Japan's trade surplus jumps 44.2 percent in July on Asian demand (AFP) AFP - Japan's trade surplus in July rose a sharper-than-expected 44.2 percent on the back of record Asia-bound exports but some economists warned exports may slow later this year as China's economy cools.


Mitsubishi Motors to scale back ties with DaimlerChrysler (AFP) AFP - Troubled Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has decided to reduce the scope of its business cooperation with DaimlerChrysler AG.


Parties Seek Advantage in Vietnam Debate (AP) AP - The events may be 35 years old, but the heated discussion hasn't stopped because Republicans and Democrats alike sense a political advantage in keeping the debate over John Kerry's service in Vietnam on voters' minds.


With Pieces in Place, the Yankees Slip Up Tom Gordon surrendered the tying and winning runs in the eighth, spoiling the night for Orlando Hernndez and the Yankees.


Microsoft SP2s blind date software THE SOFTWARE giant which brings nations together, Microsoft, has issued a blind date kit for those who are thinking of installing its mega patch SP2 for Windows XP.


Tunes, a Hard Drive and (Just Maybe) a Brain The "shuffle" command on music players like the iPod is supposed to be a truly random way of making your way through a vast music collection. But some owners are wondering whether the iPod has a mind of its own.


To Market, to Market, Without the Drive A preoccupied parent revisits the world of grocery shopping on the Web and finds that a lot has changed.


Computer People Reopen Art History Dispute David Hockney's controversial theory that early Renaissance painters used cameralike devices has been challenged by researchers using digital techniques.


Singtel's Optus, Vodafone Australia plan shared 3G network (AFP) AFP - Singapore Telecommunications' Australian unit Optus and Vodafone announced an agreement on rolling out a shared third-generation (3G) mobile phone network in Australia.


Northwest sues travel network Northwest Airlines filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against Sabre Travel Network, intensifying a dispute between the airline and the nations largest provider of airline booking information to travel agents.


Business briefs, August 26 US mortgage applications fell 6.3 percent last week, the biggest decline in more than a month, as fewer people filed to buy a home or refinance.


IMF says soft landing in China not yet assured China has lowered the risk of economic overheating but a  quot;soft landing quot; is not yet assured, International Monetary Fund chiefs have warned.


Accord in Home Depot case Home Depot has agreed to pay \$5.5 million to resolve a government lawsuit accusing the retailer of fostering a hostile workplace based on gender, race and national origin at its Colorado stores.


Indian ship freed after internet cable fiasco Colombo, Aug. 26 (PTI): Sri Lanka has released a seized Indian cargo ship after it found no evidence linking the vessel to the damage caused to the island #39;s main submarine cable, the Navy said today.


Astronomers find possible rocky planet Earth-like orb spins too <b>...</b> What might be the first known  quot;Earth-like quot; planet orbiting a star like our own sun has been reported by European astronomers.


The lengths some women will go to Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia took the gold and broke the world record on Tuesday but the question on many minds was: how long was her pole?


Dirrell assured medal Flint middleweight Andre Dirrell dashed Cubas dreams of another boxing gold rush and moved into the Olympic medal round himself Wednesday.


ADB warns of increasing inequality in Asia (AFP) AFP - High economic growth helped Asia reduce poverty greatly in the past decade but the increasingly unfair distribution of income could hamper future improvement, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned.


Stocks Flat to Higher on Oil, Mixed Data  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares traded flat to higher on  Thursday as investors picked through conflicting signals on  economic growth and pondered whether oil prices would fall  further after a steep slide overnight.


Rentokil rules out break-up Security-to-pest-control firm Rentokil Initial has ruled out a break-up as it reports back from a strategic review amid rumours the embattled company is in the sights of buyout firms.


Olympics: Halkia New Greek Goddess, Faces Down Questions Fani Halkia, hailed by one Greek tabloid as a  quot;Winged Goddess, quot; stormed to Olympic victory in the 400 meter hurdles, sparking nationwide jubilation and much probing of her startlingly improved form.


Bomb rocks southern Thailand on eve of PM visit, 19 wounded A bomb ripped through a food market in Thailand #39;s troubled Muslim south injuring at least 19 people, including police and soldiers, on the eve of a visit by the prime minister, said the police.


A bloody war for power leaves Nepal powerless GORKHA, Nepal : Trekking his way up one of the steep forested hills of central Nepal, schoolteacher Lumnath Lamichanne was pounced on by five men with knives and hammers who slashed his body and left him for dead.


San Jose State Faces Difficult Task (AP) AP - Fitz Hill caught a glimpse of SEC media day on television last month and got another harsh reminder of how different things are where he coaches at San Jose State.


Tom Watson Set to Defend Tradition Title (AP) AP - Tom Watson's victory in the inaugural Tradition is all the more memorable because it was his last win with the man who was by his side for some 30 years, caddie Bruce Edwards.


Singapore makes big 777 order, holds off on 7E7s Boeing #39;s happy confirmation of a \$4 billion order from Singapore Airlines for 18 777s yesterday was tempered by the disappointing news that the prestigious carrier will not be among the first customers for the all-new 7E7.


Bank confirms merger talks Maine firm seen seeking partner to aid <b>...</b> Banknorth Group of Maine confirmed yesterday that it was in merger talks with TD Bank Financial Group of Canada, a move that would end Banknorth #39;s short reign as New England #39;s largest independent bank.


Northwest and Sabre may fight in court over ticket selling Northwest Airlines has sued Sabre Holdings Co., which runs the world #39;s biggest computerized reservation system, in a high-stakes dispute that could determine the future of third-party ticket portals like Galileo, Travelocity and Expedia.


Rentokil May Say Profit Declined 8; McGowan Explores Overhaul Rentokil Initial Plc, the British owner of businesses ranging from pest control to parcel delivery, tomorrow may report an 8 percent drop in first-half profit as heightening competition for contracts put pressure on prices.


Fortis earnings beat forecasts Financial group Fortis has reported a bigger-than-expected rise in earnings and says it is growing more upbeat about 2004, with both its banking and insurance units posting strong gains.


Sen. Cantwell seeks relief for utility customers Enron hindered federal attempts to ease the 2000-01 West Coast energy crisis by selling government electricity slated for California to Southwestern states, new evidence indicates.


GM ends Corvette ad after protest Complaints: A television commercial featuring a wild-driving youngster at the wheel angers auto-safety advocates. DETROIT - General Motors Corp.


Analyst sees sweetened bid for MEC Frank Stronach #39;s MI Developments Inc. will likely sweeten its \$286-million (US) bid to buy out racetrack operator Magna Entertainment Corp.


Breakthrough could provide chips with everything One of the last frontiers of semiconductor technology - environments where electronic devices have to run at high power, in fierce heat or at lethal doses of radiation - may be about to fall.


US cracks down on computer file sharing, spam WASHINGTON -- The US Justice Department yesterday shut down a network allegedly used to illegally share copyrighted music, movies, software and games and, separately, has embarked a nationwide campaign against purveyors of e-mail  quot;spam.


A Digital Divide veryone covets a piece of Apple Computer #39;s iPod. And for good reason. It essentially defines what consumers want in a digital music player: capacity, style, seamless integration with personal computers and


US arrests dozens in  quot;spam quot; crackdown -source US law enforcers have arrested dozens in a crackdown on  quot;spam quot; e-mail, identity theft and other fraudulent online activity, a person involved in the investigation says.


Intel injects cash into WiMAX firm THE CAPITAL division of Intel has invested in a Seattle firm in bid to promote the WiMAX wireless standard. Speakeasy, based in Seattle, is a beneficiary from the Intel Communications Fund but it #39;s not clear


S.Africa Police Say Thatcher Was Ready to Leave  CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister  Margaret Thatcher's son was planning to leave South Africa  before his arrest on suspicion of involvement in a coup attempt  in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, police said on Thursday.


Marion Jones advances in long jump, will run relay ATHENS, Greece  Marion Jones began her Olympics on Wednesday, the 13th day of the Games, and got two pieces of good news: She easily advanced to the long jump final and she was chosen to


Israel mines first Olympics gold The Israeli national anthem sounded over an Olympic podium Wednesday for the first time in the Jewish state #39;s 56-year history after a young man whose father named him for the sea took the gold medal in windsurfing.


Gardner #39;s storied career ends with a thud Rulon Gardner #39;s bid for a second consecutive gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling #39;s super heavyweight division fell to the mat with a resounding thud yesterday along with the big man himself.


Mad dash for triathlon gold Australia #39;s Loretta Harrop dominated and lost. Susan Williams, of Littleton, wasn #39;t supposed to be there but left with the bronze, the only American medal.


Everton to Respond to United #39;s Rooney Offer Everton were today expected to respond to Manchester Uniteds offer for Wayne Rooney after the Old Trafford club joined Newcastle in the bidding war for the England striker.


Walks Send Giants to a Victory in 10 udy Seanez intentionally walked Barry Bonds to load the bases in the 10th inning, then could not throw a strike when he tried. Pinch-hitter AJ Pierzynski walked on four pitches to force


Palestinian legislators accept Arafat promise to fix government Yasser Arafat fended off another challenge to his authority yesterday when Palestinian legislators backed away from sweeping reform demands, instead approving a watered-down set of recommendations.


The wife, a stranger, the bully and a bullet Marlene Brookes is a shirt-presser, a quiet, conscientious woman who has looked after Bay Street #39;s demanding clients for more than eight years.


Opposition calls for another strike in Bangladesh Bangladesh #39;s opposition called on Thursday for another nationwide strike this weekend to protest against a deadly grenade attack on a political rally that killed 19 people and wounded over 150.


Canberra plans  #39;lethal #39; air force Australia is to spend up to A\$450m (US\$320m) on cruise missiles to give its military the  quot;most lethal capacity quot; for air combat in the region.


Decks cleared for Aziz Islamabad, Aug. 25: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussein today resigned as Prime Minister, paving the way for his successor, finance minister Shaukat Aziz, to lead the country for the next three years.


Gyurcsny set to become Hungary #39;s new prime minister A 43 year-old millionaire, the charismatic Ferenc Gyurcsny is in line to become Hungary #39;s next prime minister. This was decided at a Hungarian Socialist Party congress on 25 August, convened to find a replacement for Pter Medgyessy.


Rezazadeh wins gold Hossein Rezazadeh sets a new world record as he reclaimed his Olympic title in weightlifting's 105kg class.


Nepal seeks help to free hostages Nepal has appealed to the Iraqi government for help in securing the release of 13 Nepalese hostages.


Ex-official in Yemen implicated in Cole plot SANAA, Yemen -- Yemen's former interior minister helped the alleged mastermind of the attack on the USS Cole to pass through security checkpoints in the months before the 2000 bombing, according to a document read out in court yesterday by a lawyer for five of the accused plotters.


Scandal heats hot springs in Japan IKAHO, Japan -- For at least four centuries, the rust-colored waters that bubble out of the mountainside behind the Ikaho Shrine have been as good as gold to this little spa village. Shared by dozens of inns, the spring waters are among the most venerable in the country.


EU is urged to reach out to Turkey THE HAGUE -- An influential Dutch advisory body said yesterday that Islam was not a bar to membership in the European Union and recommended the organization open talks with Turkey, while insisting Ankara do more to meet EU human rights standards.


Russia probes 2 deadly air crashes MOSCOW -- Investigators searched through heaps of mangled bodies and metal strewn over dozens of miles of fields and birch groves in two Russian regions yesterday to try to determine why two passenger jets crashed almost simultaneously.


3 countries sign pact to disarm rebel groups KAMPALA -- Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo agreed yesterday to immediately disarm rebel groups who threaten peace and security in Africa's Great Lakes region. The agreement was signed following US-sponsored talks in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, between delegations led by Ugandan Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi, Rwanda's Foreign Minister Charles Murigande, and his Congolese counterpart, Raymond Ramazani Baya. ...


Over half world's homes have running water, WHO report finds JOHANNESBURG -- For the first time, more than half of the world's population has water piped into their homes, according to a United Nations report released today, an accomplishment hailed as a  quot;stunning success quot; by a senior World Health Organization official.


Iraq a training ground for US 'Renaissance warriors' WASHINGTON -- On a sun-drenched morning in Sadr City, an Army officer and his patrol may first have to size up an Iraqi civilian bearing an automatic rifle: Is he friend or foe? A few hours later, the same patrol leader might shift his focus from the dangers of stealth enemies to the status of the town's new sewage project. ...


Witness says Marine hit, kicked prisoner CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine sergeant kicked an aging, overweight Iraqi in the chest out of anger and frustration when the handcuffed and hooded prisoner failed to follow orders, a guard at the same detention facility testified yesterday.


US card deck omits key Iraqi militants WASHINGTON -- The Ace of Spades was captured. The Ace of Clubs and Ace of Hearts were killed. Of the most-wanted Iraqis included in a deck of playing cards distributed last year by the US military, all except 10 are in custody or dead.


Mortar Shell Hits Mosque in Iraq Several people were killed and dozens were injured today in a mortar attack on the main mosque in Kufa, witnesses said.


Mortar Attack Kills 25 at Kufa Mosque NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric unexpectedly returned to Iraq from Britain on Wednesday armed with a new peace initiative and a call for Iraqis across the country to march on the holy city to demand an end to weeks of fighting in Najaf.    But a mortar attack on the main mosque in the nearby city of Kufa killed 25 people and wounded 60 others Thursday, hospital officials and witnesses said, a blow to hopes that the crisis could be resolved peacefully...


DaVanon hits for cycle as Angels rout Royals Jeff DaVanon walked to the plate in the seventh inning, fully aware that he was a home run away from history.  quot;I #39;d be lying if I said I didn #39;t know, quot; the Anaheim Angels outfielder said.


Employees lose jobs after NJ ballpark flap Greg Maiuro and Marco Cerino, public address announcer and scoreboard operator for minor league baseball #39;s Atlantic City Surf, lost their jobs Monday for poking fun at James E. McGreevey #39;s sexual orientation.


Holocaust survivor laments Darfur UNITED NATIONSToo little has been done, too late, to end rape and killing in Sudan #39;s Darfur region, Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said yesterday and urged a more vigorous international response.


Five Killed as Heavy Rains Pound Philippines (Reuters) Reuters - Five people were killed and 3 were\missing in the Philippines as heavy rain whipped up by two\typhoons caused floods and landslides in Manila and neighboring\areas, disaster officials said on Thursday.


Plutonium Shipment Plan Worries Lawmakers (AP) AP - Some congressional Democrats raised security concerns Wednesday about a proposed shipment of 300 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium from the United States to France for conversion into a mixed-oxide fuel.


Kingpin bows out ATHENS -- The only People magazine-style celebrity that Greco-Roman wrestling has ever had walked to the center circle of the mat, sat down, removed his size 13 shoes, placed them in the circle, and then stood up, bowing and waving to the crowd while clutching an American flag. Rulon Gardner, age 33, was ready to find out what the world ...


Felix overmatched in 200? Not for a second ATHENS -- Allyson Felix is 18 years old, is missing a week of college classes, and is traveling with parents who are concerned about her diet. Oh, and one other thing: She won the silver medal in the 200-meter dash last night at the Olympic Games.


Sound of success: Israel strikes gold ATHENS -- For many Israelis, the Olympics evoke memories of a terrorist massacre and political boycotts, but windsurfer Gal Fridman provided his countrymen an historic and celebratory remembrance yesterday after he won the first gold medal in the Jewish state's 56-year history.


Patterson eases Cubs by Phillies Corey Patterson hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning yesterday to give the Cubs a 4-2 win over Milwaukee, host Chicago's eighth victory in 11 games.


Angel in the outfield Jeff DaVanon became the first Angels player in 13 years to hit for the cycle and drove in four runs, leading host Anaheim to a 21-6 crushing of Kansas City last night that completed a seven-game season sweep of the Royals. Jose Molina hit his first career grand slam and Garret Anderson had five RBIs and three hits, including a ...


AL notables AL notables A brown squirrel ran onto the field in the bottom of the third inning at Jacobs Field in Cleveland and ran circles around the Yankees and Indians . After a brief delay, play continued when the squirrel ran out and settled down in center field. Several players smiled at the sight, and the squirrel was still out there ...


Crunch time next in store for Schilling TORONTO -- The next time Curt Schilling takes the ball for the Red Sox, it will be on the cusp of September, in the opener of a Fenway Park series next Tuesday against the Anaheim Angels, a team as hot as the Sox in August and one as bent as playing in October as the Olde Towne Team.


Biggio may be thrown out at home HOUSTON -- Craig Biggio doffed his cap and waved to the crowd from first base. He was nearly in tears, realizing the standing ovation may have been one of his last as an Astro.


Texas slides past North Carolina SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Texas is two steps away from a world championship. Chance Murski hit a grand slam and Randal Grichuk hit a three-run homer to lead Richmond, Texas, to the United States final with an 8-2 win over Morganton, N.C., last night at the Little League World Series.


Long story TORONTO -- If the faithful among Red Sox Nation looked to the sky late last night, they may have been convinced that it was aglow with a late-summer display of Northern Lights. Instead, it was the fireworks grand finale to a dazzling, 11-5 drubbing of the Blue Jays that had the Sox belting out four home runs and 17 hits ...


Damon deals with demons TORONTO -- There's an antiseptic quality to the word  quot;concussion quot; that tends to make it sound less ominous than it really is. Call it a bruised brain, and maybe you can appreciate a little more why Johnny Damon, 10 months after his skull-shaking collision with former Red Sox utilityman Damian Jackson during the American League playoffs, said what he did ...


Klecko positions himself FOXBOROUGH -- Nobody knows what lurks in coach Bill Belichick's mind, but it seems safe to say Dan Klecko is going to make the Patriots and get appreciative playing time. Question is, will the former collegiate defensive lineman make a push to be an eventual starter at his new primary position, linebacker?


Brady grades plan a D FOXBOROUGH -- His status as two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player has given Tom Brady the opportunity to endorse not only products but the strategies of his team. And while he may be speaking highly -- while being paid handsomely -- of various commercial items, the same can't be said of his remarks about a particular experiment taking place with ...


Celtics set to sign No. 2 choice The Celtics will sign second-round pick (40th overall) Justin Reed today, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein. The sides agreed to a two-year deal worth approximately \$1 million. The first year is guaranteed and the team holds the option on the second. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge announced last week that Boston planned to sign the 6-foot-8-inch forward from ...


In name game, Couples fills bill for most fans CROMWELL, Conn. -- If you're looking for players who are sitting high on the PGA Tour's money list, you won't find them at TPC River Highlands, where the Buick Championship gets under way today. At No. 26, Jerry Kelly (\$1,622,449) is the leading money winner in this week's stop. If you're looking for players who are sitting high on the ...


Carbone leaves a legacy behind CROMWELL, Conn. -- There were professional golfers on hand, the sunlight was pouring down, and Eddie Carbone had on a shirt and tie, so in many ways everything seemed in place yesterday.


State threatens to pull business from bank Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill yesterday threatened to pull about \$120 million of state business out of Bank of America , and the Romney administration demanded a public accounting of the bank's layoffs and other recent moves in Massachusetts.


Executive's death stuns State Street  The chief executive of State Street Global Advisors, Timothy B. Harbert, died of a heart attack on Tuesday night, the company said yesterday. He was 53.


Adams, Harkness settles  The Boston investment firm Adams, Harkness Inc. will pay \$575,000 to settle charges that it failed to disclose it was paid by investment banks to write research reports on the banks' underwriting clients, regulators said yesterday. Adams, Harkness also failed to preserve copies of internal e-mails as required by law, they said.


FBI raids homes in file-share probe  WASHINGTON -- The FBI seized computers, software, and equipment as part of an investigation into illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music, and games over an Internet ''peer-to-peer quot; network, Attorney General John Ashcroft said yesterday.


A mixed economic bag in July  WASHINGTON -- Factory orders in July for costly manufactured goods recorded the biggest gain in four months. New home sales, meanwhile, slid, according to a pair of reports that offered a mixed picture of economic activity.


Oil prices drop for 4th day NEW YORK -- Oil prices plummeted below \$44 a barrel yesterday, sinking for the fourth consecutive day, as supply fears receded, gasoline futures plunged and profit- taking took over.


For makers of food packages, seconds count Spoons are so old school. And so slow. Harried Americans searching for ways to shave precious seconds have seized on new foods designed to keep them on the go -- no utensils needed. There's soup in heat-and-sip cups. Yogurt in squeeze tubes. Mini cookies in little cans that fit in car cup holders. Even frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ...


Conventions boost Hub hotel revenue  Business got better for Boston hotels last month, as events including the Democratic National Convention and Macworld brought plenty of guests and higher rates than local hoteliers have seen in recent years, according to a study released yesterday.


Ethics commission clears Meirelles of wrongdoing BRASILIA -- A commission that monitors Brazilian government members has concluded that Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles, facing media accusations of tax evasion, has not behaved unethically.


Sprint, Mediacom join in Internet phone deal KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sprint Corp. and cable television provider Mediacom Communications Corp. made public an agreement yesterday that will allow Sprint to offer Internet telephone service to Mediacom's 2.7 million household subscribers.


A technology whiz strives to make life simpler John Maeda is a man with a lot on his mind. The MIT professor of media arts and sciences thinks about how to make technology simpler; he thinks about using the computer as a mode of expression rather than simply as a tool; he thinks about making digital art from Cheetos and sugar crystals.


Antiterrorism device inspired by near miss LEXINGTON -- Michael Y. Lu and Jonathan Morrone, two Boston area businessmen, planned a meeting at the World Trade Center in New York on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. But Morrone had a last-minute scheduling change, and they both missed the appointment.


A Boom Along Mexico's Border Across Tijuana's vast industrial parks, the export assembly plants known as maquiladoras are thriving, posting giant "help wanted" signs.


First Look: Danger Sidekick II The former World Class product-of-the-year PDA gets a much-needed upgrade.


Apps to Organize Your Digital Photos  Here's an overview of three new programs that promise easier image management.


Long-Distance Sports Thanks to new high-tech gear, opponents in golf and racket sports can be across town - or across the country.


Iraqi Sadr Supporters Attacked Near Najaf-Witnesses (Reuters) Reuters - Supporters of rebel Iraqi cleric\Moqtada al-Sadr were fired on as they marched from the town of\Kufa to the city of Najaf on Thursday and several were wounded,\witnesses at the scene said.


First Look: Danger Sidekick II (PC World) PC World - The one-time World Class Product of the Year PDA gets a much-needed upgrade.


Russia Mourns Dead in Mystery Double Air Crash  UZLOVAYA, Russia (Reuters) - Russia observed a day of  mourning on Thursday for at least 89 people who died in a  mysterious double air disaster, which some fear could have been  a terrorist attack ahead of a key election in rebel Chechnya.


No Clues Announced in Russia Jet Crashes MOSCOW - A government commission searching for the cause of the near-simultaneous crashes of two airliners began work at one of the wreckage sites Thursday after workers finished combing over the shattered plane. No clues to clear up the mystery, or indicate terrorism, were immediately reported...


Mortar Attack Kills 27 at Kufa Mosque KUFA, Iraq - A mortar barrage hit the main mosque in the Iraqi city of Kufa on Thursday, killing 27 people and wounding 63 others as they prepared to march on the violence-wracked city of Najaf, hospital officials and witnesses said.    Thousands of people were crowded around the mosque at the time and dead bodies lay around the mosque compound, which is a stronghold of followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, witnesses said...


Hilton Profit Almost Triples on UK Bettors, Hotels (Update2) Hilton Group Plc, the operator of Hilton hotels outside the US, said first-half profit almost tripled, helped by gains at the Ladbrokes betting chain and a recovery in demand for hotel rooms.


First Reserve to Buy Ingersoll-Rand Unit for \$1.2 Bln (Update2) First Reserve Corp., the largest private buyout firm specializing in energy-industry investments, agreed to buy an oil and gas equipment business of Ingersoll-Rand Co.


Oil settles below \$44 The price of oil sank for the fourth consecutive day yesterday amid profit taking and easing concerns about supply, dipping below \$44 US a week after it threatened to hit \$50 US.


Home Depot settles EEOC lawsuit Company to pay out \$5.5 million The discrimination claim was brought on behalf of Colorado employees. The chain denies misconduct.


Walking away THE GAZETTE. ATHENS, Greece - Moments after wrestler Rulon Gardner won an Olympic bronze medal Wednesday, beating an opponent 4 inches taller and 10 years younger, he had another task to perform.


Feeling relaxed not Hartley #39;s style ATHENS -- Her coach calls it  quot;Blythish. quot; Blythe Hartley says it #39;s just the way she operates. Whatever it is, it was working for the Edmonton-born diver yesterday in the preliminaries of the women #39;s three-metre springboard event.


Chen sparkles, but O #39;s drop 9th in a row, 3-0 It #39;s hard to say which was a more unlikely sight for the Orioles last night: journeyman starter Bruce Chen tossing seven shutout innings, or ace reliever BJ Ryan giving up a walk-off home run.


Healthy Hantuchova looks for another title  quot;I just try to play as well as I can this year. If I do that, the results will come, quot; Hantuchova said.  quot;I appreciate being out there.


Cleric returns to Iraq, orders march on Najaf Powerful Shiite leader says he plans to lead a mass demonstration today to end fighting.  Iraqi hostage: Militants said Wednesday they had kidnapped the brother-in-law of Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan


Sudan relents on presence of peacekeepers ABUJA, Nigeria -- At African Union-brokered peace talks Wednesday, a government delegate modified Sudan #39;s previous rejection of an international peacekeeping force for the nation #39;s Darfur region.


Indonesia concern on missile plan INDONESIA today expressed concern about Australia #39;s plans to acquire long-range cruise missiles which Canberra said would give it the  quot;most lethal capacity quot; for air strikes.


Smart phones to see fast growth over next five years Global smart phone shipments are set to rise dramatically over the next five years, as better devices and lower prices combine with other factors to fuel growthand meet


Supporters of Sistani Fired Upon, 20 Dead: Witness (Reuters) Reuters - Supporters of Iraq's top Shi'ite\cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani were fired upon in the\town of Kufa on Thursday and 20 people were killed, a Reuters\photographer said from the scene.


Oil Higher on Iraq After Heavy Fall  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Thursday  from a heavy drop the day before as renewed violence and  sabotage attacks in Iraq revived fears over supply disruptions.


Supporters of Sistani Fired Upon, 20 Dead: Witness  NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Supporters of Iraq's top Shi'ite  cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani were fired upon in the  town of Kufa on Thursday and 20 people were killed, a Reuters  photographer said from the scene.


Determined Jones jumps into finals ATHENS -- The spotlight returned to Marion Jones last night, dimmer but harsher than four years ago. The warming glow is gone, the celebrity tarnished by innuendoes about drug use, and whatever flattering light remains comes from the same smile that lit up the Sydney Games.


Dominating Dirrell dispatches Despaigne ATHENS -- Leon Lawson was watching over Andre Dirrell's shoulder last night, literally and figuratively, as the US middleweight tried to box his way into the medal rounds at the Olympic Games.


Sports Log NAMES Connecticut assistant men's basketball coach Clyde Vaughan resigned following his arrest last week in a prostitution sting by Hartford police, the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register reported on their websites. The resignation came shortly after state officials learned that Vaughan was arrested two previous times on charges similar to the patronizing a prostitute count lodged against him Aug. ...


Ode to ancient Games, nudity and all THE OLYMPICS may have returned to the land of their birth, but even as these games wind down, the stadiums in Athens remain eerily empty. So perhaps the organizers should take some lessons from the ancient Greeks. The hosts of those original Olympics never had trouble luring spectators: the games were packed for nearly 1,200 years.


Boozer, James pay homage to former coach Osowski ATHENS -- Carlos Boozer spent two years in Cleveland. The last one, when he made himself into a player deemed worthy of Olympic stature, the coach who worked with him on a daily basis was assistant Mark Osowski. Yesterday, while getting ready for today's game vs. Spain, Boozer took time to reflect on the Leominster-reared Osowski, who died Sunday of ...


Not enough lift for Hamman Shane Hamman proved once again last night that he's the strongest man in America, adding to his legacy by breaking two of his US records.


Coach gets his chance to build on team's success  While running drills at the annual high school football conditioning camp in Woburn last week, John Fiore of Reading High School was the guy with the smile on his face, and quite possibly the little extra burden strapped on his shoulders.


FBI action over illegal file-swap The FBI has seized equipment as part of the first copyright action taken against file-sharing networks.


Riddick raises the stakes The Chronicles of Riddick is not only one of the most satisfying movie tie-ins ever, but also perhaps the best-looking game the Xbox has yet seen.


Travel agents fight NWA fees on air bookings Travel agents, their trade association and at least one reservation system are challenging Northwest Airlines Inc. #39;s plans to pass on a new fee to travel agents next week, a move that soured


Storm may have been a tornado VERMONTVILLE -- A Wednesday evening storm ripped part of the roof off of an Eaton County high school and dropped it on the football field where the season #39;s first home game is to be played Friday.


Speakeasy gets money from Intel for WiMax Seattle Internet service provider Speakeasy has received an investment from Intel to test a new technology that could provide wireless Internet coverage to entire cities or counties.


Stronger Schilling stops Jays Curt Schilling hasn #39;t felt this good in months, and that #39;s great news for the Boston Red Sox. Schilling earned his 16th win, and David Ortiz homered twice and drove in four runs


Oil Higher on Iraq After Heavy Fall (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices edged higher on Thursday\from a heavy drop the day before as renewed violence and\sabotage attacks in Iraq revived fears over supply disruptions.


Australian announces cruise missile plan, raising tensions with Jakarta (AFP) AFP - Australia announced a cruise missile programme to give it the region's "most lethal" air combat capacity, a move that further strained awkward relations with Indonesia.


Africanized Bees May Have Arrived in Okla. (AP) AP - A swarm of bees that attacked a work crew earlier this month may be of the Africanized variety, which would mark the furthest north the so-called "killer" bees have traveled in the United States, scientists said.


Darfur Rebels Say Peace First, Disarming After (Reuters) Reuters - Rebels from Sudan's Darfur region on\Thursday rejected calls to disarm or garrison their fighters\before a political solution to the conflict there has been\decided and implemented.


Sudan dismisses UN Security Council ultimatum on Darfur (AFP) AFP - Sudan will ignore a UN Security Council deadline to end militia attacks in Darfur by the end of the month and instead resolve the crisis through African Union peace talks, Khartoum's chief negotiator said.


Microsoft faces new EU competition probe The European Commission (EC) has launched another investigation into Microsoft - this time over plans to take over an anti-piracy software supplier.


Stocks Are Set to Open Down a Touch US stocks are set to open down a touch Thursday, as investors take some cash off the table following recent gains. Dow Jones futures were down 7 points recently, while Nasdaq futures were 2 points lower and Standard  amp; Poor #39;s futures declined 0.10 points.


Northrop, BAE Systems win US government contract NEW YORK, August 26 (New Ratings) - The US government has reportedly selected Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC.NYS) and BAE Systems Plc (BA) to develop systems for protecting commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles.


Hilton profit soars Hotels and gaming company Hilton has reaped a 72 percent rise in first-half profit beating forecasts, but it has reiterated a cautious outlook on recovery prospects for its hotels business.


Lawsuits fly over Northwest #39;s new GDS fees As expected, the battle of the lawsuits and press releases started soon after an announcement Tuesday by Northwest Airlines that it was taking steps to align its distribution costs with those of the low-cost carriers it increasingly is competing with for


Update 1: German Business Sentiment Dips in August German business sentiment dipped in August amid concerns over the strength of the country #39;s economic recovery, a closely watched survey showed Thursday.


But caution and fears of hard landing are the same TOKYO (CBS.MW) - When it comes to the success of China #39;s steps to slow down its booming economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and the International Monetary Fund are reading from different pages.


Darfur Rebels Say Peace First, Disarming After  CAIRO (Reuters) - Rebels from Sudan's Darfur region  Thursday rejected calls to disarm or confine their fighters to  their bases before a political solution to the conflict there  has been decided and implemented.


S.Africa Police Say Thatcher Was Ready to Leave  CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - The son of former  British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was planning to leave  South Africa before his arrest on suspicion of involvement in a  coup attempt in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, police said  Thursday.


Australia Risks Asian Ire with Long-Range Missiles  CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) - Australia plans to create  what it believes will be the most lethal force of fighter jets  in Southeast Asia by equipping its aircraft with long-range  missiles in a move critics said could antagonize neighbors.


Russia shaken by air crash enigma Russia is in mourning for the 89 victims of a mystery double air crash, as officials refuse to rule out sabotage.


US admits 'bounty hunter' contact The US Department of Defense admits having been in contact with alleged 'bounty hunter' Jack Idema.


Water 'wake-up call' given by UN A UN report says key goals to improve clean water and sanitation by 2015 will fail  unless the world acts.


UN assesses security in Darfur A UN mission goes to Darfur to see if Sudan's government is  keeping promises to improve security.


Thatcher 'planned to leave home' Mark Thatcher planned to leave South Africa, say investigators into his alleged involvement in a coup plot.


US slams Colombia prisoner plan The US voices concern at the Colombian government's plans to reach peace deals with illegal armed groups.


Italy tackles Libya migrant route Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi holds talks with Libya's Colonel Gaddafi on curbing illegal immigration.


Court rejects Chechnya acquittal A Russian court overturns the acquittal of four army officers accused of murdering six civilians in Chechnya.


Singapore Airlines eyes 31 Boeing aircraft SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines (SIA) is set to outlay around US\$7.35 billion for up to 31 Boeing B777-300ER (extended range) aircraft, with 18 to be delivered between 2006 and 2010, the company said.


Before the Bell- Krispy Kreme shares drop Shares of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fell more than 17 percent before the bell on Thursday after the doughnut chain posted sharply lower quarterly


Ahold Reports Weaker-Than-Expected Profit Dutch retailer Ahold NV, recovering from a major accounting scandal, reported a lower-than-expected second-quarter net profit of euro32 million (US\$38.


Stocks Seen Lower; Starbucks Weighs US stocks were set for a slightly lower open Thursday as disappointing results from coffee shop chain Starbucks and volatile oil prices may take the steam out of yesterday #39;s rally.


Fat and Happy? Evaluating Fund Manager Incentives It #39;s a question that has bedeviled fund investors for years--how do you know if the people running the fund have your best interests at heart?


DIY firm settles sex bias lawsuit Home Depot, the US home improvement store chain, has agreed to pay \$5.5m (3m) to settle a discrimination case. Home Depot denied any wrongdoing, saying it has  quot;a zero tolerance policy quot; towards discrimination


UPDATE: Tabcorp Profit Up, Looks Again At High Rollers MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Fresh from two major acquisitions, Australia #39;s biggest gambling company Tabcorp Ltd. (TAH.AU) Thursday said annual net profit rose 23 to A\$311.


India budget voted without debate India's national budget is passed by parliament amid an opposition boycott after a row with the prime minister.


Firefighters' deal averts strike Employers and unions have reached an agreement, resolving the long-running dispute over firefighters' pay.


One third of IT managers struggling with XP SP2 A third of IT managers have admitted that they have  quot;no idea what to expect quot; when deploying Microsoft #39;s Windows XP Service Pack 2, new research has claimed.


Motorola, DoCoMo teaming up to develop new phones Motorola, No. 2 maker of mobile telephones, and NTT DoCoMo, the world #39;s second-largest wireless carrier, will jointly develop handsets to attract business customers in Japan.


Server sales rocket by almost a quarter HP and Sun #39;s ongoing bitter battle for server market share is being played out against overall global sales of servers that have surged strongly to surpass \$11.


CA execs hold on to their bonuses A proposal to claw back bonuses paid to executives under the cloud of an accounting scandal has been rejected by Computer Associates #39; shareholders.


MS rapped over anti-Linux ads Microsoft has been rapped over the knuckles over an anti-Lunix advertising campaign. The Advertising Standards Association in the UK has ruled that the ad makes  quot;misleading quot; claims, and has told the company change the copy on the advertisement forthwith.


#39;Electronic Jihad #39; fails to materialise Rumours that the Internet would witness a sustained and devastating cyber-attack by Islamic  quot;cyber-terrorists quot; today have turned out to be completely baseless.


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


Intel to launch tri-mode chipset Chip giant Intel is launching a  #39;tri-mode #39; Centrino chipset that supports all three wi-fi networking standards. The new chipset will support 802.


Satisfying Sites This particular index is produced by the University of Michigan Business School, in partnership with the American Society for Quality and CFI Group, and is supported in part by ForeSee Results


Impi Linux 2 to be launched at open source Installfest Johannesburg, 26 August 2004 - Impi Linux, a local open source software project geared towards promoting the widespread adoption of open source software in Africa, will launch Impi Linux 2 at the Open Source Installfest at Dimension Data Campus


Jamaica to provide Internet access to poor communities Jamaica #39;s government says it plans to provide free Internet access in poor communities across the island. The e-Jamaica initiative will establish 60 Internet centres across the country by 2010, mostly in post offices.


A Motive For IT Spending SAN FRANCISCO - It #39;s been a tough recession for tech spending and a tough summer for tech stocks. But a Texas software outfit might give investors a reason to get back in the market.


Gardner not saddened Shed no tears for Rulon Gardner. Yes, that really was Gardner, the only man brave enough to not just stand up to the invincible Alexander Karelin but to beat him, nearly


Jones into finals Not only did Jones easily advance to the final of the long jump, surpassing the automatic qualifying standard on her second attempt, but she was animated afterward, even giggling, after finally


World #39;s strongest man strikes again Iranians are swelling with pride after weightlifter Hossein Rezazadeh confirmed his status as the world #39;s strongest man at the Athens Olympics.


Outcasts of Greece and the Games The rubble is everywhere: rusted car parts, a rickety baby carriage, a broken TV and all manner of trash. The ground is unpaved and strewn with rocks.


Walking Bonds Was Wrong Move for Marlins Walking Barry Bonds intentionally to load the bases in the 10th inning turned out to be the wrong move for Florida - because Rudy Seanez then walked pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski on four pitches...


Mortar Barrage Kills 27 in Kufa Mosque KUFA, Iraq - A mortar barrage slammed into a mosque filled with Iraqis preparing to march on the embattled city of Najaf, killing 27 people and wounding 63 Thursday, while the nation's top Shiite cleric arrived at the gates of the holy city in a massive convoy hoping to end three weeks of fighting.  ..


Saboteurs Attack About 20 Iraq Pipelines BASRA, Iraq - Saboteurs have attacked about 20 oil pipelines in southern Iraq, reducing exports from the key oil producing region by at least one third, a top oil official said Thursday.    The cluster of pipelines was attacked late Wednesday in Berjasiya, 20 miles southwest of the southern city of Basra, an official with the state-run South Oil Co...


Russian Flight Recorders Reveal Little MOSCOW - The recorders extracted from the wreckage of two planes that crashed nearly simultaneously have not revealed reliable information on the disasters' causes, a top Russian official was quoted as saying Thursday.    Vladimir Yakovlev, the Russian president's envoy for the southern region, where one of the planes crashed, also said that the main theory about the catastrophe "all the same remains terrorism," the ITAR-Tass news agency said...


Mortar Barrage Kills 27 in Kufa Mosque KUFA, Iraq - A mortar barrage slammed into a mosque filled with Iraqis preparing to march on the embattled city of Najaf, killing 27 people and wounding 63 Thursday, while the nation's top Shiite cleric headed to the area in a massive convoy hoping to end three weeks of fighting.    Hours later, unidentified gunmen opened fire from an Iraqi National Guard base on thousands of Shiite Muslim marchers heading to Najaf, killing at least three and wounding 46, witnesses said...


Mortar Attack Kills 27 at Kufa Mosque KUFA, Iraq - A mortar barrage slammed into a mosque filled Iraqis preparing to march on the embattled city of Najaf, killing 27 people and wounding 63 here Thursday hours before the nation's top Shiite cleric was expected to arrive in area with a peace initiative.    The attack on the main mosque in Kufa - just a few miles from Najaf - dampened renewed hopes for a rapid resolution to the three-week crisis in Najaf...


Iraq #39;s Top Cleric Arrives in Najaf to Press for Peace Iraq #39;s top Shi #39;ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has arrived in Najaf in a bid to end to weeks of fighting between Shi #39;ite militiamen and US and Iraqi forces.


Two Bus Bombs in India Kill 4, Injure 39 GAUHATI, India Aug. 26, 2004 - A passenger bus and another carrying paramilitary soldiers and their families were blown up in separate explosions in the insurgency-wracked Assam state on Thursday, killing


Market Bomb in Thailand Kills One, Injures at Least 24 A bomb blast at a market in Thailand #39;s troubled southern region has killed one person and injured at least 24, including 13 police officers and soldiers.


Militants Kidnap Relatives of Iraqi Minister-TV Militants have kidnapped two relatives of Iraqi Defense Minister Hazim al-Shalaan and demanded US forces leave the holy city of Najaf, Al Jazeera television reported Wednesday.


Jailed Pakistani opposition leader nominated for prime minister A Pakistani opposition alliance will field its jailed leader against a candidate backed by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in an election for a new prime minister, an opposition spokesman said Thursday.


Hurricanes #39; LB out two months Miami freshman linebacker Willie Williams will be sidelined at least two months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his right knee.


Sudan dismisses UN Security Council ultimatum on Darfur ABUJA : Sudan will ignore a UN Security Council deadline to end militia attacks in Darfur by the end of the month and instead resolve the crisis through African Union peace talks, Khartoum #39;s chief negotiator said.


Microsoft slowly rolling on Service Pack 2 updates Microsoft is starting to ramp up distribution of its massive security update for the Windows XP operating system. But analysts say they still expect the company to move at a relatively slow pace to avoid widespread glitches.


sailors settle for bronze The British sailors Simon Hiscocks and Chris Draper have been forced to settle for bronze in the 49er class. The pair had been guaranteed a medal before the 16th race and started the day only two points behind


Russian Press Screams  #39;terror #39; After Plane Crashes The stark contrasts of Russian news reporting were out in the open Thursday: Dailies that largely remain out of state hands screamed  quot;terrorism quot; in bold front-page headlines


Vodafone, Nokia Team Up for Simpler Mobile Software (Reuters) Reuters - Mobile phone giants Vodafone and


Walking Bonds Was Wrong Move for Marlins (AP) AP - Walking Barry Bonds intentionally to load the bases in the 10th inning turned out to be the wrong move for Florida  #151; because Rudy Seanez then walked pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski on four pitches. Pierzynski's walk forced home the tiebreaking run in the San Francisco Giants' 6-5 win over the Marlins on Wednesday night. It was just his 14th walk in 397 plate appearances.


Krispy Kreme Scales Back as Profit Dives (Reuters) Reuters - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N) on\Thursday posted sharply lower quarterly earnings, signaled that\the second half of the year would be weak and scaled back store\openings after it was battered by the low-carbohydrate diet\craze.


Smithfield Foods Profit More Than Doubles (Reuters) Reuters - Hog and pork producer Smithfield Foods\Inc. (SFD.N) on Thursday said quarterly earnings more than\doubled due to higher hog prices and the acquisition last year\of Farmland Foods.


Asian Exports Brisk But Outlook Dims (Reuters) Reuters - Fueled by strong demand from China,\three of Asia's top exporters revealed robust trade data for\July, but economists said the outlook was darkening.


Are we our DVD collections? Even if we don't watch? (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - For many collectors, owning DVDs is becoming more important than actually watching them.


Optus and Vodafone to share 3G network (FT.com) FT.com - Optus and Vodafone have moved to counter Telstra's head start in third generation mobile services, agreeing on Thursday to build a rival second 3G network in Australia.


Ahold Reports Weaker Second Quarter Profit (AP) AP - Dutch retailer Ahold NV, recovering from a major accounting scandal largely attributed to its U.S. food distribution business, reported a lower-than-expected profit for the second quarter that reflected weak U.S. results. Its shares fell more than 8 percent in midday trading.


Orioles Release OF Karim Garcia (AP) AP - The Baltimore Orioles released outfielder Karim Garcia after their ninth straight loss Wednesday night, and sent outfielder Darnell McDonald to Triple-A Ottawa.


UN Darfur envoy issues new warning to Sudan ahead of deadline (AFP) AFP - The situation in Sudan's war-torn western region of Darfur "has not changed much" and the United Nations wants action not words, UN envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk was quoted as saying in the Sudanese press.


Krispy Kreme Drops Before Bell  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.  KKD.N fell more than 17 percent before the bell on Thursday  after the doughnut chain posted sharply lower quarterly  earnings and signaled that the second half of the year would be  weak.


Krispy Kreme Scales Back as Profit Dives  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. KKD.N on  Thursday posted sharply lower quarterly earnings, signaled that  the second half of the year would be weak and scaled back store  openings after it was battered by the low-carbohydrate diet  craze.


Stocks to Watch Thursday  The doughnut chain reported sharply lower quarterly  earnings on Thursday that missed Wall Street's expectations as  it tries to overhaul operations after being battered by popular  low-carbohydrate diets. Its shares closed at \$15.36 on the New  York Stock Exchange.


Euro Stocks, Dollar Rally as Oil Tumbles  LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks and the dollar rallied  on Thursday as tumbling oil prices relieved investor fears  about economic and earnings growth, while debt yields rose  after stronger-than-expected German economic data.


London Oil Down to \$40; Funds Take Profit  LONDON (Reuters) - London oil prices fell briefly through  \$40 on Thursday for the first time in three weeks, extending  four sessions of heavy losses made as renewed exports from Iraq  and higher-than-expected U.S. gasoline inventories encouraged  big-money funds to take profits.


DIY firm settles sex bias lawsuit US decorating store chain Home Depot agrees to pay \$5.5m to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual and racial discrimination against staff.


Growth in Asia 'cutting poverty' Asia's surging economic growth is helping to cut the region's poverty levels, but some areas are lagging behind, a report says.


UK growth forecast trimmed Higher oil prices and rising interest rates are likely to lead to a slowdown in spending on the UK High Street, business leaders predict.


Milk deal 'to help dairy farmers' Sainsbury's supermarket agrees a new milk supply deal with Robert Wiseman and Dairy Crest which the firms say could benefit hundreds of dairy farmers.


Federal online gangbusters arrest dozens Federal agents have initiated a two-pronged attack against online crime by arresting dozens for alleged cyberfraud and raiding a file-sharing network that allowed users to download copyrighted movies and music for free.


Microsoft #39;s Linux ad  #39;misleading #39; The UK watchdog upheld complaints about a magazine advert which claimed that the open-source operating system Linux was more expensive than Windows.


First  quot;Super Earth quot; planet found A super Earth planet has been discovered in a star system 50 light years away. It is the smallest world to be found outside our Solar System, and probably the first rocky planet found so far, astronomers revealed on Wednesday.


Rbot puts the eye in virus A PEEPING Tom virus that allows hackers to turn on a computer #39;s webcam and microphone and spy on users is spreading through the Internet and local computer networks.


Free Software Day Around The World depechemodem writes  quot;In a follow-up to Microsoft Leaves UN Standards Group, it appears that it may have been in reaction to the UN #39;s sponsorship of the 1st annual software Freedom Day in which its International Open Source Network (IOSN) will educate


Free Net for some Jamaicans p2pnet.net News:- Jamaica will spend \$5 million on free Internet access for poor communities, says a VOA (Voice of America) report here.


Ukrainians' Medal Stripped The Ukrainian four-woman rowing team is stripped of its bronze medal Thursday after one member tests positive for a banned drug.


Happy 100th Birthday to the Banana Split PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh alumni have won the Nobel Prize, played in the National Football League and unlocked the secrets of DNA. On Wednesday, the university celebrated a less prestigious but equally sweet accomplishment - the banana split...


Iraq's Top Cleric Arrives in Najaf NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric made a dramatic return to Najaf at the head of a massive convoy Thursday hoping to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city, but hours earlier a mortar barrage slammed into a mosque filled with Iraqis preparing to join his march, killing 27 people.    Along with the mortar attack, another group of thousands of marchers heading into Najaf from its sister-city Kufa came under fire from an Iraqi National Guard base...


Barrichello lauds  #39;phenomenal #39; Spa Rubens Barrichello may have to say goodbye to his title aspirations in Belgium this weekend but he doubts tat will take anything away from the  quot;phenomenal sensation quot; he gets lapping the Spa circuit.


Britain wins bronze in sailing 49er class Britain #39;s Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks have cruised to Olympic bronze in the open 49er class. Hiscocks won silver with Ian Barker four years ago when the high performance 49ers made their Olympic debut in Sydney.


Lashko in gold pole position Irina Lashko has put Australia in a strong medal position going into the finals of the Olympic 3m springboard competition in Athens.


UN begins Sudan security mission A UN envoy has arrived for a close look at the government #39;s efforts to improve security and rein in Arab militia accused of months of atrocities in Darfur, preparing an assessment that could determine whether Sudan will be slapped


Thai motorcycle bomb kills 1, wounds 30 NARATHIWAT, Thailand - A powerful bomb hidden in a motorcycle killed one person and wounded 30 in Thailands mainly Muslim south on Thursday, a day ahead of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatras visit to the restive region.


Selling the High Life in Iraq More than a year after Saddam's ouster, a website hawking real estate in Iraq is seeing something of a mini-bubble. Asking prices in the swankier neighborhoods of Baghdad and Najaf are surging against a backdrop of civil unrest. By Joanna Glasner.


RSS Attracts Really Serious Money Really Simple Syndication technology, which lets news junkies get instant info feeds from multiple sites, is grabbing investors' attention. The latest evidence: a multimillion-dollar funding round for RSS developer Technorati. By Daniel Terdiman.


There Turns Off Road to Nowhere After big layoffs and management turmoil, the developer of the metaverse There looked near death. But \$14 million in new funding has pumped some life into the company. By Daniel Terdiman.


Before the Bell - Taser up, Krispy Kreme down Shares of Taser International Inc. (TASR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) rose more than 4 percent before the market opened on Thursday after the stun-gun maker said it received new orders valued at \$1 million.


TN lorry owners don #39;t support strike NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners #39; Federation has decided not to support the strike call given by All India Motor Transport Congress against levy of a 10 per cent service tax on freight booking agents.


Troubled Rentokil rules out break-up STRUGGLING pest control and security specialist Rentokil today ruled out a break-up of the company or any major disposals as it reported back following a sweeping review of the business.


Earnings at China Unicom rise 18 HONG KONG China Unicom, the smaller of the nation #39;s two mobile phone companies, said Thursday that first-half profit rose about 18 percent from a year earlier after buying networks from its parent.


Vodafone, Nokia Team Up for Simpler Mobile Software  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Mobile phone giants Vodafone and  Nokia teamed up on Thursday to simplify software for cell  phones written with the Java computer language that promises to  bring cheaper, smarter handsets.


Bomb blast in bus kills two JALPAIGURI: Nearly 50 passengers of an inter-state bus plying between Assam #39;s Kokrajhar district and Cooch Behar in West Bengal escaped miraculously with injuries on Thursday morning when a powerful time-bomb ripped apart the vehicle moments after they


Consumer Protection: Spam Ask Eileen Harrington, associate director of the FTC's consumer protection bureau, questions about spam and consumer fraud on the Internet.


2 Firms Win Contracts for Missile Work BAE Systems PLC  and Northrop Grumman Corp. won \$45 million contracts yesterday to develop prototypes of anti-missile technology that could protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles.


Tech Firms Seek to Soften Anti-Piracy Bill Internet service providers and other technology firms are proposing to soften a bill in Congress that they claim will make them targets of frivolous entertainment industry copyright lawsuits.


Game Boy Add-On Video Is Limiting A pair of new add-ons for Nintendo Co.'s Game Boy Advance turn the handheld into something considerably more than a gaming machine - a video phone and a video player. As long as you bear in mind that you're dealing with a toy, you might not be too bothered by the less than stellar quality.


Building Space Houses On Earth An ESA-designed house that uses technology designed for space could become the basis of the new German Antarctic station, Neumayer-III. The new station has to meet stringent laws set up to protect the Antarctic environment, which is where the use of space technology comes in.


Imaging Technique May Give Heart Attack Early Warning It could highlight dangerous plaque deposits in arteries    HealthDayNews -- Plaque deposits that slowly build up on artery walls can break apart, triggering heart attack or stroke. But a new imaging technology developed by Harvard University researchers uses an enzyme linked to arterial plaque to spot these cardiac 'trouble spots' early on...


Body Asymmetry Tied to Aggression Lashing out more common if one ear or finger is larger    HealthDayNews -- If one of your ears is bigger than the other, it may be a sign you're more likely to be aggressive when you get angry.    So say Ohio State University researchers, who found that the greater the asymmetry between certain body parts -- for example, if one foot, index finger, or ear is bigger than the other -- the more likely a person will show signs of aggression when provoked...


Smokers Fill Rooms With Toxins, Study Finds Airborne endotoxins hundreds of times higher in smoky environments    HealthDayNews -- Smoke-filled rooms may contain levels of endotoxins dozens or hundreds of times greater than smoke-free rooms, says a study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden.     Endotoxins are poisonous airborne substances produced by bacteria...


Taking Regular Pills May Thwart Yeast Infections By JANET McCONNAUGHEY    (AP) -- Women who get lots of painful yeast infections can safely ward them off with a weekly pill, the largest study on the subject has found. Regular, preventive doses of an antifungal drug for six months dramatically cut the number of episodes...


Microsoft preps XP push, deliberates on Longhorn In addition to a holiday-season push, the software giant says it is time to revisit its plans for its ambitious major update.


Infosys to set up second outsourcing facility in China SHANGHAI -- Indian outsourcing company Infosys Technologies Ltd. moved into its Shanghai office in February. Now, the company is running out of space and is scouting locations for a second outsourcing facility in China, a company executive said Wednesday.


Microsoft continues Windows XP SP2 distribution Continuing the roll-out of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday began pushing the security-focused update to PCs running Windows XP Professional Edition, made it available on Windows Update and started taking orders for SP2 CDs.


Hall of Fame basketball player Calvin Murphy acquitted of sexual <b>...</b> Hall of Fame basketball player Calvin Murphy was jubilant after a jury cleared him of all charges that he sexually abused five of his 10 daughters more than a decade ago.


Inventor Makes Car Engine that Runs Off Air MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) -- An Australian inventor claims to have made the world's first commercially-viable motor vehicle powered by compressed air.       The vehicle is being tried out by contractors in Melbourne's parks and gardens over the next 12 months as an alternative to conventional diesel or petrol engines...


WinAmp flayed by skins attack In brief Exploit circulating for unpatched vuln


Induce Act Draws Support, Venom Hollywood loves it. Techies hate it. And now, nine senators are signing on to help it pass. That's the latest chapter in the short history of the Induce Act, a bill aimed at cracking down on technologies that can be used to steal copyright works. By Xeni Jardin.


Where Do the Extra Embryos Go? Every year, in vitro fertilization clinics produce more embryos than they use in helping women get pregnant. A new study shows a wide discrepancy in what happens to the extras, from incineration to freezing. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Seas Seen as Viable Power Source Escalating oil prices and global warming concerns have shifted the quest for renewable energy sources into high gear. While wind and solar claim most of the attention, the dark horse in this race may be the restless energy of the sea. By Stephen Leahy.


First Rose for Texas: Bowl officials happy to have hooked Horns Although Big Ten co-champion Michigan will play in the Rose Bowl, the New Year #39;s Day game will have a Texas twist to it. After losing Pac-10 champion Southern Cal to the national championship Orange Bowl, Rose


Weapons of Mass Mobilization A quiet couple in Berkeley, California, got sick of being ignored by the system. So they built a new one. How MoveOn.org changed the face of fund raising, brought P2P to political advertising and reinvented grass-roots activism. By Gary Wolf from Wired magazine.


Porn Law Draws Adult Sites' Ire A Justice Department proposal to require more stringent record-keeping of porn stars' identities draws fire from webmasters who run adult sites. If enacted, they say, the regs may make it tough for them to stay in business. By Xeni Jardin.


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


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


Doping Weighs Heavily on Weightlifters  ATHENS (Reuters) - Staged in a grand theater in the land of  mythical strongmen Hercules and Atlas, the Athens Olympics were  supposed to herald a rebirth for the sport of weightlifting.


Darfur Rebels Say Power Deal First, Disarming Later  CAIRO (Reuters) - Rebels from Sudan's Darfur region  Thursday rejected calls to disarm or confine their fighters to  their bases before a political solution to the conflict there  has been decided and implemented.


Food Industry Helps Americans Eat Faster Spoons are so old school. And so slow. Harried Americans searching for ways to shave precious seconds from their dining routines have seized on a slew of new foods designed to keep them on the go - no utensils needed.


Grapefruit Lowers Weight, Fights Cancer A grapefruit or two a day, along with a healthy diet, could help shrink widening waistlines. It might also cut smokers' risk for cancer as it inhibits a carcinogen in tobacco smoke.


RealNetworks to Offer Paid Internet Content NEW YORK (AP) -- RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK) survived the dot-com collapse and an assault from Microsoft Corp...


Investor Weighs if Google IPO Was Worth the Time By MICHAEL J. MARTINEZ    NEW YORK (AP) -- Now that a week has passed and I've had time to digest the events surrounding Google Inc...


Microsoft Expands Windows XP Update Release By ALLISON LINN    SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is starting to ramp up distribution of its massive security update for the Windows XP operating system, but analysts say they still expect the company to move at a relatively slow pace to avoid widespread glitches...


Stocks Set for Flat Open as Oil Seesaws US stock futures pointed to a flat market open on Thursday on volatile oil prices and as investors awaited a key economic report and comments from the Federal Reserve Bank chairman on Friday.


TD buys majority stake in Banknorth Toronto Dominion Bank will acquire 51 percent of US-based Banknorth Group Inc. in a \$3.8 billion cash and stock deal that will allow TD to expand its reach in the Northeastern United States, TD said Thursday.


3 Japanese Automakers Boost Output in July Japan #39;s top three auto makers said Thursday their global production surged in July on brisk demand in overseas markets, but Mazda Motor Corp.


German recovery remains weak Confidence at German companies worsened less than expected in August, the closely-watched Ifo survey showed on Thursday, but the institute #39;s president said a recovery was still not on solid ground.


London Oil Down to \$40; Funds Take Profit London oil prices fell briefly through \$40 on Thursday for the first time in three weeks, extending four sessions of heavy losses made as renewed exports from Iraq and higher-than-expected US gasoline inventories encouraged big-money


Pirate hubs busted US agents busted an online network suspected of allowing the illegal trading of hundreds of movies, songs, video games and software programs over the Internet, the first such federal action taken


Teen bullies take to cyber terror A graphic account of how bullies use the medium to harass their victims featured in The New York Times on Thursday. Eighth-grade student Amanda Marcuson reported some classmates to authorities at her new school


Sri Lanka internet disruption said not caused by I Sri Lanka Telecom Thursday decided to withdraw its case against the Indian ship accused of severing the island #39;s main link to the internet after conclusive evidence that the vessel had nothing to do with the damage caused to submarine fibre optic cable


Hamish Carter wins men #39;s triathlon Hamish Carter of New Zealand clinched the gold medal for men #39;s triathlon at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games here Thursday. Carter won the three-discipline event at 1 hour 51 minutes and 7.73 seconds.


IOC sanctions two more for anti-doping violations Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - The International Olympic Committee announced today that Ukraine rower Olena Olefirenko, whose team place third in the women #39;s quadruple sculls event, has tested positive for the drug Ethamivan.


Montgomerie and Donald boost Ryder Cup bids Ryder Cup wild card favourites Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald inspired each other to challenge strongly in the first round of the BMW International Open on Thursday.


Iraq #39;s top cleric arrives in Najaf on peace mission as a mortar <b>...</b> By Abdul Hussein Al-Obeidi, Associated Press, 8/26/2004 08:16. NAJAF, Iraq (AP) Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric made a dramatic return to Najaf at the head of a massive convoy Thursday hoping to end three weeks of


Thatcher son was planning to flee Mark Thatcher, multi-millionaire businessman and son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, had planned to flee South Africa shortly before he was arrested on charges of being involved in a coup plot to overthrow the government of the central


German Business Confidence Dips in August (AP) AP - German business confidence dipped in August, reflecting worries about the strength of the country's economic recovery, a survey of German executives showed Thursday.


Regulator: British Broadband Prices Still Too High (Reuters) Reuters - Britain's broadband access charges are\still too high and need to be slashed further to bring them in\line with other nations, the UK's media and telecoms regulator\said Thursday.


Sprint certifies QuickTime, Xserve G5 for phone media (MacCentral) MacCentral - Telecommunications company Sprint on Thursday announced that it has certified Apple's Xserve G5 and QuickTime as mobile multimedia delivery platforms for Sprint's own PCS Vision Multimedia Services. This enables content service providers to use Xserve G5 systems and QuickTime to deliver streaming audio and video clips to Sprint customers whose phones support Sprint's new Vision Multimedia Service. The service provides content from CNN, NBC, Fox Sports, The Weather Channel, E! Entertainment, mFlix and other companies. ...


Players discuss tougher testing policy Phoenix -- Baseball #39;s union leaders, facing calls from some of its members to crack down on steroids, will discuss changing its drug-testing policy today after reports of Barry Bonds #39; and Jason Giambi #39;s explosive grand jury testimony in the BALCO case.


Jobless Claims Rise on Back of Hurricane  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ranks of Americans filing for  initial unemployment compensation swelled last week but at  least half of this increase was linked to devastation wrought  by Hurricane Charley earlier this month, the government said on  Thursday.


Archaeologists Unearth Lost Military Camp (AP) AP - Arrowheads that turn up in the mud after a heavy rain are common here, but now archaeologists are digging up broken bits of fine china, parts of military uniforms and even charred firewood, relics of one of the biggest Army camps in the earliest days of the republic that went unnoticed for two centuries.


Krispy Kreme Profit Dives, Stock Hammered  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.KKD.N on  Thursday reported a sharp drop in quarterly profit and signaled  that business may not recover anytime soon, sending its shares  down more than 17 percent in pre-market trading.


Russia Air Crash Flight Recorders May Not Help  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Investigators examined flight recorders  Thursday from Russia's mystery double air crash in which 89  people died, but one official doubted they would be of any use.


Treasuries Moribund, Yield Curve Flattens  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries prices were moribund  on Thursday as a drought of major new data left the market at  the mercy of equities and oil price changes.


Brown-Forman Earnings Jump 67 Percent  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brown-Forman Corp. BFb.N, which  sells products ranging from Jack Daniels whiskey to Lenox  china, on Thursday posted a better-than-expected 67 percent  jump in earnings as aggressive marketing boosted sales of  premium spirits and new wines.


Red Bull drop A1-Ring expansion plans Red Bull Racing has dropped plans for a 700-million euro (\$940 million) revamp of Austria #39;s A1-Ring grand prix track because of environmental concerns, team owner Dietrich Mateschitz said.


Sunflower oil boost to car future UK scientists develop a process for making hydrogen from sunflower oil which may become an important future source of eco-friendly energy.


High-Intensity Training May Prevent Astronauts' Muscle Loss Squats stopped muscle wasting in simulated experiment    HealthDayNews -- High-intensity resistance training may help astronauts maintain muscle strength and size during long space voyages, according to a new study.    The study, published in the Journal of Physiology, included 12 volunteers confined to their beds for 84 consecutive days in order to mimic the effects of living in a zero-gravity environment...


TD Bank to buy New England retail bank Banknorth for \$3.8 billion <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - TD Bank confirmed Thursday it will buy mid-sized New England retail bank Banknorth for \$3.8 billion US in a cash-and-shares deal.


Oil falls to \$40 London Brent crude has fallen briefly through \$40 for the first time in three weeks, extending heavy losses to a fifth session as renewed exports from Iraq and higher-than-expected US gasoline inventories encourage big-money funds to


Smithfield Foods Profit More Than Doubles Hog and pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said quarterly earnings more than doubled due to higher hog prices and the acquisition last year of Farmland Foods.


GM pulls Corvette TV ad featuring underage driver Fast and sleek, the Chevy Corvette is the sports car of many a schoolboy #39;s dreams. And, for General Motors Corp., a PR nightmare.


Sunflower oil boost to car future UK scientists have developed a process for making hydrogen from sunflower oil which could prove an important future source of eco-friendly energy.


China Telecom selects Flag Telecom for connectivity to US China Telecom has selected Reliance-owned Flag Telecom to provide international bandwidth capacity between China and US West Coast, under a multi-million dollar contract.


Intel Pentium M dual core chips? No kidding WEB SITE Digitimes, fresh from its typhoon traumas, reckons that Intel will highlight a dual core Pentium M codenamed Napa when it heralds its future directions at the Intel Developer Forum in September.


Keeping up with Jones isn #39;t hard Athens -- What a far cry this is from Sydney for Marion Jones. Comparatively speaking, these are the Olympics Lite, a few days of action and no hint of huge things.


Everton in turmoil It seemed that things couldn #39;t possibly get any worse for Evertonians after what must go down as the most embarrassing close season in the club #39;s history.


Angels score 21 runs in victory ANAHEIM -- Jeff DaVanon has taken a back seat to Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen this season, but the Anaheim Angels backup outfielder etched his name in the teams record book.


Typhoon unleashes devastation on Asia Shanghai - Typhoon Aere crashed into mainland China on Thursday, unleashing torrential rains and prompting the nearly a million people to seek safety, as the death toll climbed to on 35 Thursday after a mudslide killed 15 villagers in Taiwan.


Charges are reduced for one Abu Ghraib defendant MANNHEIM, Germany Charges were reduced Wednesday against a US military policewoman accused in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.


Dream Team Pulls Away to Beat Spain 102-94 (AP) AP - The U.S. men's basketball team atoned for two preliminary-round losses with a big victory Thursday. The Americans wore down previously unbeaten Spain over the final minutes, pulling away for a 102-94 victory to advance to the semifinals.


British MPs aiming to impeach Blair over Iraq war (AFP) AFP - Eleven members of the British parliament are planning to table a motion in the House of Commons calling for the impeachment of Prime Minister Tony Blair over the way he took the nation into the Iraq war, it was reported.


Olympics: Cut It Out, Give It Back, Cool the Hype  ATHENS (Reuters) - Calls of "cut it out" and "give it back"  competed with a hot United States-vs.-China medals race  Thursday as the 28th Olympiad in Athens went into its final  days with some 80 medals still to be won.


Wall St. Seen Sliding After Jobless Data  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a  slightly lower open on Wall Street  on Thursday after a report  showed a larger-than-expected rise in claims for unemployment  benefits, a gauge of strength in the jobs market.


Clippers need 2 OTs to down Bobcats Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz shoots against Shandon Anderson of the Miami Heat in Miami #39;s 100-80 win Monday. Corey Maggette scored four of his 33 points in the second overtime and the Los Angeles Clippers


Enron-Linked Securities Sparks Lawsuit  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc. C.N faces a lawsuit  from angry investors who allege they were defrauded in a  "massive scheme of deception" when they bought securities tied  to the credit-worthiness of Enron Corp. ENRNQ.PK.


Guidant Resolves Champion Stent Issues  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cardiovascular device maker Guidant  Corp. GDT.N said on Thursday it has resolved problems with  its Champion drug-coated stent and plans to launch the heart  device in Europe in mid-2005.


US NBA stars advance by ousting Spain (AFP) AFP - Stephon Marbury scored 31 points and the United States defeated Spain 102-94 in a pressure-packed Olympic men's basketball quarter-final to keep alive their hopes of a gold medal.


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


TD Buys U.S. Retail Bank, Ups Dividend (Reuters) Reuters - Toronto Dominion Bank (TD.TO), Canada's\second-biggest by assets, said on Thursday it would acquire a\majority stake of U.S.-based Banknorth Group Inc. (BNK.N),\while also boosting its dividend and reporting a 17-percent\rise in profits.


Stocks Open Lower After Jobless Claims  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday  after a report showed a larger-than-expected rise in claims for  unemployment benefits, a gauge of strength in the jobs market.


TD Buys U.S. Retail Bank, Ups Dividend  TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto Dominion Bank TD.TO, Canada's  second-biggest by assets, said on Thursday it would acquire a  majority stake of U.S.-based Banknorth Group Inc. BNK.N,  while also boosting its dividend and reporting a 17-percent  rise in profits.


Smithfield Foods Profit More Than Doubles  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Smithfield Foods Inc. SFD.N on  Thursday said quarterly earnings more than doubled due to  higher hog prices and the hog and pork producer's acquisition  of Farmland Foods last year.


UPDATE 4-Krispy Kreme profit plunges, stock hammered Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.(KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday reported a sharp drop in quarterly profit and signaled that business may not recover any


Brown-Forman Earnings Jump 67 Percent Brown-Forman Corp. (BFb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which sells products ranging from Jack Daniels whiskey to Lenox china, on Thursday posted a better-than-expected 67 percent jump


Ingersoll-Rand to Sell Dresser Unit Private equity firm First Reserve Corp. continued its buying spree on Thursday by announcing its \$1.2 billion purchase of industrial equipment maker Dresser-Rand Co.


Smithfield quarterly profits beat outlook SMITHFIELD, Va. Meat processor Smithfield Foods says its income more than doubled in the most recent quarter. The company cites improved profitability in the hog production segment, combined with strong results


Red Cross needs help with Charley aftermath The Red Cross has issued a call for help from communities across the nation in the wake of Hurricane Charley. The storm system that blew through Florida two weeks ago caused billions of dollars in damage - and


TD Buys Banknorth, Ups Profit, Dividend  TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto Dominion Bank TD.TO, Canada's  second-biggest by assets, said on Thursday it would acquire a  majority stake of U.S.-based Banknorth Group Inc. BNK.N,  while also boosting its dividend and reporting a 17-percent  rise in profits.


UPDATE 2-BlackRock buys State Street Research for \$375 mln BlackRock Inc. (BLK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , one of the largest US fixed income managers, on Thursday said it will buy its far smaller competitor State Street Research  amp; Management Co.


TD Buys US Retail Bank, Ups Dividend Toronto Dominion Bank (TD.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , Canada #39;s second-biggest by assets, said on Thursday it would acquire a majority stake of US-based Banknorth Group Inc.


Smithfield Foods Profit More Than Doubles Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said quarterly earnings more than doubled due to higher hog prices and the hog and pork producer #39;s acquisition of Farmland Foods last year.


Merck Down on Arthritis Study Merck (MRK:NYSE - news - research) shares fell early Thursday after a study sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration concluded that its Vioxx arthritis drug put users at a greater risk to heart attacks than Pfizer #39;s (PFE:NYSE - news - research


Nokia, Vodafone Launch Java App Simplification Drive Wireless equipment vendor Nokia and wireless operator Vodafone said Thursday that they are launching an initiative to simplify standards for developing mobile Java applications.


Toshiba hikes flash memory output Capacity at Japanese plant to increase 7.5 to meet demand from digital camera, cell phone makers. TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp.


Analysis: If It #39;s Embedded, It Better Be Good It #39;s happened many times before, most notably with dial-up modems and Ethernet interfaces: A new network technology initially appears as an add-on, but over time, the technology


Microsoft keeps MOM with application management Microsoft yesterday released its latest Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005 and MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition (previously named MOM 2005 Express) system and application management offerings to manufacturing.


Casio updates small, thin Exilim camera range Casio Computer Co. Ltd. has taken the wraps off five new digital still cameras it will begin selling worldwide in the run-up to this year #39;s end-of-year sales season.


Rulon Gardner Says Goodbye To Olympic Wrestling Rulon Gardner, who had already left a big mark in the world of Olympic wrestling, left his shoes on the mat to signify his retirement from the ancient sport.


New Zealand dominate Men #39;s Triathlon to claim historic double ATHENS, 26 August - New Zealand triathletes created history today, after 33-year-old Hamish CARTER executed the perfect tactical race to win the Men #39;s Triathlon at Vouliagmeni, holding off teammate Bevan DOCHERTY, the fastest runner in the sport of


IAAF launches investigation into Greek doping scandal Track #39;s governing body began investigating Thursday whether two Greek sprinters who withdrew from the Olympics had tried repeatedly to avoid doping testers.


Felix wins silver, sets record Eighteen-year-old Allyson Felix set a world junior record of 22.18 seconds while winning the silver medal in the women #39;s 200. She finished second to former University of Arkansas student Veronica Campbell


Spain #39;s Martinez/Fernandez wins Olympic men #39;s sailing 49er gold ATHENS, Aug. 26 (Xinhuanet- Spain #39;s Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez won the Olympic gold medal in men #39;s sailing 49er at the Athens Olympics here on Thursday.


Bartlett to miss SA World Cup qualifier South Africa have been forced to leave striker Shaun Bartlett out of their squad for next weekend #39;s World Cup qualifier against DR Congo because of an ankle injury.


Thatcher  #39;planned to quit S Africa #39; Sir Mark Thatcher was planning to leave South Africa when he was arrested, authorities in the country said. The son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is under house arrest and facing the possibility


Zimbabwe #39;s opposition threatens to boycott elections Zimbabwe #39;s main opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has threatened to boycott all elections in the country until the government implements  quot;real quot; electoral


Microsoft preps XP push, mulls Longhorn 'priorities' Software giant readies slew of new products for the holidays and revisits options for major Windows revision, News.com has learned.


Shadows hang over Jones #39; appearance By the time the competitor wearing number 3293 stepped on to the runway for her first attempt in the women #39;s long jump qualifying competition last night, the sun had long since disappeared over the roof of the Olympic Stadium.


Top Iraqi Shi #39;ite Cleric Arrives in Al-Najaf 26 August 2004 -- Iraq #39;s top Shi #39;ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, arrived in the city of Al-Najaf today in a bid to end a weeks-long conflict between US forces and militiamen loyal to Shi #39;ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.


Armenian accused gives evidence in coup case Malabo - The trial of 18 men charged with plotting to oust Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema went into a fourth day on Thursday, with an Armenian pilot accused of being a hired gun for the coup bid giving evidence.


Nokia, Vodafone push for mobile Java standards The world's largest mobile phone manufacturer and Europe's largest wireless operator have launched an initiative to simplify Java standards for mobile devices in a move aimed to help developers create software for multiple Java-enabled devices, thus providing users with a wider choice of Java-based applications.


NBA Today (AP) AP - New Jersey at Cleveland (7 p.m. EST). The Central Division-leading Cavaliers are 7-3 in their last 10 games.


Greenspan: Banks Can Stop Illegal Tying (Reuters) Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan\Greenspan said internal controls are usually enough to prevent\banks from engaging in illegal "tying," a practice in which\low-cost loans are offered to borrowers who agree to buy other\high-fee services.


After 10 Years of War, Chechens Seek Peace Abroad (Reuters) Reuters - Uma wanted nothing to do with the\Chechen war and sat out the fighting hundreds of miles from her\homeland. But the war found her anyway.


New Hybrid Disc Offers CD-DVD Combination (AP) AP - Recording companies looking to wring more profits out of music sales are hoping to sell retailers on a new hybrid disc. On one side is standard CD audio; on the other, the enhanced sound, video and other media capabilities of a DVD.


'Virtual Girlfriend' Demands Gifts (AP) AP - She needs to be coddled with sweet talk and pampered with gifts, but you'll never see her in the flesh. A Hong Kong company has developed a "virtual girlfriend" for new cell phones with video capability.


India Struggles to Revive Ailing Health Sector (Reuters) Reuters - Whenever Lalibati, a poor farmer's\wife in western India, falls sick, she heads for only one\person: the local faith healer.


Supreme Court will not hear appeal of convicted killer-rapist Larry Fisher (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The man convicted of the brutal murder and rape that kept David Milgaard wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years will not be able to appeal his case to the Supreme Court of Canada.


Brown-Forman #39;s earnings jump 67 Brown-Forman Corp., which sells products ranging from Jack Daniel #39;s whiskey to Lenox china, posted a better-than-expected 67 percent jump in earnings Thursday as aggressive marketing boosted sales of premium spirits and new wines.


Washington Post  #39;heir #39; steps down NEW YORK Steve Coll, the managing editor of The Washington Post for the past six years and the apparent front-runner to succeed the top editor, announced abruptly that he would step down at the end of the year to divide his time between writing books and


Mitsubishi Motors, DaimlerChrysler reviewing partnership Mitsubishi Motors Corp. suggested Thursday it is in talks with DaimlerChrysler AG to review the existing partnership arrangements between them.


Gymnastics: South Koreans Still Pursuing Yang Gold  ATHENS (Reuters) - South Korea were still lobbying  gymnastics and Olympics officials over the gold medal gymnast  Yang Tae-young lost as a result of a judging mistake, the team  said Thursday.


Microsoft continues Windows XP SP2 distribution Continuing the roll-out of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday began pushing the security-focused update to PCs running Windows XP Professional Edition


Justice Department Cracks Down On SHaring The FBI seized computers and software as part of an investigation into illegal sharing of copyrighted materials over peer-to-peer networks, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced.


Nokia and Vodafone to Lead Roadmap for Mobile Java Standards LONDON, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move that is intended to deliver benefits for the mobile industry and for mobile customers, Nokia and Vodafone today announce the formation of a mobile service architecture initiative.


Internet lets teen bullies inflict suffering from afar The fight started at school, when some teenage girls stole a pencil case filled with makeup that belonged to a new classmate, Amanda Marcuson, and she reported them.


Fourteen Times the Earth - Smallest Ever Extra-Solar Planet <b>...</b> This discovery was made possible by the unprecedented accuracy of the HARPS spectrograph on ESO #39;s 3.6-m telescope at La Silla, which allows radial velocities to be measured with a precision better than 1 m/s.


Toshiba to boost flash chip output Toshiba Corp says it plans to boost output capacity for flash memory chips at a plant in central Japan by 7.5 percent to meet robust demand from digital camera and mobile phone makers.


Embedded Wi-Fi Market Undergoing Major Shift SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One of the hottest technology markets, Wireless LAN (WLAN), or Wi-Fi, is undergoing a fundamental shift, according to In-Stat/MDR (http://www.


Casio to release five new digital cameras Casio today announced five new digital cameras for the consumer market, the slim Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 has a 3.2-megapixel sensor, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700 is a 7.2-megapixel digital with 4x optical zoom and the Business Shot feature that provides


Triathlon: Kiwi gets the last kick ATHENS Hamish Carter won the gold in the men #39;s triathlon on Thursday, outkicking the world champion and fellow New Zealander, Bevan Docherty, over the final 500 meters.


Jones looks to end dissonant year on golden note Controversial triple Olympic champion Marion Jones will try to claim the two titles she missed out on in 2000 when she competes in the long jump final and, hopefully, the 4x100 metres relay at the Athens Games on Friday.


Olympic Baseball Makes a Hit in Greece The team that did near the worst in Olympic baseball drew the most fans while the team among the most feared were not there. Such was the Olympic baseball competition, where


Ukranian rower fails drugs test ATHENS - Ukrainian rower Olena Olefirenko has failed a drugs test at the Olympics and has been stripped of a bronze medal, the International Olympic Committee has announced.


Konstantinos Kenteris: Glorious past, uncertain future MITILINI, Greece Inside the pint-size community theater here, on a street hugging the Aegean Sea, the party was to begin at sundown.


Olympic Baseball Makes a Hit in Greece  ATHENS (Reuters) - The team that did near the worst in  Olympic baseball drew the most fans while the team among the  most feared were not there.


Not guilty, sir, declares David Hicks David Hicks, centre, faces the US military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay yesterday. His father Terry and stepmother Bev are seated at far left.


Zimbabwe opposition to boycott elections until system changes Zimbabwe #39;s opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) announced yesterday that it will boycott all future elections until President Robert Mugabe #39;s government changes its electoral system, ends state violence and repeals repressive media


Hostage drama shatters city routine It was rush hour and a young police constable, working a pay-duty shift outside the Royal York Hotel, spotted 45-year-old Sugston Anthony Brookes just minutes before


Paris celebrates 1944 liberation day Large crowds have lined Paris streets to witness military columns roll through marking the 60th anniversary of the citys liberation from German occupation.


Ten Sistani Supporters Killed in Iraq's Najaf  NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - At least 10 supporters of Iraq's  top Shi'ite cleric were shot dead in Najaf Thursday when gunmen  opened fire at police who were trying to control the crowd,  prompting the police to return fire, witnesses said.


Iraq's Sistani Arrives in Najaf; 74 Dead in Attacks  NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's most revered cleric arrived  in Najaf Thursday to try to end a bloody three-week uprising as  tensions were inflamed by attacks on Shi'ite marchers that  killed at least 74 people and wounded 315.


Halkia's Win Extraordinary, Says Pittman's Coach  ATHENS (Reuters) - Fani Halkia's victory in the Olympics  women's 400 meters hurdles was extraordinary but drug-related  questions about the Greek's performance are unfair, Australian  coach Phil King said Thursday.


Top Enron official pleads guilty Enron's ex-head of investor relations pleads guilty to fraud, pays a penalty of \$1.49m and agrees to testify against his ex-bosses.


Yahoo Nazi Memorabilia Ruling Overturned A US appeals court ruled this week that a lower tribunal had no right to decide a case brought against US internet giant Yahoo by two French groups trying to halt online sales of Nazi memorabilia. Documents showed on Wednesday that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ...


Search Engine Personalization - The Fallout Search Engine Personalization - The Fallout\\There has been a lot of discussion recently about search engine personalization, with search engines such as Yahoo! and Google experimenting with factoring in profile information to adjust search results based on relevance to a specific user rather than just giving the exact same results ...


How Millionaires are Born There's hope for the next generation when teens begin investing their money.


Pakhalina Leads Diving Semifinals Australian Irina Lashko advances to the final of 3-meter springboard with the top score from Thursday's semifinals.


Dream Team Pulls Away to Beat Spain 102-94 ATHENS, Greece - Stephon Marbury set a U.S. Olympic record with 31 points, and a U.S...


Yemeni Poet Asks to Represent Himself GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A Yemeni poet accused of crafting terrorist propaganda asked to represent himself Thursday before a U.S. military commission, but officers said it was not allowed...


Iraq's Top Shiite Cleric Arrives in Najaf NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric made a dramatic return to Najaf at the head of a massive convoy Thursday hoping to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city. But hours earlier, a mortar barrage hit a mosque filled with Iraqis preparing to join his march, killing 27 people and wounding 63...


Jobless Claims Up on Impact of Charley WASHINGTON - The number of new people signing up for jobless benefits rose last week, reflecting the impact of hurricane Charley, which recently tore through Florida.    The Labor Department reported Thursday that new applications for unemployment insurance increased by a seasonally adjusted 10,000 to 343,000 for the week ending Aug...


Giants Walk to 6-5 Win Over Marlins Walking Barry Bonds intentionally to load the bases in the 10th inning turned out to be the wrong move for Florida - because Rudy Seanez then walked pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski on four pitches...


Canadian Stocks Fall, Led by Toronto-Dominion Bank, EnCana Canadian stocks fell, led by Toronto- Dominion Bank, after the lender said it would buy a controlling stake in Banknorth Group Inc.


Field Poll: Californians liking economy Bee Staff Writer. Californians are slowly growing more optimistic about the health of the economy, but a majority still feels the state is in bad economic times, according to a new Field Poll.