French finance minister calls for European energy policy French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday called for a European energy policy and said France #39;s eurozone partners should join it in a plan to pass on surplus tax receipts to consumers.


LeFors, No. 12 Louisville Crush TCU 55-28 (AP) AP - Stefan LeFors threw three touchdown passes and No. 12 Louisville rolled to a 55-28 victory over TCU on Wednesday night.


Matt Nuzzo Everett's Matt Nuzzo is a four-year starter at quarterback with an amazing 39-1 record. Everett's all-time passing touchdown leader, Nuzzo is this week's Q  amp; A.


MANAGER PROFILE: Micky Adams Micky Adams has been rightly regarded as one of the brightest young managers in English football over the last number of years. His glowing coaching reputation has been bore out of a playing career which was


Blue Gene, Linux top supercomputing list Open-source software and off-the-shelf hardware make strong showing among the best of the biggest.


Montgomerie, Donald Paired in Ryder Cup Race  MUNICH (Reuters) - The two favorites for a Ryder Cup  wildcard, youngster Luke Donald and seven-time European number  one Colin Montgomerie, have been paired for the first two  rounds of the BMW International Open that begins Thursday.


Two bombs discovered in Sardinia after Berlusconi-Blair meet (AFP) AFP - Police discovered two bombs near the Sardinian villa of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, just hours after he met his British counterpart Tony Blair on the island.


McGrath puts skids under N Zealand Paceman Glenn McGrath grabbed four wickets as Australia took firm control of the second Test in Adelaide by bowling out New Zealand for 251 -- a first innings lead of 324.


Pfizer #39;s Celebrex could have a problem Pfizer (PFE) said Friday that it has received new information about the cardiovascular safety of its popular arthritis drug Celebrex, based on an analysis of a long-term cancer trial, but it has no plans to withdraw the drug.


Big plays spark Rams Things started out oh so easy Monday for the Rams, with a fast and furious lightning bolt of a touchdown pass to Torry Holt less than three minutes into the game.


McManus, Magnier turn down Glazer approach Irish billionaire businessmen JP McManus and John Magnier, who own almost 29 per cent of Manchester United, have turned down an approach from American sports franchise tycoon Malcolm Glazer to take over the club.


Bid to be the world #39;s biggest gold firm Harmony Gold Mining Co, South African gold firm, has made a \$8.2 billion bid to acquire its much bigger rival -- Gold Fields. If the acquisition or the merger goes through, it would create the world #39;s largest gold producing company.


Karzai Seen Winning Outright First-Round Victory The latest official preliminary results from Afghanistan #39;s 9 October 9 presidential election show transitional leader Hamid Karzai has won the clear majority needed for an outright first-round victory.


Yahoo! wraps up carrier deals with Nextel account Yahoo! Inc. launched a package of Internet-based wireless applications for Nextel Communications Inc. subscribers, the companies announced Tuesday.


Switches Failed In Crash Of Genesis The Genesis space capsule that crashed into the Utah desert last month failed because four pencil stub-size gravity switches designed to trigger the release of the spacecraft #39;s parachutes


Photo: XM's portable satellite radio XM Satellite Radio Holdings introduced a handheld portable version of its satellite radio.


Japan's stressed crown princess pledges early return to official duties (AFP) AFP - Japan's Crown Princess Masako, the former career woman who has kept out of the public eye for a year due to stress, promised on her 41st birthday she would try to get back to her official duties soon.


Five Blue Demons reach double figures CHICAGO (Ticker) -- No. 16 DePaul had five players reach double figures in a 99-54 victory over Loyola-Chicago. DePaul freshman Erin Carney tallied her first double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds.


Calif. Sets Weeding Ban to Save Workers #39; Backs California regulators on Thursday ordered farmers to stop employing field hands to weed commercial crops by hand, becoming the first state in the nation to limit such back-wrenching work.


Last Chance Until 2007: Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight! Skywatchers on half the planet are gearing up to watch Earth #39;s shadow consume a blood-red Moon tonight in the last total lunar eclipse until 2007.


Scientists 'find key to hearing' Scientists pinpoint a protein they believe holds the key to hearing, and maybe new treatments for deafness.


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.


In Slovakia, the Roma stir change KOSICE, Slovakia -- When Ivan Hriczko strode casually into the Twelve Apostles, a fashionable restaurant in this steel city, diners idled their forks and turned their heads.


House OKs Humanitarian Aid for N. Koreans (AP) AP - The United States could spend up to  #36;24 million a year in humanitarian aid for North Koreans, much of it for refugees who have fled the impoverished, totalitarian state, under legislation approved by the House Monday and sent to the president for his signature.


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


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


Francona kept Sox' snags sewn up A few stories Terry Francona never told as he was guiding the Red Sox to their first world championship since the inventions of traffic signals, frozen food, and bubble gum:


The Solar System's Deflector Shield is Up A breeze of interstellar helium atoms is blowing through the solar system. Thankfully, we have our shields up! The solar system's deflector shield is a giant magnetic bubble called "the heliosphere." It's part of the sun's magnetic field.


US consumer prices dip 0.1 in July; industrial output and home starts rise WASHINGTON (AP) - US consumer prices eased down by 0.1 per cent in July as gasoline prices dropped, while factory output rose and home construction rebounded, offering hope the economy has escaped its early-summer  quot;soft patch. quot; ...


Reheated Bagle smokes out antivirus defenses New version of mass-mailing worm, discovered Friday, tries to disable defenses on destination PCs.


Sony Moves to MP3 In a strategic move, electronics giant Sony has announced that some of its new music player models will now feature direct support for MP3 audio files.


Bush defends war despite arms report US President George W. Bush on Thursday defended his decision to go to war against the  quot;unique threat quot; of Iraq, despite an official US report that Baghdad did not have weapons of mass destruction, as a Shiite militia pledged to disarm.


Early shoppers catch bargains Early birds get bargains Treasure Coast shoppers get their holiday money #39;s worth on the biggest shopping day of the year. By Charlie Reed.


How a safe haven could help save Hubble An out-of-the-box plan to put a new space habitat in orbit could be a leading contender for saving the Hubble Space Telescope, private-sector analysts say in a proposal being prepared for NASA.


Wenger finds soft centre hard to accept The way Arsenal defended against a Southampton side who were the joint-lowest scorers in the Premiership made it difficult to believe that they had remained unbeaten for 49 games.


Oil on record run Brent crude sets intraday mark in London, US crude comes close as supply concerns plague market. LONDON (Reuters) - London oil prices hit record highs on Monday as worries about the stability of supplies from


Cardinals re-sign pitcher Matt Morris Matt Morris will return to the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Tuesday night to a \$2.5 million, one-year contract that allows him to earn an additional \$4.5 million in performance bonuses.


Dog Medicine Is Recalled at Request of F.D.A. A time-released medication used to prevent heartworm in millions of dogs was recalled after thousands of dogs suffered adverse reactions.


Morris adds to the anxiety Baseball fans who were looking to Busch Stadium for reassurance Thursday night came away more apprehensive than ever. A few days removed from playing host to a National League Division Series


Christmas-New Year's Travel to Set Record  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans will travel in record  numbers this holiday season, thanks partly to Christmas and New  Year's landing on the weekend, the AAA said Wednesday in  releasing a travel survey.


Making IE safer and more  #39;trustworthy #39; MICROSOFT Corps recent release of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP saw the company dealing head-on with the security issues that have plagued the operating system since its release.


Beyonce's Hair Is Worth Millions (AP) AP - Beyonce reportedly makes up to  #36;4.7 million for just 10 days of work a year  #151; and that's just her hair. But she has to inform L'Oreal of "any radical change to her hair any concert tour may necessitate" and keep it in excellent condition, according to The Smoking Gun Web site, which has posted the contract between the singer and the cosmetic giant.


Symantec to acquire security consultants Stake SAN FRANCISCO - Symantec Corp. has agreed to acquire Stake Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based provider of IT security consulting services.


Iraqis push ahead with elections Iraq has set a date of 30 January 2005 for its first nationwide election since the toppling of Saddam Hussein. The announcement came from the independent Iraqi electoral commission in Baghdad.


Report: Former Marlins closer Benitez reaches deal with Giants The San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms on a three-year, \$21 million contract with Marlins free agent closer Armando Benitez, according to several media reports.


Turkey concert blast  #39;hurts 14 #39; A bomb placed under a police car at a pop concert in southern Turkey has hurt at least 14 people, officials say. The explosion happened in the city of Mercin during a performance by well-known Turkish singer Candan Ercetin.


Boots feels the pinch from price cuts Bad weather hit sales at Boots in the first half, while margins felt the pressure from price cuts made to combat stiffening competition, Britain #39;s biggest health and beauty retailer says.


Sony #39;s Profit Surges on Strength of  #39;Spider-Man 2 #39; The Sony Corporation reported a 61 percent increase in net profit for the most recent quarter, as  quot;Spider-Man 2 quot; pulled in big profits for the company #39;s movie division and helped


Soldier confesses to Iraq abuses A US soldier pleads guilty before a court martial in Baghdad to maltreating prisoners at Abu Ghraib jail.


CM spoils Cotter's finale Rashad Jordan moved over from his position in Catholic Memorial's Cover-2 zone defense and welcomed Jim Cotter into retirement.


Gore and Kerry Unite in Search for Black Votes As polls suggest gains for President Bush among black voters, Democrats are trying to solidify their bloc.


Fuel Costs Hurt American, United Airlines American Airlines and United Airlines became the latest carriers on Thursday to say sky-high oil costs are hurting them and worsening a three-year industry downturn.


Dell joins blade server fray Dell has belatedly joined its competitors in offering blade servers with the launch in Paris on Monday afternoon of the PowerEdge 1855.


Baghdad car bomb kills 15 A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb Saturday at the entrance to Baghdad #39;s heavily fortified Green Zone, killing at least 15 and wounding 30 others.


Dollar General's 2Q Profits Up 18 Percent (AP) AP - Discount retailer Dollar General Corp. reported an 18 percent increase in second-quarter earnings, citing a tax benefit and improved sales.


Microsoft details new domain-specific modeling tools OCTOBER 26, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Microsoft Corp. is continuing its efforts to tap the enterprise-level development market with the announcement of a new framework and tool for Visual Studio Team System to


Red Sox vs. Yankees Managers: Terry Francona is in his first year with the Red Sox and is 3-0 in the postseason. Joe Torre is 887-567 (.610) in nine seasons with the Yankees, 68-31 (.687) in the postseason.


Second KO leaves Jones #39; future fuzzy Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver were joking about a unification bout. Roy Jones, considered by some the world #39;s best pound-for-pound fighter, was in the back of an ambulance.


Airline asks court to void 3 labor pacts US Airways Group Inc. yesterday asked a federal bankruptcy judge to void labor agreements with three unions to help it slash costs and avoid liquidation.


Rights Activists Denounce Putin's Reforms (AP) AP - Hundreds of Kremlin critics gathered Sunday on Constitution Day to denounce what they call a retreat from democracy as President Vladimir Putin signed a bill scrapping gubernatorial elections.


Funds: Fund Mergers Can Hurt Investors  PORTLAND, Maine (Reuters) - Mergers and acquisitions have  played an enormous role in the U.S. economy during the past  several decades, but sometimes the results have been bad for  consumers.  Similarly, consolidation in the mutual fund  business has sometimes hurt fund investors.


Rates mixed on T-bills Interest rates on short-term Treasury securities were mixed in yesterday's auction. The Treasury Department sold \$19 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 2.200 percent, down from 2.210 percent last week. An additional \$17 billion was sold in six-month bills at a rate of 2.425 percent, up from 2.380 percent.


49 army recruits executed in Iraq: Mortar kills US diplomat BAQUBA, Oct 24: Rebels killed 49 unarmed army recruits in one of the bloodiest attacks on Iraq #39;s nascent security forces and, in a separate attack on Sunday, killed a US diplomat in a mortar strike near Baghdad airport.


Car thieves #39; top targets identified NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Cadillac #39;s Escalade EXT and the Nissan Maxima are the most attractive targets for car thieves, according to a published report.


Kirilenko May Be Near Contract Extension (AP) AP - Andrei Kirilenko feels he is close to a contract extension with the Utah Jazz and hopes to have it finalized within the next few days.


Video shows three foreign election workers kidnapped in <b>...</b> (Kabul, Afghanistan-AP) Oct. 31, 2004 - Arab television has played a video that apparently shows three foreign election workers kidnapped in Afghanistan.


Identity Badge Worn Under Skin Approved for Use in Health Care The F.D.A. cleared the way for a company to market implantable microchips that would provide easy access to medical records.


Montella inspires Roma to first away win Captain Francesco Totti scored a first-half goal and striker Vincenzo Montella added another in the second period Saturday and AS Roma beat last-place Livorno 2-0 on the road to capture its second win in six Serie A matches.


Harvard Plans Major Engineering Expansion CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard University is planning a major expansion of its engineering program, including a 67 percent increase in the size of the faculty and the possible establishment of a separate school.


Israelis Press Ahead With Gaza Offensive JERUSALEM - Five days into Israel's largest offensive in Gaza in years, army commanders were talking of an operation lasting weeks, while officials looked even further ahead - to Israel's planned evacuation of Gaza settlements next year.    Early Monday, the bodies of four Palestinians were brought from the northern town of Beit Lahiya to a Gaza hospital...


Wal-Mart September Sales Rise 2.4 Percent  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N, the  world's largest retailer, on Thursday said sales at stores open  at least a year rose 2.4 percent in September, slightly higher  than its preliminary report but still toward the low end of its  forecast range.


Digital gear: Biometrics ease password security Fingerprints may soon replace passwords to log on to computers and Web sites, thanks to gadgets like Microsoft's Fingerprint Reader and Lexar Media's JumpDrive TouchGuard Pro. For those with cash on hand, Rollei's throwback MiniDigi digital camera could be a collector's delight, but Sony Electronics' Cyber-shot L1 is a better investment for performance and features. And CD labeling just became easy with Primera Technology's Signature Z1 CD/DVD.


Israeli TV Says Arafat Health Has Worsened (Reuters) Reuters - Israeli television said on Wednesday\that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's health had\deteriorated.


Britain Cannot Detain Terror Suspects Indefinitely: Court Nine Law Lords ruled in favour of a group of men jailed without charge for up to three years. The British government had argued that the detention without trial of some terrorist suspects is a tough but necessary


Euro, oil saps German confidence Economists had forecast a drop to 94.8. The November business assessment index fell to 93.8 from 94.7 in October, while the business expectation index fell to 94.3 from 95.9 last month, Ifo said.


Jaco injury worry for Boks South Africa fly-half Jaco Van der Westhuyzen faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday #39;s Test match against Ireland in Dublin because of a finger injury sustained against Wales at Cardiff #39;s Millennium Stadium.


Borders dealt to Twins for outfielder Garbe The Mariners traded catcher Pat Borders to the Minnesota Twins today, in exchange for BJ Garbe, a minor league outfielder from Moses Lake.


Robben says Chelsea can handle pressure Chelsea #39;s Arjen Robben says the Blues can handle the pressure of being on top of the Premier League. The club is two points ahead of Arsenal after beating Everton 1-0 Saturday on Robben #39;s 72nd-minute goal.


HP to open research center in South Korea Over the next five years, the company will spend \$40 million on its new lab, which will focus on the digital home.


Greece admits it broke rules to join euro ATHENS Greece has confessed to having been in breach of European Union budget deficit rules since 2000, leading to suggestions that it may not have been entitled to join the common currency after all.


Top News ; Rain, snow snarls US holiday travel Top News News, Dallas,Snow and rain snarled the holiday plans of millions of Thanksgiving travellers across the US as they battled flight delays and hazardous driving, reports UPI.


Confederations Cup to kick off The Confederations Cup will kick off with Olympic champion Argentina taking on African champion Tunisia on June 15, China Radio International reported Tuesday.


Boston Red Sox 2004 Review Second (AL East) wild card winner; def. Anaheim in ALDS; def. NY Yankees in ALCS; def. St. Louis in World Series. The curse is finally dead, as


Sudan protests at EU sanctions threat KHARTOUM, Oct 12 (AFP) - The Sudanese foreign ministry summoned the European Union #39;s delegation chief on Tuesday to protest at a renewed threat of EU sanctions over the crisis in Darfur.


N.Korean Defectors with Weapons in the S.Korean Embassy in China It was reported on September 30 that the South Korean government is aggressively reviewing ways of a conditional handover to China of North Korean defectors who used weapons or violence to enter the Korean Embassy in China.


Jeremy Warner #39;s Outlook: The pensions blot on Chancellor #39;s <b>...</b> Gordon Brown was at it again at the Labour Party conference in Brighton yesterday, boasting of the fiscal and monetary stability he and his policies have introduced into the UK economy.


Cards' Smith Sidelined; Navarre to Start at QB  TEMPE, Ariz. (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals will  have a new look in their backfield for this Sunday's game  against Detroit because running back Emmitt Smith is sidelined  with a sprained toe and rookie John Navarre will start at  quarterback.


Logicalis Acquires IBM Business Partner STI For \$90 Million BLOOMFIELD HILLS - Logicalis, an international IT integration company, has acquired for \$90 million Solution Technology, a privately held IBM solution provider and one of IBM #39;s top 10 Business Partners.


Bus Hijackers Demand 740,000  #39;Or We #39;ll Blow Up Hostages #39; Bus hijackers tonight set a Thursday morning deadline for Greek authorities to deliver a ransom of 740,000, threatening to blow up the vehicle and six remaining hostages if they did not receive the money.


Ads in video games set to rise Ads in video games are becoming a lucrative area for firms trying to reach young people.


U.S. Broadband Growth Slows - Analyst (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. telephone and cable companies\saw the growth of high-speed Internet services slow in the\second quarter to the lowest rate in a year, an industry\research firm said on Tuesday.


FedEx profit jumps, outlook raised FedEx Corp., the world #39;s top air-express shipper, said Thursday quarterly profit more than tripled on strength in its international, ground and freight businesses, and the company raised its full-year earnings forecast.


Caddying for my son at qualifying event was memorable experience Tiger Woods was so exhausted from the Ryder Cup that he withdrew from this week #39;s 84 Lumber Classic in the greater Pittsburgh area.


Navigator #39;s Beta Nods to IE, Firefox America Online (Quote, Chart) released an updated prototype of its Netscape Navigator browser today to a limited number of beta testers.


PeopleSoft Chief Duffield Resists Pressure to Talk With Oracle PeopleSoft Inc. Chief Executive David Duffield resisted pressure to open talks with Oracle Corp. after shareholders voted to support Oracle #39;s \$8.8 billion takeover bid.


Bush Upholds US Penalty Tariffs on Asian Shrimp Imports The Bush administration upheld the imposition of penalty tariffs on shrimp imports from China and Vietnam yesterday, handing a victory to beleaguered US shrimp producers.


Tokyo showcases gaming goodies Tokyo has played host to an exhibition showcasing the latest attractions for gamers.


Australian labels sue file sharer Record labels are suing the firm behind leading file-sharing software Kazaa, in the latest round of the fight over copyright. Sharman Networks, based in Australia but registered in the Pacific island state


Skins win one for the Gibber The Washington Redskins made Joe Gibbs homecoming a festive occasion Sunday, combining an offensive bolt of lightning and a thunderous, suffocating


Record for personal bankruptcies Individual bankruptcies in England and Wales have risen to their highest level on record, official figures show.


Lethargy helps  #39;Cats #39; historic win, 91-89 The Pistons ended up on the wrong side of history Tuesday night at the Charlotte Coliseum. They became the first defending NBA champion to lose to an expansion team since


China acts on pirated products BEIJING The Chinese government said on Monday that it seized two million fake compact discs in the first half of 2004, acting on US pressure to end counterfeiting of software and movies.


Soccer spitter accused again English soccer #39;s ruling body charged Bolton forward El-Hadji Diouf with improper conduct for spitting at defender Arjan De Zeeuw during Saturday #39;s 1-0 home loss to Portsmouth.


Humanity is outstripping planet #39;s capacity to sustain it: WWF The world #39;s population is consuming about 20 percent more natural resources than the planet can produce, the environmental organisation WWF International warned Thursday in its  quot;Living Planet quot; report.


Iraqis Probe Reports of Al-Douri's Arrest BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi authorities struggled on Monday to clear up confusion over whether the most wanted member of Saddam Hussein's ousted dictatorship had been nabbed in a shootout north of Baghdad.    Also Monday, a massive car bomb exploded on the outskirts of Fallujah killing and wounding several U.S...


Roadmap for troops cut being readied:Pranab NEW DELHI: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said a roadmap was being prepared for the withdrawal.


Investing in Car Culture Jeff Hwang is back from a car show with three investment ideas, presented in a two-part series.


Protection Is Issue The Redskins have allowed nine sacks in the past two games -- a particularly large number for a Joe Gibbs-coached team.


Pragmatism at heart of Peres's efforts toward peace JERUSALEM -- From the podium of the Israeli Knesset last week, Shimon Peres, the engineer of the Oslo peace process and leader of the parliamentary opposition, lambasted Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's speech on the state of the nation. Minutes later, in a nearby conference room, he urged his Labor party colleagues not to vote against Sharon's program so as not ...


WOMEN #39;S MARATHON The Pain of Defeat Is Still Fresh Crushed by her failure to finish the women #39;s Olympic marathon Sunday, Paula Radcliffe broke down twice yesterday as she struggled to explain how her dreams were shattered.


Supercomputers Aid Hurricane Forecasting (AP) AP - Thousands of miles from the rain and wind of Hurricane Ivan, a model of the storm swirls in the memory and processors of a supercomputer that can predict its likely course and strength.


EUROPE MARKETS LONDON (CBS.MW) -- European stocks nudged higher Thursday, boosted by investors applauding cost cutting initiatives at Dutch bank ABN Amro and overnight gains from US shares.


Blair reveals some games 'unsuitable' for kids That's why the law already bans their sale to minors, Tony...


Low rates boost housing: Single-family home sales reach 2nd <b>...</b> The state #39;s housing market continued to hit record levels last month as a dip in mortgage rates and improved inventories spurred many buyers to action, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.


REDS 2, CUBS 1, 12TH INNING Elusive Last Out in 9th Haunts Cubs <b>...</b> The silence was unearthly, as if 38,190 people were sitting in the Wrigley Field stands Wednesday afternoon bound and gagged. The Cubs are in a mad chase for the wild card


Pakistan Details Suicide Attacks Plot ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Aug. 22, 2004 - Security forces hunted for more terror suspects, officials said Sunday, as Pakistan revealed it has arrested a dozen al-Qaida-linked militants planning to launch simultaneous


Lazard cutbacks may precede IPO Report says investment bank plans job, pay cuts prior to a public offering valuing firm at \$3B. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bruce Wasserstein, head of investment bank Lazard, is planning a new round of job cuts and


Glazer ups stake in United LONDON: US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer has raised his stake in Manchester United Plc to 27.63 from 25.3, the Premier League club said yesterday, heightening speculation that he will bid for them.


Bank's investment unit names executive Bank of America Corp.'s investment arm, Columbia Management , named Christopher Wilson head of mutual funds, replacing Kevin Connaughton, who will continue to work for the company. Connaughton held the position in an interim capacity, a spokeswoman said. He moved over from FleetBoston Financial Corp. , where he was head of mutual funds, in the companies' April 1 merger. The ...


RNC Protesters Using Text Messages to Plan For protesters navigating Manhattan during the Republican National Convention, text-message broadcasting services like this, sent to their cell phones, provided an up-to-the-minute guide to the action on the streets.


Mello ousts Fish, gains quarters Delray Beach  After wondering out loud at times why he couldn #39;t get the ball over the net, Mardy Fish had little reaction the final time he hit one short.


More Leeds United Stories Sebastien Sainsbury is back in the running to take over Leeds just over a fortnight after being told by chairman Gerald Krasner his bid was dead in the water.


Visteon: Buy a Ford, get a \$1,000 bonus A ploy to help Ford Motor Co. #39;s Ford brand win a tight sales race against General Motors Corp. #39;s Chevrolet could cost financially strapped auto parts maker Visteon Corp.


Fuel Cost, Low Fares Felt at Northwest  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Northwest Airlines Corp. NWAC.O, the  No. 4 U.S. air carrier, posted a quarterly loss on Wednesday as  high fuel prices and low fares weighed on the industry.


NBA Wrap: Returning Trio Help Pistons End Skid  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chauncey Billups scored 21 points in  his return to the line-up as the host Detroit Pistons also  welcomed back coach Larry Brown and Ben Wallace with a 93-85  triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday.


Raich Wins Opening Men's World Cup Slalom  BEAVER CREEK, Colorado (Reuters) - Benjamin Raich won the  opening slalom of the men's World Cup season on Sunday after a  big mistake on the second leg relegated his Austrian team mate  and race leader Rainer Schoenfelder to third.


Hurricane Ivan Slams Gulf Coast; 23 Dead PENSACOLA, Fla. - Hurricane Ivan drilled the Gulf Coast on Thursday with 130-mph winds that inflicted far less damage than feared everywhere except Florida's Panhandle, where residents were left with surge-ravaged beachfronts, flooded streets and homes ripped apart by deadly tornadoes...


Virgin Mary Cheese Sandwich Bids on eBay (Nov. 17) -- The grilled cheese sandwich bearing the likeness of the Virgin Mary is back on ebay. A woman says she made the sandwich ten years ago.


Stocks Open Higher After Economic Growth Report Stock prices opened slightly higher today after the latest reading on U.S. gross domestic product.


UDA seeks part in Ulster talks BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND -- Northern Ireland #39;s largest and most violent outlawed group, the Ulster Defence Association, announced yesterday it will desist from further attacks and wants to rejoin peacemaking efforts.


Powell clarifies no change in US cross-strait policy after protests (AFP) AFP - Secretary of State Colin Powell clarified that US policy on China and Taiwan has not changed, in an apparent bid to assuage Taipei's concerns over remarks he made in a visit to Beijing.


Woods Eyes Fourth Title After Singh's Withdrawal  LONDON (Reuters) - Three-times winner Tiger Woods bids for  a third successive title at this week's WGC-American Express  Championship in Kilkenny, Ireland.


MLB Notes: Twins top Chisox, open 11 1/2 game lead Nearing a third straight division title, Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins aren #39;t short on motivation. Their rivals, the fading Chicago White Sox, gave them a little more.


Yahoo Pares Google Stake, Sells \$191M Yahoo Inc. said Friday it sold \$191 million in Google Inc. stock in that company's initial public offering, cashing out some of the 2.7 million shares Google gave Yahoo this month to settle two disputes.


IAEA: 380 tons of high explosives missing in Iraq WASHINGTON -- The head of the United Nations nuclear inspection arm told the UN Security Council on Monday that nearly 380 tons of high-grade explosives that could be used in nuclear bombs or terrorist weapons are missing from a storage facility in Iraq


Inflamed brain link to autism Scientists have produced compelling evidence that autism may in some cases be linked to inflammation of the brain.


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


Russia ratifies Kyoto Protocol MOSCOW - The Kyoto Protocol overcame its final legislative hurdle in Russia when the upper house of parliament ratified the global climate pact Wednesday and sent it on to President Vladimir Putin for his signature -etting the stage for the treaty


Microsoft, Intel team set to conquer US living rooms Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. are joining forces to conquer US living rooms and make further inroads into the coveted consumer electronics space.


Portugal #39;s prime minister announces government is quitting Portugal, already reeling from an alarming economic decline, plunged deeper into crisis Saturday when the conservative government quit a day after the president dissolved parliament and called an early general election.


Brazil Ruling Party Forced to Run-Off in Sao Paulo Brazil #39;s ruling Workers #39; Party (PT) held onto the mayoralty in at least three major cities in Sunday #39;s municipal vote but will face a tough run


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


Office Depot CEO, chairman resigns Office Depot Inc., the second largest US office supply chain, said Monday Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Nelson has resigned and a search for his successor is underway.


Turkish Parliament Fails to Pass Reforms ANKARA, Turkey Sept. 18, 2004 - Turkey #39;s parliament adjourned Saturday without passing a key reform package because of divisions over the government #39;s proposal to make adultery a crime, bringing warnings


US thwarted over Iran This latest IAEA resolution on Iran isn #39;t the result the United States wanted. Its own intense lobbying at successive IAEA Board of Governors meetings has consistently recommended that the


Passing Game Stalls The Redskins are still waiting for quarterback Mark Brunell to get into gear. Brunell on Sunday produced one of the least productive games of his 12-year NFL career.


Filing: Krispy Kreme auditor refuses to OK quarterly report Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. disclosed in a recent regulatory filing that its independent auditors have refused to sign off on the Winston-Salem company #39;s quarterly financial statement until an outside law firm performs additional work.


Threats trail man organizing Gaza withdrawal JERUSALEM -- The criticism from members of his own kibbutz marked the first sign of trouble for Yonatan Bassi. Then came the comparisons to Nazis and death threats.


NVIDIA SLI Performance Preview with MSI #39;s nForce4 SLI Motherboard The MSI motherboard we tested is actually the very first working sample of the K8N Neo4 Platinum/SLI; in fact, as of right now there are only 4 working nForce4 SLI samples at MSI in Taiwan, two of which happen to be in my hotel room.


Nigerian labor union to stage strike as negotiations collapse Negotiations between the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and the government over rising fuel prices collapsed on Friday, forcing the labor to begin its planned strikenext week with the first phase lasting four days.


Directors retreat from Reliance Six directors at Reliance Energy resign amid a growing family row over ownership of India's largest private company.


Blasts Kill 30 on Egypt-Israeli Border EILAT, Israel Oct. 7, 2004 - An explosion tore through a resort hotel in Egypt #39;s Sinai Peninsula, where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday Thursday night, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 160, officials said.


No keeping low profile SALT LAKE CITY -- The University of Utah football team still must wait another few weeks, but the time will be marked by anticipation rather than apprehension.


JP Morgan KOs \$5 Bln IBM Outsourcing Deal  NEW YORK (Reuters) - J.P. Morgan Chase   Co. JPM.N, said  on Wednesday it was scrapping a \$5 billion outsourcing deal  with IBM Corp.IBM.N, amid an overall plan to manage more of  its own technology services.


NEC delays notebook fuel cell launch NEC Corp. has succeeded in reducing the size of a prototype direct methanol fuel cell for use with notebook PCs but says it is unlikely to see commercialization until at least two years later than previously forecast.


Asteroid makes close pass An asteroid named after a Celtic god of war will this week make its closest journey past Earth for 651 years. The space rock known as Toutatis will come within 960,000 miles (about 1.5 million km) of Earth on Wednesday.


Canada calls for IMF to take hard look at yuan (AFP) AFP - Canada wants the International Monetary Fund to examine whether the Chinese yuan really is undervalued, giving it an unfair trade advantage, Trade Minister James Peterson said.


Instant Analysis: Ohio State at N #39;Western Then again, you don #39;t think about Mike Nugent missing a 40-yard field goal in overtime. And beyond that, you just don #39;t entertain any notion that Ohio State #39;s defense can get beaten consistently on third down.


World #39;s lightest flying micro-robot unveiled BEIJING, Aug.20(Xinhuanet) -- The world #39;s lightest flying micro-robot has been developed by Japan #39;s Seiko Epson Corporation.


Loss of Georgia Seat for Democrats Could Cost Senate (Reuters) Reuters - Democrats' hopes of retaining a Senate\seat in Georgia are fading fast and such a loss could deal a\fatal blow to the party's chances of regaining control of the\Senate.


Bovina captures Pilot Pen title New Haven, CT (Sports Network) - Seventh-seeded Elena Bovina defeated eighth- seeded Nathalie Dechy of France in three sets Saturday to win the championship at the \$585,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event -- a final US Open tune-up.


Government issues Indonesia travel warning TONY EASTLEY: As thousands of Australians prepare to fly out to Indonesia for their Christmas and New Year holidays, the Federal Government has issued a new quite specific warning about the risk of a terrorist attack there.


SEC #39;s hedge fund debate intense Nearly two years to the day after the most contentious hearing in memory, a divided Securities and Exchange Commission clashed Tuesday over a new rule requiring hedge funds to register with the SEC.


Pro tours: The stops and the talk LPGA Event: John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic Site: Cedar Ridge Country Club (6,545 yards, par 71), Broken Arrow, Okla. Schedule: Tomorrow-Sunday. Purse: \$1 million. Winner's share: \$150,000. Television: The Golf Channel (tomorrow, 4:30-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 4:30-7 p.m.). Last year: Karrie Webb won her lone 2003 title, a nine-stroke victory on the Tulsa Country Club course. Last week: Cristie Kerr won ...


Brunell Improving, but It #39;s  #39;Wait and See #39; At the start of yesterday #39;s practice, Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell jogged from sideline to sideline while throwing passes to Tim Hasselbeck about 10 yards away.


LEBANON NAILS ITS AL QAEDA RINGLEADER September 23, 2004 -- BEIRUT, Lebanon - The Lebanese government announced the arrest of the country #39;s top al Qaeda operative, and said yesterday he and another Lebanese suspect plotted homicide attacks on Western embassies and recruited insurgents to


Christopher  amp; Banks 2Q Earnings Fall Women #39;s apparel retailer Christopher  amp; Banks Corp. said Tuesday that second-quarter earnings fell 34 percent as it awaits the benefit of merchandise changes that are expected to help results later this year.


Bill Gates to Upgrade Fun In a revelation that should give late-night comedians two or three days #39; worth of snark fodder, the headlines this morning startled us with the news that the world #39;s


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


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


Nasa man  #39;faked safety checks #39; An ex-employee of the US space agency, Nasa, has pleaded not guilty to charges he falsified reports of safety checks on the space shuttle Discovery.


Geographic's "Greatest Portraits" Collected in New Book The photo editors of the new book In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits share their thoughts on what makes a great portrait and offer advice for aspiring photographers. Interview and photo gallery.


A Second-Chance Win Jason Campbell hits Courtney Taylor for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 to play and No. 14 Auburn gets two chances to kick the winning extra point in a 10-9 victory over No. 5 LSU on Saturday.


Poor weather hits Unilever sales Shares in Unilever fall after the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant issues a surprise profits warning.


Japan Rejects Bobby Fischer #39;s Appeal TOKYO Aug. 24, 2004 - Japan #39;s Justice Ministry on Tuesday rejected former chess champion Bobby Fischer #39;s demand for protection as a political refugee, issuing an order to deport him.


Ancient Animal Could Be Human-Ape Ancestor (AP) AP - A nearly 13 million-year-old ape discovered in Spain is the last probable common ancestor to all living humans and great apes, a research team says in Friday's issue of Science magazine.


Copernic Desktop Search Takes Aim at Microsoft  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Privately held Copernic  Technologies on Tuesday released free desktop search software  ahead of expected offerings from Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O and  others in a move some see as a test of the product's market  viability.


Grizzlies find Lakers perfect cure for 0-4 start MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After four opening losses, the Memphis Grizzlies were reeling and irritable. The intensity and fastbreak offense that led them to a franchise-record 50 wins and first playoff appearance last season were missing.


Red Sox Take Yankees Manny Ramirez hits in the tiebreaking run in the eighth, and the Red Sox win, 12-5, to cut the Yankees' lead in the AL East to 4 1/2 games.


Airbus Denies Backing Microsoft in EU Case (Reuters) Reuters - Aircraft maker Airbus \insisted on Thursday it had no intention of taking sides in a\Microsoft  anti-trust case, even though it filed a\brief in an EU court on the software giant's side.


Weisel settles charges San Francisco investment bank Thomas Weisel Partners on Thursday agreed to pay \$12.5 million to settle allegations that some of the stock research the bank published during the Internet boom was tainted by conflicts of interest.


Sharon says troops will stay in Gaza until rocket attacks on <b>...</b> Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged Sunday to escalate a broad Israeli offensive into northern Gaza, saying troops will remain in the area until Palestinian rocket attacks are halted.


Pedro poised for his big decision The clock kept ticking on the Pedro Martinez stats, news-Red Sox stats, schedule negotiations last night, with all signs pointing to the ace hurler making up his


Eisner #39;s challenge in court is to field tough questions Walt Disney Co. chief executive Michael Eisner acknowledged Monday that he and former company President Michael Ovitz were good friends.


Mad Muppets top cult science poll Dr Bunsen Honeydew and his indestructible lab assistant, Beaker, are the UK's favourite TV boffins.


What Neil   Buzz Left on the Moon A cutting-edge Apollo 11 science experiment left behind in the Sea of Tranquility is still running today.


Nationwide predicts house price freeze House prices across the UK will come to a virtual standstill in 2005, the Nationwide Building Society predicted today. The lender said that property prices in Britain look set to rise by just 2 across the year, compared to a rise of 13 in 2004.


Lineup Shifts Pay Off Brian McBride and 20-year-old Eddie Johnson strike for goals on Saturday night to secure the U.S. national team a hard-fought, 2-0 win over host El Salvador.


US, Iraqi forces press raids south of Baghdad BAGHDAD - Thousands of US troops and Iraqi forces pursued a campaign of raids on suspected guerrilla bases in Sunni Muslim towns and villages south of Baghdad on Wednesday, the US military said.


Lastminute.com Says Profit to Be at Low End of Range (Update1) Lastminute.com Plc, an unprofitable UK travel company, expects profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to be at the lower end of its forecast in fiscal 2005 as the company struggles to cut costs.


Sharon, Arafat Defy Demands From Backers JERUSALEM Aug. 19, 2004 - Embattled leaders Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat rebuffed demands from their backers Thursday, holding steadfast to positions posing great political risk: Sharon insisted he will


Knicks 110, Hawks 109, OT Jamal Crawford #39;s 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left in overtime lifted the New York Knicks to a 110-109 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.


FSU #39;s Thorpe gets one-game suspension Tallahassee, FL (Sports Network) - Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden has suspended senior wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe for the Seminoles #39; game against fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Duke on Saturday.


Israel Agrees to Free Jailed Palestinians Israel agreed on Sunday to free up to 200 Palestinian prisoners to show goodwill after Egypt freed a convicted Israeli spy and ahead of elections for Yasser Arafat #39;s successor, officials said.


Yukos tax bill may hit \$17 billion The Kremlin is hitting the Yukos Oil Corp. with huge new tax claims that will total \$17 billion, the Moscow Times reported late Monday.


Chirac Rival Sarkozy Gets French Party Boost (Reuters) Reuters - French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy\took over the ruling conservative party Sunday at a glitzy\American-style congress that put him on course to launch a\presidential bid and possibly challenge Jacques Chirac.


YEARENDER: Phelps Shines Brightest on Biggest Stage  SYDNEY (Reuters) - It is lucky for Michael Phelps that he  is blessed with broad shoulders and an arm span like the wings  on a jumbo jet. Not only does it enable him to swim like a fish  but it also helps him to carry the burden of his own great  expectations.


Genius solves \$1m mystery ONE of the seven great unsolved mysteries of mathematics may have been cracked by a reclusive Russian who has no interest in the million dollar prize his solution could win him.


"Monday Night Football" Ratings Down (AP) AP - Green Bay's win over Carolina in the first game of the season on ABC's "Monday Night Football," was the second-most watched prime-time show of the week, trailing only NBC's debut episode of the "Friends" spinoff "Joey."


Wheeling-Pitt closes stock offering Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corp. raised net proceeds of roughly \$100 million through a share sale completed this week, the company said. Wheeling-Pittsburgh, a steel maker, sold 3.65 million shares of common stock at \$29 each.


India set sights on victory Kolkata - South Africa were bowled out for 222 after 72 minutes of play on the final day to set a 117-run target for India to win the second and final Test here on Thursday.


Through a Yankee Fan's Expectant Eyes, the World Turns Upside Down There was a breakdown in the cosmic order Wednesday night. At least that's how it felt to Yankees fans.


Dream in the tank ATHENSIt was like a funeral. One by one they came to pay their respects to Alexandre Despatie, widower of an Olympic dream to which he #39;d been married since childhood.


UN Declines to Train Iraqis for Saddam Trial  UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations has rejected  a request from Iraqi leaders to train some 30 judges and  prosecutors who would be trying former President Saddam  Hussein, in part because Baghdad has the death penalty, a U.N.  spokesman said on Friday.


Firms Push to Ease Tough Federal Scrutiny Two-and-a-half years after Congress passed the most sweeping corporate reforms since the Great Depression, trade groups are maneuvering to revise them, arguing that they are too expensive, too time-consuming and too much trouble for small businesses.


Banned Sprinter Chambers Trys Football (AP) AP - Dwain Chambers will be studying pass patterns and playbooks instead of competing against the world's top sprinters in the Olympics this weekend.


Israeli ministers approve pullout fund (updated AM 00:41) Israel #39;s security Cabinet approved a budget of US\$550 million to US\$670 million on Tuesday to compensate thousands of Jewish settlers set to be removed from occupied Gaza and parts of the West Bank.


PeopleSoft prepares for questions at Connect show PeopleSoft Inc. will kick off its Connect user show on Tuesday determined to focus attendees' attention on its progress in the past year and product plans for the coming one -- and away from the Jaws-like specter of Oracle Corp.


Computer Associates to pay fine to DoJ The US Justice Department will defer prosecution of Computer Associates in its long-running probe of accounting fraud at the software maker, a source close to the company said.


Motorola to shed 1,000 jobs Telecoms equipment maker Motorola said that it is cutting 1,000 positions globally as it completes the spin-off of its former chip unit, now known as Freescale Semiconductor.


Cardinals keep on cruising despite average starting pitching ST. LOUIS -- Good starting pitching, to the marauding Cardinals of St. Louis, is not much more than an afterthought these days. It #39;s nice to have.


Cowboys Ride J. Jones Other running backs were ranked higher than Julius Jones in last April's draft and the Cowboys took heat for trading down and taking him. Now, minds are changing.


Fallujah Delegates Await  quot;The Call quot; to Resume Talks Fallujah negotiators are awaiting the call from Baghdad to resume talks with the interim government to avert an all-out US assault and allow Iraqi security forces to take charge of security in the rebel-held city, a negotiator said today.


Red Hat To Get Netscape Security Assets for \$25 Million Leading open source vendor Red Hat said it will acquire certain security-related assets of Netscape Security Solutions from America Online for US\$25 million.


UN sends nuclear inspectors to S. Korea SEOUL, South Korea -- The United Nations nuclear watchdog will send a group of inspectors to South Korea this week to help it complete a report in November on Seoul #39;s secret past nuclear experiments, a South Korean official said Sunday.


Buckeyes give Marshall boot COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mike Nugent's 55-yard field goal as time expired gave ninth-ranked Ohio State a 24-21 victory over Marshall yesterday.


Newcastle #39;s stand-ins prove to be line perfect STEVE McCLAREN returned to Spain for the second time in little more than a week and, although there was no recurrence of the Neanderthal noises that marred Englands defeat in Madrid, he was again made to endure a substandard performance from one of his


Microsoft Schedules Second Longhorn Event (PC World) PC World - Conference will allow developers to examine, discuss the successor to Windows XP.


Former Princess Diana Bodyguard Disproves Claim The late Princess Dianas former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, dismisses her suspicions that one of her lovers was bumped off. Princess Diana had an affair with Barry Mannakee, a policeman who was assigned to protect her.


iTunes Downloads Hit 150-Million Mark Apple #39;s iTunes music-download service sold its 150 millionth song on Thursday. The service, launched in April 2003, now is selling more than 4 million tracks a week, Apple says.


Time Warner signs deal to allow Comcast reduce stake in cable unit NEW YORK, September 27 (newratings.com) - Time Warner Inc (TWX.NYS) has reached an agreement with Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) that allows Comcast to reduce its interest in Time Warner Cable.


Edward C. Baig: Personal Tech - Family tree research can be addictive fun (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - Family tree research can be addictive fun. With my long-lost relative's assistance, help from closer kin and the latest version of Family Tree Maker software, I've been identifying the branches of a Baig family tree.


Accused bomber made enemy out of witness he allegedly stole from, taunted (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - VANCOUVER (CP) - A man's claims of constant taunting by a relentless loan shark chipping away at his family's savings set him on a fiery revenge path to tell police damning stories about Ripudaman Singh Malik, implicating Malik in the Air India bombing, a defence lawyer argued.


Columnists: Academia Headaches Academic institutions who have to add, manage, and secure thousands of new users within a period of just a few days face political and social issues on top of the immense technical ones.


Sources: Body of Briton Bigley Dumped Near Baghdad (Reuters) Reuters - The body of British engineer Kenneth\Bigley, killed by his kidnappers last week after three weeks in\captivity, was dumped just south of Baghdad Friday, sources\close to the insurgency said Tuesday.


Owen scores again Michael Owen scored the winner for Real Madrid yesterday to notch his first league goal for the Spanish club. Owen opened his account for Real in the Champions League in midweek when he scored the only goal


Venture capitalists -- Boston's lure for start-ups Boston isn't the cheapest place to do business. Living and housing costs are steep. And you can't play golf year round.


IBM Halts Pension Plan for New Hires (Reuters) Reuters - IBM  will offer future\employees a 401(k) pension plan instead of a fixed pension, the\company said on Thursday, backing away from a controversial\policy that reduced retirement payouts and stirred employee\ire.


Musharraf asks India to act on Kashmir NEW YORK India and Pakistan must tackle their decadeslong dispute over Kashmir  quot;head-on quot; and come up with new plans to finally resolve it, according to President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.


Microsoft, EU give final arguments on remedy suspension LUXEMBOURG -- The war of words over Microsoft Corp.'s business practices continued at a Luxembourg court on Friday with the its opponents arguing that unless the company offers a version its operating system without Windows Media Player, Microsoft will extend its quasi-monopoly in the PC market over the digital media sector.


Russia opposes veto powers for India NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed his opposition to veto powers for India or any other country seeking to become member of a revamped UN Security Council.


Intel's Pentium M finally attracting U.S. consumers Mobile chip makes inroads as prices drop and Intel de-emphasizes clock speed.


PluggedIn: the OQO Is Not Just Another Handheld Device  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A full-fledged Windows XP  computer that's a fraction of the size of a laptop seems like  the answer to the digerati's prayers, but the praise greeting  the OQO Model 01 has been decidedly muted.


Major Leaguers Take 3-0 Lead in Japan (AP) AP - The Japanese won the pregame home run derby. Then the game started and the major league All-Stars put their bats to work. Back-to-back home runs by Moises Alou and Vernon Wells in the fourth inning and by Johnny Estrada and Brad Wilkerson in the ninth powered the major leaguers past the Japanese stars 7-3 Sunday for a 3-0 lead in the eight-game series.


Guinea-Bissau troops in barracks, talks to resume Dissident troops who killed two army chiefs and seized key buildings in Guinea-Bissau #39;s capital told soldiers to stay in their barracks on Thursday while talks to resolve the standoff continued.


Before the Bell: Genentech, ImClone Rise  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Genentech Inc. DNA.N, OSI  Pharmaceuticals Inc. OSIP.O and ImClone Systems Inc. IMCL.O  surged before the bell on Friday after rival AstraZeneca Plc  AZN.L said its lung cancer drug Iressa failed to show  survival benefits in a major clinical study.


A slugger #39;s paradise The offenses of the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox will no doubt keep scoreboard operators busy at Fenway Park for the first two games of the World Series.


Suicide Bomber Kills Three in Tel Aviv A 16-year-old Palestinian blew himself up in a crowded outdoor market in central Tel Aviv on Monday, killing three Israelis and wounding 32 in the first such attack


Romanian presidential election too close to call BUCHAREST - The presidential election in Romania is too close to call. Both candidates are claiming victory after exit polls showed a virtual dead heat.


U.S. Brokers Cease-fire in Western Afghanistan  KABUL (Reuters) - The United States has brokered a  cease-fire between a renegade Afghan militia leader and the  embattled governor of the western province of Herat,  Washington's envoy to Kabul said Tuesday.  "Our expectation is that the agreement that has been made will  be honored," said ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, adding that the  cease-fire was due to take effect at 4 p.m.


Terps Come Out 'Flat' The Terps have lost games this season because of offensive futility, turnovers or a late-game controversial call, but never in a passionless fashion, as Ralph Friedgen categorized Saturday's game.


Little stands in Eagles #39; way IRVING, Texas  Greg Ellis stood eyeball to eyeball with Donovan McNabb, frozen in place, unable to do what he had always been trained to do.


One last mile to go before they sweep Pedro Martinez dazzles for seven as Boston takes a seemingly safe three games to none lead. By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer. ST.


More BA flights canceled More British Airways flights were canceled Wednesday after thousands were stranded by canceled flights at London #39;s Heathrow Airport because of staff shortages at the airline.


Colorado State 'Boots' Wyoming 30-7 (AP) AP - Jimmy Green helped Colorado State win back the coveted Bronze Boot, running for 124 yards and a touchdown Friday night in a 30-7 victory over archrival Wyoming.


UK takes lead role in stem cell research POTTERS BAR, England At the end of a winding country road lined with hedgerows and tidy brick homes sits a new prefabricated building chock-full of monitors and filters.


Visteon Posts \$1.36 Bln Loss on Charges  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Visteon Corp. VC.N, the No. 2 U.S.  auto parts maker, on Thursday posted a wider quarterly net loss  of \$1.36 billion, citing charges, and said it expects rising  material surcharges and its high cost structure to hurt results  for the rest of the year.


Midland #39;s 3Q Is Slammed by Hurricane Losses Midland Co. on Thursday said third-quarter profits fell by almost half as the specialty insurer sustained heavy claims losses from the hurricanes that swept through the Southeast during the summer.


Seven killed on Saddam anniversary At least seven people have been killed and 17 wounded in a suicide car bomb attack in Baghdad, a year to the day since Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces.


Google to Scan Books From Big Libraries (AP) AP - Stacks of hard-to-find books are being scanned into Google Inc.'s widely used Internet search engine in its attempt to establish a massive online reading room for five major libraries.


Darwin #39;s expulsion sparks protests BELGRADE - Serbia #39;s Education Minister was ridiculed in cartoons and pelted with resignation demands on Thursday for ejecting Darwin from school classrooms in favour of Old Testament  #39;creationism #39;.


Computing pioneers get historical nod Spreadsheet pioneer Dan Bricklin is among the computing innovators honored by the Computer History Museum.


IT Worker Confidence Takes a Dip IT worker confidence declined in September after several months of increases, but it remains high relative to the confidence of workers in other industries.


News: DIY phishing kits hit the Net Do-it-yourself phishing kits are being made available for download free of charge from the Internet, according to anti-virus firm Sophos.\


Coming to a college near you: Services science? SAN FRANCISCO - More than40 years after Purdue University established the first department of computer science in the U.S., a whole new field of study is about to emerge in colleges and universities throughout the country, according to a researcher at IBM Corp.'s Almaden Research Center, who believes that students could begin to receive doctorate degrees in the field of "services sciences" in 10 years time.


Secret Service busts online ID fraud ring In an investigation that led from online forums to a passport-forging facility in Bulgaria, law enforcement officials arrested in the last 48 hours suspects from eight states and six foreign countries on charges of identity theft, computer fraud, credit


High hopes for Cassini #39;s Titan flyby The Cassini mission is set to reveal the first close view of Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan. At 1744 BST on Tuesday, the spacecraft will skim within 1200 kilometres of the moon - close enough for radar to penetrate


Hong Kong textile group targets further growth after buying Guy Laroche (AFP) AFP - The Hong Kong company that bought global label Guy Laroche last week says it plans to use the prestigious French brand to spearhead its push into the yet untapped fashion riches of China.


Gates', Ballmer's pay holding around \$900,000 Paychecks stay the same for the top two, but compensation changes for other Microsoft workers as stock grants replace options.\


ESPN STAR challenges BCCI telecast decision in HC New Delhi, Sep 7. (UNI): After losing out in the high-stake telecasting rights battle on Sunday, ESPN STAR Sports on Monday said it had challenged in the Bombay High Court the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to award


Canada's Rain Forest Wolves a Link to Past As they have for millennia, wolves reign supreme in the temperate rain forest that drapes the inland fjords and islands of northwest British Columbia.


Free credit reports to bear ads Ordered by Congress to give consumers free access to their own credit reports once a year, the nation's three largest credit bureaus are turning that requirement into a marketing opportunity.


Now, Google changes rules of international game Despite Wall Streets carping in recent weeks and having landed in trouble (for failing to register as many as \$3 billion worth of shares), Googles young founders have landed on their feet.


Vikings' Losses Echo Last Season's Woes (AP) AP - After starting 5-1, the Minnesota Vikings have lost two straight, a scary portent for a team that won its first six a year ago, then lost seven of its last 10.


Report Says Air Force's Space Programs Improved  The Air Force's management of its space programs has improved during the past year but some systems, including an early warning missile contract, will continue to need special attention, according to an advisory panel review released yesterday.


Westmoreland agrees to NC deal Colorado Springs-based Westmoreland Coal Co. (AMEX: WLB) will buy LG amp;E Energy #39;s 50 percent stake in a North Carolina power project for \$125 million.


No problem is found after bomb alert on jet LONDON A police search found no threat to a Greek airliner that was forced to make an emergency landing in Britain after a bomb alert, officers said Monday.


Spitzer readies new insurance suit New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is preparing to file his second civil suit against an insurance broker, San Diego, Calif.


Refreshing Drinks of Fresh Air An army needs water to operate, but it's a pain to tote the stuff around. So Darpa is looking at ways to pull it out of thin air. By Noah Shachtman.


Bush Health Savings Accounts Slow to Gain Acceptance So far employers and their workers have been slow to accept health savings accounts as an alternative to conventional health insurance.


Hitachi, Matsushita, Toshiba to form LCD venture Three of Japan #39;s largest electronics companies, Hitachi Ltd., Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., have reached a basic agreement to create a joint venture to manufacture and sell LCD


Rescuers search for Sinai blasts survivors TABA: Rescue workers sifted through the wreckage of an Egyptian Red Sea hotel yesterday, hoping to find survivors after a series of three bombs targeting Israeli tourists in the Sinai Peninsula killed at least 33 people.


Microsoft, Others File More Anti-Spam Lawsuits  SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O and other  Internet access providers filed three new lawsuits on Thursday  to stop the spread of unsolicited e-mail messages touting  everything from home refinancing to miracle health cures.


UPDATE1 -RadioShack, Wal-Mart unit form wireless venture RadioShack Corp. (RSH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , looking to expand its sales pool, on Monday said it would take over the operation of cell phone kiosks at 542 Sam #39;s Club stores


Zombie Wideboy When Wideload Games - set up by Bungie founder Alexander Seropian - made themselves known, all they revealed was that they are working on a  quot;wildly innovative game quot; using the Halo engine.


Half-Life 2 set for mid-November The sequel to one of the most lauded computer games ever, Half-Life 2, is to go on sale in mid-November.


Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP) AP - As of Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, 1,055 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 801 died as a result of hostile action and 254 died of non-hostile causes. The figures include three military civilians.


Entrepreneurial Success via the Internet It took the death of his business partner at 21 for Josh Mohrer to get serious about trying to make their fledgling internet business a success.


Update 1: Nigerian Union Suspends Looming Strike Nigeria #39;s main labor union on Monday indefinitely suspended a looming nationwide strike that had threatened to shut down the oil industry in the world #39;s No.


Illegal migrants' Social Security payments out of reach MEXICO CITY -- For the 14 years he worked as an undocumented migrant in the United States, Carmelo Rivera saw up to \$30 deducted each week from the \$300 to \$500 he earned as a vineyard worker. The deductions were supposed to pay for his retirement.


Increased Tumor Risk for Mobile Phone Users  quot;For years, scientists have been trying, without success, to find a link between higher incidences of cancer and the electromagnetic fields produced high voltage power lines.


A Simpler Conversion (The Motley Fool) The Motley Fool - In 2005, a little-known change in the tax law will let more people, primarily older and wealthier retirees, take advantage of moving funds from their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.


Los Angeles at San Diego, 10:05 PM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Padres look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive Thursday by completing a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Earnings alert: Salesforce quarterly revenue rises Plus: Write-downs widen DirecTV's loss...Time Warner net income slips...Cell phone unit shores up Verizon.


Mortar Barrage Kills 27 in Kufa Mosque KUFA, Iraq - A mortar barrage slammed into a mosque filled with Iraqis preparing to march on the embattled city of Najaf, killing 27 people and wounding 63 Thursday, while the nation's top Shiite cleric headed to the area in a massive convoy hoping to end three weeks of fighting.    Hours later, unidentified gunmen opened fire from an Iraqi National Guard base on thousands of Shiite Muslim marchers heading to Najaf, killing at least three and wounding 46, witnesses said...


FCC Rebukes ABC Michael Powell, chairman of the FCC, said Wednesday he was disappointed with ABC for airing a sexually suggestive opening to "Monday Night Football."


Astros Lead Braves Jeff Bagwell and Raul Chavez homered, and the Houston Astros took a 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves heading into the fourth inning Thursday, as Houston moved a step closer to winning a playoff series for the first time.


Worldwide mobile phone market posts healthy gains Worldwide mobile phone sales exceeded 156.4 million units in the second quarter of 2004, a 35 percent increase over the second quarter of 2003, according to a report released this week by Gartner Inc.


Vodafone interim profits dip, dividend hiked (AFP) AFP - British mobile telephone giant Vodafone reported a two percent fall in half-year underlying profits as the group added 7.4 million new customers.


Arsenal matches record of 42 league games without a loss Defending champion Arsenal matched a 25-year-old record of 42 league games without a loss in the top tier of English soccer by rallying past Middlesbrough 5-3 Sunday.


Verizon deal lets Philadelphia move ahead with wireless plan The city of Philadelphia has reached an agreement with Verizon Communications that will let the municipal government deploy a citywide Wi-Fi network, but a carrier-backed bill that would let incumbent carriers block such projects has been signed into law by Pennsylvania's governor.


For planners, procrastinators alike There are those who finish their holiday shopping by Thanksgiving. Then there are the rest of us. Here's a holiday gift guide for both planners and procrastinators.


#39;ROIDS ALL THE RAGE AT UNION #39;S CONFAB Normally, the Major League Baseball Players Association #39;s executive board meetings gather about as much attention as a Brewer-Pirate game.


TV patent suit against Microsoft will proceed SAN FRANCISCO - A California judge has denied three motions for summary judgement in a patent infringement case filed by TV Interactive Data Corp. (TVI) against Microsoft Corp., meaning the case will proceed to trial.


Nigerian rebels in talks down unless the government began talks on autonomy and revenue for the oil-producing Niger Delta region. Militia leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari agreed to a truce on Wednesday to allow talks to proceed.


THE BIG HEAT Levels of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, have risen alarmingly over the past two years,. Experts fear this will lead to catastrophic changes in the climate far sooner than previously predicted.


Media General expects fourth, full-year earns to top expectations Media General Inc. said Tuesday it expects fourth-quarter and full-year earnings to exceed Wall Street estimates, primarily due to the robust performance of its broadcast division.


UN pressed on Darfur sanctions The UN Security Council must impose sanctions on the Sudanese officials and pro-government Arab militia behind ethnic cleansing in Sudan #39;s Darfur region, a human rights group and aid agencies said Monday.


UMass Arrests 35 After Game 6 of ALCS (AP) AP - University of Massachusetts police arrested 35 people early Wednesday morning after the Red Sox tied the Yankees in the sixth game of the American League Championship Series.


Virgin Blue Increases Surcharge as Fuel Prices Soar (Update1) Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd., Australia #39;s second-biggest airline, increased a surcharge on all tickets as the cost of jet fuel soars.


UPDATE 3-Alcoa warns EPS to miss forecasts; shares drop Alcoa Inc. (AA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest aluminum producer, on Thursday warned that third-quarter results would fall far short of


India eye victory India resume the fifth and final day of the second Test against Australia in Chennai from the score of 19 for no loss. The hosts need another 210 runs to win the Test and square the four-match series 1-1.


Rivals Join To Develop Hybrid-Car Technology General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG are throwing their combined weight behind a new hybrid technology for cars and trucks, setting the stage for what had been a niche product to spread to the mainstream for American consumers.


Nitties grabs one-stroke lead in Australian PGA Rookie professional James Nitties fired a two-under-par 70 on Saturday to snatch a one-stroke lead ahead of American Bob Estes after the third round of the Australian PGA Championship.


Bears #39; loss could be gross, man MINNEAPOLIS -- The sight of Rex Grossman leaving the Metrodome turf on a cart was bad enough for the Bears #39; faithful. Seeing his family upset outside the team #39;s locker room was more telling.


Samsung streams on Sprint with MM-A700 Samsung #39;s latest phone offers streaming video and audio, including from major old media companies, along with a megapixel camera.


Weekend in Review: Spurs know how, why they were built SEATTLE -- For years, it has been all about Tim Duncan and the revolving door of the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio #39;s depth now allows them to win, even when up-and-comer Tony Parker can #39;t get the job done.


Siemens wins 2.7-bln-euro services contract from BBC German electronics giant Siemens said that its Siemens Business Services unit had signed a 2.7-billion-euro (3.3-billion-dollar) contract to supply technology services to the British Broadcasting Corporation.


Zee rejects plan for fresh bids, demands rights for \$260m MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 14: Zee TV has refused to accept the Bombay High Courts suggestion to call for fresh bids for cricket telecast rights, setting the stage for a legal battle.


Chiefs Beat Ravens 27-24 for First Win BALTIMORE - Winless no more, the Kansas City Chiefs rendered the Baltimore Ravens defenseless with an almost unimaginable display of ball control and patience. Priest Holmes ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and the Chiefs wore down the highly touted Baltimore defense in a 27-24 victory Monday night...


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


Colts' Manning Sets NFL Passing Record (AP) AP - Peyton Manning set yet another NFL passing record Sunday, finishing the season with a rating of 121.1, more than eight points better than Steve Young's previous mark.


Oracle Talked of Lowering PeopleSoft Bid (Reuters) Reuters - Oracle Corp.  Chief\Executive Larry Ellison said on Friday his company has talked\about revising its current  #36;21-per-share offer to buy rival\PeopleSoft Inc. , although it has focused more on\lowering the bid instead of raising it.


Stottlemyre returns for one more Mel Stottlemyre announced his retirement on Wednesday, but that retirement won #39;t begin for another 11 or 12 months. The long-time Yankees pitching coach will return for


Stocks Inch Up After Durable Goods Report  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose modestly on Friday  after data showed durable goods orders for August, excluding  transportation orders, beat analysts' estimates, but oil prices  worried investors.


Tech Firms Seek to Soften Proposed Anti-Piracy Bill By ALEX VEIGA    LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Internet service providers and other technology firms are proposing to soften a bill in Congress that they claim will make them targets of frivolous entertainment industry copyright lawsuits.    The group, which includes Verizon Communications Inc., SBC Communications Inc...


Crude oil pushes past \$50 a barrel The price of crude oil surged above \$50 a barrel in after-hours trading yesterday, raising fears of an economic slowdown and higher prices at the gas pump.


Straw lays wreath at Arafat #39;s grave Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has laid a wreath at Yasser Arafat #39;s grave during a West Bank visit for talks on how to revive peacemaking with Israel after the Palestinian leader #39;s death.


ArvinMeritor posts \$153 million loss in quarter after unit sale Auto supplier #39;s shares rise after it says it will sell more companies that aren #39;t market leaders. By Jeff Green and Jeff Bennett / Bloomberg News.


US Economy Recovery slows, leading indicators drop NEW YORK (AP) - Offering more evidence that the US economic recovery is losing steam, a closely watched gauge of future business activity has fallen for the second consecutive month.


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


NCAA Game Summary - Wake Forest vs. Providence Wake improved to 6-1 in the Preseason NIT...The Demon Deacons beat George Washington on Monday in its first game as the No. 1 team...This was the first- ever meeting between the two schools. New York, NY (Sports


Weingartner, Washington fall in Seoul Seoul, Korea (Sports Network) - Third-seeded German Marlene Weingartner and fourth-seeded American Mashona Washington were a pair of opening-round upset victims Monday at the inaugural Korea Open Tennis Championships.


Phone Makers Turn On Mobile TV (PC World) PC World - Five companies are teaming up to deliver broadcast programming to wireless handsets.


Microsoft guts Longhorn However, because it is coming out earlier, Longhorn will be trimmed of some of the more innovative stuff that has been seen in earlier builds.


Chilean judge to question Pinochet SANTIAGO - A judge is to question former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet early next week about political killings during his iron-fisted rule, court sources said Tuesday.


SIA: Chip sales to hit record, flatten Semiconductor sales will reach \$214 billion this year, a new record high. But next year will be about the same.


The Music Mess: Advantage, Microsoft Imagine buying a CD at Best Buy (BBY ) only to discover that it won #39;t work on the CD player you bought at Circuit City (CC ). Absurd as it sounds, this sort of situation is the rule rather than the exception in the world of legally downloaded music.


Americans in Kabul Warned after Bombing The US embassy in Kabul is advising Americans in the Afghan capital to restrict their movements after a deadly car bomb late Sunday killed about a dozen people outside the offices of a US security company.


Trend Micro Gives Away Mobile Antivirus App Experts say viruses don't pose a serious risk to handheld devices--yet.


One American left as Ward boxes into final round  quot;I wanted him to stay outside, quot; US boxing coach Basheer Abdullah would say later,  quot;and use his speed. quot;. But when it mattered most Friday night - in the closing seconds of the Olympic light-heavyweight


Rossi named new Atalanta coach Serie A strugglers Atalanta have named Delio Rossi as their new coach, the club announced on its website on Tuesday. Rossi, the 44-year-old who previously coached Salerno and Lecce in Italy #39;s top-flight, replaces Andrea Mandorlini.


Cell Phones Do Broadband If waiting for e-mail to download onto your cell phone drives you nuts, try dialing in with one of the new devices available that tap into a speedier, next-generation network.


Tech Sector's Mixed Signals The pink slips are flying into mailboxes and jobs are flying out of the country. But there are signs that give reason for some optimism in the tech sector. -washingtonpost.com


State Compensation Insurance Fund Files an Average 5 Rate <b>...</b> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- State Compensation Insurance Fund today announced it has filed with the Department of Insurance an average rate decrease of 5 percent on new and renewal workers #39; compensation


Serena Blasts Umpire After Dramatic Defeat Bitter, angry, upset and cheated were a few of the words Serena Williams used to describe her feelings after a controversial quarter-final defeat by fellow American Jennifer Capriati at the US Open on Tuesday.


IRS Reveals Less Cheating by Businesses, Its Data Show The push by the commissioner of Internal Revenue for quick completion of audits of big corporations - a move criticized by many longtime agency auditors - has led to a sharp drop in the


Rams Hold Another Physical Workout (AP) AP - It worked for the St. Louis Rams last week, so Wednesday was another good day for full-contact scrimmaging.


Nokia delivers 3G network expansion to MTC in Bahrain (AFP) AFP - Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, said it would provide telecom network equipment to MTC in Bahrain with the aim of rolling out third generation 3G mobile services across the Gulf state by the end of 2004.


Putin vows Russian weapons boost President Putin promises Russia pioneering new weaponry - amid continuing crisis in the armed forces.


Was Bush Wired? Ridiculous, Campaign Says CHANHASSEN, Minn. - Campaign aides to President Bush on Saturday laughed off rampant Internet speculation about whether the president was wired to get help from advisers during his first debate with Sen...


China #39;s Hu takes Army reins Sunday #39;s departure of Jiang Zemin as head of China #39;s military was a surprise, though rumors of a power struggle with


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


Phishers Adopt Scam Tricks From Virus Writers Dangerous new ways to try to steal your money are in progress.


Factories Bright Spot Amid Output Growth  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. industrial production growth  nearly stalled last month as cool weather led to a drop in  electrical output, which obscured a strong performance at  factories, a Federal Reserve report showed on Wednesday.


Antiterrorism device inspired by near miss LEXINGTON -- Michael Y. Lu and Jonathan Morrone, two Boston area businessmen, planned a meeting at the World Trade Center in New York on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. But Morrone had a last-minute scheduling change, and they both missed the appointment.


Apple Expo: Apple intros 17-, 20-inch G5 iMac Apple #39;s senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, took a cue from his boss, CEO Steve Jobs, as he unveiled one more thing at the end of his keynote to kick off this week #39;s Apple Expo in Paris: a G5 iMac that includes the entire system


Women Make Small Inroads in Game Industry Jennifer Canada knew she was entering a boy's club when she enrolled in Southern Methodist University's Guildhall school of video game making.


Colts Thrive in Grueling Four-Game Stretch (AP) AP - Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Montae Reagor could feel the weariness long before Thursday's game at Detroit. The constant hits, the barrage of meetings, the quick pivots from game plan to game plan had already worn down his body and mind.


Linux group aims for Google-like search KDE developers are crafting a search engine for the desktop, but don't look for it just yet.


Concorde crash  #39;due to US firm #39; A French legal inquiry into the July 2000 Concorde crash near Paris has placed much of the blame on the American carrier, Continental Airlines.


Macy #39;s name to supplant Burdines Synonymous with Florida retailing for 106 years, the Burdines name will be retired by the end of January. By MARK ALBRIGHT, Times Staff Writer.


Looking beyond the K-word Here we go again! First, remarks made by Pervez Musharraf over a mouthful of Iftaar goodies are touted as a blueprint for peace and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gives it legitimacy by rejecting it.


Fossil discovery rewrites human history The scientific world has just been given an amazing new insight into the complexities of human evolution. A team of Indonesian and Australian scientists has discovered fossils of a new human


Badgers just happy to go  #39;one-and-oh #39; The cheers swept over Camp Randall Stadium with 8:13 remaining in the second quarter of Saturday #39;s game -- and the applause had absolutely nothing to do with Wisconsin #39;s growing lead over Minnesota.


Ukraine Sees Fresh Rallies After Parliament Vote (Reuters) Reuters - Opposition supporters rallied anew on the\streets of the Ukrainian capital on Sunday, boosted by a\parliamentary vote declaring invalid a disputed presidential\poll handing victory to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.


FTC Sues Spyware Suspects Federal authorities have asked a federal judge to shut down an operation that they said installed intrusive "spyware" on people's computers and then sold anti-spyware software to those same victims, a top consumer protection official said today. -washingtonpost.com


Acclaim Goes Down Like a Hooker With Rent Bills Acclaim Entertainment, the maker of such popular 1990s video games as Mortal Kombat and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and once one of Long Island #39;s largest public companies, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy


Oil Above  #36;49 on Nigeria, G7 Worries (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices held steady above  #36;49 on\Friday as market unease persisted over supply security in


IBM: Do We Have a Deal? Speculation spreads that China's biggest computer maker will buy IBM's PC business. Also:  Clinton attends launch of Chinese search engine powered by AI   hellip;.  A new DVD can play on old and new HD technology   hellip;. and more.


India's most wanted bandit killed in jungle shootout after a 30-year run (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - MADRAS, India (AP) - India's most wanted bandit, accused of murdering police officers, slaughtering elephants and kidnapping a movie star, was killed Monday in a jungle shootout with police after more than three decades on the run, authorities said.


Pedro to Emerge From Schilling's Shadow (AP) AP - For all his Cy Young Awards, for all his October theatrics, Pedro Martinez has become almost an afterthought for the Boston Red Sox during this year's postseason surge.


'Alternative Nobels' Awarded in Sweden The winners of this year's Right Livelihood Awards - dubbed the "alternative Nobels" - received their prizes Thursday from Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in a ceremony at parliament.


Marsh  amp; McLennan plummets as market run scared SHARES in Marsh  amp; McLennan plunged a further 10 per cent yesterday, taking their total fall to 47 per cent since the insurance broker took centre-stage in an inquiry by the New York attorney-general into market manipulation.


Video: Purported U.S. Hostage Beheaded BAGHDAD, Iraq - The militant group lead by al-Qaida ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi posted a gruesome video on a Web site Monday showing the decapitation of a man identified as American civil engineer Eugene Armstrong and said a second hostage - either an American or a Briton - would be killed in 24 hours.    The grisly beheading was the latest killing in a particularly violent month in Iraq, with more than 300 people dead in insurgent attacks and U.S...


Hamas leader surfaces in Cairo to discuss Israel's withdrawal from Gaza (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who's kept a low profile since last month's twin suicide bombing in southern Israel, made a surprise visit to Egypt on Sunday, but he deflated Egyptian efforts to bring Palestinian factions together.


PalmSource Falls After Weak Forecast (AP) AP - Shares of PalmSource Inc., the former software arm of organizer-maker Palm Inc., fell 10 percent in post-market trading Thursday after it provided a weak revenue forecast.


Security Divides Leading Australian Parties Ahead of Election The leading candidates in Australia #39;s national elections have very different positions on the country #39;s role in the war on terror.


AOL releases Netscape 7.2  quot;Corporate execs are more comfortable with a known brand name. Even though Mozilla (and FF, Camino, K-Meleon, etc.) are based on the same code, they are not  quot;Netscape quot;. When execs are made aware of the faults and deficiencies of IE, they may think  quot;I wish ...


High hopes for Indonesia #39;s new leader A former general with a doctorate in economics takes power in Indonesia on Wednesday, facing the challenge of translating a landslide election victory into action on economic growth and against Islamic militancy.


Allawi Says Democratic Forces Succeeding in Iraq Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told Congress on Thursday Iraq would hold elections in January despite the flaring insurgency, and urged the US-led coalition not to bow to terrorist forces.


Ed Hardin: Bowl situation not so Peachy CHAPEL HILL -- They came down from the hills Saturday, down from the hot springs and natural bridges of Virginia, deep into the heart of ACC darkness.


PSA seen as leading race to buy CSX port assets Singapore-based PSA International is leading a pack of shipping giants, which includes tycoon Li Ka-shing #39;s flagship Hutchison Whampoa, that are prepared to shell out upward of US\$1 billion (HK\$7.8 billion) to buy CSX World Terminals #39; port assets


Mauresmo #39;s Heart Is Far From Gone full of hope in the latter stages of a Grand Slam tournament. And she is achingly aware of how all the others ended. Mauresmo, 25, is a showcase for heartbreak in tennis.


Dollar Hits New Low; Gold Heads for \$455 The dollar hit record lows against the euro Friday and a 4-1/2-year trough versus the yen following a report China had cut its holdings of dollar assets, lifting gold to a 16-year high and undermining Tokyo stocks.


Second American hostage murder claimed as Bush appeals for help in <b>...</b> BAGHDAD : A group linked to suspected Al-Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi claimed to have beheaded a second US hostage in Iraq, as US President George W. Bush defended the war in Iraq and asked for more foreign help in the country.


Stocks Climb on Decline in Oil Prices A decline in oil prices is giving some stocks a modest boost. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 9 points in today #39;s early going.


'Men fled' from bridge death spot Murder trial witnesses say they heard screams and saw men running from where a British backpacker was found dead.


Petro-Can sale ends Ottawa #39;s oilpatch era The federal government closed its window on the oil industry Thursday, saying that it is selling its last 19 per cent stake in Calgary-based Petro-Canada.


Top 25 roundup: Purdue ends long Irish streak Purdue senior quarterback Kyle Orton demolished both a secondary and a streak as he led the 15th-ranked Boilermakers to a 41-16 victory over Notre Dame (3-2).


Apple Tries to Take Out iTunes.co.uk Apple Computers is attempting to nab the domain www.itunes.co.uk from a British entrepreneur in a true David vs. Goliath battle. Benjamin Cohen registered his domain in 2000 for a music search engine called CyberBritain.


Israeli coalition partner to quit over Gaza withdrawal Israel #39;s pro-settler National Religious Party (NRP) decided to resign from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s coalition government after Sharon refused to put his disengagement plan to a national referendum.


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


Hidden fault may contribute to Bay Area earthquake risk Earthquakes are not unusual in the San Francisco Bay Area, but a team of Penn State geoscientists believes that the hazard may be greater than previously thought because of a hidden fault under Marin County.


Roddick splits with coach Gilbert Andy Roddick has sacked Brad Gilbert, the coach who guided him to world number one and the US Open crown in 2003. No reason has been given for the split.


Should You Want the New iPod Photo? It Depends Whether you want the iPod Photo (www.apple.com/ipodphoto) depends, then, on how much money you #39;re willing to spend and the value you place on looking at images of friends and family on a two


Bucknell Upsets No. 10 Pittsburgh 69-66 (AP) AP - Kevin Bettencourt made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to give Bucknell the lead in a 69-66 victory over No. 10 Pittsburgh on Sunday night, one of the biggest wins in school history.


Insurance industry misdeeds widening? In town to testify on bid rigging and price-fixing in the insurance industry, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi yesterday said ongoing investigations might reveal


U.S. Postal Upsets Favorites in Tour of Spain  LEON, Spain (Reuters) - U.S. Postal upset favorites Liberty  Seguros to win the 17.2-mile opening team time trial stage of  the Tour of Spain Saturday.


CORRECTED - UPDATE 2-Microsoft first-quarter profit, revenue rises In SEATTLE story headlined,  quot;UPDATE 2-Microsoft first-quarter profit, revenue rises, quot; please read in 12th paragraph ...  quot;Barnicle said quot; ... instead of ...  quot;Barnacle said quot; ... (Corrects spelling of name). SEATTLE, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp.


Anti-terrorism, security issues likely to be key agenda items in Bush visit (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - For George W. Bush, who has defined his presidency in terms of fighting terror, national security is a must which trumps almost all other issues.


Update 6: Cold Weather Raises Oil Prices 2 Percent Oil prices rose 2 percent Tuesday on the back of a rally in heating oil and natural gas futures that was supported by colder weather in the Western Hemisphere.


College Basketball: Georgia Tech Strolls to Win ATLANTA (Sports Network) - BJ Elder scored 23 points, Isma #39;il Muhammad added 13 and No. 3 Georgia Tech rolled to a 79-54 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.


Weis Introduced at Notre Dame  SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Sports Network) - Charlie Weis was  introduced as the new head football coach at Notre Dame on  Monday and said he intends to bring the program back to  national prominence.


India not Mushy on Jammu and Kashmir NEW DELHI: India has virtually pricked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf #39;s latest trial balloon on Kashmir. Musharraf had on Monday suggested that India and Pakistan could consider the option of identifying


Japan #39;s quake bodycount mounts STRONG aftershocks jolted central Japan today after thousands spent a night in shelters following the country #39;s deadliest quake in nearly a decade that left 24 people dead.


EU Court Annuls EU100.8 Mln in Fines on German Banks (Update1) A European court struck down fines totaling 100.8 million euros (\$125 million) on HVB Group, Dresdner Bank AG and three German competitors for fixing European currency- conversion rates.


Aid Flight Delayed After Plane Hits Cow (AP) AP - A Boeing 737 carrying aid for Tsunami victims hit a herd of cows as it landed early Tuesday in Indonesia's devastated Aceh province, forcing the airport to close and delaying relief flights, officials said.


Mars Rovers Planners Plot Crater 'Escape' (AP) AP - NASA's Mars rovers don't seem to be wearing out, so mission planners have begun to think more boldly  #151; including a plan to let one climb up a steep slope from a crater it has been exploring to set out across a plain.


Americans lose second beach volleyball match ATHENS, Greece (Ticker) -- The dream of a second consecutive beach volleyball gold medal has become all but impossible for American Dain Blanton.


GM to Boost Incentives in 'Red Tag' Sale  DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. GM.N, coming off  two straight months of disappointing sales, told dealers on  Tuesday it will launch new U.S. sales incentives later this  week.


Clijsters set to return Kim Clijsters returns from injury in front of her home fans this week at the Gaz de France Stars event in Belgium. The former world number one has been out of action for five months with a wrist injury.


Woods basks on Privacy after wedding LOS ANGELES - Five days after his wedding to Elin Nordegren in Barbados, world No 3 golfer Tiger Woods spent Sunday on his 155-foot yacht  #39;Privacy #39; and said, well, he wouldn #39;t mind more of precisely that.


Start-up crafts nanoparticles for energy, explosions Aluminum, the stuff of cans, explodes in its nano form. A small start-up has decided to harness that property.


Olympic Swimming Ends with U.S., Australian Records  ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States and Australia set  world records in the men's and women's 4x100 medley relay races  Saturday, the final day of swimming competition at the Athens  2004 Olympics.


UPDATE 3-PeopleSoft could be open to Oracle bid-director A PeopleSoft Inc. (PSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) board member told a Delaware court on Tuesday that the software maker would consider a bid from its rival Oracle Corp.


WORLD IN BRIEF VIENNA -- Brazil has tentatively agreed to let the UN atomic agency view parts of its equipment used to enrich uranium -- a deal that would end squabbling over access to technology that can be used to build nuclear weapons, diplomats said Wednesday.


Miracle baby was victim of trafficking, judge says A  quot;miracle baby quot; allegedly born to an infertile mother through the power of prayer was a victim of child trafficking motivated by financial greed, a high court judge ruled yesterday.


UN: Chad Could See More Darfur Refugees GENEVA Aug. 20, 2004  Tens of thousands more refugees might flee Sudan #39;s Darfur region into neighboring Chad because of persistent attacks and rapes by Arab militias, the United Nations said Friday.


EC backs movies-on-demand Sony and Walt Disney yesterday received regulatory approval from Brussels for a video-on-demand service that will compete with BSkyB #39;s film channels.


Trend Micro offers mobile security for free Trend Micro, a rival anti-virus firm to Symantec, made an announcement stating that it will offer its anti-virus and anti-spam security software for free to users until June, 2005.


Oil Won #39;t Derail Expansion -Fed Officials Near-record oil prices will slow US economic growth but won #39;t be enough to derail a self-sustaining expansion, US Federal Reserve officials said on Monday.


Voters May Change Calif., Wash. Primaries (AP) AP - In a testament to the independent streak of Western voters, Washington and California are considering dumping political party primaries.


Minnesota Golden Gophers MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The 1-2 punch of Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III was too much for Penn State. Maroney and Barber each scored a rushing touchdown and combined for over 230 yards as No.


Wood's Suspension Upheld (Reuters) Reuters - Major League Baseball\Monday announced a decision on the appeal filed by Chicago Cubs\pitcher Kerry Wood regarding a suspension stemming from an\incident earlier this season.


Before the Bell: Altria Rises 1.5 Percent (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of Altria Group Inc. \rose 1.5 percent before the bell on Thursday.


UPDATE 1-Black to quit Hollinger Inc  quot;within days quot; Former press baron Conrad Black will quit as chairman and chief executive of his Canadian holding company, Hollinger Inc. (HLGc.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , to


New Space Telescope Observations Upset Theories of Planet <b>...</b> The leading theory of how planets form is being revised because of new observations from the US Spitzer Space Telescope. The process is not as smooth and quiet as once thought, but rather the result of violent collisions between massive space rocks.


Britain to issue first identity cards since World War II LONDON Invoking a global threat of terrorism, the British government announced plans on Tuesday to introduce national identity cards for the first time since the Second World War.