Enron to Pay \$321 Million in Pensions

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Enron Corp. will pay \$321 million from  the proceeds of its sale of its pipeline arm to fund pension  plans for thousands of former employees, a government pension  agency said on Monday.


Sony-Led Group to Acquire MGM for \$3B

LOS ANGELES Sept. 13, 2004 - A consortium led by Sony Corp. has agreed in principle to acquire famed Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.


3 Giants Contest Fines Over Team Meetings (AP)

AP - Three New York Giants have filed complaints with the NFL Players Association after being fined by coach Tom Coughlin for not being "early enough" to team meetings.


Iraqis Plead With U.S. to Return to City (AP)

AP - U.S. troops barred anguished crowds from returning to their homes in the besieged city of Tal Afar on Monday as residents described corpses scattered across orchards and the collapse of essential services such as water and electricity.


Nikkei Opens Higher Led by Tech Stocks

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei share average was up 0.56  percent in early morning trade on Tuesday as another jump in  U.S. technology shares encouraged investors to step up buying  in local counterparts such as Advantest Corp.


Microsoft Targets Solo Programmers with New Visual Studio Version

ORLANDO, Fla.Microsoft Corp. announced another edition of its upcoming development tools family, releasing information on Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition at the VSLive!


Virus  #39;talks #39; to victims

Virus writers have created a piece of malware that  #39;talks #39; to victims. The Amus email worm uses Windows Speech Engine (which is built-in to Windows XP) to deliver a curious message to infected users.


EU increases pressure for rights in Myanmar

EU foreign ministers agreed Monday to tighten sanctions against Myanmar if it does not improve its human rights record by Oct. 8, when an EU meeting with Asian countries starts in Vietnam.


Firefox browser to hit 1.0 milestone

Though the release is technically a preview, the 1.0 version is a significant milestone for the open-source browser software, which has already won an enthusiastic following as an alternative to Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer.


Service-Sector Revenues Rise in Q2

Revenues in key sectors of the US services industry grew in the second quarter, the government said on Monday in a new survey aimed at measuring growth in the giant tranche of the economy.


Osaka school killer of 8, yakuza boss executed

TOKYO - Mamoru Takuma, convicted for murdering eight children at an Osaka elementary school in 2001, has been executed, informed sources said Tuesday.


Japan executes child killer

Japan has hanged a man convicted of stabbing to death eight elementary school children in a rampage that shocked the nation and severely shook its sense of security, local media have said.


Dropping Hyphen, Some Great Old Stores Become Just Macy #39;s

n the not-so-distant past, the names Burdines, Rich #39;s, Goldsmith #39;s, Bon March and Lazarus had a local glory as the emporiums where customers bought their back-to-school clothes and discovered their Mother #39;s Day presents.


Major League Baseball Box Score

COLORADO (7) VS ARIZONA (1) - MID 6TH - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab rh rbi bb so lob avg A Miles 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .302 R Clayton ss 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 .


Ivan Roars Into Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Ivan skirted the western tip of Cuba on Monday and arced into the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 160 mph, bearing down toward  landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.


Cisco to debut new router family

Internet hardware giant Cisco Systems is said to be preparing to launch a new family of routers that can manage both voice and data applications.


Pros in Olympics still in question

Wayne Gretzky found himself talking about Mario Lemieux possibly playing in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin when ... whoa!  quot;Are you suggesting that you #39;re holding


Sony group to buy MGM

A consortium led by Sony Corp. has agreed in principle to acquire famed Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. for nearly \$3 billion, MGM said late yesterday.


Escobar, Anderson lift Angels

Kelvim Escobar pitched seven strong innings and Garret Anderson hit a three-run homer, leading the Anaheim Angels to a 5-1 win over the Mariners last night in Seattle.


Turkey #39;s Adultery Ban Would Hinder EU Bid, Aides Say (Update1)

Turkey #39;s plan to make adultery a crime may hinder its bid to join the European Union by showing the dominance of conservative forces #39; #39; in Turkish society, European officials said.


Carrier #39;s uphill climb

US Airways said yesterday it can emerge from bankruptcy a stronger airline, but acknowledged it needs deeper wage concessions from its pilots - something it has failed to get after two years of trying.


CREDIT: Canadian Press, Reuters

Gretzky, executive director of Team Canada, says each player should treat tonight #39;s World Cup of Hockey championship game against Finland as  quot;one of the greatest nights of their life.


IBM puts G5 in Linux server

The eServer OpenPower 720 is aimed at the entry-level market for 64-bit Linux-based servers and runs various configurations of what IBM calls the Power5 at 1.5 and 1.65GHz.


Wenger attacks Madrid for transfer rule-bending

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger accused Real Madrid of ignoring the rules when it wants to sign a new player. Wenger said the Spanish powerhouse has sometimes made its interest known to the


The reforms that Putin announced

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a series of measures to strengthen central state powers following the hostage-taking at Beslan when more than 300 people died.


Science Students Win \$100,000 Prize

Description: Siemens Westinghouse announces the winners of its annual competition for high school students in math, science and technology.


Federated Will Rename Stores as Macy #39;s

All regional Federated Department Stores will change their names to Macy #39;s in January, the company said yesterday. The decision affects regional department stores that operate as Burdines-Macy #39;s in Florida


Help wanted by IT services firms

The growing services industry is hiring, but tech workers looking for a job may need to do more than brush up on their coding.


Sun trims fourth-quarter earnings by \$12 million

Sun Microsystems Inc. trimmed its fourth quarter and full-year 2004 results this week, to account for final accounting of asset retirement obligations and its settlement with Microsoft Corp.


Microsoft, Polycom team on collaboration products

Microsoft Corp. and Polycom Inc. have struck a multi-year agreement to link Microsoft's Office Live Communications Server with Polycom's conferencing products, the companies plan to announce Tuesday.


German investor confidence slumped in September

BERLIN - German investor confidence dropped sharply in September, a key economic indicator released Tuesday showed amid concerns about the impact of high oil prices on consumer demand and the outlook for the global economy.


Office Depot Sees Profit Below Views

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Office Depot Inc. ODP.N, the No. 2  U.S. office supply retailer, on Tuesday forecast third-quarter  and full-year profits below Wall Street estimates due to  disruptions from recent hurricanes.


Retail Sales Down; Trade Gap Larger (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. retail sales dipped in August\and the U.S. gap with its international trade partners widened\to a record level in the second quarter of the year, government\reports released on Tuesday showed.


Kroger Profit Falls, Warns on Sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kroger Co. KR.N, the largest U.S.  grocer, on Tuesday reported a 25 percent drop in quarterly  profit, hurt by debt redemption costs.


Novell reaffirms open source strategy

Novell is putting open source and identity management centre stage at its European user conference this week. The networking firm announced that Novell Open Enterprise Server (OES), which includes Novell #39;s


Chinese Mobile Phone Giant to Open Up to 3000 Internet Cafes

China #39;s second-largest mobile phone company says it plans to open up to 3,000 Internet cafes by the end of this year. State-controlled China Unicom, which already operates 400 Internet cafes across the country


A target for terrorists

An election campaign parades the political divide in the community. Yesterday, amid the extraordinary uncertainty about whether Australians had been taken hostage in Iraq, we saw the glue that unites the two sides of politics.


Canada, Finland set for WCH final

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Canadians try to take back what was once theirs tonight when they face Finland in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey final at Air Canada Centre.


Kroger Profit Falls, Warns on Sales

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kroger Co. on Tuesday posted a 25  percent drop in quarterly profit and warned it may not reach  its sales target for the year, sending shares of the top U.S.  grocer down as it grapples with lingering fallout from a strike  in Southern California.


Iranian nuclear plans  #39;unclear #39;

The head of the UN #39;s nuclear watchdog says he has seen no firm evidence Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons. But International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El-Baradei said he could not yet give


Benitez Plans Tactical Overhaul

Rafael Benitez embarks on his first European campaign as Liverpool boss tomorrow with a warning to his players that the continents finest have got wise to English tactics.


Whats New With Google News

What's New With Google News\\Google News has added a whole bunch of features while we weren't lookin'. First off there's a new pull-down menu at the top of the page which easily allows you access to the top stories across all the Google News properties. If you look at that ...


Cisco launches equipment leasing arm in India as it eyes booming IT market (AFP)

AFP - US computer networking giant Cisco's Indian subsidiary announced the launch of a leasing arm to grab a slice of the growing domestic IT market.


Flower power turns up the volume

A Japanese company has come up with a way of turning flowers into loudspeakers.


Manpower forecasts positive 4Q hiring pattern

Fourth quarter hiring in the Buffalo Niagara Falls market is expected to be on the rise according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.


Zurich abandons bid for 2014 Winter Olympics

Zurich has decided to quit the bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics, according to a statement released bythe Swiss Olympic Association on Tuesday.


Piller Out for Months After Arm Surgery (AP)

AP - Titans guard Zach Piller might miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair his ruptured left biceps.


Sony Leads MGM Acquisition

Entertainment companies had been vying for MGM to get their hands on its library of more than 4,000 titles. Time Warner initially was seen as the front-runner in the race.


Novell #39;s Microsoft attack completes Linux conversion

Novell Inc. has completed its conversion to Linux by launching an attack on Microsoft Corp., claiming that the company has stifled software innovation and that the market will abandon Microsoft Windows at some point in the future.


Sony goes OLED with Japanese CLIE PEG-VZ90

Despite pulling out of the US and European markets, Sony #39;s CLIE line is still kicking in Japan, and is now kicking with an OLED display.


Microsoft going for BIG BITE of Apple

In case you have not heard, Microsoft just upped the ante in the digital music war when it launched its Windows Media Player 10 and its beta online music store this month.


Tyncastle sale gets official go ahead

Of the votes received by proxy and from shareholders in the room at a stormy extraordinary general meeting last night, 62.5 were in favour of the resolution.


IBM, LG Electronics to End Joint Venture

International Business Machines Corp. and LG Electronics Inc. will end an eight-year alliance that helped expand the US computer maker #39;s presence in the booming South Korean PC market.


McDonald #39;s boosts annual dividend 38

McDonald #39;s (MCD) Tuesday raised its annual dividend by 38, a move the world #39;s largest restaurant chain said is another sign of its revitalization.


Indy 500 qualifying changes aimed at regaining interest

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis 500 will return to four days of qualifying for next year #39;s race, but with a new format of bumping on each day.


North Korea Seen as Tying Nuclear Talks to US Election

North Korea is waiting out the American presidential election in order to bargain with the winner over its nuclear weapons program, according to analysts here and a British diplomat who left Pyongyang today.


Sony Announces the Clie VZ90 Handheld For Japan

Sony Japan has released a new Clie for the Japanese market only. The Clie PEG-VZ90 is a Palm OS multimedia Clie handheld, that features a large OLED screen, slider hidden buttons, plentiful memory and WiFi.


Hurricane Worries Boost Oil Prices

Worries that Hurricane Ivan will hurt oil production in the Gulf of Mexico boosted oil prices Tuesday. In mid-morning New York trading, oil for future delivery hit \$44.


Retail Sales Fall 0.3 Percent in August

Retail sales slid in August as people steered away from buying cars and shoppers kept a close eye on their spending after splurging in July.


Oracle Profit Rises on Software Demand

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp. on Tuesday reported  a higher quarterly profit as the world's second largest  software company benefited from steady demand for its flagship  database software.


Microsoft Eyes Video for Business IM

Software giant teams with Polycom to boost sales of Live Communications Server.


VILLENEUVE ON VERGE OF F1 RETURN

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve is on the verge of a shock return to Formula One with Renault. The Canadian has been out of Formula One since leaving BAR one race before the end of last season but


Batman visits Buckingham Palace

A security officer stands by as father #39;s rights campaigner Jason Hatch (R), dressed as Batman, protests on a balcony at Buckingham Palace in London, September 13, 2004.


Microsoft mice get biometric

Microsoft Corp. has made fingerprint biometric technology an integral part of its keyboard and mouse peripherals with new products that mark the company #39;s first foray into biometric devices.


Oracle 1Q Earnings Rise 16 Percent (AP)

AP - Business software giant Oracle Corp. said Tuesday that first-quarter earnings rose 16 percent driven by new database license sales that rose 19 percent.


Allied Waste shares fall as company again lowers outlook

AUSTIN - The stock of Allied Waste Industries Inc. fell Tuesday after the waste hauler cut its 2004 profit outlook for the second time in as many months.


Eagles Lose OL Andrews

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Offensive lineman Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia #39;s No. 1 draft pick this year, suffered a fractured right leg in Sunday #39;s game against the New York Giants.


Nokia Adopts SD Card Tech into Storage Portfolio

To expand the capabilities of SD memory cards in mobile devices, the SD Card Association has recently formed a Mobile Phone Task Force.


Dalai Lama Envoy Visits China for Autonomy Talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama's special envoy has  arrived in China for talks on the exiled spiritual leader's  aspirations for Tibetan autonomy, the third such visit in three  years, officials in Washington said on Tuesday.


Oracle Quarterly Net Income Rises 16 Pct

Oracle Corp. (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday reported a 16 percent rise in quarterly net income as the world #39;s second largest software company benefited


Sri Lanka raise England #39;s spirits

In their opening match of the Champions #39; Trophy, Sri Lanka did little to suggest they have the wherewithal to knock England out of the tournament at the Rose Bowl on Friday.


Mourinho happy after 3-0 win

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was delighted with his side #39;s performance in the 3-0 win in the Champions League against Paris Saint Germain.


CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Expect a comfortable night for the Highbury boys

The Gooners take their first step into European football this season tonight by welcoming Dutch league runners-up, PSV Eindhoven, to Highbury.


Zimbabwe do England a favour

Zimbabwe have been English cricket #39;s bte noir over the past year but here yesterday, they did them a huge favour in the Champions Trophy, despite losing to Sri Lanka by four


Inflation fall eases rates pressure

INFLATION fell again in August, slipping further below the governments 2 per cent target, driven down by clothing and footwear retailers failing to raise prices after a poor summer.


Valley Stars Struggle to Settle

Alan Curbishley admits Charltons summer signings have yet to settle at The Valley and blames the loss of virtually an entire side for the clubs stuttering start to the season.


Schultz re-ups with Wild

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Wild and defenseman Nick Schultz agreed to terms on a one-year contract Tuesday. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.


Nedved to rejoin Czech national team after injury healed

Czech captain Pavel Nedved will return to the national soccer team once his knee is completely healed, he said in a statement which his manager Zdenek Nehoda provided Tuesday.


Pakistan turns up heat on al Qaeda

Pakistani forces have been battling al Qaeda fighters in an ongoing operation to rout terrorists in a tribal area near the border with Afghanistan, Pakistani intelligence sources said.


Champions League: Arsenal 1, PSV Eindhoven 0

Arsenal benefited from an own-goal in a 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in its opening Champions League match at Highbury on Tuesday. The Gunners largely dominated the Group E match, with Jose Antonio


Eagles Bring Back Levens; Place Andrews on IR (Reuters)

Reuters - The Philadelphia Eagles\made several roster moves on Tuesday, including bringing back\Dorsey Levens and placing Shawn Andrews on injured reserve.


LETTER FROM EUROPE The All-Too-Human Hitler, on Your Big Screen

The release of a major movie about Hitler is, by definition, a remarkable event in Germany, especially if it portrays one of history #39;s great monsters as a human being, given


Sony Set to Exert Influence on Discs

As the leader of the group that plans to buy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sony is poised to gain considerable power in its fight to set the format for the next generation of digital video discs.


In Retaken Iraqi City, Perils Lurk

U.S. forces have controlled Tall Afar since Sunday, after deadly battles last week. On Tuesday, soldiers, led by an Iraqi known as "The Source," reopened the city and searched for insurgents.


Lethal Bird Flu Reemerges In Four East Asian Countries

The avian influenza virus that swept across East Asia early this year has reemerged in at least four countries in the region despite optimism among health and agriculture officials that the disease had been eradicated through the mass slaughter of chickens.


Delta Pilots Tell Negotiators to Get Pact (Reuters)

Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc.'s pilots union on\Tuesday directed its negotiators to work out an agreement to\address the early retirement of a large number of pilots, which\threatens to push the No. 3 U.S. airline into a Chapter 11\bankruptcy filing.


Communist Party seeks to win back people #39;s support

THE Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has read the writing on the wall and is out to shore up its moral right to keep ruling the country.


Chiquita slips on higher Q3 costs

CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Higher operating costs are canceling out expense reductions and cutting into Chiquita Brands #39; profit expectations for the third quarter, the company said Tuesday.


Fish coasts through

Second seed Mardy Fish brushed aside the challenge of qualifier Andres Pedroso with a 6-1 6-2 win in the International Tennis Championships.


Nokia To Expand On-Device Storage Options

Nokia joins Secure Digital industry group <nobr>CNET News.com</nobr>


Labor Allies Want Senate to Block OT Rules (AP)

AP - Fresh from their triumph in the House, labor allies want the Senate to derail new Bush administration overtime rules that critics say would prevent 6 million American workers from getting the bonus pay.


5000 rally against James Hardie

MORE than 5000 building workers and asbestos victims have rallied outside a general meeting for embattled building products company James Hardie in central Sydney today.


AL notables

Jason Giambi went 0 for 3 with a walk and a long drive to the right-field warning track in his first start for the Yankees since July 23 after recovering from a benign tumor, intestinal parasite, strained groin, and respiratory infection. He is hitless in his last 24 at-bats.


The OQO Should Run Linux

\\This little OQO  machine is certainly pretty cool.  The biggest problem\though is that it doesn't run Linux.\\This leaves you with a device heavier than your PDA and all the insecurity and\bloat of Windows and with a price tag of only sub \$2000.\\People don't care what OS their PDA/Handtop runs.  It can run an alternative OS\and for the most part consumers don't care.  WinCE hasn't exactly been a stellar\market success.  While Microsoft does have significant market share PalmOS,\Symbian, and Linux are doing just fine.  Also most of the WinCE devices never\have the fit and finish of their Palm and Symbian counterparts.\\I don't know where OQO thinks they are going to fit in.  If they were to  ...\\


Same-sex divorce rules still hazy

Now that an Ontario couple has been given Canada #39;s first same-sex divorce, experts are divided over just how easy it will be for gays and lesbians in other provinces to end their marriages.


Report: Japan PM Advisers See China Military Threat (Reuters)

Reuters - In a move that could further chill ties\between the two Asian powers, an advisory panel to Japan's\prime minister will say China should be described as a military\threat in a defense review, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported\on Wednesday.


SABMiller #39;s China JV in \$154m deal

SABMiller, the world #39;s second largest brewer #39;s Chinese joint-venture, China Resources Breweries Limited (CRB) has acquired the Chinese brewing interests of Lion Nathan for an equity value of \$71-million and estimated assumed debt of \$83-million, CRM


Ryder-You can bank on Tiger, says Sutton

Tiger Woods has not won a major in two years and lost his world number one ranking but US Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton says reports of his demise will prove badly exaggerated this week.


Villeneuve and Sauber

With Jacques Villeneuve testing for Renault today at Silverstone there has been the perhaps inevitable speculation that this could change things for next season when Giancarlo Fisichella is due to join Fernando Alonso at Renault F1.


Iraqi attacks kill at least 69

At least 69 people have been killed and scores wounded during a day of carnage in Iraq. In Baghdad, 47 Iraqis died and over 120 were injured in a massive explosion near a police station.


We need to do well - Benitez

Rafael Benitez has admitted Liverpool can finally end speculation over Steven Gerrard #39;s future with a good Champions League campaign.


Technical Hitch Delays Russia Space Station Launch (Reuters)

Reuters - The launch of a Russian rocket scheduled\to blast off to the International Space Station next month has\been postponed because of problems with the docking system,\Russia's space agency said on Wednesday.


OPEC Aims for 4 Pct Boost in Oil Quotas

VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC's core Gulf producers will  recommend the cartel raise supply quotas by one million barrels  a day, four percent, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd  al-Sabah said on Wednesday.


Earthquake Rocks Indonesia's Bali, One Dead-Radio

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An earthquake rocked Indonesia's  premier tourist island of Bali on Wednesday, killing one person  and injuring at least two, El Shinta radio reported, quoting  hospital officials.


Rockies Terminate Neagle's Contract (Reuters)

Reuters - Colorado terminated the contract\of pitcher Denny Neagle on Monday, three days after he was\ticketed for soliciting a women for oral sex.


Bridgeway CEO to settle SEC fund charges - WSJ

A mutual fund manager long regarded by many as an advocate for the interests of fund shareholders is expected to pay \$5 million to settle charges he overcharged his own investors by nearly that amount, the Wall Street Journal


THE 35TH RYDER CUP Tiger #39;s Cup doesn #39;t run over with success

Bloomfield Township, Mich. -- The Ryder Cup is upon us, and you know what that means: Time to dress up as Mrs. Doubtfire and taunt Colin Montgomerie from behind the ropes?


Earthquake Rocks Indonesia's Bali, One Dead

BALI, Indonesia (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake rocked  Indonesia's premier tourist island of Bali Wednesday, killing  one person, injuring at least two and triggering some panic,  officials said.


CBOE to sell stake in National exchange, buy CBOT rights

The Chicago Board Options Exchange said Tuesday its directors approved steps to reduce its financial ties to two other exchanges in town.


Study: 400K Fewer Tech Jobs Since 2001

The US information tech sector lost 403,300 jobs between March 2001 and this past April, and the market for tech workers remains bleak, according to a new report.


Britain #39;s unemployment falls to 20 year low

British unemployment fell by 16,000 to 1.41 million between May and July, the lowest level since comparable records began in 1984, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday.


Acrimony in the air on eve of Northern Ireland talks (AFP)

AFP - All-party talks to kickstart Northern Ireland's peace process, in limbo for nearly two years, get underway at Leeds Castle with acrimony already in the air.


Consumer Group Calls for Probe of  #39;Rip-Off #39; ITunes

Apple Computer Corp. is charging its British iTunes customers 17 percent more per download than its European customers, a consumer watchdog group said on Wednesday.


Slowing population 'lacks funds'

Rich countries are giving only half the amount they promised to help to slow world population growth, the UN says.


Coast Guard Shuts Gulf of Mexico Ports

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard shut five ports on  Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico coast states of Alabama,  Florida and Mississippi as Hurricane Ivan churned nearer.


As hockey clock strikes 12, Canada reclaims World Cup

The message board in Canada #39;s dressing room spoke volumes:  quot;Practice canceled tomorrow, quot; it read.  quot;No one else to beat.


SportsNetwork Game Preview

(Sports Network) - Tim Wakefield tries for his first win in three starts this evening when the Boston Red Sox continue their three-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Fenway Park.


Hurricane Ivan Roars Toward Gulf Coast

NEW ORLEANS - Stragglers streamed toward higher ground Wednesday on highways turned into one-way evacuation routes and surf started eroding beaches as Hurricane Ivan roared toward the Gulf Coast with 140 mph wind.    Nearly 200 miles wide, Ivan could cause significant damage no matter where it strikes, as hurricane-force wind extended up to 105 miles out from the center...


Stocks Sink on Coke's Gloomy Forecast

NEW YORK - Stocks headed lower Wednesday after beverage giant Coca-Cola Co. issued a gloomy forecast, and a lower-than-expected reading on industrial production for August threw the nation's broader economic outlook into question...


Milosevic war crimes trial suspended

The war crimes trial of the former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was today adjourned for a month after key witnesses refused to appear in protest at the court #39;s decision to appoint defence lawyers.


'Cities in crisis' leaders warn

World leaders warn that rapid urbanisation will become one of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century.


Moya Upset in First Round of China Open (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Carlos Moya was upset by French qualifier Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-3, in the first round of the China Open on Wednesday.


Key Martha Witness Gets Wrist Slap

(CBS/AP) A former brokerage assistant who helped Martha Stewart make her fateful stock trade and later emerged as a key government witness was spared both prison and probation Friday for accepting a payoff during the government #39;s investigation.


Jobs #39; Apple vs Beatles #39; Apple

p2pnet.net News:- It #39;s Apple vs Apple again - that #39;s to say Steve Jobs #39; Apple versus The Beatles #39; Apple. Apple-B claims Apple-J infringes its trade mark and the latter,  quot;is likely to be forced into a multimillion


Ferrero advances; Moya stunned in rainy Beijing

Beijing, China (Sports Network) - For the second time in as many days, rain was a major factor at the inaugural \$500,000 China Open.


Hughes allowed to speak to Rovers

The Football Association of Wales have given national boss Mark Hughes permission to speak to Blackburn over their vacant managerial post.


MCNAMARA RECEIVES GOOD NEWS

Celtic have been boosted by the news that Jackie McNamara should be back in action within six weeks. The Hoops skipper was clearly in agony when he was stretchered off during Tuesday nights 3-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona.


Brazil Embraer says suspends US Airways deliveries

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer (EMBR4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) (ERJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said it had suspended aircraft deliveries to US Airways (UAIR.


Inzamam happy with win

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq praised his spinners after Pakistan knocked Kenya out of the Champions Trophy with a seven-wicket win at Edgbaston.


HP Wins Defense Contract

HP (Quote, Chart) was awarded a \$290 million, 10-year outsourcing contract with the Defense Logistics Agency #39;s (DLA) Enterprise Data Center (EDC) program, officials announced Wednesday.


World Population to Rise to 8.9 Billion

Although world families are getting smaller in many regions, the 50 poorest countries are expected to triple in size to 1.7 billion people by 2050, posing many challenges for world countries.


Oracle Fails to Inspire Tech Rally

Oracle Corp. handed the software industry some positive earnings news after the bell on Tuesday, but investors pulled cash from the sector on concerns that information technology spending has become anemic.


Canadian Driving Champion Jacques Villeneuve to Join Swiss Team

Former world driving champion Jacques Villeneuve of Canada has signed a deal to drive for the Swiss-based Sauber Petronas Formula One team next season.


Howe won #39;t be back in 2005

According to a report on the MSG Network website, New York Mets manager Art Howe will not return as the team #39;s manager for the 2005 season.


Microsoft Warns of JPEG Security Hole

Microsoft, which recommended immediate updates, said the newly discovered vulnerability could allow remote code execution of code thanks to a buffer-overrun vulnerability in the processing of JPEG image formats.


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24-hour commission-free trading, 100-to-1 leverage of your capital, and Dealbook Fx 2 - our free advanced trading software. Sign up for our free 30-day trial and receive one-on-one training.


News: Governments slow off the mark to combat growing threats of cybercrime

The Associated Press By Robert Wielaard


GM Plans to Use Woods More Creatively (AP)

AP - General Motors Corp. is thrilled that Tiger Woods will promote Buick for the next five years, but GM chairman Rick Wagoner says the automaker could make better use of the world's best-known golfer.


OPEC Increases Oil Output

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has agreed to increase output by one million barrels a day in a move to lower oil prices.


Pakistan's Musharraf to Retain Army Post

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will stay on as chief of the army staff beyond the date he promised to give up the post, the information minister said on Wednesday.


Celtic captain McNamara out for a month

Celtic captain Jackie McNamara will be sidelined for at least a month after sustaining ankle ligament damage in Tuesday #39;s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona.


Nokia, NEC Test New IP Multimedia Subsystem

Two high-tech communications players have completed the first phase in a series of tests to show how a next-generation IP data and communications infrastructure works.


Hughes Seals Rovers Return

Blackburn tonight installed Wales boss Mark Hughes as their new manager to take over from Graeme Souness. The identity of the appointment was not a surprise but the speed in which it was announced certainly was.


Stewart Asks to Serve Sentence Soon

NEW YORK Sept. 15, 2004 - Millionaire executive Martha Stewart announced Wednesday that she had decided to begin her prison sentence for lying about a stock trade as soon as possible.


Marlins righthander Burnett to miss Friday #39;s start

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Florida Marlins starting pitcher AJ Burnett is hampered with inflammation in his right elbow and will miss his scheduled start on Friday against the Atlanta Braves.


Cisco joins WiMax Forum

The networking giant formally signs on to the wireless broadband group as the organization's ranks increase.


Devil Rays thumbnails

at Fenway Park Records: Boston is 86-56 (second in the AL East); Tampa Bay is 61-80 (fourth in AL East). Tonight (7:05, NESN, WEEI): LHP Scott Kazmir (1-1, 5.62) vs.


Chronology of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia

Three suspected Muslim militants gunned down a Briton in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday, security sources and diplomats said.


McKenzie Ends Holdout and Returns to Green Bay (Reuters)

Reuters - Green Bay Packers\cornerback Mike McKenzie ended his lengthy holdout Wednesday\afternoon and joined his teammates in preparation for Week 2.


USC Fires Basketball Coach Henry Bibby

LOS ANGELES - Henry Bibby was fired as Southern California #39;s basketball coach Monday, just four games into his ninth season. The Trojans, beset by some player dissension, are 2-2.


Midtier ERP Vendors Can Capitalize On Oracle Antitrust Verdict

The door is open for Oracle to win its bid for PeopleSoft, and for midmarket ERP vendors to increase their business. By Elena Malykhina.


USA searches for winning formula

Hal Sutton anticipated the question. He had formulated an answer, too, long before he arrived in that Milwaukee hotel ballroom to announce his captain #39;s picks and finalize the US Ryder Cup team.


Sudan Rejects US-Sponsored Darfur Resolution

Sudan on Wednesday rejected a US-sponsored UN Security Council draft resolution to punish it over a conflict in its western Darfur region, saying the measure was unfair and lacked balance.


BTG hits Amazon, Netflix and others with patent suit

BTG, a London-based firm that focuses on intellectual property and technology commercialization, filed suit against Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and two other Internet companies for infringing on patents related to the tracking of users online.


F1 BOSS LOSES COURT CASE

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestones control over the sport may be on the decline after a court ruled against him in a dispute with three banks.


Bush Urges Putin Uphold Russian Democracy (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush on Wednesday urged\Russian President Vladimir Putin to "uphold the principles of\democracy" in a carefully worded message expressing concern\about Putin's proposed political reforms.


Darfur Peace Talks Struggle for Survival

ABUJA (Reuters) - Peace talks between Sudan's government  and Darfur rebels struggled for survival after one of the two  rebel groups said on Wednesday the negotiations had collapsed  but left open the chance of resumption.


Kerry Challenges Bush Record on Issues

DETROIT - Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Wednesday of presiding over an "excuse presidency," challenging Bush's credibility on jobs, the record national deficit and the war in Iraq...


IMF: Global financial markets stronger, more resilient

Global financial markets are stronger and more resilient than at any time since the stock market bubble burst in the late 1990s, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.


Lonely men targeted by cell-phone based relationship

HONG KONG - There #39;s a new service for men seeking true love. A software company has created an artificial girlfriend that lonely men can download to a mobile phone.


Giants' Stoutmire Tears ACL; Lost for Season

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Sports Network) - The New York  Giants placed defensive back Omar Stoutmire on injured reserve  Wednesday after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in  Sunday's season-opening 31-17 loss in Philadelphia.


Jamaica Searches for Dozens of Fishermen After Ivan

Jamaican military forces searched on Wednesday for dozens of fishermen feared missing after Hurricane Ivan #39;s strike on the Caribbean island last weekend, officials said.


Infineon to Pay a Fine in the Fixing Of Chip Prices

Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that they had cracked a global cartel that had illegally fixed prices of memory chips in personal computers and servers for


Sports: Khalil Greene breaks finger

LOS ANGELES Khalil (kuh-LEEL #39;) Greene has a broken right index finger and will miss the rest of the regular season. The San Diego Padres shortstop was injured in the fifth inning of Monday night #39;s 9-7 victory


Techs extend Nikkei #39;s rally

Technology shares edged up in Asia on Tuesday, as crude oil prices hovered near \$44 a barrel and the dollar languished ahead of key US economic data.


2 D.C. Men Accused of Defrauding Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued two District men yesterday, charging them with improperly soliciting more than \$1.3 million for a real-estate-based Ponzi scheme by preying on fears about neighborhood gentrification.


Democrats Seek Louder Voice From Edwards

At a time when Vice President Dick Cheney has been mocking John Kerry, John Edwards has adopted a lower-profile stance.


Saudis Take a Small Dose of Democracy

For the first time in 41 years, Saudi Arabia is allowing local elections. The ruling family's goal, political analysts and diplomats say, is to determine whether a more open government might help defuse a rising armed threat by Muslim  militants in the kingdom.


magic number down to 10

New York -- If the Braves #39; 13th consecutive division title seemed like a foregone conclusion before Wednesday, well then it seems doubly so today.


Sales #39; 28 points help Sun beat Sting, clinch playoff spot

The Connecticut Sun clinched a playoff spot for the second straight year behind Nykesha Sales #39; 28 points in an 81-67 win over the Charlotte Sting on Wednesday night.


Shareholders Approve Aether Changeover

Shareholders approved Aether Systems Inc.'s sale of one of its two remaining operating divisions Wednesday, a deal that will take the Owings Mills company out of the wireless business and nearly complete its transformation into a mortgage investment fund.
\-The Washington Post


More Troubles For Howard

Tim Howard was  quot;horribly at fault quot; and  quot;had another bad night, his dreadful error leading to Lyon #39;s first goal quot; in Champions League action.


IBM protects passwords with PC chip

New PCs will ship with a chip designed to thwart hackers--a hardware approach that's said to be safer than software.


Gunmen Seize Three Britons in Baghdad (Reuters)

Reuters - Three British nationals, believed to be\civilians, were snatched by gunmen from a house in central\Baghdad early on Thursday, Iraq's Interior Ministry said.


Mexico Migrant Smugglers Turning to Sea (AP)

AP - Migrant smugglers are skirting heightened security along the border by using small boats to shuttle people from the under-supervised Baja coast into Southern California marinas and harbors, already jammed with legal commercial ships and pleasure boat traffic.


Intel Officials Have Bleak View for Iraq

WASHINGTON - The National Intelligence Council presented President Bush this summer with several pessimistic scenarios regarding the security situation in Iraq, including the possibility of a civil war there before the end of 2005.    In a highly classified National Intelligence Estimate, the council looked at the political, economic and security situation in the war-torn country and determined that - at best - stability in Iraq would be tenuous, a U.S...


Real Madrid Ponders Biggest Champions League Loss in Four Years

Real Madrid began yesterday #39;s match at Bayer Leverkusen as the bookmakers #39; favorite to win the Champions League. The record nine-time European champion finished with its worst defeat in the competition in more than four years.


European Stocks Open Flat, Havas Falls (Reuters)

Reuters - European shares opened steady on\Thursday, with French advertising group Havas falling after\news of a capital increase along with its first-half results\but Richemont rallied after reporting strong luxury goods\sales.


Briton Shot Dead by Saudi Shopping Center (AP)

AP - A Briton who was shot dead outside a Saudi shopping center has been identified as an employee of the communications company Marconi.


Icing call

Out of money, out of patience, out of time, and for the foreseeable future, out of business.


Assembly debates Musharraf role

Pakistan's national assembly is due to debate whether President Musharraf should step down as army leader.


Senate panel opposes overtime rules

A Senate committee voted yesterday to scuttle new rules that critics say would deny overtime pay to millions of workers, as Democrats won the latest round in their election-year bout with President Bush over the issue.


Afghan court convicts US trio of torture

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Three Americans -- led by a former Green Beret who boasted he had Pentagon support -- were found guilty yesterday of torturing Afghans in a private jail and were sentenced to prison.


Russia's Putin once again heads ex-Soviet bloc (AFP)

AFP - President Vladimir Putin took over once again as head of the CIS ex-Soviet bloc at a summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, the Interfax news agency reported.


Infineon admits conspiracy in DRAM cartel

GIANT MEMORY company Infineon will plead guilty to price fixing of DRAM chips and will pay \$160 million in fines to the US government.


Briton, two Americans kidnapped in Baghdad (AFP)

AFP - Two Americans and a Briton were abducted from their home in a plush Baghdad district at dawn, in the latest blow in Iraq's five-month-old foreign hostage crisis, the interior ministry said.


Coke CEO gives pep talk as company lowers outlook

Coca-Cola #39;s top executive said Wednesday the beverage maker needs to work harder, better execute its business strategy and improve its culture as he warned that third-quarter per-share income will drop at least 24 percent from a year ago.


Ya #39;alon: IDF is in advanced stages of preparation for Gaza pullout

The army is in a very advanced stage of preparations for a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four small West Bank settlements in 2005, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant


Big Unit, Not Bonds, Reaches Milestone (AP)

AP - Barry Bonds was beaten by Randy Johnson in the race for baseball's latest milestone moment.


Indonesian militant sentenced to 12 years in Marriott hotel <b>...</b>

: An Indonesian court sentenced a Muslim militant to 12 years in jail on Thursday after finding him guilty of involvement in last year #39;s JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta.


Netopia to Restate Results (Reuters)

Reuters - Netopia Inc.  a maker of\networking gear, on Thursday said its auditor KPMG LLP\resigned, and said it will restate two years of results and\revise the results in its most recent fiscal quarter.


Iraq war allies lash out at Annan

Key allies in the US-led war in Iraq reject UN chief Kofi Annan's assertion that the invasion was illegal.


Dollar Idles vs. Euro Before U.S. Data

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar kept close to the previous  session's one-week highs against the euro on Thursday, holding  steady as investors awaited U.S. data to confirm fresh signs of  strength in U.S. manufacturing.


Iomega readies wireless NAS device

Iomega Corp. is soon expected to ship its first network-attached storage (NAS) device based on wireless networking technology.


Yahoo! Tunes In to Musicmatch

Close watchers of the online music business no doubt noted yesterday #39;s announcement of Yahoo! #39;s (Nasdaq: YHOO) purchase of Musicmatch with interest.


UN Says More Money Needed for Population Programs

The United Nations released its annual population report on Wednesday, and it said it needs more money for population programs. A top United Nations official says if more money isn #39;t found for population programs


European Abortion Debate Turns Divisive (AP)

AP - European Parliament legislators on Thursday turned a fight over abortion rights in Portugal into an emotional and divisive debate on women's rights and the division between church and state.


UNLV Names Utah's Sanford As Head Coach (AP)

AP - Calling UNLV "a gold mine," Mike Sanford took over as coach of the Runnin' Rebels on Monday after two years as offensive coordinator at high-scoring Utah.


Senator Criticizes Europe #39;s Boeing Stance

European leaders have been making false claims in a commercial-aircraft trade dispute pitting Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) against its Europe-based rival Airbus, a US senator close to Boeing said on Thursday.


Iran Denies Any Nuclear Activity At Suspect Site Parchin

VIENNA (AFP) - Iran denied that it had carried out any nuclear-related activity at the Parchin military site which is the subject of US and UN concern.


US August Inflation Mild, Job Claims Rise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices inched up just  0.1 percent last month as gasoline and car prices tumbled, the  government said on Thursday in a report suggesting an inflation  spike earlier this year was an aberration.


Hurricane Ivan May Cost as Much as Charley, Frances (Update3)

Hurricane Ivan, which slammed into the US Gulf coast today, may cost insurers \$4 billion to \$10 billion, rivaling hurricanes Charley and Frances, Risk Management Solutions Inc.


Judge Weighs Evidence in IBM, SCO Case

IBM attorneys argued that Utah-based SCO Group has failed to provide any evidence that IBM allowed proprietary Unix code to enter the freely distributed Linux operating system and its \$5 billion suit making that claim should be dismissed.


Group Seeks Ways to Prosecute Cybercrime (AP)

AP - Governments and private sector officials from around the world sought ways Thursday to jointly combat cybercrime, whose growth mirrors the phenomenal rise of the Internet's popularity.


Nortel warns of lower Q3 revenue

TORONTO - Nortel Networks warned Thursday its third-quarter revenue will be below the \$2.6 billion US preliminary unaudited revenues it reported for the second quarter.


Schooling 'mix up' hits Portugal

Schools across Portugal turn away pupils because of a teachers' assignment mix up on the first day of classes.


Hurricane Ivan Blasts Alabama, Kills 12

GULF SHORES, Ala. - Hurricane Ivan slammed ashore early Thursday with winds of 130 mph, packing deadly tornadoes and a powerful punch of waves and rain that threatened to swamp communities from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle...


New handheld computer from SONY with electroluminescent display

(CP) - SONY has introduced it #39;s Clie PEG-VZ90, an entertainment multimedia handheld using Palm OS 5.2.1. The unit boasts the world #39;s largest 480x320 pixels organic electroluminescent (EL) display, which many regard as a next-generation technology capable


Ford to Return Electric Cars to Norway (AP)

AP - Ford Motor Co. agreed to return about 300 Norwegian-built electric cars to the Nordic country after protests about plans to scrap them, the country's transport minister said Thursday.


Keep It in the Family

The IRS is gunning for your inherited IRA. Follow these steps to avoid costly penalties.


Toyota confirms signing of Italian driver Jarni Trulli from Sauber

Toyota confirmed Thursday that Jarno Trulli will drive for the Formula One team starting next season. The Italian signed a two-year contract two days ago and will partner German driver


Russian Duma to launch new school massacre probe

Russia will launch a second parliamentary inquiry into the Beslan school hostage massacre, Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said on Thursday, marking a further climbdown by authorities who initially ruled out a probe.


Czech Republic's Cell Operators Fined (AP)

AP - All three cell phone operators in the Czech Republic were fined a total of  #36;1.7 million for breaching competition rules, officials said Thursday.


Blackberry shrinks phone keyboard

The latest Blackberry mobile device packs a traditional Qwerty keyboard into  20 keys.


US consumer prices inched up just 0.1 percent last month as gasoline and car prices tumbled, the government said on Thursday in a report suggesting an inflation spike earlier this year was an aberration.


TV war puts tour of India in doubt

Australian cricket chiefs fear a battle over television rights could cause next month #39;s Test series in India to be cancelled, and last night were seeking clarification from Indian board president


Sharon acknowledges ignoring road map

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon acknowledged that Israel was not following the moribund Mideast peace plan, and said an Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip was unlikely to revive it, according


A9 Offers Search Results From Five Sources\\A9, the search engine from Amazon.com, has relaunched its search engine. It now offers search results from several different sources, including the IMDB and of course, Amazon.com. \\I decided to search for Duke Ellington. "Duke Ellington" brought about 156,000 results (less than half the ...


UEFA Introduces Anti-Doping Program

SOFIA (Reuters) - UEFA will enforce a new anti-doping  program at all levels in and out of competition, a meeting of  the European soccer body's executive committee decided  Thursday.


Freedom on the March in Iraq, Bush Tells Voters (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush said on\Thursday freedom was on the march in Iraq even as a U.S.\intelligence report depicted a bleak outlook for the country's\future.


Hurricane Ivan Slams U.S. Gulf Coast

Hurricane Ivan roared into the Gulf Coast near Mobile, Alabama, early this morning with peak winds exceeding 125 miles an hour (200 kilometers an hour).


Ferrero upset in second round at China Open

BEIJING, China (Ticker) -- One day after top-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain lost in straight sets, his second-seeded compatriot followed suit.


CRM Best Practices: TCO and ROI (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - With CRM projects costing millions, even in some mid-size companies, it is no surprise CFOs are leading the charge to be sure the most important projects are first, that they are justified, and that they actually deliver on their forecast benefits.


Nortel lowers expectations

Nortel said it expects revenue for the third quarter to fall short of expectations.


Corning begins work on Taiwan LCD facility

Demand for flat-panel devices means that the time is ripe for factories to churn out more glass.


Envoys off to inspect NK blast site

A group of foreign diplomats has left Pyongyang on Thursday to visit the scene of a mysterious explosion in North Korea.  quot;They went today.


U.S. Says New Images Show Iran Plans Nuclear Bomb

VIENNA (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official said on Thursday  that satellite photographs of a suspected nuclear industrial  site in Iran demonstrated its intention to develop atomic  weapons, an allegation Tehran dismissed as "a new lie."


BEA's new product chief regroups

The first new face after a company shake-up says BEA products will use the advanced research left by departed technology gurus.


RIM takes new BlackBerry design overseas

Revamped keyboard is key feature of the 7100v, which is headed for European and Asian shores.\


AOL drops Microsoft antispam technology

com September 16, 2004, 1:15 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


EU Wants U.S. Aid to Boeing Clarified (AP)

AP - The European Union on Thursday demanded Washington explain more clearly how it subsidizes Boeing Co. and warned it would counter any U.S. challenge targeting EU rival Airbus SAS before the World Trade Organization.


EU, US Talks On Aircraft Aid Grounded

US and EU negotiators traded arguments on Thursday over state aid for aircraft rivals Airbus and Boeing, but wound up no closer on a sensitive issue that has gathered steam in the run up to the US presidential election.


Texas Instruments Plans Buyback (Reuters)

Reuters - Texas Instruments Inc., the\largest maker of chips for cellular phones, on Thursday said it\plans to buy back  #36;1 billion in stock and boost its quarterly\dividend by more than 17 percent, becoming the latest\technology company to return extra cash to investors.


Britain awaits results of N.Korea blast fact-finding trip (AFP)

AFP - Britain is awaiting the findings from a technical analysis of what a group of diplomats saw at the site of a huge explosion in North Korea last week, Britain's minister for East Asia said.


Kodak, IBM to Make Digital Camera Sensors (AP)

AP - Eastman Kodak Co. and International Business Machines Corp. Thursday said they have agreed to develop and make image sensors for digital still cameras and camera phones.


EU, US Talks on Aircraft Aid Grounded

US and EU negotiators disagreed on Thursday about state aid for aircraft rivals Airbus and Boeing, winding up no closer on a sensitive issue that has gathered steam before the US presidential election.


Airbus denies backing Microsoft in EU case

Aircraft maker Airbus insisted on Thursday it had no intention of taking sides in a Microsoft antitrust case, even though it filed a brief in an EU court on the software giant #39;s side.


AOL Shuns Microsoft Anti-Spam Technology

Add America Online Inc. to the growing list of companies and organizations shunning a spam-fighting proposal from Microsoft Corp. AOL cited  quot;tepid support quot; for Microsoft #39;s so-called Sender ID technology, which


-Posted by dave.rosenberg  1:51 pm (PDT)

In what seems to be one of the more bizarre and confusing aspects of the unholy alliance between Sun and Microsoft, Sun #39;s recent 10k filingincludes previously unseen legalese from the settlement agreement.


After the Bell-Texas instruments up after sets share buyback

Shares of Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) rose after the market close on Thursday, after the chip maker said it plans to buy back \$1 billion in stock


Microsoft/Sun documents

If you #39;re up for some light reading, see the links below for the underlying documents that formed Microsoft #39;s April settlement with Sun Microsystems.


In Athens, the other Olympics

It was a sight the Greeks had never seen: Beneath the ancient temples of the Acropolis, dozens of international visitors maneuvered


Hong Kong #39;s LegCo Elections: Overcoming the System

The 1.784 million voters that participated in Hong Kong #39;s 2004 Legislative Council Election gave a clear signal that they want democracy sooner rather than later.


Russians admit airliner bombing blunder

Russian security forces were facing further criticism last night after it was revealed that the two female Chechen suicide bombers who destroyed two planes in August with the loss


Sun, Microsoft Clause Singles Out Openoffice

Sun Microsystems (Quote, Chart) may have saved itself from years of costly litigation when it settled with Microsoft over their long-running Java dispute, but a clause in the landmark deal has open source supporters parsing its potential impact.


Villeneuve back in driver #39;s seat and with a point to prove

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve hopes to take his revenge on former team BAR by helping Renault take second place in the Formula One championship.


Corus makes first profit as UK steel plants return to the black

Corus, the Anglo-Dutch steel maker, celebrated its first ever profit yesterday and said its UK plants had contributed to the turnaround.


Kluivert gives Souness stuttering start at Newcastle

Patrick Kluivert struck twice as Graeme Souness began his reign at St James Park with a 2-0 win over Israeli Arab side Bnei Sakhnin in the UEFA Cup first round, first leg at Newcastle United this morning.


Parliament Invasion Spurs Security Concern (AP)

AP - Silver buckled shoes, stockings and a ceremonial sword? Time, some say, for Parliament's archaic security measures to be dragged into the 21st century after what was called the worst security breach at the House of Commons since 1642.


Zeile to catch one last time

Art Howe will fulfill a wish of the retiring Todd Zeile on Friday night: Zeile will catch Tom Glavine in Pittsburgh, his first time behind the plate in 14 years.


Global Warming May Spur Fiercer Hurricanes - Experts (Reuters)

Reuters - As Hurricane Ivan and its powerful\winds churned through the Gulf of Mexico, scientists told\Congress on Wednesday that global warming could produce\stronger and more destructive hurricanes in the future.


Tests Show James Died of Heart Attack

LOS ANGELES - Toxicology and other tests determined that funk singer Rick James died last month from a heart attack due to an enlarged heart, with numerous drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine contributing factors, the county coroner announced Thursday.    The death was declared an accident, said coroner's spokesman David Campbell, who emphasized that none of the drugs were found to be at life-threatening levels...


Knight Ridder Says It Will Miss Targets

Knight Ridder Inc. expects third-quarter earnings to exceed expectations, largely due to a per-share gain of 9 cents related to the finalization of certain tax matters.


Delay in Shuttle Flights

The battering that the hurricanes of the last month has inflicted on NASA centers could strain an already tight schedule for resuming shuttle flights, but it is too early to tell how badly, experts said Thursday.


Hokies to Open ACC Play

On Saturday, Virginia Tech finally walks into the football room of that exclusive athletic club known as the Atlantic Coast Conference.


Airbus sees mobile phone use on planes by 2006

BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhaunet) -- European plane maker Airbus has reported progress in plans to allow passengers to use mobile phones while in flight with a target date of 2006.


Tigers Clip Indians 6-4 (AP)

AP - Eric Munson and Omar Infante each hit two-run homers and Detroit's bullpen stayed busy all night Thursday, leading the Tigers to a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.


Corning begins work on Taiwan LCD facility

Encouraged by the demand for LCDs, glass maker Corning on Thursday said it has broken ground for a second manufacturing facility in Taiwan.


Forecasters: More Hurricanes May Be on Way

Ivan, Frances and Charley delivered three staggering blows to the Gulf Coast and Florida, as well as Caribbean island nations, all in just five weeks.


Consumer Prices Climb; Jobless Claims Up (AP)

AP - Consumer prices barely budged in August, suggesting that inflation isn't currently a problem for the economy and Federal Reserve policy-makers can stick with a gradual approach to raising interest rates.


Goldman Sachs Enters Fray for Takefuji

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. may be in talks with the founding family of top Japanese consumer finance firm Takefuji Corp. for a stake of over \$2.


Report: Russia may have to delay October space launch to <b>...</b>

Russia may have to delay October #39;s planned launch of the next International Space Station crew by up to 10 days to fix a problem on the spacecraft that is to carry them into orbit, Russian news agencies reported.


Bounties For Spammers Win  Limited FTC Backing

The FTC gave limited endorsement to the notion of cash rewards for people who help track down e-mail spammers, but suggested that the measure might work in fewer circumstances than had been pushed by some anti-spam activists.
-The Washington Post


Old Labor Tactics Resurface in New Union

Labor experts say Unite Here, the newly merged union that is representing the DC hotel workers in their current contract dispute, is one of the most outspoken and toughest unions under the AFL-CIO umbrella.


US,  #39;EU-three #39; agree on demand

The Bush administration reached a tentative deal yesterday with three European nations at the UN nuclear watchdog agency on the next step in confronting Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons program.


Two hurricanes = two deductibles

Many homeowners in the Orlando area suffered a double blow when hurricanes Charley and Frances struck in quick succession. Now, they #39;re smarting from a financial one-two punch - two insurance deductibles.


California slashes legal fees in settlement of Microsoft case

California lawyers who reached a \$1.1 billion class-action settlement with Microsoft will get less than half the legal fees they requested.


Nikkei Hits 2-Week Closing Low

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average fell for a third  straight session to hit a two-week closing low on Friday as  renewed earnings concerns prompted selling in Tokyo Electron  Ltd., Sony Corp. and other high-tech stocks.


Consumer prices up only slightly

WASHINGTON - Consumer prices barely budged last month, suggesting that inflation isn #39;t currently a problem for the economy and Federal Reserve policymakers can stick with a gradual approach to raising interest rates.


Red Sox ready to end jinx

The New York Yankees hold the Curse of the Bambino, the Boston Massacre and their acquisition of Alex Rodriguez in their longstanding dominance over the Red Sox, but recent history suggests changes are coming.


Many NHL players head for Europe

National Hockey League players began scattering across the globe yesterday in search of work on Day 1 of the lockout, with no negotiations scheduled between union and management.


Woods, Mickelson form dynamic US duo

For three days, it had been about dinners, galas, black-tie affairs, and enough social engagements to please Paris Hilton.


2 US workers seized in Baghdad

BAGHDAD -- Kidnappers seized two Americans and a Briton from their central Baghdad villa at dawn yesterday, in a bold raid that could further limit the mobility of foreigners in the Iraqi capital.


Jeanne Heads for Bahamas After Killing 3

SAMANA, Dominican Republic - Threatening to regain hurricane strength, Tropical Storm Jeanne headed for the Bahamas on a track for the southeastern United States after killing three people and causing extensive damage in the Caribbean.    The storm forced the evacuation of thousands on Thursday as it slammed into the Dominican Republic after punishing Puerto Rico with flash floods and deadly winds...


FSB FUD over FOI, you cry

Letters The postbag, and your miscellaneous musings


Cameroon leader's 'divide and rule'

Cameroonian politician John Fru Ndi stands as presidential candidate in next month's election, splitting the opposition coalition.


Sex Drive With Gina Lynn

Wired News introduces a new column by Regina Lynn Preciado. It's about sex. And technology. You'll dig it.


British Music Fans Decry ITunes Pricing

Consumer group complains of higher prices in U.K. than elsewhere in Europe.


Basayev Claims Responsibility for Beslan School Hostage Siege

A Chechen rebel commander has claimed responsibility for the school hostage siege in southern Russia earlier this month, during which more than 320 hostages were killed, half of them children.


Foreseeing the Suns fate: Astronomical interferometry reveals <b>...</b>

For the first time, an international team of astronomers led by Guy Perrin from the Paris Observatory/LESIA, (Meudon, France) and Stephen Ridgway from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (Tucson, Arizona, USA) has observed the close environment of


New Media Players Too Small

It was a Holy Grail looming on the personal electronics horizon: a pocket-sized device with a workhorse battery and the capacity to hold hours of audio and video.


Butt facing ban

Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt is facing up to the possibility of a three-match European ban for his moment of UEFA Cup madness. The 29-year-old England international lost his cool with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin


One held in Jakarta embassy blast probe

Indonesian police said on Friday they had made their first arrest directly linked to last week #39;s deadly embassy bombing in Jakarta, detaining a man who delivered explosives to those blamed for the attack.


#39;Emperor #39; Adriano has Inter under his rule

One match into the Italian league season and (Emperor) Adriano already has Inter Milan under his rule. The Brazilian striker has scored six goals in Inter #39;s first four matches this season, including


Europe Take Charge at Oakland Hills

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Colin Montgomerie  inspired an early charge by holders Europe as they led the  United States in three of the four opening fourball matches at  the 35th Ryder Cup on Friday.


\$78,000 for a Cane That Helped a Legend Walk the Line

Many of Johnny Cash's possessions were sold at Sotheby's, collecting \$3,984,260 for the Cash family, more than double the pre-auction estimate.


Butt waits on Uefa ruling

Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt is facing up to the possibility of a European three-match ban. The 29-year-old was sent off during Newcastle #39;s 2-0 Uefa Cup win against Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin for grabbing Abas Suan by the throat.


USC Fires Basketball Coach Henry Bibby (AP)

AP - Henry Bibby was fired as Southern California's basketball coach Monday, just four games into his ninth season. The Trojans, beset by some player dissension, are 2-2.


Qualcomm Raises Earnings Forecast

Qualcomm Inc. on Friday raised its quarterly profit forecast due to strong demand for its mobile phone technology. The San Diego company said it expects earnings per


Veteran defender signs with Newcastle; Dyer out with injury

Newcastle, England (Sports Network) - Central defender Ronny Johnsen signed a deal with Newcastle United until the next transfer window in January.


Movie casts Afghans as 'Stray Dogs' struggling after hell of war (AFP)

AFP - The powerful may wage war, but it is the powerless who suffer its consequences -- that is the message drummed home by  quot;Stray Dogs, quot; an Iranian film on Afghanistan's pain after years under the control of warlords and foreign masters.


Nalbandian Is Stunned at the Chica Open

BEIJING (Reuters) - Resurgent Finn Jarkko Nieminen  overpowered David Nalbandian 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 at the China Open on  Friday as the seeds continued to tumble in Beijing.


IBM embraces grid converts

On the eve of a grid-computing conference, Big Blue says five companies and the EPA have plans to build grids.


Symantec to offer Web-based Norton AntiVirus console

The Web console -- to be made available specifically to corporate and enterprise licensees of Norton AntiVirus software -- will allow administrators to distribute virus definitions and product updates on demand.


IBM fits PCs with new hardware-based security chip

IBM is using a microcontroller from National Semiconductor that stores passwords, digital certificates and encryption keys.


Sandia Motor Speedway for Sale on eBay (AP)

AP - And the race is off! Only 29 days and some odd hours left to place your bid on eBay to buy the Sandia Motor Speedway.


Pa. Golfer Cleared of Not Yelling 'Fore' (AP)

AP - A golfer plunked in the face by an errant ball was unable to convince a jury that the man who hit him was negligent for failing to yell "Fore!"


US Stocks Up, Ford Forecast Gives a Lift

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips advanced on Friday  after Ford Motor Co. F.N raised its earnings forecasts, while  wireless technology provider Qualcomm Inc. QCOM.O limited  gains on the Nasdaq after saying an accounting review may  reduce pretax income.


Hurricanes soak Knight Ridder #39;s 3Q

Knight Ridder Inc., publisher of the Miami Herald and the Philadelphia Inquirer, said third-quarter earnings will miss Wall Street estimates due to the impact of three recent hurricanes on its Florida newspapers.


Trabelsi back on board with Ajax

Arsenal target Hatem Trabelsi has settled his differences with Ajax after several months of wrangling. The Tunisian international defender was furious after it emerged a clause in his contract prevented him from completing a move to the Gunners.


Boxer Begs Bush to Back Bum Bill

Members of California's congressional team make one last effort to look good for the tech industry back home.


Update 1: United Needs to Cut \$500M More in Costs

United Airlines, in a bankruptcy court filing in advance of a status hearing Friday, has revealed it needs to cut \$500 million more in costs than previously stated.


Stellar Putting Gives Europe a 2 - 0 Ryder Cup Lead

Inspired by a brilliant putting display, holders Europe secured the first two points in the opening fourball matches against the United States at the 35th Ryder Cup Friday.


OSDL teams with another open source group

The Beaverton-based Open Source Development Labs announced this week it is combining some efforts with another open source group to further the adoption of Linux.


US Airstrikes Said to Kill at Least 44 in Iraq

Iraqi health officials said American airstrikes that demolished homes late today in a village south of the volatile city of Falluja killed at least 44 people and wounded 27, including women and children.


U.S. Jet Fires at House in Fallujah (AP)

AP - An American jet fired a missile at a house where about 10 members of an al-Qaida-linked group were believed to be meeting in the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Fallujah on Friday, police and the U.S. military said. At least three people were killed.


AOL Rejects SenderID (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Questions regarding potential patent issues and skepticism from the \open source community relating to Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) SenderID have prompted global Internet service provider AOL (NYSE: AOL) to drop the anti-spam technology.


ATI Announces HyperMemory

ATI Technologies announced a technology that reduces the need for dedicated graphics memory, which could lead to lower PC system costs.


Paralympics Open in Athens

Nearly 4,000 disabled athletes are in Athens, Greece, for Friday night #39;s opening ceremony of the largest Paralympics in the games #39; 44-year history.


UPDATE 1-Nalbandian suffers Beijing shock

Finn Jarkko Nieminen overpowered David Nalbandian 6-2 2-6 6-2 at the China Open on Friday as the seeds continued to tumble in Beijing.


Mother of Jackson Accuser Testifies

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The mother of the boy accusing Michael Jackson of molestation testified Friday she does not remember a private investigator telling her that he was working for one of the pop star's attorneys, but believed he worked directly for the singer...


Hotel Locks Out Employees Over Impending Strike

LOS ANGELES -- The labor dispute between workers at nine Los Angeles County hotels and their employers has intensified, with one of the hotels locking out its laundry workers and replacing them.


Xybernaut sews up bright-light mobile PC

The flat-panel Atigo T/HB, designed for use in bright outdoor lighting, works as a wearable computer or as a wireless display.


Pen can pick some bike U-locks

That U-shaped bike lock that you thought was so secure may be easy pickings for thieves who have nothing more sophisticated than a Bic pen.


INDONESIA:  #39;Blow to democracy #39;

International and domestic observers lambasted on Thursday the guilty verdict against Tempo magazine #39;s chief editor Bambang Harymurti and called it a setback for the country #39;s press freedom and democracy.


Show lights up Paralympics

The XII Paralympics begins in Athens, after a spectacular opening ceremony.


Burundi: Hold Rebels Responsible for Attack

A Burundian rebel movement was responsible for the August 13 slaughter of more than 150 civilians at Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi, and not the combined forces of Hutu and Mai-Mai fighters who have been blamed for the attack, Human Rights Watch said in


ATI Shares Resources with HyperMemory

Graphics chipmaker ATI (Quote, Chart) unveiled a new technology it said lets its visual chips share system memory for graphics processing.


UN #39;s Kofe Annan Calls Iraq War Illegal

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said this week that the US war in Iraq is illegal and questioned whether the country could hold credible


US jets hammer Iraqi insurgents as deadly bombings rock Baghdad

BAGHDAD : At least six people were killed in two suicide car bombings in Baghdad while another 47 people died in a series of US air strikes around the Iraqi insurgent bastion of Fallujah.


Sudan Accuses U.S. Over Darfur Talks Breakdown

ABUJA (Reuters) - Sudan blamed the United States for the  failure of three weeks of peace talks between Khartoum and  Darfur rebels on Friday, but African Union mediators said  negotiations would resume in October.


Campbell targets City date for Arsenal return

Sol Campbell is expected to play for Arsenal #39;s reserves on Monday and could be back in the first team for next weekend #39;s visit to Manchester City.


Open-source spat triggers legal threat

Company says it paid for the code that was contributed, against contract, to free Mambo publishing software.


Virus-Free Macs

#147;The single most effective way to avoid viruses and spyware is to simply chuck Windows altogether and buy an Apple Macintosh, #148; writes Walt Mossberg in the Wall Street Journal.  #147;There has never been a successful virus written for Mac OS X, and there is almost no spyware that targets the Mac. Plus, the Mac is invulnerable to viruses and spyware written for Windows. Not only is it more secure, but the Mac operating system is more capable, more modern and more attractive than Windows XP, and just as stable. #148; Sep 17


Olympics: Athens opens Paralympics with ceremonial extravaganza

ATHENS : Some 70,000 spectators filled the Athens Olympic stadium to watch the densely choreographed and emotionally-charged opening ceremony of the 12th Paralympics, the world #39;s premier competition for disabled athletes.


Labels, Microsoft in talks on CD copying

Record labels and Microsoft are in discussions about ways that the next generation of the Windows operating system, code-named Longhorn, can support copy-protected CD technology.


What they said about ... ... Cherie Blair

Cherie Blair cast aside her treasured privacy this week, touring newspapers offices and television studios to promote The Goldfish Bowl, her new book, which focuses on Downing Street spouses.


FTC Endorses Bounty for Spammers

The US Federal Trade Commission has given its endorsement to a plan that would reward insiders for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people or companies that produce spam.


After Being Bounced Around Florida Is Bouncing Back

Although the three hurricanes that have hit Florida led to a broad economic slowdown, the glimmerings of a miniboom are already apparent.


Enter your e-mail:

If you can #39;t beat Google, make it better--that seems to be the lesson of A9.com, Amazon #39;s intriguing new search site. For Web searches, A9 simply gives you Google #39;s results, but it does a lot more--for instance


MCI Creditors Are Target Of  SEC Subpoenas

11 members of MCI Inc.'s former creditors committee asked for documents related to confidential communications between the company and its bondholders, according to federal bankruptcy court filings.


Crystal Palace 0, Charlton Athletic 1

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley believes Dennis Rommedahl #39;s sparkling winner will provide the platform for the Dane to recapture the form that made him one of Europe #39;s most feared wingers.


Consumers #39; view of economy unchanged

NEW YORK - Consumers #39; assessment of the economy held largely steady this month, according to a university research report released Friday.


Five killed in suicide car bombing, three taken hostage in Iraq

Violence raged on in Iraq on Friday, with five Iraqis killed in a suicide car bombing in Baghdad and three more Turkish drivers reportedly kidnapped.


US Airways Said to Plan to Ask Court for Pay Cuts

S Airways plans to ask a federal bankruptcy judge on Oct. 7 to impose temporary pay cuts on its workers unless it can reach agreement with its unions before then, people who have been briefed on the company #39;s strategy said yesterday.


IPod Rivals Square Off Against Apple

A new generation of smaller, sleeker and cheaper MP3 players from the likes of Sony, Rio, Creative and Rave MP are hitting the market this fall, and they all have Apple Computer #39;s white-hot digital music player in their sights.


PeopleSoft sweetens employee compensation

Business software maker PeopleSoft Friday said it was boosting compensation packages for all employees except its chief executive in a move that would raise the


Panama flooding kills nine people

At least nine people - seven of them children - have died in flooding in the capital of Panama. The authorities say at least 13 people are still missing after heavy rainfall caused rivers to break their banks.


Pierce longs for old days

Rusty Pierce has received lessons in pragmatism since joining the Revolution four years ago. Pierce has performed for teams that have inevitably turned to a direct, linear game, with little emphasis on creativity or imagination. The style paid off the last two seasons, but the Revolution might have overly relied on direct play in spending most of this ...


Charlestown opens up in OT

Thunder and lightning loomed all day, but never clapped or struck on West Roxbury turf. Charlestown, however, was the more destructive force, pulling out a 22-18 overtime win over the Raiders in a Boston North contest.


** For the latest news, please refresh this page regularly **

What #39;s up? I see the whole world has their eyes on the Oscar vs. Bernard fight. My thought is Oscar is coming off with an upset.


Subaru World Rally Team - Rally GB, Leg 1 Report

Petter Solberg demonstrated his winning potential aboard his Subaru Impreza WRC2004 today to take three stage wins and end Leg one in second position overall.


Mini World Cup heats up

With the four minnows out of contention, the eight title contenders chase semifinal places in One-Day crickets mini World Cup with Australia first to get there by beating New Zealand by seven wickets yesterday in the first group showdown at the


Iraqi Airways resumes international flights after 14 years

Iraqi Airways resumed international flights Saturday when a plane took off from neighboring Jordan, the airline #39;s first such flight since UN sanctions were imposed on Saddam Hussein in 1990.


Thanks for the Pageviews, Ivan

Bad weather has been very good for business at Weather.com and other popular forecasting sites. They are posting record traffic in the wake of Hurricane Ivan's arrival on the mainland. By Joanna Glasner.


Apple offers 2004 financial details

Apple's latest Form 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission offers a look at how the company did this past year, how it thinks it's doing and what's to come.


Linux puts another financial feather in its cap

Industry observers say Linux's similarity to Unix, its lower cost and ability to run on Intel hardware make the Unix market ripe for open-source conquest.


Jaguar Exit Throws F1 Deeper Into Turmoil

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One, already struggling to shape  its future and put on a show, is staring into the abyss after  Ford's decision to pull out and sell its Jaguar team.


Security firm eyes Sasser teen

Berlin - A German teenager accused of creating the Sasser worm that infected millions of computers around the world is being taught to become a security software programmer, the company that hired him said on Friday.


Coke to Pay New CEO Same as Predecessor

Coca-Cola Co. (KO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which warned earlier this week of lower-than-expected profits this year, said on Friday it will pay Chairman and Chief Executive Neville Isdell \$1.


Florida Supreme Court puts Nader on state ballot (AFP)

AFP - The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that third-party presidential hopeful Ralph Nader can appear on ballots in the decisive state, increasing the chance the maverick contender will again influence the outcome of the presidential election.


Leader Says Rebels Responsible for Siege

MOSCOW Sept. 17, 2004 - Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev purportedly took responsibility Friday for a bloody school siege and other recent terrorist attacks that have killed more than 430 people, but


Russia: the losing battle against terrorism and insurgency

Terrorism in Russia took on horrifying proportions in August and early September when more than 400 people were killed in four separate incidents in a span of less than two weeks.


Bush Seen Vulnerable to Kerry Among Independent Voters (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush, who holds\a sizable lead in some polls, still appears to be vulnerable to\Democrat John Kerry among independent voters whose shifting\loyalties could determine the winner of the November election,\pollsters say.


Macaulay Culkin Released After Drug Arrest

OKLAHOMA CITY - Former child star Macaulay Culkin was arrested on drug charges Friday during a traffic stop, authorities said. The 24-year-old actor, best known for his role in the "Home Alone" movies, was taken into custody on complaints of possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a valid prescription and possession of marijuana, according to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office...


Iran Is Criticized for Its Lack of Candor on Nuclear Program

The International Atomic Energy's 35-nation board of governors passed a resolution calling for the country to suspend all uranium enrichment activities that could contribute to producing fuel for a nuclear bomb.


Florida, Alabama pick up the pieces after Ivan

People in Florida and Alabama have started to clean up after hurricane Ivan - the third such pummelling for Florida alone in just five weeks.


Colts' Tough Schedule Continues With Tenn. (AP)

AP - Talk about testing a defense: The Indianapolis Colts opened the season against Tom Brady, face Steve McNair this week and then Brett Favre. They're lucky Peyton Manning plays for their side.


Loeb extends lead over Solberg

CARDIFF -- Championship leader Sebastien Loeb took two stage wins to boost his lead over Norwegian Petter Solberg as the Rally of Britain entered its second leg on Saturday.


Pakistan tightens noose around Al-Qaeda militants near Afghan border: army (AFP)

AFP - Pakistani troops have hemmed in Al-Qaeda-linked foreign fighters and their local allies hiding in tribal border regions with a series of military assaults, a top Pakistani general said.


UN Council Poised to Vote on Darfur Resolution

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and China held  last-minute talks on Saturday before the U.N. Security Council  was to vote on a resolution that would consider oil sanctions  against Sudan if it did not stop atrocities in the Darfur  region.


Turkish Parliament Fails to Pass Reforms (AP)

AP - Turkey's parliament adjourned Saturday without passing a key reform package because of divisions over the government's proposal to make adultery a crime, bringing warnings from the European Union that delays could hurt Turkey's chances of membership.


U.S. Forced to Battle for Ryder Cup Survival

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - The U.S. Ryder Cup  team, wounded after a first day mauling, were facing a fight  for survival on Saturday.


Britain doing  quot;all we can quot; for hostage in Iraq

Prime Minister Tony Blair has his government is doing all in its power to help a kidnapped Briton -- but he has avoided a public response to insurgents threatening to kill the man.


Barbarians at the Digital Gate

How spyware, a program that creeps onto a computers hard drive unannounced, is wrecking the Internet.


Murphy Acquitted of Sexual Abuse Charges

Basketball Hall of Fame member Calvin Murphy, left, sits in a courtroom as he waits for the start of closing arguments in his trial Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, in Houston.


Sudan Says U.N. Sanctions Would Destroy Society

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan said Saturday that U.N.  sanctions, threatened over atrocities in the Darfur region,  would lead "this society to a complete destruction."


Ryder Cup: Europe close on victory

Another good day at Oakland Hills sees Europe move 11-5 clear of the USA going into Sunday's Ryder Cup singles.


Two million take part in all-night cultural festival in Rome (AFP)

AFP - Two million people massed in the streets of Rome and in its monuments and museums overnight, celebrating the Italian capital's second annual all-night cultural extravaganza, the mayor said.


Leaked secrets reveal chaos at heart of Blair #39;s Iraq plans

TONY Blair was facing a new Iraq crisis last night after explosive evidence emerged from within his own government that he was warned the country would be plunged into chaos after the fall of Saddam Hussein.


Auburn Converts Second Chance to Stun LSU

Three days after Hurricane Ivan ravaged the state, in a game that almost did not take place, 14th-ranked Auburn rallied Saturday for dramatic 10-9 victory over No.


Europe Puts U.S. in Big Hole at Ryder Cup (AP)

AP - Backed by the clutch performance from its English rookies and reliable play from Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, Europe put the United States in another huge hole Saturday by taking an 11-5 lead at the Ryder Cup and making victory Sunday seem like a mere formality.


Paper:US Airways Loses Loans for 100 Jets

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Airways lost the financing for  nearly 100 regional jets that were to be a key part of the  bankrupt airline's restructuring plan, The Washington Post  reported on Saturday.


Man Held in England in Cisco Code Theft (AP)

AP - A 20-year-old man has been arrested in England in the theft of the proprietary software blueprints used by Cisco Systems Inc.'s networking equipment, police and the company confirmed.


SAN FRANCISCO Mission District cyclist blew whistle on flawed lock

The triumph last week of the Bic pen over expensive, state-of-the-art steel locks has panicked the bicycling community, and churned Internet rumor mills about how much the lock manufacturer knew and when the company knew it.


Pitchers finally getting job done? At least it #39;s a start

This is a mirage or a sight to behold. This is something you can #39;t trust with your own eyes, or maybe what you #39;re watching is real.


At least 20 dead in Kurkik bombing

A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb near a crowd of people waiting to apply for jobs with the Iraqi National Guard in the northern city of Kirkuk on yesterday, killing at least 20 people and wounding 16, officials said.


A Check on Bad Banking Habits

Are you used to getting a fat envelope from your bank with all your canceled checks? Well, soon those checks may not be in the mail.


#39;Noles Rebound

Leon Washington ran for 104 yards and a touchdown and Florida State sacked Alabama-Birmingham #39;s Darrell Hackney eight times Saturday night to rebound from a disappointing loss to Miami with a 34-7 victory.


Bonds Takes Stock

The distraction of another milestone is gone, and Bonds is preparing himself to play every game for the rest of the season.


Sea-Level Rise Gives Clue to Big Chill

A sudden influx of freshwater from North America's ancient Lake Agassiz to the North Atlantic 8,200 years ago triggered a precipitous cooling of the region, scientists believe. Now they are trying to predict if and when a similar scenario might happen again.


Japan's army works out plan to cope with North Korean terror attack (AFP)

AFP - Japan's army has worked out a secret plan to deal with possible large-scale terror attacks by North Korea, a press report said.


Saudi Trial Could  Alter Pace of Reform

In a hearing room on the 11th floor of the High Court of Riyadh, two professors and a poet have been standing trial, sometimes drawing overflow crowds of people eager to monitor a case that could alter the pace of political reform in the kingdom.


Notables

Every Baltimore starter reached base at least twice. Orioles' Brian Roberts set the AL record for doubles in a season by a switch hitter with 47 -- also tying Cal Ripken Jr.'s team record from 1983.


Sloppy win suits Badgers

TUCSON -- Booker Stanley ran for a career-high 135 yards on 30 carries, including a 7-yard run for Wisconsin's only touchdown, and the 20th-ranked Badgers rallied for a stormy 9-7 victory over Arizona yesterday.


Malls setting curfews for unchaperoned teens

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's 10 on a Friday night, and all 15-year-old Sylvia Fallon wants is to hang out with her friends at the mall.


In China's changing society, psychotherapy gains acceptance

BEIJING -- Step back, Confucius. Move over, Mao. Dr. Freud is making the rounds. Once vilified by the communists as a remnant of bourgeois imperialism, the practice of psychology -- and especially the Western ritual of going to a therapist -- is gaining popularity in this country of budding capitalists.


Gordon favored in  #39;chase #39;

LOUDEN, NH -- Right now, things are going Jeff Gordon #39;s way. That should enhance his chances of winning a fifth NASCAR championship.


Government to sell stake in oil business

The Canadian government is getting out of the oil-and-gas business by selling off its stake in Petro-Canada for about \$3.1 billion.


Owen starts as Real lose

Michael Owen admitted Real Madrid are still looking for the right balance after they lost 1-0 at Espanyol in a bad-tempered game on Saturday.


Georgia Rides Its Defense to Victory Over Marshall

ATHENS, Ga. (Sports Network) - Michael Cooper ran for the  only touchdown of the game, as third-ranked Georgia rode its  defense to a 13-3 victory over Marshall at Sanford Stadium.


Bojinov Drives Lecce Into First

Valeri Bojinov - Bulgarias answer to Wayne Rooney -etted twice as Lecce took a conditional Serie A lead with a 4-1 cruise past Brescia.


EU transport chief hails Alitalia accord (AFP)

AFP - EU transport and energy commissioner Loyola de Palacio hailed the accord reached between Alitalia management and staff on a major restructuring plan aimed at keeping the struggling airline in the air.


Sudan says it will abide by 'unfair' UN resolution on Darfur (AFP)

AFP - Sudan has condemned as  quot;unfair quot; a new UN resolution calling on Khartoum to restore security to the crisis-wracked Darfur region or face possible sanctions, but said it would abide by the UN's demands.


Suicide car bombing kills three, wounds seven in northern Iraq

A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb Sunday near a joint US-Iraqi checkpoint, killing three people and wounding seven, including four US soldiers in the northern city of Samarra, the military said.


Sudan: UN Ruling Won #39;t Help Stop Crisis

KHARTOUM, Sudan Sept. 19, 2004 - A US-backed United Nations resolution threatening oil sanctions for the violence in Sudan #39;s Darfur region will only make it harder for the government to calm the insurrection there, a Sudanese official said Sunday.


German Far-Right Profits from Anger Over Reforms

German far-right parties surged in eastern state elections Sunday, riding public anger against government welfare cuts and fanning fears among mainstream parties that the country #39;s image could suffer.


Stuttgart struggles to draw

Berlin, Germany (Sports Network) - Life without star striker Kevin Kuranyi began with a scoreless draw for Stuttgart against Hertha Berlin.


Girls 'observe' French scarf ban

Only about 100 French Muslim girls are breaking the new ban on headscarves at school, the education minister says.


Democracy thrives in largest Muslim state

Indonesia #39;s presidential favorite Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono spent part of a three-day break between the campaign and Monday #39;s historic election not resting, but writing.


Cisco, Microsoft in security showdown

Cisco Systems and Microsoft are headed for a collision over network security, with customers caught in the middle. The two companies have each proposed competing  quot;end to end quot; security architectures, marking


VoIP becomes new option

Jackson is one of the first to take advantage of Time Warner Cable #39;s new venture into Voice over Internet Provider (VoIP) telephone service here and she says it works great.


Polls Open for Indonesia #39;s First Direct Presidential Elections

Polls have opened for Indonesia #39;s first direct presidential election. Election observers say they are impressed with the six-month electoral process, which also chose members of the national assembly and local councils.


Camacho  #39;quits Bernabeu #39;

Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho has resigned after the club #39;s poor start to the season, according to reports in Spain. Cadena Ser radio said Camacho had told Real chairman Florentino Perez he was quitting


Malaysia discovers new bird flu case

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia discovered new cases of bird flu on Sunday within a quarantine area in northern Malaysia where workers have struggled for a month to eradicate the virus.


NFL Wrap: Manning Wins MVP Battle as Colts Overcome Titans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Peyton Manning threw for 254 yards and  two touchdowns to win his showdown with fellow co-MVP Steve  McNair as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans  31-17 in National Football League play at Nashville on Sunday.


Air NZ, Qantas alliance appeal

Air New Zealand and Qantas Airways have lost their bid to get their proposed alliance approved in New Zealand. New Zealand #39;s High Court declined the airlines #39; appeal against a NZ Commerce Commission decision to block the alliance.


New Zealand Court Rejects Air NZ-Qantas Alliance (Update1)

New Zealand #39;s High Court rejected a proposed alliance between Air New Zealand Ltd., the nation #39;s largest airline, and Australia #39;s Qantas Airways Ltd.


Han wins Safeway Classic

HEE-Won Han sank a five-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole to beat Lorie Kane and claim the LPGA Safeway Classic crown won by Annika Sorenstam for the past two years.


Odin Technologies Aims to Be the Chief of RFID (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - RFID tags, the dime-sized devices that can track inventory from the factory to the store, are being embraced as one of the hottest of new technologies. But Patrick J. Sweeney II likens most available applications of RFID, or radio frequency identification, to the user-unfriendly personal computers of the 1980s: a blank screen and a command prompt.


we must win this new conflict

Britain is embroiled in a fresh conflict with Iraq as it battles to quash global terrorism for ever, Tony Blair declared in a stark relabelling of the situation yesterday.


Busch Takes Over

Kurt Busch dominates Sunday's Sylvania 300 and comes away tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead after the first race of the new 10-race championship showdown.


Sudanese Decry UN Threat of Sanctions

Sudan said Sunday that the UN Security Council #39;s resolution threatening oil sanctions if it failed to end violence in the country #39;s western region of Darfur was unfair


Adams backs power-sharing plan

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams   recommends his party  accept proposals to revive power-sharing.


Safin stops Youzhny for China Open title

Marat Safin won the China Open yestereday, beating fellow Russian Mikhail Youzhny, 7-6 (4), 7-5, to claim his first title in two years.


Tropical Storm Kills at Least 90 in Haiti

GONAIVES, Haiti - Tropical Storm Jeanne brought raging floodwaters to Haiti, killing at least 90 people and leaving dozens of families huddled on rooftops as the storm pushed further out into the open seas on Sunday, officials said.    Floods tore through the northwestern coastal town of Gonaives and surrounding areas, covering crops and turning roads into rivers...


Bears back their coach with win

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Thanks to Lovie Smiths ambitious words and his teams resolve to uphold them, the long dormant rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay might be back on track.


Bryant clinches maiden win

Bart Bryant clinched his first PGA Tour title with a three-shot victory in the Texas Open in San Antonio. The 41-year-old, who shot a 60 in his third round to move into a three-stroke lead, hit a final-round 67 to hold off Patrick Sheehan.


Guyanese Batsmen Lead Windies Into Semis Of ICC Champions Trophy

LONDON, England, Monday, Sept. 20: The West Indies Cricket squad has secured a place in Wednesdays semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy; thanks in large part to Guyanese-born cricketers, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.


Bernhard is off the list for key GM post

General Motors Corp. won #39;t offer its top advanced vehicle development job to former Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer Wolfgang Bernhard but likely will divvy it up instead


Sci/Tech - Virus gang wars on the Web

Following his arrest in May, the teenage computer wizard admitted to police he wrote the code for Sasser and more than two dozen Netsky viruses that wreaked havoc across the Internet during the first few months of 2004.


Microsoft Opens Office Source Code to Governments

Microsoft Corp. will allow governments around the world that use its software to have controlled access to the source code for its pervasive Microsoft Office 2003 desktop offerings for the first time.


Family make plea for Iraq Briton

The family of a Briton held hostage in Iraq have issued an emotional plea for his release as the deadline approaches. Philip Bigley said his brother Ken regarded the Arab world as his  quot;home from home quot; and


Unilever Cuts Profit Forecasts on Sluggish Sales (Update3)

Unilever, the world #39;s largest maker of food and soap, cut its full-year earnings forecast after sales of ice cream and cold drinks slumped in Europe and demand for beauty and laundry products slowed.


Pirates named

PROSECUTORS HAVE named those charged in one of the biggest pirate software seizures in US history. The two-year investigation, dubbed Operation Digital Marauder, resulted in  quot;one of the largest seizures of


Hynix, Samil Face Sanctions for Bookrigging

Hynix Semiconductor, formerly Hyundai Electronics, was engaged in accounting fraud totaling 2 trillion won in 1999, financial regulators reported Monday.


Ex-General Has Early Lead Over Megawati in Indonesia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Early returns in Indonesia's  presidential elections Monday gave a lead to ex-general Susilo  Bambang Yudhoyono, who has vowed firmer leadership to fight  terror and boost the economy, over incumbent Megawati  Sukarnoputri.


Bush video awarded Turner Prize

Artist Jeremy Deller wins this year's Turner Prize for a film about US President George Bush's home town.