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US painted as fascist torturers in Havana propaganda battle. A war of words flared yesterday when Cuban authorities displayed a giant swastika and pictures of abused Iraqi prisoners in front of the US mission in Havana.

Free-agent signings bump some Mariners into role revisions. The signings of Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson will have a domino effect on the rest of the Mariners #39; plans, not to mention the rest of the Mariners.

Hundreds to rally for regiments. Campaign group Save The Scottish Regiments organises a march in Edinburgh against Army cuts.

Biggest Utility in New Jersey Seen as Target of Acquisition. The Exelon Corporation, the owner of utilities in northern Illinois and eastern Pennsylvania, is in talks to acquire P.S.E. G.

Lazard I.P.O. Seeks to Raise \$850 Million. Lazard, the financial advisory boutique, filed for an initial public offering that is expected to command a valuation of around \$3 billion.

Banks Drop Support of Bid for Russian Oil Giant's Unit. A consortium of international banks has withdrawn their support for a bid by the state gas monopoly Gazprom to buy one of Yukos's prized assets.

White House Predicts Slower Growth in 2005. The Bush administration predicted on Friday that economic growth would slow to 3.5 percent from about 4 percent next year but still be strong enough to reduce unemployment slightly.

High dosage of Celebrex carries heart attack, stroke risk, Pfizer <b>...</b>. Pfizer Inc. said Friday that it found an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes for patients taking high dosages of its top-selling arthritis painkiller Celebrex, the same

Exelon in talks to buy PSEG for \$12bn. Exelon, the US energy group, is in advanced talks to buy the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) for about \$12bn in stock, according to people familiar with the talks.

Cingular offering the Sony Ericsson Z500a. The Sony Ericsson Z500a is packed with features such as 3D gaming, music ringtones, integrated VGA digital camera with zoom with video capabilities for short taking short clips.

Stove burns hot in Seattle. The Mariners, who as a collective organization said to anyone who would listen that they wouldn #39;t stand for another 99-loss season or anything resembling it, have put their money where their mouth is.

Different routes, same result as teams gird for title game. It no longer matters that Montana #39;s drive to the NCAA Division I-AA football championship game has featured six straight homefield victories - all

Locked-out NHLers defeat Swedish champs. Ray Whitney scored for the second straight game and added an assist, helping the World Stars rebound from a lopsided loss and beat Swedish champion HV71 5-1 on Friday.

White House welcomes EU-Turkey breakthrough. The White House on Friday warmly welcomed a hard-fought deal between the European Union and Turkey that sets the stage for Ankara to start EU entry talks next year.

Iraqi gunmen kill foreigners in car and cut head off one of their <b>...</b>. GUNMEN attacked a car in the Iraq city of Mosul yesterday, killing three foreigners and their Iraqi driver before cutting off the head of one of the victims.

Fenner, Banks give JMU ground control on way to I-AA title. In this mountainous area, James Madison #39;s Dukes seemed to play offense downhill last night. With a veteran offensive line and two physical runners, JMU overpowered Montana

White House Predicts Slower Growth in 2005. The Bush administration predicted on Friday that economic growth would slow next year but still be strong enough to reduce unemployment slightly.

American Express to cut 2,000 jobs. American Express Co said it will cut 2,000 jobs, or 2.5 per cent of its work force, in a restructuring designed to save more than USD 75 million a year before taxes.

NBA Wrap: Heat Tame Bobcats to Extend Winning Streak (Reuters). Reuters - Dwyane Wade poured in 26 points and\dished out nine assists as the Miami Heat scorched the\expansion Charlotte Bobcats 113-90 in NBA action on Saturday,\to extend their franchise record win streak to 14 games.

Reports: Red Sox reach agreement with Clement. BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox apparently have moved quickly to address the loss of ace Pedro Martinez. According to multiple reports Friday, the Red Sox and veteran right-hander Matt Clement have come

Bangla bowlers send ripples; India 403 for six. CHITTAGONG: India received early blows from cricketing minnows Bangladesh on the second day of the second cricket Test here on Saturday.

Spotless Singapore cracks down after dengue outbreak (AFP). AFP - Singapore homeowners found with mosquitoes breeding on their premises will be fined instantly after dengue fever cases hit a 10-year high in the city-state better known for its spotless streets.

Neighbors Honor Soldier Who Touched Many Lives. The funeral procession for Army Capt. Mark Stubenhofer was so long yesterday that his family had to wait a half-hour in blustery winds before the service could begin at Arlington National Cemetery.

U.S. Officials Point to Promise Of Session on Arab Democracy. The Bush administration, responding to negative reviews of an international conference on Middle East democracy last week in Morocco, said that the event provided a platform for human rights and other nongovernmental groups in the Arab world.

China Planning to Enact Law Against Secession. Analysts say the move could legally bind the Communist Party leadership to follow through on its long-standing threat to attack Taiwan if the island formally declares independence.

The chatty skies. THE WORLD does not need cellphones in the sky. They #39;re causing enough trouble on the ground. Here #39;s hoping the Federal Communications Commission gets a load of mail nixing its proposal to lift the current

Questions and Praise for Google Web Library. When Randall C. Jimerson, the president of the Society of American Archivists, heard of Google #39;s plan to convert certain holdings at Oxford University and at some of the leading research

The Fox Is in Microsoft #39;s Henhouse (and Salivating). Published by the Mozilla Foundation, a nonprofit group supporting open-source software that draws upon the skills of hundreds of volunteer programmers, Firefox is a Web browser that is fast

Dravid falls for 160; India 413/7. Chittagong, Dec. 18. Rahul Dravid fell for 160 while Sachin Tendulkar exited after making 36 runs on the second day of the second and final test between India and Bangladesh here today.

Pfizer: Celebrex heightens heart risk. PHILADELPHIA - Pfizer Inc. said Friday that its popular pain-reliever Celebrex may double the risk of heart attack at high doses, triggering a torrent of new warnings about an entire class of drugs used by millions.

Iressa more trouble for AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca PLC #39;s shares plunged 7.7 percent Friday after a study found that its new lung-cancer drug Iressa failed to improve survival rates among patients.

The Glitch That Stole Holiday Buys (washingtonpost.com). washingtonpost.com - Agonizingly slow Web sites. Maddening error messages. And, most frustrating of all, unavailable home pages.

Recording Industry Files Another 754 Copyright Lawsuits. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has announced that its member companies filed a new wave of copyright infringement lawsuits against 754 individual file-sharers.

Venezuela Revels in Fireworks Celebrations (AP). AP - Whistling rockets streak through the sky each night, and firecrackers still echo through the streets in Venezuela this holiday season despite a long-standing ban and a new effort by authorities to crack down on the tradition.

Wizards Whip Lakers 120-116 in OT (AP). AP - Gilbert Arenas scored 37 points, Larry Hughes had 31, and the Washington Wizards beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-116 in overtime Friday night.

Mets set sights (quietly) on Beltran. The Mets stayed well under the radar for a good while with their stealth pursuit of Pedro Martinez, and it looks like they will try to take that approach again.

Steelers #39; defense has rookie quarterback Eli Manning in its sights. So if the back-up nose tackle of the Steelers (12-1) gets a sack in the 1:30 pm game, you know it #39;s going to be another long day for Manning and the Giants (5-8).

U.S. Warns of Attacks in Indonesia (AP). AP - The State Department on Saturday warned that terrorists were planning more attacks against Western targets in Indonesia over Christmas and New Years, reiterating advice to its citizens not to travel to the country.

Police Arrest Rio De Janeiro Drug Lord. Police said Saturday they have arrested one of Rio de Janeiro's most-wanted drug lords.

Rafique and Mortaza restrict India in second Bangladesh Test (AFP). AFP - Mohammad Rafique and Mashrafe Mortaza shared five wickets as Bangladesh restricted India to 413-7 at lunch on the second day of the second and final Test here.

Pfizer leaves the arthritis drug on the market despite problems <b>...</b>. The nation #39;s top arthritis painkiller, Celebrex, raises the risk of major heart problems when taken at high doses, the drug #39;s maker said Friday.

Rivals hope for the worst. Looking for a cloud in Symantec #39;s latest silver lining, competitors are hoping the company #39;s acquisition of storage software maker Veritas will be a stumbling block for the security firm.

Sprint-Nextel merger widens gap to mobile #39;s #39;have nots #39;. Now that wireless is officially a land of giants, what happens to all the Lilliputians? With Sprint and Nextel announcing their merger Wednesday - \$35 billion deal

United pilots set to vote on pay cut. SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Pilot leaders at United Airlines unanimously endorsed a tentative agreement that will cut pay by 15 percent, opting to accept management #39;s demands rather than risk the chance of losing more in federal bankruptcy court.

MLB Notebook: Johnson trade still in the works. The New York Yankees, Arizona and Los Angeles spent yesterday trying to put the finishing touches on the megadeal that would move All-Stars Randy Johnson, Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez.

A Test for Ravens #39; Offense. On Sunday night, all eyes will be on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning #39;s pursuit of Dan Marino #39;s single-season touchdown record and the Baltimore

Gunmen Demand Peru President's Resignation. President Alejandro Toledo declared a state of emergency in a remote highland province late Saturday after gunmen demanding his resignation seized control of a police station there and took several officers hostage, authorities said.

Troops Oust Haiti Rebels From Ex-Leader #39;s Villa. United Nations peacekeepers on Friday stormed the home of the former president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to evict rebel former soldiers who seized the compound two days ago.

Clinical trial links Celebrex to heart risk. In an announcement that many doctors were waiting for, Pfizer Inc. said its top-selling painkiller Celebrex -- which is similar to Vioxx -- caused an increased risk of heart attacks when used in high doses during a clinical trial.

Russia rejects US order barring Yukos auction. MOSCOW - Russia is vowing to proceed with an auction of oil giant Yukos #39; key production subsidiary, saying a US court ban is irrelevant.

United Starts Financing Search. United Airlines has begun approaching potential lenders with its revamped business plan for financing to leave bankruptcy, the company said on Friday.

Hope Fades on Identifying Missing Foreigners. With thousands of decomposing bodies piled up in a temporary morgue on Thailand's southern coast, hope was fading Saturday that any of more than 6,000 foreigners still missing would be found alive.

The Talk Shows. <em> Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:</em>

Yes, Options Really Are an Expense. One of my favorite pastimes as the final ruling on expensing stock options came upon us has been to read the increasingly hysterical opinion pages of the San Jose Mercury News, the newspaper of record for Silicon Valley.

Firm looks to acquire Jersey #39;s top utility. Public Service Enterprise Group, a heavyweight in setting public policy and promoting economic development in the state, is in talks to be acquired by a giant Chicago gas and electric company

Engineer #39;s thoughts drift toward Saturnian moon. In less than a month, a little piece of Centennial engineer Laura Ellen Dafoe will parachute to the frigid surface of Saturn #39;s moon Titan.

Quarter of world #39;s bird species face extinction threat. A tenth of the world #39;s bird species are likely to have vanished by the year 2100, with another 15 on the brink of extinction, a group of scientists have warned.

Asian Stocks Had Biggest Weekly Gain in 7 Months; Sony Rises. Asian stocks had the biggest gain in seven months on optimism the US economy is growing after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and a government report showed an unexpected increase in retail sales last month.

FOOTBALL: MOURINHO: BEAT BARCA? NOU PROBLEM. JOSE MOURINHO last night promised Barcelona that as far as football is concerned, his side can prove that size doesn #39;t matter.

Red Sox miffed by parting shots. Feeling he had been a good teammate and friend to Pedro Martinez and had gladly accepted being the No. 2 pitcher behind him, Curt Schilling expressed surprise

Tinsley #39;s big 2nd half lifts Pacers to win. INDIANAPOLIS Jamaal Tinsley scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Pacers to an 89-86 victory over the Raptors, who traded All-Star Vince Carter to New Jersey earlier Friday.

Miller fourth in Italian super-G race. VAL GARDENA, Italy - Bode Miller finished fourth Friday in a super-G while Michael Walchhofer led Austrians into the top-three places.

Void is filled with Clement. With the supply of attractive pitching options dwindling daily -- they lost Pedro Martinez to the Mets, missed on Tim Hudson, and are resigned to Randy Johnson

Insider Preview - Sonics vs. Suns. On Dec. 23, the Phoenix Suns and new Coach Mike D #39;Antoni traveled north to Seattle to take on the SuperSonics. The Suns were barely in a 116-90 loss, dropping to 10-19 on the season, an incredible disappointment

Saban, Dolphins wait out NFL process. BATON ROUGE - The Miami Dolphins may be saying their pursuit of LSU coach Nick Saban is on hold for the time being, but LSU #39;s search party is not sitting on its hands waiting for the signal to look for a new coach.

Zito, Mulder may be on trading block too. A #39;s general manager Billy Beane might not stop with his trade of ace right-hander Tim Hudson. Beane figures to make at least one more significant deal this off-season, and one of his two prized left-handers

Palestinian death toll rises to nine in Israeli raid in Gaza. GAZA CITY - The Palestinian death toll during an Israeli army incursion in Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip has risen to nine, Palestinian medical sources said.

Scientists pinpoint Yushchenko poison. Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with TCDD, the most harmful known dioxin and one contained in Agent Orange, a scientist who analyzed his blood said yesterday.

Thai PM vows to step up arrests of separatists as rescue worker <b>...</b>. BANGKOK: Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra vowed to continue arresting ringleaders of separatist attacks as a volunteer rescue worker became the latest victim of violence that has claimed more than 560 lives this year.

Chiofaro to keep stake in towers. Developer Donald J. Chiofaro will hang onto partial ownership of the two International Place office towers under an agreement reached yesterday in his high-profile bankruptcy case.

Job figures disappoint in Mass.. The Massachusetts economic recovery remained stagnant last month as the unemployment rate dipped slightly, but employers sliced payrolls for the third time in four months, the state reported yesterday.

EUROPE MARKETS. LONDON (CBS.MW) -- European stocks were mixed Friday, with Paris-listed stocks failing to shine but German stocks were boosted after business sentiment increased during November.

American Express to eliminate 2,500 jobs in restructuring. New York (Dow Jones) -- American Express Co. said Friday it will cut 2,000 jobs, or 2.5 percent of its work force, in a restructuring designed to save more than \$75 million a year before taxes.

FCC May Allow Cell-Phone Use on Airplanes. The Federal Communications Commission has voted to consider eliminating its ban on the use of cell phones on airplanes. The agency instituted the ban because of potential interference with ground-based cell systems.

New IE Exploit Spoofs Web Sites. Security researchers have uncovered a spoofing flaw in Internet Explorer that could turn out to be the perfect holiday gift for scammers.

Green has reasons to move. Shawn Green would consider leaving Los Angeles for Arizona, which means a proposed three-team trade sending Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees is very much alive.

Indian army chief to visit China from December 22 in first trip for decade (AFP). AFP - India's army chief General Nirmal Chandra Vij will pay a week-long visit to China this month in the first such visit for a decade, reports said.

US Not Aiming to Topple N.Korean Regime-Report. TOKYO (Reuters) - The United States has decided to aim for a gradual transformation in North Korea rather than seek to topple North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's regime, a Japanese newspaper said Saturday.

'Artificial life' comes step closer. Researchers at Rockefeller University make small synthetic vesicles that resemble a crude kind of biological cell.

Afghan troops storm Kabul jail; eight killed. KABUL -- Afghan troops stormed a notorious prison in a hail of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades yesterday, ending a 10-hour standoff that began when four inmates once suspected of belonging to Al Qaeda tried to escape. Four inmates and four guards were killed in the day's violence.

Deadly ambush on a street in Mosul. BAGHDAD -- Insurgents killed four foreigners yesterday in Mosul, a northern city that became a stronghold after Fallujah fell to US and Iraqi forces. Militants also set ablaze a pipeline near the capital -- a rare attack on oil infrastructure in a populated area.

Name of hostage confirmed. BAGHDAD -- The US Embassy confirmed the name of an American kidnapped six weeks ago in a deadly attack in the Iraqi capital, and his family pleaded yesterday for his release.

US forgives \$4.1b Iraq debt. WASHINGTON -- The United States yesterday forgave \$4.1 billion Iraq owed it and urged other nations not part of an international debt relief agreement to follow suit.

Scientists pinpoint Yushchenko poison . LONDON -- Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with TCDD, the most harmful known dioxin and one contained in Agent Orange, a scientist who analyzed his blood said yesterday.

Full Extent of Indonesia Disaster Slowly Revealed. BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - Desperate survivors huddle in clearings without food or shelter above the water line all along the tsunami-ravaged coast of Indonesia's Aceh province, and corpses float as far as 20 miles out to sea.

Future looks bleak for Yukos. HAMISH ROBERTSON: But first to Moscow where the future of Russia #39;s largest oil company, Yukos, isn #39;t looking too bright this weekend.

Governor Wants Fines for Selling Violent Games to Kids. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wants tougher penalties aimed at keeping violent and sexually explicit video games out of the hands of kids.

Soaring toward extinction. The next century definitely will not be for the birds as the changing world takes a toll on many species. By 2100, about 10 percent of all bird species probably will be extinct, killed off by habitat loss, hunting

Saban to Have Competition in Coach Search (AP). AP - The Miami Dolphins' coaching search will include more than one candidate, even though LSU's Nick Saban remains the front-runner.

Red Sox introduce Renteria to Boston. BOSTON -- A year ago, the anticipated press conference to herald the arrival of Nomar Garciaparras replacement at shortstop never happened.

Rafique and Mortaza strike, but India pass 400. Mohammad Rafique and Mashrafe Mortaza shared five wickets as India reached 7 for 413 at lunch on day two of the second and final Test in Chittagong.

Europe and US reach Kyoto compromise. Europe and the United States reached an 11th-hour compromise late last night at the UN climate change conference in Buenos Aires. The two sides were locked in disagreement on future efforts to reduce harmful

Israeli Military Escalation Undermines Palestinian Elections IOF <b>...</b>. In an ongoing invasion of the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Khan Yunis, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) tanks and warplanes have killed 9 Palestinians, wounded 22 others, demolished at least 38 Palestinian houses and forced hundreds of families

Wake Forest Hopes to Bounce Back (AP). AP - Like most of his peers, Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser wants more than victories from his early schedule.

Red Sox miffed by parting shots. Feeling he had been a good teammate and friend to Pedro Martinez and had gladly accepted being the No. 2 pitcher behind him, Curt Schilling expressed surprise and disappointment yesterday over Martinez's parting shots at him, general manager Theo Epstein, and manager Terry Francona.

Jazzy win for Celtics. Doc Rivers does not ordinarily spend the fourth quarter sitting on the bench. The Celtics coach prefers to pace the sideline shouting instructions, offering encouragement, and challenging referees. But last night's game against Utah offered Rivers a considerable amount of down time, particularly in the second half. He spent much of the fourth in his seat, learning back and shaking ...

Poole is out for the year. The Patriots seemed to have reason for optimism following Tyrone Poole's return to action last Sunday and the upgrading of Ty Law to doubtful for the team's visit to Miami Monday. But the situation changed yesterday. Poole was placed on the injured reserve list and is out for the season, according to Patriots spokesman Stacey James.

Presidents look to rule. Bob Fisher, the legendary coach who guided Rockland for more than 30 years and won a state title last season, left the Bulldogs and appeared to ride off into the sunset.

Tigers' Gurley elevates his game. Elevation. Everyone's familiar with it, but only a rare breed can attain it. It's the intangible that allows a player to make his teammates play beyond their natural abilities.

Antonio Tarver-Glen Johnson; Round By Round Coverage. Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson are set to meet in order to prove who is the best light heavyweight in the world. Both fighters are coming off the biggest wins of their careers against the same man.