Dollar Edges Up from Lows  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar clung to slim gains Monday but  stayed close to a record low against the euro and a five-year  low vs the yen, with traders saying it was just a matter of  time before the market dumps the U.S. currency again.


Explosives lost during security drill at French airport French police on Sunday ended their practice of hiding plastic explosives in air passengers #39; luggage to train bomb-sniffing dogs after one such bag got lost, possibly ending up on a flight out of Paris #39; Charles de Gaulle airport.


Iran sites  #39;off limits for UN checks #39; TEHRAN: Iran yesterday said it was not obliged to allow UN inspectors to visit military sites alleged to be involved in secret nuclear weapons work, but that it was willing to discuss the issue.


UN Council Ready to Adopt New Anti-Terror Measure (Reuters) Reuters - The U.N. Security Council was\set Friday to adopt a Russian-drafted resolution that seeks to\expand the prosecution and extradition of terrorist groups and\individuals, such as Chechen separatist leaders.


Results of AP Poll on Presidential Race (AP) AP - The Associated Press-Ipsos poll on the presidential race is based on telephone interviews with 1,541 adults, including 1,273 registered voters and 944 likely voters, from all states except Alaska and Hawaii. The interviews were conducted Oct. 4-6 by Ipsos-Public Affairs.


U.S. Base Attacked as Afghans Prepare to Vote  KABUL (Reuters) - Sporadic violence erupted in pockets of  Afghanistan on the eve of a historic presidential election in  the rugged war-torn land, highlighting the risks posed by  Taliban militants who have vowed to disrupt the vote.


ElBaradei: Iran Should Comply with IAEA by Nov. 25  TOKYO (Reuters) - Iran should freeze all its uranium  enrichment-related activities by a Nov. 25 board of governors  meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the  head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said on  Friday.


N.Korea Says It Will Resume Talks if U.S. Ends Hostility  SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea wants bilateral nuclear talks  with the United States but would rejoin stalled six-party  immediately if Washington dropped what it called its "hostile  policy" toward Pyongyang, the communist state said on Friday.


Second Pitcairn man pleads guilty A second man pleads guilty to sex offence charges against young girls on the Pacific island of Pitcairn.


Cambodia rush to solve succession Cambodia races to pass laws to decide the sucession after King Sihanouk's abdication announcement.


Pakistan bans religious meetings Public religious meetings are banned in Pakistan after Thursday's bomb explosion in Multan kills at least 40 people.


Blasts at Egypt Resort Kill at Least 19 TABA, Egypt - Blasts from a car bomb and a suicide bomber tore through a resort hotel in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday Thursday night, officials said. There were at least 19 dead and the toll was likely to rise...


Kerry Takes Lead Over Bush in AP Poll WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry has taken a slight lead over President Bush, according to an Associated Press poll that found him gaining ground with women, boosting his overall popularity and cutting into the president's advantage on national security.    The two candidates remain in a very close race ahead of a second debate Friday night in St...


Cheney Once Pushed to Lift Iran Sanctions WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney, who has called Iran "the world's leading exporter of terror," pushed to lift U.S. trade sanctions against Tehran while chairman of Halliburton Co...


Concern over drug stocks hurts Dow Investors sent stocks sharply lower yesterday as oil prices continued their climb higher and new questions about the safety of arthritis drugs pressured pharmaceutical stocks.


September sales at Target stores beat retail average MINNEAPOLIS - While other retailers struggled with a sluggish back-to-school season, Target Corp. reported same-store sales well above the industry average.


Jeter, Yankees Look to Take Control (AP) AP - Derek Jeter turned a season that started with a terrible slump into one of the best in his accomplished 10-year career.


Red Sox Manager Francona in Familiar Spot (AP) AP - This isn't the first time Terry Francona has come back to Fenway Park with a two-game lead in a playoff series.


Steelers rally for victory JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Now, Ben Roethlisberger has done it all, at least in the confines of the regular season. Staring at a 16-14 deficit with 1:50 left in the game, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to the


Record high tornadoes for September, August The US National Weather Service #39;s Storm Prediction Center said Thursday that 173 tornadoes were reported in August and 247 in September.


Patel, Pathan defy Australia Bangalore - Parthiv Patel and Irfan Pathan put on 60 for the seventh wicket to prop up India on the third morning of the first Test against Australia here on Friday.


Measure of success The numbers keep coming up. Impressive numbers that should draw praise. Numbers like nine or more wins for eight straight seasons.


Johnny Kelley JOHNNY KELLEY, who died yesterday at age 97, had a modest way of living that belied his extraordinary athletic feats. His participation in 61 Boston Marathons, despite the demands of a regular job and without


Jenkins court martial to begin Nov 3 TOKYO (AFP) - The court martial of US Army Sergeant Charles Jenkins, accused of deserting to North Korea nearly four decades ago, will begin in Japan on November 3, the US Army said Thursday.


Source: Samsung Profit Below Forecast  SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s  third-quarter operating profit has fallen around 10 percent  short of market forecasts due to weak sales of flat screens, a  source familiar with the company's business said on Friday.


House OK's \$136b in tax breaks  The House last night passed a sweeping rewrite of corporate tax law, a measure designed to end a trade war with Europe and shower \$136 billion in new tax breaks on businesses, farmers, and other groups.


Cyberkinetics gets public stock listing Cyberkinetics Inc. of Foxborough, a pioneering company developing a medical device that could one day enable paralyzed people to control computers and even their own limbs just using thoughts, went public yesterday by merging into the shell of an unsuccessful Canadian mining company.


Oil Sets New Highs on Winter Fuel Worries Oil prices broke into fresh record territory above \$52 on Thursday on heightened concerns over tight winter heating fuel supplies.


SEC may backtrack on fund regulation The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering whether to abandon an unpopular proposal that was designed in part to curtail improper mutual fund trading, according to a published report Thursday.


Gov #39;s plan to add 18 inspectors greatly inadequate The Romney administration is planning a \$1.7 million, 18-job boost for the beleaguered agency that inspects amusement park rides, boilers and elevators, but a union official says at least


Illinois Tool Won #39;t Pursue Linx After Danaher Offers More Money Illinois Tool Works Inc. said it won #39;t proceed with its bid for UK-based Linx Printing Technologies Plc after Danaher Corp. said it may offer 15 percent more for the company.


Melnyk steps aside at Biovail Billionaire Eugene Melnyk said yesterday he is stepping down as chief executive of Biovail Corp. The company said Doug Squires, the former CEO of New York-based MDS Pharma Services, a division of Toronto-based


SpaceShipOne rockets in NEW ERA A red, white and blue rocket plane zoomed into space Monday, winning a \$10 million prize as the world #39;s first privately built reusable spacecraft and heralding the future of commercial space travel.


Phelps gets started with gold in 200 free He will have to do something spectacular like that at Conseco Fieldhouse to keep pace with US teammate Kaitlin Sandeno. Phelps won the 200-meter freestyle Thursday night to open the World Swimming


Veteran guard Black bugs opponents The Connecticut Sun have the  quot;Tasmanian Devil quot; on their side as they enter the WNBA Finals tonight.  quot;Well, you know, I play a lot like that; I #39;m kind of


Minnesota is back in a familiar place Last year, in the American League Division Series, the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, then lost Game 2. The series shifted


Paris blast terrorist act - Indonesia #39;s Yudhoyono Indonesian president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said a blast on Friday near Jakarta #39;s embassy in Paris was a terrorist act, and called on France and Indonesia #39;s outgoing president to take appropriate action.


Pesticide Persisting Beyond Scheduled Elimination Date Under a treaty known as the Montreal Protocol, methyl bromide was to be banned for most uses by the end of this year.


Thankfully, the BCS got it right this time BCS critics often vent frustration by omitting that middle letter. Not this time. It is needed. After Sunday, it #39;s clear what the C really signifies.


New Breed of Cat: Clones to Make Debut at Annual Show The annual cat show at Madison Square Garden, which begins on Friday, will include cloned kittens for the first time.


Update 2: Corporate Tax Law Overhaul Passage Likely The Senate is expected to follow the lead of the House and pass a major overhaul of corporate tax law that would dole out \$136 billion in new tax breaks to a wide array of US companies and provide a \$10.


Bombardier lays off 2,000 workers MontrealWith its stock in a tailspin and the prospect of cash-strapped US airlines bailing out on future jet orders, aerospace giant Bombardier Inc.


Marriott earnings up 45 percent on growing demand for rooms COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Hotel operator Marriott International Inc. said its third-quarter earnings rose 45 percent as growing demand for rooms helped drive revenue up 9 percent.


Rovers find more signs of liquid water on Mars Aging but still on the go, climbing in and around craters, tapping into the mysteries of strangely cracked rocks, the two roving vehicles Spirit and Opportunity have explored Mars about three times as long as originally scheduled.


TSMC Shows Signs of Tech Sector Slowdown Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world #39;s biggest producer of custom-made chips, on Thursday reported record-breaking revenue for the third quarter, but signaled that the global technology sector might be heading for a slowdown in the fourth


Security concerns put MSN Messenger beta on hold Microsoft Corp. has suspended the beta testing of the next version of its MSN Messenger client because of a potential security problem, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.


CA Introduces Mainframe Usage Based Pricing It has been a busy few days at Computer Associates (CA) as the company first announced the acquisition of Netegrity and has now released details of a new licensing schema available on the company #39;s large portfolio of mainframe software products.


Gordo Cooper, American hero and astronaut But on that glorious day in May, 1963, Gordo Cooper went higher, farther, and faster than any other American. Twenty-two complete orbits around the world.


Old Course humbled Graeme McDowell matched a course record with a 10-under-par 62 on the famed Old Course yesterday to take the first-round lead in the Dunhill Links Championship at St.


Sox want to end series before Angels wake up Boston couldn #39;t be more confident heading back to Fenway Park, looking to close out the once-hot Angels. By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer.


How they #39;ve fared: teams split games this year June 11: Kamila Vodichkova scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, helping the Storm to a tough win. Lauren Jackson scored 22 points, but was just 7 of 18 and had just two rebounds.


Malicious Trojan Pretends To Be Good (TechWeb) TechWeb - Symantec is warning PC users about a new Trojan horse that terminates adware on a person's computer, but also plays dirty tricks.


Earnhardt sets sights on CNS Kerry Earnhardt, a son of late legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt #39;s, is scheduled to compete in Saturday #39;s NAPA 150 at Colorado National Speedway.


Man U fans in uproar LONDONFans of the self-styled biggest soccer team in the world are outraged this week following news that Manchester United is subject to a reported takeover bid by Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer.


J. Lewis pleads guilty in drug case Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Atlanta to trying to set up a drug deal.


NFL games on TV Comments: The Seahawks are going for the first 4-0 start in franchise history. They lead the league in defense (242.3 ypg), having yielded only 13 points so far this season.


Gluecode Contributes Open-Source BPM Engine (TechWeb) TechWeb - Gluecode Software is contributing what it says is the first open-source business process management engine to the Apache Software Foundation.


Unknown group claims responsibility for Egypt bombings A previously unknown group calling itself the  quot;Islamic Unity Brigades quot; has claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Egypt #39;s Sinai peninsula targeting Israeli tourists.


Embassy blast hurts nine A SMALL device planted outside the Indonesian Embassy in Paris exploded early today, slightly injuring nine people, including four embassy workers, authorities said.


ASEM Summit Starts amid Myanmar Discord Friday marks the beginning of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Hanoi, where themes such as terrorism and trade will be discussed.


Militants fire rockets at Baghdad hotel Militants fired rockets at a hotel housing foreigners in the heart of Baghdad last night, causing minor damage, while US officials said two American soldiers


Haiti: Beheaded corpses found Port-Au-Prince - A man #39;s beheaded body lay in the street in a seaside slum on Thursday near the smouldering remains of another beheaded corpse that was wrapped in tires and set ablaze, as leaders of the uprising that ousted President Jean-Bertrand


BABY CHARLOTTE: VERDICT:  #39;SHE CAN MEET HER END IN THE TLC OF THOSE <b>...</b> THE judge who ruled sick baby Charlotte Wyatt must be allowed to die said she should do so with dignity in her parents #39; arms. Mr Justice Hedley told the anguished couple it was in their 11-month


IBM Outlines Mainframe Integration Roadmap (TechWeb) TechWeb - Among the new features is support for IBM's Virtualization Engine, a slice-and-dice technology that splits processors into as many as 10 virtual CPUs.


Migo Transforms iPod Into Backup Device (TechWeb) TechWeb - The  #36;99.95 software stores Outlook e-mail, calendar and contacts, Internet Explorer favorites and browsing history, among other data.


Closer's role He was the insurance policy, neatly tucked away in a file cabinet in the basement, maybe destined to languish there until he was rendered irrelevant or forgotten. And Bronson Arroyo's potential beneficiaries -- his Red Sox teammates -- wondered why.


LaFrentz is on the rebound When training camp competition demanded Raef LaFrentz jump repeatedly in pursuit of a rebound, and when doing so did not give him pause, the power forward knew he could once again compete in the NBA. That was the best news on Day 1 of preseason.


No longer wrestling with job FOXBOROUGH -- Physically, Stephen Neal has seldom been overmatched in his athletic endeavors. A 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound offensive lineman with the Patriots, Neal has held his own grappling with NFL defensive linemen, much the way he did with opponents on the wrestling mat at Cal State-Bakersfield, winning a pair of NCAA Division 1 titles. But ask Neal about the most daunting ...


Airbus hits back at Boeing over aid AIRBUS said last night that the move by the United States to file a complaint with the World Trade Organisation reveals Boeing #39;s unwillingness to enter talks to end massive federal and state support for its new 7E7 Dreamliner.


Stern show ruling  #39;a long way off #39; TORONTO -- No decision has yet been made on what to do with American radio shock-jock Howard Stern if an application to bring the US subscription service Sirius to Canada is successful, says the CBC, which is involved in the application.


Bombardier axes 2,000; another 1,200 jobs at risk 1,440 of them in Montreal -- as it slows the production rate of its 50-seat Canadair regional jet to face the realities of the struggling US airline industry.


ATI gains on Nvidia, revenue leaps 50 ATI Technologies Inc. saw revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter jump 50 as the Canadian computer graphics chip maker inched closer to eclipsing chief rival Nvidia Corp.


Nixon is eager to hit his stride ANAHEIM, Calif. -- In the immediate moments after Wednesday night's win over the Anaheim Angels, reporters gathered three-deep around the locker of catcher Jason Varitek, who clubbed a two-run homer to tie the game in the sixth, and helped navigate the heartening performance of Pedro Martinez, who notched a convincing playoff win, demonstrating high heat and the kind of location ...


Low payroll comes at a price Followers of the Yankees and Red Sox, do not delude yourselves: money does matter. Imagine, please, being Ron Gardenhire, manager of the Minnesota Twins, as opposed to either Joe Torre or Terry Francona. It's Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Your team has a chance to go up, two games to none, in Yankee Stadium. And who is ...


Down to their last prayer They haven't hit the way they can, or pitched the way they should, or executed fundamentals the way good teams are expected to in October.


They'll come out swinging There's a common determination between the Red Sox and Angels entering today's Game 3 of the best-of-five American League Division Series at Fenway Park, albeit for different reasons.


Sosa fined for untimely departure Sammy Sosa was fined \$87,400 -- one day's salary -- for arriving late to the Cubs' regular-season finale at Wrigley Field and leaving the game early. The slugger's agent, Adam Katz , said yesterday Sosa most likely will file a grievance. Sosa arrived 70 minutes before Sunday's first pitch, and he apparently left 15 minutes after the game started without ...


Lewis pleads guilty; will serve 4 months Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty yesterday to using a cellphone to try to set up a drug deal and will be sentenced to four months in prison, to be served after the regular season ends in January.


NFL games on TV ST. LOUIS (2-2) vs. SEATTLE (3-0) When, where: Sunday, 4 p.m., at Seattle. TV: Ch. 25. Last season: Seattle won, 24-23, and St. Louis won, 27-22. Comments: The Seahawks are going for the first 4-0 start in franchise history. They lead the league in defense (242.3 ypg), having yielded only 13 points so far this season. They also lead in ...


Inglorious days are history for Patriots  quot;Who are the Patriots going to beat this week? quot; my son asked, and because he does not believe in answers, only a string of questions, he barely took a breath before adding,  quot;And where will the Patriots be playing this year's Super Bowl? quot;


But seriously folks Then there are those weeks when nothing on the menu appeals to you, for whatever reason. Maybe it's too many games between bad teams (Tampa Bay at New Orleans, Arizona at San Francisco) or too many games that involve teams that can't seem to get out of their own way (Carolina, Oakland, St. Louis, Washington come to mind), but you ...


Veteran guard Black bugs opponents The Connecticut Sun have the  quot;Tasmanian Devil quot; on their side as they enter the WNBA Finals tonight.


Kidd passes on night practices Jason Kidd is refusing to attend night sessions during the New Jersey Nets' two-a-day practices at training camp, and he doesn't care if the team fines him for it.


Conley making field hockey mark at Babson Babson College field hockey player Elise Conley of Shrewsbury, who suffered a facial injury last season that required her to wear a protective mask, has come back in a big way this fall.


Bentley hoping to avoid getting tripped up by Post A year ago, the Bentley Falcons ended C.W. Post's two-year reign as Northeast-10 Conference football champions. Now the Pioneers have a chance to return the favor. Sitting atop the conference standings, C.W. Post (4-1, 4-0) hosts Bentley tomorrow and can inflict serious damage on any hopes the Falcons have of repeating.


All of a sudden, Cal is loaded for bear Call them the  quot;almost ready for prime-time quot; Bears. Or maybe you can call them more than that after tomorrow. For the University of California, the time is now. Or, more specifically, tomorrow afternoon, when they take on top-ranked Southern Cal.


Frazar finds fun at top Harrison Frazar took some time off to rest and find a way to make golf fun again. For the second week in a row it paid off with a share of the first-round lead, though he had to share it with six others in the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas.


Andover now a target The tricky thing about being the team to watch is it's impossible to stay that way for long. Either you become an also-ran or you turn into the team to beat.


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


Weekend Highlights Friday -- The 4-mile Charles River Fun Run will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cambridge Fitness and Racquet Club at 215 First St. in Cambridge. The run is free and open to runners of all ability levels. For more information, call Steve Pepe at 781-275-1584.


This weekend on TV, radio TODAY AUTO RACING 2:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300 qualifying at Kansas City, Kan., Speed Channel 4:10 p.m. -- NASCAR Nextel Cup Banquet 400 qualifying at Kansas City, Kan., Speed Channel 1 a.m. -- Japanese Grand Prix qualifying at Suzuka, Speed Channel PRO BASEBALL 4 p.m. -- AL Division Series: Red Sox vs. Anaheim at Fenway Park ...


Transactions BASEBALL Chicago (AL): Assigned Ps Enemencio Pacheco, David Sanders, and Josh Stewart outright to Charlotte (IL). Chicago (NL): Fined OF Sammy Sosa \$87,400 for arriving late and leaving early for regular-season finale Oct. 3. Cincinnati (NL): Announced 1B Jacob Cruz declined an outright assignment and elected free agency. San Diego (NL): Released P Jay Witasick; assigned OF Kerry Robinson, and ...


Time for 2-year-olds to be in the spotlight This is the last big weekend for prep races before the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park Oct. 30, and the 2-year-olds will take center stage.


Latest bluefish battle well worth the fight Of The Doctor and the Great Fish, Part II. Dr. Anthony is a surgeon whose deft fingers have found their way into human hearts and back many thousands of times in his career, which makes his misadventures with fish somewhat enigmatic.


GenVec to suspend TNFerade trials Gaithersburg-based GenVec has run into a problem with its top drug candidate, and investors have had an adverse reaction. GenVec says the US Food and Drug Administration has requested that clinical trials


HP Building Portfolio of Products For Telecom Carriers, Equipment <b>...</b> Vendor says it #39;s developing standards-based servers in various form factors for the telecom market. By Darrell Dunn. Hewlett-Packard on Thursday unveiled plans to create a portfolio of products and services


Telcove Launches Managed VPN Telecommunications services provider TelCove has launched a managed VPN to give its customers #39; telecommuter and mobile employees secure, remote access to resources on their corporate networks from any location.


UMC continues to grow faster than TSMC Growth at foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) continues to outpace that at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which ended its record-sales streak in September.


Weaver wild as Cards deck LA Jeff Weaver supposedly was a changed man since leaving the Bronx, but New Yorkers surely recognized who was on the mound for the Dodgers last night: good ol #39; Mr.


GOLF: MCDOWELL:MY 62 WAS BLASPHEMY and admitted it felt like  quot;blasphemy quot;. Just like Tiger Woods at the 2000 Open, the Ulsterman kept out of every


Potty mouth could cost Earnhardt Jr. more than \$3 million If you believe Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hurting now, wait until late next month, should he fail to recoup the 25 points he lost for uttering a naughty word on national television following last week #39;s emotional victory at Talladega (Ala.


SVEN CONSIDERING NEW-LOOK ATTACK England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is considering using a three-man attack in Saturday #39;s World Cup qualifier against Wales. With Eriksson having confirmed at the start of the week that a fit-again Wayne Rooney


Egypt bomb blasts kill 22 At least 22 people have been killed in back-to-back bombings in Egyptian resorts packed with Israeli tourists, and Israel says it appears to be the work of al Qaeda.


Security Tightened in Paris Following Embassy Bombing Security was tightened around Paris today after a bomb exploded outside the Indonesian Embassy, slightly injuring nine people. French Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said a rigged package exploded


Explosions rock Red Sea resorts At least 21 people are killed after a series of explosions at Egyptian resorts popular with Israeli tourists.


Blasts kill at least 30 at Egypt hotel  TEL AVIV -- Massive explosions ripped through a hotel last night on the Red Sea in Egypt, near the southern tip of Israel, killing at least 30 and injuring more than 160, many of them Israeli tourists, according to Israeli media reports and Egyptian officials.


Militants fire rockets at Baghdad hotel  BAGHDAD -- Militants fired rockets at a hotel housing foreigners in the heart of Baghdad last night, causing minor damage, while US officials said two American soldiers were killed by roadside bombs outside the capital and authorities arrested 20 Iraqis suspected of planting homemade explosives.


US troops strike site in Fallujah; 11 said dead FALLUJAH, Iraq -- A US air strike on the rebel-held city of Fallujah in western Iraq last night killed 11 people and wounded 17 at a wedding party, with women and children among the casualties, a hospital doctor said today.


Beheadings Mark Haiti's Latest Misery  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Oct. 7 -- At first it looked like an old glove, black and rubbery and flattened in traffic. But a closer look revealed toenails.


Privacy Act, Order Shielded U.S. Names on List CIA analyst Charles A. Duelfer's report on Iraq's weapons programs included lists of governments, political parties, companies and individuals from at least 44 nations who received vouchers to buy oil -- both legally and otherwise -- from the Iraqi government during Saddam Hussein's reign.


Iraq #39;s interim president, Jordan #39;s king visit White House Welcoming Iraq #39;s interim president to the White House offers President Bush a chance to persuade Iraqi minority groups to participate in next month #39;s election - pivotal step toward a democracy still threatened by a violent


Wildlife treaty moves to protect Asian hardwood BANGKOK: The global treaty regulating trade in threatened wildlife moved to protect ramin, the Asian hardwood whose forests and their inhabitants have been devastated by rampant commercial logging.


UN to investigate Darfur genocide A UN panel is given three months to establish whether genocide is taking place in Darfur in western Sudan.


Fable creator explains online apology Games guru Peter Molyneux says he felt a duty to explain why some features are missing in his latest title.


Chiefs 34, Raiders 27 OAKLAND, Calif. - Trent Green nearly played a perfect half, tender ribs and all, to lead the Chiefs to an important comeback win. Green completed 14 of 15 passes after halftime for 229 of his 340 yards and


Hollywood majors back Toshiba DVD Toshiba Corp says it has won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from Warner Bros Studios, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema, advancing its cause in the battle for the next-generation DVD.


Modalities for hiking foreign stake in banking sector soon UNI, New Delhi, Dec 5: The Finance Minister, Mr P Chidambaram, today announced further opening up of the banking sector, saying the modalities for foreign banks acquiring upto 74 per cent stake in Indian private banks will be announced by the year-end.


Standard Chartered Is Chosen as Preferred Bidder for Permata Standard Chartered Plc, a UK bank that makes two-thirds of its profit in Asia, will start talks to buy a 51 percent stake in PT Bank Permata, Indonesia #39;s seventh- largest lender, after being named the preferred bidder.


Holiday shopping outlook dimming Report finds retailers suffer fourth month of tepid sales as job security issues, gas prices and food bills scare consumers. By Anne D #39;Innocenzio.


Ohio Candidate Seeks Advice of Web Surfers (AP) AP - An Ohio candidate in a long-shot bid to unseat a 16-term House veteran has an unusual approach in deciding how to spend his campaign. He asks Web surfers: Should he sleep in? Prepare for his debate? Campaign door to door?


GeekTech: Picking Your Perfect PCI Express PC (PC World) PC World - Intel-based PCs are shipping now and AMD systems with the technology are on the way.


Sun and Kodak settle out of court In an out of court settlement, Sun Microsystems has agreed to pay Kodak \$92 million to settle the long running patent case involving Java technology.


Google Tests Short Message Service Google on Thursday, October 5, announced a new test service. People will need only mobile phones or handheld devices and they should tap Google #39;s Web search via text messages, or short message service.


Flaw in Office has DoS attack potential A security company warned on Thursday that a flaw in Microsoft Office could allow a denial-of-service attack to be executed on systems running somewhat older versions of the popular productivity suite.


Sprint PCS introduces Picture Mail developing Sprint PCS today made the first moves toward turning its popular Picture Mail service from a mere novelty to a full-fledged digital photography solution.


Furcals walkoff homer saves Braves Atlantas Rafael Furcal, at left with hand raised, is greeted by teammates including Chipper Jones, right, after hitting the game-winning home run against the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the


Perfect day sees 7 lead Michelin LAS VEGAS - Harrison Frazar shares the lead with six others in the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas. Frazar shot a bogey-free 64 Thursday to take his place among a crowded group at the top of the leader board at 8 under.


FTC Files Case Against Spyware Suspects (AP) AP - The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday filed the first case in the country against software companies accused of infecting computers with intrusive "spyware" and then trying to sell people the solution.


Egyptian Resort Bombs Leave at Least 21 Dead (Correct) At least 21 people were killed and 122 injured at a series of bombings at two Egyptian resorts on the Sinai Peninsula coast that caused a 10-storey segment of a Hilton hotel to collapse.


Indonesia #39;s president-elect condemns bombing outside Paris embassy JAKARTA: Indonesia #39;s president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono condemned as  quot;an act of violence quot; a bombing outside his country #39;s embassy in Paris.


Possible Blackbeard Ship Cannon Found (AP) AP - Underwater archaeologists have found another cannon from the wreckage of what they believe was the flagship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard.


Extra cash for 'super-microscope' The giant Diamond synchrotron being built in England is to receive a further 120m of funding.


Shock treatment for coral restoration Electro-shock therapy is being tested as a way of saving some of the world's endangered corals.


Conway acknowledges slamming Oracle Ousted PeopleSoft (PSFT) CEO Craig Conway acknowledged in court Wednesday that he countered rival Oracle #39;s (ORCL) hostile takeover bid with a crusade to vilify the company and its CEO, Larry Ellison.


Bradley won #39;t be disciplined for slur Dodgers owner says he #39;s not upset about player #39;s heated exchange with Times writer nor does he consider it a serious blowup.


GeekTech: Picking Your Perfect PCI Express PC Intel-based PCs are shipping now and AMD systems with the technology are on the way.


Oracle extends Peoplesoft offer deadline The company #39;s initial offer of \$7.7bn or \$21 per share, was due to expire at midnight tonight but Peoplesoft will now have another two weeks, until 22 October, to make their decision.


Standard Chartered wins bid for Permata Standard Chartered has won a bid for a controlling stake in Indonesia #39;s seventh-largest bank for about \$278 million (155 million pounds), the British bank #39;s third attempt to buy an Indonesian financial institution, a source says.


Sun and Kodak settle out of court Sun Microsystems has settled a patent suit brought by Eastman Kodak relating to Java software, agreeing to license Kodak #39;s patents for \$92m.


Midland Group Plans to Start Formula One Team for 2006 Season A new British-based Formula One team is planned for the start of the 2006 season and may include Russia #39;s first-ever driver, the team #39;s co-founder said.


Escobar is no pushover A wolf in Angels wings? Or a sacrificial lamb to be served up on the Fenway mound this afternoon? Kelvim Escobar went 11-12 this season and was beaten by the Red Sox stats, schedule, 4


No homers, no problem ST. LOUIS - Mike Matheny, Edgar Renteria and St. Louis can win with singles, doubles and triples, too. After tying a postseason record with five home runs in the opener, the Cardinals stayed in the ballpark for Game 2 Thursday night.


Pakistan on high alert after car bomb massacre MULTAN, Pakistan: Pakistan security forces were on high alert with troops deployed to the city of Multan after a car bomb killed 41 people and wounded more than 100 in the latest attack blamed on sectarian tensions.


Ahead of announcement for Nobel Peace Prize, odds favour fight <b>...</b> Speculation on who will win the Nobel Peace Prize has been hotly focused on the battle against one of the great threats to world peace: weapons of mass destruction.


UN to investigate Darfur genocide A five-member panel to investigate whether genocide has taken place in Darfur has been appointed by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.


DOJ, FCC concur on wireless deal (TheDeal.com) TheDeal.com - The two agencies are coordinating their reviews of Cingular Wireless' purchase of AT amp;T Wireless Services.


Situational ethics meets PeopleSoft (TheDeal.com) TheDeal.com - A long and winding road runs from Joseph Fletcher to Craig Conway.


U.S. Air Strike Kills 11 in Iraq's Falluja (Reuters) Reuters - A U.S. air raid, aimed at foreign\fighters led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, killed 11 people and\wounded 17 after a wedding party in the rebel-held Iraqi city\of Falluja Friday, residents and doctors said.


Report: Russia May Give Yukos Unit Warning (AP) AP - Russia's natural resources minister said Friday that he thought his ministry would give the main production unit of the battered Yukos oil company a three-month warning before pulling its drilling licenses, the Interfax news agency reported.


Cubans Force Dissident Protest From Park (AP) AP - Cuban authorities forced a group of protesters to leave a Havana park where they planted themselves two days earlier to demand the transfer of a jailed dissident to the capital for medical treatment, one of the protesters said.


Australia turn the screw against India (Reuters) Reuters - Glenn McGrath finished with four wickets as Australia quashed Indian hopes of a fightback by establishing a big first-innings lead in the first test on Friday.


Kenyan Environmentalist Wins Nobel Peace Prize  OSLO (Reuters) - Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai  became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize  Friday for leading a campaign to plant tens of millions of  trees across Africa to slow deforestation.


Kenyan activist wins Nobel prize Kenya's Wangari Maathai wins this year Nobel Peace Prize, the first African woman to do so.


House clears huge business tax revamp to end trade war The House last night passed the most sweeping rewrite of corporate tax law in nearly two decades, a measure designed to end a nasty trade war with Europe and shower \$136


Government confirms Stanchart wins Bank Permata sale JAKARTA (Dow Jones): A consortium led by Standard Chartered PLC has won the bidding for a 51 percent stake in PT Bank Permata, Indonesia #39;s seventh-largest lender, Minister of Finance Boediono said on Friday.


Marriott International Profit Rises Marriott International Inc. (MAR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US hotel operator, on Thursday said third-quarter profit rose 45 percent as business travel continued to perk up after three years of stagnation.


Titans Can Move Ball, but Can't Score (AP) AP - The Tennessee Titans are doing a great job of holding onto the ball. Now, they have to find a way to get into the end zone.


Sportsview: Best Playoff Stuff Off Field (AP) AP - Ah, October, a time when leaves start turning, the carpet in the Metrodome gets a thorough vacuuming and Dodgers fans usually don't even get a chance to leave games early.


Virginia runs to victory over Clemson CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Facing the first real test to its dominance this season, Virginia showed Clemson - and the nation - that its numbers haven #39;t just been built against inferior competition.


Key college games on TV TEXAS (4-0) vs. OKLAHOMA (4-0) When, where: Tomorrow, noon, at Dallas. TV: Ch. 5. AP rankings: Oklahoma is No. 2, Texas No. 5. Last season: Oklahoma won, 65-13.


Excerpts From Citation for Peace Prize Excerpts from the citation awarding the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize to Kenyan Wangari Maathai for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace.


BLAIR CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT OF AFRICA The Africa Commissions motto is to find out means to develop Africa and explain the cause of continents poor growth in the past.


Crude Oil Falls From Record \$53; Supplies May Meet Winter Needs Crude oil fell after reaching a record \$53 a barrel in New York yesterday on speculation global output may provide US refiners with enough supply to meet winter needs.


Parmalat files lawsuit against Bank of America MILAN - The bankrupt Italian food group Parmalat said its special administrator Enrico Bondi has filed a US lawsuit against Bank of America.


Bank of America to cut more jobs The decision comes on top of 12,500 job cuts that the bank initially said it would eliminate during the merger. The bank #39;s move drew fire from two Massachusetts


ATI Q4 sales, income rocket ATI saw its income almost triple during its most recently completed fiscal quarter, Q4 2004, the company said yesterday after announcing record results.


Indonesia Govt Confirms Stanchart Wins Bk Permata Sale JAKARTA (Dow Jones)--A consortium led by Standard Chartered PLC (STAN.LN) has won the bidding for a 51 stake in PT Bank Permata (BNLI.


Bush #39;s campaign of distortion IN THE FIRST presidential debate, George W. Bush asserted that he #39;ll win reelection because he knows how to lead -- and but for an absent prefix, the president might have been revealing his closing-stretch strategy.


Kodak, Sun settle Java dispute MANHASSET, NY - Sun Microsystems has reached an out-of-court settlement with Eastman Kodak Co. in a two-year patent dispute over its Java programming language, agreeing to pay the imaging products company


Google goes ga-ga for SMS The new product, dubbed Google SMS, will see mobile phone users send simple queries to the US-only SMS shortcode 46645, which spells  quot;GOOGL quot; on most phones.


Microsoft to offer XP Special Edition to huge impoverished group EARLIER WE TOLD YOU about Microsoft #39;s launch of Media Center 2005 at retail, but there is another surprise MS announcement coming a little later on.


Phelps wins first medal after Athens Michael Phelps led all the way in winning the 200-metre freestyle at the World Short Course Championships on opening night on Thursday, giving the world #39;s best swimmer a chance to equal the six gold medals he won at the Athens Olympics.


USC, Oklahoma wary of weekend 1-2 punch Going in, this looks like a big weekend for the nation #39;s best two teams. The question is, will it look that way by Saturday night?


Kenyan environmentalist wins Nobel Peace Prize Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for leading a campaign to plant tens of millions of trees across Africa to slow deforestation.


Blast at Indonesian Embassy in Paris A bomb went off outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris early Friday, injuring nine people. The blast came on the heels of a deadly bombing at an Egyptian resort hotel.


US House passes repeal of tax law at centre of WTO sanctions case WASHINGTON : The US House of Representatives repealed a controversial tax break for US corporations in a bid to end hefty European Union trade sanctions more than a year after the World Trade Organization ruled against the practice.


SpaceShipOne propels space travel future Monday #39;s triumphant second flight of SpaceShipOne is a perfect example of private business taking up where government left off and improving an idea.


Web Snap(s) Search and Rebounds The Web glitterati came out for the Web 2.0 conference at San Francisco #39;s swanky Nikko hotel this week. In attendance were Amazon #39;s Jeff Bezos, Netscape cofounder Marc Andreessen, Bill


Pedro aces a big test No matter where he happens to fall in the rotation, and he admits he has slipped a spot, Pedro Martinez insists he still is No. 1 on the day he pitches.


As usual, Jeter does whatever it takes to get  #39;W #39; You can #39;t rely on the boxscore to quantify the type of impact Derek Jeter had on Game 2 of the Yankees-Twins series. Or the influence he has on his team.


Egyptian cooperation insufficient in rescue work: Israeli fire <b>...</b> Israel #39;s fire chief complained of insufficient cooperation from Egypt on Friday in rescue efforts at an Egyptian Red Sea resort hotel, torn apart by a bomb blast.


Schrder #39;s Afghan Visit on Track German Chancellor Schrder will travel to Afghanistan next week despite a rocket attack near the German embassy in Kabul. The attack came a day before the country #39;s first free presidential elections.


Afghan security forces on alert ahead of landmark election KABUL, Afghanistan More than 100-thousand Afghan and foreign security forces are on high alert the day before the country #39;s first direct presidential election.


Palestinian state off the agenda, says senior Sharon aide The language used by Mr Weisglass can hardly fail to embarrass even a US President as friendly to Israel as George Bush, who remains at least theoretically committed to the road


US pressures EU on China arms ban Chinas human rights record does not warrant the lifting of a 15 year old EU arms embargo, said a senior US official. Gregory Suchan, US Deputy assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs


SMS Google to Search Google has launched a beta test version of a text service that allows people to use mobile phones to search the Web via text messages.


Visionaries outline web #39;s future Universal access to all human knowledge could be had for around \$260m, a conference about the web #39;s future has been told. The idea of access for all was put forward by visionary Brewster Kahle, who suggested


Aragones Apology for Racist Remark Spain coach Luis Aragones has issued an apology for his racist slur towards Arsenals French international Thierry Henry. Aragones claims he was trying to motivate Henrys Arsenal team-mate Jose Antonio


McGrath keeps the pressure on Australia #39;s bowlers completed their rout of the Indian batting lineup on the third day of the first Test in Bangalore, after a brief but determined resistance from teenagers Parthiv Patel and Irfan Pathan that restored some pride to the hosts.


Indian economy to grow at 7: FM Speaking at the India Economic Summit in New Delhi, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that the Indian economy will grow at 7 annually, for the next ten years, reports CNBC-TV18.


Opec in no hurry to cut quota LONDON - Despite a recent plunge in oil prices, Opec producers appear to be in no rush to cut output quotas and markets expect the taps to be left wide open when ministers meet in Cairo this week.


List of 10 Endangered Wildlife Refuges (AP) AP - The 10 most endangered national wildlife refuges as chosen by the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, and reasons cited by the group:


BOFH: A ringside seat at the Boss-baiting pit Episode 34 Place your bets


AT #38;T culls another 7,400 staff 'Significantly exceeds previously estimated workforce-reduction target'


Visionaries outline web's future The web will be more interactive and will use tools to mine its vast pool of data, say experts.


Previous Peace Prize Winners From Africa (AP) AP - Previous winners of the Nobel Peace Prize who were from Africa.


Rockets rain on Afghanistan ahead of vote (AFP) AFP - Rockets rained on cities and military outposts across Afghanistan as the war-weary nation prepared to go to the polls in Saturday's historic presidential elections.


Kenyan Environmentalist Wins Nobel Peace Prize  OSLO (Reuters) - Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai  became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize  Friday for aiding the continent's poor with a campaign to plant  millions of trees to slow down deforestation.


Drug hope in prostate cancer care A drug now used to treat breast cancer could help men with advanced prostate cancer live longer, say scientists.


Oracle extends tender offer for PeopleSoft; price unchanged NEW YORK, October 8 (newratings.com) - Oracle Corporation (ORCL.NAS) has extended its \$7.7 billion tender offer for PeopleSoft (PSFT) until the midnight of October 22 this year, leaving the terms of its hostile takeover proposal unchanged at \$21 per


AT amp;T to slash about 7,400 jobs The job cuts are a part of the company #39;s efforts to shift its focus to business services and cut costs amid the competitive long-distance telephone services market.


Linx Printing Tech. recommends Danaher 550p/shr offer LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Linx Printing Technology (UK:LPT) said its board has agreed to recommend Danaher Corp. #39;s (DHR) 550p per share cash offer, valuing the British company at approximately 86 million pounds.


US consumer confidence dips US consumer confidence hasdropped to its lowest levels since the middle of the northern summer amid worries about high energy prices, uncertainty about the labor market and anxiety


Siemens to Integrate Flarion #39;s FLASH-OFDM Siemens Communications has agreed to integrate Flarion Technologies #39; FLASH-OFDM technology into its portfolio of mobile broadband solutions.


SiS readies November AMD PCIE chipset launch SiS will next month join ATI, Nvidia and VIA in becoming a supplier of PCI Express chipsets for AMD processors. November will see the company commence volume production of its SiS761 North Bridge, which will


Hewitt through to semis Top seed Lleyton Hewitt will take on Jiri Novak in the semi-finals of the Japan Open after sealing a 7-5 6-1 victory over Cyril Saulnier.


Players, teams ready to emerge All Cedric Benson did three weeks ago was be honest. Texas #39; star senior running back said he would like to win the Heisman Trophy, maybe more than he #39;d like to beat second-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday.


Pakistanis ban religious meetings Authorities here announced a nationwide ban on all political and religious meetings except Friday prayers after a car bombing early Thursday in the central city of Multan killed 40 people and wounded at least 100.


Chirac hopes visit strengthens partnership President Jacques Chirac has expressed the hope that his upcoming visit to China would further boost the Sino-French partnership.  quot;Our partnership is built on a shared view of the world, which is multipolar


FDA Official Alleges Pressure to Suppress Vioxx Findings A Food and Drug Administration official who sought to estimate the harm done to patients by side effects of the painkiller Vioxx said yesterday that his supervisors tried to suppress his conclusions, according to Sen.


UPDATE:Stanchart To Buy 51 Stake In Indonesia Bk Permata JAKARTA (Dow Jones)--A consortium led by Standard Chartered PLC (STAN.LN) won the bidding for a majority stake in PT Bank Permata (BNLI.


Presse conomique / Telecoms BEDMINSTER, NJ--(BUSINESS WIRE)8 Octobre 2004--Siemens Communications va intgrer la technologie FLASHOFDM (R) (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)  son portefeuille de solutions mobiles haut dbit.


Catching A Good Break The WNBA #39;S month-long break during August, which accommodated players that took part in the Summer Olympics, had a vastly different effect on the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm.


Footage of Bradley confrontation erased Milton Bradley was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers #39; lineup Thursday, going 2 for 3 with a home run, double and walk in an 8-3 loss to St.


Podcasts: New Twist on Net Audio A technology that delivers internet audio programs directly to iPods and other MP3 players, podcasting is gaining a following among people who can't listen to their favorite shows when they're live. By Daniel Terdiman.


Gamers Spar for National Honor At the World Cyber Games 2004, the competition is about more than just who wins at Counter-Strike or WarCraft III. Gamers are competing to bring glory to their home countries. Daniel Terdiman reports from San Francisco.


Minniapple's Mini Radio Stations The Walker Art Center wants to put the 'public' back in the public airwaves. It's distributing tiny radio-transmitter kits so people can broadcast from their own personal radio stations. Michelle Delio reports from Minneapolis.


Makin' Woohoo Attempting an 'alternative lifestyle' in a game of The Sims 2 turns out to be an awful lot like plain ol' life. Go figure. Commentary by Gina Lynn.


NASA to Test Automated Mission Look, Ma, no hands! The U.S. space agency's latest spacecraft can run an entire mission by itself. By Amit Asaravala.


Drier Times Ahead in the West? Scientists unlock the rainfall history stored in tree rings and find evidence of long dry periods in the past that dwarf the current drought in the western United States. The research hints at another monster drought to come. By Stephen Leahy.


We've Created a Monster! Three programming geeks use monsters and metaphors to turn the Sci Fi Channel into the best little horror house in the movie business. By Gary Wolf from Wired magazine.


Stem Cells to the Rescue A new study shows that embryonic stem cells can heal defective heart cells in mice. It could be a new way to look at the potential healing power of these controversial cells. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Oracle bid has wiggle room Two days after a PeopleSoft Inc. board member suggested the company may be willing to sell to Oracle Corp. for the right price, an Oracle director said his firm #39;s offer to buy its Pleasanton rival for \$21 per share may not be final.


Kodak lawsuit cost Sun USD 92 millions Eastman Kodak Co. sued Sun Microsystems Inc. and claimed damages worth USD 1 Billion over long running patent disputes related to object management procedures implemented by Sun in the very popular Java programming language.


Google adds books to its epic search story Internet search engine Google has announced Google Print, a new book search service at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Google has already secured deals with major publishers, including Oxford University Press.


Internet bigwigs upbeat Some of the high-technology industry #39;s biggest executives, pontificators and bloggers assembled over three days this week in San Francisco, ending Thursday, to opine about the Web #39;s future.


Google Used to Identify 1993 Victim (AP) AP - Google, the Internet search engine, has done something that law enforcement officials and their computer tools could not: Identify a man who died in an apparent hit-and-run accident 11 years ago in this small town outside Yakima.


Saturday qualifying at Japanese GP postponed due to typhoon Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix scheduled for Saturday was postponed Friday because a typhoon was approaching the area. Race organizers and Formula One moved pre-qualifying and


The game Mack Brown can #39;t win While people out here debate the importance of Saturday #39;s Cal-USC game -- Biggest West Coast game in a decade? Biggest Cal game in school history?


Smith just keeps on churning out the yards Somewhere in Jeff Ulbrich #39;s house lies a Kodak moment worth savoring. The 49ers #39; linebacker is shown bringing down Emmitt Smith in a manner so forceful, it bore reenactment Thursday.


In employees she trusts (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Trust and freedom are words that come up over and over when you ask employees at the little Menlo Park marketing and communications company Tajima Creative to explain why they like their boss.


IBM Chief Sees Global Tech Spending Rise (Reuters) Reuters - Companies will spend more money next year\on information technology and other capital investments\compared with 2004, the chief executive of the world's biggest\computer company, IBM Corp, said on Friday.


U.S. Wildlife Refuges Facing Threats (AP) AP - A sweeping wildlife preserve in southwestern Arizona is among the nation's 10 most endangered refuges, due in large part to illegal drug and immigrant traffic and Border Patrol operations, a conservation group said Friday.


Second chance scammers and the meaning of 'Va va voom' Letters Reg readers to the rescue


IBM Chief Sees Global Tech Spending Rise  PARIS (Reuters) - Companies will spend more money next year  on information technology and other capital investments  compared with 2004, the chief executive of the world's biggest  computer company, IBM Corp, said on Friday.


Stocks Seen Up After GE; Jobs Data Next  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher  market open on Friday, snapping back from the previous day's  losses, as oil prices eased below \$53 a barrel and General  Electric Co. GE.N reported earnings in line with Wall  Street's expectations.


Legislation Increasing Indecency Fines Dropped Lawmakers last night derailed legislation that would have substantially increased the amount the Federal Communications Commission can fine broadcasters for airing indecent material, giving media companies at least a temporary reprieve after months of scrutiny and public outrage.


Dollar Under Pressure Ahead of Jobs Data  LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar slid across the board on  Friday as cautious comments from Federal Reserve officials  raised doubts over the health of the U.S. economy before key  U.S. jobs data.


Stewart Attorney Asks For Prosecution's Papers One day before Martha Stewart is slated to enter prison, lawyers for the multimillionaire businesswoman continued to press her appeal, accusing the government of withholding material that might have led to her acquittal.


Fierce T. rex's 'fluffy' history Chinese scientists unearth the earliest known relative of the mighty <I>Tyrannosaurus rex</I> - and it seems it was covered in fluffy feathers.


Caviar producers cut export quota Caviar prices are set to rise after major producers of the luxury sturgeon roe delicacy agree to slash exports.


Steroids Harmful for Head Injury Patients By Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter    HealthDayNews -- Giving steroids to reduce brain swelling can be deadly for patients with severe head injuries, according to the largest study ever done on the subject.    The research, which included more than 10,000 patients treated at 239 hospitals in 49 countries, found that 21 percent of those who were given steroids died within two weeks, compared to 18 percent of those given a placebo...


GE meets 3Q, ups guidance NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - General Electric posted relatively flat third-quarter earnings Friday on improved revenue, as the diversified conglomerate met Wall Street profit expectations and edged future guidance higher.


Stocks to Open Up Ahead of Payroll Data NEW YORK Oct. 8, 2004 - US stocks are seen higher at the open Friday although the release of non-farm payroll data due later will most likely dictate overall sentiment and direction.


OneChicago CEO and Chairman Rainer announces resignation William Rainer, recruited in 2001 to lead the Chicago financial markets #39; venture into the trading of single-stock futures, said Thursday he #39;s resigning to spend more time on family-owned enterprises.


Sun, Kodak settle patent dispute Sun Microsystems Inc. said it agreed to pay \$92 million to Eastman Kodak Co. to settle a patent-infringement lawsuit over Sun #39;s Java programming language.


Shopping.com: A Bad Long-Term Investment NEW YORK - Shopping.com is the latest meteor to streak across the new-issues market. The company #39;s planned initial public offering will generate intense interest, but bigger companies are lining up to enter


Google searches go mobile in US INTERNET search firm Google is testing a new service in the US which allows people to use mobile phones to tap into its web search engine via text messages.


Fierce T. rex #39;s  #39;fluffy #39; history What is more, the creature, which lived 60 to 70 million years before T. rex, had fluffy feathers covering its body. Xing Xu and colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing found their tyrannosauroid


Errors stretch Mauresmo New world No1 Amelie Mauresmo beat Swiss Patty Schnyder 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of tennis #39;s Filderstadt Grand Prix in Germany.


Lucky seven share lead after 18 holes Jason Bohn wasn #39;t having much success in Las Vegas --  quot;Been getting killed, quot; he said with a laugh -- until he picked up his golf clubs.


Many loyal Cal fans still afraid to believe BERKELEY -- Because a season unfolding as this one comes so seldom to Cal football, many who have spent years loyal to the program await not the immortal victory but the inevitable heartbreak.


Blasts Strike Sinai Resort in Egypt A string of bombs hit a resort and a campground popular with Israelis in Egypt #39;s Sinai Peninsula at the end of a Jewish holiday killing at least 19 people.


Kenyan in surprise Nobel peace win Kenyan Deputy Environment Minister Wangari Muta Maathai has been named winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, beating a number of much better known world names to the prestigious award.


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


No casualties in Kabul bomb blast A rocket attack caused a loud blast near the US Embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul early Friday, but no casualties were reported.


Your view: Should baby Charlotte be allowed to die? A High Court judge has ruled that doctors can allow to let a seriously ill baby to die if she stops breathing again. The parents of 11-month-old Charlotte Wyatt, who was born three months premature, asked


Google Used to Identify 1993 Victim Google, the Internet search engine, has done something that law enforcement officials and their computer tools could not: Identify a man who died in an apparent hit-and-run accident 11 years ago in this small town outside Yakima.


Wal-Mart sees sales up 2.4 WAL-MART Stores, the worlds largest retailer and owner of Asda supermarkets, said sales at stores open at least a year rose 2.4 per cent in September, slightly higher than its preliminary report but still towards the low end of its forecast range.


SEC may act against exchanges The Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing enforcement actions against three US stock exchanges -- and possibly the head of one of them -- over charges that in-house regulators failed to adequately enforce their own rules


Pension agency chief fears insolvency The longer-term solvency of the US fund that insures traditional pensions is at risk, the director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.


Drug-industry veteran to be Biovail #39;s new CEO; Melnyk remains <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Eugene Melnyk, who used his personal fortune to buy the Ottawa Senators last year, stepped aside Thursday as chief executive of Biovail Corp.


Music industry clamps down on song-swapping London - The piracy-battered music industry said on Thursday it will sue British, French and Austrian music fans as it intensifies its legal crackdown on Internet song-swappers.


First Edinburgh man in space THE year is 2007. A five-seater spacecraft powers away from an aeroplane  quot;mother ship quot; ten miles above the Mojave Desert in the United States and shoots into the stratosphere.


Critical Flaw Discovered In MS Word According to an advisory published on security firm Secunias website, a critical vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word, which can be exploited by a malicious code to cause a DoS (Denial of Service) and potentially compromise a user #39;s system.


CA intros usage pricing for mainframes It has been a busy few days at Computer Associates (CA) as the company first announced the acquisition of Netegrity and has now released details of a new licensing schema for its large portfolio of mainframe software.


NASCAR #39;s caution flag It #39;s impossible to know how many of the stock-car-racing fans who heard Dale Earnhardt Jr. use a naughty word on television after winning a 500 at Talladega were offended -- or even noticed.


Bomb rocks Indonesia #39;s Paris embassy A small package bomb has exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn, slightly injuring 10 people and shattering nearby windows, but officials said they had no leads about the motive.


Issues related to war in Iraq help define election in Australia SYDNEY -- On one side is the incumbent, a conservative career politician who steadfastly defends his decision to send troops to Iraq.


#39;We #39;ll let Charlotte die in our arms #39; THE parents of a tiny premature baby clinging to life in a hospital oxygen box are preparing to let her die in their arms. A High Court judge yesterday ruled that Charlotte Wyatt should be allowed to die in


GE Posts Higher Quarterly Profit (Reuters) Reuters - General Electric Co.  on Friday\reported higher third-quarter earnings as strength across many\of its financial and industrial businesses outweighed\hurricane-related insurance losses.


Before the Bell: GE, Sirius Slip (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of General Electric Co. \fell slightly before the bell on Friday after the industrial\conglomerate said quarterly earnings rose.


Export Support for German Recovery Slips (AP) AP - German exports fell slightly in August, the government's statistics agency said Friday, in a sign that the strong support from exports for the country's budding recovery is beginning to ease.


GE Posts Higher Quarterly Profit  BOSTON (Reuters) - General Electric Co. GE.N on Friday  reported higher third-quarter earnings as strength across many  of its financial and industrial businesses outweighed  hurricane-related insurance losses.


SEC Steps Up Probe of Krispy Kreme  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators have  ratcheted up their probe of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.  KKD.N, looking at how it repurchased some of its doughnut  franchises, the company said on Friday.


Dollar Weakens Ahead of Payrolls Release  LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar fell broadly on Friday as  dovish comments from several U.S. central bankers raised doubts  over the health of the world's biggest economy ahead of a  crucial U.S. jobs report.


Before the Bell: GE, Sirius Slip  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of General Electric Co. GE.N  fell slightly before the bell on Friday after the industrial  conglomerate said quarterly earnings rose.


Johnson Controls Sees Revenue, Earns Up  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Auto parts supplier Johnson Controls  Inc. JCI.N said on Friday it expects higher sales and  earnings in fiscal 2005, driven by strength in both its  automotive group and controls business.


Bank of America to cut more jobs Bank of America Corp. said yesterday it will eliminate 4,500 more jobs as it absorbs the operations of FleetBoston Financial Corp.


High-risk driver plan hit by senators Eighteen Democratic state senators say the Romney administration must gain legislative approval before moving ahead with a proposal to change the way high-risk drivers are apportioned among auto insurance companies in Massachusetts.


Spammer to pay \$25,000 settlement Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly declared a victory in the war on unwanted e-mail yesterday, as a Florida spammer agreed to pay \$25,000 to settle a state lawsuit alleging violations of a new federal antispam law.


Holiday retail outlook cloudy The outlook for the holiday shopping season grew more uncertain yesterday as the nationrsquos largest retailers reported they had a fourth straight month of tepid sales in September.


Output worries drive up oil prices Oil prices reached \$53 a barrel yesterday and have advanced more than 20 percent in a month, in large part because output in the Gulf of Mexico was hobbled by a hurricane and has not been restored as quickly as expected.


US Airways, unions clash over proposed pay cut US Airways' unions say the bankrupt airline is ''barking up the wrong tree quot; as it seeks to ensure its solvency by imposing a 23 percent pay cut on its workers.


JetBlue, Northwest to expand at Logan Two airlines plan to expand service at Logan International Airport. Airport officials say JetBlue Airways tomorrow will add a third daily nonstop flight to Fort Lauderdale and a new daily nonstop flight to Fort Myers, both in Florida. Northwest Airlines is planning nonstop daily service to Indianapolis starting Oct. 31, using 50-seat jets, with three flights a day on weekdays ...


Parmalat sues in US for \$10b to recoup losses Parmalat's government-appointed administrator filed a suit yesterday against Bank of America in a federal court in North Carolina in the latest attempt by the collapsed dairy giant to recoup money from financial institutions with which it dealt.


Update 3: Tokyo Stocks End Lower on UFJ Probe Tokyo stocks dipped Friday as investors sold bank shares after Japanese authorities began a criminal investigation into UFJ Holding Inc.


No  quot;Abramovich route quot; to top in F1 - Minardi boss Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has warned prospective Formula One team Midland F1 that there is no  quot;Abramovich route quot; to the top in the glamour sport.


Tennis Roundup  Second-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina lost at the Japan Open Thursday at Toyko, beaten by Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 in the third round.


Nine hurt in Paris bomb blast A bomb explosion outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris slightly injured nine people today, authorities said, in the first terror attack to strike the French capital in years.


Japan's mobile operators target elderly (FT.com) FT.com - Mobile phones have become a must-have item for every high-powered Japanese businessman, multi-tasking mum and self-respecting teenager. Even schoolchildren often carry a mobile phone to call home on their way back from late-night cram school.


US gets new cyber security chief The US has a new head of cyber security, a week after his predecessor suddenly resigned.


Abu Dhabi TV reports British hostage Kenneth Bigley killed by captors in Iraq (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been killed by his captors in Iraq, Abu Dhabi television reported Friday. The British Foreign Office said it could not confirm the report.


Kenyan Green Activist Wins Nobel Peace Prize  OSLO (Reuters) - Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai  became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize on  Friday, honored for her work planting tens of millions of trees  to save the environment. The award marks a new theme in  interpreting the 1895 will of Sweden's Alfred Nobel, who  founded the prize.


Israel's Sharon Vows to Fight Those Behind Bombings  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  said on Friday he and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had  agreed to "focus efforts and forces to fight terror," after  bombings at Egyptian resorts killed at least 31 people.


Bomb Hits Jakarta's Paris Embassy, Motive Unclear  PARIS (Reuters) - A small package bomb exploded outside the  Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn Friday, slightly  injuring 10 people and shattering nearby windows, but officials  said they had no leads about the motive.


N.Korea Says to Resume Talks if U.S. Ends Hostility  SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea wants bilateral nuclear talks  with the United States but would rejoin stalled six-party  meetings at once if Washington dropped its "hostile policy"  toward Pyongyang, the communist state said on Friday.


Hostage Bigley reported killed The UK government is checking unconfirmed reports that British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been killed in Iraq.


F1: Storm disrupts Japan GP  Saturday's qualifying session for the Japan GP is postponed because of a typhoon.


Blair back after Africa troop vow Tony Blair arrives back in Britain from Africa after saying the continent should be the top priority for a new EU battle force.


Last push for votes in Australia The two main contenders in Australia's federal election make their final pitches before Saturday's poll.


IBM Chief Sees Global Tech Spending Rise
\

 PARIS (Reuters) - Companies will spend more money next year\on information technology and other capital investments\compared with 2004, the chief executive of the world's biggest\computer company, IBM Corp, said on Friday.


Microsoft Looks to Expand Windows at Home Efforts by Microsoft Corp. and the PC industry to expand into to the living room will get a boost next week as they show off technologies that try to balance Hollywood's piracy fears with the appeal of digital media.


'The Sims 2' Draws Users Way In I didn't plan the party right: By the time it was underway, I had to get to work. That's when the breakfast I left on the stove caught fire and the guests fled. No one bothered to call the fire department. When I got home at 6 p.m., my kitchen was a pile of ash.


Shy flower causes stink in Sydney \A plant whose bloom produces an incredible smell has finally flowered in Sydney.


Report on Day Care Death Finds Flaws in System New York's Health Department called its oversight of day care centers a bureaucratic maze riddled with problems that spell potential dangers for children.


Bush, Kerry Set for 'Town Hall' Debate ST. LOUIS - Democratic candidate John Kerry will likely try to shed any appearance of aloofness and President Bush will probably avoid the grimacing that marked their previous face-to-face encounter when they answer questions from undecided voters Friday night...


Blasts at Egypt Resort Kill at Least 27 TABA, Egypt - A string of bombs hit resorts popular with Israelis in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, collapsing a 10-story wing of a luxury hotel and sending thousands of terrified people streaming back into Israel on Friday. At least 27 people were killed, and the death toll appeared likely to rise as rescuers searched through the rubble...


Kenyan Environmentalist Wins Peace Prize OSLO, Norway - Kenyan environmental activist Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her work as leader of the Green Belt Movement, which has sought to empower women, improve the environment and fight corruption in Africa for almost 30 years.    Maathai, Kenya's deputy environment minister, is the first African woman to win the prize, first awarded in 1901...


John Kerry Takes Lead Over Bush in AP Poll Democrat John Kerry has taken a slight lead over President Bush, according to an Associated Press poll that found him gaining ground with women, boosting his overall popularity and cutting into the president's advantage on national security.


Kenyan  Wins Nobel Peace Prize Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan firebrand who mobilized the women of Africa in a powerful crusade against deforestation called the "Green Belt Movement," will receive the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004.


Blast at Egyptian Resort Kills at Least 20 A massive explosion tore off the front of a seaside hotel in the Egyptian resort of Taba late Thursday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 100 in what appeared to be a terrorist attack aimed at Israeli tourists, officials said.


Indonesian Embassy Bomb Wounds at Least 9 A package filled with explosives blew up outside the Indonesian Embassy in Paris on Friday, slightly wounding nine people in the first terror attack in the French capital in years. The motive was not clear.


UPDATE 1-SEC steps up probe of Krispy Kreme US securities regulators have ratcheted up their probe of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , looking at how it repurchased some of its doughnut franchises, the company said on Friday.


Stock market signals positive on GE profit report, job news, oil <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Early stock market indicators turned positive Friday as oil-price pressure eased, General Electric posted robust earnings and Canada reported employment growth.


Computer Associates intros usage-based pricing Computer Associates (CA) has introduced a usage-based pricing and licensing model for its mainframe management products. The model bases licensing costs on measured system usage rather than total potential


Manchester United condemn takeover protest Manchester United have condemned the disruption of a reserve team match on Thursday by protestors opposed to the potential takeover of the club by American businessman Malcolm Glazer.


Zidane - enjoying new found freedom (Getty Images) Former France playmaker Zinedine Zidane has been making the most of his new-found freedom since retiring from international football.


Chill deepens for Clemsons year Clemson football coaches spent the off-season down-playing the unexpected departures of Donnell Washington and Derrick Hamilton, a couple of playmakers who bolted to the pros after their junior seasons.


Twins intimidated by Yanks? No way (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - Too tired to take batting practice, the bleary-eyed Minnesota Twins milled around the Metrodome just hours after another postseason rally by the New York Yankees evened their American League Division Series at one game each.


Israel accuses al-Qaida of masterminding Sinai blasts Israel said Friday that the chain of blasts targeting Israeli tourists in Egypt #39;s Red Sea resorts which left some 150 people killed or injured bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida terror network.


Access to Tom Ridge or bust Another cyberczar has resigned, and CNET News.com's Charles Cooper wonders why nobody in government seems particularly concerned.


Siemens adds Flash-OFDM to broadband wireless family German engineering and manufacturing giant Siemens AG is adding another broadband technology to its growing portfolio of new high-speed wireless systems slated for delivery early next year.


NFL Wrap: Manning Tosses Three TDs as Colts Win (Reuters) Reuters - Peyton Manning threw three touchdown\passes to move closer to the all-time season record as the\Indianapolis Colts routed the visiting Tennessee Titans 51-24\Sunday.


SANS unveils Top 20 security vulnerabilities IT security and research organization The SANS Institute is set to release its annual Top 20 list of Internet security vulnerabilities on Friday, with the intention of offering organizations at least a starting point for addressing critical issues.


Update: AMD's Q3 led by strong Opteron, Athlon 64 sales As expected, Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s (AMD's) third-quarter revenue came in a little under the company's earlier predictions, but strong increases in sales of its 64-bit desktop and server processors led to the company's fourth straight profitable quarter.


Job Growth Weaker Than Expected  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. businesses added 96,000 jobs to  payrolls in September, the government reported on Friday, a  weaker-than-expected total that was expected to sharpen a  presidential debate later in the day over the economy's  direction.


Oil Near Highs, Nigeria Threat Eases  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held near record highs on  Friday even though oil unions in OPEC member Nigeria said a  two-day wildcat strike would pass without any impact on  exports.


Before the Bell: CMS, Krispy Kreme Fall  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of CMS Energy Corp. CMS.N  fell before the bell on Friday after it priced a public  offering of 28.5 million shares at \$9.10 per share.


Johnson Controls Sees Revenue, Earns Up    CHICAGO (Reuters) - Auto parts supplier Johnson Controls  Inc. JCI.N said on Friday that it expects higher sales and  earnings in fiscal 2005, driven by strength in both its  automotive group and controls businesses.


Citigroup Hits Back at Parmalat  MILAN (Reuters) - Citigroup on Friday launched a legal  challenge against Parmalat's restructuring plan, hitting back  after the bankrupt food group took the world's biggest bank to  court and rejected its claims for credit repayment.


Nintendo Unveils Lineup for New DS Handheld By MATT SLAGLE     (AP) -- Madden NFL 2005 and Spider-Man 2 are among the dozen video games Nintendo Co. says it plans to offer for is new DS handheld system within a month of the product's November launch...


Microsoft Looks to Expand Windows Brand at Home Efforts by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and the PC industry to expand into to the living room will get a boost next week as they show off technologies that try to balance Hollywood's piracy fears with the appeal of digital media.


Kodak and Sun Microsystems Settle Java Suit By BEN DOBBIN    ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Eastman Kodak Co...


Chinese Government to Institute Online Ratings Systems By ELAINE KURTENBACH     SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- China plans ratings systems for online games, books and movies to protect children from violence and sexual content in the nation's latest effort to tighten controls on various media, reports said Friday.    The system for censoring online games will be introduced by the end of October and will come ahead of "any similar actions on books and movies," the state-run newspaper Shanghai Daily said, citing officials attending a conference in Shanghai...


Political Spotlight Is on Jobs Report U.S. employers probably increased their hiring slightly in September, economists said in advance of jobs figures being released this morning.


General Electric Posts Higher 3rd-Quarter Profit The results matched the consensus estimate of 38 cents per share with health care and transportation among the businesses with a jump in orders.


Crude Oil Retreats From \$53 Threshold Oil retreated in Asian trade today, but players in the market remained edgy about tight supplies heading into North America's winter heating season.


Kings Beat Celtics for 4th Straight Win (AP) AP - Peja Stojakovic had 27 points, including six 3-pointers, to help the Sacramento Kings win their fourth straight game, 119-105 over the Boston Celtics Sunday night.


Krispy Kreme Says S.E.C. Steps Up Its Probe Krispy Kreme Doughnuts today said it has been informed by the S.E.C. that the agency's investigation of the company has become a formal probe.


EU blasts US pullout from air subsidy deal BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Commission condemned Friday a unilateral US decision to terminate a 1992 accord on trans-Atlantic air subsidies, saying the move was invalid and therefore the deal remained in force.


AT amp;T to cut about 7,000 jobs ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in August kept Wired  amp; Wireless on top for the 18th month in a row. AT amp;T will cut about 7,000 jobs and reduce the value of its assets by \$11.


Krispy Kreme SEC probe widens Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said Friday it has been informed by the Securities and Exchange Commission that the agency #39;s investigation of the company has become a formal probe.


Standard Chartered wins bid for Permata Standard Chartered has won a controlling stake in Indonesia #39;s seventh-largest bank with a bid of \$305 million (170 million pounds), gaining


Sun and Kodak settle Java case Sun Microsystems has entered into a formal agreement with the Eastman Kodak Company to settle all claims in pending litigation regarding a software architecture based on the Java computer language.


Europe cracks down on downloaders THE international record industry has escalated its fight against music piracy, announcing it will file hundreds of lawsuits across Europe against individuals and groups accused of illegally sharing music via the internet.


Mars Rovers Probing Water History At Two Sites NASA #39;s Spirit and Opportunity have been exploring Mars about three times as long as originally scheduled. The more they look, the more evidence of past liquid water on Mars these robots discover.


Hewitt into Japan Open semis World number three Lleyton Hewitt has booked his place in the semi-final of the Japan Open with a straight sets win over Frenchman Cyril Saulnier.


Midland #39; team to race in 2006 - official  #39;Midland F1 #39; will put two Dallara-built cars on the Formula One grid in 2006, it was announced on Friday. Official website F1.


Rossi on provisional front row auloises Fortuna Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi rode his Yamaha YZR-M1 to third place in today #39;s provisional qualifying order at Sepang.


Vogts backs depleted side Scotland manager Berti Vogts believes he will still be able to field a strong team against Norway, despite a series of call-offs due to injury or illness.


Cambodia #39;s king abdicates as new political crisis looms Cambodia #39;s King Norodom Sihanouk announced his abdication while in self-imposed exile in Beijing, plunging the country Thursday into renewed political turmoil.


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


4,500 to be let go nationwide Bank of America Corp. has said it #39;s bringing more jobs to the New York area. But first, some existing employees apparently will be tossed overboard.


GE 3rd-Quarter Net Rises as Immelt Spurs Sales Growth (Update2) General Electric Co., the world #39;s largest company by market value, said third-quarter profit rose 11 percent as acquisitions and economic growth spurred the biggest quarterly sales increase in four years.


Word open to exploit An unpatched security vulnerability in popular older versions of Microsoft Word poses a severe threat to users, security reporting firm Secunia warned yesterday.


WOODGATE INJURY WOE FOR REAL Real Madrid #39;s doctor Alfonso del Corral claims he warned the club they were taking a risk in signing Jonathan Woodgate and has not ruled out the possibility of an operation to cure the defender #39;s long-standing thigh problem.


Tamada lays Malay marker Makoto Tamada beat Sete Gibernau and and Valentino Rossi to provisional pole for Sunday #39;s Malaysian Grand Prix. The Japanese star, who won the Rio GP in July and the Japan GP last month, clocked two minutes 2.394 seconds on his Honda at Sepang on Friday.


FA to launch EPO test The Football Association is to introduce a test for the banned drug erthropoietin (EPO) in response to drug claims by Arsenal #39;s Arsene Wenger.


UK Seeking to Corroborate Reports of Hostage Bigley #39;s Death UK government officials said they were seeking to corroborate reports by Abu Dhabi television that British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been killed.


PM downplays Weisglass remarks on road map freeze Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s office insisted Thursday that the diplomatic furor caused by senior adviser Dov Weisglass #39;s comments, that the disengagement plan was designed to freeze the road map peace process, is over.


Dell to Recall 990,000 Laptop Power Adapters--CPSC (Reuters) Reuters - Dell Inc.  will recall about\990,000 power adapters for some of its laptop computer models\because of a risk of overheating which could lead to a fire or\electrical shock, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission\said on Friday.


September Job Growth Weaker Than Expected  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. businesses added 96,000 jobs to  payrolls in September, the government reported on Friday, a  weaker-than-expected total that was expected to sharpen a  presidential debate later in the day over the economy's  direction.


Krispy Kreme Stock Tumbles Amid Probe  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators have  ratcheted up their probe of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.  KKD.N, looking at its franchise repurchases, the company said  on Friday, triggering a slide of nearly 12 percent in its stock  before the bell.


Martha Stewart Reports to Prison  ALDERSON, W.Va. (Reuters) - Trendsetter Martha Stewart  reported to a minimum-security prison known as "Camp Cupcake"  on Friday to serve a five-month sentence for a suspicious sale  of stock, U.S. prison officials said.


Stocks Set to Open Lower After Jobs Data  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were set to open lower on  Friday after a government report showed weaker-than-expected  job growth in September.


US jobs growth slows in September The US created 96,000 jobs in September, a slowdown from the previous month, in the last major figures before November's election.


Martha Stewart starts prison term US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart begins a five-month prison term for lying about her investments.


Dell to Recall 990,000 Laptop Power Adapters--CPSC  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dell Inc. DELL.O will recall about  990,000 power adapters for some of its laptop computer models  because of a risk of overheating which could lead to a fire or  electrical shock, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  said on Friday.


Thousands Rush Home After Egypt Bombings (AP) AP - Thousands of frightened Israeli tourists rushed back home Friday from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula after car bombs ripped through two Egyptian beach resorts crowded with Israeli visitors.


British, US officials meet on flu vaccine  LONDON -- Stunned US health officials met with British regulators yesterday to discuss the suspension of flu vaccine production that has slashed supplies across the United States and planned to inspect the British factory to see whether any impounded vaccine could be salvaged.


Oil sways amid labor strife, attacks Crude near \$53 a barrel level as Nigeria and Norway set strikes, bombings in Egypt, Paris. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Oil prices see-sawed Friday, getting closer to the \$53 a barrel level, as labor strife in Nigeria


UPDATE 2-Citigroup hits back at Parmalat with court move Citigroup (CN: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday launched a legal challenge against Parmalat #39;s restructuring plan, hitting back after the bankrupt food group


UPDATE: Singapore ST Engineering 3Q Net 17 To S\$102.1M SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. (S63.SG) reported a 17 rise in third-quarter net profit Friday because of stronger earnings from its ship-repair and shipbuilding activities.


Take part in the Great NME Downloading Debate The BRITISH PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY (BPI) announced yesterday (October 7) that they are taking legal action against 28 UK file sharers, kicking off a rolling programme of legal action against  quot;major uploaders quot; - and NME wants to know what you think about


Martha Stewart Reports to Prison in W. Va. ALDERSON, W.Va. - Martha Stewart reported to prison early Friday to begin serving a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale, the federal Bureau of Prisons said...


Japanese F1 Grand Prix qualifying postponed by typhoon Typhoon  quot;Ma-on quot; has forced the qualifying for Sunday #39;s Japanese Formula One Grand Prix to be rescheduled, F1 officials said Friday.


FA to test for EPO The Football Association announced today they will introduce a test for the banned drug erythropoietin (EPO)  #39;in the near future #39;.


Frazar among leaders at Michelin tourney Harrison Frazar (above) shot a bogey-free 64 to take his place among a crowded group at the top of the leader board with an 8 under at the PGA Michelin Championship in Las Vegas.


British Hostage Beheaded in Iraq, Insurgents Say British hostage Ken Bigley was beheaded near Baghdad on Thursday afternoon, insurgent sources in the rebel-held town of Falluja said on Friday.


Artist Barney Looks to Brazilian Gods in New Film

 By Fernanda Ezabella

 SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Matthew Barney haschoreographed dancing girls, filmed a demolition derby insidethe Chrysler Building and dressed up like Harry Houdini all inthe name of art.


Sharapova Eases Through to Second Consecutive Final  TOKYO (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova  reached her second consecutive final with a 6-2, 6-3 victory  over Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn at the Japan Open Friday.


AT T, Covad close in on WiMax Both companies plan to start offering the super-speedy, cost-effective wireless technology as soon as possible.


Suzuka : Saturday cancelled! Typhoon Ma-on is due to hit Suzuka in the next few hours and the race organisers have decided to cancel Saturdays two free practice sessions and qualifying as a result. What a weekend


Microsoft, Sun, Intel push IT management via Web services Microsoft and Sun Microsystems on Thursday are publishing a specification to leverage Web services for managing a broad range of IT systems including PCs and devices on a network.


Dell recalls laptop power supplies Dell Inc. is recalling some of the one million electrical adapters manufactured in China by Delta Electronics Inc. of Taipei and sold for use with Dell notebook computers, following seven reports of the adapters overheating. The adapters pose a risk of fire or electrical shock, according to Dell.


September Job Growth Weaker Than Expected (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. businesses added 96,000 jobs to\payrolls in September, the government reported on Friday, a\weaker-than-expected total that was expected to sharpen a\presidential debate later in the day over the economy's\direction.


Martha Stewart Reports to Prison (Reuters) Reuters - Trendsetter Martha Stewart\reported to a minimum-security prison known as "Camp Cupcake"\on Friday to serve a five-month sentence for a suspicious sale\of stock, U.S. prison officials said.


U.S. Stocks Open Lower After Jobs Data  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell at the market open on  Friday after a government report showed weaker-than-expected  job growth in September, a sign the  economy may not be as  strong as Wall Street had estimated.


J J: Cancer Risk in Arthritis Drug  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johnson   Johnson will send a letter  to doctors next Monday warning them that patients taking its  rheumatoid arthritis drug Remicade may have a higher risk of  lymphoma, a blood cancer, than those not taking the drug, the  company said on Friday.


Getting Into Google Book Search - Google Print Getting Into Google Book Search - Google Print\\Google Print, Google Print, Argh Argh Argh! Since I got back from Web Search University I have been buried in sites and resources to review. I despair of catching up. And they keep piling on, as evidenced by the launch of Google Print. ...


GMail Notifier Enhanced GMail Notifier Enhanced\\Google enhanced their GMail Notifier client some days back. Unfortunately, the client did not auto-upgrade as I had originally expected it to. So, I installed the new version manually. It is a minor update with few feature enhancements, thus a minor update in the version number with no ...


Martha Stewart Reports to Prison to Begin Sentence Trendsetter Martha Stewart reported to a minimum-security prison known as  quot;Camp Cupcake quot; on Friday to serve a five-month sentence for a suspicious sale of stock, US prison officials said.


EU Says US Can #39;t Cancel Pact on Boeing, Airbus Aid (Update2) The European Union rejected the unilateral termination #39; #39; by the US of a 1992 accord that sets limits on government subsidies for Boeing Co.


Oracle again extends PeopleSoft offer Oracle has again extended its \$7.7 billion cash offer for PeopleSoft by two weeks. Shareholders now have until Oct. 22 to tender their shares, Oracle said Thursday.


UPDATE 2-INSTANT VIEW-Stocks-US September job growth lags The following are comments from stock market analysts and strategists about the US Labor Department #39;s report that US nonfarm payrolls expanded by a less-than-expected 96,000 in September.


Getting Into Google Book Search - Google Print Google Print, Google Print, Argh Argh Argh! Since I got back from Web Search University I have been buried in sites and resources to review.


House passes second spyware bill The US House of Representatives passed a second spyware bill on Thursday adding more teeth to a previously passed spyware bill that included fines for offenders.


Hostage timetable Thursday, Sept 16: Kenneth Bigley and two Americans - Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong - are seized by militants in a dawn raid in the wealthy Al-Mansour district of Baghdad.


9 hurt in blast at Indonesian Embassy PARIS -- An explosion struck the Indonesian Embassy in Paris today, slightly injuring nine people, a French radio station reported.


Dell to Recall 990,000 Laptop Power Adapters Dell Inc. will recall about 990,000 power adapters for some of its laptop computer models because of a risk of overheating, which could lead to a fire or electrical shock, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Friday.


Unemployment rate dropped slightly last month to 7.1 per cent <b>...</b> OTTAWA (CP) - The economy created another 43,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate down to 7.1 per cent from 7.2 per cent in August, Statistics Canada said Friday.


Sun, Kodak settle Java lawsuit Sun Microsystems Inc. has agreed to pay US\$92 million to settle a software patent lawsuit brought against it by Eastman Kodak Co., Sun announced Thursday.


UK Music Industry Sues 28 Song-Swappers The British music industry is to sue 28 internet users it says are illegally swapping music online. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) says it is targeting  quot;major uploaders quot; - those who make music available to share free with others.


Rumors of Next Generation of Ipods xyankee writes  quot;Apple is on the verge of releasing a 60GB iPod that will not only hold a ton of music, but also sport photo-viewing capabilities!


Sven Ponders Three-Pronged Attack Sven-Goran Eriksson today admitted he is considering deploying a three-man attack against Wales in tomorrows World Cup qualifier.


MOTOGP NEWS Moody Blues: Rossi, Gibernau and Formula One. In the latest of his exclusive columns for Crash.net, renowned Eurosport MotoGP commentator Toby Moody provides the latest behind the scenes news from Sepang, analyses the Valentino Rossi/Sete Gibernau championship battle and ponders just how committed


Kenyan Nobel Prize winner pledges to continue planting  quot;seeds of <b>...</b> Kenya #39;s environmentalist Wangari Maathai said Friday that she feels  quot;very excited quot; to win the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and pledges to continue to plant the seeds of peace with her fellow Kenyans.


J J: Arthritis Drug Has Blood Cancer Risk (Reuters) Reuters - Johnson   Johnson  is warning\doctors that patients taking its rheumatoid arthritis drug\Remicade may have a higher risk of lymphoma, a blood cancer,\the company said on Friday.


Follow-on shy Aussies lead India by 355 runs (AFP) AFP - Hosts India braced themselves for a harrowing chase on a wearing wicket in the first Test after Australia declined to enforce the follow-on here.


Wholesale Inventories Up 0.9 Pct in Aug  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Inventories at U.S. wholesalers rose  0.9 percent in August, in line with expectations, as stocks of  autos, metals and computer equipment swelled, a government  report showed on Friday.


Oil Holds Near \$53 High  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held near record highs on  Friday even though oil unions in OPEC member Nigeria said a  two-day wildcat strike would pass without any impact on  exports.


SEC Opens Krispy Kreme Investigation The Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into Krispy Kreme, the company announced Friday.


Yukos escapes oil licence recall The Russian government delays a decision on whether to revoke Yukos' Siberian oil licences by three months.


The Fool's Look Ahead Forget the bulls. Ignore the bears. The week ahead was made for wolves, hogs, and forgetful elephants.


You Can Buy a Seat, but Can You Fit in It? Unlike major movie chains, many Broadway theaters have lagged behind (pun intended) when it comes to the most basic of audience amenities: their seats.


Focus! Focus! Focus! Diversification is usually a road to mediocrity for small companies. The truly great ones stay focused.


Martha Stewart Reports to Prison in W.Va. ALDERSON, W.Va. - Martha Stewart reported to prison early Friday to begin serving a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale, the federal Bureau of Prisons said...


Economy, Terror Frame Bush-Kerry Debate ST. LOUIS - A lackluster unemployment report, troubling terrorism developments and fresh questions about President Bush's rationale for invading Iraq frame the second face-to-face encounter Friday night between Bush and John Kerry...


Ellis hopes for strong finish to 2004 A year ago, Danny Ellis was preparing for a trip to the PGA TOUR qualifying school. He played well there, too, finishing second, but his 2004 season on TOUR hasnt been as prosperous as he would like.


Germany #39;s Greens applauds Nobel choice BERLIN - The German government, in which pro-environment Greens share power, applauded the choice Friday of Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai as this year #39;s Nobel Peace Prize winner.


Dell to Recall 990,000 Laptop Power Adapters  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dell Inc. will recall about 990,000  power adapters for some of its laptop computer models because  of a risk of overheating, which could lead to a fire or  electrical shock, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  said on Friday.


Google Books It to the Finish Line Google is already viewed by many as the king of search engines, but the newly public company is continuing to launch new services like "Google Print" to keep its crown safe from close competitors. -washingtonpost.com


Anniversary launch for 'nanosats' \Fifty mini-satellites are to be sent into space in 2007 to celebrate the launch of the first ever satellite Sputnik 1.