China Asks Canada to Hand Over Intruders (AP) AP - China urged the Canadian Embassy on Thursday to hand over 44 possible North Korean asylum-seekers, while officials said nine North Koreans who entered an American school in Shanghai had been handed over to Chinese police.


Australia's Westfield, Multiplex in battle over Chelsfield (AFP) AFP - Australian property giant Westfield Group announced a 585 million pound bid to acquire British shopping center operator Chelsfield, a move seen as likely to spark a bidding war with rival Multiplex.


Israeli Soldier, Woman Jogger Killed in Gaza Ambushes  GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli  soldier and a woman jogger in Gaza on Thursday as the army  intensified an offensive to root out militants behind a rocket  attack that killed two Israeli children in a border town.


Car Bomb in Iraq Kills Two, Wounds 60 BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide attacker exploded a car bomb Thursday outside the mayor's office in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad, killing at least two people and wounding 60, including at four U.S. soldiers, Iraqi and coalition officials said...


Grows UK customer base while seeing more churn LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Mobile operator Mmo2 on Thursday said it was lifting its service revenue forecast in Britain after a strong first half.


Steelers' Polamalu Repects Carson Palmer (AP) AP - Steelers safety Troy Polamalu won't say if Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer owes him money from some unpaid dinner bill of long ago. Or if he left his unwashed socks in the middle of the floor, or snored so loudly it kept others awake.


Bryant say O'Neal paid women hush money to keep silent (AFP) AFP - Shaquille O'Neal paid various women hush money to keep quiet about sexual encounters, Kobe Bryant told law enforcement officers in Eagle, Colorado.


French Soldier Surrenders After Threat (AP) AP - A French soldier who locked himself in an explosives depot and threatened to blow it up surrendered Monday, ending a three-day standoff, the Interior Ministry said.


Woods goes for three straight _ if he gets to the first tee THOMASTOWN, Ireland -- Tiger Woods realizes the only way he can reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Vijay Singh is to win golf tournaments.


Vols Impressed With Freshman Quarterback (AP) AP - There is no quarterback controversy at Tennessee. The Volunteers have a competition. No. 10 Tennessee has been touting its rotation of two freshmen as a way to keep defenses off balance and busy preparing for quarterbacks with different styles.


Tiger's Back an Issue at American Express (AP) AP - Tiger Woods felt stiffness in his back after seven holes Wednesday and decided to call it a day, not wanting to aggravate the week-old injury and not entirely certain he would be able to defend his title in the American Express Championship. The way his year has gone, that's just his luck.


Bad case of shakes As long as the last ember flickered in their fading bonfire of opportunity, the Red Sox planned to keep hope alive. As long as they clung to a faint chance of catching the Yankees for the American League East title, they vowed to play as if they could achieve the unfathomable.


Rockies' rally slows LA's drive Jeromy Burnitz's RBI single with one out in the ninth inning sparked a three-run rally, and the Colorado Rockies beat host Los Angeles, 4-1, last night to slow the Dodgers' drive to their first playoff berth in eight years.


NL notables Houston's Roger Clemens (18-4) isn't scheduled to make another start before the end of the regular season, but has suggested he'd like to pitch in the regular-season finale against Colorado Sunday.


McNair sits, but hope stands The Tennessee Titans have a simple rule: If Steve McNair feels he can play injured, discussion over.


Watson placed on IR Tight end Benjamin Watson's season was doomed from the outset. Not only did Watson hold out of training camp and part ways with agent Tom Condon , who wanted him to hold firm on his wish for a five-year rookie contract rather than the six-year deal he ultimately signed, but now Watson's season is over after the team ...


Sales, Sun surge ahead The Connecticut Sun had an off game last Saturday, when they dropped the opener of their WNBA Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Washington Mystics. But the Sun came back to even the series Monday, and it was the Mystics who had the off game.


Waltham grad takes Bentley by storm Mackenzy Bernadeau, last season's football captain and team MVP at Waltham High School, is now a freshman at Bentley College, in his hometown.


Callaghan back on Tufts soccer field After missing the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, Northborough's Sarah Callaghan has returned to the Tufts University women's soccer team.


Tonight on TV PITTSBURGH (2-1) VS. UCONN (3-1) When and where: Tonight, 7 p.m., East Hartford. TV: ESPN2. Last season: Did not meet. Comments: Walt Harris and his Pittsburgh Panthers will be looking to win their third straight Big East opener. Pittsburgh needed to rally to get past Division 1-AA Furman last week in overtime, 41-38. Tonight, the Panthers will have to contend ...


They really do drive for show Theirs is a golfing world without bunkers and hazards, sloping greens and Sunday pins. Only one thing matters to the professional long driver, and it's measured in yards, not strokes.


Stars won't leave home for it Purses overflowing with cash, exotic locales, manicured golf courses. The World Golf Championships have it all. Except for totally committed players, that is.


Numbers point to NY NEW YORK - The New York Yankees can achieve two milestones with one more victory: clinching their seventh straight AL East title and reaching 100 wins in three straight seasons for the first time.


Transactions BASEBALL MLB: Announced Washington as its choice for the relocation of the Montreal Expos. Arizona (NL): Signed LHP Jeff Fassero. Baltimore (AL): Will not renew contract of director of minor league operations Doc Rodgers.


The post-race analysis: Chinese Grand Prix Overall results in China last weekend were disappointing, but Fernandos fourth place finish was an extremely impressive drive in a tricky car.


Justice Dept. Opens Fannie Criminal Probe (Reuters) Reuters - The Justice Department has opened an\investigation of possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, the\Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, after a federal\regulator said the mortgage giant may have manipulated its\earnings targets.


Wall Street to Edge Up as Oil Price Slips (Reuters) Reuters - Wall Street was expected to edge higher\at Thursday's opening as oil prices receded from record highs,\easing fears spiraling costs will crimp firms' profits.


Justice Dept. Opens Fannie Criminal Probe  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Justice Department has opened an  investigation of possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, the  Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, after a federal  regulator said the mortgage giant may have manipulated its  earnings targets.


Wall Street to Edge Up as Oil Price Slips  LONDON (Reuters) - Wall Street was expected to edge higher  at Thursday's opening as oil prices receded from record highs,  easing fears spiraling costs will crimp firms' profits.


Conoco Launches Tender to Up LUKOIL Stake  MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. oil major ConocoPhillips launched a  \$628 million two-day tender to boost its stake in new Russian  strategic partner LUKOIL to 10 percent, the U.S. firm said on  Thursday.


Giant insurer under investigation AIG, the world's largest insurer,  is the target of a criminal investigation, accused of helping a client commit fraud.


Bandwidth Glut Lives On Nearly four years have passed since the peak of the fiber-optic boom, but overcapacity continues to plague carriers, and prices for bandwidth continue to fall. By Joanna Glasner.


ConocoPhillips Annoucnes Tender to Buy 2.4 of Lukoil Shares US oil company ConocoPhillips announced on Thursday, September 30, a tender for the purchase of 20.418 million shares of Russian oil major Lukoil , which amounts to 2.4 percent of the Russian companys charter capital.


Update 14: Martha Stewart Assigned to W.Va. Prison There are no gates or fences, and most days anyone can drive straight to the warden #39;s home at the Federal Correctional Institute here.


Philippines to weather high oil prices, volatile peso, but not <b>...</b> MANILA : Economic growth prospects in the Philippines this year remain on track despite rising oil prices and a volatile peso as long as the government fixes its fiscal woes, President Gloria Arroyo has said.


Update 3: Tokyo Stocks Close Higher, Dollar Up Tokyo stocks rebounded on Thursday from a nine-day drop on receding concerns about high oil prices. The dollar was lower against the Japanese yen.


Giant insurer under investigation The world #39;s largest insurer by market value is the target of a criminal investigation by the US Justice Department. American International (AIG) is accused of helping a banking client commit fraud and keep


UPDATE: Australia #39;s Westfield Bids For UK #39;s Chelsfield SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--The world #39;s largest owner of shopping malls, Australia #39;s Westfield Group (WDC.AU), bid GBP585 million for Chelsfield PLC (CLF.


In a national park, the call of the wild: Is it cellular? As he hiked up a steep trail winding into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a few days ago, Don Barger reached into his pack, pulled out his cell phone - and turned it off.


DVD Forum finalises HD DVD-RW disc spec The DVD Forum moved a step further toward the advent of HD DVD media and drives with the approval of key physical specifications at a meeting of the organisations steering committee last week.


Microsoft Adds More Intelligence To SQL Server Microsoft has added new business intelligence (BI) capabilities to SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005; according to an announcement today at the 2004 Professional Association for SQL Server community summit in Orlando, USA.


Soccer: Chelsea United the key for Mourinho LONDON : Jose Mourinho is amazed by the team spirit amongst his Chelsea stars and insists it is making them unbeatable. The Portuguese boss guided Porto to Champions League glory last season with a team that


Wenger frustrated with Arsenal Trondheim, Norway - Arsene Wenger made his frustration clear after a hesitant display against Norwegian champions Rosenborg left Arsenal with everything still to play for in their Champions League group.


Zimbabwe hearing on alleged racism scrapped The International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing on alleged racism in Zimbabwean cricket was scrapped in Harare on Thursday after the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and the players who accuse its officials of racist behaviour


Basketball: Bryant says O #39;Neal paid women hush money to keep <b>...</b> LOS ANGELES : Shaquille O #39;Neal paid various women hush money to keep quiet about sexual encounters, Kobe Bryant told law enforcement officers in Eagle, Colorado.


Perfect Barca anxious to keep feet on the ground Barcelona were keeping their feet on the ground after continuing their perfect start in Champions League Group F with a stylish 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.


New strike in Fallujah kills four, car bomb outside Baghdad kills <b>...</b> A suicide attacker exploded a car bomb Thursday west of Baghdad, killing at least one US soldier and two Iraqi policemen and wounding 60 people, Iraqi and coalition officials said.


Baghdad hit by several bomb blasts A suicide bomber has killed two Iraqi police and a US soldier after he blew up his car west of Baghdad, the US military says. An Iraqi doctor said on Thursday around 60 people were wounded.


Group says holding 10 new hostages in Iraq An Iraqi militant group says it has kidnapped 10 hostages, including two Indonesian women, who work for an electronics firm, Al Jazeera television says.


It #39;s Too Late to Sway Microsoft in EU Opinion: Microsoft #39;s global battles, such as its appeals hearing that #39;s about to start in Luxembourg, should teach regulators that they need to address the company #39;s behavior before it creates problems.


MMO2 lifts revenue target for UK Strong growth in UK customer numbers at MMO2 has enabled the mobile operator to raise its UK revenue growth forecast. In a trading update, MMO2 said it now expected UK revenue to grow by 9-12 in the year


House Price Rises Slowing Down - Survey House prices rose by just 0.2 in September as the market continued to show signs of slowing down. It follows a rise of just 0.1 during August, said the Nationwide Building Society.


Asian Shares End Mostly Lower On Worries Over Oil Prices Asian stock markets closed mostly lower Tuesday on continued worries about the surge in global oil prices. Tokyo #39;s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues slipped 43.


Low-cost  #39;Hindi Windows #39; to hit Indian desktops next year Indian PC users can expect to see a localized, stripped-down version of Microsoft #39;s XP operating system early next year. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft plans to ship the low cost version of its PC operating


Alternative fuel buses arrive in Smokies After months of planning, two alternative-fueled shuttle buses were added Tuesday to this Great Smoky Mountain tourist town #39;s transit fleet for a six-month demonstration.


Chinese students jailed for running porn sites Beijing, Sept 30. (PTI): A 22-year-old university information technology student and another college student in east China #39;s Zhejiang province have been sentenced by Chinese courts for operating pornographic


Lethal algae discovered off coast SEATTLE -- A toxic algae bloom almost 50 km wide has been detected off the northwest coast of Washington state, the largest and most potentially lethal yet found by scientists in the region.


Stiff Back Worries Woods on Eve of American Express Championship Tiger Woods felt stiffness in his back after seven holes yesterday in Thomastown, Ireland, and decided to call it a day, not wanting to aggravate the week-old injury and not entirely certain he would be able to defend his title beginning today in the


Wednesday #39;s Baseball Roundup (CP) - Troy Glaus provided the Anaheim Angels with the type of clutch hitting Oakland could have used on Wednesday night. Glaus hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning as the Angels beat the Texas Rangers 8


Doing All For Release Of Hostage: Blair London, Sept. 30 (NNN) : Britain says it is doing everything it can to secure the release in Iraq of British hostage, Kenneth Bigley.


China Asks Canada to Hand Over Intruders China urged the Canadian Embassy on Thursday to hand over 44 possible North Korean asylum-seekers, while officials said nine North Koreans who entered an American school in Shanghai had been handed over to Chinese police.


Asylum Bid Koreans Handed over to Chinese Police A group of nine North Koreans who entered the Shanghai American School in China earlier this week in an apparent bid for asylum were handed over to police, it was revealed today.


GPs get new anti-depressant rules Doctors have been issued with new guidance on the prescribing of antidepressants.


Two killed in Naples 'turf war' Two more people are killed in Italy in what officials say is a turf war between rivals within the Naples mafia.


House price growth continues to slow down House price growth continued to show signs of slowing down during September the latest figures have shown. The average cost of a home increased by 0.2 per cent during the month, following growth of only 0.1


Stocks higher on latest GDP reading, lower oil prices By George Chamberlin , Daily Transcript Financial Correspondent. Investors continued to balance their portfolios on Wednesday in advance of the end of the third quarter.


EU, Mercosur Divided at Trade Talks The European Union and Mercosur were wide apart on Wednesday in negotiations to form the world #39;s biggest free trade area despite a new EU offer to settle their differences, diplomats said.


CL: Werder Bremen beat Valencia, Inter outclass Anderlecht BREMEN/BRUSSELS, Sep 29 (SW) - Werder Bremen came back from behind to beat Spanish champions Valencia, while Internazionale were too strong for RSC Anderlecht in the Belgian capital.


UN urges quick start for Darfur force The UN special envoy to Sudan has urged African states to speed up moves to send a large force to Darfur and called on the West to back their efforts with generous logistical support.


China hints at Hong Kong involvement Reports from Hong Kong say China has indicated its intention to take a more active role in the political affairs of the territory.


Microsoft Battle With EU Moved to Court (AP) AP - Microsoft Corp.'s five-year legal battle in Europe moved into a public courtroom for the first time Thursday as the software giant tried to get the European Union's landmark antitrust ruling against it lifted.


Women May Run Faster Than Men in 2156 Games -Study (Reuters) Reuters - Women could be faster 100-meter\sprinters than men by the 2156 Olympics, according to a study\on Wednesday.


Apple to open 'borderless' Euro music store Questions company's 'one country, one store' restriction


Computers 'do not boost learning' Internet access does not make adults more likely to take part in formal education, research suggests.


Russian Government Approves Kyoto, Sends to Parliament (Reuters) Reuters - Russia's government approved the Kyoto\Protocol on Thursday and sent the climate change pact to the\State Duma, the lower house of parliament, for ratification.


Gov't will listen to hostage-takers, but not negotiate: Straw (AFP) AFP - Britain is ready to listen to the Islamic extremists who are holding Kenneth Bigley hostage in Iraq, but not to negotiate with them, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a television interview.


Ukraine Leader Rejects Election Reform Demands  KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's outgoing President  Leonid Kuchma Monday rejected reform of the country's election  laws on terms set by the opposition ahead of a re-run of the  ex-Soviet state's rigged vote later this month.


Witness says he did not see accused at Stuttle murder scene (AFP) AFP - A key witness in the trial over the murder of British backpacker Caroline Stuttle said he saw a man running from the bridge after the victim fell to her death but that man was not the accused.


Russian Government Approves Kyoto, Sends to Parliament  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's government approved the Kyoto  Protocol on Thursday and sent the climate change pact to the  State Duma, the lower house of parliament, for ratification.


Bomb Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 16 -Police  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents detonated at least two bombs  near a U.S. military convoy in southern Baghdad on Thursday,  killing at least 16 people, while a suicide bomber killed two  Iraqi police and a U.S. soldier west of the capital.


Taiwan Military Warns of China Missile Threat  TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan Defense Minister Lee Jye said on  Thursday that China could have as many as 800 ballistic  missiles poised to strike the island in an intensive  bombardment by 2006, but said Taipei had no intention of  starting a war.


At Least 3 Killed in Car Bombing Near Baghdad A car bomb exploded today west of Baghdad, killing at least one U.S. soldier and two Iraqi policemen and wounding 60 people, Iraqi and coalition officials said.


Footage Shows 10 New Hostages in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed footage Thursday of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants.    Al-Jazeera said the 10 - six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian women - were taken by The Islamic Army in Iraq...


Religious Forum in Indonesia Aims to Blunt Radicals  YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - President Susilo Bambang  Yudhoyono of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim  nation, called on all religions Monday to rise up against  terrorism and show that faith could be a force for peace.


Positions staked out in Microsoft antitrust hearing A key subplot in Microsoft Corp. #39;s European antitrust hearing will be a showdown between two Seattle-area companies staking out conflicting positions in the evolving digital-media market.


IBM Agrees to Settle Part of Giant Pension Case IBM said yesterday that it had agreed to pay \$320 million to current and former employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan in a case that may affect millions


Arroyo cheers on Philippine economy outlook Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Thursday expressed confidence in the country #39;s economy outlook and called all sectors not to be off the track in the major economic reforms.


Indians Pitcher Kyle Denney Shot (AP) AP - A Cleveland Indians pitcher was shot in the right calf when a bullet pierced the team's bus and grazed another player late Wednesday night.


Gunners misfire in Norway Arsenal could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Norwegian champions Rosenborg in the Champions League. While the Gunners have been unbeatable in the Premiership, they have struggled to make their mark in Europe and last night was another worrying evening.


RANIERI: MISSED CHANCES COST US Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri conceded his side had not been ruthless enough after seeing them slip to a 2-1 defeat to Werder Bremen in the Champions League.


PATRIOTS IN RECORD BID The New England Patriots will attempt to tie the NFL record of 18 straight wins - including play-offs - when they meet former hero Drew Bledsoe and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.


China urges Canada to hand over North Korean asylum seekers China on Thursday urged Canada to hand over 44 North Korean men, women and children, who stormed into the Canadian Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday to seek political asylum.


Thailand to Change Farming Ways to End Bird Flu Hard-hit Thailand plans a campaign to change poultry farming methods as it seeks to stamp out the deadly bird flu virus before migrating wildfowl return during the


Taiwan #39;s Formula Three If Vice President Annette Lu is the Margaret Thatcher of the feisty island of Taiwan _ unyielding, immensely quotable and never taking any intellectual prisoners _ then easygoing Chen


Russia Moves On Global Warming The Russian Cabinet on Thursday approved the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on combating global warming, clearing the way for parliament #39;s vote on the pact, which needs Russia #39;s support to take effect, the Interfax news agency reported.


Oil Prices Waver, Eye on Nigeria Supply  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil's rally wavered on Thursday, but  worries over the security of Nigerian supply supported prices  despite an easier U.S. crude inventory picture and news that  Russia's YUKOS would resume full supply to China.


Lehman in Talks to Buy UK Hedge Fund-WSJ  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investment bank Lehman Brothers  Holdings Inc. is negotiating to buy GLG Partners, a leading  British hedge fund, the Wall Street Journal reported on  Thursday, citing unnamed sources.


Bush Team Prepares Net Assault The Bush campaign is setting up an extensive war room to monitor Thursday's debate with John Kerry. The plan? Pounce on Kerry misstatements or exaggerations and send responses to thousands of partisan websites through a live feed. By Louise Witt.


Diebold Rep Now Runs Elections A former sales rep for Diebold Election Systems becomes a county election official in California. She sold the state millions of dollars worth of untested machines, which led to a scandal. Critics are asking, 'What's wrong with this picture?' By Kim Zetter.


Music Videos Tap Video Games MTV -- whose videos killed the radio star -- knows a threat when it sees one. To keep people from abandoning TV for video games, it's making music videos with popular game characters strutting their stuff to the latest tracks. By Daniel Terdiman.


Stem Cell Debate Hits Senate A committee hears testimony on the possible usefulness of stem cells and current research restrictions, but it's an argument that boils down to when human life begins. By Kristen Philipkoski.


We Know You Like Michael Bolton A proud nerd puts her prefrontal cortex on the line to discover whether she's really a closet cool cat. By Jennifer Kahn from Wired magazine.


SpaceShipOne Rolls Toward Victory Despite a spectacular series of unplanned barrel rolls, SpaceShipOne completes the first of two compulsory flights that could net its developers the \$10 million Ansari X Prize. Dan Brekke reports from Mojave, California.


MP3 Creator Warns on Format Wars The dizzying array of file formats and anti-piracy options will hobble the burgeoning digital music business, says one of the developers behind the format that sparked the download revolution.


House prices continue to slow House price growth remained subdued in September, offering further proof of a slowdown in the property market, figures showed today.


Lehman in Talks to Buy UK Hedge Fund -WSJ Investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is negotiating to buy GLG Partners, a large British hedge fund, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.


Hello Ogo : IM a-go-go In the week when rumours of the Oqo launch have been buzzing, it #39;s a bit confusing to have AT amp;T announce something called Ogo.


Apple to open  #39;borderless #39; Euro music store Apple yesterday confirmed that it will open the promised pan-European version of its iTunes Music Store in October 2004. Speaking at the Popkomm show in Germany, Apple #39;s online and apps chief, Eddie Cue, said


Linksys inks Verizon VoIP deal, intros products Cisco Systems Inc #39;s Linksys home networking division yesterday said it has made a deal with Verizon Communications to have Linksys kit used in Verizon #39;s VoiceWing voice over IP service.


Former Sun, BEA execs forge grid venture (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - Former executives from companies such as Sun Microsystems, BEA Systems, and Oracle this week are formally launching a venture called Cassatt, which is endeavoring to automate IT operations, leverage commodity hardware and software, and govern network compute cycles in a grid-like manner.


Russias LUKoil and ConocoPhillips plan joint work in Iraq Moscow, 29 September: LUKoil and ConocoPhillips are to carry out joint work in Iraq, LUKoil vice-president Leonid Fedun told journalists today immediately after the sale at auction of the state package of shares in LUKoil.


IBM claims most powerful supercomputer crown IBM has claimed that its Blue Gene/L supercomputer has edged out rival NEC #39;s Earth Simulator to become the world #39;s most powerful supercomputer.


Kmarts to be converted into some kind of Sears Sears Roebuck and Co. probably will put a new spin on the Sears name for the 56 stores it is taking over from Kmart and Wal-Mart.  quot;Sears will be in the name, but we #39;re reviewing whether the name will be something


Pickets plan to walk 2 weeks About 1,400 San Francisco hotel workers are on strike at four of the city #39;s biggest hotels after their contract negotiations stalled over differences regarding wages, health care coverage, pensions and the length of a contract.


Lehman in Talks to Buy UK Hedge Fund-WSJ Investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is negotiating to buy GLG Partners, a leading British hedge fund, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.


Disney and Pixar break off engagement The Walt Disney president, Robert Iger, has said it is  quot;unlikely quot; his studio will renew its distribution deal with the Pixar animation studio.


Former software officer indicted The former chief operating officer of a San Carlos software company has been indicted on charges of securities fraud for an alleged scheme to inflate the company #39;s revenue, authorities said Wednesday.


Skoll urges valley to create local endowment (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Former eBay President Jeff Skoll is challenging Silicon Valley to create an endowment to address local needs.


In a national park, the call of the wild: Is it cellular? (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - At least 30 national parks now sport cell phone towers or other antennas, according to a newly released partial inventory by the National Park Service. This list, the first of its kind, is evidence that phone companies are targeting America's national parks for business.


IT firm Softbank aims to enter Japan's mobile sector as 3G grows (AFP) AFP - Japanese Internet firm Softbank said it aims to enter the mobile phone industry supplying third-generation (3G) services as more customers embrace the advanced technology.


Microsoft compromises, prepares to offer player-free OS (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - Microsoft was expected to show up at a closed-door hearing before Europe's Court of First Instance in Luxembourg today to push for suspension of an order requiring the software giant to alter its flagship product.


337,500 FEET: Space ship takes victory roll After an unplanned  quot;victory roll quot; as SpaceShipOne climbed to more than 63 miles above Earth, civilian astronaut Mike Melvill glided the rocket plane to a safe landing Wednesday, putting his team in the lead to capture the \$10 million Ansari X Prize


Price at Issue With PlayStation Portable Sony Corp. #39;s PlayStation Portable, which goes on sale in Japan later this year and overseas next spring, boasts the superb image quality of its home-console counterpart.


Van Nistelrooy, Ferguson, Daum, Giggs lead the praise for hat <b>...</b> Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alex Ferguson led the praise for Wayne Rooney #39;s three-goal debut performance for Manchester United. Van Nistelrooy, who set up the first of Rooney #39;s goals in Tuesday night #39;s


Ponting ruled out of second Test as well SYDNEY, Sep 30: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was also ruled out of the second Test against India, Cricket Australia said Thursday after receiving medical advice on his injured thumb.


RedHawks fumble chance for fast start toward title Miami University head coach Terry Hoeppner hyped Wednesday night #39;s game against Marshall as a college football playoff. He had good reason, in five of the last six


Nigerian oil flows, for now The threat of violence in petroleum-rich Nigeria this week, followed by a spike in oil prices, underscored yet again that country #39;s importance and danger to companies that work there.


Blair ready to respond but not negotiate British Prime Minister Tony Blair says his Government is making every effort to secure the release of Ken Bigley, who is being held in Iraq.


PepsiCo Profit Rises on Tax Benefits (Reuters) Reuters - PepsiCo Inc. , the world's No.\2 soft drink company, said on Thursday quarterly profit rose\due to tax benefits.


Offshoring Forces Tech-Job Seekers To Shift Strategy The frenzied rhetoric about technology jobs going overseas has quieted in recent months. While doomsday predictions for the domestic tech industry have subsided, there's clearly a trend toward exporting some jobs.
-Leslie Walker


Key Part of Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional A federal judge in New York ruled that a key component of the USA Patriot Act is unconstitutional because it allows the FBI to demand information from Internet service providers without judicial oversight or public review.


A Caution on Kids, Technology Today's young people do not need the technology education they are receiving to be successful in the 21st century, and there are growing indications that the high-tech lifestyle promoted by government and business may be harmful to them, a new report scheduled for release today  concludes.


PepsiCo Profit Rises on Tax Benefits  NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N, the world's No.  2 soft drink company, said on Thursday quarterly profit rose  due to tax benefits.


Justice Dept. Opens Fannie Criminal Probe  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Justice Department has opened an  investigation of possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, The  Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, after a federal  regulator said the mortgage giant may have manipulated its  earnings targets.


Lehman in Talks to Buy UK Hedge Fund  LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investment bank Lehman Brothers  Holdings Inc. is negotiating to buy GLG Partners, a leading  British hedge fund, according to a source familiar with the  matter.


Yen Gains Reprieve as Oil Backs Off Highs  LONDON (Reuters) - The yen won respite from its recent  beating on Thursday as oil prices eased off record highs and  investors awaited data from the United States and Japan for  clues on the health of the global economy.


UK travel firms to shed 800 jobs TUI, Europe's largest travel firm, is cutting 800 jobs at its UK businesses - Thomson Holidays, Lunn Poly and Brittania Airways.


Stocks to Watch Thursday  The world's No. 2 soft drink company said on Thursday  quarterly profit rose due to tax benefits.


Fresh Del Monte Cuts 2004 Profit Forecast  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fresh Del Monte Inc. FDP.N on  Thursday cut its 2004 earnings forecast because of weak banana  prices, high fuel costs and bad weather, among other factors.


General Mills Cereals Going Whole Grain  NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Mills Inc. GIS.N, the No. 2  U.S. cereal maker behind Kellogg Co. K.N, on Thursday said  all its breakfast cereals would now be made with whole grain as  it seeks to promote healthy eating habits.


Microsoft Asks EU Court to Suspend Antitrust Ruling (Update1) Microsoft Corp., the world #39;s largest software maker, asked a European Union court to suspend an order by antitrust regulators forcing it to disclose information on the inner workings of its Windows product to competitors.


Sears to double store sites here Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co. said yesterday it will double the number of stores it operates in San Diego County by acquiring five Kmart locations and converting them to Sears units over the next 15 months.


brewing giant InBev takes control of Lion Group #39;s beer activities <b>...</b> InBev, the world #39;s largest brewer by volume, said Thursday it had acquired total control of the Chinese beer business of Malaysia Lion Group.


H amp;M turnover climbs 16 The UK was today on course to become the second largest market for clothing retailer Hennes  amp; Mauritz after turnover climbed 16 over the summer.


Planning to dump IE? Think again For many people, using a non-Microsoft browser such as Firefox is now a must for secure Web surfing--but most still keep a copy of Internet Explorer around just in case.


Killer hamster ices owner A Japanese man died after a bite from his pet hamster caused anaphylactic shock, Mainichi Shimbun reports. Ther nameless forty-something succumbed after repeated bites from the animal sensitised his immune


NASA boss reaches for stars during San Diego appearance America #39;s new vision to regain a foothold on the moon and launch humans to Mars will require revolutionary technologies and a national tolerance for risk, danger and failure, NASA #39;s chief administrator said yesterday.


Bomb Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 35, Wound 120 Insurgents detonated three car bombs near a US military convoy in southern Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 35 people and wounding around 120, many of them children, officials and doctors said.


Astros pass Cubs in wild-card race The Houston Astros pushed closer to a playoff berth, winning their club-record 15th straight home game by beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-4, last night.


As Burdens Mount, There Is Little Joy in Yankeeland N between Scott Brosius and Alex Rodriguez, the hallowed Yankee pinstripes morphed into hollowed worry lines. These days, the pensive Yankees stir inside a clubhouse with the unsettled quiet of a waiting room.


China asks Canada to hand over asylum seekers China wants Canada to hand over the 44 people, believed to be North Korean asylum seekers, who scaled the spiked fence to break into the Canadian embassy in Beijing.


Car bombings shake Baghdad A spate of car bombings rocked Baghdad on Thursday, killing more than 20 people, including a US soldier and two Iraqi police officers, according to Iraqi and US officials.


Pilots land safely despite ax attack A man with an ax injured the two pilots on a Norwegian domestic flight Wednesday before being dragged screaming from the cockpit by fellow passengers.


Thai PM declares one-month deadline for ending bird flu Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declared a war on bird flu, saying the disease must be eliminated by the end of next month, the state-run Thai News Agency reported on Thursday.


Turning over a new leaf in New York Before Pakistan #39;s President General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met last Friday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly


Arab network says ten new hostages seized in Iraq The Arab TV network Al-Jazeera is showing footage of six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian women. The Islamic Army in Iraq is claiming responsibility.


Gurkha Soldiers Win Right to British Citizenship  LONDON (Reuters) - Gurkhas, who have served with British  army for nearly 200 years, won a landmark battle on Thursday to  be able to settle in the UK and gain British citizenship.


Pitcairn Mayor 'Led Rape' on Island - Prosecutor  SYDNEY (Reuters) - The trial of seven Pitcairn Island men,  descendants of the 18th century Bounty mutineers, began  Wednesday with the mayor the first to face charges of rape and  underage sex, pool reports said.


Vietnam official's son detained The son of a high-ranking trade official in Vietnam is arrested on fraud allegations.


Russian Cabinet Approves Kyoto Protocol MOSCOW - Russia's Cabinet approved the Kyoto Protocol on global warming Thursday, clearing the way for the worldwide adoption of the document once the Russian parliament ratifies it as widely expected.    The protocol must be ratified by no fewer than 55 countries that accounted for at least 55 percent of global emissions in 1990, and Russia's participation would tip the scale...


Tribute Concert Held for Ray Charles BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - An eclectic lineup of musicians honored Ray Charles in a tribute concert, praising the late singer's rich life and his ability to transcend race and musical genres...


Dozens Killed as Violence Escalates in Iraq Insurgents escalated the violence in Iraq Thursday morning as separate bombing incidents killed dozens of people, including three American soldiers.


Universal McCann Ups Ad Spending Forecast  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Media buyer Universal McCann on Monday  raised its forecast for global advertising spending in 2005,  citing growing marketing battles in industries such as autos  and drugs, but slightly cut its outlook for U.S. ad spending.


Boots shares dip on lacklustre outlook The health and beauty retailer Boots today warned of a difficult outlook for the crucial Christmas period, sending its shares down almost 5 in early trade.


Imperial Oil moving HQ to Calgary from Toronto TORONTO - Imperial Oil is moving its corporate headquarters to Calgary from Toronto, a shift that could see up to 500 people relocated.


Alternative fuel buses arrive in Smokies GATLINBURG, Tenn. - After months of planning, two alternative-fueled shuttle buses were added Tuesday to this Great Smoky Mountain tourist town #39;s transit fleet for a six-month demonstration.


Massive Asteroid to Pass Earth Earth is about to gets its closest brush this century with a massive asteroid, a hurtling space rock astronomers say is big enough to cause global devastation if it were to collide with the planet.


HP and Hitachi offer 300GB disk drives Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and Hewlett Packard yesterday announced availability of what they claim are the industry #39;s first storage and server systems offering 300GB Fibre Channel and small computer system interface (SCSI) disk drive capacity.


Man dies after pet hamster bites him A man died from asthma after being bitten several times by his pet hamster in a city north of Tokyo, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Tuesday.


Rooney just one of Ferguson #39;s reasons to be cheerful While Wayne Rooney #39;s debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce made all the headlines, it was not the only reason for Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to be cheerful.


Baghdad blasts kills at least 16 Insurgents have detonated two bombs near a convoy of US military vehicles in southern Baghdad, killing at least 16 people, Iraqi police say.


Bomb Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 16 -Police Insurgents detonated at least two bombs near a US military convoy in southern Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 16 people, while a suicide bomber killed two Iraqi police and a US soldier west of the capital.


Pitcairn Mayor  #39;Led Rape #39; on Island - Prosecutor The trial of seven Pitcairn Island men, descendants of the 18th century Bounty mutineers, began Wednesday with the mayor the first to face charges of rape and underage sex, pool reports said.


Syria Agrees to Tighten Iraq Border US officials say Syria has agreed to tighten its border with Iraq to prevent insurgents from entering the country. The State Department says Syria agreed to coordinate with Iraqi and multinational forces.


UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women visits Sudan The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Yakin Erturk, is visiting Sudan to examine the situation of women in the conflict-ridden African country.


Attack on US convoy kills 37 in Baghdad BAGHDAD - Multiple explosions rocked a western neighbourhood of the capital as a US convoy was passing today, killing at least 37 people and wounding more than 50, hospital and military officials said.


#39;Ten hostages #39; captured in Iraq The Arabic television channel al-Jazeera has broadcast footage of what it says is a militant group claiming to have seized 10 new hostages in Iraq.


House Bill HR 10 permits sending certain suspects abroad for torture? Tucked away in Section 3032 and 3033 of H.R. 10, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act of 2004, is an "anti-terrorist" provision that was never recommended by the 9/11 Commission. Indeed, it is the very opposite of a Commission recommendation - as noted in a critical press release about the bill from Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), quoted here. The bill was introduced by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL).    This provision retroactively establishes a loophole legitimising the practice of extraditing "suspected terrorists" to another country where torture is legal or unprosecuted, for the purpose of having them tortured there.


Microsoft starts EU legal defence Microsoft begins a legal bid to have a European Commission anti-monopoly ruling temporarily suspended.


Britain becomes top data swapper More data now passes through the UK's key net hub in London than any other on the planet.


Chip Sales Rise; Inventories Seen Down  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global semiconductor sales rose 1.1  percent to \$18.2 billion in August from the previous month and  it appears as though chip inventories are declining, an  industry trade group said on Thursday.


Chip Sales Rise; Inventories Seen Down (Reuters) Reuters - Global semiconductor sales rose 1.1\percent to  #36;18.2 billion in August from the previous month and\it appears as though chip inventories are declining, an\industry trade group said on Thursday.


French unemployment rises in August (AFP) AFP - France's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent of the workforce in August from 9.8 percent in July, data from the Labour Ministry showed several.


H M Posts Improved 3Q Profits, Sales (AP) AP - Europe's largest fashion retailer, Hennes  amp; Mauritz AB, on Thursday posted better than expected third-quarter profits and said sales were up despite lowered prices and competition from rival companies, thanks in part to sales in the United States.


PepsiCo Says Profit Rises on Tax Benefits  NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N, the world's No.  2 soft drink company, said on Thursday quarterly profit rose  due to \$221 million in tax benefits and strong performances  from its key Frito-Lay snack and North American beverage  businesses.


Microsoft Asks Judge to Suspend Penalties Microsoft Corp told a judge on Thursday that the European Commission must be stopped from\ordering it to give up secret technology to competitors. -Reuters


Government IT Tom Jarrett, the new president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will discuss challenges facing state government information technology officials. Filter columnist Cynthia L. Webb will moderate the discussion.


Satan's little helper drinks Diet Coke Former MP3 impresario Michael Robertson tells CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos why "free" need not be a dirty word.


A glimpse of SpaceShipOne's historic flight Despite a literally screwy launch, the spacecraft pulls off a successful flight, leaving one more between it and \$10 million.


Global lessons in e-voting India reports success, while Venezuela fears fraud. What can the United States learn?


Will historic flight launch space tourism? Regardless, space competitions are poised to become big business.


Microsoft asks EU court to suspend remedies Microsoft Corp. asked a judge to suspend the European Commission's antitrust ruling against it on Thursday, arguing that secrets revealed now cannot be retracted.


Update: Linksys goes dual-band on Wi-Fi With its eyes on the future of home entertainment and a relatively uncluttered band of radio spectrum, Cisco Systems Inc.'s Linksys division on Wednesday unveiled a line of IEEE 802.11g/a wireless LAN products.


Russian Oil Giant Hopes ConocoPhillips Deal Will Help Iraq Project Russia #39;s top oil company, Lukoil, hopes that a US oil company #39;s acquisition of a 7.6 percent stake could boost its chances to retain a Saddam-era production-sharing


Stewart to serve time in West Virginia NEW YORKMartha Stewart will do her time for lying about a stock sale at a remote West Virginia prison camp where inmates sleep in bunk beds and rise at 6 am to do menial labour for pennies an hour.


More cold cash for gas heating US demand for natural gas this winter is expected to increase 4.4 percent from last year, and prices should be higher even though inventories will be near record levels at the start of the heating season, a industry trade group said


Boots feels the pinch from price cuts Bad weather hit sales at Boots in the first half, while margins felt the pressure from price cuts made to combat stiffening competition, Britain #39;s biggest health and beauty retailer says.


Whole-grain Lucky Charms? They #39;re for real Early morning in Otsego, Minn., is  quot;crunch time quot; at the Simonsons #39; house. Cereal starts the day for 49 percent of all Americans, and 7-year-olds Kyle and Kali Simonson and their 6-year-old sister, Kara, are no exception.


HP, Hitachi Offer 300-Gbyte Storage Platform The Hitachi Ultrastar 10K300 Fibre Channel drive will be offered in the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA), and the Ultrastar 10K300 SCSI drive will go in HP #39;s ProLiant servers and StorageWorks Modular Smart Array (MSA) family, the vendors said


Open Source gets veteran support A group of industry veterans are aiming to become the  quot;Dell of the software industry quot; by creating a company dedicated to supporting Open Source software.


Bon voyage: Expos take their leave The circle is complete. As the Expos prepare to face their uncertain future, as major league owners wrangle over the carcass, broadcaster Dave Van Horne is on hand to bear witness.


Australia #39;s Ponting Will Miss First Two Tests of India Series Australia captain Ricky Ponting was ruled out of the first two cricket Tests against India next month because of a fractured left thumb.


Cubs #39; wild-card hopes take a hit The Chicago Cubs were one strike from a key victory, but wound up with another agonizing defeat that damaged their drive to the playoffs.


Botham: Zimbabwe tour should be scrapped Ian Botham has urged the Government to step in and instruct the England cricket team to stay away from Zimbabwe this winter. The former England skipper believes the oneday series arranged for late November and early December should be scrapped.


HIPC has not lived up to expectation - UNCTAD The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2004 report on economic development in Africa has criticised the eligibility and debt sustainability criteria of the HIPC initiative, saying they are arbitrary and lacks objectivity.


Car Rams Entrance of Japanese Parliament A car rammed into the entrance gate of Japan #39;s lower house of Parliament on Thursday and burst into flames. There were no immediate reports of injuries.


Save me, Mr. Blair Chained and shackled and caged like an animal, British hostage Ken Bigley sobbed into a terrorist #39;s camera and moved America #39;s staunchest ally to say he is willing to  quot;respond quot; to the men who beheaded the captive #39;s two US colleagues.


Ten Palestinians, 3 Israelis Killed in Gaza Violence (Reuters) Reuters - Ten Palestinians and three Israelis were\killed in Gaza on Thursday as Israeli forces thrust deep into\the largest Palestinian refugee camp after a rocket attack\killed two Israeli children in a border town.


Chinese Premier Pledges Reunification with Taiwan (Reuters) Reuters - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged to\reunify the mainland with the island of Taiwan, vowing to\contain forces intent on independence for the island to ensure\the sacred goal of national unity.


Gurkha Soldiers Win Right to British Citizenship (Reuters) Reuters - Gurkhas, who have served with British\army for nearly 200 years, won a landmark battle on Thursday to\be able to settle in the UK and gain British citizenship.


Israel Plans Large-Scale Gaza Operation (AP) AP - Israel's defense minister decided Thursday to launch a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip to stop Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli border towns, an Israeli radio station reported.


BCCI says Sony to telecast Australia test series (Reuters) Reuters - India's home test series against Australia next month will be telecast on Sony television, and live pictures produced by TEN Sports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Thursday.


Microsoft: Suspend Windows Penalties  LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Microsoft asked a European Union  judge Thursday to freeze a European Commission order forcing it  to share technology with competitors, but a rival said the  software giant used to provide such information freely.


Al Qaeda Suspect Breaks Legs Fleeing in Pakistan  PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A suspected Arab member of  al Qaeda was arrested by Pakistani security forces on Thursday  after breaking his legs trying to escape a raid on his house  near the northwestern city of Peshawar.


'Tomato treatment' slows cancer An artificial version of the pigment that gives tomatoes their colouring could help treat prostate cancer, say researchers.


Coming Soon: "Good" Jupiters Most of the extrasolar planets discovered to date are gas giants like Jupiter, but their orbits are either much closer to their parent stars or are highly eccentric. Planet hunters are on the verge of confirming the discovery of Jupiter-size planets with Jupiter-like orbits. Solar systems that contain these "good" Jupiters may harbor habitable Earth-like planets as well.


Tax benefit lifts Pepsi profit 35 percent PURCHASE, NY -- PepsiCo Inc. #39;s net income rose 35 percent in its latest quarter from a year ago, helped by growth in beverage and snack volume, as well as a tax benefit.


H amp;M posts improved 3Q profits, sales Europe #39;s largest fashion retailer, Hennes  amp; Mauritz AB, on Thursday posted better than expected third-quarter profits and said sales were up despite lowered prices and competition


Stock market indicators turn positive as world oil prices retreat TORONTO (CP) - With oil prices receding, North American stock markets seem poised to advance Thursday, the last day of the financial third quarter for many corporations.


Slight Rise in Prices House prices rose by 0.2 per cent in September but the market remains subdued, says the Nationwide... September #39;s rise follows August #39;s modest 0.1 per cent increase, but annual house price inflation over the


Nigeria concerns support oil prices Oil prices held steady Thursday, with worries over the security of Nigerian supplies lending support despite an unexpected expansion in US crude inventories.


KU grad #39;s team nears \$10 million rocket prize Mojave, Calif. - A team of pilots and aerospace engineers on Wednesday took the first step toward a \$10 million prize by sending its rocket plane 64 miles above the Mojave Desert.


Integration champion enters open-source lists A new start-up offering certification, testing and distribution of existing open-source software could become the Dell of the software industry.


Henin-Hardenne Pulls Out of Tournament (AP) AP - Olympic champion Justine Henin-Hardenne pulled out of next week's Porsche Grand Prix in Germany because she is still ill from a virus which sidelined her earlier this year.


Indians Pitcher Shot _ A pitcher for the Cleveland Indians is hospitalized in Kansas City after being shot in the leg on the team bus after last night #39;s game.


NL Wrap: Astros Take Lead in Wild Card Race  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mark Loretta hit a bases-loaded  sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th to lift the San Diego  Padres a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in National  League action on Wednesday.


Wounded Pilots Land Norway Plane After Axe Attack An Algerian-born man attacked two pilots and a passenger with an axe on a domestic Norwegian flight on Wednesday in an unexplained assault that police said could be linked to his asylum status.


Typhoon Meari leaves 16 dead, 12 missing Typhoon Meari swept across Japan Thursday, leaving 16 people dead and 12 missing in the country #39;s worst storm of the year. Casualties were especially high in four prefectures


EU welcomes Russian approval of Kyoto treaty The European Commission welcomed Thursday the approval by Russia #39;s cabinet of the Kyoto Protocol Thursday, saying it is confident that it will be ratifed  quot;in the coming weeks.


EDITORIAL: Military talks on Siachen The Indian defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee, has revealed that Indian and Pakistani military experts may soon discuss the Siachen issue.


Consumption Flat, Durable Spending Sinks (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. consumer spending was\unexpectedly flat in August, government data showed on\Thursday, as shoppers exercised restraint after splashing out\even more than previously thought during the previous month.


Merck Withdraws Arthritis Drug Vioxx (Reuters) Reuters - Merck   Co.  said on Thursday\withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a colon cancer\trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises the risk\of heart attack and stroke.


Jobless Claims Rise on Hurricanes (Reuters) Reuters - The number of Americans seeking\initial jobless benefits jumped by 18,000 last week, the\government said on Thursday, but it attributed the entire rise\to the effects of hurricanes that have battered the southern\United States.


Consumption Flat, Durable Spending Sinks  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending was  unexpectedly flat in August, government data showed on  Thursday, as shoppers exercised restraint after splashing out  even more than previously thought during the previous month.


Chargers on top Tucked away in the bottom left corner of the United States, the San Diego Chargers were easy to either forget or dismiss as the blueprint for NFL ineptitude.


Jobless Claims Rise on Hurricanes  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans seeking  initial jobless benefits jumped by 18,000 last week, the  government said on Thursday, but it attributed the entire rise  to the effects of hurricanes that have battered the southern  United States.


Ahold Settles with Dutch Prosecutors  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Retailer Ahold reached an 8 million  euros (\$9.85 million) settlement with Dutch public prosecutors  over charges of publishing false accounts.


Network Must Take Shape The promise of a regional sports network that would televise Expos and Orioles games and funnel revenue to Peter Angelos enabled Washington to get the Expos.


Iraq to get \$436m emergency loan The International Monetary Fund approves a \$436m emergency reconstruction loan for Iraq, the first loan from an international body.


Tax Benefits Lift PepsiCo Profit PepsiCo, the world's No. 2 soft drink company, said quarterly profit rose due to tax benefits and a strong performance from its Frito-Lay snack business.


Stock Futures Drop After Merck News US stocks futures tumbled on Thursday after drug company Merck  amp; Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) announced it was recalling a key drug, indicating the market would open lower.


Iraq to get \$436m emergency loan The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved an emergency loan of \$436m (232m) to Iraq, the first from an international organisation.


PepsiCo Profit Up, Cuts Jobs, Shares Rise PepsiCo Inc. , the world #39;s No. 2 soft drink company, said on Thursday quarterly profit rose due to \$221 million in tax benefits and strong performances from its key Frito


Tokyo, Hong Kong show gains Oil price easing helps Nikkei snap nine-session slide; Hang Seng advances in pre-holiday trade. TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average rose 0.4 percent Thursday, snapping a nine-day slide on a technical


Cudicini on Wenger #39;s hit list Chelsea reserve keeper Carlo Cudicini has emerged as a possible transfer window target for Arsenal next month. The Italian has fallen behind Petr Cech in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after the Czech stopper arrived at the club this summer.


NASA Salutes SpaceShipOne Team  quot;Burt Rutan and Paul Allen and the rest of the team are great examples of the kind of determination and creativity that is helping America achieve its exploration goals, quot; Administrator O #39;Keefe said.


Cheap flash drives, cheapest 1GB CF IF YOU know of any good value IT sales (auctions, rebates, one-off, clearance, surplus, classified ads) going around in the United Kingdom, France, USA or Singapore, don #39;t hesitate to contact me, at least 24 hours before the sales end.


DEL NERI KEEN TO LIFT CASSANO New Roma boss Luigi Del Neri is confident he can get the best out of temperamental striker Antonio Cassano. The ex-Chievo tactician is keen to open a successful chapter with the Roman club and expects the


Expos Lose to Marlins 9-1 in Team #39;s Final Home Game in Montreal The Montreal Expos, the first Major League Baseball team based outside of the US, lost to the Florida Marlins 9-1 in the their final home game in Canada.


Film shows 10 new Iraq hostages Video footage of 10 more hostages kidnapped in Iraq was today broadcast on the al-Jazeera television channel as the British government again said it would not negotiate to free Kenneth Bigley.


Blair faces wrath of Labour Party faithful over Iraq BRIGHTON : Prime Minister Tony Blair was set to face the anger of rank and file members of his Labour Party over the Iraq war, as party officials tried to head off a motion calling for British troops to quit the country.


Car Bombs in Iraq Kill at Least 42, Wound 140 Insurgents detonated three car bombs near a US military convoy in southern Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 35 people and wounding around 140, many of them children, officials and doctors said.


Gurkha Soldiers Win Right to British Citizenship Gurkhas, who have served with British army for nearly 200 years, won a landmark battle on Thursday to be able to settle in the UK and gain British citizenship.


Bills, Patriots have old, new scores to settle TORONTO -- He surely thought of it dozens of times and apparently said it at least once. Given the chance yesterday, though, Bill Belichick wasn #39;t going to repeat out loud his opinion of Drew Bledsoe.


MCLEISH WILL STAMP OUT SLIP-UPS - HUGHES Rangers midfielder Stephen Hughes insists manager Alex McLeish will lose no time in stamping out his sides unfortunate new habit of conceding early goals.


EUROPEAN TOUR GOLF LATEST BETTING ODDS UPDATE Retief Goosen showed great class to take the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Sunday, when a closing 69 gave him victory by six clear shots.


Wealth in America In what has become an annual ritual, Forbes Magazine has released its "400 Richest in America", a list of the wealthiest in a land which is simultaneously revered and reviled for its wealth. Between the lines are some suprisingly revealing truths about what it takes to be rich in America.


Merck withraws arthritis drug Vioxx Merck (MRK) said Thursday that it is withdrawing its arthritis drug Vioxx globally following indications that the drug raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.


Tax Benefits Lift PepsiCo Profit PepsiCo Inc. (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s No. 2 soft drink company, said on Thursday quarterly profit rose due to tax benefits and a strong performance from its key


Forstmann to Buy IMG, Talent Agency for Kate Moss, James Brown Forstmann Little  amp; Co., the New York buyout form led by Theodore Forstmann, agreed to buy IMG, the talent agency representing fashion model Kate Moss and soul singer James Brown among


MS #39;s XPSE Due Here Next Year Microsoft announced that Windows XP Starter Edition would be made available here early next year and at the same time Gartner has sent out a warning about XPSE.


How to reach space - on a pair of junkyard shocks WINSLOW, ARIZ. - By 6:45 on a chilly desert evening, a deep indigo sky has squeezed what remains of the day into thin lines of pink and turquoise twilight along the horizon.


Sony begins sampling Blu-ray components With the next-generation DVD race hotting up, Sony says that it will begin sampling optical pick-ups featuring blue laser diodes in December this year.


Digital music  #39;niche #39; market for foreseeable future, won #39;t replace <b>...</b> While digital music revenues will grow to be eight per cent of the total European music market by 2009, the CD will remain the bedrock of music sales, according to a new report by market analysts Jupiter Research.


Nortel Will Cut 3,250 Jobs, 250 Fewer Than Expected (Update1) Nortel Networks Corp., North America #39;s biggest maker of phone equipment, said it will pare 3,250 jobs, 250 fewer than it had predicted last month.


Expos off to Washington WASHINGTON -- Canada #39;s loss is a capital gain. After three years of uncertainty, the Montreal Expos will have a new home in Washington.


Israel Plans Large-Scale Gaza Operation Israel #39;s defense minister decided Thursday to launch a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip to stop Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli border towns, an Israeli radio station reported.


Blair faces anger of Labour Party delegates over Iraq Prime Minister Tony Blair faced calls on Thursday for British troops to quit Iraq as delegates to his Labour Party #39;s annual conference vented their anger over last year #39;s US-led war.


British mobile phone firm mmO2 hikes revenue forecast (AFP) AFP - Mobile telephone operator mmO2 raised its forecasts for British revenue growth but would not be drawn on an exact date for the launch of third-generation services in its domestic market.


Is Piracy Pushing Linux Sales? (PC World) PC World - More PCs run the alternative OS, but many will end up with a pirated version of Windows, report says.


Merck Vioxx recall: analyst, investor reaction Merck  amp; Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a colon cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.


Hennes  amp; Mauritz Net Rises 18 on European Expansion (Update4) Hennes  amp; Mauritz AB, Europe #39;s largest clothing retailer, said fiscal third-quarter profit rose 18 percent, the fastest rate in five quarters, as a cooler summer spurred demand for jackets


Private rocket ship has wild ride in quest for \$10 million prize MOJAVE, Calif. The builders of SpaceShipOne are trying to decide whether to proceed with another flight into space next week to win the 10 (m) million dollar X Prize.


Apple to launch Western Europe iTunes in October Apple has announced it is to open a multi-nation European iTunes shop sometime in October. The computer manufacturer #39;s vice-president of applications, Eddie Cue, made the announcement yesterday at the Popkomm conference in Berlin.


HD-DVDs Closer to Mass Production The Forum also approved the format #39;s logotype, which will now read as  #39;High Density #39; DVD rather than  #39;High Definition #39;.


AS Roma needs success against Inter after disastrous start to <b>...</b> After sliding out of contention in the Champions League and opening its Serie A campaign with two defeats in four games, AS Roma and its new coach, Luigi Del Neri, desperately need points against archrival Inter Milan at Stadio Olimpico Sunday


MLB: Angels Take One Game Lead in American West Division In Major League Baseball action Wednesday, the Anaheim Angels took a one-game lead in the American League West Division by beating the Texas Rangers, 8-7.


For Yanks, sweeping beauty A division winner faced a division leader when the Twins played a doubleheader Wednesday in Yankee Stadium. However, it wasn #39;t exactly a playoff preview.


Syria to tighten security on Iraq border Syria has agreed to tighten security along its borders with Iraq to block rebels from crossing into its neighbor country, a US Embassy official said Thursday.


UN Report On African Economies Calls for Boost to Manufacturing <b>...</b> Africa is starting to enjoy economic growth again after years of dismal statistics, but to cut poverty and be more competitive its countries must invest more in manufacturing and improve their export performance, a major United Nations report on the


Mars Express Sees Chaos in the Canyon The adage in space science is that one person's noise is another's signal. When the sun temporarily blocked Earth-Mars links, the orbital and surface science went into a deep sleep to protect from noise becoming a errant signal...


Calculating the Precise Distance to Doomsday Today's close passage of the relatively large asteroid, Toutatis, has presented astronomers with a new ruler to measure solar system distances. By using two telescopes separated by hundreds of miles, the classic parallax method validates the asteroid's orbital path...


CFHT Unveils Stunning Image of the Cosmos CFHT -- Twenty-five years ago, on September 28, 1979, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) was inaugurated on top of Mauna-Kea, a 4,200-meter high dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii.     From the photographic emulsion of the first light to today's 340 Mega-Pixel digital camera, CHFT's instruments are cutting edge; its camera is the largest ever built in operation on a telescope...


Mars Drill Will Seek Knowledge and Resources Johnson Space Center -- It will be drilling for information first, then for resources, though oil is not likely to be among exploration targets.     The futuristic drilling rig, under development at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, is designed for use on the moon or on Mars...


Study Suggests Spaceflight May Decrease Human Immunity NASA -- A NASA-funded study has found the human body's ability to fight off disease may be decreased by spaceflight. The effect may even linger after an astronaut's return to Earth following long flights...


New Implant Device Appears to Block Strokes By LAURAN NEERGAARD    WASHINGTON (AP) -- A tiny tent-like device implanted into the heart appears to block strokes caused by a common irregular heartbeat, sealing off a spot where dangerous blood clots form, German and U.S. researchers reported Wednesday...


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


Researchers Find Allergy-Free Soybean By JIM PAUL    URBANA, Ill. (AP) -- Plant geneticist Ted Hymowitz knew that finding an allergy-free soybean would take a painstaking search through thousands of varieties...


Scientists Predict Eruption at Mount St. Helens Scientists warn that a small or moderate blast could spew ash and rock as far as three miles from the crater around Mount St. Helens in the next few days. The volcano began rumbling more intensely Wednesday.


Will the US election matter to the IT sector? Analysis Only slightly if at all


Car Bombs in Iraq Kill at Least 44 and Wound 200  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents killed at least 44 people,  most of them children, and wounded 200 with a series of car  bombs across Iraq Thursday.


Key debate ahead in US election US President George W Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry are preparing for a key TV debate.


BA flight in emergency landing A British Airways flight has made an unscheduled landing at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport.


Cricket: Zim race probe halted A hearing into allegations of racism against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union is scrapped after a row over procedure.


Charges over Sudan 'coup plot' Some 28 people are charged with trying to overthrow Sudan's President Bashir, reports say.


First space tug deal 'on cards' The UK firm behind a space tug designed to extend the lifetimes of satellites, says it is confident of closing a deal on a commercial flight.


Dozens Killed in Multiple Bombings in Baghdad Three car bombs were set off near an American military convoy in western Baghdad today, killing at least 35 people and wounding dozens.


Merck Announces Withdrawal of Vioxx Painkiller Merck said it voluntarily pulled the drug after new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Israel Plans Large-Scale Gaza Operation JERUSALEM - Israel's defense minister decided Thursday to launch a large-scale, open-ended military operation in the Gaza Strip to stop Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli border towns, an Israeli radio station reported.    Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz made the decision after consultations with army commanders and the Shin Bet security service, Israel Army Radio reported...


Is Piracy Pushing Linux Sales? More PCs run the alternative OS, but many will end up with a pirated version of Windows, report says.


SanDisk Flashes New Memory Cards Company also unveils a device that allows digital photographers to bypass the PC.


IM Worm Crawls Through JPEG Hole Attack largely unsuccessful, but security experts warn of more to come.


Indians Pitcher Shot on Team Bus  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sports Network) - Cleveland Indians  pitcher Kyle Denney was shot in the right calf late Wednesday  night after a bullet was fired at the team bus and grazed  another player.


Inventor of the World Wide Web Promotes Future Cooperation The inventor of the World Wide Web told a technology conference on Wednesday that making the Web more useful hinges on a familiar challenge: Getting the players behind the technology to agree on standards governing how computers communicate with one another.


US Jobless Claims Up, Consumption Flat (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. claims for jobless benefits\jumped last week, while consumer spending was unexpectedly flat\in August as shoppers closed their wallets after splashing out\the previous month, the government said on Thursday.


US Jobless Claims Up, Consumption Flat  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. claims for jobless benefits  jumped last week, while consumer spending was unexpectedly flat  in August as shoppers closed their wallets after splashing out  the previous month, the government said on Thursday.


Oil Nears \$50 as Nigeria Worries Persist  LONDON (Reuters) - High-flying oil climbed back toward \$50  a barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security of  Nigerian supply supporting prices despite a surprise build in  U.S. crude inventories.


Nortel Cuts Fewer Jobs, Exits Real Estate  OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. NT.TO said on  Thursday its cost-cutting plan will save \$500 million in 2005,  and even more in future years, as it eliminates fewer jobs than  forecast, but plans to exit real estate.


August Consumer Spending Flat Hit with soaring gasoline prices, consumers shut their wallets in August, keeping overall spending flat after a revised 1.1 percent jump in the previous month.


Merck to Withdraw Vioxx Because of Heart Risks (Update1) Merck  amp; Co. said it #39;s withdrawing its Vioxx painkiller, which generated \$2.5 billion in worldwide sales last year, because of data showing an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


PepsiCo Net Rises 35; Frito-Lay Job Cuts Planned (Update1) PepsiCo Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 soft- drink maker, said third-quarter earnings increased 35 percent, spurred by surging demand overseas.


SpaceShipOne ready for more California - The pilot and designer of a private rocket plane say they are confident it could return to the sky next week in a quest to claim a multimillion-dollar prize.


IBM develops world #39;s fastest supercomputer: reports NEW YORK, Sep 30, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- International Business Machines Corp. has developed the world #39;s fastest supercomputer, US media reported Wednesday.


What #39;s missing in Microsoft IE? com September 30, 2004, 4:00 AM PT. There #39;s no doubt the Internet will continue to make its mark in the world of business and technology.


Is Vieri #39;s Inter career over? The chemistry between Adriano and Obafemi Martins raises questions further marks about Christian Vieri #39;s future at Inter Milan.


US hosts Croatia in next year #39;s Davis Cup 1st round Top-seeded Spain plays at Slovakia, while No. 2 United States hosts Croatia in the opening round of next year #39;s Davis Cup World Group.


Twice as Nice: Rogers Wins World Championship Time Trial This morning, Michael Rogers (Australia) received his 2003 World Championship Time Trial gold medal and rainbow jersey from UCI chief Hein Verbruggen.


Arthritis Drug Vioxx Being Pulled The arthritis drug Vioxx, used by millions of people around the world, is being pulled off the market after a study confirmed long-standing concerns that it raises


Nortel Cuts Fewer Jobs, Exits Real Estate Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday its cost-cutting plan will save \$500 million in 2005, and even more in future years, as it eliminates fewer jobs than forecast, but plans to exit real estate.


US Jobless Claims Up, Consumption Flat US claims for jobless benefits jumped last week, while consumer spending was unexpectedly flat in August as shoppers closed their wallets after splashing out the previous month, the government said on Thursday.


Consumer Spending Remains Flat in August WASHINGTON Sept. 30, 2004 - Consumers were tight-fisted with their money amid soaring gasoline costs last month while hurricane-related disruptions sent applications for jobless benefits to their highest level in seven months.


US: PepsiCo Q3 figures on the rise PepsiCo has posted a rise in Q3 revenue and operating profit. The drinks and snack company today (30 September) reported earnings for the three months to 4 September of US\$1.


Justice Department joins probe of AIG services to PNC The US Department of Justice launched an investigation of accounting services the American International Group Inc. provided to PNC that may have violated securities laws, the company said.


SanDisk Flashes New Memory Cards SanDisk this week announced a series of CF (CompactFlash) cards that double the read and write speeds of its fastest flash cards available today, as well as an 8GB version of its Ultra II CF Type 1 flash memory card.


BA plane forced to land at Amsterdam airport A British Airways flight from Berlin to London has made an unscheduled landing at Amsterdam #39;s Schiphol airport as a security precaution, the airline says.


Russia Backs Kyoto, Treaty May Enter Force Next Year (Update1) The Russian government agreed to sign the Kyoto treaty, meaning the global climate accord probably will enter into force next year, irrespective of opposition from the US, the world #39;s biggest polluter.


Car bombs kill 34 children in Baghdad Insurgents have detonated three car bombs near a US military convoy in Baghdad, killing 41 people, 34 of them children, and wounding scores.


34 children among 37 killed in Baghdad bombing; new hostages <b>...</b> At least three bombs exploded near a US convoy in western Baghdad on Thursday, killing 34 children and three adults, a hospital official said.


PepsiCo Profit Up, Cuts Jobs; Shares Rise  NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N, the world's No.  2 soft drink company, on Thursday said quarterly profit rose  due to tax benefits and strong performances from its key  Frito-Lay snack and North American beverage businesses and  raised its full-year profit forecast.


Jobless claims jump by 18,000 NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment assistance rose by 18,000 last week, the government reported Thursday, as the figures that have fluctuated with the series of hurricanes on the East Coast came in above estimates.


Spacecraft reaches its goal on white-knuckle first leg Kern County -- The first privately funded rocket to reach space completed the first half of a \$10 million flight competition Wednesday by soaring to an altitude of 64 miles -- but only after enduring a white-knuckle series of barrel rolls.


IBM prototype overtakes Earth Simulator as world #39;s most powerful <b>...</b> IBM yesterday announced that a prototype supercomputer had surpassed the computing power of the NEC Earth Simulator in Japan, currently the world #39;s most powerful machine.


Staying alive Petco Park turned a few Padres hitters into head cases early this season. On the flip side, the Padres have became one-run monsters in their \$474 million home.


There is no crying in baseball Murphy, who went to the San Francisco Giants game when Barry Bonds hit his 700th homer Sept. 17, is suing Steve Williams. According to a story on ESPN.


Deadliest attacks in Iraq insurgency BAGHDAD, Sept 30 (AFP) - At least 41 people were killed, most of them children, and scores wounded after three car bombs exploded in western Baghdad on Thursday, the latest in a string of bloody bombings in Iraq.


EDITORIALSMore defectors are on the way On Wednesday, 44 North Korean defectors entered the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. There are points worth noting regarding the timing and size of this incident.


Beshir accuses US of supporting Darfur rebels CAIRO - Sudanese President Omar el-Beshir has accused the United States of backing rebels  quot;to the hilt quot; in the country #39;s war-torn Darfur region and said the crisis there has been blown out of all proportion.


Dow gets Merck #39;d NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Merck #39;s withdrawal of its arthritis treatment sent the stock tumbling more than 25 percent and pushed the Dow into deeply negative territory at the open Thursday.


Nortel Details Previously Announced Cuts TORONTO Sept. 30, 2004 - Nortel Networks Corp. gave details of a previously announced job cut program Thursday, saying it is cutting 1,400 in the United States by next June.


Fresh Del Monte Cuts 2004 Profit Forecast Fresh Del Monte Inc. (FDP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday cut its 2004 earnings forecast because of weak banana prices, high fuel costs and bad weather, among other factors.


British house price rises slightly for second month in September British housing market grew slightly for the second month in succession in September, showing further evidence of checking effects by five interest rates hikes since last November


Sony Plans European Ad Blitz to Stifle iTunes Sony Corp. next week will launch a marketing blitz in Europe for its new Connect music download store, its latest effort to derail the


500 million dollars lost in Internet 'phishing' scams in US (AFP) AFP - US consumers and businesses have lost an estimated 500 million dollars to a relatively new Internet scam known as  quot;phishing, quot; according to a survey released this week.


Macs help Sky Captain save the day, win converts (MacCentral) MacCentral - When Sky Captain -- hero of Paramount Pictures' hit film "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" -- swooped out of the sky in his P-40 Warhawk and protected New York City from an army of giant robots, he wasn't just convincing moviegoers to suspend their disbelief. He also helped convince visual effects supervisor Darin Hollings that Macs could carry the load just as easily as, or better than, the UNIX-based SGI and Linux-based PC workstations he previously used.


Microsoft Asks Judge to Suspend Penalties (Reuters) Reuters - Microsoft asked a European Union\judge Thursday to freeze a European Commission order forcing it\to share technology with competitors, but a rival said the\software giant used to provide such information freely.


Edward C. Baig: Personal Tech - New iMac even more exquisite than last one (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - A softball tech question: Can you name the innovator whose gorgeously distinctive products earn praise from reviewers and almost cultish devotion from customers? The answer: Apple Computer.


Toxic Algae Bloom Seen Off Washington State Coast (Reuters) Reuters - An unusually large toxic bloom of\algae, which could poison humans and taint shellfish, has been\detected in the ocean off the northwest coast of Washington\state, oceanographers said on Wednesday.


Recommendations to Combat Obesity in Kids (AP) AP - The Institute of Medicine had recommendations for several groups to help stem childhood obesity:


From soup to nuts with Microsoft #8217;s collaboration chief Interview Anoop Gupta


Iraqi PM: Elections to Go Ahead as Planned (Reuters) Reuters - Elections will go ahead in Iraq next\January as planned, despite the violence ravaging the country,\interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Thursday.


Natfoods  #39;worth more #39; NATIONAL Foods hauled up the auction flag yesterday signalling that the Australian dairy giant could change hands for \$1.81 billion.


24 Dead in Gaza Strip Fighting (AP) AP - Israeli troops pushed deep into the largest Palestinian refugee camp Thursday, a first in four years of fighting, after a Palestinian rocket killed two preschoolers in an Israeli border town.


Sony Plans European Ad Blitz to Stifle iTunes  BERLIN (Reuters) - Sony Corp. next week will launch a  marketing blitz in Europe for its new Connect music download  store, its latest effort to derail the runaway momentum of  Apple Computer's iTunes service.


Russian Move Clears Way to Bring Kyoto Into Force  MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian government approved the  Kyoto Protocol Thursday, giving decisive support to the  long-delayed climate change treaty that should allow it to come  into force worldwide.


Telstra may split its services MARK COLVIN: To Telstra, and a question that may go even deeper than the long-running one about whether it should be privatised. Can the carrier remain as a single giant company, complete with a monopoly on


Car Bombs Kill 34 Children in Baghdad  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents detonated three car bombs  near a U.S. military convoy in Baghdad Thursday, killing 41  people, 34 of them children, and wounding scores.


AT T Lowers Price on Internet Calling Service (Reuters) Reuters - AT T Corp  on Thursday said it\was lowering the price on its CallVantage Internet calling\service by  #36;5 per month, matching the price from several other\suppliers.


Munich migrates to Linux despite EU debate (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - If Microsoft Corp. had any hope of seeing Munich back away from its landmark decision last year to abandon Windows software in favor of open source Linux, that hope faded Wednesday when city officials decided to move ahead with their migration project.


Ex-Astronaut Casts Doubt on Space Tourism (AP) AP - Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon during the final Apollo landing, said Thursday he doesn't expect space tourism to become reality in the near future, despite a strong demand.


Private Rocket Ship Lands in California After Flight (Reuters) Reuters - SpaceShipOne completed the first\leg of its bid for a  #36;10-million civilian space prize with a\wild corkscrew-like ascent into space above the California\desert on Wednesday.


Analysts: IBM selling PC business makes sense IBM is considering pulling out of the personal computer business it founded - a sign of a big change in the way companies buy computers and a shift of power in the PC industry.


Metcash in \$846m raid on Foodland INDEPENDENT grocery wholesaler Metcash Trading has made a bold bid to become the third force in our supermarket scene behind Woolworths and Coles with a \$846 million offer for Foodland yesterday.


Spanish government to allow homosexual couples to adopt (AFP) AFP - The right by homosexual couples to adopt children will reportedly be added to draft legislation legalizing gay marriages to be adopted Friday by Spain's Socialist government.


Quebec can't speak for Canada on world stage, says Robillard (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - When it comes to world affairs, nobody speaks for Canada except Canada, says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Lucienne Robillard.


Despite Reforms, Florida Vote May Face Challenge (Reuters) Reuters - With hundreds of lawyers mobilizing next\month to monitor the presidential election, what are the\chances of a remake of the Florida 2000 fiasco? Probably quite\high, election watchers say.


Bush's Reserve Resignation Cited 'Inadequate Time' (Reuters) Reuters - President Bush, accused by Democrats of\shirking his duty in the Texas Air National Guard during the\Vietnam War, wrote that he had "inadequate time" to meet future\Reserve commitments in his Nov. 1974 letter of resignation\released on Wednesday.


The next president could tip high court (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - This election's potential impact on the Supreme Court has seemed to be an afterthought, but the stakes for the court and the law are even higher now than they were in 2000. The prospect of a change on the court is greater and the replacement of one justice could affect the law on hot issues.


21 Palestinians, 3 Israelis Die in Gaza Fighting  JABALYA, Gaza (Reuters) - Twenty-one Palestinians and three  Israelis were killed Thursday, Gaza's bloodiest day for more  than two years, as Israel struck back after a rocket attack  killed two Israeli children in a border town.


AT T Lowers Price on Internet Calling Service  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AT T Corp T.N on Thursday said it  was lowering the price on its CallVantage Internet calling  service by \$5 per month, matching the price from several other  suppliers.


Digitizing the Bill of Rights Who says the Constitution doesn't apply to the Internet?  One of the most controversial provisions of the USA Patriot Act took a blow yesterday, courtesy of the ACLU and a federal judge in New York. -washingtonpost.com


Nortel Details Previously Announced Cuts Nortel Networks Corp. gave details of a previously announced job cut program Thursday, saying it is cutting 1,400 in the United States by next June.


US presses Belgrade on war crimes US diplomats tell Serbia-Montenegrin leaders it is in their best interests to hand over top war crimes suspects.


IPod Speaker Sets Get a Hearing Compact speakers for personal music players have been around since the original Walkman. Now that mini-hard drive music machines can hold your entire collection, the product category is back with a vengeance.


Huge turnout for  Indian Maoists Tens of thousands of people attend a rally called by the left-wing rebel  People's War Group in southern India.


Concern over US volcano rumbles US scientists fear a surge in activity at the Mount St Helens volcano in Washington state might be a sign it is on the verge of erupting.


Merck Pulls Vioxx Painkiller From Market, and Stock Plunges Merck said it voluntarily pulled the drug after new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Baghdad Bombings Kill 35 Children BAGHDAD, Iraq - Bombs exploded near a U.S. convoy in western Baghdad on Thursday, killing 35 children and seven adults, a hospital official said...


IMF Forecasts Growth in Sub-Saharan Economies THE International Monetary Fund forecast yesterday a substantial jump in economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa this year and next, saying the outlook for the region was better than in years.


IBM settles with workers in landmark pension case IBM has said that it has agreed to pay \$320 million to current and former employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan in a case that may affect millions of workers at many companies and nonprofit organizations.


US consumers tighten purse strings in August US consumer spending, a key pillar of the nation #39;s economy, was flat in August as Americans reacted to surging gasoline prices.


PepsiCo earnings rise; job cuts planned NEW YORK - PepsiCo (PEP), the world #39;s No. 2 soft drink company, said Thursday that quarterly profit rose because of tax benefits and strong performances from its key Frito-Lay snack and North American beverage


Nortel trims layoff plan Telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Networks will not lay off as many employees as it previously predicted, the company said Thursday.


Cereal Giant Shifts To Whole Grain GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Hoping to give a boost to the battle against obesity, General Mills is converting all of its  quot;Big G quot; cereals to whole grain.


Date given for UK Enron case A judge is set to rule in two weeks on a case involving three UK former bankers fighting extradition to the United States over alleged fraud charges involving Enron executives.


Bruandwo raises stakes BRUANDWO has bowed to the inevitable and drastically raised its bid for Victorian pubs group Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality.


Intermet files for Chapter 11 TROY, Mich. -- Auto-parts maker Intermet Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming soaring prices for scrap steel and other raw materials.


India posts 7.4 gain in growth BANGALORE, India India #39;s economy expanded by a more-than-expected 7.4 percent in the April-to-June quarter, buoyed by strong growth in manufacturing and services, the government announced on Thursday.


Roddick Reaches Thailand Open Quarters (AP) AP - Andy Roddick needed seven match points before finally putting away Jeff Morrison 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 Thursday to reach the Thailand Open quarterfinals.


One small step for space travel MARK COLVIN: Space travel is a childhood dream, but today it got a little closer to adult reality, for the wealthy, at any rate. The prototype private space vessel  quot;SpaceShipOne quot; made a mostly successful manned test flight over the American Mojave Desert.


IBM claims fastest supercomputer on the planet Currently, the NEC-assembled Earth Simulator in Yokohama, Japan is ranked at number one, with its 5,120 processors recording an operating speed of 35.


India next in line for cut-down XP Microsoft has named India as the next market for its stripped-down version of XP, with shipping expected to begin early next year.


Enter your e-mail: Every week, it seems, I see another announcement about one of the two competing blue-laser-based optical disc formats. The latest news is from the HD-DVD camp.


Congress joins file-sharing battle Just over a year ago, the recording industry unleashed its first barrage of lawsuits against people who share music online - a move that appeared to curtail illegal file swapping briefly.


Salesforce.com adds customer support product Hoping to find the same success in the contact center as it found with the sales force, Salesforce.com today added Supportforce.com to its application arsenal.


Clever cars can read road signs The plaintive plea to the traffic cop is the same the world over: Sorry officer, I didnt know I was speeding. But drivers may soon have to come up with a better excuse.


Smile Pretty for the Cell Phone Thanks to digital cameras, picture taking has been revitalized. At this year #39;s Photokina, the world #39;s largest photography trade fair, digital cameras dominate the picture.


Linksys Teams With Verizon, Best Buy, Intel Cisco #39;s Irvine-based Linksys division has announced new relationships with a number of other companies. Linksys said that it has signed an agreement with Verizon to include the company #39;s VoIP phones in its services.


Rogers rejoices after gold rush MICHAEL ROGERS likes the look and feel of the world champion #39;s rainbow-coloured jersey on his back. The Italian-based Rogers, 25, from Canberra, has been hovering around world championship podiums at junior


Big surprise by Indian board Calcutta, India - The Indian cricket board made a surprise move on Thursday by granting television production and distribution rights for the upcoming Test series against Australia, even as the Supreme Court was hearing a petition by another network


Major League Baseball Returns to Washington, DC Major League Baseball is back in the nation #39;s capital for the first time since the Washington Senators team moved to Texas and became the Rangers in 1971.


Domenech pleads with Zidane and Thuram to return - both say no France coach Raymond Domenech made a last-ditch plea with Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram, asking them to rejoin the team for two crucial games.


Owen prepared to play the waiting game at Real England striker Michael Owen says that although he is desperately keen to get on the pitch he is prepared to bide his time and wait for his opportunity to break into the first team at Real Madrid.


Indians Pitcher Shot _ Cleveland pitcher Kyle Denney was slightly wounded in the leg late last night, on the team bus as it left Kauffman Stadium for Kansas City International Airport.


Suicide bombers strike twice in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq Suicide bombers and other attackers, apparently targeting US and Iraqi forces, struck in quick succession in three separate areas of the capital Thursday, killing at least 46 people and wounding 208 others, officials said.


New tape of Briton BANGKOK The Thai wife of a British engineer held hostage in Iraq said Thursday that newly released video footage of her husband had buoyed her hopes for his safe return.


Rape trials open on storied isle PITCAIRN ISLAND A string of sex abuse trials opened on Pitcairn Island, the isolated British territory in the Pacific Ocean that is home to the descendants of the 18th-century Bounty mutineers.


N.Korean Defectors with Weapons in the S.Korean Embassy in China It was reported on September 30 that the South Korean government is aggressively reviewing ways of a conditional handover to China of North Korean defectors who used weapons or violence to enter the Korean Embassy in China.


Typhoon leaves 18 dead, 7 missing Eighteen people have been confirmed dead and seven others remain missing as a result of Typhoon Meari, which swept through Japan and weakened into an extra-tropical depression around noon (local time).


Baghdad bombings kill 35 children; new hostages seized Bombs exploded near a US convoy in western Baghdad on Thursday, killing 35 children and seven adults, a hospital official said. Hours


BA plane in emergency Amsterdam landing A British Airways flight was today forced to make an unscheduled landing in Amsterdam, accompanied by Dutch fighter jets, after a  quot;specific threat quot; was reported.


Nortel trims layoff plan Nortel reduced layoffs by 250, as the company details plans to cut expenses


Gateway to offer customized PCs again The company on Thursday will take the wraps off three new configurable desktops.


Munich migrates to Linux despite EU debate If Microsoft Corp. had any hope of seeing Munich back away from its landmark decision last year to abandon Windows software in favor of open source Linux, that hope faded Wednesday when city officials decided to move ahead with their migration project.


Carmax Reports Record Third-Quarter Sales (Reuters) Reuters - Auto retailer Carmax Inc. \reported record third-quarter sales on Monday and said used-car\sales had strengthened considerably since the spring and\summer.


Red Hat picks up pieces of Netscape Red Hat Inc. has gone scavenging among Netscape's remains, agreeing Thursday to pay America Online Inc. (AOL) up to \$23 million in cash for the assets of Netscape Communications Corp.'s Security Solutions unit.


IBM Makes Partial Settlement in Age-Bias Case Legal action was taken against IBM concerning its conversion to a controversial cash-balance pension plan. Under the terms of the agreement, IBM will pay at least \$300 million to settle certain claims in the complex lawsuit.


Nortel Cuts Fewer Jobs, Exits Real Estate Nortel Networks Corp. on Thursday said it would eliminate about 10 percent of its work force, slightly less than previously estimated, and consolidate real estate in a cost-cutting plan that will save \$500 million in 2005.


Merck takes down the Dow NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - US stocks traded mixed Thurday as Merck shares lost a quarter of their value, dragging blue chips lower, but the Nasdaq moved higher, buoyed by gains in the semiconductor sector.


Russia Delays Review of Yukos Subsidiary Licenses Russia #39;s Natural Resources Ministry has postponed consideration of whether to suspend the licenses of the main subsidiary of the troubled giant oil firm Yukos.


ALH investors should wait for a Bruandwo extension AFTER months of procrastination - an attempt to wear down the shareholders of Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality into accepting an under-priced offer - the joint bid vehicle of Woolworths and pubs king Bruce Mathieson, Bruandwo, has reversed tactics.


Boozy Lunches Off the Menu at Brewer #39;s New HQ It may be the world #39;s biggest brewer -- and in beer-loving Belgium at that -- but InBev does not want its managers drinking at lunchtime.


Jags could take two-game lead with win Editor #39;s note: ESPN senior NFL writer John Clayton #39;s weekly  quot;First And 10 quot; column takes you around the league with a look at the best game of the week followed by primers for 10 other games.


Minnesota Twins Team Report - September 30 (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins try to get back on the winning track when they conclude their three-game set with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.


Scores of kids die in Baghdad car blasts Baghdad: At least 49 people were killed, most of them children, in a series of devastating car bombs that left a trail of carnage in Baghdad and northern Iraq on Thursday, medics and the US military said.


Germany Extends Afghan Mission The German Parliament on Thursday overwhelming approved a one-year extension of the Bundeswehr #39;s Afghanistan mandate. The decision comes a day after a grenade attack on a German camp in Kunduz injured five.