Manufacturers 'could cut 22,000'

The CBI says thousands of manufacturing jobs could be lost in the next three months with exports falling and confidence low in many regions of the UK.


Tiger stripes

The Auburn Tigers did everything to make themselves at home against Tennessee in the SEC Championship Saturday. They exceeded the 32.9 points per game they put up in Jordan-Hare


From start to finish, it was always USC

You often see thoroughbred horses do it. Baseball teams have jumped out ahead in the standings and stayed there all the way through to a World Series victory.


Invasion of the Video Game Ads

Ad networks target online gamers as next big audience for product placements.


Coke Warns of Slack Sales for a Year or So

Coca-Cola, suffering from weak sales in North America and other important markets, said yesterday that it would sharply scale back its projections for the amount of beverages it expects to


Option to bump up CD rate helps those afraid to lock in

The low interest rates of the past few years have been particularly frustrating for retirees and others who favor conservative certificates of deposit for income.


Blockbuster deal?

With the over-the-counter movie rental business on the decline, Blockbuster Inc. said Thursday that it wants to buy rival Hollywood Video in a \$1 billion transaction that would include \$700


Pixar may shift release of films

Despite a strong November opening for  quot;The Incredibles, quot; Pixar Animation Studios Inc. is considering shifting its feature film release dates to the spring to maximize box office potential


Yen Rises Vs Dollar Despite Japan Data

The yen advanced against the dollar on Friday, shrugging off weak third-quarter growth figures for Japan as market worries persisted about the huge US deficits.


CORRECTED - UPDATE 2-Franklin likely to settle brokerage charges <b>...</b>

In SAN FRANCISCO/BOSTON story headlined  quot;UPDATE 2-Franklin likely to settle brokerage charges soon quot; please read in 9th paragraph ... In September, an adviser for Newport Beach, California-based Pacific Investment


PeopleSoft rejects takeover bid again

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - PeopleSoft Inc. rebuffed Oracle Corp. #39;s latest hostile takeover bid, vowing to fight the \$9.2 billion offer even if a majority of shareholders supported it.


quot;SMART-1 quot; at  quot;gateway quot; to the moon

After a 13-month journey, a tiny spacecraft the size of a washing machine, driven by  quot;Star Trek quot; technology, will begin to orbit the moon on Monday night.


1Gbit NAND flash prices to drop 50 by 2Q 2005

Prices of 1Gbit NAND flash chips may drop about 50 to US\$3-4 per chip by the end of the second quarter of 2005, as supply increases and players continue to push higher-density products into the market, according to sources with IC distributors in Taiwan.


Rain moves northern Ariz. down drought scale

Northern Arizona #39;s spate of fall storms could mean healthier winter vegetation, better stream flow and more moisture - at least in the short term, experts say.


NASA Scramjet Aims for Speed Record

NASA #39;s unmanned X-43A plane is the latest product of its research program into flight at more than five times the speed of sound.


EC vows to pursue Microsoft for abusing its position

The European Commission (EC), which fined Microsoft a record 497 million euros (US\$625.50 million) this year for abusing its dominant position, on Monday vowed to continue pursuing the US software group through the courts for anti-competitive behavior.


Twins left-hander had 13-0 record after all-star break

An opponent could have a bat in his hands, and Johan Santana would nevertheless overpower him. Opponents could be fellow pitchers bringing impressive statistics to an award election, and Santana would whip them, too.


Paterno rumors dispelled by coach

Penn State #39;s fourth losing season in five years has fueled much speculation about Joe Paterno #39;s future - specifically, how much longer he will remain as the team #39;s head coach.


Boosting MNF by game swaps

For an NFL devotee reading or hearing about a flexible Monday Night Football schedule, an option contained in the six-year, \$8-billion contracts awarded to CBS and Fox on Tuesday, the concept appears quite intriguing.


Four tied for 1st after opening round of LPGA Tournament of <b>...</b>

Park, Inkster, Diaz, Kim tied: Grace Park birdied the last three holes in a 6-under 66 yesterday that left her in a four-way tie after the first round of the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Ala.


Silvertips edge Brandon, 2-1

BRANDON, Manitoba - Torrie Wheat scored twice as the Everett Silvertips beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-1 yesterday in Western Hockey League action before 4,046 fans at the Keystone Centre.


Lunar Spacecraft SMART-1 ready to orbit around the Moon

London - Europe s first lunar spacecraft SMART-1 is set to move into orbit around the Moon on Monday the 15 November 2004 . The craft has already reached the gateway of the Moon, the area where from its gravity dominates the Earth.


Micron overtakes Hynix in chip sales

Micron Technology Inc. of the United States probably overtook Koreas Hynix Semiconductor Inc. as the worlds second-largest computer memory chipmaker during the third quarter, market researcher IDC said.


Rainfall moves northern Arizona down drought scale

Northern Arizona #39;s downgrade on a federal drought map from an  quot;extreme quot; designation to  quot;severe quot; could mean healthier winter vegetation, better stream flow and more moisture - at least in the short term, experts say.


Cellphones get debugging tool

For the millions of mobile-phone users buying fancier and more complicated phones these days - particularly in Asia, where the most cutting-edge phones often are introduced -he old model of cellphone service is getting a reboot.


FIGURE SKATING

Hamilton, 46, had a biopsy at the Cleveland Clinic, and doctors expected to release him from the hospital today, publicist Michael Sterling said Thursday.


Arafat led Palestinians but failed peace quest

The Palestinian president symbolized his people #39;s desire for a homeland, but his corrupt rule and limited vision frustrated their drive for statehood.


Relief, disbelief in Kashmir as India announces troop reduction

SRINAGAR, India : The announcement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of a troop reduction in Indian Kashmir this winter has evoked reactions ranging from relief to disbelief in the insurgency-hit region.


Dutch investigate Muslim militants

THE Dutch Government said last night that it was investigating a radical Muslim group with suspected links to the man accused of killing the film-maker Theo van Gogh and to bombings in Casablanca last year.


Harmony shareholder vote on bid looms

The vote by the shareholders of world number four gold miner Harmony on the group #39;s bid for rival Gold Fields on late Friday morning is crucial to the continuation of Harmony #39;s daring bid.


New IE Bugs Open Up XP SP2 To Attack (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Two new vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer 6.0 -- unveiled by a security firm Wednesday -- could be exploited by hackers to bypass security features in Microsoft's Windows XP SP2.


Invasion of the Video Game Ads (PC World)

PC World - Ad networks target online gamers as next big audience for product placements.


Earlier Editions Of Firefox Flawed (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Just days after the Mozilla Foundation released the final version of its standalone Firefox browser, a security firm Thursday said that earlier editions should be replaced.


Virginia Tech and Miami challenge for a bowl berth

In their first year in the ACC, No. 10 Virginia Tech at No. 9 Miami (8-2) will be playing for at least a share of the conference title and the BCS berth that goes along with it.


Mauresmo Makes Crushing Start, Williams Posts Second Win

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Amelie Mauresmo made a powerful  start in her bid to end the year as world number one with a 6-1  6-0 rout of Vera Zvonareva at the WTA Championships Thursday.


Jakarta activist feared poisoned

An autopsy on a prominent Indonesian activist shows he died with high levels of arsenic in his body.


Amid Absences, Rutgers Freshmen Make Presence Felt

Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer had some problems. Cappie Pondexter, her leading scorer, was set to miss the first semester because of personal problems. Last season's leading rebounder, Shalicia Hurns, was forced to leave after off-court problems.


Big spenders are making waves in Cup

A modest proposal: We reorganize baseball with a \$50 million salary cap and pool all players into positions for a blind draw among the 30 teams.


This week's schedule

TODAY'S GAMES Division 1 CATHOLIC -- St. John's Prep at BC High, 7; Xaverian at Catholic Memorial, 7.


Today's schedule

Pro basketball: Charlotte vs. Celtics at the FleetCenter, 7:30 p.m. College hockey: Men -- UMass at BC, 7 p.m.; Merrimack at BU, 7 p.m.; Maine at Northeastern, 7 p.m.; Colgate at UMass-Lowell, 7 p.m.; Princeton at Brown, 7 p.m.; Providence at UNH, 7 p.m.; Yale at Harvard, 8 p.m.; UBS tournament at Worcester: Worcester St. at Fitchburg St., 5:30 p.m.; ...


This weekend's sports on TV, radio

TODAY AUTO RACING 1:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Busch Series BI-LO qualifying at Darlington, S.C., Speed Channel 3 p.m. -- NASCAR Nextel Cup Mountain Dew 500 qualifying at Darlington, S.C., Speed Channel 8 p.m. -- NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Darlington 200 at Darlington, S.C., Speed Channel PRO BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. -- Celtics vs. Charlotte at the FleetCenter, FSN, WWZN (1510) 8 p.m. ...


Video phones act as dating tools

3G video mobiles could be the perfect match for lonely-hearts looking for love.


BSkyB subscribers beats forecasts

BSkyB sees its share price rise after it reports better-than-expected new subscriber numbers.


Laptops drive Dell profits boost

Computer giant Dell sees profits rise 25 despite slowing momentum in the PC market, as laptop sales soar.


COKE #39;S AD POP: \$400M

Coca-Cola Co. is aiming to put the fizz back into its marketing as a key part of its turnaround strategy. Coke will boost its annual spending on marketing and developing new products by \$350 million to \$400 million beginning next year.


CEOs resignation a surprise

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia made an unexpected change at the top yesterday, saying that Sharon Patrick, the company #39;s president and chief executive and a close friend of Stewart #39;s, has resigned


Jones to buy Barneys

Jones, owner of the Jones New York, Anne Klein and Nine West brands, yesterday said it is buying luxury retailer Barneys New York for approximately \$400 million.


New releases from Google, Firefox

Now that almost everyone has bartered for his or her invitation to Google #39;s GMail (gmail.google.com) service, everyone is waiting to see what new features Google will introduce to outpace the competition.


Microsoft Pays \$536 Million in Antitrust Complaints

Novell agrees to pull out of a European Union lawsuit but says it will press for another settlement for damage to its WordPerfect software business.


South Korea #39;s LG to file suit to nullify Matsushita PDP patents in <b>...</b>

SEOUL : South Korea #39;s LG Electronics will take action in a Japanese court to nullify patents on display panel technology held by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.


China Mobile to set up experimental 3G network in Beijing

China Mobile Communications, currently the largest operator of mobile communication services in China, will establish a 3G (third-generation) experimental network in Beijing at the beginning of next year, according to the China-based Xinhua Online.


Football Broadcasters Make Real Thing Look More Like Video Games

CHICAGO - That UFO you might see whizzing over Thursday night #39;s Florida State-North Carolina State football game is not just a camera - it #39;s the link between televised football and the video games they seek to mimic.


McEnroe backs Henman

John McEnroe believes Tim Henman can pick up the 1million winner #39;s cheque at the Tennis Master Cup in Houston next week. McEnroe, who will be at the Albert Hall for the Masters


Huskies face history against Cal, Tedford

The Husky football team can accomplish something Saturday that only two other squads in the school #39;s 115-year football history has done -- lose nine games.


False alarm triggers response from PSU

A false alarm on a Pittsburgh sports-talk show Thursday morning ignited a nationwide firestorm of speculation about the job status of Penn State coach Joe Paterno.


Tributes for Arafat continue to pour in at UN

NEW YORK: Tributes were continuing to pour in at the United Nations for the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Mr Arafat, who passed away in a Paris hospital


French women raped in I Coast violence

ABIDJAN, Nov 12 (AFP) - The top French soldier in Ivory Coast has confirmed that women were raped in anti-French violence that has erupted in the volatile west African nation over the last week.


US hits Mosul

The US military attacked rebel targets in Mosul with air and ground fire yesterday after an upsurge in violence in the northern Iraqi city.


Govt for early resumption of talks - President

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga received Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen at the President #39;s House yesterday on his return from Kilinochchi.


Accord Set on Efficiency for Cooling

The combatants in a fight over how much electricity an air-conditioner should use have reached a truce that could eventually lead to savings for building owners.


No One's Looking Sideways at Georgia Tech Anymore

Four games into Georgia Tech's season, it is hard to find a trace of the cowboy bravado usually associated with a program suddenly on the rise.


Progress on Japanese abductees

\Japanese officials meet the alleged husband of a woman kidnapped by Pyongyang, as talks are extended.


E-tail Fraud Remains a Threat

Online merchants in the United States have become better at weeding out fraudulent credit card orders, a new survey indicates. But shipping overseas remains a risky venture. By Joanna Glasner.


Indian parties to defy strike ban

Political parties in India's West Bengal state call for fresh strikes in defiance of a court order declaring them illegal.


Top-Ranked U.S.C. Barely Keeps Grip

Reggie Bush had 335 total yards as the Trojans survived with a victory, a 12-0 record and a good chance to play in the B.C.S. title game.


The great blue vs. red state debate

Letters Caution: rude words enclosed


Air travelers to US face longer wait

US-bound air passengers may have to board their planes an hour before takeoff to allow for more rigorous security checks, according to proposals outlined yesterday by a senior US official.


Intel Chief Barrett Laments Timing Sucks #39; for His Departure

Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett wanted to go out in glory like his old boss, Andy Grove. Instead, he #39;ll retire to slumping sales growth, restless investors and repeated product delays.


Struggles Continue for Coke

Coca-Cola is trying to explain why the worlds biggest soft-drink company is struggling. The company says Coke was slow to push water, juice and other non-carbonated drinks as consumers became more health-conscious.


New boss for Martha

Susan Lyne, once a hot-shot magazine editor and later president of ABC Entertainment, was tapped yesterday to head troubled Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.


Pixar looks to boost film revenues

PIXAR Animation Studios, the group behind the cartoon movie Finding Nemo and a slew of other hits, says it might reap millions more in profits by switching the release date for its films to the summer.


Insurer Allianz Beats Expectations

Third-quarter net profit at insurance and banking group Allianz AG dipped to euro539 million (US\$669 million), the company said Friday, but the result included an improved performance by the Dresdner Bank subsidiary and exceeded analysts #39; expectations.


Struggling auto parts maker offering buyouts to salaried employees

Struggling automotive supplier Visteon Corp. told its 8,300 white-collar workers that it plans to offer buyouts to a  quot;significant quot; number of employees by year #39;s end.


New Microsoft search engine opens war for Internet dominance

WASHINGTON (US): Microsoft #39;s new search engine launched Thursday opens a new front for the world #39;s biggest software company in a new war -- for control of the Internet, analysts said.


Dell may sell AMD based servers - Dell CEO

Dell may begin to use AMD chips in some of its servers according to the company #39;s Chief Executive Kevin Rollins. The revelation was made in conference call to analysts to discuss the company #39;s Q3 earnings.


Technology ; Four Charged In Microsoft Thefts

The software the four are accused of stealing included the SQL Server 2000, which normally sells for \$15,000, and the SQL Enterprise Server 7.0, which sells for \$29,000.


#39;Halo 2 #39; clears \$125 million in first day

Microsoft beat even its own heady expectations for the hotly anticipated Xbox game  quot;Halo 2, quot; selling more than \$125 million of the product its first day in stores.


Micron Strikes Deal With US in Price Fixing Probe (Update2)

Micron Technology Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 maker of computer-memory chips, struck a deal with the US Justice Department to shield it from sanctions after a probe found some employees engaged in price fixing.


UPDATE 1-Mauresmo starts strongly, Williams wins again

Amelie Mauresmo made a powerful start in her bid to end the year as world number one with a 6-1 6-0 rout of Vera Zvonareva at the WTA Championships on Thursday.


Don #39;t walk out on Wales this time

MICKEY THOMAS has hit out at incoming Wales manager John Toshack, claiming the former Real Madrid boss is lucky to be given a second chance to lead his country.


Santana aces Cy vote: Unanimous AL pick gives Schilling due

Johan Santana may have been the unanimous selection for the American League Cy Young Award, but the Minnesota Twins left-hander said second-place finisher Curt Schilling stats, news still


Pistons defense falters

Detroit gives up more than 100 points for second time this season, turns ball over 23 times. By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News. DENVER -- The Pistons were the perfect guests here Thursday, providing the struggling


Canada, US skate to 1-1 draw at Four Nations Cup

When it comes to international womens hockey, Canada and the United States are about as even as two teams can get. Why should the Four Nations Cup be any different?


NFL #39;s TV windfall shows no signs of slowing

It #39;s big news whenever the television networks throw \$8 billion on the table, and even moreso when it #39;s being thrown at the NFL, the Halliburton of sports.


Arafat #39;s young daughter sees plane off

CAIRO, Egypt -- Viewers watching Yasser Arafat #39;s funeral Friday got a rare glimpse of his 9-year-old daughter Zahwa, standing next to her mother and weeping as his coffin was placed on a plane.


A hero, a monster, a Mideast icon

As peace between Israel and the Palestinians waxed and waned over the decades, there was one constant amid the tumult: Yasser Arafat was at its centre.


Troop withdrawal in Kashmir may begin within a week:

India News: New Delhi, Nov 12 : Indian troops deployed in parts of Jammu and Kashmir are expected to begin pulling out within a week, in line with a major decision taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of his visit to the troubled state.


UN Says There #39;s No Evidence S. Korea Tried to Make Nuclear Arms

There #39;s no evidence South Korea was trying to make nuclear weapons when 14 of its scientists secretly produced enriched uranium and plutonium without government approval, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said.


BearingPoint May Strive for Adaptability

Company's interim leader acknowledges criticism by investors and analysts that the company has been slow to adapt to changes in the market in recent years.
-Ellen McCarthy


EPA Backs Nanomaterial Safety Research

Agency awarded \$4M in grants to study the health, environmental risks posed by manufactured nanomaterials -- invisibly tiny materials revolutionizing many industries but its effects on living things remain unknown.
-The Washington Post


Oracle-PeopleSoft end nears (TheDeal.com)

TheDeal.com - The software maker has indicated it could abandon the hunt for PeopleSoft if it does not win support for a tender offer.


Iraqi Security Forces Fight Rebels in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Machinegun fire and grenade blasts  echoed across northern Baghdad on Friday as insurgents clashed  with Iraqi national guards, witnesses said.


Dutch Raid Kurdish Training Camps, Arrest 29

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch authorities have raided a  suspected training camp of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)  guerrilla group in the southern Netherlands and arrested 29  people, prosecutors said on Friday.


Falluja Battle Erupts, Clashes in Baghdad

FALLUJA (Reuters) - A battle erupted near a mosque in  northwest Falluja on Friday just hours after U.S. Marines said  insurgents were now trapped in the south of the city.


A Profession Thrown Into a Tailspin

In the days when United Airlines was flying high, Patrick Downey exulted in being paid to live his passion. When the former Navy pilot went to work for United in 1999, he felt he landed his dream


Microsoft release new search engine preview

Microsoft have let the public use a beta of their tool for some months while testing continues. The last few days have seen a new release of the beta which seems to be getting closer to bringing back consistently sensible results.


Wales expected to appoint Toshack today

The Welsh FA are expected to name John Toshack as the new manager of their national team today, after holding interviews with all the main candidates yesterday.


Davis finds it #39;s tough to replace Rivers

Former Clearwater Central Catholic star quarterback Jay Davis hasn #39;t had the smoothest of transitions taking over for Philip Rivers at North Carolina State.


Meehan up from Down Under

If there is a poster boy for promoter Don King #39;s heavyweight carnival at Madison Square Garden tomorrow night, it is Kali Meehan.


People here hope for peace, unity in Middle East

(November 12, 2004) - In the hours since Yasser Arafat #39;s death, it seems one question has been on the world #39;s mind: What will it mean?


Russian hits McDonald's with coffee burn lawsuit (Reuters)

Reuters - Almost 15 years after McDonald's brought a taste of America to impoverished\Russians, a 37-year-old Muscovite has hit the firm with a U.S.-style lawsuit over a spilled cup of\coffee, Russian media has reported.


Otellini #39;s rise moves Barrett and Grove

Intel #39;s board sounded the changing of the guard yesterday, with Paul Otellini being confirmed as the next CEO of the chip giant.


Delta pilots choose pay cuts

Delta Air Lines #39; pilots Thursday overwhelmingly approved a \$1 billion package of concessions that cuts their pay by nearly a third but may pull the financially beleaguered carrier from the brink of bankruptcy.


Another search beta for Microsoft

The kinks have not yet been ironed out of Microsoft Corp #39;s web search engine, but the company has gone ahead with another beta launch of MSN Search that showcases many of the bells and whistles rivals launched incrementally well after they were mature.


Europes ticket to the moon

Monday night will mark the beginning of Europes space exploration, as a tiny spacecraft will start orbiting the moon. On Monday, SMART-1 (the acronym stands for Small Missions for Advanced Research and


Oddworld Stranger renamed, dated

Xbox exclusive Oddworld Stranger is now known as Oddworld Stranger #39;s Wrath, Electronic Arts advised this week, claiming that the revised title  quot;better reflects the spirit of the game quot;.


Video games the answer to society #39;s happiness

It #39;s almost the end of the semester and many male students are turning to video games, instead of the Internet, to relieve some much built-up stress.


BOFH: The hostage's guide to lift imprisonment

Episode 39 Stay calm, conserve bodily fluids


Orange opens 24-0 lead, rolls in laugher

Hakim Warrick scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out five assists to lead No. 6 Syracuse to a 104-54 rout Thursday of Northern Colorado in the first round of the Coaches vs.


Leaders join Arafat funeral procession

Hundreds of Arab and Muslim leaders and officials participated Friday in the funeral procession of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Cairo.


Teen flies in plane #39;s landing gear

A homeless teenager who hid in the landing gear of a passenger plane survived a 700-kilometre flight across south-western China but his companion fell and probably died, state media reported on Friday.


Otellini to become Intel #39;s CEO

Intel Corp. #39;s board of directors on Thursday tapped Paul Otellini, who has been with the company for 30 years, to replace Craig Barrett as chief executive officer in May.


Target soars, but misses estimates

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target reported a 78 percent jump in third-quarter earnings on Thursday on strong revenue growth and the sale of its Mervyn #39;s discount chain, but it just missed analyst estimates.


Hong Kong Shares Close Higher

Hong Kong stocks closed at a fresh eight-month high Friday, boosted by a cut in local interest rates and overnight gains on Wall Street.


Northwest ships Beaujolais to Detroit

But wine stores, restaurants and bars can #39;t sell the wine from France before 12:01 am Thursday. By Joel Smith / The Detroit News.


GM, Ford offering safer SUVs

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are expanding the use of anti-rollover technology on their popular sport/utility models, addressing a major safety risk for the vehicles.


Wells to allow online transfers to other account holders (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - In the latest sign that Americans are taking more of their finances online, Wells Fargo on Monday will start allowing its customers to transfer up to  #36;1,500 a day to another Wells Fargo account holder at no charge.


Microsoft #39;s Google-killer arrives with a  #39;whuh? #39;

Google #39;s executives might be sleeping a little easier this weekend after Microsoft unveiled its much-hyped new search engine. It #39;s fast, slick, and comes with a raft of interesting new features: confounding


Dell closer to using AMD chips

Dell president and chief executive officer Kevin Rollins indicated that the company is considering including Advanced Micro Devices processors in its server roster in the foreseeable future.


Hit game taking over the streets

Millions of Britons have a guilty secret. They are spending their spare hours immersed in an underground world of LA gangs and gun-ridden ghettos.


Defendant: Microsoft source code sale was a setup

A 27-year-old Connecticut man facing felony economic espionage charges for allegedly selling a copy of Microsoft #39;s leaked source code for \$20 says he #39;s being singled out only because the software giant and law enforcement officials can #39;t find the people


Microsoft issues one fix in monthly security update

In sharp contrast to last month #39;s barrage of critical patches, Microsoft has offered up just one  quot;important quot; fix for users to implement in its scheduled round of security updates for November.


#39;Halo 2 #39; is worth the wait

How do you top a battle between Marines and an alien religious cult fighting to the death on a giant corona in outer space? The next logical step is to take that battle to Earth, which is exactly what Microsoft


Red Hat establishes Chinese operation

Linux distributor Red Hat Inc has established a new presence in China to promote the use of open source software in the country, following up on plans announced back in January.


Sharapova lives up to expectations

LOS ANGELES--Although Maria Sharapovas picture is in newspaper ads and billboards around Los Angeles, tennis teen queen said she usually could go shopping incognito.


New Goodison contract for Moyes

Everton manager David Moyes has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2009. The 41-year-old Scot has steered the Toffees to third place in the Barclays Premiership table despite last


Holiday CD showdown: Full press is on (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Eminem, Destiny's Child, Snoop Dogg, Lil' Jon and Chingy face off with new albums next week as the record industry gears up for the make-or-break holiday season.


Local Muslims reflect on Palestine and peace

It signals the possibility of peace in the Middle East, they said, with the appointment of a new leader to replace the 75-year-old head of the PLO.


Train Accident in Philippines Leaves 10 Dead, 100 Wounded

The number of deaths related to a train derailment yesterday in the Philippines has been increased to ten. 100 people were injured as well.


Iraq Group Claims Kidnapping Of American

12 November 2004 -- Al-Jazeera television is reporting that Iraqi insurgents have kidnapped a US citizen who worked at a Baghdad airport.


29 Die in Mine Accident in China

29 people have been found dead after a methane gas explosion in a coal mine in Henan, central China. According to the New Chinese News Agency, the explosion occurred in the city of Lushan at Xingsheng Coal mine on Wednesday (November 10).


Falluja a  #39;Big Disaster, #39; Aid Needed - Red Crescent

Aid agencies called on US forces and the Iraqi government to allow them to deliver food, medicine and water to Falluja on Friday and said four days of intense fighting had turned the city into a  quot;big disaster.


PeopleSoft board prepares for worst (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - In the final days before shareholders decide on Oracle's takeover bid for rival software maker PeopleSoft,  PeopleSoft is bracing for the worst. Oracle officials say they won't know until shortly before a  Nov. 19 deadline if a majority of PeopleSoft shareholders support the  #36;8.8 billion offer.


Stock Futures Flat Ahead of Data; Dell Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat  market open on Friday,  pausing after the previous day's big  rally, as Wall Street awaits key economic data, though gains by  computer maker Dell Inc. DELL.O in overseas trading following  its earnings report could help technology stocks.


Oil Holds Near 7-Week Lows on U.S. Weather

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices held steady on Friday near  7-week lows on forecasts for colder-than-normal weather in the  U.S. Northeast.


The \$100 PC: How do we get there?

Steve Ballmer says the world needs a really cheap computer, but Mike Ricciuti warns that cheap doesn't come easy.


Sen. McCain Threatens Baseball Over Steroids

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Commerce Committee Chairman  John McCain on Saturday threatened to introduce legislation  requiring more stringent drug testing if Major League Baseball  does not impose tougher rules on steroid use by January.


Hewlett-Packard takes a new approach to software

The company extends a deal with open-source Java software maker JBoss in an effort to compete with IBM.


European Shares Extend Multi-Year Highs

LONDON (Reuters) - European stock markets scaled near-2-1/2  year highs on Friday after strong overnight gains on Wall  Street as the euro held off from mounting another assault on  \$1.30 and as oil prices traded below \$48 a barrel.


Sixth-Ranked Syracuse Opens Hoops Season with Easy Win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Sports Network) - Hakim Warrick netted 19  points and Syracuse roared out to an early 24-0 lead as the  sixth-ranked Orange opened their 2004-05 season with a 104-54  pasting of Northern Colorado in the opening round of the  Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Carrier Dome.


No. 12 Mississippi State Tops Fairfield in Basketball Opener

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sports Network) - Ontario Harper finished  with a career- high 17 points to lead 12th-ranked Mississippi  State to a 53-49 win over Fairfield in the Coaches versus  Cancer Classic at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.


Dollar Slides Versus Yen

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar fell two thirds of a percent  against the yen to within sight of seven-month lows and edged  toward recent record lows against the euro on Friday as worries  persisted about the U.S. current account deficit.


Palestinian Mourners Await Arafat's Arrival

The coffin of Yasser Arafat, draped with the Palestinian flag, was bound for Ramallah in the West Bank Friday, following a formal funeral on a military compound near Cairo.


Cell phones take iPod challenge

Backers say new mobile music services will be big in Europe, but admit U.S. could be a problem.


No. 3 Auburn Downs Tennessee for SEC Title

ATLANTA (Sports Network) - Jason Campbell threw for a  career-high 374 yards along with three touchdowns as  third-ranked Auburn stated its case for a spot in the Orange  Bowl with a 38-28 victory over No. 15 Tennessee in the  Southeastern Conference Championship at the Georgia Dome.


Music strikes up at Venice opera

Venice's Fenice Opera House hosts its first performance since it was gutted by fire in 1996.


#36;350,000 Siphoned From Democrats' Senate Campaign Fund (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON  #8212; The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recently discovered that dozens of contribution checks  #8212; some for as much as  #36;25,000  #8212; were diverted from its coffers to a private bank account, officials said Thursday.


Robot Helps NASA Refocus on Hubble

Because of the Canadian robot named "Dextre," in less than a year, NASA has gone from writing off the Hubble to embracing a mission that will cost up to \$1.6B and approach in complexity the hardest jobs the agency has ever undertaken.
-The Washington Post


Intel Names 30-Year Veteran CEO

Intel Corp. named President Paul S. Otellini as its next chief executive officer, for the first time choosing a non-engineer to run the world's largest computer-chip maker.-Bloomberg News


GM, Ford Embrace New Systems  For SUV Stability

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. said yesterday that they are rushing to adopt a new safety technology called electronic stability control, and together they will make such systems standard on most of their large and mid-size sport-utility vehicles by the end of next year.


GAO: Social Security Numbers Vulnerable

Identity thieves can snare Social Security numbers from a potpourri of public records, especially those maintained by state and local governments, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.


AOL Aims to Lead Internet Travel Purchases

Aiming to put itself in the vanguard of the Internet travel business, America Online will invest an undisclosed amount in an upstart that threatens to lure customers away from the industry's most dominant players, such as Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity.


Hopes for Eid Solution to Afghan Hostage Crisis

KABUL (Reuters) - Three U.N. workers held by militants in  Afghanistan were in their third week of captivity on Friday  after calls from both sides for the crisis to be resolved ahead  of this weekend's Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.


Marvel Sues 2 Cos. Over Role-Playing Game

Marvel Enterprises Inc. is suing two firms behind a computer superhero role-playing game it claims allows players to make virtual characters that are too similar to "The Hulk," "X-Men" and other heroes in the comic book company's stable.


Is Microsoft using 'Halo 2' to thwart Xbox hackers?

Hundreds of Xbox owners with modified consoles say they've been banned from the Xbox Live service in the past few days. \


LIDAR Laser Radar Finding More Uses

If you've ever been pulled over for speeding, you may already know something about LIDAR. A laser-based radar system, LIDAR can tell if you're speeding by bouncing a light beam off your car and seeing how quickly it returns. From an airplane or a satellite, LIDAR can calculate the distance to the ground, and by repeating the process millions of times as it flies over, map the lay of the land.


Falluja Battle Erupts, Unrest Spreads Elsewhere

FALLUJA (Reuters) - A battle erupted near a mosque in  northwest Falluja on Friday just hours after U.S. Marines said  insurgents were now trapped in the south of the city.


Dutch raid Kurd 'training camp'

Dutch police arrest 29 in a raid on a suspected training camp of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.


Bavaria bans teacher headscarves

The German state of Bavaria is the latest federal states to ban Muslim school teachers from wearing headscarves.


Palestinians Flood Arafat Compound Before Burial

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Thousands of mourners  converged on Yasser Arafat's compound in chaotic scenes on  Friday before their revered leader was to be buried in the  place where Israeli forces trapped him until his final days.


Photo: Are mod chips getting gamers into trouble?

Mod chips such as the Xecuter allow the Xbox to perform unauthorized tricks.


Sports Buzz

Curt Schilling is again a runner-up. In AL Cy Young voting released Thursday, the Red Sox star finished second to Minnesota #39;s Johan Santana.


Comeback establishes James as Cavs #39; leader

CLEVELAND - His team was trailing by 19 points, the home crowd was booing and there was only a quarter left for LeBron James to make things right.


Stocks to Watch

DELL INC. DELL.O:


Norway peace bid for Lanka ends without breakthrough

Colombo: Norway #39;s latest bid to salvage Sri Lanka #39;s faltering peace process ended without a breakthrough Friday but the government and the rebels have pledged to continue to uphold a fragile truce.


Report: PeopleSoft prepares for proxy fight with Oracle

UNDATED The Wall Street Journal reports PeopleSoft is getting ready for a proxy fight at its annual meeting next spring over the Oracle takeover bid.


Record results for Dell in third quarter

Dell continued to outpace the rest of the IT industry in the company #39;s third quarter with sizzling growth in shipments, revenue, and net income adding up to the best quarter yet for the hardware supplier.


Dell  #39;going to add #39; AMD CPUs to product line - CEO

Getting a little chilly down there, Satan? Yes, infernal ice-skating may soon become possible, following Dell CEO Kevin Rollins #39; admission that the computer giant is close to signing up AMD as a processor supplier.


A brand new way to cell  #39;24 #39;

By early next year, viewers could be watching their favorite shows on their cell phones. Consider this: Fox is teaming with Verizon Wireless to create and distribute  quot;24: Conspiracy, quot; 60-second


Everton tie up Moyes until 2009

Everton manager David Moyes has signed a new contract that will keep him at Goodison Park until 2009. The 41-year-old Scot, who joined Everton from Preston in March 2002, has guided the Merseysiders to third place in the Premiership this season.


Japan accuses Chinese sub of entering its waters

TOKYO - Japan lodged a formal protest with Beijing Friday after concluding a Chinese nuclear submarine spent time in Japanese waters without identifying itself, says a report.


UN Envoy Decries Excessive Violence in Moving Sudanese Refugees

The United Nation #39;s envoy to Sudan has criticized the Sudanese government for using what he says is  quot;too much violence quot; to relocate thousands of people displaced by the conflict in Darfur.


Car Blast Kills 2 in West Bank - Emergency Service (Reuters)

Reuters - A car exploded near the West Bank\city of Ramallah on Friday, killing two people, an Israeli\emergency service said.


US: No acquisitions on horizon at Coke

Speaking to analysts and investors yesterday the CEO of soft drinks giant The Coca-Cola Company said there were no immediate plans for any major acquisitions.


BSkyB gains 62,000 new subscribers beating estimates

LONDON - BSkyB has beaten analyst forecasts to add 62,000 new subscribers in its first quarter, but the figure is less than half the 170,000 it added during the same period last year.


Nikkei, Hang Seng rally smartly

MUMBAI: Asian markets were up in early trades on Friday. While Tokyo Nikkei gained 119.90 points at 10966.22, Hong Kong #39;s Hang Seng index was up 147.


For Arafat, Oslo Remained Symbol of Hope (AP)

AP - Norway's capital could not have been further removed from the chaos and bloodshed of the Middle East. Yet it was as a result of top-secret meetings here that two veteran warriors decided it was time to talk peace.


SMART-1 arrives at the Moon

It #39;s been a long trip, but Europe #39;s first Moon mission is finally nearing its goal. SMART-1, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) way back on 27 September 2003, will go into orbit around the Moon on 15 November.


Dell answers the question

I don #39;t know how many times I #39;ve heard the question asked of Dell Computer and, similarly, I don #39;t know how many times I #39;ve heard the same answer.


Former Microsoft Workers Charged With Stealing Software

Four ex-Microsoft employees were charged with stealing \$32 million worth of software from the software company and selling it online to software retailers.


New deal for Moyes

Everton manager David Moyes has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2009. Moyes, 41, has steered the club to third in the Premiership table despite last season #39;s narrow escape from


With president #39;s resignation, civil rights group again in turmoil

ATLANTA -- The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is in turmoil again -- this time with the resignation of its president, the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth.


Athens Olympics cost \$15.2bn

THE Athens Summer Olympic Games cost host country Greece nearly 9 billion euros (\$15.23 billion), Greek Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said today, citing definitive figures.


Dozens killed in Chinese mine blast

At least 33 miners have been killed in a coal mine blast in central China, officials said on Friday. Thursday #39;s accident at the Xinsheng coal mine in the central province of Henan also left six people injured.


Japan Lodges Protest With China Over Sub (AP)

AP - Japan lodged a formal protest with Beijing on Friday after determining that a nuclear submarine that entered its territorial waters without identifying itself belonged to China.


US should not have hyphenated ties with India, Pakistan :

New York, Sep 23 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the US should not have a  quot;hyphenated relationship quot; between India and Pakistan as ties with New Delhi had its own dynamics and ought to develop independent of the geopolitical compulsions that led


Charges threat to US market chiefs

THREE senior officials running one of Americas junior stockmarkets could face civil charges relating to its options market, following a probe by US watchdog the Securities and Exchange Commission.


An Eye on Movie Theater Pirates

Eager to curb camcorder piracy at the cinema, Hollywood studios demonstrate a device that would detect bootleggers' recorders in the dark. Xeni Jardin reports from Hollywood.


Curbing Your Enthusiasm

Can technology save us from a pre-emptive war on sex, should the Bush administration choose to wage one? I sure hope so. Commentary by Regina Lynn.


These Speakers Go to 11

No, really, they do. Logitech's Z-5500 speaker set cranks up the sound for computers, game consoles and home theaters. By Leander Kahney.


End of the Road Is Nowhere

The trek down the Great River Road ends in an anticlimax of old shacks and weathered boats, but that doesn't mean the trip is disappointing. Michelle Delio reports from Venice, Louisiana.


Longing for a Blogging Candidate

Although blogs like Daily Kos have demonstrated some possibilities of the medium, political candidates haven't bought into them, and probably won't anytime soon. By Daniel Terdiman.


Science's Next Big Score

Forget matchmaking. Researchers should use social networks to land matching funds. By Bruce Sterling from Wired magazine.


Male Contraception Gets a Boost

Scientists successfully inject male monkeys with a protein that renders the chimps temporarily infertile. The research may provide a new birth-control option for men in the next decade.


Cocoa drops as Ivory crisis cools

World cocoa prices drop as production in the Ivory Coast resumes following several days of unrest and mob violence.


Virgin 'seeking Indian airline'

Richard Branson says his Virgin Group is talking to a number of Indian airlines about taking a 49 stake in some carriers.


Coke CEO: the company may face tough times. Earnings targets <b>...</b>

Coca-Cola Co., the worlds top soft-drink maker, has lowered its long-term earnings and sales targets on key markets slump. The companys CEO E. Neville Isdell promised Cokes investors an improvement


Jobs: Pixar #39;s  #39;Incredibles #39; Derails  #39;Polar Express #39;

Steve Jobs must love superheroes. Though earnings from The Incredibles, the latest release from Pixar Animation Studios (nasdaq: PIXR - news - people ), did not make it into the company #39;s most recent quarterly


Pilots Playing Ball, Sign Delta Pact

NOVEMBER 12, 2004 -- The union representing Delta Air Lines #39; pilots yesterday announced its membership had widely approved an agreement that cuts the carrier #39;s labor costs by \$1 billion annually.


Euro zone growth slows sharply

Euro zone economic growth slumped to its slowest pace for more than a year in the third quarter, prompting economists to warn the European Central Bank (ECB) against any monetary tightening in the near term.


FAA tries to identify source of ice that struck house

KENT, Wash. -- Investigators are trying to identify the source of chunks of ice that smashed through the roof of a house in this Seattle suburb last week, landing on the bed of a 7-year-old girl.


Blockbuster bids for Hollywood

A saga involving a campaign to turn Hollywood Video #39;s Wilsonville-based parent company private turned into a cliffhanger on Thursday when rival Blockbuster Inc.


Carrier marks 75th anniversary amid union protest

With healthy profits and a bankruptcy reorganization nearing completion, Hawaiian Airlines marked its 75th anniversary Thursday with a festive ceremony at its Honolulu airport ticketing lobby.


Retail Sales Up Slightly as Expected (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. retail sales rose modestly as\expected last month, but the underlying message from the\consumer was strong at the start of the fourth quarter after\record oil prices failed to deter shoppers.


FedEx Ordered to Repay U.S.  #36;29 Million (Reuters)

Reuters - FedEx Corp.'s  express air\shipping unit has been ordered by the U.S. government to repay\ #36;29 million in excess funds received under an act established\after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the company said on Friday.


Oil Up from 7-Week Lows on U.S. Weather (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices perked up from 7-week lows on\Friday on forecasts for colder-than-normal weather in the U.S.


Treasuries Deflated, Consumption Holds Up (Reuters)

Reuters - Treasuries prices trimmed overnight\gains on Friday after data on U.S. retail sales showed\underlying strength in consumption heading into the  fourth\quarter.


Opera Software triples third-quarter loss

Opera Software, the maker of the No. 3 Web browser, reported a third-quarter net loss Friday that was more than three times greater than the year before, despite an increase in revenue.


Red Hat opens office in China

Red Hat on Thursday announced the opening of its first office in China, in the capital Beijing. The company said it will be working with industry partners such as HP, IBM, Intel and Oracle, as well as with


Is Microsoft using  #39;Halo 2 #39; to thwart Xbox hackers?

Microsoft appears to be using its smash  quot;Halo 2 quot; game as a vehicle to crack down on mod chips and other hacks of its Xbox video game console.


San Andreas shoots up more than gaming sales charts

A new world power has arisen to stun the masses with its might. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the latest addition to the Grand Theft Auto series on Playstation 2, will blow the minds of gamers.


Trojan targets UK online bank accounts

Virus writers have created a new Trojan horse capable of helping crooks to break into the accounts of British internet banking customers.


Rebels Shun Ivory Coast Talks as Exodus Goes On (Reuters)

Reuters - Rebels from Ivory Coast shunned peace\talks in South Africa as hundreds more foreigners prepared on\Friday to leave the former French colony in the wake of days of\mob violence.


Wi-Fi superchip threatens Bluetooth

Bluetooth specialist CSR has packed a triple-mode a/b/g Wi-Fi adapter into a single ultra-small chip, complete with multiple antennas ready for 802.


Oddworld Gets Wrathful

November 11, 2004 - Electronic Arts announced today that the next game in the Oddworld series, until now known as Oddworld Stranger, is now officially titled Oddworld Stranger #39;s Wrath.


AOL Enters the Online Travel Market (PC World)

PC World - New service will compete with sites like Travelocity.com and Expedia.


Chuck stops here

AUSTRALIA #39;s elite cricketers can relax because the game #39;s suspect bowlers, including Muttiah Muralitharan, may be exposed rather than cleared by proposed new laws that have stunned the sport.


Payless Posts Profit on Cost Control (Reuters)

Reuters - Retailer Payless ShoeSource Inc.\ on Friday posted a quarterly profit, as lower\advertising and payroll expenses and other cost savings offset\decreased sales.


Opera Software Triples Third-Quarter Loss (AP)

AP - Opera Software, the maker of the No. 3 Web browser, reported a third-quarter net loss Friday that was more than three times greater than the year before, despite an increase in revenue. Its shares fell 6.5 percent.


Gunfire Greets Arafat #39;s Coffin Upon Arrival in Ramallah

Volleys of gunfire greeted a military helicopter carrying Yasser Arafat #39;s coffin as it landed Friday at the late Palestinian leader #39;s West Bank compound, which has been overrun by tens of thousands of mourners.


New peace hope in post-Arafat era

ONE OF Yasser Arafat #39;s least-admired roles in the last few years was as the constantly cited excuse for international futility in Middle Eastern peace efforts.


10 killed in Philippine train wreck

MANILA At least 10 people were killed and almost 100 were injured when a train derailed and plunged down a slope in the Philippines early Friday, officials and radio reports said.


Seoul tests not linked to weapons

VIENNA South Korean nuclear experiments that were revealed earlier this year produced minute amounts of plutonium and near-weapons-grade uranium but there was no evidence linking them to an attempt to make nuclear arms, the UN atomic monitoring agency said


Indonesian island quake kills 16

An earthquake registering 6.0 on the Richter scale has shaken a remote island in eastern Indonesia, killing 16 people and injuring dozens more, a government official says.


You #39;ll be back, Arnie tells Japan

HE was last in Japan as the Terminator, while he was away he became the Governator, and now he #39;s back as ... what, the Promotivator?


Dutch raid  #39;Kurd training ground #39;

Dutch police say they have raided a suspected paramilitary training ground for Kurdish militants in the southern Netherlands, arresting 29 people.


Arafat Eulogized as Keeper of Palestinian Dream

In the international online media, Yasser Arafat is receiving gentler treatment in death than he usually received in life. Arafat was a  quot;truly great leader, quot; said the Jakarta Post in Indonesia.


Hostage in Iraq might be Charlotte man

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A contractor who left Charlotte to work in Iraq is feared to be in the hands of insurgents. Dean Sadek lived on Hanna Court near Sharon Amity Road in east Charlotte before he moved overseas


Vanuatu affirms Taipei link

SYDNEY Vanuatu #39;s new diplomatic ties with Taiwan remain in place, a spokesman for Prime Minister Serge Vohor said on Friday, contradicting a claim by China that his South Pacific island government had renounced links with Taipei.


Retail Sales Up Slightly as Expected

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rose modestly as  expected last month, but the underlying message from the  consumer was strong at the start of the fourth quarter after  record oil prices failed to deter shoppers.


Coffin Is Carried Through Surging Crowd Ahead of Burial

Earlier, in Cairo, presidents, kings and potentates from across the Arab world and beyond paid their last respects to the Palestinian leader.


Djibouti Refuge Shelters Endangered Cheetahs (Reuters)

Reuters - Working with cheetahs, the world's\fastest land animal and now an endangered species, is a bit\different from treating cats and dogs, but Bertrand Lafrance\felt he had little choice.


Global Markets: European Shares Climb

LONDON (Reuters) - European stock markets scaled near-2-1/2  year highs on Friday as oil prices held below \$48 a barrel, and  the euro held off from mounting another assault on \$1.30 but  hovered near record highs against the dollar.


FedEx Ordered to Repay U.S. \$29 Million

CHICAGO (Reuters) - FedEx Corp.'s FDX.N express air  shipping unit has been ordered by the U.S. government to repay  \$29 million in excess funds received under an act established  after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the company said on Friday.


Stocks Seen Flat Are Oil Edges Higher

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures got a slight boost  on Friday after a report showed U.S. retail sales rose in  October, but the market still looked to open flat, pulling back  from the previous day's rally as oil prices nudge higher.


Oil Up from 7-Week Lows on U.S. Weather

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices perked up from 7-week lows on  Friday on forecasts for colder-than-normal weather in the U.S.  Northeast.


Texas Comptroller Eyes Governor's Race (AP)

AP - Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn's reputation as a watchdog for the health and education of Texas children is summed up in a needlepoint decoration in her office: "One Ticked Off Grandma." Strayhorn may try to add another job to her resume  #151; governor.


Treasuries Deflated, Consumption Holds Up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasuries prices trimmed overnight  gains on Friday after data on U.S. retail sales showed  underlying strength in consumption heading into the  fourth  quarter.


Report: Equity Firms Stalk Adelphia

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A group of private equity firms is  courting bankrupt cable firm Adelphia Communications Corp.  ADELQ.PK with a view to making a joint bid for its assets,  the New York Times reported on Friday, citing executives  involved in the auction.


New <cite>Reg</cite> newsletter redefines choice paradigm

Site news All the news - just how you like it


Payless Posts Profit on Cost Control

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Retailer Payless ShoeSource Inc.  PSS.N on Friday posted a quarterly profit, as lower  advertising and payroll expenses and other cost savings offset  decreased sales.


The Leonid Meteor Shower 2004: Modest Peak Expected Nov. 16-19 (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Next week brings us the \  return of the famous Leonid Meteor Shower, a meteor display that over the past \  several years has brought great anticipation and excitement to sky watchers \  around the world.


SunTrust Restates Results Over Bad Loans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - SunTrust Banks Inc. STI.N, which  fired three executives over its accounting for bad loans, on  Friday restated first-half profit higher by \$25.1 million,  slightly more than it had forecast, to fix the errors.


Opportunity Rover to Pack Up and Leave Crater (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - NASA's Mars \rover Opportunity nbsp;will back its \way out of a nbsp;crater it has spent four months exploring after reaching terrain nbsp;that appears \too treacherous to tread. nbsp;


Post-Election Blues, Driven Ever FWD Into the Past

Forty-eight percent of the nation is still sad and upset about the defeat of John Kerry, and you know so because they won't stop forwarding the same few links, cartoons and manifestoes to you, over and over again, as if it were 1998 and the Web were still new and you cheerfully opened every e-mail you received.


Ancient bear made early migration

Brown bears migrated south through North America much earlier than first thought, new research suggests.


Web of fury over police pictures

\The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary is taken to court by its own officers because it is publishing their photos on the internet.


Long on Cash, Short on Ideas

What's holding companies back? Can anything be done to rev up their investment spending?


UN creates Internet governance working group

Preparations are in full swing for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) later next year.


ICANN domain transfer policy takes effect

The new transfer policy for inter-registrar domain names went into effect on Friday, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said.


Hopes rest on issue of leadership

PALESTINIAN leaders stepping into the power vacuum left by the death of Yasser Arafat face one of the most daunting challenges in their people #39;s troubled history.


AOL sets sail into travel search market

America Online Inc. (AOL) is aiming to get a piece of the travel search market, announcing plans Friday to introduce a new Web-based property to compete with the likes of Travelocity.com and Expedia Inc.


US marines find Syrian driver kidnapped with French reporters in Iraq (AFP)

AFP - US marines have found alive in the restive Iraqi city of Fallujah the Syrian driver who was taken hostage with two French journalists almost three months ago, a military spokeswoman said.


17 dead, over 100 injured as powerful earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia (AFP)

AFP - A succession of powerful earthquakes rocked eastern Indonesia, killing at least 17 people, injuring more than 100 others and destroying hundreds of homes.


AOL Enters the Online Travel Market

New service will compete with sites like Travelocity.com and Expedia.


Dollar Ignores Data, Creeps Lower vs. Yen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar dropped against the yen on  Friday, as the market ignored a mostly positive report on  October U.S. retail sales and remained focused on the record  U.S. current account deficit.


Chaotic Scenes at Arafat Compound Before Burial

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Thousands of Palestinian  mourners flooded into Yasser Arafat's compound and mobbed his  coffin after it arrived for burial on Friday in the area where  Israeli forces trapped him until his final days.


Hopes for Solution to Afghan Hostage Crisis

KABUL (Reuters) - Three U.N. workers held by militants in  Afghanistan were in their third week of captivity on Friday  after calls from both sides for the crisis to be resolved ahead  of this weekend's Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.


Buddhist Teacher Killed, Two Bombs Hit Thai South

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed a  Buddhist martial arts teacher and two bombs wounded at least 10  people in Thailand's restive south on Friday in apparent  revenge for the deaths of 85 Muslims, police said.


UN Iran Report Held Up as Nuke Freeze Talks Stall

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog has held up a  new report on inspections in Iran while Tehran and the EU's  "big three" try to break a deadlock in talks aimed at freezing  Iran's uranium enrichment program, diplomats said on Friday.


Online Holiday Shopping Sales Increase Sharply in 2004\\The latest holiday online sales forecast numbers are up and running with predicitions all having online sales rise, anywhere from 19 to almost 30 over results from 2003. comScore Networks predicts that online consumer spending for November and December will total between \$15.1 ...


Google and Mozilla Firefox Working Together\\Google have hosted a customized Internet Explorer search page for many years now specially designed to act as sidebar search. And with the launch of the first final release of the very popular Mozilla Firefox browser, we now have a custom page specially designed for ...


Stocks Open Little Changed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened flat on Friday as  Wall Street pulled back after a big rally in the previous  session, with shares of computer maker Dell Inc. DELL.O  higher after reporting strong earnings late on Thursday.


Intel #39;s next CEO brings different focus

Intel said Thursday that President Paul Otellini will become its next CEO -- a change that could help the No. 1 chipmaker overcome recent missteps.


Oil rose slightly, supplies increased

Crude oil rose slightly on Friday to \$47.57 per barrel compared to yesterday fall on expectations for inventories to be lifted. December crude oil was at \$47.


Retail Sales Up Slightly as Expected

US retail sales rose modestly as expected last month, but the underlying message from the consumer was strong at the start of the fourth quarter after record oil prices failed to deter shoppers.


Fedex to repay \$29m to US government

Fedex Corps express air shipping unit has been ordered by the US government to repay \$29m in excess funds received under an act established after the Sept.


Bank restatement shows higher first-half profit

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- SunTrust Banks Inc. on Friday said third-quarter profit rose 11 percent and reported a restated profit for the first half of 2004, as expected.


US Stock-Index Futures Rise on Retail Sales; Dell Advances

US stock-index futures gained after a government report showed sales at retailers in October, excluding autos, rose more than expected.


Update 2: French Gov #39;t May Link EADS With Thales

The French government plans to merge Airbus parent EADS with defense company Thales to create a new European giant to rival Boeing Co.


BSkyB sees profits rise after strong subscriber growth

LONDON : British satellite broadcaster BSkyB said profit rose by 16 percent in the first quarter as the group enjoyed strong subscriber growth in the run-up to the key Christmas trading period.


AOL Enters the Online Travel Market

America Online is aiming to get a piece of the travel search market, announcing plans to introduce a new Web-based property to compete with the likes of Travelocity.


Nation likely to be 3rd largest trading power

China is likely to become the world #39;s third largest trading power by the end of 2004, said the Ministry of Commerce. According to a report jointly published on Friday by the ministry


New York's Spitzer Says May Sue Insurer (Reuters)

Reuters - New York Attorney General Eliot\Spitzer will file a lawsuit as early as Friday against an\insurance company, the second suit stemming from his sweeping\probe into bid-rigging in the industry, Spitzer told Reuters on\Friday.


Consumer Sentiment Improves in November (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. consumers have grown more\cheerful so far this month as the hotly contested presidential\election drew to a close and job prospects seemed to improve,\according to a survey released on Friday.


Microsoft search engine thwarted by glitches on first day

As first assault on Google #39;s leading position in the market, Microsoft #39;s newly launched search engine encountered some technical problems on its first day.


Microsoft scoffs at  #39;10 new XP SP2 flaws #39;

According to the security company, the flaws mean that  quot;attackers can silently and remotely take over an SP2 machine when the user simply browses a web page quot;.


Google #39;s Gmail Gains Integration With MS Outlook

Google #39;s still-not-released-to-the-public free Gmail e-mail service adds POP3 support, letting users send and receive messages from Microsoft Outlook clients.


Warm Warnings

If more evidence was needed that global climate change is occurring - and having serious consequences - it arrived in force this week.


MS staff stole \$32.4M in software

p2pnet.net News:- Four ex-Microsoft employees from the Seattle-area have been charged with stealing software worth \$32.4 million from the company.


Halo 2 brings in \$125 million for Microsoft on its first day

Microsoft Corp. said sales of its Halo 2 video game, the sequel to the best-selling title for its Xbox video-game machine, topped 2.4 million in North America, generating \$125 million on its first day.


CA updates spyware-zapper

Moving to capitalize on a recent acquisition, Computer Associates International Inc. this week released an updated version of its home spyware-zapping software, and began selling a corporate


Sharapova, Mauresmo Roll While Serena Struggles at WTA <b>...</b>

It can #39;t be easy for former No. 1 Serena Williams, struggling to get back into tennis shape, and seeing countrywoman Lindsay Davenport battering 0-and-1 an opponent that the younger Williams sister barely edges 7-6(3), 7-5.


A major step in the battle for Formula One

The battle for control of Formula One, the company which holds commercial control of Formula 1 racing, took a major turn on Friday when the High Court in London rejected an appeal by Formula One Holdings against a court action being held in the United


NJ ref a key part of Ruiz-Golota

Andrew Golota was on his absolute best behavior when he challenged Chris Byrd seven months ago at Madison Square Garden. His  quot;Foul Pole quot; persona was a no-show.


Sauber to launch C24 in Malaysia

The Sauber Petronas team will be launching its new C24 chassis in Kuala Lumpur on January 11 2005, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Petronas #39;s involvement in Formula 1. The Malaysian oil and gas corporation began its association with Sauber in 1995


Oregon State at Stanford

Notes: Oregon State must contend with Stanfords unorthodox 3-4 defense. The Cardinal are OSUs only opponent that uses the 3-4 as their basic set.


John Waggoner:Investing - Feel bullish? Try a fund company (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - If, through some cruel twist of fate, disco ever comes back, you'd want to invest in companies that make puffy shirts. And if the bull market is really back, then the best place to be is in the stocks of companies that manage mutual fund companies.


Arnold hits Tokyo on trade mission

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today and with representatives of the auto and electronics industries through-.


Chief of Army to investigate KKK scandal

THE image of soldiers dressed as the Ku Klux Klan betrayed the Australian Army #39;s commitment to a  quot;fair go quot; and destroyed the memory of black and white soldiers who fought together in war, the Department of Defence said yesterday.


FedEx Ordered to Repay U.S. \$29M

\

 CHICAGO (Reuters) - FedEx Corp.'s <FDX.N> express air\shipping unit has been ordered by the U.S. government to repay\\$29 million in excess funds received under an act established\after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the company said on Friday.


New Data Shows Slowdown in Euro-Zone Growth

New data shows third-quarter slowdown in euro-zone growth


New York's Spitzer Says May Sue Insurer

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Eliot  Spitzer will file a lawsuit as early as Friday against an  insurance company, the second suit stemming from his sweeping  probe into bid-rigging in the industry, Spitzer told Reuters on  Friday.


Consumer Sentiment Improves in November

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumers have grown more  cheerful so far this month as the hotly contested presidential  election drew to a close and job prospects seemed to improve,  according to a survey released on Friday.


For Kerik, a Blunt New Yorker, a Complex Washington Task

The job of homeland security secretary seems exceedingly more complex than anything that Bernard B. Kerik has faced.


Probe arrives at Moon's gateway

European spacecraft Smart is set to enter into orbit around the Moon on Monday.


The Election That Never Ends ... Online

In the real world, campaign 2004 ended last week with John Kerry's concession to President Bush.  But online, the lost cause lives on in the form of conspiracy theories and collective mourning. -washingtonpost.com


Bush Pressuring G.O.P. to Approve Intelligence Bill

President Bush sought to stem a near- rebellion by members of his own party by forcefully endorsing the bill.


UN Iran Report Held Up as Nuke Freeze Talks Stall (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.N. nuclear watchdog has held up a\new report on inspections in Iran while Tehran and the EU's\"big three" try to break a deadlock in talks aimed at freezing\Iran's uranium enrichment program, diplomats said on Friday.


French Gov't May Merge EADS With Thales (AP)

AP - The French government plans to merge Airbus parent EADS with Thales, the country's largest defense company, to create a new European giant to rival Boeing Co., a leading financial daily reported Friday.


Activists Storm Parliament in Rebel Georgia Region

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Supporters of a candidate in a disputed  presidential election in the separatist Georgian region of  Abkhazia stormed government buildings on Friday, Russia's  Interfax news agency reported.


Consumers More Upbeat in Early November


Intel Names 30-Year Veteran as Its First Non-Engineer CEO

Intel Corp. named President Paul S. Otellini as its next chief executive officer, for the first time choosing a non-engineer to run the world #39;s largest computer-chip maker.


Stocks Open Little Changed

US stocks opened flat on Friday as Wall Street pulled back after a big rally in the previous session, with shares of computer maker Dell Inc.


EADS to make bid for Thales

PARIS, Nov 12 (AFP) - The European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS) will soon launch a bid for French defence electronics group Thales in a deal orchestrated by the French government, which owns just over 15 percent of EADS and 31 percent of


Siemens plans to delist shares from New York Stock Exchange

FRANKFURT : German electronics giant Siemens is planning to de-list its shares from the New York Stock Exchange because of the high costs of maintaining a listing on Wall Street.


New York #39;s Spitzer Says May Sue Insurer

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will file a lawsuit as early as Friday against an insurance company, the second suit stemming from his sweeping probe into bid-rigging in the industry, Spitzer told Reuters on Friday.


AUSTRALIA: CCA could sell underperforming units

Coca-Cola Amatil, the leading Australian soft drinks group, is looking for an improvement from its South Korean and Indonesian units and may exit those businesses if one is not forthcoming.


Have your say - Microsoft v Google

Times Online tried Microsoft #39;s new search engine, and it broke. Here #39;s a selection of reader experiences with the new service.


Browser War II: Revenge of Netscape

Itsa safe bet that smiles are showing up on Netscape devotees faces as Internet Browser War II broke out this week. They were a forgotten bunch, these loyalists, nursing their aging, once-dominant Netscape


Probe arrives at Moon #39;s gateway

European spacecraft Smart 1 is at the Moon #39;s gateway, the region beyond which the probe is tugged more strongly by lunar gravity than by the Earth #39;s.


Finjan Software warns of ten new vulnerabilities in Windows XP SP2

Finjan Software, the leading provider of proactive secure content management solutions for enterprises, announces today 10 serious security vulnerabilities discovered by Finjan #39;s Malicious Code Research Center (MCRC) in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2


Gmail users soon able to check e-mail via Outlook

Web search leader Google said Wednesday it will soon make it possible for users of its Gmail service to check their e-mail via Microsoft Outlook or on certain handheld devices such as mobile phones.


Red Hat pushes Linux further into China

The leading Linux publisher Red Hat is heading east opening its first business centre in China #39;s Beijing. The centre will offer Red Hat Academy training free to students and will work in partnership with Tsinghua


Trojan logs e-banking habits

Security experts say they have discovered a Trojan horse that records e-banking user details and Web surfing habits. Antivirus company Sophos is warning that the Banker-AJ Trojan is targeting online customers


Gronholm has narrow Australia lead

PERTH, Australia -- Finland #39;s Marcus Gronholm holds the early lead after the first stage of the Rally of Australia. Double world champion Gronholm #39;s Peugeot was fastest around the 2.34km city circuit in the


Athens staged costliest Games

This year #39;s Olympic Games in Athens cost nearly nine billion euros (\$11.5 billion), almost double the amount forecast a year before the opening ceremony, the Greek finance minister said on Friday.


Sauber to launch new F1 car in Malaysia

Sauber will unveil their 2005 Formula One car in Kuala Lumpur on January 11, the Swiss-based team said on Friday. Sauber are sponsored by Malaysian oil company Petronas, whose backing


Japanese all-stars rally for baseball win over major leaguers

The San Diego reliever gave up a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday and the Japanese all-stars rallied for a 3-2 walkoff win over the touring major leaguers in Game 7 of an eight-game exhibition series.


Syracuse rolls in tournament

Hakim Warrick had 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead No. 6 Syracuse to a 104-54 victory over Northern Colorado Thursday night in the first round of the Coaches vs.


After Chaotic Procession, Arafat Is Laid to Rest on West Bank

Yasir Arafat was laid to rest in a marble-and-stone grave today in Ramallah, on the West Bank, after his flag-draped coffin was carried through a crowd of chanting Palestinians


EU struggling to reach Iran deal

Tehran: Iran failed last night to give a definitive answer to an EU demand it freeze sensitive nuclear activities or face referral to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, a diplomat familiar with the talks said.


Earthquake rocked Indonesian island killing 16

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake shook an Indonesian island having killed 16 and injuring dozens. The information was received from the official report of the government of the country.


Saks 5th Avenue Names President, COO (AP)

AP - High-end retailer Saks Inc. on Friday said it named Andrew Jennings as president and chief operating officer of Saks Fifth Avenue.


October U.S. Games Sales Up 35 Percent

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Video game sales rose 35 percent in  the United States in October, analysts said on Friday, as the  blockbuster criminal adventure "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"  sold more than 2 million units in just five days of release.


AOL Aims to Lead Internet Travel Purchases (AP)

AP - Aiming to put itself in the vanguard of the Internet travel business, America Online will invest an undisclosed amount in an upstart that threatens to lure customers away from the industry's most dominant players, such as Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity.


Retail Sales Increase, Autos Lose Luster (AP)

AP - Consumers lost a little of their enthusiasm for auto purchases last month but spent like mad in a number of other areas including clothing and gasoline, the Commerce Department reported Friday.


AOL Searches for Ad Dollars in New Travel Site (Reuters)

Reuters - America Online on Friday said it plans\to launch an online travel tickets comparison site available to\non-subscribers, as part of a long-term strategy to bolster\services for consumers who don't actually pay them for monthly\service.


Marathon RePorter extends USB, FireWire, more (MacCentral)

MacCentral - Marathon Computer on Friday introduced its RePorter Port Extender. The spherical device features a flat front face with two USB Type A ports, a FireWire 400 port, a FireWire 800 port, audio in through a 1/8-inch stereo mini jack and audio out through a 1/8-inch stereo mini jack. The device connects to a Mac or PC using a single 1.5-meter cable that splits apart into one-foot lengths. The Marathon RePorter is shipping now and costs US #36;59.


Blue Titan adds reliable messaging to SOA tool (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Attempting to fine-tune its software for use in business-critical applications, Blue Titan Software on Monday is unveiling Network Director RM (Reliable Messaging), a tool for policy distribution and messaging in SOAs (service-oriented architectures).


Oil Prices Hold Near 7-Week Lows

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held steady near 7-week lows  on Friday on forecasts for colder-than-normal weather in the  U.S. Northeast.


SunTrust Restates First-Half Results

NEW YORK (Reuters) - SunTrust Banks Inc. STI.N, which  fired three executives over its accounting for bad loans, on  Friday restated first-half profit higher by \$25.1 million, more  than it had forecast, to fix the mistakes.


Spitzer Plans to Sue Insurer

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will file a lawsuit as early as Friday against an insurance company, the second suit stemming from his sweeping probe into bid-rigging in the industry, Spitzer told Reuters Friday.


AOL Paddles Into Crowded Travel Pool

America Online dipped its toe into the onrushing online travel business Friday with an investment in closely held Kayak. AOL didn #39;t disclose details of the multiyear marketing-and-technology agreement.


Pixar Shares Jump to Record High on Results

Shares of Pixar Animation Studios Inc. on Friday rose to a record high, a day after the company posted a 70 percent quarterly profit increase, driven by strong home video sales for  quot;Finding Nemo quot; and  quot;Monsters, Inc.


Shortfall sparks downgrades, overshadows Q4 results

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Agilent Technologies Inc. saw its shares fall more than 12 percent Friday after the testing and measurement equipment maker disclosed a first-quarter forecast that failed to meet analysts #39; expectations.


BSkyB 1st-Quarter Net Increases 3, Adds Subscribers (Update4)

British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc, Rupert Murdoch #39;s UK pay-television company, said fiscal first- quarter profit rose 3 percent as it gained more subscribers than analysts expected.


TXU to Take Eight Power Plants Offline

Energy company TXU Corp. on Friday said it plans to mothball eight natural gas-fired power plants representing a quarter of its Texas capacity in an effort to save about \$20 million in annual expenses.


The Fool's Look Ahead

A mouse, a house, and your tax-planning spouse all factor huge in the week of earnings that lies ahead.


PPC Options

Pay-Per-Click - Just the words send a chill up and down my spine. It used to be that this PPC feature was an end-all to cure any search engine listing woes, to get the ranking we felt we were denied, and to


European Craft To Probe Possibility of Moon Colonies

Instead of using a chemical rocket, SMART-1 fires a stream of electrically charged atoms of Xenon gas. A similar idea was used by the makers of Star Trek as part of the Starship Enterprise #39;s propulsion system.


Police break up European piracy ring

Greek and British police in a joint operation cracked an illegal software sales ring, arresting two people and seizing thousands of pirated software programs, Greek police said on Friday.


More XP SP2 security holes?

p2pnet.net News:- Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) has ten unpatched vulnerabilities, says Finjan Software.  quot;Microsoft, however, ardently disputed the claims and said that they were  #39;potentially misleading and possibly erroneous #39;, quot; says a TechWeb story.


Dell  AMD?

In 2003, AMD launched the Opteron, a server chip that made the argument for 64-bit processing without ditching 32-bit investments.


IBM #39;s Big Blue back on top as world #39;s fastest computer

IBM #39;S Big Blue has helped the US reclaim the title of the world #39;s fastest supercomputer for the first time in three years.


NASA explores space system companies

A partnership between The Boeing Company and Northrop Grumman Corporation has been created to compete for NASA #39;s Crew Exploration Vehicle for Project Constellation, a planned


GoldenEye: RA Goes Gold

Electronic Arts has announced that the anticipated next installment of the Bond series, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, has gone gold. The game will put players in the role of an aspiring 00 agent dismissed from MI6


UPDATE 1-FIFA bans Mutu worldwide after cocaine positive test

FIFA has extended the seven-month ban on ex-Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu for drug abuse worldwide. The Romanian international was banned by the English Football Association (FA


Old Lady running well, Inter Milan held back by X syndrome

The Turin powerhouse, nicknamed  quot;Vecchia Signora quot; by its fans, enters Sunday #39;s 12th round of Serie A with an impressive 9-1-1 record and a six-point lead over second-place AC Milan, the defending champion.


Hines speeds toward NHRA title in Pro Stock Bike

On genetics alone, Pro Stock Bike rider Andrew Hines was destined to win a championship. He just didn #39;t expect one in his second full season and definitely not at 21 years old, adding


Report: NHL not losing as much as it claims

New York, NY (Sports Network) - While it is definitely losing money, the National Hockey League isn #39;t as bad off as it claims, according to a published report in Forbes Magazine.


A Fool Looks Back

Chips, soda, release dates, and interest rates -- all had more than a bit part to play in the market's theatrical production this past week.


Dutch to Withdraw Troops from Iraq in March

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch cabinet has decided to  bring home the 1,350 Dutch troops in Iraq in March next year,  confirming a decision first made in June, the Dutch news agency  ANP cited Defense Minister Henk Kamp as saying on Friday.


Mine blast kills 33, injures 6 in Henan

Thirty-three people were confirmed dead in a gas explosion, which also injured six, at a coal mine in Central China #39;s Henan Province on Friday, according to local safety authorities.


Seoul May Ban North Korea College Web Site

South Korea may ban access to a Web site of North Korea #39;s Kim Il-sung University to stop the communist state #39;s ideology from spreading among the South #39;s Internet-savvy young, an official said on Friday.


Activists Storm Parliament in Rebel Georgia Region

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Supporters of a candidate in a disputed  election in the separatist Georgian region of Abkhazia stormed  government buildings on Friday, Russia's Interfax news agency  reported.


Leaders pay tribute to Arafat

Yasser Arafats formal military funeral in Cairo was a sombre and dignified occasion.


Call for more Darfur peacekeepers

More peacekeepers are needed in Sudan's Darfur region to protect refugees, a top UN envoy says.


EU weighs Iranian nuclear reply

EU countries analyse an Iranian response to EU pressure for it to halt plans to enrich uranium, officials say.


Voters show they want more say in growth issues (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Voters are sending mixed signals about how they want their communities to grow, embracing strict controls in some places and rejecting them in others.


Greek, British Police Break Illegal Software Ring

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek and British police in a joint  operation cracked a multi-million illegal software sales ring,  arresting two people and seizing thousands of pirate high-tech  software programs, Greek police said on Friday.


Bush to Meet With Latin American Allies

President Bush is tacking on visits with two Latin American allies to his trip to Chile for a gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders later this month.


Santana Unanimous Pick for AL Cy Young

As joyous fans celebrated by honking car horns in Caracas, Johan Santana sounded overwhelmed. He became the first Venezuelan to win a Cy Young Award, and not only that, he was a unanimous choice.


Anheuser Sells CCU Stake for \$299 Million

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Leading U.S. brewer AnheuserBusch <BUD.N> sold its 20 percent stake in Chile's biggestbrewer CCU <CCU.SN> for \$299 million in an auction on theSantiago Stock Exchange on Friday.


Oil Little Changed as US Inventories Expected to Meet Demand

Crude oil futures were little changed after yesterday falling near a seven-week low on expectations an increase in imports and inventories will ensure US refiners have enough for winter heating oil production.


AOL, Kayak to Build Travel Search Site

America Online has partnered with and taken a minority investment in travel search player Kayak Software. The two will build an AOL-owned travel search site, to launch in early 2005, which will be powered by Kayak #39;s technology.


Payless ShoeSource Swings to 3Q Profit

Payless ShoeSource Inc., the nation #39;s largest shoe retailer, posted a third-quarter profit on Friday compared with year-ago losses, due to improved margins and lower payroll costs.