Sunday: A fierce battle between US forces and Shiite militants <b>...</b>

Tuesday: A Shiite insurgency appeared to be weakening as Iraqi forces moved to within 200 yards of the Imam Ali Shrine. Wednesday: Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric returned home with a peace initiative demanding an end to the fighting in Najaf.


Terror is below radar in Russia

It took 2 days for Russia #39;s security service to announce what virtually everyone else believed from the moment two domestic passenger airlines plunged to earth simultaneously


Australian PM calls election on Oct. 9

Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Sunday announced that the next federal election will be held on October 9. He told a press conference here that voters will decide


We owe Athens an apology

ATHENS -- The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad -- the great disaster that wasn #39;t -- come to an emotional end this afternoon and, really, the world owes Athens an apology.


Legendary double for El Guerrouj

In a historic 5,000-meter race, Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, who won gold at 1,500 meters last week, outkicked Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia in


Hamm not looking back

Controversial Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm is back in the United States and ready to move on. Hamm, in Worcester for the Rock  amp; Roll


Northwest fee increase has agents crying foul

The airline said it will begin paying only \$5 of the \$12.50 cost of booking a Northwest ticket through a global distribution system such as Sabre or Galileo starting Wednesday.


Sanderson doesn't let gold out of his grasp

ATHENS -- Cael Sanderson didn't look too comfortable on the medal stand last night. As the national anthem was played, he went from taking the winners' wreath off his head to putting it back on, to taking it off again and holding it across his chest.


Chechens Vote for New Leader, 'Bomber' Kills Self

ZNAMENSKOYE, Russia (Reuters) - Chechens voted Sunday for a  new president in a tense election, but many doubted the  Moscow-backed police officer who was set to win would manage to  stamp out rebellion in the turbulent region.


US Sprinter Pulled From Relay for Marijuana Violation

Less than two hours before the Olympic men #39;s 400-meter relay semifinal on Friday, the United States Coach George Williams pulled John Capel from the race after being told by


Five facts about France #39;s Muslim headscarf ban

- The French parliament passed the law in March to ban  quot;conspicuous symbols quot; of faith from its state school system. Guidelines for applying the law identified Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large


Saboteurs Blow Up Oil Pipeline in Iraq (AP)

AP - Saboteurs blew up a pipeline in southern Iraq on Sunday in the latest attack targeting the country's crucial oil industry, a senior oil official said.


Vote near, Saudis push to modernize

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Even as Saudi Arabia struggles internally with violent extremists and externally with its image as the country that produced most of the attackers of Sept. 11, 2001, the desert kingdom's rulers are moving on multiple fronts to modernize and moderate their nation.


French Govt., Muslims Appeal for Reporters' Release

PARIS (Reuters) - France's government and leaders of its  Muslim minority urged Iraqi militants Sunday to free two French  journalists they were holding hostage in a bid to force Paris  to revoke its ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.


Spilled Oil, Gas Ignite in Iraq's South Rumaila Field

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Oil and gas spilled during recent  sabotage attacks on Iraq's southern oil pipelines ignited  Sunday and firefighters battled to douse the flames.


Conn. Man, 70, Oldest to Swim Channel

LONDON - A retired Connecticut pilot has become the oldest person to swim the English Channel. George Brunstad, 70, left Dover, England, Saturday morning heading for the French Coast...


Schumacher Clinches Seventh Season Title (AP)

AP - Michael Schumacher clinched an unprecedented seventh Formula One drivers' title at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, despite not winning for just the second time in 14 races this season.


US Bells Do Video on Path Blazed by Small Telcos

The three largest US local telephone corporations made a splash this summer with plans to sell video services on their voice and data lines in a few years.


SEC gives a slap on the wrist

After last week #39;s settlement with San Francisco investment adviser Garrett Van Wagoner, you have to wonder how serious the Securities and Exchange Commission is about protecting mutual fund shareholders.


Helm #39;s perfect 10

And the two-and-a-half back somersaults with one and a half twists in a pike position turned out to be his ticket to a silver medal.


Tropical Storm Slams Into Coastal S.C.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Tropical Storm Gaston blasted the South Carolina coast with rain and near-hurricane strength wind early Sunday, flooding roads and knocking out power to at least 75,000 homes...


Our mobile margins will fall: Telstra

TELSTRA chief financial officer John Stanhope has admitted Telstra #39;s margins in its \$4.5 billion a year mobile phone business will shrink this year in the face of increased price competition and the growing cost of acquiring new customers.


UPDATE 1-Thompson earns Celtic a record win over Rangers

Scottish champions Celtic secured a record seventh successive win over Glasgow rivals Rangers on Sunday with a 1-0 victory courtesy of midfielder Alan Thompson #39;s venomous late strike.


Pakistan not for open-ended arms race: spokesman

A Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Sunday said Islamabad does not favor an open-ended arms race in South Asia, according to the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).


Montgomerie, Donald named as Ryder Cup wildcards

European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer named Britons Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald as his wildcard picks on Sunday for next month #39;s match against the United States.


Arsenal #39;s winning ways a joy

Legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough said last week that losing Forest #39;s 42-game unbeaten record to Arsenal stuck in the craw  quot;because nobody likes them quot;, but surely that is not true.


Thousands Hit NYC Streets; Cheney Arrives

NEW YORK - Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched past the Madison Square Garden site of the Republican National Convention on Sunday, chanting, blowing whistles and carrying anti-war banners as delegates gathered to nominate President Bush for a second term.    On the eve of the convention, the demonstrators packed the street from sidewalk to sidewalk for 20 blocks as they slowly filed past...


Windows Tip: Scheduled Tasks written by Greg Melton on Monday <b>...</b>

If you always forget to scan for viruses, update virus protection, run Disk Defragmenter, or run any other system tool, look to the Task Scheduler for help.


Sudan peace talks resume

Peace talks between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese Government have resumed after a 24-hour boycott by rebels who accused Khartoum of violating a ceasefire by killing 75 civilians in six villages.


Dyke reopens WMD row

Former BBC chief Greg Dyke has reopened the row over Tony Blair #39;s decision to go to war with Iraq. Dyke was forced to resign from his post, along with former BBC chairman Gavyn Davies, last January after Lord


Moderate Republicans Criticize Bush (AP)

AP - A group of moderate Republicans, many long out of office, called on President Bush and the Republican party to "come back to the mainstream" on the eve of the Republican National Convention.


Closing Ceremonies

Host city Athens bid a final farewell to the athletes and guests of the 2004 Summer Games with a spectacular party under a full moon.


China launches science satellite

China launched an experimental satellite into orbit Sunday, atop a Long March 2C carrier rocket; reported Xinhua, China #39;s government-run news agency.


Sheffield day to day with sprained left ankle

New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield missed Sunday #39;s against the Toronto Blue Jays with a sprained left ankle. Sheffield is listed as day to day.


PM Hails Successful Launch Of Agni II

NEW DELHI, AUG 29: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday congratulated the scientists and engineers for the successful launch of the Agni II missile.


Italian Wins Marathon... US Finishes Second

Italian Stefano Baldini has won the men #39;s marathon in a time of 2:10:54. Naturalized American Meb Keflezighi was a surprise runnerup with Brazil #39;s Vanderlei Lima finishing third.


Warner Will Start for Giants in Opener

Eli Manning remains the New York Giants' quarterback of the future. For now, the job belongs to Kurt Warner.


A  #39;new Greece #39; beams after success of Games

As Greeks get a boost, it remains unclear if success will mean higher stature in Europe. By Peter Ford  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Jimenez wins BMW Open with final-round 66

Spain #39;s Miguel Angel Jimenez won the BMW Open, his fourth title on the European tour this season, and Colin Montgomerie was one of six golfers to claim Ryder Cup berths Sunday.


Jays power up to take finale

Contrary to popular belief, the power never really snapped back at SkyDome on Sunday. The lights came on after an hour delay, but it took some extra time for the batting orders to provide some extra wattage.


Hewitt, Davenport Top US Open Standings (AP)

AP - Lleyton Hewitt and Lindsay Davenport could earn up to  #36;500,000 extra at the U.S. Open because they finished atop the inaugural US Open Series standings.


Microsoft revamps its plans for Longhorn

Microsoft is shaking up its plans for the next version of Windows to get the software off the drawing board and into PCs by the end of 2006.


SEVEN KILLED IN KABUL BLOODSHED

At least seven people have been killed in a bomb blast in central Kabul - the second deadly explosion in Afghanistan over the weekend.


Canada, US fail to resolve beef trade dispute

Canada and the United States have failed to reach an agreement on resuming US imports of Canadian live cattle, local press reported Sunday.


Angels' Glaus Activated From DL (AP)

AP - Troy Glaus was activated from the 60-day disabled list Sunday by the Anaheim Angels and was back in the lineup against the Minnesota Twins.


Ankiel solid in rehab start, unsure about future

More that three years since he threw his last pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals, Ankiel gave up one unearned run and one hit in six innings Sunday for Triple-A Memphis in what could be his final start in the minors.


GOP Jamboree May Give Stocks Brief Lift

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fasten your seatbelts. The Republicans  are in town. If things go smoothly at the Republican National  Convention, the stock market could get a brief boost this week,  experts say.


Tokyo Stocks Flat, Focus on Data

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks were flat in mid-morning  trade on Monday with confidence in the domestic economic  outlook failing to offset profit-taking that hit recent gainers  such as insurers and real estate stocks.


China Launches Mapping Satellite (AP)

AP - China on Sunday launched a satellite that will carry out land surveying and other scientific projects for several days and return to Earth, government media reported.


Federal-Mogul May Sell Turner  amp; Newall Assets, Independent Says

Federal-Mogul Corp., the bankrupt US engineering company, may sell its UK-based Turner  amp; Newall Plc after the UK division #39;s independent pension trustee rejected a \$130 million cash offer


GI #39;s in Talks With Rebels of Sadr Stronghold in Baghdad

The American military met for five hours on Sunday with representatives of the rebellious cleric Moktada al-Sadr in the volatile Baghdad Shiite neighborhood of Sadr


Allawi Meets Militants, Pushes Amnesty

Iraq's interim prime minister said that he had held private meetings with representatives of insurgent groups from Fallujah, Ramadi and Samarra to  persuade them to accept a government amnesty offer.


El Guerrouj, Holmes book spots in Olympic Pantheon

Britain #39;s Kelly Holmes and Morocco #39;s Hicham El Guerrouj earned their places among Olympic athletic legends here on Saturday as they won their second golds of the Games.


Beijing gears up for 2008

Although the Beijing Olympics is still four years away, the Chinese capital is already gearing up to host the event. The city of over 12 million is refurbishing ancient landmarks in


Warner Gets the Nod

The first pick in the NFL draft last April will be the first QB off the bench for the Giants as Eli Manning lost the competition for the starting job to veteran Kurt Warner.


New Namath Book Is Fact, Not Fiction

If you read the recent excerpt of "Namath" in Sports Illustrated and were put off by the apparent focus on the iconic Broadway Joe's personal life, be comforted in the knowledge that Mark Kriegel's 441-page biography includes plenty of football, too. The book is exhaustively researched and includes telling anecdotes from Beaver Falls, Pa., to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to New York.


Mr. Chang, Strike a Pose

Halfway around the world, standing virtually in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the incomparable Timmy Chang is just days away from throwing his first pass of the season. From my tattered sofa, I will be watching him. I want you to watch him, too.


ROGER #39;S READY

Roger Federer says he #39;s ready to erase the image as being too soft to win in New York. The world #39;s No. 1 player from Switzerland has played three US Opens and lost in the fourth round each time.


Still no beef resolution after latest talks

NEW YORK, (Aug. 30, 2004) - Cattle farmers and haulers finally looking for a quick end to a 15-month ban on live cattle exports to the US are out of luck after Canadian Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell


For Now, Unwired Means Unlisted. That May Change.

In October, most major cellphone carriers plan to start compiling a publicly accessible listing of wireless phone numbers.


Women #39;s basketball team finds special place in Chancellor #39;s heart

The medal ceremony had ended. Van Chancellor had already shed a few tears, but he had held his emotions together through all the hugs and dancing, even through the victory


New Pakistan cabinet may be sworn in today

Islamabad, :A new Cabinet in Pakistan is likely to be sworn in on Monday, two days after Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz was made the country #39;s 23rd Prime Minister.


Infocus: Deploying Network Access Quarantine Control, Part 2

This article discusses Network Access Quarantine Control in Windows Server 2003, which allows administrators to quarantine mobile users and verify their security posture before giving them full access to the network. Part 2 of 2.


Scaffold collapse survivors improving

One of the men who survived Friday #39;s fatal scaffold collapse is in guarded condition at Detroit Receiving Hospital and the two other survivors were released on Sunday, a hospital spokeswoman said.


Pollsters refuse to write off Australian PM despite lag in polls (AFP)

AFP - Opinion polls give Australia's opposition Labor Party a big lead over Prime Minister John Howard's conservative government as campaigning begins for October 9 elections, but analysts say the real race is still too close to call.


Santander accelerates Abbey bid

Santander says it aims to complete its takeover of UK mortgage lender Abbey one month sooner than originally planned.


A blazing start for Beijing

Greece tried to pass the Olympics baton off to Beijing on Sunday night, but it was a tough job. The Chinese are way ahead of the curve already.


Wakefield goes deep this time

When it comes to giving up long balls, Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has a short memory. Just three weeks after he surrendered a club-record six home


Hot pursuit

Times like these make grown men talk to televisions.  quot;C'mon, guys, get the darn out, quot; Pedro Martinez shouted at a big screen in the Red Sox clubhouse yesterday as he watched the Blue Jays try to finish off the Yankees with two outs and the potential winning run at the plate in the ninth inning in Toronto.


On TV -- from the Internet

SAN MATEO, Calif. -- The promise of Internet-based video has long been hamstrung by copyright and piracy worries, slow dial-up connections, technical challenges, and consumer disdain for watching blotchy videos on their home computers.


Youngster Khan taken to school

The sensation of the Olympic boxing tournament learned yesterday that there #39;s no substitute for experience. At least not in the ring.


Challenger disappoints with writedown

The Kerry Packer-backed Challenger Financial Services Group has reported its first net loss since incorporating, impacted by a massive writedown of goodwill.


Corporate Failures Hurt Pension Guaranty Group

Description: A flurry of corporate bankruptcies in the past few years leaves a public agency strapped for cash: the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.


Bellhorn makes plenty of noise: Big

Second baseman Mark Bellhorn stats, news issued the closing statement in the Red Sox stats, schedule #39; four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers yesterday at Fenway Park.


Intel in new chip breakthrough

Intel creates a more powerful memory chip without increasing its size, confounding the firm's critics.


Going ballistic: Agni-II test fired

NEW DELHI: Indias quest to develop a solid missile defence took a step forward today when it successfully test-fired the surface-to-surface Agni-II missile, which can cover targets in the 2000-2500 kms-range, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at


Nigerian troops set off on AU peace mission to Darfur (AFP)

AFP - A 155-strong company of Nigerian infantry flew out of Abuja, heading for the war-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur to join an African Union force protecting ceasefire monitors.


UPDATE: Sons Of Gwalia In Administration On Hedging Debt

PERTH (Dow Jones)--Sons of Gwalia Ltd. (SGW.AU), Australia #39;s second-biggest gold producer, has fallen into administration over aA\$348 million hedge book liability.


Carnival crowds likely to top 1m

As the Notting Hill Carnival enters its final day, police say they are pleased with how it has gone so far. About 250,000 people took to the streets on Sunday - more than double the first day last year - to celebrate 40 years of the west London event.


Typhoon Chaba Kills Four in Japan

Powerful Typhoon Chaba has plowed into southern Japan, sweeping at least four people to their deaths and injuring more than 30 as it knocked out power to thousands.


Vietnam Marks Independence with Pardons for Prisoners

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam has released nearly 9,000  prisoners, including 10 inmates whose cases it says had drawn  international attention, as part of traditional pardons granted  ahead of independence celebrations on September 2.


Mining concern names outside managers

SYDNEY Sons of Gwalia, the world #39;s leading supplier of tantalum, appointed outside managers on Monday after failing to reach agreement with creditors.


Minister Lee Says Uncertainty Deepens Economic Lethargy

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance-Economy Minister Lee Hun-jai said Monday the nation #39;s current economic lethargy is due to unsubstantiated uncertainty #39; #39; about the future, which in turn weakens the confidence of market players.


Robson  #39; Massively Disappointed #39; at Newcastle Exit

Departing Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson has spoken of his regret at not being able to complete his mission after being relieved of his duties today.


Atlas Copco to Sell Electric Tool Business

Swedish engineering company Atlas Copco said Monday it will sell its electric tool business to Hong Kong-based Techtronic Industries Co.


Sadr Aide Tells Iraq Militia to Cease Fire -TV

A top aide to Iraq #39;s rebel Shi #39;ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr Monday called on the Mehdi Army militia to cease fire across Iraq and said Sadr was preparing to announce plans for a major political program.


96 Processors Under Your Desktop

Roland Piquepaille writes  quot;A small Santa Clara-based company, Orion Multisystems, today unveils a new concept in computing,  #39;cluster workstations.


Defrocked Priest Gets Suspended Sentence for Marathon Attack

A defrocked Irish priest who attacked the leader during yesterdays Olympic marathon was given a one year suspended sentence in Athens today.


UPDATE:Sinopec 1H Pft Up 51; To Raise Refining Capacity

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--China Petroleum  amp; Chemical Corp. (SNP), the country #39;s second-largest oil and gas producer, Monday reported a 51 jump in first-half earnings and said it plans to boost its refining capacity by about one-fifth over three years.


Rebound in US consumer spending

US consumer spending rebounded in July, a sign the economy may be emerging from an early summer decline. Consumer spending rose 0.8 last month, boosted by car and retail sales.


Israeli Held Meetings With U.S. Analyst (AP)

AP - A senior Israeli diplomat in Washington has met with a Pentagon analyst being investigated by the FBI on suspicion he passed classified information to Israel, Israeli officials confirmed Monday.


Regional House Price Declines Possible

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. housing industry economists on  Monday cautioned that rapid house price gains in some areas of  the country may not be sustainable.


Intel Shrinks Transistor Size By 30

pinkUZI writes  quot;Intel will announce that it has crammed 500 million transistors on to a single memory chip, shrinking them in size by 30.


US Airways Up on Labor Talks

US Airways #39; (UAIR:Nasdaq - news - research) shares jumped almost 20 on news that management and pilots were back at the table, trying to hammer out an agreement on work concessions to save the company.


Bryant Makes First Appearance at Trial (AP)

AP - NBA star Kobe Bryant arrived at his sexual assault trial Monday as attorneys in the case who spent the weekend poring over questionnaires prepared to question potential jurors individually.


Language of goals what counts for tongue-tied Ronnie and Michael

England striker Michael Owen said his lack of Spanish and Ronaldo #39;s lack of English did not hinder celebrations of the Brazilian #39;s matchwinner for Real Madrid in Sunday #39;s 1-0 win at Mallorca.


Oil Drops Below \$42 a Barrel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices fell more than \$1 on  Monday on continued profit-taking as producer-group OPEC eyed  increases in the coming months in its tight spare capacity,  countering worries over stumbling Iraqi oil exports.


Al-Sadr Calls on Militia to Stop Fighting

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for his followers across Iraq to end fighting against U.S. and Iraqi forces and is planning to join the political process in the coming days, an al-Sadr aide said Monday...


Regional Home Price Drop Possible


Man U. and Everton play to scoreless draw

Manchester, England (Sports Network) - Manchester United #39;s struggle continued on Monday when they failed to score in a 0-0 tie with Everton at Old Trafford.


GOP Sharpens Attacks As Convention Opens

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sen. John McCain said Monday it was fair game to criticize Democrat John Kerry's anti-war protests three decades ago, firing an opening salvo as Republicans at their national convention sought to portray President Bush as a strong wartime leader.


11 Dead in a Car Bomb in Kabul

KABUL (Masnet  amp; News Agencies) - At least eleven people, including two US citizens, were killed when a truck bomb exploded in downtown Kabul in the second deadly blast to strike Afghanistan over the weekend.


Microsoft spends 1bn to keep out the hackers

The growing threat of hackers and viruses has prompted Microsoft to roll out a billion- dollar upgrade of its Windows computer operating system to strengthen security.


Juniper Takes Security to Endpoints

Juniper Networks (Quote, Chart) has launched a new initiative designed to improve interoperability of popular third-party antivirus and firewall measures with its own Secure Socket Layer (define) Virtual Private Network (define) appliances.


Stocks Dip on Consumer Income Report News (AP)

AP - An unsettling report on consumer incomes set off a spate of profit-taking on Wall Street Monday as investors worried that a tepid economy would erode companies' third-quarter earnings. Another drop in oil prices failed to shake the gloom from the market.


SEC Probes United Rentals, Shares Drop

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators are  investigating United Rentals Inc. URI.N and have subpoenaed  some accounting records, the company said on Monday, sending  its shares down 21.5 percent.


New Chechen Leader Vows Peace, Poll Criticized

GROZNY, Russia (Reuters) - Chechnya's new leader vowed on  Monday to rebuild the shattered region and crush extremists,  after winning an election condemned by rights groups as a  stage-managed show and by Washington as seriously flawed.


Africa takes tough stand on coups

The arrest of Margaret Thatcher's son last week is the latest example of a crackdown on overthrows.


Generals May Pay a Price for Iraq Abuse

WASHINGTON - The Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal could effectively end the careers of four Army generals who are linked indirectly to the misconduct but face no criminal charges.    The four are singled out for varying degrees of criticism - mixed with instances of praise - in two comprehensive investigative reports released last week...


Survey: IT spending to grow modestly next year

CIO confidence is up in third quarter, according to Forrester poll.


Coming to a TV near you: Ads for desktop Linux

Linspire CEO points out that recent TV ads serve as indication of acceptance in mainstream populace.


FOOTBALL: RAE KNEE SCAN HAS MCLEISH IN A SWEAT

ALEX RAE was in hospital yesterday for a scan on his injured knee after playing through the pain barrier in Sunday #39;s Old Firm clash.


Iraqi oil exports slump: report

NEAR daily attacks on pipelines and pumping stations had pushed down Iraq #39;s oil exports to their lowest point in nearly a year, Britain #39;s Financial Times newspaper reported today.


Australia #39;s Seven FY Net Jumps 59 To A\$93.3M -2-

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian television broadcaster Seven Network Ltd. (SEV) said Tuesday net profit jumped 59 to A\$93.3 million for the fiscal year ended June 26, boosted by profit proceeds from the sell down of its stake in B Digital.


Parts pinch shuts down Ford plant

Workers at the Ford plant in Hapeville are getting a second unexpected day off during the dog days of summer. The company has stopped assembly-line production at the plant today because of a continued parts shortage, a Ford official said.


Orion Debuts Cluster Workstation

Orion Multisystems, a new company founded by former Transmeta (Quote, Chart) executives, debuted a family of workstations Monday that think and act like a cluster of servers.


AT amp;T Embraces Voice-over-Internet Telephony

AT amp;T is attracted to Voice over IP because Internet telephony is cheaper to offer to businesses and consumers and requires less upfront investment than the old copper wire and traditional switching networks.


Off-day would have been welcomed by Sox

After another disappointing road trip - the White Sox were 3-4 on a swing through Detroit and Cleveland - a day off sure would look enticing.


Maker of Twinkies Delays Filing Annual Report, Hires Turnaround <b>...</b>

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 30 -- Twinkie maker Interstate Bakeries Corp. on Monday delayed filing its annual report for the second time, a move that dragged shares lower by more than 42 percent on speculation about the company #39;s ongoing viability.


MND confirms China pulling troops from drill

The Ministry of Defense confirmed yesterday that China #39;s military had withdrawn most of its troops from Dongshan Island where it was to hold an annual war game, but would not say if the action indicated Beijing was calling off the maneuvers that simulate


A Better Solution for Israel

The hysterical tone of Daniel Seidemann #39;s plea to the next US administration to save Israel from itself serves no useful purpose op-ed, Aug. 26.


Braves Rally to Defeat Giants 7-6 (AP)

AP - Even with a big lead in the NL East, the Atlanta Braves aren't taking anything for granted.


Bryant Jury Selection Behind Closed Doors (AP)

AP - Prospective jurors in the Kobe Bryant rape case were asked their feelings on racial prejudice, interracial relationships, marital infidelity and justice for the rich and famous in an 82-item questionnaire released Monday.


IT seeing steady but slow growth: Forrester projects 7 percent <b>...</b>

Tech companies waiting for a big resurgence in spending on computer hardware, software, networks and staff better plan to wait about four more years, Forrester Research projected yesterday.


Japan should outsource more

The Japanese information services industry clocked up sales of 13,703.9 billion yen in fiscal 2001, according to a report on selected service industries for 2001 released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).


White Sox Edge Phillies

Joe Borchard wows the crowd with the longest homer in the 14-year history of U.S. Cellular Field as the White Sox edge the Phillies 9-8.


ANOTHER VOICE Sugary drinks bad for you

Many studies have linked the consumption of nondiet soda and fruit juices with added sugars to obesity and attendant risks of diabetes.


Testaverde accepts Parcells #39; nomination

Who would have thought that the Dallas Cowboys #39; offense would be the least of coach Bill Parcells problems? After cutting their starting quarterback in training camp, signing a controversial


Australia Police to Trap Cyberspace Pedophiles (Reuters)

Reuters - Australian police acting as part of an\international "cyber cop" network will be able to trap\pedophiles who use the Internet to "groom" or lure children for\sex, under new laws passed by parliament on Tuesday.


Marlins keep pace in wild-card race

The Mets #39; objective, Fred Wilpon said last winter and into the spring, was to play meaningful games late into the season. The owner was confident his revamped team could compete for first place


Milosevic opens his defense case, starting second half of his <b>...</b>

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic opened his long-delayed defense at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal Tuesday, describing the battles of his Serbian people as self defense against internal rebellions and external attacks by Islamic warriors.


Injury brings Brown down

Troy Brown didn't play any defense against Carolina in Saturday night's exhibition game. Thing is, he didn't play much offense or special teams, either.


Starting today, funds' stances on proxies are matter of record

Every year, public companies put a number of questions before their stockholders for a vote. Investors weigh in on whether to reelect company directors, reappoint auditors, and approve or kill plans to give big stock option packages to senior executives.


Hall of Shame   Hall of Fame

We spotlight people and products that pester us...and the heroes saving us from annoyances.


Athens coverage a winner for NBC

NBC and its family of cable networks flooded American households with nearly nonstop coverage of the Athens Olympics, and the strategy - along with strong performances by the US teams in swimming and gymnastics -roduced not only a ratings increase


Alitalia union may accept job cuts

A top Italian labor leader says his union could consider job cuts at Alitalia to prevent the airline #39;s collapse, as workers at the flag carrier clamored for details of its cost-cutting rescue plan.


FCC asks high court to rule on broadband (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - The federal government is challenging an appeals court ruling that, officials fear, would stifle the expansion of cable broadband services by burdening the providers with new regulations.


UBS pays 265 million dollars for Schwab capital markets business (AFP)

AFP - Swiss banking group UBS said that it had paid 265 million dollars (219 million euros) to buy SoundView, the capital markets division of online broker Charles Schwab to strengthen its position on the US Nasdaq market.


Longhorn announcements barely a blimp on IT radar

While developers are naturally curious over tweaks to the Longhorn road map, many IT administrators barely take notice. Enterprise IT customers typically lag at least


Novell reshuffles biz for Linux focus

Novell is reorganising its business to focus on two key areas - Linux and identity management. The networking software firm #39;s Nterprise and Linux operations will be folded into a Platform and Application Services group CRN reports.


British Minister to Visit North Korea in September

The British government has announced plans to send a top Foreign Office representative to North Korea in September. Junior Minister for East Asia Bill Rammell will become the first British minister to visit


Broncos Running Back Out for Entire Season (AP)

AP - Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson will miss the entire season because of a groin injury sustained last weekend in an exhibition game against Houston.


Apple unveils super thin iMac in Paris (AFP)

AFP - Apple Computers launched the newest version of its iMac model, which at two inches thick, is the world's thinnest desktop computer, the company said.


Conditions Worsen in Darfur, U.N. Agencies Say (Reuters)

Reuters - Conditions for 1.2 million Sudanese\displaced in Darfur continue to worsen amid violent attacks,\spreading disease, and heavy rains which wreak havoc with aid\convoys, United Nations agencies said on Tuesday.


Australian employee of Canadian oil company reportedly abducted in Yemen (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Diplomats investigated Tuesday a report that an Australian oil engineer had been abducted in Yemen by armed tribesmen, but a conflicting report from Yemen said there was no kidnapping.


EU, Japan Win WTO Approval to Impose Duties on US (Update2)

The European Union, Japan and Brazil won World Trade Organization backing to impose tariffs on US imports after Congress failed to end illegal corporate subsidies worth \$850 million since 2001.


Study: CEOs rewarded for outsourcing

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The CEOs of the top 50 US companies that sent service jobs overseas pulled down far more pay than their counterparts at other large companies last year, a study said Tuesday.


Hartford Sees \$91 Mln in Charley Losses

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.  HIG.N on Tuesday became the latest insurer to issue a profit  warning tied to Hurricane Charley, the strongest storm to hit  Florida in a dozen years.


Roundup: Illini men rise to top of AP poll, win game

There was little celebrating when Illinois men #39;s players found out they were ranked No. 1 in the nation yesterday afternoon. There was a game to play at night.


Maddux Wins No. 302, Baker Wins No. 1,000

Greg Maddux pitched the Chicago Cubs into the lead in the NL wild-card race and gave Dusty Baker a win to remember. Maddux threw seven shutout innings for his 302nd career win, Baker got his 1,000th victory as a manager and Chicago beat the Montreal Expos 5-2 on Monday night...


Apple's New iMac Computer Is All Display

PARIS (Reuters) - Apple Computer unveiled, after a  two-month delay, its new iMac desktop computer on Tuesday which  integrates disk drives and processors into a flat display less  than two inches thick.


New iMac packs computer into flat screen

PARIS Apple Computer engineered another design coup on Tuesday, unveiling a new iMac here that incorporates all of the personal computer #39;s innards into a flat-panel screen that balances on an aluminum stand.


UPDATE 3-Albertsons hit by California strike; shares fall

Albertsons Inc. (ABS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 2 US grocer, on Tuesday reported a substantial drop in its quarterly profit as heavy promotions


Samsung readies Philips #39; near-field communications for cellphones

MANHASSET, NY - Philips Electronics and Samsung Electronics have entered into a deal that will enable Samsung to deploy cellular devices using Philips #39; near-field communications chip and technology.


Putin Says Plane Crashes Involved Terrorists Linked to Al-Qaeda

Russian President Vladimir Putin today said the explosions that brought down two airliners in Russia a week ago were the work of terrorists linked to the al- Qaeda terrorist network.


Hurricane Frances Nears NE Caribbean (AP)

AP - Hurricane Frances strengthened as it churned near islands of the northeastern Caribbean with ferocious winds expected to graze Puerto Rico on Tuesday before the storm plows on toward the Bahamas and the southeastern United States.


Kansas City Royals Team Report - August 31

(Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals try to get back on the winning track this evening when they continue their three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium.


Montreal Expos Team Report - August 31

(Sports Network) - The Montreal Expos were handed a setback in Monday #39;s opener at Olympic Stadium. Greg Maddux threw seven shutout innings and went 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate to lead the Cubs to a 5-2 victory.


Japanese electronics giants in LCD joint venture

Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita Electric have formed a joint venture to manufacture large liquid-crystal displays for flat-screen televisions, escalating competition for a piece of the digital living room.


Microsoft to delay advanced search technology from Longhorn

Microsoft said Friday that it is delaying the release of a new data-storage technology, named WinFS, from the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, in order to deliver the operating system by 2006.


Darfur conditions worsen

rebels struggle to make headway in talks aiming to ease the conflict in the Darfur region. sanctions on Sudan, by saying Moscow opposed sanctions.


Beyond solar system, planets that look familiar

The universe looked a little more familiar and friendlier on Tuesday. The roll call of planets beyond the solar system swelled significantly with the announcement of a trio of newly discovered worlds much


Credit Suisse to Combine US Unit

Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland #39;s second-largest bank, said Tuesday it will combine its US-based Credit Suisse First Boston investment unit with its retail and private banking business within two years.


Spammers use sender authentication too, study says

The technology hasn't been widely adopted, but spammers are taking it up at a faster rate than legitimate e-mailers.


SafeGuard Offers Easy Hard-Drive Protection

Upgraded version of this encryption app adds plenty of tools for networked users.


Francis Nixes Hurricanes' Front Office Job (AP)

AP - Ron Francis turned down a front-office job with the Carolina Hurricanes and is still deciding whether he wants to continue his playing career.


Disgraced Greek Sprinters Drug Tested by WADA

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and  Katerina Thanou have been dope tested by doctors from the World  Anti-Doping Agency, an official said Tuesday.


Skype Telephony Now Available for the Mac

Skype for Windows, Skype for Pocket PC and Skype for Linux -- Skype for Mac OS X is free. Skype users can control their online presence and


Killings shock, humiliate Nepalese

Protesters in Kathmandu have expressed disbelief and frustration after learning of the deaths of 12 Nepalese hostages in Iraq. Nepal #39;s ambassador to Qatar, Somananda Suman, confirmed


Gaddafi to Compensate Libyan Jews for Lost Homes (Reuters)

Reuters - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, easing\his country's way back into the international fold, on Tuesday\became the first Arab leader to promise compensation for Jews\who were forced from their homes due to religious tension.


Microsoft To Ship Longhorn in 2006 Without WinFS

Microsoft will ship its next Windows client code-named Longhorn in 2006 as originally promised -- but without the next-generation file system known as WinFS.


Veritas Keeps Reaching into Its Wallet

By acquiring KVault, which makes e-mail-archiving software, it aims to erode EMC #39;s lead and rebuild investors #39; confidence.


NL Wrap: Edmonds Double Strike Lifts Cards Over Padres

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jim Edmonds belted two solo homers to  lead the host St Louis Cardinals to an easy 9-3 win over the  San Diego Padres in National League action at Busch Stadium  Tuesday.


A Year of Charges, Reforms for Funds

NEW YORK -- Just a year ago this week, New York Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer shook the financial services industry -- and investor confidence -- by revealing that four big-name mutual fund companies had cut secret deals allowing a New Jersey hedge fund to profit from short-term trading at the expense of ordinary investors.


Moscow Rail Station Evacuated on Bomb Threat, Interfax Says

Moscow police are conducting a partial evacuation at the Kursk railway station in central Moscow as they search for explosives after receiving an anonymous phone call from a man threatening


Iraq #39;s Chalabi escapes attempt on his life

Gunmen opened fire Wednesday on a convoy carrying former Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi in an apparent assassination attempt that wounded two of his bodyguards, Chalabi #39;s spokesman said.


Blu-ray group mandates Microsoft codec for BD-ROM

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BRDA) has selected Microsoft #39;s VC-9 video codec for future BD-ROM content, the organisation said today.


Mariners riding the Ichiro wave

Ichiro Suzuki singled three times last night to etch out a spot in history and to send the Toronto Blue Jays a little deeper into oblivion.


Wharf marks debut with wickets

In-form Alex Wharf made an impressive start to his international career this morning with wickets in his first two overs against India at Trent Bridge.


Roddick blisters junior champ

By the time his match with Andy Roddick was over, Jenkins had felt the full fury of Roddick #39;s jet blast. Roddick had nailed a 152-mph serve at him, the fastest serve in Open history and one


AMD dual-core demo pips Intel, IBM

AMD has demonstrated the company #39;s first dual-core microprocessors. Dual-core processors offer improved performance over single-core chips, especially in multithreaded applications.


Gunmen ambush Chalabi #39;s convoy, wound 2

BAGHDAD - Gunmen ambushed the convoy of former Iraqi governing council president Ahmed Chalabi on Wednesday, wounding two of his bodyguards, aides said.


Albertsons #39; 2Q Profit Falls 36 Percent

Persistent economic sluggishness and continued fallout from the Southern California labor dispute slashed second quarter profits 36 percent for Albertsons Inc.


Problem device bypassed trials

The catheter that triggered three safety recalls by Boston Scientific Corp. of its best-selling Taxus coronary stent after being linked to three deaths and 47 injuries had not been subjected to the rigors of a human clinical trial, FDA records show.


CRM Vendor Entellium Adopts Open-Source Strategy (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Availability of Entellium's code could speed development of industry-specific CRM products.


Suicide bomber kills at least 10 in Moscow

MOSCOW -- A woman strapped with explosives blew herself up outside a busy Moscow subway station yesterday night, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 50 in the second terrorist attack to hit Russia in a week.


Old Rumors of Gay Sex Prove Powerful on Web

Va. GOP members chose Del. Thelma Drake (Norfolk) to replace Rep. Edward L. Schrock after he resigned amidst allegations Schrock indulged in or solicited gay sex.


Monster Mashes Attract Masses

Kaiju Big Battel -- a multimedia event in which costumed combatants spew toxic ooze on audience members -- is growing in popularity. There are already dedicated websites and a DVD series. Coming next: a book and TV pilot. By Xeni Jardin.


Scottish  amp; Southern wraps up a 3bn deal over distribution <b>...</b>

SCOTTISH  amp; Southern Energy yesterday called time on its 18-month acquisition spree after confirming a 3.1 billion swoop for two gas distribution networks.


Manchester United the only team for me, says Rooney

Teenage striker Wayne Rooney says Manchester United were the only team he wanted to join once they he knew the club were interested in him.


Three jockeys, one trainer arrested

LONDON -- British police arrested 16 people, including three jockeys and a trainer, Wednesday as part of a major crackdown on corruption in horse racing.


Ooh la la, Apple unveils new iMac (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Attempting to capitalize on iPod mania, Apple Computer Tuesday unveiled a fast new version of the iMac that it all but touted as a smart accessory for the sexy music players.


Verizon, Bain Near Canada Directory Deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc. VZ.N is  near an agreement to sell its Canadian telephone directory  business to private equity firm Bain Capital, the New York Post  said on Wednesday.


China's Lenovo in talks with 'major IT firm' for acquisition (AFP)

AFP - China's largest manufacturer of personal computers Lenovo Group said it is in negotiations with a major information technology company, believed to be US-based IBM.


RESEARCH ALERT-First Albany ups SuperGen to  quot;buy quot; on drug deal

First Albany Capital on Wednesday raised SuperGen Inc. #39;s (SUPG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) stock rating to  quot;buy quot; from  quot;neutral, quot; following its cancer-drug deal with MGI Pharma Inc.


Alien Contact More Likely by  quot;Mail quot; Than Radio, Study Says

Researchers behind the study speculate that other life-forms may have already sent us messages, perhaps even as organic material embedded in asteroids that have struck Earth.


Oracle Moves To Monthly Patch Schedule

An alert posted on the company #39;s Web site outlined the patches that should be posted to fix numerous security holes in a number of applications.


Internet Explorer Wins the Battle

There #39;s a remarkable graph on Google #39;s Zeitgeist site showing the meteoric rise of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 use and equally catastrophic decline of all other competing browsers.


Compete against your friends, SI experts and celebrities in this <b>...</b>

OWINGS MILLS, Maryland (Ticker) --  quot;Prime Time quot; has decided this is the right time to return to the NFL. Deion Sanders, regarded as perhaps the most electrifying cornerback in league history, arrived here


Paris Tourists Search for Key to 'Da Vinci Code' (Reuters)

Reuters - A funny thing happened on the way to the\Mona Lisa. Visitors to the Louvre museum in Paris, home of the\world's most famous painting, started quizzing tour guides\about Dan Brown's best-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code."


U.S. Factory Growth Eases

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Expansion in the U.S. factory sector  slowed in August as higher costs for energy and raw materials  squeezed manufacturers, a report showed on Wednesday, but  analysts said growth remained relatively robust.


China Reports Births of Two Giant Pandas (AP)

AP - For pandas, it's practically a baby boom. Two giant pandas were born this week, and mothers and cubs were doing fine, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.


D #39;Urso suspended by FA

The Football Association has handed referee Andy D #39;Urso a 28-day suspension following his failure to give Barry Ferguson his marching orders against Southampton on August 21.


Israel seals off Gaza Strip

The Israeli army sealed off Gaza Strip Wednesday by shutting down Erez Crossing and the Industrial Zone and prevented Palestinians from leaving.


Need for carbon sink technologies

Climate scientists tell a conference that greater efforts should be made to pull CO2 from the atmosphere.


Share-deal ban signals MGM deal

MOVIE studio Metro-Goldwyn Meyer has reportedly banned some of its staff from buying or selling its shares, stoking speculation that a multibillion-dollar takeover of the group could be days away, with Time Warner the favoured candidate.


Dell Debuts Color Laser Printers

Three new models are designed for businesses and home office users.


Crude oil prices soar on drop in US oil inventories

Crude oil futures surged Wednesday as the US Energy Department reported US oil supplies fell more than expected. Crude oil for October delivery rose 1.68 dollars to 43.


Taiwan #39;s Acer picks a European as president

TAIPEI Acer, the Taiwan computer company, named Gianfranco Lanci of Italy as its president on Wednesday, an appointment that signals the company #39;s ambitions to expand its global market share.


Companies Moving Cautiously on Microsoft #39;s SP2 Update

quot;Whether companies roll out Windows XP immediately or replace their older operating systems with Windows XP when purchasing new PCs, companies now have to ensure XP SP2 compliancy by determining


Milosevic Startled: No Applause

It was to have been Slobodan Milosevic #39;s day of dignity, the day on which the former Serbian leader would, with certain drama, lay out his defense strategy in his trial


Google shares down ahead of first lockup expiry

Shares in newly public Google Inc. fell 2 percent on Wednesday as investors braced for the expiration of a lockup period that has kept insiders at the Web search company from selling stock.


Philip Morris, plaintiffs fighting again

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Philip Morris and lawyers who won a ten-(B)billion-dollar judgment against the company are fighting again. The cigarette maker on Monday asked the Illinois Supreme Court to disqualify a Chicago


Aether Declines Higher Bid for Unit (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Aether Systems Inc., a Maryland wireless data company that is selling off its operating units, said yesterday it received a  #36;30 million offer for a division it had already agreed to sell to another buyer for  #36;25 million.


Scientists to Study Dairy Going Organic (AP)

AP - Cornell researchers will watch five upstate New York dairy herds to learn about the problems and challenges of converting from conventional to organic farming.


29 escapees from North seek refuge at school in Beijing

BEIJING -- Twenty-nine people believed to be North Korean entered the Japanese school in Beijing on Wednesday morning to seek asylum in a country other than China, according to Foreign Ministry officials in Tokyo.


Orioles 8, Devil Rays 0

Javy Lopez drove in four runs, Daniel Cabrera became the first rookie to win 10 games this season, and the Baltimore Orioles held the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to two hits in an 8-0 victory.


Europeans Eat Less of Dangerous Fatty Foods

By PAUL GEITNER    BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Europeans eat less of the most dangerous, cholesterol-raising fats than Americans do and the amount is decreasing, according to a report released Wednesday by the European Food Safety Authority.    Scientists at the European Food Safety authority declined to say whether the EU should follow the United States' lead and require special labels on margarine, chips, cookies, fries and other potential sources of trans fatty acids...


Samsung Says It Will Expand Chip Factories

The Samsung Electronics Company, the Korean electronics giant, said Monday that it would invest \$23.7 billion in new chip production lines over the next six years.


SAP software exposes shipper's financial errors

The installation of SAP financial software at a major London-based container transport firm exposed flaws in the company's accounting systems and processes, forcing it to restate its earnings.


VeriSign sues ICANN in state court

VeriSign is asking a California court to order the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to butt out of its business.


Mexican columnist murdered

A prominent Mexican journalist known for his reports on organised  crime is killed on the US border.


O's Stuff Devil Rays

Javy Lopez drives in four runs, Daniel Cabrera becomes the first rookie to win 10 games this season, and the Orioles hold Tampa Bay to two hits in an 8-0 victory Wednesday night.


Republican Convention Dogged by Relentless Protests (Reuters)

Reuters - Five thousand people protesting high\job losses formed a 3 mile unemployment line in Manhattan on\Wednesday and AIDS activists disrupted a Republican meeting on\the third day of the party's convention to nominate the\president to a second term in office.


Make hotels just like home

HOTEL operators, take note: Todays hotel guests are making a nonsense of room-pricing strategies with their aggressive, Internet-aided discount-hunting.


Strong Hurricane Roars Over Bahamas Toward Florida (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Frances battered the\southeastern Bahamas islands with 140 mph winds on Wednesday as\it roared toward the United States and put millions of people\on alert along Florida's heavily populated east coast.


Update 8: Ford, GM Set Production Cuts on Sales Drop

Another disappointing sales month at General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. led the nation #39;s two largest automakers to cut planned vehicle production in the fourth quarter, which could hurt profits.


Apple Unwraps New IMac G5s

PARIS -- Apple Computer will begin shipping its new IMac G5 desktop computer worldwide in mid-September, the company #39;s top marketing executive says.


Sneaky Sharing (PC World)

PC World - Despite well-publicized wins by piracy foes, illegal digital music and movie trading continues to flourish in underground havens.


Hague Court Imposes Defense Counsel on Milosevic

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Judges at The Hague tribunal on  Thursday imposed a defense counsel on former Yugoslav President  Slobodan Milosevic to avoid further delays in his war crimes  trial.


It #39;s got to be Cole on the left

Football365 #39;s top pundit looks ahead to England #39;s international double-header and calls for Joe Cole to be given the nod on the left... Of the three left-sided options available to Sven-Goran Eriksson on Saturday, I would personally go for Joe Cole.


Court imposes lawyer on Milosevic

The UN tribunal in The Hague says it will impose a defence lawyer on former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic.


Not a big hit everywhere

Bill Ryan is spending the last days of the summer traveling across Canada and the United States to pitch big shareholders on the complicated plan to sell 51 percent of his Banknorth Group Inc. to Toronto-Dominion Bank .


Software Service Aims to Outfox Caller ID

A new computerized service enables customers to create phony outbound phone numbers in order to mask their telephone identities.


As French school year begins, Iraq crisis tests head scarf ban

PARIS -- School doors open for 12 million French children today, but there is far more at stake this year than back-to-school jitters.


12 nations agree to locust battle plan

DAKAR, Senegal -- Residents burned tires and children took to the streets with sticks in Senegal's capital yesterday to fight an invasion of locusts, as 12 West African nations agreed on a battle plan.


He's caught up in hurricane

There was the \$5 million Deutsche Bank Championship to prepare for and the Ryder Cup is a few weeks away, but the first order of business for Jim Furyk yesterday was to make sure his wife and children were headed for safety.


A serving of football EFL style

Can't wait to see the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots look to continue their 15-game winning streak when they host the Indianapolis Colts next Thursday? Gridiron junkies will whet their appetite tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Battis Field in Middleborough, where the Middleboro Cobras and Brockton Buccaneers will tangle for Eastern Football League supremacy.


Locals lift Irish squad in Europe tourney

Tim Brett and Matt Shinney are lacrosse aficionados and fervent players. Brett, 27, who is a manager at a hotel in Charlestown, and Shinney, 23, a student at Bridgewater State College, are self-described lacrosse  quot;weekend warriors. quot;


Phone fight against home violence

A campaign begins to collect old mobile phones and convert them into alarms for women who are attacked in the home.


Israeli forces raid Gaza refugee camp

Israeli forces destroyed two five-story apartment buildings in a Gaza refugee camp early Thursday after evacuating thousands of Palestinians from a neighborhood, said residents and the military.


Napster Offers Music to Go

This service leverages new Windows Media 10 technologies to enable Napster subscribers to download music to portable devices, a technology called Janus.


Casagrande and Golbano out of Vuelta

Italy #39;s Francesco Casagrande and Carlos Golbano of Spain have been declared unfit to start the Tour of Spain following pre-race blood tests.


Japanese Prime Minister Inspects Four Northern Islands under <b>...</b>

On September 2, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (right) inspects four northern islands that are under territorial dispute with Russia.


Red Hat replaces CFO

Red Hat on Thursday named Charles Peters Jr. as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Peters replaces Kevin Thompson, who unexpectedly announced his resignation in June, a few days before the


Federated sales decline in August

A slow August snapped an eight-month winning streak for Federated Department Stores Inc., which reported its first drop in sales since November.


French Students Face New Head Scarf Ban

PARIS - Millions of French students returned to school Thursday as a new law that bans Islamic head scarves from classrooms went into effect amid demands by Islamic radicals holding two French hostages in Iraq that the law be scrapped.    Muslim leaders in France, who had largely opposed the law, urged calm for the return to class...


Scotch Whisky eyes Asian and Eastern European markets (AFP)

AFP - A favourite tipple among connoisseurs the world over, whisky is treated with almost religious reverence on the Hebridean island of Islay, home to seven of Scotland's single malt distilleries.


Mobile phone sales hit second-quarter record: Gartner (AFP)

AFP - Global sales of mobile telephones hit a record 156 million in the second quarter, a study published by the US research group Gartner showed.


British Bug Splat Survey Springs Surprise (Reuters)

Reuters - The results of one of the stranger\environmental surveys to be conducted in Britain are in -- and\there's a surprise.


Specialty Retail Tales

Not every specialty retailer is cut from the same mold -- some are just moldy.


Smith setback for Windies

West Indies have been forced to make a second change to their Champions Trophy squad because of injury. Dwayne Smith is suffering from a shoulder problem and has been replaced by Ryan Hinds.


Orange tells customers to Talk Now

European carrier Orange is rolling out its own Push To Talk service ahead of efforts to create a standardized PTT system. European mobile carrier Orange has announced


Microsoft's Tune Like Many Others

Cue the music: Microsoft has officially thrown its headphones into the ring in the contest to bring legal music downloads to the masses. -washingtonpost.com


RNC Protesters Using Text Messages to Plan

"Multiple reports of provocateurs setting trash fires in midtown," read one text message sent to 400-plus mobile phones this week through a service called Ruckus RNC 2004 Text Alerts.


Red Hat replaces CFO

Charles Peters Jr. is taking over as the company deals with the aftereffects of restating its earnings for the past three fiscal years.


Appeals court faults Oracle in shareholder suit

Judges send case back to lower court to sort out allegations of improper bookkeeping and "suspicious" stock sales.


Microsoft Japan to give away over one million XP SP2 CDs

TOKYO -- Microsoft Corp.'s Japanese arm will begin giving away more than a million CD-ROMs of the company's latest security update, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) from 27,500 locations during September and October, the company said on Thursday.


Sun to enter content switch market

Sun Microsystems Inc. plans later this month to unveil its first ever content switch: a load-balancing and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) acceleration switch based on the Nauticus N2000 products that the Santa Clara, California, company acquired in January of this year.


US Airways shares up on possible pilots pact

Shares of US Airways Group Inc. rose more than 9 Thursday morning after the airline #39;s pilots union said it may agree on a plan to cut wages and benefits.


Microsoft to make foray into online music (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Microsoft makes its long-anticipated entry into the online music market today, marking the first serious challenge to Apple Computer's popular iTunes service.


LeapFrog's Greener Pastures (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - If you've ever had the entrepreneurial bug dig its teeth into you, odds are that you might take heart anytime a company's founder steps down and moves on. Granted, sometimes you have instances like Gateway's (NYSE: GTW - News) Ted Waitt and Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL - News) Steve Jobs in which the originators come back to lead their companies, but that's rarely the case.


Davenport Advances at U.S. Open

NEW YORK - Lindsay Davenport's summer of success stayed on course Thursday when the fifth-seeded former U.S. Open champion defeated Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-4, 6-2 and advanced to the third round of the season's final Grand Slam event...


Media speculate on successor as England coach prepares to step <b>...</b>

With Sir Clive Woodward seemingly on his way to soccer, England #39;s rugby team is looking for a new coach to follow up last year #39;s World Cup triumph.


UPDATE 1-Jimenez, Garcia, Donald make Langer a happy man

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sergio Garcia warmed up for this month #39;s Ryder Cup with sparkling starts at the European Masters on Thursday.


Some Dire Talk From Yukos Lifts Oil Prices

OSCOW, Sept. 2- World oil prices rose on Thursday after Russia #39;s largest oil producer, Yukos, said a court ruling  quot;paralyzes #39; #39; the company #39;s operations.


Megawati kicks off 36th ASEAN economic meeting

JAKARTA (Agencies): President Megawati Soekarnoputri opened high-level economic talks between members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday with a warning to ASEAN leaders that they must stay the course on their agreed


Microsoft bends on Sender ID

SOFTWARE FIRM Microsoft seems to have agreed to bend to the will of the open source community on its anti-spam technology sender ID.


Fossil Pushes Upright Walking Back 2 Million Years, Study Says

quot;Dating the beginnings of bipedalism is very important in the human story because, for many experts, it would mark a clear divergence from the ancestral/ape pattern and show that the human lineage had really begun, quot; said Chris Stringer, director of the


Semiconductor Manufacturing to Boost Capacity by Half (Update2)

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., China #39;s biggest supplier of made-to-order chips, said its factory capacity will rise by more than half in the second half as the company brings more plants on line.


The Playlist: What's Wrong With Digital Music Stores? (PC World)

PC World - Though digital music has come a long way, today's online music stores still have significant problems. Here's my fix-it wish list.


Counting the Hops (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Like Network Appliance, many top tech firms are snapping up Linux programmers, hoping to influence the way the operating system evolves. The trick is to hire programmers closest to Linux creator Linus Torvalds. Torvalds oversees Linux development, but he delegates pieces of the system to the 25 or so code maintainers,like Trond Myklebust at NetApp.Maintainers in turn break their projects into smaller pieces, overseen by submaintainers.


Congress Members Seek Officer's Dismissal (AP)

AP - A group of congressional Democrats is asking President Bush to dismiss a senior military intelligence officer who made church speeches that included inflammatory religious remarks while discussing the war on terrorism.


French Hostage Transfer Sparks Release Hopes

PARIS (Reuters) - Hopes of a swift end to the French  hostage crisis rose early Friday, after the Le Figaro newspaper  that employs one of the two captives said the men were now  being held by Iraqi guerrillas willing to negotiate their  release.


South Korea Seeks to Play Down Nuclear Disclosure

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Friday it did not  expect a shock declaration that government scientists enriched  uranium four years ago to upset international efforts to end  North Korea's nuclear ambitions.


After Steep Drop, Price of Oil Rises

The freefall in oil prices ended Monday on a spate of ominous developments, including a deadly attack on a US consulate in Saudi Arabia and reports that OPEC might cut production this week.


Ex-teller wins bias case against Citizens

A former part-time teller and Mexican immigrant won more than \$100,000 after the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination determined Citizens Bank discriminated against her when it bypassed her for a full-time job in favor of a less experienced white co-worker.


Seoul allies calm on nuclear shock

South Korea's key allies play down a shock admission its scientists experimented to enrich uranium.


Freed trio get warm Delhi welcome

Three Indian truck drivers held hostage in Iraq arrive back in Delhi, where large crowds greet them.


Oil prices rise on fears about Yukos production

Oil prices briefly bolted above \$45 a barrel yesterday, then retreated toward \$44, in a volatile day of trading after Russian oil giant Yukos said its output could suffer because of a court ruling that froze some of its assets.


The Bahamas - the real medal winner of the Athens Olympics

A different way of calculating the medal standings brings some interesting results.


Third Month of Slow Sales for Retailers

The August start of the back-to-school shopping season was a disappointment for major retailers.


South Koreans Say Secret Work Refined Uranium

South Korea admitted that a group of its nuclear scientists secretly produced a small amount of near-weapons grade uranium.


Del Monte Needs 9Lives

The leading private and branded food and pet products marketer is spending to revamp its image.


Utes Pile It On

Alex Smith throws for three touchdowns, rushes for two more and finishes with 435 yards of offense, and No. 20 Utah backs up its first preseason ranking with a 41-21 win over Texas A M.


High court hears dispute over Michigan interstate wine sales

The Supreme Court is considering whether Michigan and other states may bar people from buying wine directly from out-of-state suppliers, a big-money question that could lead to sweeping changes in how alcoholic beverages are regulated


Apple faithful's apathy to blame for Napsterized schools

Opinion Impotent with iPod pride


Nepal capital under curfew for 3rd day; violators ordered to be <b>...</b>

A shoot-on-sight curfew imposed to prevent riots and violent protests over the killing of 12 Nepalese workers in Iraq entered its third day Friday, while officials said they were trying to recover the bodies of the slain hostages.


Md. Board Meeting Worries Democrats

Republican-dominated election board met behind closed doors in deliberations that Democrats feared were aimed at ousting Elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone.
\-The Washington Post


IBM and Intel to open up blade specifications

With today's expected announcement, hardware vendors will get access to the BladeCenter specifications by signing a seven-page licensing agreement, which grants users the right to license the specifications for certain types of products.


Columnists: Simple and Secure isn't so Simple

Simple to code does not always mean simple for the user. And simple for the user is often not easy to code.


Policeman Shot Dead in Saudi Battle

One Saudi policeman was killed and three others were wounded in clashes with militants in a town northeast of Riyadh. A number of suspects were arrested in the battles, officials said.


EU foreign ministers hope to break deadlock over ASEM summit

The European Union said Friday it  quot;hoped to reach a conclusion quot; at a meeting of foreign ministers on the participation of military-ruled Myanmar in an upcoming summit of Asian and European nations.


First Albany cuts target for Intel, keeps  #39;buy #39; rating

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- First Albany lowered its stock price target for Intel (INTC) to \$24 from \$30 following the chip sector bellwether #39;s lowered third-quarter revenue and margin outlook.


Lynch triumphs at Redcar

Fergal Lynch had a good win at Redcar as he returned to action yesterday along with champion jockey Kieren Fallon, fellow rider Darren Williams and trainer Karl Burke, after their shock


9 in a row! Red Sox sweep Angels

The Red Sox take control of the American League wild-card race with a 4-3 win over the Angels. It was Boston #39;s ninth straight win -- a season high.


The Russians are back

St. Paul, Minn.Outclassed and completely humiliated by the Russians here last night, the reeling and desperate Americans are planning wholesale lineup changes to get back on track in the World Cup.


US economy generated 144,000 jobs in August (AFP)

AFP - The US economy generated 144,000 jobs in August, the Labour Department said, in a sign that the labour market was improving slightly after two sluggish months.


Yukos faces tax arrears of \$4bn

MOSCOW: Russias tax ministry said on Friday that it had raised its back tax claims against oil major Yukos by a fifth for 01, to 119.


Argentine court acquits bombing suspects

An Argentine court acquitted five suspects in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center that killed 85 people, La Nacion newspaper reported Friday.


IBM recalls 225,000 laptop adapters

The adapters can overheat and cause damage to the circuit board, according to a safety agency. WASHINGTON: IBM will recall about 225,000 AC power adapters for several models of its laptop computer because


Big Blue veteran heads to EMC

EMC has hired a former IBM veteran to be its chief technology officer, in what appears to be the latest step in EMC #39;s evolution from a data storage hardware specialist to a more comprehensive computing company.


No miracle this time

That miracle, of course, took place in Lake Placid, NY, during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Thanks to the likes of Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Ken Morrow and the rest of the US hockey team, the mighty Soviet Union


Kerry Vows to Tell Truth as President (Reuters)

Reuters - Democrat John Kerry on Friday\dismissed the Republican convention as "bitter and insulting"\and promised to be a U.S. president who would tell Americans\the truth.


Intel Outlook May Portend PC Weakness

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Intel Corp's INTC.O sharp cut in its  revenue outlook dragged down shares of personal computer makers  on Friday, on fears that the chipmaker's problems could signal  weak PC markets, analysts said.


Indian inflation peaks on imports

Indian inflation hits its highest level in more than three years, boosted by increasing energy and food costs.


Judge: Geico can sue Google, Overture over ads

A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that a trademark infringement suit filed by the Government Employees Insurance Co. (GEICO) against Internet search giants Google Inc. and Overture Services Inc. can proceed.


Did Apple Offer Sony an ITunes Deal?

Update: A partnership may be crucial for long-term success, one industry insider says.


USA : Textile industry to renew request to place embargo on <b>...</b>

The US textile industry officials would plead for blocking Chinese imports to the Bush administration this month. Earlier this year, the White House had rejected a similar request made by 130 Republican and Democratic members of Congress.


NASA braces for Frances

Thousands of automobiles clogged Florida #39;s highways during the largest evacuation in state history as residents anticipated the arrival of Hurricane Frances.


LSU, Oklahoma play openers on Saturday

Louisiana State beat Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game in the Sugar Bowl last January. Both teams play their openers on Saturday in the first full weekend of the college football season.


Gerrard only a 50-50 chance

VIENNA - England midfielder Steven Gerrard is a major doubt to face Austria in today #39;s opening 2006 World Cup qualifier. Gerrard has failed to shake off a groin injury suffered in training on Thursday and


Israeli Troops Kill Two Palestinians (AP)

AP - Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in two separate incidents Friday, and Israeli helicopters fired three missiles at a Gaza warehouse the army said was used for making weapons.


Continental won #39;t make pension contributions this year

Continental Airlines announced today it will not make any contributions to its pension plan this year, citing as reasons the ongoing uncertainty of the industry #39;s economic environment and the record high cost of jet fuel.


Napster tests  quot;on-the-go quot; subscription service

Napster announced yesterday that it is testing a new subscription service model that would add portable devices to the list of its subscription service #39;s supported devices.


A different ball game

Two interesting stories this week. One - Manchester United #39;s signing of Wayne Rooney - exciting if rather predictable; another - Southampton #39;s apparent intent to hire England rugby union coach Sir Clive Woodward - surprising and, to many, baffling.


President, PM Review Dialogue Process With India

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : Sep 04 (PID) - President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz attended a meeting on Friday to review the progress of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan delineates a strategy to carry the process


MLB: Houston 8, Pittsburgh 6

Carlos Beltran went two for four with a homer and scored three times Friday night as Houston downed Pittsburgh, 8-6. Craig Biggio, Jose Vizcaino and Jeff Bagwell also homered for


Attack on UN vehicle kills one in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan : An Afghan man died and five people were hurt in a bomb attack on a UN vehicle in Afghanistan, officials said, in the second deadly blast in a week as the country prepares for next month #39;s polls.


Mauresmo cruises to straight-set victory

NEW YORK  No. 2 women #39;s seed Amelie Mauresmo of France advanced to the fourth round of the US Open, defeating No. 31 seed Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-2, 6-0 Friday.


It #39;s not in the cards

Jose Lima bounced back in grand style Friday night from one of his worst outings of the season and an eight-day layoff, limiting the National League #39;s most feared lineup to two


Protesters greet Taiwan president during brief visit

Tensions between Taiwan and China landed on Seattle #39;s doorstep last night when Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian visited Seattle under tight security, greeted by demonstrators both for and against Taiwan independence.


Livewire: Fantasy Sports Leagues Thrive Online (Reuters)

Reuters - Take 15 million armchair athletes,\add a steady stream of statistics and mix in a healthy dollop\of trash talk. Post it all on the Internet and you've got a  #36;3\billion industry built around imaginary sports teams.


Yankees, Brown go down swinging

Kevin Brown's frustrating season finally reached a boiling point, and now his hot temper could cost the New York Yankees at the most important time. Brown broke his non-pitching hand when he punched a wall in the clubhouse last night during a 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles that cut New York's lead in the AL East ...


Medicare Premiums to Rise Record 17 Pct.

WASHINGTON - Medicare premiums for doctor visits are going up a record \$11.60 a month next year. The Bush administration says the increase reflects a strengthened Medicare, while Democrats complain that seniors are being unfairly socked...


AT amp;T Wireless Moves to Sell Canada Asset

T amp;T Wireless Services Inc., the third-largest United States mobile phone company, reached an agreement yesterday with Rogers Communications Inc.


Symonds century lifts Australia

LONDON, England -- Andrew Symonds rode his luck to score the second one-day century of his career as Australia scored 269-6 from their 50 overs against Pakistan at Lord #39;s.


Federer back in Open #39;s fourth round with masterful performance

For most tennis players, having about the same number of clean winners as unforced errors translates into a pretty good performance.


Two Palestinians kiled in a night raid against a warehouse in Gaza

Israeli military helicopters yesterday evening bombarded by missiles a building in one of the refugee camps in the downtown of Gaza, while two Palestinians were killed and other three injured in the sector by the Israeli bullets.


Colo. Town Relieved by Bryant Decision (AP)

AP - It was the surest sign that the Kobe Bryant case was leaving town for good after a 14-month occupation: A rancher obtained permission to tear down CNN's 15-by-20-foot camera platform near the courthouse.


French captives #39; fate mulled

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Islamic militant group that claimed to have kidnapped two French journalists said it would soon decide their fate, according to a message posted on a Web site Friday, and an Iraqi negotiator called the chance for their release  quot;excellent


Alert shuts Los Angeles airport

Parts of Los Angeles international airport are temporarily closed down amid reports of a security breach.


Bush cuts down the middle on broccoli question (AFP)

AFP - Facing a issue that once tripped up his father, US President George W. Bush told adoring supporters that he likes broccoli. Part of it, anyway.


Job numbers give candidates room to debate

WASHINGTON - Employers stepped up hiring in August, expanding payrolls by 144,000 and lowering the unemployment rate to 5.4 percent.


No. 19 Iowa Dominates Kent St., 39-7 (AP)

AP - Drew Tate threw two touchdowns in his first start and No. 19 Iowa turned in a dominating defensive performance to beat Kent State 39-7 in the season opener Saturday.


Quick Duff puts Kerr #39;s men into fast lane

Brian Kerr took his Ireland squad to the dogs last Wednesday, but the evening spent watching greyhounds race was not solely about relaxation.


Email this to a friend Print this story

Never content with the simple things in life, Microsoft is apparently on a mobile media crusade with the deceptively unassuming announcement of the companies MSN Music service.


Stocks dip after Intel cuts forecast

STOCKS in the United States fell - led by technology shares - after the world #39;s biggest semiconductor maker Intel cut its revenue forecast because of slowing demand for personal computers and mobile phones.


Hezbollah rejects abolition call

The leader of militant Lebanese group Hezbollah rejects a UN call for the organisation to be disbanded.


Pierce hunts down Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, the 17-year-old Wimbledon champion, was eliminated in the third round at the US Open yesterday by the 27th seed, Mary Pierce, who used to be known as  quot;The


Singh Takes Two-Shot Lead, Woods Tied for Second

NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Fiji's Vijay Singh  fashioned an eight-under par 63 Saturday to take a two-shot  second-round lead on 131 in the Deutsche Bank Championship.


Biffle Bests Mears

Greg Biffle wins a nearly race-long duel with Casey Mears, pulling away over the last two laps to win the NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday at California Speedway.


Wal-Mart Anchors Windows Media Mall

The world #39;s largest software company has teamed with the world #39;s largest retailer to help kick off the latest version of Windows Media Player.


KERR CRUISES INTO LEAD

Cristie Kerr carded a nine-under-par 63 to take a four-stroke lead after the third round of the State Farm Classic in Illinois. Kerr entered the day four shots behind Christina Kim but showed the youngster that Tour veterans must never be underestimated.


In Internet Calling, Skype Is Living Up to the Hype

Skype is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way for individual customers to use their computers with broadband connections as telephones.


The Next Shock: Not Oil, but Debt

The American economic ship, which has weathered the recent run-up in crude oil prices, may be more vulnerable to sudden surges in the price of money.


Motorists Submitting to High Gas Prices (AP)

AP - Americans appear to be getting used to paying more to drive  #151; even if it means they have less money to buy other things. For example, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, blamed disappointing sales in August on the fact that shoppers spent more just getting to and from its stores.


Judge orders inspector to look at Hollinger dealings

A Canadian judge has ordered that a court-appointed inspector be assigned to take a close look at the business dealings of Hollinger Inc, the Conrad Black-controlled company said on Friday.


Pfizer to settle asbestos claims

NEW YORK (DowJonesAP) - Pfizer (PFE) said Friday it has agreed to pay \$430 million to settle all lawsuits against it alleging injury from insulation products made by a subsidiary.


Apache Balks At Microsoft #39;s Licensing Demands For Anti-Spam <b>...</b>

com. The Apache Software Foundation, developers of the popular open-source Apache web server, said on Thursday that it wouldn #39;t support the proposed anti-spam standard Sender ID, because the licensing terms set by Microsoft Corp.


ASEAN moves closer to single market with  #39;road map #39;, global trade <b>...</b>

JAKARTA : ASEAN finance ministers ended a meeting which saw Southeast Asia edge closer to a Europe-style single market, laying out a  quot;road map quot; for integration and opening doors to wider global trade.


Canada, Finland rule pools

Martin Brodeur made 27 saves, and Brad Richards, Kris Draper, and Joe Sakic scored to help Canada beat Russia, 3-1, last night in Toronto, giving the Canadians a 3-0 record in round-robin play of the World Cup of Hockey.


Smith lifts Missouri with all-around effort

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Brad Smith threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 63 yards and another score to help No. 18 Missouri rout Arkansas State, 52-20, last night in the season opener for both teams.


UConn passes first test

Dan Orlovsky threw for 382 yards and tied his school record with five touchdown passes to lead Connecticut to a 52-14 win over Murray State yesterday in East Hartford.


Tigers celebrating after Beavers don #39;t get their kicks

Freshman Alexis Serna is down on the field kneeling, pounding the Tiger Stadium turf. He wanted to hide. But couldn #39;t find a place.


Russian school death toll tops 340

The death toll in the Russian schoolhouse siege soared to more than 340 yesterday, and the horrifying human cost is likely to keep climbing.


Sharapova ousted

They were 78 feet and a generation apart. On one end of the Arthur Ashe Stadium court stood Maria Sharapova, the 17-year-old Wimbledon champion with a future as bright as her usual smile.


Tom Ridge sets all-age record in winning World Trotting Derby

Tom Ridge set an all-age record of 1 minute 50.2 seconds in winning the \$530,000 World Trotting Derby at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fair yesterday.


Little guy earns big victory at Open

NEW YORK -- Olivier Rochus didn't know quite how to react. First the arms went hesitantly up in the air. Then there was a little half-fist pump, a triumphant bellow, and a smile that could have lit a path through the darkest storm. Then Rochus, a 23-year-old Belgian who prior to this year had never won a match at the ...


Checking changes

Toward the end of the month if resources are a little tight, there are times when Krista Bergstrom admits she writes a check or two for more than is left in her account.


Sales aren #39;t making the grade

Retailers in Michigan delighted when students returned to the classroom, but the back-to-school sales haven #39;t generated the kind of dollars many projected.


Rossi:  #39;I #39;m fairly happy #39;

Valentino Rossi, who on Thursday pledged his future to Yamaha, entered the final qualifying session with the fastest time to date, but with the morning rain having washed the circuit clean, the Italian was unable to challenge Makoto Tamada for the pole.


Pope Prays for Beslan School Dead at Italy Mass

LORETO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope John Paul prayed for the  victims of the "inhumane violence" of Russia's Beslan school  tragedy as he said Mass on Sunday before 200,000 people in  central Italy.


Kerr happy with Irish win

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr said he was delighted with the 3-0 win over Cyprus after so many players had pulled out of his squad.


Microsoft Sees Open-Source Threat Looming Ever Larger

Microsoft Corp. is facing growing pressure from open-source software across every segment of its businessa competitive threat that could have significant consequences for its financial future going forward


Global sales of mobile phones hit record levels

PARIS Global cellphone sales rose to record levels in the second quarter as Nokia clawed back some of its lost market share, according to figures released Thursday.


In the end, goofs sink Jays

TORONTO -- All the early miscues belonged to the Oakland Athletics but the ones that mattered the most, in the eighth and ninth innings, were made by the Toronto Blue Jays.


France Hopeful for Hostages, Fatwa Demands Release (Reuters)

Reuters - France remained hopeful on Sunday that\two French hostages in Iraq would be freed and a religious\fatwa issued in Iraq demanded their release.


Saddam, Aides to Go on Trial Within Weeks - Daoud

Iraq #39;s toppled leader Saddam Hussein and his top aides will go on trial within weeks, Iraqi Minister of State Kasim Daoud said on Sunday.


The Lowdown on Downloading Music

The digital music space is changing, with more songs and a growing number of places to download music legally. Realizing that the time was ripe to see how we were doing, I took some song recommendations and sat down to see what I could download.


Guidant, J amp;J reportedly are in merger talks

Johnson  amp; Johnson is in advanced negotiations to acquire Guidant, an Indianapolis-based medical device maker, for more than \$24 billion, executives close to the talks said Monday.


Iraq Govt. Seeks to Confirm if Saddam Aide Held

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's government was scrambling on  Sunday to confirm whether the most wanted Saddam Hussein aide  still on the run had been captured, as confident statements  that he had been seized gave way to doubt and confusion.


Hurricanes Bring Environmental Renewal (AP)

AP - Along with their destructive force, hurricanes can have beneficial effects as part of the rhythm of nature. Storms that erode beaches, uproot trees and flatten wildlife habitats may also refresh waterways, revive dry areas and bulk up barrier islands with redistributed sand.


Bush takes a double-digit lead as Kerry campaign struggles to regroup (AFP)

AFP - George W. Bush took a double-digit lead in what had been a neck-and-neck presidential election contest, prompting Democratic challenger John Kerry to refocus his campaign on bread-and-butter economic issues, where the Republican incumbent president is considered vulnerable.


Lord #39;s smiles on India once more

India bowled England all out for 181 to win the third one-day international of the NatWest Challenge at Lord #39;s by 23 runs. England would have gone into the second innings confident.


Chicago Bears Cut Bryan Robinson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Veteran defensive lineman Bryan Robinson (pictured) was among 21 players cut Sunday as the Chicago Bears pared their roster to 53.


Cycling: Petacchi wins second stage in Spain

MADRID : Alessandro Petacchi showed why he is considered one of the world #39;s top sprinters when coming out on top in a mass dash to the line in the second stage of the Tour of Spain.


PM and Latham target Sydney

Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Mark Latham will target key marginal seats around Sydney as the election campaign hits its second week.


Frances Knocks Out Power, Floods Florida

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - Hurricane Frances' wind and water whacked swaths of southern Florida with fire-hose force Sunday, submerging entire roadways and tearing off rooftops even as the storm weakened and crawled inland with heavy rain in its wake...


World briefs

LONDON - A man wielding a machete and a knife attacked two security guards at the building housing the headquarters of the British domestic intelligence service MI5 on Friday, police said.


Yankees' Brown Has Successful Surgery

Kevin Brown had successful surgery on his broken left hand Sunday and vowed to pitch again for the Yankees this season.


S.Africa Cancels Thatcher Meeting with Eq. Guinea

South Africa has canceled a meeting with prosecutors from Equatorial Guinea who had hoped to interview Mark Thatcher on his suspected links to a coup plot in the oil-rich country, officials said on Sunday.


Bangladesh seeks US intelligence cooperation

Bangladesh is willing to sign a protocol with the United States to set up a joint working group like India and Pakistan did to enhance Dhaka #39;s capability to effectively deal with future terrorist acts in the country.


Titans Release No. 3 QB Jason Gesser (AP)

AP - The Tennessee Titans released Jason Gesser, their third quarterback, on Sunday and plan to replace him with a veteran.


Jets: Abraham is likely to miss 3 games

Though coach Herman Edwards ruled defensive end John Abraham out for only this Sunday #39;s game against the Steelers with a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, he #39;ll be


Astros 10, Pirates 5

HOUSTON Mike Lamb went four-for-five with a homer and four RB-Is to lead the Houston Astros to their ninth straight win with a 10-to-five victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates today.


Labor situation deserves honest talk

For a moment last week, President Bush escaped the White House spin chamber and was the plainspoken man much of the nation came to like four years ago.


Saddam #39;s top aide al-Douri arrested

File photo taken on March 1, 2003 shows Izzat Ibrahim at the Arab Summit in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. Ibrahim, the second most powerful man of the former Iraqi regime, was captured on Sept.


Jags Cut Compton, Maddox (AP)

AP - Veteran offensive lineman Mike Compton and rookie defensive tackle Anthony Maddox were among the 12 players cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.


Former Saddam Deputy Arrested in Iraq (AP)

AP - Iraqi authorities claimed on Sunday to have captured Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most wanted member of Saddam Hussein's ousted dictatorship, but there was confusion over the report, as the Iraqi defense minister said word of his arrest was "baseless."


Couch, Gildon, Levens Among NFL Cuts (AP)

AP - Tim Couch's stay in Green Bay was short and unproductive.


Tokyo Stocks Higher, Lifted by Survey

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo stocks rose by mid-morning on  Monday with a broad range of issues getting a lift from a key  survey that boosted optimism on Japan's economic outlook, with  expectations rising that growth figures will be revised up.


British industry at best in 10 years

Manufacturing industry is enjoying its strongest performance for almost 10 years, according to a survey by the Engineering Employers Federation.


Porn producers face severe punishment

Those who are engaged in the profit-oriented production and dissemination of pornographic materials through the Internet, mobile communication terminals and  quot;phone-sex quot; services in China are subject to punishment as severe as life imprisonment, according


CRICKET: Kaspa has selectors in a bind

MICHAEL Kasprowicz has put national selectors into a difficult situation with a five-wicket burst that has enhanced Australia #39;s hopes of snatching a maiden Champions Trophy in London this month.


Tokyo Stocks Higher at Late Morning (AP)

AP - Tokyo stocks rose moderately Monday morning on bargain hunting following Friday's losses. The U.S. dollar was up against the Japanese yen.


Under Attack, Director Says Hollinger's Black Misled Him

Richard N. Perle, a director at the media company Hollinger International who was criticized in an internal report, says he was duped by its former chief, Conrad M. Black.


French minister returns empty handed

Leaving behind two French reporters still held hostage in Iraq, France #39;s foreign minister headed home from the Middle East but said they were still believed to be alive and that efforts to free them would continue.


Possible playoff preview A #39;s take a hit in Toronto but come home <b>...</b>

If the playoffs opened right now, instead of next month, the A #39;s would face the Red Sox in the first round -- again. Boston bounced Oakland out of the postseason in five games last year, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to do so.


COL FB: Tennessee 42, UNLV 17

Freshman Brent Schaeffer threw for one touchdown and ran for another Sunday as the 14th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers defeated the UNLV Rebels, 42-17.


Is It Time For Steroid Testing In High Schools?

SALINAS, Calif. -- Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said in meetings Monday that he would accept government intervention on steroid testing if the players #39; association refuses to change the current rules, which run for two more years.


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Fall, US Dollar Climbs

Tokyo share prices fell steeply Friday, led by technology stocks after a disappointing report from US chip giant Intel. The US dollar was up against the Japanese yen.


West Japan on Guard for Aftershocks After Quakes

TOKYO (Reuters) - Residents of western Japan were warned of  possible aftershocks on Monday after two strong earthquakes the  previous day but authorities said the tremors were not directly  linked to a cycle of major seismic activity that hits the  region every century or so.


Monti gives Abbey takeover green light

European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti has given the green light to the UK8.75bn takeover bid by Spain #39;s Santander for the UK #39;s Abbey National.


Anwar launches bid to clear name

Lawyers for Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, have launched a bid to clear his name. Mr Anwar was freed from jail on Thursday, after a conviction for sodomy was quashed by a Malaysian court.


Nikkei hits 5-week closing high on upbeat capital spending data

TOKYO - Japan #39;s benchmark Nikkei stock index hit a five-week closing high Monday on upbeat capital spending figures for the April-June quarter by Japanese companies.


India and Pakistan wind up talks, deadlock on Kashmir (AFP)

AFP - The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan held a closing round of talks amid reports of progress on peripheral issues, but the nuclear rivals remained deadlocked on Kashmir.


Public warning over letter bombs

The discovery of 10 letter bombs has prompted a police warning to the public to exercise caution. Bedfordshire Police said none of the improvised devices - containing lighter fluid - had ignited, despite the fact that some had been opened.


Pornsters face life in China smut crackdown

China is stepping up its hard line against internet pornography by threatening life imprisonment for anyoner caught peddling porn.


Russia Mourns Hostage Deaths, Putin Criticized

BESLAN, Russia (Reuters) - Russia on Monday mourned the  deaths of hundreds of children and adults in its worst hostage  drama as criticism mounted over the way President Vladimir  Putin and his security forces handled the crisis.


South American World Cup Qualifiers: Brazil Ease Past Bolivia

An impressive first-half display from Brazil saw the Selecao defeat Bolivia 3-1 to move back to the top of the South American World Cup qualifying group.


Toyota to open south China plant

Japan carmaker Toyota enters a joint venture to produce saloon cars in southern China.


So Long XMLHack!

\\"It's been a lot of fun writing XMLhack since 1999, but it's time for us to take\a rest."\\"XMLhack has always been run by volunteers writing in their spare time, and now\most of us have so little of that precious commodity it's infeasible to keep the\site going at anything like the rate we want it to be."\\"As editor, I'd like to extend my grateful thanks to all the contributors over\time, a list of whom you can see on the contributors page. My special thanks go\to Simon St.Laurent, my co-conspirator from the start."\\So long guys!\\I've been a subscriber to XMLHack for probably > 3 years now.  They were one of\the earlier blog-like sites to have RSS in what I'd call a 'modern' and rich\f ...\\


Next gen games prove a challenge

Making games for the future consoles is going to take a lot of time and money, a games conference is told.


2 charged after Chicago area pals are slain in NC tragedy

Ever since they met in fourth grade, Brett Johnson Harman and Kevin McCann were as close as brothers.  quot;They had the same mannerisms, the same kind of humor, and they even looked alike, quot; said McCann #39;s father, Dennis McCann.


EU: Coke Anti-Trust Deal Not Set in Stone

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A proposed settlement between  Coca-Cola Co. and the European Commission to end a long-running  antitrust case over fizzy drinks is not yet set in stone, the  European Union's executive said on Monday.


French Internet provider Wanadoo will build Dutch broadband network (AFP)

AFP - The French Internet provider Wanadoo will construct its own broadband network in the Netherlands and hopes to reach 55 percent of Dutch homes, a spokesman told the Financieele Dagblad.


Service Sector Hit By High Oil Costs

Confidence in service firms has been hit by rising oil prices and interest rates but manufacturers have seen the best rate of orders for nine years, two surveys show.


Has Your Broadband Had Its Fiber?

Falling costs, new technology, and competition, with a nudge from regulatory changes, are bringing fiber closer to homes in the US just a few years after the idea seemed all but written off.


No Sign Yet of Predicted Big California Earthquake (Reuters)

Reuters - The clock is running out on a\highly publicized prediction that a major earthquake will rip\through Southern California by Sunday.


Donald runs into Ryder form

Luke Donald says his win in the European Masters on Sunday bodes well for his upcoming Ryder Cup debut. Donald was one of European captain Bernhard Langer #39;s two picks for the match, which takes place at Oakland Hills, Michigan from 17-19 September.


US Marines Die In Fallujah Car Bombing

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A US military official in Iraq said seven American marines have been killed Monday in a car-bomb explosion. Several other Marines have been wounded in the attack.


Funds: What Makes a Fund a Winner? (Reuters)

Reuters - (Clint Willis is a freelance writer who covers mutual funds\for Reuters. Any opinions in the column are solely those of Mr.\Willis.)


Coca-Cola closer to settling EU antitrust case

NEW YORK, September 3 (New Ratings) - The European Union has reportedly made significant progress in settling its prolonged antitrust case against The Coca-Cola Co (KO.