With a winning bid of \$28,000, the online casino GoldenPalace.com won the auction for one of eBay #39;s most coveted oddities: a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich, one side of which bears the Virgin Mary #39;s image.

The \$28K Sandwich That Grew No Mold


A Chinese court has sentenced a man to 19 years in prison for trafficking pornographic DVDS, state media reports.

Man jailed over China DVD porn


JAKARTA (Reuters) - Fugitive al Qaeda leader Osama bin  Laden once invited Indonesian preacher Abu Bakar Bashir to live  in Afghanistan, a young militant jailed over the bombing of a  Jakarta hotel told the cleric's terrorism trial on Thursday.

Bin Laden Contacted Indonesia's Bashir, Court Told


Watch a movie or make a mobile phone call. Soon, in France, you might not be able to do both at once.

France May Allow Jamming of Mobile Phones


Short-term interest-rate futures contracts traded at the Chicago Board of Trade now reflect increased odds the central bank will raise US interest rates at each of its next few meetings, including on Nov. 10 and at the final meeting of the year on Dec.

Column: Market Focus


AP - President Bush on Monday tapped the chairman of his re-election campaign, Ken Mehlman, to head the Republican Party.

Bush to Name Campaign Chief to Head GOP (AP)


Fallen football legend Diego Maradona has returned to Cuba to resume treatment for cocaine addiction after a relapse confined him to a psychiatric hospital in his native Argentine and sparked unsuccessful attempts by his family to keep him at home.

Maradona returns to Cuba for treatment


Reuters - Corey Koskie clubbed a two-run homer\in the top of the 10th inning to help the Minnesota Twins hold\on to first place in the American League Central with a 4-2\road win over the Cleveland Indians.

AL Wrap: Koskie Slugs Homer in 10th as Twins Edge Indians (Reuters)


For several decades researchers have studied toxin levels in Arctic peoples and wildlife and tracked pollution sources. Peter Ross is a marine mammal toxicologist with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Sidney, British Columbia.

Toxins Accumulate in Arctic Peoples, Animals, Study Says


Hungary #39;s government will ask lawmakers to keep its 300 troops in Iraq for an extra three months before pulling them out by March 31, the country #39;s new prime minister said Wednesday.

Hungary Plans to Withdraw Troops From Iraq


Cazenove Group Plc, Britain #39;s oldest independent stockbroker, will hold its annual shareholder meeting Tuesday after the Financial Times reported it #39;s weighing offers from two US banks.

Cazenove Shareholders to Meet as Company Weighs Possible Offers


There are always trade-offs to every place people choose to live. If you live in New York, it #39;s too expensive. If you live in Montana, it #39;s too remote.

The Aftermath Of Charley: The Most Expensive States To Insure Your <b>...</b>


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale Corp. <A HREF=

Costco Posts Higher First-Quarter Profit


Vladimir Guerrero wins the American League MVP award Tuesday, just the fifth time a player switched leagues and earned the honor in his first season with his new team.

Guerrero Wins AL MVP


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Family members of an American and a Briton held by kidnappers in Iraq appealed for their lives after a grisly video posted on the Internet purportedly showed militants beheading U.S. civil engineer Eugene Armstrong and threatening to kill another hostage in 24 hours...

Iraq Hostages' Kin Appeal for Their Lives


Swede Robin Soderling clinched the first ATP Tour title of his career when he tamed Belgium #39;s Xavier Malisse 6-2 3-6 6-4 in the final of the Lyon Grand Prix on Sunday.

Sweden #39;s Soderling clinches first ATP Tour title


AP - Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Music site will begin featuring some artists from the independent music Web site GarageBand.com in a deal both companies said is aimed at giving little-known musicians access to a broader audience.

Microsoft to Work With GarageBand.com (AP)


WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (AFP) - More than 135 people have been arrested in an international crackdown on fraudulent telemarketing operations that may have netted hundreds of millions of dollars from unwary victims, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said Tuesday

International telemarketing fraud probe nets 135


FILDERSTADT (Germany): American Lindsay Davenport won the Filderstadt Grand Prix yesterday after world number one Amelie Mauresmo retired injured after the first set.

Injury forces Mauresmo to forfeit final, Soderling win in Lyon


By NATALIE GOTT    AUSTIN (AP) -- Ask 7-year-old John Simmons if he can run a marathon and he shyly laughs. But ask him if he can run 26.2 miles over several months and he nods yes...

New Program Encourages Kids to Run Marathons


WASHINGTON -- The State Department welcomed yesterday steps by China and Taiwan to ease tensions by curtailing long-planned military exercises. Taiwan canceled a major live-fire military exercise shortly after Beijing reportedly called off massive war games near Taiwan.  quot;We welcome and encourage all these steps that are being taken by Taiwan and the People's Republic of China to reduce tensions, quot; ...

China, Taiwan lauded for canceling exercises


Reuters - A suicide bomber killed at\least 25 people in a mosque packed with worshippers and wounded\more than 50 when he blew himself up during Friday prayers in\the eastern Pakistani town of Sialkot, police said.

Suicide Bomber Kills 25 in Pakistani Mosque (Reuters)


Spin it any way you want. Convince yourself the Yankees are in the midst of a colossal collapse and on the verge of being shut out of the postseason.

RACE IS ON AGAIN


Microsoft and Cisco Systems have announced that the two companies have entered into a pact to share security and network health technologies, to better stop, isolate and eliminate viruses and other malicious codes on Windows-based networks.

MS, Cisco to Collaborate on Security Solution


\\Zawodny  threads off of Scoble  on the IE issue:\\

Microsoft, IE and Bloat


In order to take the top job as Disney, Robert A. Iger, the companys president, must walk a fine line between stating his accomplishments and appearing to engage in an unseemly campaign for the job.

The Wonderful World of Succession


TOKYO - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said today it #39;s in talks to buy a plot of land in central Japan #39;s Nagoya city from Mitsubishi Motors for building aircraft parts.

Japan land deal aimed at 7E7 wing plant


A spotted owl perches in the Tahoe National Forest in California, July 12, 2004. The timber industry group that sued to have the threatened species status of the northern spotted owl reviewed says it does

No Change Expected on Spotted Owl Status


A software tools maker is staking its future on helping developers prepare for streamlined coding for Web services (define) as well as Avalon, the graphics display component in the works for Longhorn, Microsoft #39;s next version of Windows.

Xamlon #39;s Quest: Bring Devs to XAML


A woman who stopped dreaming after a stroke is helping researchers unravel the mysteries of sleep. The 73-year-old patient was admitted to hospital after a stroke disrupted blood flow to an area at the back of her brain, called the occipital lobe.

Dreamless woman remains healthy


Retailers and their customers face unduly high fees when using MasterCards, the Office of Fair Trading said yesterday in its latest provisional findings into the way card charges are set.

OFT says MasterCard overcharges retailers


Cary, NC (Sports Network) - Craig Stadler shot a seven-under-par 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead of the SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club.

Stadler leads SAS Championship


Reuters - The New Orleans Saints\Monday acquired cornerback Mike McKenzie and a future\conditional draft choice from Green Bay. In exchange, the\Packers received a second-round pick in 2005 and quarterback\J.T. O'Sullivan.

Saints Acquire Veteran Cornerback McKenzie (Reuters)


Environmentalists, who have recognized the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea as a wildlife refuge, are pressing to preserve it.

Does a Tiger Lurk in the Middle of a Fearful Symmetry?


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Blockbuster Inc. <A HREF=

Blockbuster Posts Big Loss, COO Resigns


Reuters - Elephants must receive hundreds\of times more space to live at San Francisco's zoo or not be\kept at the facility, city legislators said on Tuesday in\legislation that could effectively bar pachyderms for good.

San Francisco Rules Could Bar Elephants from Zoo (Reuters)


Kurt Warner #39;s thing is about the locker room learning what it #39;s like to win together. Michael Strahan #39;s thing revolves around a want of respect and the importance of the next game in gaining that commodity.

Blowout eases Giants #39; minds


A German manufacturer of technology commonly used in personal computers has agreed to plead guilty and pay a \$160 million fine for engaging in an international price-fixing conspiracy that drove up computer prices, the Justice

Tech company to plead guilty to price fixing


AP - As of Monday, Aug. 16, 935 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 697 died as a result of hostile action and 238 died of non-hostile causes.

A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP)


ST. LOUIS - In an effort to revive flattening sales and attract new drinkers, Anheuser-Busch is unveiling a new concoction - a fruity-smelling beer, spiked with caffeine, guarana and ginseng...

Anheuser-Busch to Debut Souped-Up Beer


Tyrone Willingham and Lorenzo Romar are recognized as accomplished college coaches, the biggest reason Washington administrators are glad to have them working the sidelines.

Two high-profile black coaches for Huskies


Set aside, for a moment, the Twelve Days of Christmas. And consider what the coming holiday season would be like with the Twelve Teams of Playoffs.

This season more jolly with playoff


Ireland drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their World Cup qualifier to partially avenge a defeat to the hosts before Euro 2004. A 2-0 defeat to the Swiss in the same city last October ended Ireland #39;s

Switzerland and Ireland share spoils


Microsoft #39;s MSN (Quote, Chart) launched a blogging tool that ties in with its home media technology plays. Called MSN Spaces, the beta is part of an update to MSN #39;s suite of communication services.

MSN Goes to The Blogs


November 05, 2004 - She #39;s been the gal whose smile has lit up the lives of PlayStation gamers several times in the past, and Reiko Nagase is going to make the PlayStation Portable sizzle when she makes her long-awaited return with the handheld edition #39;s

Reiko Waves On Ridge Racers


TRENTON, N.J. - High-level New Jersey Democrats said Sunday that pressure is building among members of Gov...

Democrats Pressure McGreevey to Leave Soon


AUSTIN (Texas) - It is not your typical, humdrum, slate-coloured computer. Not only is the PC known as the  #39;hip-e #39; almost all white, but its screen and keyboard are framed in fuzzy pink fur. Or a leopard skin design. Or a graffiti-themed pattern.

It #39;s hip, it #39;s funky, it #39;s a PC made just for teens


Call it the kitty's third life. Roxio Inc. (ROXI) bought the Napster brand name and feline logo at a bankruptcy auction two years ago and with the acquisition of another music service, pressplay, relaunched the once-renegade file-swapping pioneer as a legal music service last October.

Napster Receives New Life As Public Company


(CBS/AP) The Labor Department said Friday that employers #39; payrolls increased by 96,000 overall in September while the unemployment rate held steady at 5.4 percent.

Payrolls Grow, But Miss Target


Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson #39;s bid to have Arsenal duo Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry punished for what he believes was foul play during last month #39;s  #39;Battle of Old Trafford #39; are set to come to nothing because of Football Association (FA

Ferguson hopes of Arsenal action fading


Reuters - The ranks of Americans filling for\initial unemployment compensation swelled last week but at\least half of this increase was linked to devastation wrought\by Hurricane Charley earlier this month, the government said on\Thursday.

Jobless Claims Rise on Back of Hurricane (Reuters)


A public school board in Georgia violated the US Constitution when it placed stickers that challenge the theory of evolution on biology textbooks two years ago, a lawyer for a group of parents said on Friday.

Judge to Rule on Georgia Evolution Disclaimers


CNET News.com's Declan McCullagh explains why convicted virus and worm authors are more likely to do Club Fed than hard time.

Why cyberscofflaws get off easy


AFP - Google Inc.'s hotly anticipated share listing appears set to launch as early as Wednesday.

Google set to list as soon as Wednesday (AFP)


When Scott Drummond created one of the biggest shocks of the European golfing year by winning the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth in May, he spent the week sleeping in a Travelodge.

Drummond is enjoying his step up in class


HAMBURG - Champions Werder Bremen run into Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga #39;s top clash on Saturday highlighted by a showdown of in-form strikers Miroslav Klose and Roy Makaay.

Bundesliga prepares for striker showdown


PARIS -- Yasser Arafat #39;s health is improving, one of his aides said Tuesday, repeating that tests have ruled out leukemia as the cause of the Palestinian leader #39;s health problems.

Arafat #39;s condition is improving, aide says


Winning close games is an art form -- a nebulous blend of luck, talent, timing, and intangibles. But Chelmsford has it down to a science.

A fitting finish for Lions


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won a key victory today as his cabinet easily approved a plan to compensate Jewish settlers who would be uprooted from the Gaza Strip.

Sharon Wins 1st of 3 Votes on Settlement Plan


BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - A small bomb explodedearly on Thursday in an Argentine branch of Citibank but nobodywas injured, police said.

Bomb Explodes in Argentine Branch of Citibank


GRAHAM HENRY admitted he was mentally shattered after coming through an emotional return to Cardiff with his pride intact - but only just.

It #39;s been emotional says proud coach


Reuters - More than 100 people have been\arrested in the largest global crackdown to date on identity\theft, hacking and other Internet-based crimes, Attorney\General John Ashcroft said on Thursday.

U.S. Says Over 100 Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep (Reuters)


Prosecutors in Verden, Germany, indicted an 18-year-old student on Wednesday for allegedly creating the Sasser worm that crashed hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide

German teenager indicted over Sasser worm


Service provider revamps spam and spyware defenses, offers account lock to members.

New AOL Software Gives Added Security


WASHINGTON - Congress may keep up the focus on the prison abuse scandal following the disclosure that the military has concealed as many as 100

Lawmakers Troubled by 'Ghost Detainees'


ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States retained both Olympic  4x400 meters relay titles Saturday with individual champion  Jeremy Wariner running the third leg for the men's team.

United States Retains Both 4x400 Titles


You can bury them in the standings but you can #39;t break their spirit. Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield, both victimized by Robby Gordon #39;s retaliatory strike directed at Greg Biffle

Nobody #39;s out of Chase, yet


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc. slashed the size of its  closely watched initial public offering nearly in half to less  than \$2 billion on Wednesday, splashing cold water on what has  been touted as the hottest Internet IPO in years.

Google Slashes IPO's Size


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cardiovascular device maker Guidant  Corp. <A HREF=

FDA OKs Some Heart Failure Therapies


Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said that is looking for ways to work more closely with developers of the Open Office open source project, while at the same time, apparently reserving the right to sue them, according to a legal agreement between Microsoft and Open Office's major sponsor, Sun Microsystems Inc., made public this week.

Sun-Microsoft deal raises Open Office questions


A telescope with a 4-inch diameter -- about the size that some backyard astronomers might use -- tracked the periodic dimming of light from a bright star 500 light-years away.

Small telescope reveals new planet


Global crude oil prices rose on Monday after gunmen stormed a US consulate in Saudi Arabia, arresting a three-day, 13-percent price slide.

Oil prices rise after Saudi attack


You saw the movie, you memorized the song, so let's skip the bit about the Bronx being up and the Battery down. What you need to know is the best way to get around.

Welcome to New York. Now Go Hail a Cab.


Kate Golden rolled in a long eagle putt on 18 to cap a bogey-free 8-under 64 Saturday and move into a tie for the lead with Grace Park after two rounds of the CJ Nine Bridges Classic.

Golden, Park share lead at Nine Bridges Classic


Reuters - RadioShack Corp.  on Tuesday\posted a 22 percent rise in its third-quarter profit due to\strong wireless sales and cost control, and reaffirmed its goal\to grow 2005 earnings by as much 21 percent.

RadioShack Profits as Wireless Sales Jump (Reuters)


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has extended his contract at the English champions until May 2008. Wenger, 55, arrived at Highbury in 1996 and has led the London

UPDATE 1-Wenger extends Arsenal contract until 2008


French President Jacques Chirac has congratulated Nicolas Sarkozy on his nomination as president of his ruling party, Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

Chirac congratulates Finance Minister on winning UMP presidency


OLYMPIA  Amid the olive trees and just past the ancient ruins, on a hillside bathed in an unrelenting Mediterranean sun, 15,000 spectators from around the world converged on this little town to watch 12 men and 12 women compete in the shot put at the ...

Return to Olympia worth long wait


Organized labor is starting to track companies that ship U.S. jobs overseas and will make the information available to the public in a database.

Labor Web Site Tracks Jobs Sent Overseas


Despite a crop of new car models and a still-generous supply of rebates, sales fell for the Ford Motor Company and General Motors in November.

Ford and G.M. Sales Slide Despite Generous Rebates


Dante Ross returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and Bucknell overcame six turnovers in a 35-19 victory over Georgetown on Saturday afternoon.

Wasted Opportunities


TechWeb - CEO Carly Fiorina says Enterprise Servers and Storage unit has returned to profitability.

HP Earnings Rebound (TechWeb)


Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.

Picture 5 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push


Ronnie Coote writes  quot;The UK #39;s largest retailer of electronics is phasing out VHS VCRs. Sales of DVD players have outstripped VCRs by 40-to-1 recently.

The VHS is Dead


Cash'n'Carrion Lots of lovely, warm, black shirts

TechnoDepot restocks for winter offensive


PARIS (Reuters) - France's largest media company, Vivendi  Universal, raised its 2004 earnings forecast as it reported a  19 percent increase in third-quarter underlying operating  profit, buoyed by a rebound in music and strong mobile phone  sales.

Vivendi Ups Forecast After Strong Quarter


Gunmen killed a Venezuelan oil engineer and six soldiers near the border with Colombia in an attack that officials suspected was carried out by Colombian rebels.

Gunmen kill woman, 6 troops in Venezuela


SANTIAGO, Nov 21 (AFP) - During his first visit to Chile, US President George W. Bush rescued a bodyguard scuffling with local security and -- with a slip of the tongue -- moved Iraq #39;s newly announced elections from January to June.

Bush APEC visit not glitch-free


LONDON, September 1 (New Ratings) - UBS AG (UBR.FSE) has reportedly agreed to acquire Charles Schwab Corporations capital markets unit for \$265 million in an all cash deal.

UBS to buy Schwab #39;s capital markets unit for \$265mn


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.

Green has reasons to move


short for  quot;Dual Screen quot; -* * 1/2 out of four, \$150) was designed to bring innovation to the portable video game market, so far only developer Sega has completely caught on.

Nintendo DS: Doubly good


A French national was shot and killed in the Saudi Arabian city of Jiddah early Sunday, the Interior Ministry said. The man was shot at 1 am in the Red Sea port city.

Frenchman shot dead in Saudi Arabia


Kosovo #39;s Albanian-dominated parliament has elected former rebel commander Ramush Haradinaj as prime minister, ignoring Western concern that he may be indicted for war crimes any day now.

Kosovo elects ex-rebel as PM


The political arm of the Irish Republican Army #39;s says it regrets the series of pub bombings that killed 21 people in 1974. Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the killings, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams

SINN FEIN LEADER REGRETS BOMBS


The band R.E. M. releases its 13th major album,

Web Snags Right Demographic


Citroen #39;s Carlos Sainz admitted he was overwhelmed by the support he received on the Rally Catalunya. The Spanish driver, who last month announced his intention to retire from the sport, finished third on

EMOTIONAL FAREWELL FOR SAINZ


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Egypt's official news agency said  Tuesday significant progress had been made in international  efforts to end Israeli-Palestinian violence, but both sides to  the conflict termed talk of a deal premature.

Egypt Sees Move Towards Israel-Palestinian Peace


However, the England defender - who was examined at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio - is likely to miss 10 more weeks of the season, Real Madrid team physician Alfonso del Corral said.

Woodgate out until Christmas


Johnson  amp; Johnson's neck stent is as effective as surgery in clearing blocked blood vessels to the brain that can cause strokes and death, according to a company-funded study in tomorrow's New England Journal of Medicine.

Study: J amp;J neck stent is as effective as surgery


US stocks opened slightly lower on Monday as chip maker Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) fell after a broker downgrade, weakening technology shares, while a drop in crude

Stocks Open Lower; Intel, Oil Stocks Down


BERLIN (Reuters) - The Berlin state government said Monday  it had banned an Arab-Islamic Congress due to be held in the  German capital next month to rally support for Iraqi and  Palestinian

Berlin Bans Controversial Arab-Islamic Congress


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tommy Haas continued his impressive  comeback from injury with a dominant 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 victory over  Brazilian qualifier Ricardo Mello Sunday to reach the fourth  round of the U.S. Open.

Impressive Haas Continues Comeback Run at Open


JEDDAH, 12 September 2004 - Two small bombs left in stolen taxis exploded in Jeddah yesterday, both outside banks with foreign links.

Small Bombs Go Off in Jeddah


Frivolous obstructionism was on display again in the US Senate Tuesday. But don #39;t try to adjust your C-SPAN picture; it #39;s just another poignant example of what the Wall Street Journal calls the  quot;Dead Zone, quot; legislation

Gary Andres


Richard Perle, a director of Hollinger International Inc. and a one-time confidant of Conrad Black, the newspaper publishing company #39;s ex-CEO, has turned on his former friend, the New York Times reported.

Hollinger Director Perle Says Black Misled Him, NYT Reports


PeopleSoft raced past analyst expectations in its just-ended quarter, reporting on Thursday a 12 percent increase in revenue, to \$698.8 million, and a slight uptick in revenue from software license sales.

PeopleSoft posts solid Q3 revenue growth


(Sports Network) - The Sacramento Kings play the second game of their regular season tonight, as they visit the San Antonio Spurs at the SBC Center.

Sacramento Kings Team Report - November 3


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended their  post-election rally for a third session on Friday, with the Dow  striking a four-month high after a government report showed  strong jobs growth last month, boosting hopes that the economic  recovery is taking hold.

Stocks Extend Post-Election Rally


AP - A savage crocodile attack on a group of campers in northern Australia has sparked renewed calls for the partial lifting of a three-decade hunting ban aimed at saving the animals from extinction.

Crocodile Attack Renews Calls for Culls (AP)


AMD and IBM today announced that they have developed a new and unique strained silicon transistor technology aimed at improving processor performance and power efficiency.

AMD, IBM announce semiconductor manufacturing technology <b>...</b>


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

Microsoft Issues Only One Fix in Monthly Security Update


Charles Schwab Corp. (SCH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) the biggest US discount brokerage, on Monday said it would cut trading fees for the second time since June in a bid to outmaneuver rivals amid fierce competition.

Schwab Cuts Trading Fees Again, Stock Off


HONG KONG The Commerce Ministry in China plans to impose tariffs on some textile exports, a step that could avert a trade war with the United States and the European Union over a new influx of low-cost Chinese garments that had appeared likely to flood

Beijing set to impose own tariffs on textiles


Virginia Tech scores 24 points off four first-half turnovers in a 55-6 wipeout of Maryland on Thursday to remain alone atop the ACC.

Hokies Blast Terps


quot; I admit it, most of my notes for this game considered of  quot;IY Shannon quot; and  quot;Mr. and Mrs. Dan Boxx. quot; Oh, and looking up the United States all-time record for Olympic finals played in cities called  quot;Athens... quot;. by Dan Loney. There #39;s only one story this week

Check Fridays and Mondays for weekly team updates and match <b>...</b>


WASHINGTON -- For the third time in three weeks, the US Senate Judiciary Committee decided to take no action on the controversial Induce Act aimed at illegal file swapping on peer-to-peer (define) networks.

Senate Panel Delays Induce Act Vote Again


AMP spin-off HHG plc has produced a pound stg. 46 million (\$A117 million) profit for the six months to June 30 - a massive turnaround from the pound stg.

HHG gets out of red zone


The King of Sweden was not there and the circumstances were a bit short of pompous, but 15 intrepid scientists attained a modicum of fame last week as this year #39;s winners of coveted Ig Nobel Prizes.

Educational and Funny Research Honored


WASHINGTON -- Antitrust regulators at the Justice Department have given their blessing to the acquisition by Cingular Wireless of AT amp;T Wireless Services.

Cingular-AT amp;T Wireless Deal Gets Justice Dept. OK


\\In light of the new Treo release  from yesterday I've been thinking a lot\about wireless, bluetooth, and mobile devices.\\Its obvious to many that the future involves persistent connection.  Why would\you ever want to be off the Internet?  I want my cell phone to support IP and\the ability to connect to my laptop.\\Bluetooth gives me this now but VOIP will give it to me in the future.  Why do I\need cell phone with service from Sprint when I can use Skype or SIP?\\Thers no reason I couldn't have both my laptop and cell permanently connected to\the Net.  When my laptop isn't within range of a decent WiFi signal it can\revert to using my cell phone.\\You could then IM me or VOIP me at any time ...\\

Wireless Utopia


Eddy Curry registered 18 points and 10 rebounds and Tyson Chandler added 18 rebounds and 10 points as the Chicago Bulls stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 92-84 Wednesday.

NBA Wrap: Chicago Bulls Stun Los Angeles Lakers


In a tough scrimmage against resurgent Baby Bells, the broadband pioneer flips open the VoIP playbook.

Covad tries an end run


Betty Alderson, above, talks Thursday in Alderson, W.Va., about the excitement in the town about Martha Stewarts imprisonment at the Alderson Federal Prison Camp.

Town, others cash in on media moguls imprisonment


Belgium's foreign minister criticises politicians in the DR Congo over the country's slow transition to democracy.

Belgium rounds on former colony


Most phishing attempts come from about 1,000 compromised

Phishing attacks may be coming from your computer


Web surfers in the United States and five other countries will be invited this week to begin using a new version of MSN Messenger that includes a search function in the message window, reports on the Web said.

Chance to try out new MSN Messenger


NORMAN, Okla. -- Jason White threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns against a defense geared to stop Adrian Peterson, and No. 2 Oklahoma defeated Kansas, 41-10, yesterday.

Sooners are better later


A flurry of corporate updates failed to inspire investors today as the FTSE 100 Index slipped back towards the 4700 barrier. Catering group Compass and Rentokil

Market Report


PHILADELPHIA/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc.'s  <A HREF=

PeopleSoft Rejects Oracle Bid


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Dozens of world leaders on  Monday embraced a campaign to raise an additional \$50 billion a  year in development aid to combat hunger, but a U.S. official  poured cold water on the initiative.

World Leaders Back New UN Drive to Fight Hunger


Shares of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. fell yesterday after the company said an independent auditor refused to sign off on its second-quarter financial statement until an outside law firm hired by the company's board performed additional work.

Krispy Kreme quarterly report delayed


In what was billed as the biggest federal crackdown ever on Internet crime, the Justice Department announced Thursday it arrested or convicted more than 150 people across the country.

Ashcroft heralds success in Net crime crackdown


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rebounded to \$54 a barrel  on Thursday ahead of U.S. inventory data expected to show tight  heating fuel stocks ahead of winter.

Oil Firm Near \$54 on Heating Fuel Worries


Don #39;t sweat the debt: Along with benign inflation and rising home prices, Alan Greenspan says personal debt is no threat to the US economy.

Greenspan: Don #39;t Fear US Household Debt, Home Prices


ATHENS  The United Arab Emirates and India scored Olympic firsts on day four of the Athens Games on Tuesday and there was good news also for host Greece, which landed its second gold of the competition.

UAE, India hit Olympic firsts


AP - Facts and figures about President Bush's health, from a physical examination Saturday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Bush, 58, was born July 6, 1946:

Bush Physical Box (AP)


NEW YORK - Attention, ladies: If that guy hitting on you just won't quit until you surrender your e-mail address, feel free to call upon Paper Napkin.

Wash. Man Forms E-Mail Rejection Service


Reuters - President Bush on Monday formally\ended the U.S. trade embargo on Libya to reward it for giving\up weapons of mass destruction but left in place some U.S.\terrorism-related sanctions.

Bush Scraps U.S. Trade Embargo on Libya in WMD Reward (Reuters)


Russia #39;s Parliament has overwhelmingly approved President Vladimir Putin #39;s plan to reinforce control over Russia by replacing popular elections of regional leaders with a central selection process.

More powers for Russia #39;s President


Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones each hit a solo homer, and Jaret Wright pitched six strong innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.

Braves 7, Phillies 2


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.

Deadly ambush on a street in Mosul


Industry sources say US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer is poised to make a 650 million pounds (\$A1.6 billion) bid for control of English superclub Manchester United.

United shares soar on takeover speculation


Scientists say they have developed an effective vaccine against malaria that could be ready in six years.

Hopes of malaria vaccine by 2010


Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor, who collected Britain #39;s first Olympic diving medals in 44 years with silver in the synchronised platform event, have both made the 12-man

British divers face platform final at Games


BusinessWeek, reaching outside its own ranks, announced yesterday that it had selected Stephen J. Adler, a senior editor of The Wall Street Journal, as its next editor in chief.

BusinessWeek Chooses Outsider as Editor in Chief


As an Australian court considers whether Kazaa #39;s parent company should be forced to pay damages for the file sharing that goes on over its peer-to-peer (P2P) network, questions persist about

Kazaa Trial Won #39;t Fix Music Industry Blues


A Pennsylvania school district thought to be the first school to teach Intelligent Design released a statement on Friday clarifying that its procedural statements to be read as part of its biology curriculum is only an attempt to present a

Penn. School District Offers  #39;Intelligent Design #39; Book as <b>...</b>


Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) has reached a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice under which the company will pay compensation to shareholders and open its accounts to monitoring by an independent third party, in return for the DOJ deferring prosecution in its investigation of accounting fraud at the company, U.S. newspaper reports said Wednesday.

Reports: CA may escape charges in DOJ deal


It #39;s small, but it #39;s fast, as NASA #39;s unmanned  quot;scramjet quot; proved Tuesday in a record-breaking demonstration above the Pacific Ocean.

quot;Scramjet quot; Breaks Speed Record


A delegation of top Olympic officials arrived in Beijing on Wednesday with a clear message for its hosts: Preparation is the key to successfully hosting the 2008 Games.

Top officials to assess preparations


PHILIPPINES: The tides of mud carved a random trail of destruction through Philippine towns, robbing already impoverished residents of children, houses and hope.

Philippine flood victims lose hope as storm nears


The tech industry is finally heading towards a recovery after the post-bubble decline, but we are not quite there yet, according to executives and industry watchers at the 15th annual Etre technology conference in Cannes.

IT executives optimistic about ways to connect


PLANTATION, Fla. - Pete Rose owes almost \$1 million in back federal taxes, but he is making monthly payments on the debt, his representative said Friday...

Agent: Rose Making Payments on Back Taxes


QXL Ricardo, the UK's version of internet auction site eBay, agrees to let its management take the company private.

Managers buy out struggling QXL


FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots' schedule gets tougher beginning today, as they start a stretch of four games against the contending Seattle Seahawks, the undefeated New York Jets, the revamped Pittsburgh Steelers, and the offensively mighty St. Louis Rams.

Patriots test their mettle against iron


Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir accused the United States of training and arming the rebels in the western Darfur region, Egypt #39;s Al-Ahram newspaper said Thursday.

Sudanese president accuses US of arming Darfur rebels


Boots is to shut down its lossmaking dentistry and chiropody services as part of its drive to focus on its high street retail chain.

850 jobs hit as chiropody and dentistry are axed


The likelihood of Barry Larkin playing for the Nationals appears dim following a meeting between Bowden and Larkin's agent.

Larkin Seems Unlikely


A southern Indiana county is keeping its hopes up for an economic revival led by Donald Trump #39;s casino even though his casino company has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Orange County, Indiana still ready for Trump casino


LONDON (Reuters) - European shares eased from fresh 2-1/2  year highs on Friday after drugmaker AstraZeneca said clinical  studies found its Iressa lung cancer drug did not help patients  survive, sending its shares sliding.

European Stocks Ease


World rugby league champion Australia beat the USA Tomahawks 36-24 in Philadelphia, rallying from an 18- point halftime deficit to avoid one of the biggest upsets in the sport #39;s history.

Top-Ranked Australia Rallies to Avoid US Rugby League Upset


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration will examine clinical trial data for thousands of depressed adults to see if they, like children, suffered increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors while taking antidepressants.    Dr...

FDA to Study Adult Antidepressant Effects


At least 50 people were killed and several injured when Pakistan #39;s fighter planes bombed hideouts of Al-Qaida militants today in the tribal region close to the Afghanistan border.

Pak bombs Al-Qaida hideouts, 50 killed


The Dallas Mavericks, seeking depth at point guard, will acquire veteran Darrell Armstrong from New Orleans in a trade for the inexperienced Dan Dickau, the Mavs announced Friday.

Dickau sent to New Orleans


Target Corp. has banned Christmas kettle donations in front of its stores, costing the local Salvation Army fund drive about \$20,000 a year, the organization #39;s area commander said Monday in kicking off its annual holiday campaign.

Target drops kettles from Salvation Army


FORMER BBC chief Greg Dyke has accused Tony Blair of being  quot;incompetent quot; or  quot;a liar quot; over the Iraq War. Ex-Director General Mr Dyke revealed that the Prime Minister

DYKE TO BLAIR: YOU #39;RE INCOMPETENT OR A LIAR


SOUTH BEND, Ind., (Sports Network) - The University of  Notre Dame has named New England Patriots assistant Charlie  Weis its 28th football coach. Weis, who will the fired Tyrone  Willingham, will be introduced at a press conference Monday at  11 a.m. (et).

Notre Dame Makes Weis Decision


A joint French, American and British anti-narcotics operation intercepted four smugglers with 880 pounds of cocaine off the coast of Colombia this week, France's Defense Ministry said Friday.

880 Pounds of Cocaine Seized Off Colombia


America Online Inc. on Tuesday opened the curtain on its update to the Netscape Web browser. Netscape 7.2 became available for download from the Netscape site. As previously reported, AOL had planned to unveil its first browser update in a year by the ...

AOL Releases Netscape Browser Update


LONDON - Food and clothing chain Marks  amp; Spencer PLC said Tuesday it had bought the per una clothing brand from businessman George Davies for 125 million pounds (\$223 million).

Marks  amp; Spencer Buys Per Una Brand


GenCorp (GY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , an aerospace and real estate company, on Monday said its board has rejected a \$17 per share offer from US investment fund Steel Partners II, saying the price was  quot;inadequate.

GenCorp rejects Steel Partners offer


AP - Warning lights flashed atop four police cars as the caravan wound its way up the driveway in a procession fit for a foreign potentate. At long last, Azy and Indah had arrived. They even flew through a hurricane to get here.

Two Apes Arrive at Education Center (AP)


eWeek says that new data shows Web site visitors paying more attention to alternative browsers, as Microsoft #39;s share drops to 93.

Internet Explorer Loses More Market Share


Justin Gatlin always wanted to make his mark on the world. But as a teenager the new Olympic 100 meters champion believed fame would come through art not sprinting.

Gatlin Turns Sprinting Into Art


BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Hurricane Ivan churned toward the Caribbean on Monday, packing sustained winds of 125 mph and threatening to hit Barbados and other islands, after it strengthened from tropical storm status with unusual speed.    The Category 3 storm - the fourth major hurricane of the season - was still gaining strength, but apparently not as swiftly as some meteorologists had feared...

Hurricane Ivan Churns Toward Caribbean


A bomb exploded under a police car at a pop concert Sunday in southern Turkey, injuring at least 14 people, the prime minister #39;s office said.

Concert bomb blast injures 14 people


The leader of Southeast Asia #39;s biggest country, Indonesia, on Friday urged economic ministers from the region to put aside their differences and work toward economic integration akin to the European Union #39;s.

Southeast Asia Urged to Embrace Free Trade


VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) - Defending champion  Ernie Els trailed Argentina's Angel Cabrera by one hole at the  halfway point of their quarter-final match in the World Match  Play Championship at Wentworth Friday.

Els Pegged Back by Cabrera, Harrington Sparkles


The chancellor, Gordon Brown, today urged the European commission to clamp down on EU states that bend the rules on the allocation of government contracts.

UK firms losing out in Europe, says Brown


NEW YORK - Actor Michael J. Fox is returning to TV - in a commercial praising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry for his stance on stem cell research...

Actor Fox Appears in Kerry Campaign Ad


Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Japans second-biggest auto maker, said on Thursday it would suspend operations at three of its four domestic plants for five days each this month and next due to a shortage of steel.

Nissan suspends plants due to steel shortage


com September 15, 2004, 7:35 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.

For iTunes, it pays to be French


Masatsugu Asakawa has one of the busiest jobs in Tokyo these days: monitoring the US dollar #39;s fluctuation against the Japanese yen.

Dollar #39;s fall worries Japanese officials


Yahoo Pumps Up the Volume with MusicMatch Acquisition\\Yahoo and Musicmatch, Inc. today announced they have signed a definitive agreement under which Yahoo will acquire Musicmatch for a purchase price of approximately \$160 million in cash. The combination will substantially increase Yahoo's music reach from 12.9 million to an estimated 23 ...


Thomson Corp., owner of the Westlaw legal-research and First Call financial data services, will sell its media unit, which includes the Bond Buyer and American Banker magazines, for \$350 million to buyout firm Investcorp SA.

Thomson to Sell Media Unit to Investcorp for \$350 Mln (Update1)


Credit Suisse Group announced yesterday that it would integrate its Credit Suisse First Boston investment banking arm into the parent company over the next two years in an effort to create a  quot;more focused franchise.

Credit Suisse to Overhaul First Boston Operations


Corporate IT users are getting caught in the middle of another spin war between Microsoft Corp. and the Linux and Unix communities, most recently Novell Inc.

Windows War of Words


The British Army is investigating the death of Staff Sgt Denise Rose, the first British female soldier to die in since the campaign in Iraq began.

British Army probes woman #39;s death


Where freedom was promised, chaos and carnage now reign. A suicide bomber in a car blows himself up in the heart of Baghdad killing 13 people.

Into the abyss


Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich will miss four to six weeks with torn ligaments in his left knee, ESPN #39;s Chris Mortensen is reporting.

Jacksonville QB has torn ligaments


NEW YORK -- With any luck, Don King's lightweight heavyweight elimination tournament tonight at Madison Square Garden will achieve its goal. It will eliminate a few heavyweights from further consideration as title contenders.

For most part, bunch of lightweights


Having captured the PGA Championship for his fifth victory of the season, Vijay Singh believes he has wrapped up player of the year awards barring an exceptional finish.

Mickelson not giving up on award he wants


Bankrupt cable operator asks court to force payments, says family already admitted they owe money. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Adelphia Communications Corp.

Adelphia seeks \$3.2B from Rigases


Reuters - A suicide car bomber killed at least\seven Iraqis outside Baghdad's government compound on Monday,\the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture.

Bomb Kills 7 Iraqis, Year After Saddam's Capture (Reuters)


VIENNA, SEPTEMBER 14: After two years of investigating Irans atomic programme, the UN nuclear watchdog still cannot rule out that Tehran has a secret atom-bomb project as Washington insists, the agencys chief said on Tuesday.

UN still cant rule out Iran N-plan


Hundreds of patients and physicians have contacted a special information line set up by Merck-Israel in the last few days after the international pharmaceutical company voluntarily withdrew Vioxx - one of the world #39;s most popular arthritis and acute

Merck info line swamped over Vioxx recall


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar gained against the euro on  Monday after a report on flows into U.S. assets showed enough  of a rise in foreign investments to offset the current account  gap for the month.

Dollar Rises Vs Euro After Asset Data


Los Angeles - -- JT Snow never turned to see Steve Finley #39;s grand slam land softly in the right-field pavilion. He just lowered his head and jogged off the field.

A Giant collapse Crushing loss to LA in ninth inning dims playoff <b>...</b>


Researchers have taken to genetically modifying plants to produce medicine for the developing world, but not everyone is keen on the idea. Megan Lindow reports from Cape Town, South Africa.

Pharms Take Root in South Africa


Peoplesoft, the software maker that is the target of a hostile takeover bid from industry heavyweight Oracle, has returned to profit.

Peoplesoft bounces back to profit


PHNOM PENH: In a ceremony full of pageantry and hope, KING NORODOM SIHAMONI ascended the Cambodian throne yesterday, ushering in a new royal era for a country still trying to draw a line under its bloody, genocidal past.

New Cambodia king is crowned


AP - Randy Johnson moved a step closer to joining the Yankees when commissioner Bud Selig approved a proposed trade between Arizona and New York, The Associated Press learned Monday.

Selig Approves Johnson Trade to Yankees (AP)


ATHENS (Reuters) - An angry Yao Ming took his frustrations out on New Zealand at the Olympic men #39;s basketball tournament on Tuesday, pouring in 39 points as China beat the Kiwis 69-62.

Basketball: China #39;s Yao Takes Anger Out on New Zealand


Jerome Schneider, the nation's most prominent seller of offshore banks in tax evasion schemes, said the Justice Department and the I.R.S. broke a promise to ask that he spend no time behind bars in return for his cooperation.

Man Sentenced in Tax Schemes Also Releases Data on Lawyers


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. Chief Operating  Officer Steve Ballmer on Thursday warned Asian governments that  they could face intellectual rights-infringement lawsuits for  using rival open-source operating platforms such as Linux.

Microsoft's Ballmer Warns Asia of Linux Lawsuits


Matthew Pinsent, the four-time Olympic gold medallist, confirmed today that he is to retire from the sport - as reported in The Times yesterday.

Pinsent calls time on golden career


New York - The Web portal Lycos Europe on Friday terminated a spam-fighting campaign that had been criticized as a breach of Internet civility.

Lycos calls off tactics to stop spam


Inspectors will assess London #39;s bid for the 2012 Olympics during a visit to the capital early in 2005. The International Olympic Committee said its evaluation commission will be in London from 16 to 19 February.

February check on 2012 bid


A space capsule holding atoms collected from solar wind was en route to a tricky rendezvous with Earth today, offering scientists the first material Nasa has brought back from space in nearly three decades.

Film Stuntmen Aim for Space Snatch-and-Grab


FORT LAUDERDALE -- Tiger Woods is taking a swing at the builder of his luxury yacht Privacy, #39; #39; accusing the shipyard in a lawsuit of using his name and photograph for financial gain without permission.

Tiger Woods sues yacht builder over use of his name


THAI Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reshuffled his 36-member cabinet for the ninth time yesterday, dispensing with three senior ministers in a move designed to limit his own responsibility for key crises.

Thai PM resumes musical chairs


Pitching on a bad ankle, Curt Schilling grits his way through seven innings and the Red Sox hold on for a 4-2 victory over the Yankees.

Sox Force Game 7


Europe must find ways of adapting to a climate that may change drastically by mid-century, the European Environment Agency says.

Europe 'must adapt on climate'


Microsoft #39;s (Quote, Chart) dominance on the desktop may turn out to be Sun Microsystems #39; (Quote, Chart) gain in the end. A letter to Sun Microsystems #39; COO Jonathan Schwartz by the European Commission (EC) this

Open Office XML May Satisfy ISO


The withdrawal of painkiller Vioxx means Merck  amp; Co. will miss the already diminished expectations of Wall Street analysts for 2005, the drug maker said yesterday.

Merck slashes  #39;05 forecast, citing Vioxx


AP - Dean Wilson shot a 5-under 65 on Friday and led first-round leader Ted Purdy by a stroke halfway through the Texas Open.

Wilson Takes One-Shot Lead at Texas Open (AP)


Andrew Flintoff is the hero as England beat India by 70 runs at The Oval to win the NatWest Challenge.

Cricket: England defeat India


Donovan McNabb threw for 356 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 30-13 win over Detroit.

Soaring Eagles crush Lions


Donald Halsted, one target of a class-action suit alleging financial improprieties at bankrupt Polaroid, officially becomes CFO.

Ex-Polaroid exec takes top finance job at 3Com


HAMBURG - Since taking over as coach from Rudi Voeller, Juergen Klinsmann has not lost a game with Germany and the World Cup winner is hoping to continue that run against Cameroon on Wednesday in Leipzig.

Klinsmann hoping for another success


A US firm is proposing to use guided missile technology to make a precision landing on the Moon.

Missile team targets the Moon


The price of this key commodity has risen by about a third just since the beginning of July. In London, oil closed at \$43.80 a barrel, while in New York oil closed at \$48.70, up three percent.

Oil Prices Hit New High


India need another 210 runs to win the Chennai Test after ending the fourth day at 19-0. Virender Sehwag was batting on 12 and Yuvraj Singh on 7. Earlier, Anil Kumble claimed 6-133, his 26th fifth-wicket haul, to help India bowl Australia out for 369.

India need 210 to win Chennai Test


Arsenal plan to shore up their defence for the visit of Panathinaikos knowing victory on Tuesday would go a long way to ensuring their qualification for the next stage of the Champions League.

Defeat of Panathinaikos would put Arsenal in comfort zone


Spurred on by a large, green ogre, buoyed by a school of wise-cracking fish and with a podgy superhero helping its cause, DreamWorks Animation yesterday saw its share price rise by 41 on its first day of trading.

Shrek creator makes dream debut


WASHINGTON -- Why is the subject of giving such a difficult thing to discuss? Some folks would rather ask someone for a kidney than for a donation to a charitable cause.

To tithe, make it first item in budget


AP - President Bush on Friday signed executive orders designed to strengthen the CIA director's power over the nation's intelligence agencies and create a national counterterrorism center, responding to election-year pressures to enact changes called for by the Sept. 11 commission.

Bush Signs Orders for Intelligence Reform (AP)


JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip - Israeli troops and aircraft hit hard at Palestinian militants this weekend, killing at least 12 in a massive Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip's largest refugee camp, as masked Hamas gunmen vowed more rocket attacks on Israeli towns.    About 2,000 soldiers have taken control of a 5-mile-deep chunk of northern Gaza to counter militants firing homemade rockets into Israel...

Israeli Forces Kill 12 in Gaza Camp Raid


AP - Daniel E. Troy, chief counsel for the Food and Drug Administration, resigned Tuesday with plans to return to the private sector.

FDA Chief Counsel Daniel Troy Resigns (AP)


VIENNA (Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy Agency's  board of governors passed a resolution on Saturday demanding  that Iran freeze all activities related to uranium enrichment,  a diplomat present at closed-door meeting said.

UN Nuclear Watchdog Demands Iran Freeze Enrichment


A government-commissioned report on UK pensions will say tomorrow that retirement savings are less than previously estimated, pension experts said, putting pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair to act before elections.

UK #39;s Turner to Show Pension Funds Falling, Watson Wyatt Says


THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Suspects sought in a Dutch  anti-terrorism raid threw a hand grenade in a standoff with  police on Wednesday, injuring three officers, amid a spiral of  violence following the killing of an outspoken filmmaker.

Three Dutch Police Injured in Anti-Terror Raid


PEOPLE in Los Angeles were left terrified that they were about to be hit by a monster storm. The California governor #39;s Office of Emergency Services mistakenly issued a tornado alert for LA on Saturday, and

LA terrified by tornado alert


Mobile Computing Editor Larry Garfield looks at the different design strategies of the leading handheld companies, and muses on what it says about the way they think.

Editorial: Different strokes for different handhelds


LONDONPrime Minister Tony Blair #39;s government has taken the politically risky decision to send British troops to back up an expected US military assault on the Iraqi rebel stronghold of Falluja.

Blair grants US call to move 850 troops


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday  that eBay Inc. will soon drop support for its Passport service,  originally intended to make the world's biggest software maker  the gatekeeper of Web identities.

eBay to Drop Support for Microsoft's Passport


AFP - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India's economy would grow by 7.5 percent annually over the next decade and could be one of the world's biggest economies in the next generation.

Indian economy to grow 7.5 percent annually says PM (AFP)


LOS ANGELES - The Atlanta Braves have won 12 consecutive division titles by reloading, rather than rebuilding. They #39;ve done it this season with Jaret Wright and JD Drew.

Atlanta gives LA 8 reasons to worry


A massive explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand today killed 14 people, including a four-year-old boy, and injured two others, a police official said.

14 killed in explosion at fireworks factory


Lazio and Newcastle United will look to put a week of setbacks behind them when the two trophy contenders start the UEFA Cup group stage on Thursday.

PREVIEW-Lazio and Newcastle look for UEFA Cup boosts


SEOUL, South Korea Sept. 12, 2004 - A huge mushroom cloud that reportedly billowed up from North Korea was not caused by a nuclear explosion, South Korean and US officials said Sunday, but they said the cause was a mystery.

Nations: N. Korea Cloud Isn #39;t Nuke Blast


Reuters - The average weekly retail price for\U.S. gasoline topped  #36;2 a gallon to reach the third-highest\level ever recorded by the government, the Energy Department\said on Monday.

Gas Tops  #36;2/gallon, 2.9 Cents from Record (Reuters)


The editors of 11 top medical journals shook up the staid world of academic publishing this past week when they decided to stop printing results of drug trials that aren't registered in a central database. Globe biotechnology reporter Jeffrey Krasner spoke with Dr. Jeffrey M. Drazen , editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, about how the policy should ...

Q amp;A Dr. Jeffrey M. Drazen on drug trial results


Lockheed Martin Corp. defended itself Friday against criticism it was moving too slowly in investing \$6 billion in Poland - a commitment that helped win the US company an order for 48 F-16 fighter jets over its European competitors.

Lockheed Martin Defends Polish Investment


Stanford University professor and e-voting activist David Dill said the Diebold case fits with a national pattern that is influencing the adoption of electronic voting before its time.

California Joins Suit Against E-Voting Vendor Diebold


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

Rockets 77, 76ers 76


and exciting - days on this year #39;s Malaysia Airlines Herald Sun Tour of Provincial Victoria, the lead has swapped hands again, with Bicycle Superstore teammates

Malaysia Airlines Herald Sun Tour of Provincial Victoria - 2.3


Reuters - Wall Street was expected to open\slightly lower on Friday but United Technologies Corp. may\climb after its chief executive gave an upbeat outlook.

Wall St. Expected to Open Slightly Lower (Reuters)


The project will tap into the power of home PCs to create a virtul supercomputer. By Paul McDougall. As part of a broader effort to spur collaborative research in key industries, IBM on Tuesday launched a project

IBM Launches Global Computing Grid to Support Research


AP - Camera phones may make great Christmas gifts, but people better not use them for peeping-Tom photos on federal property.

Illicit Cameraphone Clicks Could Mean Jail (AP)


Reuters - Internet company Yahoo Inc. \said on Tuesday it will buy privately held music software\company Musicmatch Inc. for about  #36;160 million in a bid to\bolster its online music services.

Yahoo to Buy Digital Music Company Musicmatch (Reuters)


Cisco Systems #39; Linksys division is set to enter the consumer VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) space this week through a deal with Vonage Holdings to provide customer equipment for that company #39;s Internet-based telephone service.

Vonage Calls on Linksys for VoIP


AP - Even though Illinois moved to the top of the college basketball poll for the first time in almost 16 years, the Illini were too busy preparing for Chicago State to celebrate.

No. 1 Illinois Defeats Chicago St. 78-59 (AP)


JAKARTA (Reuters) - A powerful car bomb exploded outside  the Australian embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, killing at least  nine people and wounding 182 in an attack Indonesian police  blamed on Islamic militants linked to al Qaeda.

Jakarta Embassy Bomb Attack Kills Nine, Wounds 182


TOKYO Mitsubishi Motors, Japan #39;s only unprofitable automaker, is seeking a partner to revive a finance unit that was responsible for more than half of a record operating loss in North America in the year to last March.

Mitsubishi Motors bids to revive financing unit


Iraq #39;s national security adviser says the massive military operation to retake Fallujah  quot;is accomplished, quot; with only a few pockets of resistance remaining.

Fallujah Operation Winds Down


Reuters - Olympic officials are seething at a\campaign ad for President Bush which, they say, hijacks the\Olympic brand.

Olympics Chiefs Want Bush Campaign to Back Off (Reuters)


AFP - Computer server sales in the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan grew by a brisk 12.4 percent to 1.37 billion US dollars in the second quarter after a gain of 9.6 percent in the three months to March, an industry monitor said.

Server sales in Asia Pacific increase 12.4 percent in June quarter (AFP)


MAMARONECK, NY - Luke List has already made it further than he ever thought, so why stop now? That #39;s the attitude of the 19-year-old Vanderbilt sophomore, who continued his string of US Amateur upsets with

Vandy #39;s List gets in final of Amateur


If you still don #39;t believe the Earth is round, check out tonight #39;s lunar eclipse: It was enough to convince the ancient Greeks.

Look to the sky tonight for eclipse


UK police have arrested a man on suspicion of stealing source code from networking giant Cisco. The 20 year-old was arrested following Metropolitan Police Computer Crime Unit raids in Manchester and Derbyshire on 3 September.

UK police arrest Cisco source code suspect


PC World - Dell remains on top of the worldwide market, research shows.

PC Sales Suffer a Setback (PC World)


PATIENTS would pay less for prescription medicine in a surprise move by Labor leader Mark Latham. Labor is also proposing to double the maternity immunisation allowance to \$427 as an extra incentive for parents to vaccinate their children.

ALP throws away script


AP - It's going to take a really good team to stop the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, mediocre is a reach for the Chicago Bears.

Eagles Easily Best Struggling Bears (AP)


Orlando Magic coach Johnny Davis, right, and Boston Celtics #39; coach Doc Rivers get together prior to their game in Orlando, Fla.

Doc Rivers Wins in Return to Orlando


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

One Internet, Many Copyright Laws


There are hundreds of wannabe Hollywood star names who could attest to it. That is, inheriting a famous name does not always mean that the path to global acclaim will be easy.

Gallacher lives up to uncle #39;s legacy


One of the marks of a great player is the ability to produce when it matters. This was England #39;s most important one-day game of the season.

Flintoff boost for England


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi  publicly authorized U.S. and Iraqi forces to attack rebels in  the cities of Falluja and Ramadi, and imposed a curfew that  would begin after dusk on Monday.

Iraq's Allawi Gives Go-Ahead for Falluja Offensive


Their work focused on understanding the forces that bind together the smallest pieces of matter, known as quarks.

3 Americans Share Nobel Prize for Studying Tiny Particles


Vivendi Universal and its former chief executive Jean-Marie Messier have each been fined 1m euros (\$1.3m; 690,000) by French regulators.

Vivendi and its former boss fined


CSKA Moscow continued their bright start to Group H of the Champions League tonight with a victory against PSG. Sergei Semak scored after 64 minutes for the Russian side, and he was instrumental in CSKA #39;s second as he was taken down.

CSKA Moscow overcome PSG


OTTAWA (CP) - Finance Minister Ralph Goodale refused to comment Thursday on rumours that the federal government is on the verge of a multibillion-dollar sale of its stake in Petro-Canada.

Goodale refuses to comment on rumours that PetroCan sale close


A flood of foreign observers is expected for the Dec. 26 rerun of the presidential vote.

Ukraine's presidential campaign, Part II: a cleaner run?


John W. Oxendine, Georgia Commissioner of Insurance, Fire Safety and Industrial Loans, announced a new rural health initiative first at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and second at the Bainbridge Rotary Club Tuesday.

Oxendine offering telemedicine


EasyJet #39;s bumpy ride continued yesterday as shares in the no-frills airline hit an all-time low after it warned that fares will remain under pressure next year.

Shares in easyJet fall to all-time low


AP - The United States will sell Israel nearly 5,000 smart bombs in one of the largest weapons deals between the allies in years, Israeli military officials said Tuesday.

U.S. Said to Sell Smart Bombs to Israel (AP)


SPACE.com - As the tenth \crew of the International Space Station (ISS) tends to its orbital home this \month, the station itself marks its fourth year with humans continuously living \onboard.

A Year of Firsts for the ISS (SPACE.com)


Hackers have increased their attempts to hijack PCs since the start of the year, with up to 75,000 being compromised daily, according to Symantec.

Hackers deploying  #39;bots #39; on a massive scale


September 2, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- The Apache Project (apache.org) has rejected the Sender ID proposal for email user authentication because of the incompatibilities between Microsoft #39;s (microsoft.

Apache Project Rejects Sender ID


WASHINGTON: Oil prices retreated slightly yesterday after surpassing \$54 a barrel amid nagging concerns in the market that the global supply buffer is too thin to handle a significant output disruption.

Oil dips after touching record \$54 a barrel


Could the Xbox 2 be revealed in January? Bill Gates will be delivering the keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2005, and it is quite possibleeven likelythat

Xbox 2 in January at CES?


BALTIMORE -- It came to this: After traveling 41,442 miles, facing 25,592 pitches, and enduring more ups and downs than their Delta charter, the Red Sox yesterday happily ended the 2004 regular season where they began it in the visiting clubhouse at Camden Yards.

Sky high for Angels


British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in the northern English city of Liverpool to attend a memorial service for engineer Ken Bigley, who was beheaded by kidnappers in Iraq last month.

Blair returns to UK for Bigley memorial


Bolton Wanderers want to sign El Hadji Diouf to a permanent deal from Liverpool in January. The Guardian says Bolton officials have been privately impressed by Diouf #39;s reaction to the misdemeanour and by his displays since joining on loan in August.

Bolton want outright deal for Liverpool #39;s Diouf


Richard Jefferson scored 23 points and Eric Williams had a season-high 22 to help the New Jersey Nets end a nine-game losing streak with a 99-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night.

Nets 99, Bobcats 86


One of Canada's biggest cigarette firms seeks creditor protection after a C\$1.4bn(US\$1bn) tax claim over alleged smuggling.

Cigarette firm acts in tax row


The nation #39;s largest bank will be setting up shop in Texas by acquiring Bryan-based First American Bank. The parent operation of Citibank said Tuesday that it will acquire First American, which has \$3.

Citibank to enter Texas markets


The 23-year-old Swiss dominated the final tournament of the season just as he dominated most of 2004, winning his second straight Masters Cup and breaking the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

Federer trounces Hewitt to take Masters title


Thousands of American players are using protective headgear, but some soccer officials question whether it reduces the risk of head injuries.

Soccer Headgear: Does It Do Any Good?


AP - The planned sale of oil giant Yukos' main pumping unit to pay off the parent company's back taxes won't affect production, Russia's energy minister was quoted Tuesday in news reports.

Official: Yukos Sale Won't Impact Output (AP)


Alitalia reached a vital deal with its pilots on productivity improvements on Tuesday, a day ahead of a deadline to seal a rescue plan or face bankruptcy, union sources said.

Alitalia Gets Crucial Deal With Pilots


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Anastasia Myskina trounced Elena  Dementieva, 7-5, 6-0, in the Kremlin Cup final Sunday to retain  her Moscow title in a rematch of their all-Russian French Open  final earlier this year.

Myskina Beats Dementieva Again to Win in Moscow


London: In a pulsating finish played in poor light, West Indies lifted the ICC Champions Trophy defeating England by two wickets with seven balls remaining at the Oval on Saturday.

Brad-shock for England


The battle of wills was hotting up tonight over the political fate of an Italian European Commissioner-designate who thinks homosexuality is a sin.

#39;Gays are Sinful #39; Row Hots Up over Euro  #39;Justice Boss #39;


SEPTEMBER 29, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - For the first time since 2002, Japan #39;s Earth Simulator is not the most powerful supercomputer on the planet.

IBM reclaims supercomputer crown for US


AP - The newly discovered ruins of an ancient civilization in this remote eastern Utah canyon could reveal secrets about the descendants of the continent's original Paleo-Indians who showed up before the time of Christ to settle much of present-day Utah.

Canyon Holds Ancient Civilization Secrets (AP)


Purses overflowing with cash, exotic locales, manicured golf courses. The World Golf Championships have it all. Except for totally committed players, that is.

Stars won't leave home for it


A former assistant treasurer Enron Corp. was charged Tuesday with conspiracy for allegedly helping make the energy company #39;s financial picture appear rosier than it really was.

Update 1: Ex-Enron Assistant Treasurer Is Charged


Hosts Germany could opt not to play the opening game of the 2006 World Cup finals, organising committee chairman Franz Beckenbauer said on Monday.

Germany not certain to play opening game of 2006 finals


The euro jumps to an all time high against the dollar as signs of declining business confidence in Germany increases fears about European competitiveness.

Gold surges as dollar falls again


The discovery by Nasa #39;s robotic rovers of a watery past on Mars has topped a an eagerly awaited list of the 10 key scientific advances of 2004.

Mars water tops science honours


AP - Running back Willis McGahee is biding his time, if not biting his tongue, regarding his limited role in the Buffalo offense. The 2003 first-round pick is not entirely content, but maintains he's not frustrated spending most of Buffalo's first three games  #151; all losses  #151; watching from the sideline as a backup to Travis Henry.

McGahee Still Waiting His Turn With Bills (AP)


The perfect place for the Dolphins' pregame meal Sunday is in Boston's theater district. When things have been going like they have for Miami, what better place to dine than Rock Bottom?

This season, they've been fish out of water


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Enraged supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide armed themselves with machetes, guns, rocks, and bottles and roamed a downtown slum, threatening to behead foreigners after UN peacekeepers and Haitian police arrested dozens yesterday.

UN troops and police in Haiti try to curb pro-Aristide violence


In an eleventh-hour move, the Yukos oil company has filed for bankruptcy in a United States Court and is demanding the cancellation of an auction of its main production unit slated for Sunday.

Update 8: Yukos Files for Bankruptcy in US


GE is selling a 60 stake in GE Capital International Services, its business process outsourcing subsidiary in India, for about \$500 million.

GE to sell 60 of Indian BPO operation


Reuters - Venezuelans turned out early\and in large numbers on Sunday to vote in a historic referendum\that will either remove left-wing President Hugo Chavez from\office or give him a new mandate to govern for the next two\years.

Venezuelans Vote Early in Referendum on Chavez Rule (Reuters)


Reuters - A Republican Senate\candidate from Oklahoma who has run into trouble over verbal\gaffes was drawing fire again on Friday for saying black men\have a

Oklahoma Black Leaders Upset Over Candidate Remark (Reuters)


AP - The United States finished atop the medal charts for the third straight Summer Olympics, with Russia the overall runner-up and China second in gold medals  #151; its best showing ever and the leading edge of a surge by Asian teams. The American team amassed 103 total medals, topping its target of 100, and won 35 golds to 32 for China and 27 for Russia.

U.S. Wins Medals Race, Finishing With 103 (AP)


AP - One of western Sudan's main rebel movements urged the United Nations on Thursday to go through with threatened sanctions on Sudan, and warned it would resume fighting in Darfur if attacked.

Darfur Rebel Group Would Favor Sanctions (AP)


A federal grand jury filed more charges Wednesday against the city #39;s former treasurer and a top mayoral fund-raiser in a broad corruption probe that involved FBI wiretapping

New Charges Filed in Philadelphia Probe


Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gulon Wednesday defined the recommendation of the European Commission(EC) to open negotiations with Turkey as a historic step

Turkey defines EC recommendation as historic


Theresa Torres, Reporter. Sharing its neighbors fears of a bird-flu pandemic after the first probable case of human-to-human infection was reported in Thailand, the Philippine government on Wednes

Govt braces for bird flu


JERUSALEM : The Israeli government was given a double warning over its policies in the West Bank as its top legal officer said it faced a real threat of sanctions over its controversial separation barrier and the United States condemned the latest ...

Israel given double warning over impact of West Bank policies


AFP - British Prime Minister Tony Blair was due to arrive in Sudan on a landmark visit during which he is to demand immediate action from the country's leaders over the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn western region of Darfur.

Britain's Blair to demand answers from Sudan on Darfur (AFP)


Linux maker Red Hat is warning users about an email that pretends to be an official security advisory but is actually a phishing-type scam that contains links to malicious code.

Linux under threat from  #39;security update #39;


Investigators combed the tangled wreckage of an express train in southern England on Sunday, a day after it slammed into a car at a level crossing, killing at least seven people and injuring more than 100.

Police comb UK train smash wreckage


The Super 12 will become a Super 14 with additional teams in Australia and South Africa and the Tri-Nations will be expanded to nine matches between the Springboks, the Wallabies and the All Blacks.

SA Rugby set to score big with Super 14


The BBC's Asit Jolly in Chandigarh reports on India's disastrous efforts to cross-breed Asiatic and African lions.

Feeble roar of the hybrid lions


AP - The nation's fertility clinics vary widely when it comes to how they perform one of the most delicate aspects of their jobs: disposing of unused frozen human embryos that were created to help infertile women become pregnant.

Fertility Clinics Vary on Embryo Disposal (AP)


A judge in Chile is once again trying to bring former dictator Augusto Pinochet to trial for humans rights abuses during his 1973-90 regime.

Chile #39;s Pinochet facing human rights charges


British authorities have, for the first time, charged a soldier with murder in the death of a civilian in Iraq. The man was indicted yesterday in a civilian court after his commanding officer blocked a court martial.

Brit soldier charged


InfoWorld - Enterprise software takes an evolutionary step forward as Edge Dynamics and Tibco Software develop software that combines elements of both ERP and BI applications.

Edge Dynamics launches new breed of enterprise app (InfoWorld)


Scandal-hit telecom giant Nortel Networks on Thursday announced job cuts of 10 percent of its workforce and a new purge of executives as it muscled through a scandal which has spawned two criminal probes.

World Business Quick Take


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Justice Department is  investigating possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, bringing  greater government scrutiny to bear on the mortgage finance  company, already facing a parallel inquiry by the SEC, a source  close to the matter said on Thursday.

Justice Dept Opens Fannie Mae Probe


TOKYO - Tokyo stocks plunged Monday morning as a series of deadly earthquakes Saturday in Niigata Prefecture and a tumble in US shares last Friday prompted widespread selling, pushing the benchmark Nikkei index to a 10-week intraday low.

Stocks plunge in morning


Palestinian officials vowed to hold elections within 60 days for a president with the authority to resume peace talks with Israel.

Palestinians Turn Toward Future as They Continue to Mourn


AP - Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kip Wells will skip his second straight start after tests Friday indicated rest would help his injured elbow.

Pirates' Wells to Miss 2nd Straight Start (AP)


President Bush #39;s performance evaluation is underway now, and his scores will be determined by the voters who are weighing whether he has met the goals he set for himself four years ago.

Scorecard on the president: A mixed bag


The head of the International Monetary Fund Thursday lauded Russia #39;s efforts to save income from oil revenues. Concluding his visit to Moscow, the IMF #39;s Director General Rodrigo de Rato said that the agency

Russia benefiting from oil price surge


The face of a man who died and was mummified in Egypt 3,000 years ago has been modeled, using special CAT scans and without unwrapping his bandages, Italian researchers said on Wednesday.

Special X-Rays Unmask Mummy #39;s Face, Virtually


Arsenal Football Club forward Thierry Henry is one of three players nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. The Frenchman enjoyed another successful year with the Highbury club, his goals leading them to the Premiership title last season.

Arsenal striker on shortlist for FIFA award


A Black Watch soldier was killed last night, and two more injured, when a roadside bomb blast hit their vehicle near the regiment #39;s new base in central Iraq.

Black Watch soldier killed and two injured by roadside bomb


Novell said today that its new Open Enterprise Server product will ship in February 2005, about two months later than the company had announced in March.

Brief: Novell sees delay in shipping Open Enterprise Server


Under the 10-year deal, HP will create a single, organizationwide IT infrastructure for the agency in a move aimed at saving the Department of Defense money while creating a more modern and efficient IT operation.

HP wins \$290M data center deal with Defense Logistics Agency


Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who aggressively targeted insider trading during his days as a federal prosecutor, is cozying up to Wall Street - launching his own investment-banking firm.

Update 1: Giuliani Creates Investment-Banking Firm


LOS ANGELES - Four terminals at Los Angeles International Airport were shut down for more than three hours Saturday after a passenger bypassed security at one terminal and two flashlight batteries exploded during screening at another, authorities said.    The incidents, about a half-hour apart, were apparently unrelated and there was no link to terrorism, according to the federal Transportation Security Administration...

L.A. Airport Terminals Open After Scares


AP - When Terry Pendleton got a call from Braves general manager John Schuerholz a day after Atlanta's season ended, he wondered if he was getting fired.

Phillies Interview Pendleton for Manager (AP)


Washington (Dec. 1, 2004) - Thanks to some fast footwork by regulators at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, accounting firms and many of their smaller

SEC, PCAOB Allow Extra Time on Internal Control Reporting


Reuters - Online DVD rental company Netflix\Inc. on Thursday cut its subscription price and said it was\changing its strategy to sacrifice profits for growth in the\face of growing competition, sending its shares plunging to\their lowest level in almost a year-and-a-half.

Netflix Seeks Growth, Not Profit, Shares Plunge (Reuters)


ST. LOUIS - Utility holding company Ameren Corp. announced plans Wednesday to reduce its payroll by offering 950 union and management employees financial incentives to leave.

Ameren Seeks to Slash Workforce


NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Carl Krauser scored 17 points,  grabbed seven rebounds and handed out four assists to lead No.  11 Pittsburgh over Memphis, 70-51, in the Jimmy V Classic from  New York's famed Madison Square Garden.

No. 11 Pittsburgh Beats Memphis


AP - Oregon lost its season opener and dropped out of the Top 25 thanks mostly to its own mistakes.

Ducks to Take Aim at No. 2 Oklahoma (AP)


Bo Outlaw is arriving for his second stint with the Suns to stiffen a defense that works a bit differently than when he departed before last season.

Suns notebook: Suns pack it in on defense


BNP leader Nick Griffin was bailed last night by police questioning him over race-hate offences. Griffin, 45, had been arrested at his home in Wales in the wake of a BBC documentary showing him condemning Islam as  #39;a vicious, wicked faith #39;.

BNP LEADER BAILED ON RACE HATE RAP


After facing its first-ever phishing attack last week, Deutsche Bank AG said today it was the target of a renewed assault that began late yesterday and continued until this morning.

Deutsche Bank hit again by phishing attack


MOSCOW: At least three people were killed when gunmen took up to 240 people hostage in a school in North Ossetia, close to Chechnya, ITAR-TASS quoted local authorities as saying.

Three killed in Russian hostage crisis


Hong Kong, December 7: China #39;s largest personal computer maker, Lenovo Group Ltd, could announce as early as Tuesday that it is buying control of IBM #39;s PC-making business for up to US\$2 billion, a source familiar with the situation said.

Lenovo, IBM may soon reveal PC unit deal


The longer-term solvency of the US agency that insures pensions is at risk, threatened by troubled airlines and other companies failing to fund their retirement plans, the agency #39;s director said on Thursday.

UPDATE 2-US pension agency chief warns of solvency risk


Astronauts, not robots, should fix the Hubble Space Telescope, says a new report by the US National Research Council (NRC). That conclusion is directly at odds with NASA, which is opposed to a human mission

NASA urged to send shuttle to Hubble


A new study released by Macrovision Corporation finds that US software publishers and enterprise software buyers have differing expectations regarding the future of subscription and licensing models.

Pricing Models to Change


MUMBAI: Media moghul and billionaire chairman of News Corp Rupert Murdoch has, according to agency reports, offered to buy a penthouse in New York #39;s upscale Manhattan area for cool \$44 million.

Murdoch offers \$44 million for Manhattan penthouse


Tuesday night's D.C. Council vote on baseball left some business leaders worried that the events will hurt the District's credibility with developers and financiers.

Baseball Wrangling Makes Some Uneasy


AT LEAST 20 people had died in a fire which engulfed a hostel in a remote Siberian town, news agencies reported today. Rescuers have found 20 bodies in the charred remains of the hostel in Kyzyl, ITAR-TASS reported.

20 dead in Russian hostel blaze


The phenomenon of  quot;death by success quot; -- in which a website is brought down by strong user interest -- is well known online but has taken a new twist in China.

Porn in China: Death by success takes on a new meaning


A strong aftershock measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale jolted north Japan #39;s Niigata Prefecture Monday morning, leading the death toll from the three major quakes that hit the

Death toll from Japan earthquakes reaches 24


It #39;s the kind of place she would feature on an episode of her TV show or in her magazine. Decorated hills overlook the old brick buildings and once-stately homes on Main Street.

Picturesque site of prison is Martha #39;s kind of place


Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has resigned, less than one month after leading his country to their first Olympic soccer gold medal and less than two months after steering them to the Copa America final, Argentine

Argentina coach Bielsa resigns


Samuel Eto #39;o took his scoring total to eight this season as FC Barcelona drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Spanish leader Barcelona draws 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao on <b>...</b>


KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S.-led forces trying to protect landmark Afghan elections face a rising wave of violence from about 2,000 insurgents, including al-Qaida militants slipping in from Pakistan, an American general said Saturday.    In the latest bloodshed, Afghan police said suspected Taliban gunmen killed nine militia soldiers in two attacks on checkpoints in a troubled southern province...

Al-Qaida Aims to Disrupt Afghan Elections


KABULFace-to-face talks began on Saturday between Afghan militants holding Angelito Nayan and two other UN workers hostage and representatives of the Afghan government and the United Nations, a member of the militant group told Reuters.

Sensitive talks begin to free UN hostages


Striker Kevin Davies scored late inthe first half to give Bolton Wanderers a 1-0 home win over Liverpool that lifted them into third place in the Premier League on Sunday.

Bolton beat Liverpool to stand third at the table


A German teenager who created the Sasser worm that disrupted computers around the world in May has been charged with computer sabotage, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Sasser Worm Creator Charged With Sabotage


NEW YORKSoftware maker Computer Associates International Inc. says it will cut 800 jobs, or 5 per cent of its workforce, to reduce costs amid weaker demand and falling prices for software and services.

Software maker cuts 800 jobs


SPACE.com - With a new spacecraft bound for Mercury, that tiny planet nbsp;near the heart of the solar system, researchers are hoping to solve a slew of riddles about the small world.

Is Mercury the Incredible Shrinking Planet? MESSENGER Spacecraft May Find Out (SPACE.com)


Construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. said Wednesday that its Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services unit will acquire Williams Technologies Inc., a remanufacturer of transmissions and engines, from Remy International Inc. for an undisclosed ...

Caterpillar to Buy Williams Technologies


Computer Associates said Wednesday that it met its sales forecast in the quarter ended Sept. 30 but will post a loss for the quarter as it absorbs restructuring charges and the \$225 million it agreed to pay shareholders in compensation for its accounting violations.

CA expects loss on restructuring, settlement charges


In rare criticism of US-led forces in Iraq, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi yesterday blamed foreign troops helping secure the country for

Allawi faults foreign troops in massacre


St. Louis -- Jason Marquis pitches tonight with both eyes facing forward. He has tried it the other way. It didn #39;t work, not while he played in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


An assistant manager at Costco Wholesale accused the company of discriminating against female workers by failing to promote as many as 650 women to high-paying management jobs.

Worker alleges sex bias


He was vilified in U.S. industry and government circles for blocking the merger of General Electric Co. and Honeywell International Inc. in 2001 after the Justice Department had approved it. And when the European Union directorate he heads ordered Microsoft Corp. to remove a key feature from its Windows operating system, the U.S. antitrust community convulsed again.

Monti Reflects On Evolution Of Antitrust


PARIS - European astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of what they say is the smallest known planet orbiting a star other than our sun.

#39;Super Earth-like #39; planet discovered


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar edged higher against the euro  on Wednesday as a downbeat outlook for European growth spurred  traders to buy back the currency after heavy falls.

Dollar Inches Up Versus Euro


Inditex, the Spanish fashion group which owns Zara and Massimo Dutti, agrees to ditch fur just days before widespread demonstrations.

Zara chain takes fur off shelves


AFP - Georgian giant Jake Tsakalidis will not be joining rookie star LeBron James in Cleveland after the Memphis Grizzlies matched the Cavaliers' National Basketball Association offer sheet.

NBA Grizzlies match Cavs' offer for Georgian center (AFP)


AFTER Justine Henin-Hardenne was upset in the US Open by Nadia Petrova - and subsequently dethroned as world No.1 - the Belgian was asked whether it was further confirmation that the Russians were coming.

Everyone seeing Red


Yahoo for the first time is letting mobile phone users query its search engine, giving them access to conventional Web results, local business listings and related information, as well as images such as pictures and maps, the company says.

Yahoo Search Goes Mobile


The Hingham boys' soccer team remembers the last time it lost a game. Since losing to Middleboro in last year's state quarterfinals, the Harbormen have been aching for revenge.

MacCallum boosts Hingham


It might be viewed as a contradiction in terms to suggest that Australia #39;s Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 US Open champion, was moving quietly along.

Hewitt shuffles straight to last eight


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

Ravens Pummel Browns, 27-13 (AP)


The top sales executive running one of MCI Inc.'s largest divisions resigned yesterday as the company struggles with rapidly eroding sales.

MCI President Of Enterprise Sales Resigns


The Mozilla Foundation today is set to release Version 1.0 of its Thunderbird e-mail client, an open-source application aimed at competitors, including Microsoft's Outlook Express and Qualcomm's Eudora.

Thunderbird 1.0 takes on Outlook Express, Eudora


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue-chip stocks rose slightly on  Thursday after a court gave a boost to Altria Group Inc. <A HREF=

Dow Near Flat; Nasdaq, S P 500 Down


AP - Some of the biggest fashion trends at department stores this holiday season have more to do with MP3 players than cashmere ponchos or fur-trimmed sweaters.

Retailers Stock Up on Latest Gadgets (AP)


Adobe has patched two bugs in its Acrobat Reader application that could allow an attacker to take over a user #39;s system via a malicious PDF attached to an e-mail message.

Adobe patches holes in Acrobat Reader


AP - The line at the souvenir store curved around the corner, about the length of a Mark Bellhorn homer into Pesky's Pole. Thousands of fans yearned to wear the words

Sox Fans Buy Souvenirs, Wonder About 2005 (AP)


AP - Nashville Predators right wing Adam Hall and Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly signed with European teams, making it 200 NHL players who have headed overseas during the lockout.

NHL's Hall, Connolly Head to Europe (AP)


If there is a crisis at Arsenal then nobody has told manager Arsene Wenger. In a miserable fortnight, the English champions have had their record unbeaten league

High expectations prompt talk of Arsenal crisis


Gerard Houllier is looking forward to a return to Premiership management despite the disappointment of his departure from Liverpool.

Houllier is keen on comeback


A new subsidiary of troubled China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp. has begun procuring jet fuel amid a criminal investigation into huge trading losses at the Singapore-listed firm, as well as demands for repayment from creditors.

China Aviation Oil Unit Procures Jet Fuel


LONDON (Reuters) - Ending years of bitter argument, Britain  finally banned the centuries-old pursuit of fox hunting on  Thursday -- but only after a last-minute attempt by the  government to delay its demise until after the next election.

Britain Bans Fox Hunting, Brushing Off Blair Wobble


'Tis the season for mergers, as technology firms go on a buying binge this holiday season that is starting to rival the great M A spree of the 1990s. <FONT face=

Santa's Bag of Tech Mergers


Just four days shy of Halloween, the moon got festive Wednesday night and turned from corpse white to pumpkin orange and then blood red during a total lunar eclipse visible from every continent on the planet, except Australia.

BAY AREA Skywatchers awed by total lunar eclipse


SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - South Africa will underline  their strength in depth if Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini  can retain their title at the WGC-World Cup of Golf starting on  Thursday at Seville's Real Golf Club.

Preview: South Africa Bids to Underline Strength


A bomb exploded outside a bank in Saudi Arabia early Saturday, but appears to have caused no casualties. One of the bombers was reportedly shot and taken into custody, and Saudi police have launched a search for other militants that fled the scene.

Bomb Explodes Outside Saudi Bank


The government will allow financially troubled airline Vasp to continue operating for at least another six months if Brazil's fourth-largest airline comes up with a debt payment plan by Friday, Defense Minister Jose Viegas said Thursday.

Brazil Seeks Airline Debt Payment Plan


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices rallied on  Wednesday as inflation gains excluding food and energy, one of  the Federal Reserve's preferred price measures, proved less  dramatic than bond bulls had feared.

Treasuries Stage Rally Despite Inflation


US military officials in Iraq say US warplanes carried an air strike early Friday against a suspected insurgent hideout in Fallujah, an insurgent stonghold west of Baghdad.

US Jets Hit Suspected Terrorist Safe House in Fallujah


I #39;ve been reading with interest about your recent problems at Marsh Mac. The allegations about customers getting cheated. The incriminating correspondence.

I feel your pain


DEVASTATED Paula Radcliffe was led out of the ancient Panathinaiko Stadium with only tears for souvenirs as her Olympic dream lay in tatters on an Athens roadside.

Crying Games again for Paula


AP - Edgerrin James on the ground. Peyton Manning through the air. The Indianapolis Colts made it look easy.

Colts Punish Bears 41-10 (AP)


Blaming the complexity of the task, Nortel Networks Corp. is delaying the release of long-awaited financial results by another month, to late October, and may seek another delay of its annual meeting.

Nortel delays release of financial results


Pink bubble gum popped from Danny Fortson #39;s mouth as he moseyed around the KeyArena court on Sunday night. Moving slower than traffic across the 520 bridge, the Sonics forward definitely travels at a different pace than his teammates do.

Fortson keeps it  #39;simple #39; as Sonics stick it to Spurs


TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said he  will make an important policy statement on relations with  arch-foe China in his National Day address on Oct. 10.

Taiwan Chen Plans National Day Speech on China


Johnson  amp; Johnson (JNJ:NYSE - news - research) said Wednesday night that it would acquire medical equipment maker Guidant (GDT:NYSE - news - research) for \$23.9 billion in cash and stock.

Johnson  amp; Johnson to Buy Guidant


Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Nestle SA, the world #39;s largest food company, said first-half profit rose 2.1 percent, less than forecast, as sales in Western Europe declined and costs for sugar, energy and packaging materials increased.

Nestle Profit Rises; Commodity Prices to Crimp Growth (Update4)


BASEBALL New York (NL): Named Rick Down hitting coach and Tom Nieto catching instructor. BASKETBALL Boston (NBA): Activated G Delonte West from the injured list; placed F Justin Reed on the injured list. Philadelphia (NBA): Activated G Aaron McKie from the inujred list; placed G Kevin Ollie on the injured list.

Transactions


Stephan Eberharter announced his retirement on Friday after a decade and a half as a leading light of the Austrian Alpine skiing team.

Austria #39;s Eberharter Retires


ABUJA, Sept 13 (AFP) - Slow-moving African Union-brokered peace talks for Sudan #39;s Darfur region have been complicated by last week #39;s declaration by the United States that Khartoum and allied militia are committing genocide there.

US Charge Of  #39;genocide #39; In Darfur Complicates Sudan Peace Talks


The U.S. Marines are preparing for a

Marines Set for Sunni Triangle Battle


AFP - A drug addicted-drifter was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of murdering a teenage English backpacker by throwing her from a bridge after robbing her of her handbag.

Australian court convicts drug addict of murdering Stuttle (AFP)


Reuters - Microsoft Corp. , the world's\largest software maker, on Thursday said its first quarter\profit climbed as personal computer sales and business demand\fueled higher sales.

Microsoft Profit, Revenue Rises (Reuters)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Children's cable TV channels owned  by Viacom Inc. <A HREF=

Viacom, Disney Settle with FCC


Royal Ahold and its two former top executives reached a settlement on Wednesday with the S.E.C. in connection with a multibillion-dollar accounting scandal.

Ahold Reaches A Settlement With the S.E.C.


- Lew Ford flied out to right. None on with one out and Jacque Jones due up. - Jacque Jones grounded out to second. None on with two out and Torii Hunter due up.

- UMPIRES: Home,Andy Fletcher; First, Tim Welke; Second, Gary <b>...</b>


The US is losing

US 'alienating' world's Muslims


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former Cold War foes NATO and Russia  on Thursday played down weeks of tension over rigged  presidential poll results in Ukraine and issued a joint call  for free and fair elections at the end of the month.

NATO, Russia Deny 'Cold War' Rift on Ukraine


ATHENS (Reuters) - Michael Phelps won his fifth gold medal  at the Athens Olympics Friday to claim a place alongside Mark  Spitz as one of the greatest swimmers in Olympic history.

Swimming: Fifth Gold, Seventh Medal for Phelps


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Elena Bovina added her name to the  list of Russians to watch at next week's U.S. Open when she  beat Nathalie Dechy to win the New Haven Open Saturday.

Impressive Russian Bovina Clinches New Haven Title


quot;Qui lo dico, qui lo nego quot; is an Italian maxim much repeated and much used; it means  quot;I #39;m telling you and I #39;m denying it at the same time quot;.

James Walston: I respond. You negotiate. He gives in to terrorism


United Airlines will cut its US flight capacity 14 after the busy holiday season and add international flights to focus on more profitable routes.

United cuts back


World Cup leader Bode Miller won the slalom yesterday at Sestriere, Italy, to join Marc Girardelli as the only men to win races in all four disciplines in a season. Miller, of Franconia, N.H., won for the sixth time in 10 World Cup races by finishing two runs down the 2006 Olympic course in a combined 1 minute 39.03 seconds. ...

Another victory for Miller