DefenceLab/ag_news · Datasets at Fast360

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N. Korea Economic Sanctions 'One Option' -- Japan (Reuters) Reuters - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka\Machimura said on Thursday economic sanctions against North\Korea were "one option," but added that care was needed in\deciding whether Tokyo should take such a step immediately.	0World
Iceland Offers Ex-Chess Champ Fischer Residency (Reuters) Reuters - Chess master Bobby Fischer has been\offered a new home in Iceland, but it's not clear if he'll be\able to make the move from Japan, where he is being detained.	0World
Kansas City Lineman Catches Heat From ND (AP) AP - All he said was, "Jordan Black, Dallas Christian High School." That was more than enough to upset many Notre Dame fans.	1Sports
RealNetworks promises iPod lockout fix Apple Computer Inc. has updated the software for some of its iPod music players so that songs bought from RealNetworks Inc. won #39;t play.	3Sci/Tech
Billups keys Pistons win at MSG Instinct took over when Chauncey Billups grabbed a long rebound with 4.9 seconds left. Normally, he #39;d call a timeout and let coach Larry Brown design the final play.	1Sports
Dolphins talking to LSU #39;s Saban Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and president Eddie Jones met with LSU coach Nick Saban in Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday night, in what both sides called quot;a preliminary conversation quot; about the team #39;s search for a coach.	1Sports
Manning #39;s pursuit of record draws media blitz And the nation will be watching Sunday night as Peyton Manning tries to shatter a 20-year-old record for the most touchdowns tossed in a single season.	1Sports
Red Sox making noise in the offseason 1. Boston Red Sox. Yes, they lost one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history in Pedro Martinez when the veteran righty signed a four-year deal with the Mets.	1Sports
India and Pakistan to set up a nuclear hotline India and Pakistan appear to have made some progress in a step-by-step peace process which began in January. Both countries have agreed to operationalise a nuclear hotline between their foreign secretaries as soon as possible.	0World
Tokyo Stocks Close Down (AP) AP - Tokyo stocks fell Thursday as the U.S. dollar weakened against the yen and oil prices began to rebound.	0World
Nepal army sends reinforcements Extra troops are sent to a remote area in west Nepal after 20 troops die in a clash with Maoist rebels.	0World
Congo, Rwanda at Brink of War After two years of fragile peace, one of Africa's most volatile regions -- the border area of Rwanda and Congo -- has been pushed back to the brink of war with Rwandan soldiers reportedly staging raids in eastern Congo and Congolese militias clashing separately with each other.	0World
Colombia Captures 'Chancellor' of FARC Rebel Group <p></p><p> BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - The chief of internationalrelations for Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, who oncesought support from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was arrestedafter a months-long manhunt, police said on Wednesday.</p>	0World
Global library heralds new information era Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.	3Sci/Tech
Saban might be ready to scratch that NFL itch BATON ROUGE -- If you had asked me a few weeks ago about Nick Saban and his coaching future, I would have told you he #39;d be back coaching at LSU the next two seasons.	1Sports
Sloppy Pack still has enough to remain unbeaten RALEIGH The performance by the NC State men #39;s basketball team was the type that would leave training tables, Gatorade coolers and coaches #39; shirt collars in disarray in the postgame locker room.	1Sports
At end, Nuggets golden Are these guys ever going to have a game that doesn #39;t come down to the last possession? It seems that, if nothing else, the Celtics give you 48 minutes worth.	1Sports
NBA Game Summary - Atlanta at Houston Atlanta defeated Houston, 88-84, at Philips Arena last month to snap a two- game series losing streak. The Hawks, however, have lost in six straight trips to Houston...Before the game, the Rockets activated guard Tyronn Lue from the injured list.	1Sports
Blunkett resigns, Charles Clarke new home secretary: World News: London, Dec 16 : British Prime Minister Tony Blair moved quickly to fill the political vacuum created by David Blunkett #39;s resignation as home secretary, appointing Education Secretary Charles Clarke in his place.	0World
Dollar Near Record Low After Inflows Data TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was within reach of a record low against the euro on Thursday as U.S. capital flows data fueled worries that a weaker greenback would be needed to help repair the United States' huge trade imbalance.	2Business
Region's consumer confidence dives Not even a World Series win helped. New England's outlook turned decidedly gloomy over the last year as consumer confidence plunged farther than any other part of the country, according to data released today. The Conference Board, a nonprofit economic research group in New York, said its index of consumer confidence for New England dove to 77.9 in November, down ...	2Business
Sox make off-season pitch Red Sox executives are considering creating a hall of fame or museum at Fenway Park to help keep the fever going, and cash flowing, all year long.	2Business
Funding woes threaten MIT's Dublin media lab MIT Media Lab officials are engaged in sensitive talks with the Irish government this week over the future of the 4-year-old Media Lab Europe in Dublin, which is facing a funding crunch.	2Business
Tension, fear after mall shooting CAMBRIDGE -- In a quiet entryway of the CambridgeSide Galleria, 75-year-old Mary Dellolio stood gazing out the window, Sears bags in hand, waiting for a ride from a friend. Dellolio said she feels safe in the mall during the daytime but would never venture there after dark, though she lives only two blocks away.	2Business
FCC OK's wireless Net access on flights Domestic air travelers could be surfing the Web by 2006 with government-approved technology that allows people access to high-speed Internet connections while they fly.	2Business
Bush vows to cut deficit President Bush pledged yesterday to work with Congress to reduce the government's huge budget deficit as a key step in assuring the world that his administration supports a strong dollar.	2Business
Time Warner to settle securities fraud charges Time Warner Inc. agreed yesterday to pay \$210 million to settle criminal securities fraud charges brought by the Justice Department against the company's America Online unit. The media giant also is prepared to pay \$300 million to end another probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission.	2Business
Roxbury group to buy S. Boston building The Mayo Group of Roxbury is expected to purchase 51 Sleeper St. in South Boston, a vacant eight-story building owned by Frank H. McCourt Jr. McCourt, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, defaulted on a \$22.5 million loan on the property this year. A group of investors sold the loan to Mayo Group for about \$17 million, and ...	2Business
Wireless deal will shake up market Sprint Corp.'s agreement to buy Nextel Communications Inc. , in a \$35 billion deal unveiled yesterday, will shake up the mobile phone market and create the third largest US wireless service provider.	2Business
FCC clears new phone rules Government regulators approved rules yesterday that would phase out discounts the four major regional telephone companies offer rivals for access to their networks, a move likely to lead to higher phone bills for some 18 million residential phone customers served by AT amp;T Corp., MCI Inc., and other carriers.	2Business
Hospital company settles fraud claims State and federal investigators said a day treatment center in Ashland for disabled people overcharged the government Medicaid program by exaggerating clients' disabilities to earn bigger payments.	2Business
Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies as colder weather in the Northeast drove up fuel demand.	2Business
A Santa Claus on everyone's list BURLINGTON -- Trusting, but with a tinge of nerves, Justin and Brendan McKenney melted into Santa's welcoming arms inside the Burlington Mall.	2Business
Building a better English muffin WOBURN -- No sooner had David Vickers finished an on-air interview with West Coast radio host Gene Burns than the requests began pouring in.	2Business
Global library heralds new information era NEW YORK (AFP) - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.	3Sci/Tech
Australia v Pakistan first test scoreboard Cricket-Kiwis recall Tuffey for one-day series v Sri Lanka December 15, 2004 03:47:28 WELLINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Seam bowler Daryl Tuffey was recalled to the New Zealand squad on Thursday for the one-day series with Sri Lanka which starts later	1Sports
Report: Sexson to sign with Mariners Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners have reportedly found their slugging first baseman for the 2005 season and beyond by coming to terms with free agent Richie Sexson.	1Sports
Intel Acquires Chip Designers From HP (AP) AP - Intel Corp. has reached an agreement to hire hundreds of Hewlett-Packard Co. engineers who helped design the Itanium microprocessor, a massive joint project between the two technology companies since the early 1990s.	3Sci/Tech
Global library heralds new information era (AFP) AFP - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.	3Sci/Tech
Kyoto benefits outweigh the costs The onslaught of the winter Typhoon Nanmadol made everyone forget the intense legislative election campaign, as early warning and disaster prevention mechanisms were initiated in the hope of minimizing damage.	0World
Sprint acquiring Nextel in \$35B deal Sprint Corp. said yesterday it will acquire Nextel Communications Inc. in a \$35-billion deal that will create the nation #39;s third-largest wireless phone carrier, Sprint Nextel.	2Business
3 Jockey for Power of House's Purse Strings (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON #8212; In his campaign to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) recently gave a group of his most conservative colleagues a flier showing a bloated Uncle Sam. The caption: "Uncle needs a diet."	0World
Speedy Net access coming to airplanes The plane #39;s on the tarmac, Philip Roth #39;s latest epic is on your lap and this guy stumbles in at the last minute, squeezes beside you (just when you thought the seat was empty), opens his laptop and dials his cell phone.	2Business
Johnson amp; Johnson to acquire Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion US Johnson amp; Johnson announced that it will acquire Guidant Corp., one of the world #39;s top makers of cardiac devices, for \$25.4 billion US.	2Business
Google Wins Geico Trademark Ruling A federal judge ruled in Google #39;s favor yesterday in the first US court ruling that search engines can sell advertising triggered by trademarked terms.	2Business
Heavy holiday travel expected, concerns over drunken driving WASHINGTON The Triple-A holiday travel forecast projects nearly 51 (m) million pople will be hitting the road in the United States for the Christmas and New Years holiday weekends.	2Business
United Tech says \$2.8b cash deal for Kidde accepted LONDON (CBS.MW) -- United Technologies (UTX) said its \$2.8 billion cash offer for UK fire safety group Kidde (UK:KID) has been accepted by Kidde #39;s board.	2Business
Baseball official calls stadium vote #39;unacceptable #39; A top official of Major League Baseball has labeled a new stadium financing proposal approved late yesterday by DC City Council as quot;wholly unacceptable quot; and offered to refund deposits that have been made toward purchasing tickets for Washington Nationals	1Sports
Knicks pained by fall at end Jamal Crawford sat in a corner of the locker room, quiet and withdrawn, in total disbelief at the opportunity he and his Knicks teammates had squandered in their bid to beat the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons.	1Sports
As Liverpool lose points at Anfield, need for new faces obvious Liverpool have lost two Portsmouth #39;s point at injury time. Portsmouth #39;s Lomana Lua Lua spoiled Christmas party for Liverpool scoring a late equaliser to earn a point against the Reds in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.	1Sports
Anthony supplies win, atonement Boston - Three key Nuggets redeemed themselves Wednesday at the FleetCenter in the time it takes to microwave popcorn. That allowed Denver to atone for its mistake-laden loss at Philadelphia the previous night	1Sports
Gunmen Kill Senior Iraqi Ministry Official (Reuters) Reuters - A senior official in Iraq's\Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work\in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.	0World
Australian police search for teen shark attack victim (AFP) AFP - A pair of sharks killed a teenage water-skier at a popular Adelaide beach as horrified friends looked on, in Australia's second fatal shark attack in less than a week.	0World
Social Security a Priority for White House (AP) AP - The Bush administration predicts financial markets would applaud a costly overhaul of Social Security for tackling long-term financial obligations weighing on the federal budget.	0World
Gunmen Kill Senior Iraqi Ministry Official BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A senior official in Iraq's Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.	0World
N. Korea Economic Sanctions 'One Option'--Japan TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said on Thursday economic sanctions against North Korea were "one option" but that care was needed in deciding if Tokyo should take such a step immediately.	0World
Lincoln-Sudbury grad achieves her goals at MIT Sudbury's Betty Zheng, a senior assistant captain on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology women's ice hockey team, will always remember MIT's Dec. 3 game against Chatham (Pa.) College.	1Sports
Garry's possession skills displayed at UMass-Lowell Its's no coincidence that since Medway's Tim Garry suited up for the UMass-Lowell men's soccer team, the River Hawks have won back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships and earned a pair of automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.	1Sports
Stehle leading Crimson in rebounds and steals Former Newton South High School basketball and golf captain Matt Stehle is now a junior at Harvard University, where the 6-foot-8-inch forward was leading the men's basketball team in rebounding and steals and was second in scoring through six games.	1Sports
Woods is an exchange student You think the rush to exchange presents Dec. 26 will be furious? It might not compare with the mad dash of folks looking to reassess their 2004 viewpoints of one Tiger Woods.	1Sports
Time Warner pays up Agrees to \$210M Justice Dept. deal and proposes paying an additional \$300M to end SEC probe. BY HARRY BERKOWITZ. Seeking to remove a cloud that has lingered over Time Warner for years, the media giant said yesterday	2Business
Fed hikes benchmark rate by a quarter point NEW YORK, December 15 (newratings.com) - The US Federal Reserve announced yesterday a widely expected quarter point hike in its overnight lending rate, the fifth hike since June this year.	2Business
Are cellphones meant to fly? Airline travel has always been a welcome refuge from the incessant chatter of cellphone users, so it is sobering to hear that regulators are thinking of allowing the use of cellphones up in the friendly skies.	2Business
A mother's search for her children The island of Car Nicobar has been devastated by the tsunami, with around half its population unaccounted for, as the BBC's Jonathan Charles discovered.	0World
GEICO vs Google Ads: Google Wins abertoll writes quot;A federal judge decided that Google is able to sell ads under the GEICO trademark, claiming that this is fair use of the trademark.	2Business
Holiday crackdown on unsafe drivers getting early start Alcohol-related auto accidents increase sharply during the holidays compared with other times in December, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association shows.	2Business
Wal-Mart Fires 7 Execs, Managers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fired three executives and four managers from its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters for violating company rules, the company said on Wednesday.	2Business
Hollywood vs BitTorrent p2pnet.net News:- Yesterday, the major movie studios turned their MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) loose on BitTorrent and eDonkey p2p networks, claiming the effort is necessary to bring file-sharing under control.	3Sci/Tech
HP confirms that Itanium is Intel #39;s responsibility HP and Intel have confirmed earlier reports that located a massive migration of HP Itanium boat people making their way to Intel. True to speculation, Intel has agreed to hire hundreds of HP #39;s Itanium engineers working at a Ft.	3Sci/Tech
#39;Wearable #39; solar panels to charge mobiles Wearable solar panels that could charge mobile phones, music players or light batteries are likely to go on sale within three years, according to New Scientist magazine.	3Sci/Tech
NEC licenses Honeywell LCD tech Honeywell #39;s legal action against 34 electronics and computing companies for allegedly infringing one of its LCD patents has yielded its first public licensing agreement.	3Sci/Tech
Let the new owner pay Congratulations to Linda Cropp and her fellow DC council members who voted with her Tuesday night. By insisting that private funding be included for a new baseball stadium in Washington, they did the right thing.	1Sports
NBA Game Preview (Sports Network) - The Detroit Pistons will try to avoid their first three- game losing streak of the season when they head to Madison Square Garden to battle the New York Knicks.	1Sports
Successful, respected coach usually has last laugh Before we talk about the possibility Rick Majerus is the greatest coaching hire in USC sports history, let #39;s acknowledge that his arrival Wednesday raised a number of questions.	1Sports
Bryant is sorry; Shaq justhasnothingtosay With their Christmas Day showdown nine days away, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Heat center Shaquille O #39;Neal shared thoughts Wednesday on their upcoming reunion game at Staples Center.	1Sports
Sky #39;s the limit when it comes to Sox spending If you want to get a rise out of a small-market general manager, ask him about the Red Sox being limited by their budget. Already this weekend at the winter meetings, we #39;ve	1Sports
Peace may now stand a chance In his olive nylon bomber jacket, olive fatigue pants and black combat boots, Al-Aqsa Martyr #39;s Brigades member Abu Said sees himself as a soldier, fighting Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.	0World
British official resigns over nanny scandal Britain #39;s top law enforcement officer, a key member of Tony Blair #39;s Cabinet, resigned Wednesday after acknowledging that his department fast-tracked a visa for his former lover #39;s nanny.	0World
Pakistan seeks investors for port Pakistan plans to invite foreign investors to operate its new port of Gwadar, an unusual step for a country that has attracted little foreign capital.	0World
Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies	2Business
Airbus forecasts increased demand for its largest fleet Airbus, the world #39;s biggest maker of commercial aircraft, forecast yesterday that airlines will need 1,902 jumbo planes over the next 20 years -- more than double the forecast of its rival, The Boeing Co.	2Business
'Truly' takes San Gabriel Truly a Judge edged Star Cross by a length yesterday in Arcadia, Calif., to win the \$150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita Park.	1Sports
Portable panels mean power in your pocket London - European scientists have developed light, flexible solar panels that could be sewn on fabrics and placed on surfaces to charge objects ranging from cellphones and DVD players to batteries.	3Sci/Tech
STN-LCD maker EDT projects above 130 CSTN capacity growth in 2Q <b>...</b> Emerging Display Technologies (EDT), specializing in small-to-medium STN/CSTN-LCD panels, will ramp up its monthly capacity for CSTN LCDs from 30,000 units at present to 70,000 in the second quarter of 2005, according to the company.	3Sci/Tech
Replacements on US team? A labor dispute between the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and players has halted World Cup preparations and could result in the national team using replacement players for the Feb.	1Sports
Tokyo's Nikkei Average Closes Lower TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average closed lower Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak as profit-taking hit Toyota Motor Corp. and other exporters that had benefited from gains on Wall Street and a weaker yen.	2Business
ABN AMRO Leads European Shares Higher LONDON (Reuters) - European shares opened firmer on Thursday led by ABN AMRO as investors applauded the savings the Dutch broker will make from cutting jobs.	2Business
Google wins trademark ruling over online advertising policy Google Inc. won a major legal victory yesterday when a federal judge ruled that the search engine's advertising policy does not violate federal trademark laws.	2Business
Ex-Serono executive charged in bribery case Federal prosecutors yesterday alleged that a former sales director for Serono Inc. offered doctors bribes in return for prescribing its AIDS treatment as part of a marketing program at the Swiss drug company, whose main US offices are in Rockland.	2Business
Pioneering McCaw at epicenter of cell deals The announced union of Sprint and Nextel Communications yesterday marked the second mega-deal in the wireless industry this year - and the second involving a life change for a Craig McCaw-built venture.	2Business
Kansas rallies to nip Georgia Tech in OT Keith Langford's twisting shot with three seconds left in overtime capped a comeback from a 16-point deficit and lifted second-ranked Kansas to a 70-68 victory over No. 9 Georgia Tech yesterday at Lawrence, Kan.	1Sports
Accounting department As Papa Griffith used to say every Jan. 1, "Well, it looks like we made it through another year."	1Sports
Holiday traveler outlook: no gifts MANATEE - Expect airports and roads to be even more crowded than usual this holiday season. That #39;s the word from AAA, which predicted Wednesday that a record number of Americans and Floridians will travel during the Christmas and New Year #39;s holidays.	2Business
Tennessee topples Aggies with ease DALLAS -- Looking nothing like the third-string quarterback he was most of the season, Rick Clausen led No. 15 Tennessee to five touchdowns in just 2 1/2 quarters and the defense had its way with 22d-ranked Texas A amp;M in a 38-7 victory in the Cotton Bowl yesterday. Winning was nice enough for the Vols after losing their last two bowl ...	1Sports
Notebook: Washington move in jeopardy Major League Baseball is poised to cancel the move of the Montreal Expos to Washington after the District of Columbia Council on Tuesday amended the agreement	1Sports
Seminoles end on high note JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Nice recovery, Chris Rix. Coach Bobby Bowden stuck with his struggling quarterback and Rix eventually sparked No. 17 Florida State with two long second-half touchdown drives yesterday, beating West Virginia, 30-18, in the Gator Bowl.	1Sports
Antonio Tarver #39;s Transcendent Dreams By Patrick Kehoe: World light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver may be 35 and yet he #39;s not about to indulge in limits, conditional options or relativism of any kind.	1Sports
Jones sues her accuser Marion Jones has filed a 12million lawsuit for defamation against the man who alleged he supplied her with performance-enhancing drugs.	1Sports
Nuggets win on Anthony #39;s shot Anthony #39;s 15-foot jumper with 3.6 seconds remaining gave the Nuggets a 100-99 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, the fifth stop on Denver #39;s seven-game road trip.	1Sports
Brackman provides heroics for Wolfpack Andrew Brackman provided the spark that No. 12 NC State so desperately needed Wednesday night. As a result, the Wolfpack stayed unbeaten -- barely.	1Sports

N. Korea Economic Sanctions 'One Option' -- Japan (Reuters) Reuters - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka\Machimura said on Thursday economic sanctions against North\Korea were "one option," but added that care was needed in\deciding whether Tokyo should take such a step immediately.

0World

Iceland Offers Ex-Chess Champ Fischer Residency (Reuters) Reuters - Chess master Bobby Fischer has been\offered a new home in Iceland, but it's not clear if he'll be\able to make the move from Japan, where he is being detained.

0World

Kansas City Lineman Catches Heat From ND (AP) AP - All he said was, "Jordan Black, Dallas Christian High School." That was more than enough to upset many Notre Dame fans.

1Sports

RealNetworks promises iPod lockout fix Apple Computer Inc. has updated the software for some of its iPod music players so that songs bought from RealNetworks Inc. won #39;t play.

3Sci/Tech

Billups keys Pistons win at MSG Instinct took over when Chauncey Billups grabbed a long rebound with 4.9 seconds left. Normally, he #39;d call a timeout and let coach Larry Brown design the final play.

1Sports

Dolphins talking to LSU #39;s Saban Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and president Eddie Jones met with LSU coach Nick Saban in Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday night, in what both sides called quot;a preliminary conversation quot; about the team #39;s search for a coach.

1Sports

Manning #39;s pursuit of record draws media blitz And the nation will be watching Sunday night as Peyton Manning tries to shatter a 20-year-old record for the most touchdowns tossed in a single season.

1Sports

Red Sox making noise in the offseason 1. Boston Red Sox. Yes, they lost one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history in Pedro Martinez when the veteran righty signed a four-year deal with the Mets.

1Sports

India and Pakistan to set up a nuclear hotline India and Pakistan appear to have made some progress in a step-by-step peace process which began in January. Both countries have agreed to operationalise a nuclear hotline between their foreign secretaries as soon as possible.

0World

Tokyo Stocks Close Down (AP) AP - Tokyo stocks fell Thursday as the U.S. dollar weakened against the yen and oil prices began to rebound.

0World

Nepal army sends reinforcements Extra troops are sent to a remote area in west Nepal after 20 troops die in a clash with Maoist rebels.

0World

Congo, Rwanda at Brink of War After two years of fragile peace, one of Africa's most volatile regions -- the border area of Rwanda and Congo -- has been pushed back to the brink of war with Rwandan soldiers reportedly staging raids in eastern Congo and Congolese militias clashing separately with each other.

0World

Colombia Captures 'Chancellor' of FARC Rebel Group BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - The chief of internationalrelations for Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, who oncesought support from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was arrestedafter a months-long manhunt, police said on Wednesday.

0World

Global library heralds new information era Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.

3Sci/Tech

Saban might be ready to scratch that NFL itch BATON ROUGE -- If you had asked me a few weeks ago about Nick Saban and his coaching future, I would have told you he #39;d be back coaching at LSU the next two seasons.

1Sports

Sloppy Pack still has enough to remain unbeaten RALEIGH The performance by the NC State men #39;s basketball team was the type that would leave training tables, Gatorade coolers and coaches #39; shirt collars in disarray in the postgame locker room.

1Sports

At end, Nuggets golden Are these guys ever going to have a game that doesn #39;t come down to the last possession? It seems that, if nothing else, the Celtics give you 48 minutes worth.

1Sports

NBA Game Summary - Atlanta at Houston Atlanta defeated Houston, 88-84, at Philips Arena last month to snap a two- game series losing streak. The Hawks, however, have lost in six straight trips to Houston...Before the game, the Rockets activated guard Tyronn Lue from the injured list.

1Sports

Blunkett resigns, Charles Clarke new home secretary: World News: London, Dec 16 : British Prime Minister Tony Blair moved quickly to fill the political vacuum created by David Blunkett #39;s resignation as home secretary, appointing Education Secretary Charles Clarke in his place.

0World

Dollar Near Record Low After Inflows Data TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was within reach of a record low against the euro on Thursday as U.S. capital flows data fueled worries that a weaker greenback would be needed to help repair the United States' huge trade imbalance.

2Business

Region's consumer confidence dives Not even a World Series win helped. New England's outlook turned decidedly gloomy over the last year as consumer confidence plunged farther than any other part of the country, according to data released today. The Conference Board, a nonprofit economic research group in New York, said its index of consumer confidence for New England dove to 77.9 in November, down ...

2Business

Sox make off-season pitch Red Sox executives are considering creating a hall of fame or museum at Fenway Park to help keep the fever going, and cash flowing, all year long.

2Business

Funding woes threaten MIT's Dublin media lab MIT Media Lab officials are engaged in sensitive talks with the Irish government this week over the future of the 4-year-old Media Lab Europe in Dublin, which is facing a funding crunch.

2Business

Tension, fear after mall shooting CAMBRIDGE -- In a quiet entryway of the CambridgeSide Galleria, 75-year-old Mary Dellolio stood gazing out the window, Sears bags in hand, waiting for a ride from a friend. Dellolio said she feels safe in the mall during the daytime but would never venture there after dark, though she lives only two blocks away.

2Business

FCC OK's wireless Net access on flights Domestic air travelers could be surfing the Web by 2006 with government-approved technology that allows people access to high-speed Internet connections while they fly.

2Business

Bush vows to cut deficit President Bush pledged yesterday to work with Congress to reduce the government's huge budget deficit as a key step in assuring the world that his administration supports a strong dollar.

2Business

Time Warner to settle securities fraud charges Time Warner Inc. agreed yesterday to pay \$210 million to settle criminal securities fraud charges brought by the Justice Department against the company's America Online unit. The media giant also is prepared to pay \$300 million to end another probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2Business

Roxbury group to buy S. Boston building The Mayo Group of Roxbury is expected to purchase 51 Sleeper St. in South Boston, a vacant eight-story building owned by Frank H. McCourt Jr. McCourt, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, defaulted on a \$22.5 million loan on the property this year. A group of investors sold the loan to Mayo Group for about \$17 million, and ...

2Business

Wireless deal will shake up market Sprint Corp.'s agreement to buy Nextel Communications Inc. , in a \$35 billion deal unveiled yesterday, will shake up the mobile phone market and create the third largest US wireless service provider.

2Business

FCC clears new phone rules Government regulators approved rules yesterday that would phase out discounts the four major regional telephone companies offer rivals for access to their networks, a move likely to lead to higher phone bills for some 18 million residential phone customers served by AT amp;T Corp., MCI Inc., and other carriers.

2Business

Hospital company settles fraud claims State and federal investigators said a day treatment center in Ashland for disabled people overcharged the government Medicaid program by exaggerating clients' disabilities to earn bigger payments.

2Business

Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies as colder weather in the Northeast drove up fuel demand.

2Business

A Santa Claus on everyone's list BURLINGTON -- Trusting, but with a tinge of nerves, Justin and Brendan McKenney melted into Santa's welcoming arms inside the Burlington Mall.

2Business

Building a better English muffin WOBURN -- No sooner had David Vickers finished an on-air interview with West Coast radio host Gene Burns than the requests began pouring in.

2Business

Global library heralds new information era NEW YORK (AFP) - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.

3Sci/Tech

Australia v Pakistan first test scoreboard Cricket-Kiwis recall Tuffey for one-day series v Sri Lanka December 15, 2004 03:47:28 WELLINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Seam bowler Daryl Tuffey was recalled to the New Zealand squad on Thursday for the one-day series with Sri Lanka which starts later

1Sports

Report: Sexson to sign with Mariners Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners have reportedly found their slugging first baseman for the 2005 season and beyond by coming to terms with free agent Richie Sexson.

1Sports

Intel Acquires Chip Designers From HP (AP) AP - Intel Corp. has reached an agreement to hire hundreds of Hewlett-Packard Co. engineers who helped design the Itanium microprocessor, a massive joint project between the two technology companies since the early 1990s.

3Sci/Tech

Global library heralds new information era (AFP) AFP - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.

3Sci/Tech

Kyoto benefits outweigh the costs The onslaught of the winter Typhoon Nanmadol made everyone forget the intense legislative election campaign, as early warning and disaster prevention mechanisms were initiated in the hope of minimizing damage.

0World

Sprint acquiring Nextel in \$35B deal Sprint Corp. said yesterday it will acquire Nextel Communications Inc. in a \$35-billion deal that will create the nation #39;s third-largest wireless phone carrier, Sprint Nextel.

2Business

3 Jockey for Power of House's Purse Strings (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON #8212; In his campaign to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) recently gave a group of his most conservative colleagues a flier showing a bloated Uncle Sam. The caption: "Uncle needs a diet."

0World

Speedy Net access coming to airplanes The plane #39;s on the tarmac, Philip Roth #39;s latest epic is on your lap and this guy stumbles in at the last minute, squeezes beside you (just when you thought the seat was empty), opens his laptop and dials his cell phone.

2Business

Johnson amp; Johnson to acquire Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion US Johnson amp; Johnson announced that it will acquire Guidant Corp., one of the world #39;s top makers of cardiac devices, for \$25.4 billion US.

2Business

Google Wins Geico Trademark Ruling A federal judge ruled in Google #39;s favor yesterday in the first US court ruling that search engines can sell advertising triggered by trademarked terms.

2Business

Heavy holiday travel expected, concerns over drunken driving WASHINGTON The Triple-A holiday travel forecast projects nearly 51 (m) million pople will be hitting the road in the United States for the Christmas and New Years holiday weekends.

2Business

United Tech says \$2.8b cash deal for Kidde accepted LONDON (CBS.MW) -- United Technologies (UTX) said its \$2.8 billion cash offer for UK fire safety group Kidde (UK:KID) has been accepted by Kidde #39;s board.

2Business

Baseball official calls stadium vote #39;unacceptable #39; A top official of Major League Baseball has labeled a new stadium financing proposal approved late yesterday by DC City Council as quot;wholly unacceptable quot; and offered to refund deposits that have been made toward purchasing tickets for Washington Nationals

1Sports

Knicks pained by fall at end Jamal Crawford sat in a corner of the locker room, quiet and withdrawn, in total disbelief at the opportunity he and his Knicks teammates had squandered in their bid to beat the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons.

1Sports

As Liverpool lose points at Anfield, need for new faces obvious Liverpool have lost two Portsmouth #39;s point at injury time. Portsmouth #39;s Lomana Lua Lua spoiled Christmas party for Liverpool scoring a late equaliser to earn a point against the Reds in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

1Sports

Anthony supplies win, atonement Boston - Three key Nuggets redeemed themselves Wednesday at the FleetCenter in the time it takes to microwave popcorn. That allowed Denver to atone for its mistake-laden loss at Philadelphia the previous night

1Sports

Gunmen Kill Senior Iraqi Ministry Official (Reuters) Reuters - A senior official in Iraq's\Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work\in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.

0World

Australian police search for teen shark attack victim (AFP) AFP - A pair of sharks killed a teenage water-skier at a popular Adelaide beach as horrified friends looked on, in Australia's second fatal shark attack in less than a week.

0World

Social Security a Priority for White House (AP) AP - The Bush administration predicts financial markets would applaud a costly overhaul of Social Security for tackling long-term financial obligations weighing on the federal budget.

0World

Gunmen Kill Senior Iraqi Ministry Official BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A senior official in Iraq's Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.

0World

N. Korea Economic Sanctions 'One Option'--Japan TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said on Thursday economic sanctions against North Korea were "one option" but that care was needed in deciding if Tokyo should take such a step immediately.

0World

Lincoln-Sudbury grad achieves her goals at MIT Sudbury's Betty Zheng, a senior assistant captain on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology women's ice hockey team, will always remember MIT's Dec. 3 game against Chatham (Pa.) College.

1Sports

Garry's possession skills displayed at UMass-Lowell Its's no coincidence that since Medway's Tim Garry suited up for the UMass-Lowell men's soccer team, the River Hawks have won back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships and earned a pair of automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.

1Sports

Stehle leading Crimson in rebounds and steals Former Newton South High School basketball and golf captain Matt Stehle is now a junior at Harvard University, where the 6-foot-8-inch forward was leading the men's basketball team in rebounding and steals and was second in scoring through six games.

1Sports

Woods is an exchange student You think the rush to exchange presents Dec. 26 will be furious? It might not compare with the mad dash of folks looking to reassess their 2004 viewpoints of one Tiger Woods.

1Sports

Time Warner pays up Agrees to \$210M Justice Dept. deal and proposes paying an additional \$300M to end SEC probe. BY HARRY BERKOWITZ. Seeking to remove a cloud that has lingered over Time Warner for years, the media giant said yesterday

2Business

Fed hikes benchmark rate by a quarter point NEW YORK, December 15 (newratings.com) - The US Federal Reserve announced yesterday a widely expected quarter point hike in its overnight lending rate, the fifth hike since June this year.

2Business

Are cellphones meant to fly? Airline travel has always been a welcome refuge from the incessant chatter of cellphone users, so it is sobering to hear that regulators are thinking of allowing the use of cellphones up in the friendly skies.

2Business

A mother's search for her children The island of Car Nicobar has been devastated by the tsunami, with around half its population unaccounted for, as the BBC's Jonathan Charles discovered.

0World

GEICO vs Google Ads: Google Wins abertoll writes quot;A federal judge decided that Google is able to sell ads under the GEICO trademark, claiming that this is fair use of the trademark.

2Business

Holiday crackdown on unsafe drivers getting early start Alcohol-related auto accidents increase sharply during the holidays compared with other times in December, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association shows.

2Business

Wal-Mart Fires 7 Execs, Managers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fired three executives and four managers from its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters for violating company rules, the company said on Wednesday.

2Business

Hollywood vs BitTorrent p2pnet.net News:- Yesterday, the major movie studios turned their MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) loose on BitTorrent and eDonkey p2p networks, claiming the effort is necessary to bring file-sharing under control.

3Sci/Tech

HP confirms that Itanium is Intel #39;s responsibility HP and Intel have confirmed earlier reports that located a massive migration of HP Itanium boat people making their way to Intel. True to speculation, Intel has agreed to hire hundreds of HP #39;s Itanium engineers working at a Ft.

3Sci/Tech

#39;Wearable #39; solar panels to charge mobiles Wearable solar panels that could charge mobile phones, music players or light batteries are likely to go on sale within three years, according to New Scientist magazine.

3Sci/Tech

NEC licenses Honeywell LCD tech Honeywell #39;s legal action against 34 electronics and computing companies for allegedly infringing one of its LCD patents has yielded its first public licensing agreement.

3Sci/Tech

Let the new owner pay Congratulations to Linda Cropp and her fellow DC council members who voted with her Tuesday night. By insisting that private funding be included for a new baseball stadium in Washington, they did the right thing.

1Sports

NBA Game Preview (Sports Network) - The Detroit Pistons will try to avoid their first three- game losing streak of the season when they head to Madison Square Garden to battle the New York Knicks.

1Sports

Successful, respected coach usually has last laugh Before we talk about the possibility Rick Majerus is the greatest coaching hire in USC sports history, let #39;s acknowledge that his arrival Wednesday raised a number of questions.

1Sports

Bryant is sorry; Shaq justhasnothingtosay With their Christmas Day showdown nine days away, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Heat center Shaquille O #39;Neal shared thoughts Wednesday on their upcoming reunion game at Staples Center.

1Sports

Sky #39;s the limit when it comes to Sox spending If you want to get a rise out of a small-market general manager, ask him about the Red Sox being limited by their budget. Already this weekend at the winter meetings, we #39;ve

1Sports

Peace may now stand a chance In his olive nylon bomber jacket, olive fatigue pants and black combat boots, Al-Aqsa Martyr #39;s Brigades member Abu Said sees himself as a soldier, fighting Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

0World

British official resigns over nanny scandal Britain #39;s top law enforcement officer, a key member of Tony Blair #39;s Cabinet, resigned Wednesday after acknowledging that his department fast-tracked a visa for his former lover #39;s nanny.

0World

Pakistan seeks investors for port Pakistan plans to invite foreign investors to operate its new port of Gwadar, an unusual step for a country that has attracted little foreign capital.

0World

Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies

2Business

Airbus forecasts increased demand for its largest fleet Airbus, the world #39;s biggest maker of commercial aircraft, forecast yesterday that airlines will need 1,902 jumbo planes over the next 20 years -- more than double the forecast of its rival, The Boeing Co.

2Business

'Truly' takes San Gabriel Truly a Judge edged Star Cross by a length yesterday in Arcadia, Calif., to win the \$150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

1Sports

Portable panels mean power in your pocket London - European scientists have developed light, flexible solar panels that could be sewn on fabrics and placed on surfaces to charge objects ranging from cellphones and DVD players to batteries.

3Sci/Tech

STN-LCD maker EDT projects above 130 CSTN capacity growth in 2Q ... Emerging Display Technologies (EDT), specializing in small-to-medium STN/CSTN-LCD panels, will ramp up its monthly capacity for CSTN LCDs from 30,000 units at present to 70,000 in the second quarter of 2005, according to the company.

3Sci/Tech

Replacements on US team? A labor dispute between the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and players has halted World Cup preparations and could result in the national team using replacement players for the Feb.

1Sports

Tokyo's Nikkei Average Closes Lower TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average closed lower Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak as profit-taking hit Toyota Motor Corp. and other exporters that had benefited from gains on Wall Street and a weaker yen.

2Business

ABN AMRO Leads European Shares Higher LONDON (Reuters) - European shares opened firmer on Thursday led by ABN AMRO as investors applauded the savings the Dutch broker will make from cutting jobs.

2Business

Google wins trademark ruling over online advertising policy Google Inc. won a major legal victory yesterday when a federal judge ruled that the search engine's advertising policy does not violate federal trademark laws.

2Business

Ex-Serono executive charged in bribery case Federal prosecutors yesterday alleged that a former sales director for Serono Inc. offered doctors bribes in return for prescribing its AIDS treatment as part of a marketing program at the Swiss drug company, whose main US offices are in Rockland.

2Business

Pioneering McCaw at epicenter of cell deals The announced union of Sprint and Nextel Communications yesterday marked the second mega-deal in the wireless industry this year - and the second involving a life change for a Craig McCaw-built venture.

2Business

Kansas rallies to nip Georgia Tech in OT Keith Langford's twisting shot with three seconds left in overtime capped a comeback from a 16-point deficit and lifted second-ranked Kansas to a 70-68 victory over No. 9 Georgia Tech yesterday at Lawrence, Kan.

1Sports

Accounting department As Papa Griffith used to say every Jan. 1, "Well, it looks like we made it through another year."

1Sports

Holiday traveler outlook: no gifts MANATEE - Expect airports and roads to be even more crowded than usual this holiday season. That #39;s the word from AAA, which predicted Wednesday that a record number of Americans and Floridians will travel during the Christmas and New Year #39;s holidays.

2Business

Tennessee topples Aggies with ease DALLAS -- Looking nothing like the third-string quarterback he was most of the season, Rick Clausen led No. 15 Tennessee to five touchdowns in just 2 1/2 quarters and the defense had its way with 22d-ranked Texas A amp;M in a 38-7 victory in the Cotton Bowl yesterday. Winning was nice enough for the Vols after losing their last two bowl ...

1Sports

Notebook: Washington move in jeopardy Major League Baseball is poised to cancel the move of the Montreal Expos to Washington after the District of Columbia Council on Tuesday amended the agreement

1Sports

Seminoles end on high note JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Nice recovery, Chris Rix. Coach Bobby Bowden stuck with his struggling quarterback and Rix eventually sparked No. 17 Florida State with two long second-half touchdown drives yesterday, beating West Virginia, 30-18, in the Gator Bowl.

1Sports

Antonio Tarver #39;s Transcendent Dreams By Patrick Kehoe: World light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver may be 35 and yet he #39;s not about to indulge in limits, conditional options or relativism of any kind.

1Sports

Jones sues her accuser Marion Jones has filed a 12million lawsuit for defamation against the man who alleged he supplied her with performance-enhancing drugs.

1Sports

Nuggets win on Anthony #39;s shot Anthony #39;s 15-foot jumper with 3.6 seconds remaining gave the Nuggets a 100-99 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, the fifth stop on Denver #39;s seven-game road trip.

1Sports

Brackman provides heroics for Wolfpack Andrew Brackman provided the spark that No. 12 NC State so desperately needed Wednesday night. As a result, the Wolfpack stayed unbeaten -- barely.

1Sports