FBI Probes if Official Spied for Israel WASHINGTON - In a spy investigation that could strain U.S.-Israeli relations and muddy the Bush administration's Middle East policy, the FBI is investigating whether a Pentagon analyst fed to Israel secret materials about White House deliberations on Iran.    No arrests have been made, said two federal law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation...


Protest banner unfurled before Powell visit Hours before Secretary of State Colin Powell was to arrive in Athens, Greece #39;s communist party draped a large banner protesting his visit over a side of the ancient Acropolis hill near the Parthenon.


Jimenez leads German Open SPAIN #39;S 40-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez was leading the German Golf Open following today #39;s second round as Europe #39;s elite chased points to get on the Ryder Cup team.


Bryant trial opens with questionnaires for prospective jurors Kobe Bryants trial began Friday with 300 prospective jurors arriving at the county courthouse to fill out questionnaires, the first step toward choosing


Russia Blames Terrorism for Downed Plane MOSCOW Aug. 28, 2004 - The discovery of traces of explosives in the wreckage of one of two airliners that crashed almost simultaneously this week have confirmed a widely suspected terrorist connection and


Indian truckers call off strike (AFP) AFP - An Indian transport union spearheading a truckers' strike called off its week-long agitation after reaching an agreement with the government to form a panel to study a controversial tax, an official said.


Second Term Opposed for Lebanese President (AP) AP - The State Department urged Lebanon on Wednesday to stand by a constitutional provision forbidding a president seeking election to a second term.


Powell cancels trip to Olympics US Secretary of State Colin Powell calls off a planned trip to the Olympic Games amid anti-war protests in Athens.


Below a dimming light, city glows Tomorrow night, after the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Games, Mitch Benoff of Boston will turn off his  quot;Athens Olympic Meteor.


Climbing to a dream On a clear day, you can see the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City from her home in Chateau-Richer. But one day, nine years ago, a young volunteer working at a World Cup


Funk, Johnson share lead at Hartford Zach Johnson, a rookie on the PGA Tour, and Fred Funk share the lead after Friday #39;s second round at the \$4.2-million PGA event.


Popular discontent stirs political awakening in Hong Kong It #39;s often been said that Hong Kong people are interested in money, not politics, but upcoming legislative elections may bury that notion for good as angry residents turn out to send their leaders a message.


Infiltration bid foiled along LOC in J  amp; K Jammu, Aug. 28 (PTI): The army today foiled a major infiltration bid along the line of control in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.


Latest iMac on the way, iPod growth behind forecasts SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- As Apple Computer shares trade near their highest levels in a year, industry analysts are assessing the chances for significant company announcements at the company #39;s European trade show in Paris next week.


Dow Up 22, Nasdaq Gains 9 on GDP Reading Investors sent stocks modestly higher Friday, embracing a sluggish gross domestic product reading that was nonetheless better than expected, hoping that falling oil prices would help spur the economy.


Weak US operations squeeze RBC #39;s results Royal Bank of Canada reported a 5-per-cent drop in third-quarter profit yesterday mainly because of continued weakness in its US operations.


New Windows version in 2006 Microsoft Corp. will drop a much-touted new technology for organising and storing data when it releases the next version of its Windows operating system as expected in 2006.


Newest Planet Found With Small Telescopes Astronomers have found the latest planet in another solar system -r  quot;exoplanet quot;  -ng telescopes no bigger than those you might find at a garage sale.


Dream officially shattered Actually, the funeral took place a while ago. What happened Friday night merely was the posting of the official death notice. Honestly, were you shocked, shocked, shocked, to see Argentina knock the golden gloss off Team USA?


Jones ends up short in relay, long jump In the precious milliseconds it took to miss the exchange of an aluminum relay baton, American Marion Jones #39; brave smile gave way to a flood of tears.


Jury pool is queried Three hundred Eagle County residents who showed up for jury duty Friday for the Kobe Bryant rape case were asked to describe their feelings on


Funk gets out of his funk CROMWELL, Conn. -- While three other members of this years Ryder Cup team pulled out of the Buick Championship, Fred Funk chose to keep his commitment.


U.S. Battles Militants in Baghdad Slum (AP) AP - U.S. and Iraqi forces clashed with militants loyal to rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Iraq's capital on Saturday, officials and witnesses said.


Australia says claim troops in covert actions in Iraq "incorrect" (AFP) AFP - A report claiming that specially trained Australian soldiers are taking part in US-led covert jobs in Iraq, including kidnapping, was "factually incorrect and misleading," the government said.


UN drive to boost free software The UN is holding events across Asia to encourage the region to adopt free and open source software.


Powell Cancels Greece Visit Amid Protests ATHENS, Greece - Secretary of State Colin Powell on Saturday canceled a weekend visit to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics just hours after demonstrators staged a protest march in central Athens.    Greece's foreign ministry said that Powell informed his Greek counterpart, Petros Moliviatis, that "urgent responsibilities" prevented him from carrying out the visit - which was to include meetings with Premier Costas Caramanlis and U.S...


Quest for holy grail of game controllers The quest for a wireless, robust video game controller is a hit and miss task, says columnist Daniel Etherington.


Is Sears firing a prelude to buyout? The firing of Mark Cohen as chairman and chief executive officer of Sears Canada Inc. may be a prelude to its US parent scooping up the minority stake of the Canadian division that it doesn #39;t already own, an analyst says.


Cellphones could cause hearing loss Siemens issued a warning yesterday that some of its cellphones may emit a loud noise, possibly causing hearing loss for the phone user.


US pros lose their golden glow The Argentines did not even wait for the final buzzer to sound before beginning their celebration. Luis Scola #39;s dunk with 4.5 seconds remaining prompted Pepe Sanchez to rip off his jersey as his teammates flooded the court.


Powell cancels plans to visit Athens US Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled plans to attend the Olympics closing ceremonies in Greece because of the  quot;press of business quot; including crises in Iraq and Sudan, US officials said Saturday.


Head of Boeing #39;s defense unit tied to Druyun hiring One day after former Boeing Chief Financial Officer Mike Sears made an illegal job offer to a Pentagon official in October 2002, the leader of Boeing #39;s defense unit received an e-mail from Sears detailing the deal, sources confirmed yesterday.


Yahoo pares Google stake, sells \$191 mn in stock New York, August 28: Yahoo Inc said on Saturday it sold \$191 million in Google Inc stock in that company #39;s Initial Public Offering, cashing out some of the 2.7 million shares Google gave Yahoo this month to settle two disputes.


Microsoft sets 2006 timetable for next version of Windows In a move to reassure major customers and software developers, Microsoft yesterday answered one of the big questions looming over the PC industry: When will it finish the next version of Windows?


HP digital push aims for living room SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Hewlett-Packard moved Friday to erase memories of its recent disappointing quarterly results with a new push into consumer electronics that includes digital televisions, printers and the long-awaited debut of its version of


Soaring oil prices largely falling flat as campaign issue Alan Goldstein pulled his silver BMW Z3 up to a Crown gas station here and filled the tank for \$22.40 -- nearly twice what he paid a few years ago.


Google options end first day with robust volume Chicago, August 28: Options on Google Inc, one of the year #39;s hottest new stocks, ended their first day of dealings among Friday #39;s most actively traded issues.


World finds joy in defeats suffered by Americans ATHENS - The sound you hear is the sound of the world gloating. It was a very bad day for los Americanos. The sound you hear is the sound of Italians crying for joy.


Giving up medal isn #39;t the answer  Roy Jones Jr. receives the gold medal stolen from him by crooked judges in Seoul, South Korea.  The Dallas Stars agree to forfeit their Stanley Cup from 1999 because, yes, Brett Hull #39;s skate was in the crease.


Supporting Birdstone Smarty Jones has been retired to stud in Kentucky, but his presence is felt among the other top 3-year-old thoroughbreds still racing.


Two pieces of jewelry in vault From soaring heights to missed opportunities, the feel-good ride of the United States track and field team hit a couple of potholes last night even


Newman not happy with lackluster year The expression on Ryan Newmans face wasnt that of somebody who had qualified fourth for tonights Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.


Najaf truce takes hold NAJAF, Iraq - Militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr surrendered the sacred shrine of Imam Ali on Friday and then surrendered weapons as well, bringing a largely peaceful end to a ferocious three-week battle with US forces that challenged the


Yemeni Militants Convicted of Terrorism (AP) AP - A court on Saturday convicted 15 Yemeni militants on terrorism charges, including the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker and a plot to kill the U.S. ambassador. One man was sentenced to death for killing a Yemeni police officer and seven received 10-year prison terms.


Musharraf-ally sworn in as Pakistan prime minister (Reuters) Reuters - Pakistan's new prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, a technocrat and trusted ally of military leader President Pervez Musharraf, was sworn on Saturday.


FreeCRM.com Offers Free Data Migration (TechWeb) TechWeb - The vendor is offering free data migration to SalesForce.com and Siebel customers and a 1-gigabyte storage upgrade for paying customers.


Golden bust ATHENS -- Their best player didn't even last 20 minutes. The shooting eye that had surfaced against Spain -- and only Spain -- was never there. The uphill quest for Olympic gold by the United States came to an abrupt end last night, as Uncle Sam's lads were sliced, diced, dissected, filleted, and ultimately spanked by Argentina, 89-81.


Two pieces of jewelry in vault ATHENS -- From soaring heights to missed opportunities, the feel-good ride of the United States track and field team hit a couple of potholes last night even as another gold medal was added to its 2004 Olympic collection.


No fun in these Games for Jones ATHENS -- So this is how this strange and sour saga ends, with the Queen of Sydney playing Blind Woman's Bluff in the middle of the sprint relay. A blown baton exchange with Lauryn Williams, a fifth place in the long jump, and Marion Jones's trip to Olympus was over. Just like that. A record five medals in 2000, none ...


Federation asks Hamm to give up gold medal ATHENS -- In a move that only served to escalate the controversy surrounding American Paul Hamm's all-around gold medal, the International Gymnastics Federation yesterday asked the Olympic champion to give the medal to Korean rival Yang Tae Young as a gesture of fair play.


Tavarez's cap is plain dirty Baseball Julian Tavarez's baseball cap is dirty and grimy -- but not illegal, according to the man who now owns it. Gene McNary , who bought the cap for \$140 from the fan who caught it when Tavarez was ejected and tossed it into the stands, took the cap to St. Louis Testing Laboratories, where substances on it were analyzed. ...


Yankees hold off Blue Jays Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, and Bernie Williams each homered and the New York Yankees held on for an 8-7 victory over the Blue Jays last night in Toronto. Esteban Loaiza failed to make it out of the fifth inning in another poor start since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a July 31 trade for Jose Contreras.


AL notables The Mariners and Royals combined for nine homers to match the most ever hit in a game at Safeco Field, which opened July 15, 1999. Cleveland and Seattle accomplished the feat on July 16, with the Indians hitting eight in an 18-6 win.


Sinkerballer is rising When the Tigers wasted little time taking a 1-0 lead off Derek Lowe in the first inning, Terry Francona surmised if Lowe's shaky start had come in the first half of the season, Lowe might have let the game slip away.


Varitek had catching up to do Having served a four-game suspension stemming from a July 24 ejection against the Yankees, Jason Varitek returned to work. It would have been an understatement to say the Red Sox catcher was happy to be back in his familiar spot, crouched behind the plate at Fenway Park, for last night's 5-3 victory over the Tigers.


Jets befuddle young Manning Eli Manning got his first dose of real NFL defensive schemes and it had to taste awful. The top choice in the NFL Draft in April, the Giants' quarterback struggled against the New York Jets in a 17-10 loss last night in East Rutherford, N.J. It was the Jets' ninth straight win in the annual preseason series.


Hype aside, Patriots hope to rebound FOXBOROUGH -- The game has been hyped on national television for a week. It will be played in a stadium full of fans wearing T-shirts made for that night. One player has dubbed the contest,  quot;Super Bowl No. 2, Round 2. quot;


Gordon has No. 6 in mind BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Jeff Gordon counted out the five wins he has this season, then his five poles. It was an hour before qualifying, and Gordon set a goal for himself.


Daly is added to the long list There's never been a question they can hit it far, but John Daly and Hank Kuehne are doing their best to prove there's more substance to their golf. Playing in different parts of the world this weekend, Daly (tied for sixth at the BMW Open in Germany) and Kuehne (third at the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn.) have reached the ...


Italy mourns hostage slain by captors ROME -- Recalling the horror the nation felt when its first hostage was killed in Iraq, word that a second Italian hostage was slain brought condemnation from the pope yesterday and fueled debate over Italy's role in the war-torn country.


Hundreds of militia disarm in Sudan  GENEINA, Sudan -- Five hundred Sudanese militiamen in government service disarmed yesterday at a ceremony attended by UN envoy Jan Pronk, but denied they were Arab Janjaweed irregulars who killed, raped, and looted in Darfur.


Clashes erupt between Philippine troops, Muslim rebels (AFP) AFP - Clashes erupted between soldiers and Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, with both sides accusing the other of violating a truce ahead of peace talks.


Yemenis sentenced over bombing A Yemeni court sentences 15 men on terror charges, including the 2002 bombing of the French Limburg tanker.


US lowers growth rate in second quarter WASHINGTON - Weighed down by high energy prices, the US economy grew slower than the government estimated in the April-June quarter, as higher oil prices limited consumer spending and contributed to a record trade deficit.


Stocks Are Seen in a Contemplative Mood NEW YORK - US stocks are seen in a contemplative mood Friday with the revised second-quarter gross domestic product reading likely to have a large bearing on sentiment and overall direction.


BF Goodrich contract gets union #39;s OK Workers at three tire plants, including one in Indiana, had been without deal for 15 months. PITTSBURGH -- More than 3,000 union workers at three BF Goodrich tire manufacturing plants in Indiana and Alabama


Yahoo sells \$191 millions in Google stock : Yahoo Inc. said today it sold \$191 millions in Google Inc. stock in that company #39;s initial public offering, cashing out some of the 2.7 million shares Google gave Yahoo this month to settle two disputes.


Microsoft pushes back release of its next version of Windows SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp., whose software runs about 95 percent of personal computers worldwide, has delayed the next version of its Windows PC operating system until late 2006 because engineers took time away from the project to improve the security of


Group of Cities, Counties Sues Microsoft A group of California cities and counties on Friday filed a class action lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. , saying the world #39;s largest software maker overcharged them for software.


Focusing on the nanorealm EDMONTONThe pragmatic visionaries of NINT could be forgiven a quiet groan at yet another prediction that research into the very, very small will soon yield very, very big payoffs.


Thousands protest Iraq war, Powell visit In the first major public demonstration since the start of the Olympics, thousands of protesters clashed with police who stopped them from marching


China #39;s Xing Huina wins Olympic women #39;s 10,000m gold China #39;s Xing Huina came from nowhere to win the Olympic gold medal in women #39;s 10,000m race in Athens on Friday. The 20-year-old Xing, making her first Olympic appearance, clocked a winning time of 30 minutes 24.


Monty looking good Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald and Paul McGinley are looking good. While Europe #39;s Ryder Cup captain was settling his


After 68 weeks, inflation returns to HK HONG KONG, AUGUST 25 : After years of steadily falling prices that dragged down salaries and destroyed the value of many apartments, inflation has finally returned here, government statisticians announced early this week.


Shot at gold is an airball ATHENS, Greece, There it was, the almost incomprehensible. Manu Ginobili and 11 Argentines you never heard of running out the clock on NBA stars in the Olympics.


US Gymnast Hamm Asked to Give Up Gold Description: The International Gymnastics Federation asks US gymnast Paul Hamm to give his Olympic all-around gold medal to South Korea #39;s Yang Tae-young.


Up-and-down night in the ring Throughout these Olympic Games, United States boxing coach Basheer Abdullah has lamented that his young fighters weren #39;t listening to him.


Soccer: The Iraqi dream ends as Italians win bronze THESSALONIKI, Greece Italy extinguished Iraq #39;s dream of an Olympic medal in the men #39;s soccer tournament with a 1-0 victory on Friday in their bronze medal match.


Paradorn edges out Johansson to reach the last four in Long Island Defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan overpowered Swede Joachim Johansson 3-6 7-6 6-3 to reach the final four of the Long Island Cup in Commack of New Yorkon Friday.


Some Palestinian Prisoners Suspend Hunger Strike  RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - About 800 Palestinian  prisoners have suspended their hunger strike after winning  concessions from Israeli authorities, a spokesman for the men  said Saturday.


Powell Scraps Plan to Attend Olympics Ceremonies  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell  abruptly canceled plans to attend the Olympics closing  ceremonies in Athens Sunday in part because of events in Iraq  and Sudan, the State Department said.


Fidelity discloses its proxy votes Fidelity Investments' largest funds voted to oust Michael D. Eisner from the chairman's post at Walt Disney Co., in one of last year's biggest proxy battles, according to voting records the nation's largest mutual-fund firm has made public for the first time.


Soaring oil prices largely falling flat as campaign issue SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Alan Goldstein pulled his silver BMW Z3 up to a Crown gas station here and filled the tank for \$22.40 -- nearly twice what he paid a few years ago.


Exports to China give Bay State firms boost Massachusetts exports to China have nearly doubled from just two years ago, making China one of the state's biggest foreign markets.


Radcliffe run defended GB athletics chief Max Jones defends Paula Radcliffe after she pulls out of the 10,000m final.


Update 13: Greenspan Sounds Alert on Social Security Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has done it again. For at least the fourth time this year, he has touched the electrified third rail of American politics - Social Security.


Profits a Royal pain The Royal Bank of Canada, the country #39;s biggest bank, said yesterday it suffered a 5 drop in third-quarter profit, displaying weakness in its US operations and citing tight interest-rate spreads and rising expenses.


Flying car pet project It #39;s a frustrated commuter #39;s fantasy: Literally lifting your car out of a clogged highway and soaring through the skies. Researchers say an affordable, easy-to-use vehicle that could allow


Industry rebound could be two years away SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- US airlines, hammered by soaring oil prices, will spend a staggering \$5 billion more on fuel this year than they did in 2003 or even a greater sum, draining already thin cash reserves.


UPDATE 2-Hewitt, Paradorn head for Long Island showdown Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt and defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan moved a step closer to a showdown at the \$380,000 Long Island Cup after coming through tough quarter-finals on Friday.


Shaukat Aziz takes oath as Pakistan #39;s new PM ISLAMABAD : Shaukat Aziz, former finance minister and a key ally to President Pervez Musharraf, has been sworn in the country #39;s new prime minister.


Chechnya prepares to hold election to replace assassinated <b>...</b> MOSCOW Police in Chechnya have orders to shoot anyone wearing a mask on sight ahead of Sunday #39;s presidential election. Thousands of Russian soldiers and Chechen police are on 24-hour patrol ahead of the vote


Curfew relaxed in Jalna; sitation peaceful in Poorna Mumbai, Aug 28 - The situation in both Jalna and Poorna towns in Central Maharashtra, that witnessed violence in the aftermath of explosions at places of worship leaving 18 persons injured, was peaceful and under control today, police said.


Most terror attacks cost al-Qaida little, report finds The al-Qaida terrorist network spent less than \$50,000 on each of its major attacks except for the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackings, and one of its hallmarks is using


US prosecutors probing Boeing defense chief NEW YORK - US prosecutors are looking into possible improper employment-related contacts between the head of Boeing Co.s defense unit and a high-ranking Air Force official, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, citing unnamed people familiar with the


Personal bankruptcy trend turns downward WASHINGTON -- Personal bankruptcies appear to have broken the upward trend of recent years, slipping 0.8 percent in the 12 months ending June 30, figures released Friday show.


Wings on the wheels It #39;s a frustrated commuter #39;s fantasy: lifting your car off a clogged highway and soaring through the skies, landing just in time to motor into your driveway.


HP tips its hand on new iPod Hewlett-Packard turned on the music a little early Friday morning, revealing on the Web the details of its new HP-branded Apple iPod music player clone.


SRICHAPHAN GETS HIS REVENGE Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand could not beat Swede Joachim Johansson in Athens, but he got the job done in Long Island. Srichaphan, who lost in straight sets to Johansson in the first round of the Olympics


Vaulters win 2 more precious medals for US ATHENS - Tim Mack of Knoxville, Tenn., grabbed a pole, flew down the runway and set an Olympic record in the pole vault. When Mack landed yesterday, he not only had earned the day #39;s only gold medal for the


Bomb traces found in Russian plane wreck Investigators say they have found traces of explosive in the wreckage of one of the two passenger planes that crashed earlier this week in southern Russia.


Palestinian prisoners suspend hunger strike Some 800 Palestinian detainees in Israel #39;s Ashkelon prison have suspended their 13-day-old hunger strike until Monday after some of their demands were met.


15 Yemeni militants convicted SANAA, Yemen -- A Yemeni court has convicted 15 al Qaeda-linked militants on terror charges, news agencies report. The charges include the 2002 bombing of French oil tanker Limburg and a plot to kill the US ambassador to Yemen.


Turkish hostages killed: report THE Turkish embassy in Baghdad was investigating a television report that two Turkish hostages had been killed in Iraq, but no confirmation was available so far, a senior Turkish diplomat said today.


Jumping for joy over bronze American rider Chris Kappler won a bronze medal in show jumping yesterday in Athens, and was even happier when he learned his horse wasn't seriously hurt following a breakdown during a timed jumpoff.


New kids off blocks ATHENS -- The People's Republic of China struck gold twice last night on the track, giving the world a taste of what the country hopes will be a medal bonanza in four years at the Beijing Games.


'Flag' storms to victory SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Storm Flag Flying relished the 1 1/4 miles of the \$400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap yesterday, taking advantage of the distance to wear down odds-on favorite Azeri in the stretch and capture the Grade I race at Saratoga.


Italy ends inspired Iraqi run THESSALONIKI, Greece -- Iraq's surprising Olympic soccer run came up short with a 1-0 loss to Italy in a bronze medal game that couldn't escape reminders of violence in the war-torn country.


Thousands protest Iraq war, Powell visit ATHENS -- In the first major public demonstration since the start of the Olympics, thousands of protesters clashed with police who stopped them from marching on the United States Embassy to protest the war in Iraq and Secretary of State Colin Powell's scheduled visit to Greece.


Long shadow hard to eclipse SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Seven of the best 3-year-olds in the nation will race in today's 135th Travers Stakes at Saratoga, but one horse who is not here, Smarty Jones, has cast a long shadow over the \$1 million event.


US passes Russian test ATHENS -- They wanted each other. They got each other. One more time. The United States women's basketball team survived a grind-a-thon against Russia yesterday and will go for the gold today against Australia. It's a rematch of the gold medal game from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, which the US won, 76-54, in a game also remembered for Aussie ...


Long-shot Italians advance ATHENS -- Italy used incredible 3-point shooting to advance to the gold medal men's basketball game for just the second time at the Olympics.


Elimination perfectly executed ATHENS -- I have not come to bury the Americans. I have come to praise the Argentines.


Darfur peace talks set to restart Negotiations between the Sudanese government and rebel groups in the troubled Darfur region are to resume.


Crude prices to go up with upsurge int #39;l demand LONDON, August 28 (IranMania) - Iran #39;s OPEC governor said Friday that the high oil prices will continue to go up if the situation in Iraq deteriorates, stressing that the Iraqi crisis has coincided with an upsurge in the global demand for crude.


Ariz. flu shots to arrive late Brace yourself for delays and potentially long lines to get a flu shot in Arizona this year. One of the nation #39;s two largest flu manufacturers is delaying shipments after finding tainted doses of its vaccine.


California city and counties sue Microsoft for antitrust Several California cities and counties, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have sued Microsoft Corporation, accusing the software giant of illegally charging inflated prices for its products because of monopoly control of the personal computer


Hungarian Weight Lifter and Hammer Champ Face Loss of Medals record-setting Hungarian weight lifter was in danger of losing his silver medal yesterday because he failed a drug test, a national Olympic committee spokesman said.


Monty adds to confusion Miguel Angel Jimenez leads the BMW International at the halfway point on 134 with David Lynn and Retief Goosen jointly second a stroke behind, but these are two of very few facets of this tournament that are clear and incontrovertible.


Clerics agree Najaf peace deal Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has reached an agreement with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani that grants his freedom from murder charges and secures peace in war-torn Najaf, al-Sistani aides said on Thursday.


Renegade warlord arrested and brought to the capital following <b>...</b> A renegade Afghan warlord has been arrested and brought to the capital by the central government, just weeks after his troops clashed


Wal-Mart Rejects Proposed D.C. Location Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would scrap plans to build its first District store after senior executives visited the proposed site in the Brentwood, NE neighborhood and found it did not meet their requirements.


Royal Bank serves up disappointing quarter TORONTO - Royal Bank of Canada has reported a drop in third-quarter profit --the first year-over-year decline in three years -- because of lower earnings at its US division, increased costs and a higher Canadian dollar.


Minister cautious about mad cow relief Manhattan and mad cow may seem an unlikely combination, but Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell will be mixing the two today when he travels to New York City to meet his American counterpart to lobby for an end to the costly mad cow crisis.


ROONEY RACE HOTS UP Manchester United and Newcastle are expected to increase their bids for Wayne Rooney this weekend as the battle to sign the England striker before Tuesday #39;s transfer deadline intensifies.


Dechy dodges back woes, stops Raymond There have been times during the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament when Nathalie Dechy has made it look easy. During Friday nights semifinal, however, she appeared to have hit a bump in the road.


Terror attack downed plane: Russia MOSCOWA terrorist attack brought down at least one of the two planes in this week #39;s near-simultaneous crashes in Russia, authorities said yesterday after investigators sifting through the wreckage found traces of an explosive at one of the crash sites.


Storm lashes east China TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A fierce storm that lashed Taiwan has battered China #39;s east Fujian province, prompting the evacuation of half a million people.


Japan Airlines Cancels Flights as Typhoon Heads to Main Islands Japan Airlines Corp., the country #39;s largest carrier, has canceled flights between the southern islands of Okinawa and Daito as Typhoon Chaba slowly proceeds west to Japan #39;s main islands.


BA directors rally terminal staff BA chief executive Rod Eddington and 11 other directors are visiting Heathrow this weekend to boost morale at the crisis-hit airline.


Agriculture Minister to lobby US on BSE Ottawa -- Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell is meeting with his US counterpart today in New York to lobby for an end to the costly mad-cow crisis, which began 15 months ago with the discovery of single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy on a ranch


Digital ways to have fun including an HP-branded version of Apple #39;s iPod - designed with an eye toward pleasure, not business. At an event in Miami Beach, the


Asian farmers sucking the continent dry The world is on the verge of a water crisis as people fight over ever dwindling supplies, experts told the Stockholm Water Symposium.


It #39;s not easy to step up after wallowing in NBA Our valiant little men #39;s national basketball team fought its big, beating heart out last night and came up just shy of a chance for the Olympic enchilada.


THE GAMES NOTEBOOK Thessaloniki, Greece. Iraq #39;s quest for its first Olympic medal since 1960 came up short yesterday when its surprising soccer team lost 1-0 to Italy in the bronze-medal game.


Italy win Bronze Italy have managed to win the Bronze medal in the Olympic Football tournament by defeating Iraq 1-0 in an emotional play-off match.


Prmont finds silver atop mountain course Canada #39;s newest Olympic star is a house painter who prepared for the heat of Athens by riding her bike in a sauna. That #39;s right, in a sauna.


Srichaphan wins again at his Hamlet  #39;home #39; Paradorn Srichaphan was pumped. At the end of an exhausting, three-set match against Joachim Johansson, Srichaphan had enough energy left for a series of arm pumps and a few shouts of joy.


Overnight rain delays start Though the day of the final dawned bright and sunny, the six inches of rain that drenched this part of the world over the last week made parts of the ground too soggy for a timely start.


Selection of jurors first step in trial EAGLE, COLO. -- Kobe Bryant #39;s trial began yesterday with 300 prospective jurors arriving at the county courthouse to fill out questionnaires, the first step toward choosing 12 people who will decide whether


Joyous pilgrims mark end of Najaf standoff Thousands of pilgrims streamed into the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf yesterday as militants left, handing the keys to religious authorities after Iraq #39;s top Shia cleric


Bangladesh won #39;t rule out foreign hand in blast Dhaka -- Bangladesh has not ruled out foreign involvement in a grenade attack on an opposition rally last week that killed 19 people and wounded more than 150.


Oil pipeline ablaze A DOMESTIC oil pipeline east of the Iraqi capital was ablaze today amid a wave of attacks against oil infrastructure in this volatile country, witnesses said.


Uma happy and in high spirits: Sushma Swaraj Dharwad, Aug. 28 (PTI): Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, today said former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti, was  quot;happy, in very high spirits and is determined to remain in jail as long as the State Government wants her to be quot;.


Five die as river festival begins Five devotees were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus Saturday took a dip in the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh to mark a major festival.


F1: Barrichello fastest in rain Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello sets the pace in Saturday's truncated practice at the Belgian Grand Prix.


Ramirez OK After Fouling Ball Off Knee The most satisfying images from the Boston Red Sox's latest win are the X-rays of Manny Ramirez's knee. The Boston slugger fouled a ball off his knee in the fourth inning of the Red Sox's 5-3 home victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night...


FCC Cuts Public Line To Phone Outage Data The Federal Communications Commission, citing concerns about national security, has abandoned a 10-year-old policy and will no longer give the public access to information about past telephone network outages. -The Washington Post


New Windows Planned for 2006 Microsoft Corp. announced yesterday that it will leave out some planned features from its next major operating system to meet a goal of rolling out a new version of Windows in the second half of 2006. -The Washington Post


Winners and Losers - Videocon Cup The Videocon Cup tournament was hailed as a firecracker competition between three ICC Champions Trophy favourites; India, Pakistan and Australia.


Iraqi Rebels Leave Najaf Shrine, Hand in Weapons (Reuters) Reuters - Shi'ite fighters left the Imam Ali\Mosque in Najaf Friday and began turning in their weapons,\after tens of thousands of pilgrims celebrated a peace\agreement that ended a bloody rebellion.


Boat Capsizes in Vietnam, Killing 16 (AP) AP - A boat capsized in heavy winds on a river in northern Vietnam, killing 16 people, an official said Saturday.


Broadcast Treaty Battle Rages On Negotiation is nearing its final stage for an international treaty that would give broadcasters control over who records or transmits their signal. Broadcasters back the treaty, but digital rights advocates worry it could set an ominous precedent. By Wendy Grossman.


Swing and a Miss for Asteroid Telescopes spy the closest asteroid flyby ever recorded. Also: European astronomers find a 'super Earth' 300 trillion light years away.... and did DOS trickery foil the Spirit rover? By Amit Asaravala.


Secure Flight Gets Wary Welcome Air travelers face a new screening process before they step on a plane, Secure Flight. Civil liberties advocates say it's better than CAPPS II, but aren't completely sold yet. By Ryan Singel.


Gold turns to dust ATHENS, Greece -- It #39;s over. The US men #39;s basketball team #39;s run in the Olympics. The US dominance in the sport at all.


Birgit Fischer wins second medal in kayak Birgit Fischer settled for silver, leaving the 42-year-old Olympian with two medals in two days against decidedly younger competition.


Sane people won #39;t miss it Yes, Greece, you did good. Defied the doomsayers. Put on a good show. Blabbedy blah blah blah. But after three weeks here, most of them spent on the shuttle bus from the volleyball to taekwondo


McDOWELL #39;S CUP CLAIMS FADE There appeared to be another faller in the Ryder Cup chase today when Ulsterman Graeme McDowell failed to make the dramatic move he needed in the third round of the BMW International Open in Munich.


For Jets, it was a coming-out party for revamped defense The coming-out party began in the tunnel before the game when Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson bumped into owner Woody Johnson.


Silver surprise for US #39;s Abdallah In the weeks leading up to these Olympic Games, American Nia Abdallah wasn #39;t even on the radar screen of international taekwondo.


Calif. Cities, Counties Sue Microsoft (AP) AP - Several California cities and counties have sued Microsoft Corp., accusing the software giant of illegally charging inflated prices for its products because of monopoly control of the personal computer operating systems market.


Moyes rallying call to Everton faithful DAVID MOYES will attempt to rid Everton of Wayne Rooney hysteria and focus on keeping the momentum going after last weekend #39;s win at promoted Crystal Palace.


Analysts give thumbs-up to TD-Banknorth deal Analysts gave a broad thumbs-up on Friday to Toronto-Dominion Bank #39;s (TD.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) \$3.8 billion acquisition of a majority stake in Banknorth Group Inc.


Nokia  amp; Vodafone help define Java - yawn TALK ABOUT HAVING a finger in every pie, Vodafone has come up with another software initiative to make mobile phones more advanced and cheaper to make for the business user.


Powell Cancels Athens Visit for Closing Ceremony After Protest US Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled a visit to Athens to attend the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games because of what the State Department said was more pressing business in Washington.


Iraq #39;s top Shiite clerics meet in Najaf, academic shot dead in <b>...</b> NAJAF, Iraq : Iraq #39;s top Shiite Muslim clerics, back in control of Najaf #39;s Imam Ali shrine after a four-month militia occupation, met amid the ruins of the city as life spluttered back to normality.


Bomb Blasts in Maharashtra IN a shocking incident over eighteen people were injured today in two separate bomb blasts in Jalna and Poorna towns of Maharashtra yesterday.


Special Interests Woo Powerful at RNC (AP) AP - It's party time for trade associations, companies and interest groups at the GOP convention in New York, and each is trying to outdo the next in gimmicks to lure in movers and shakers.


New Wave of Violence in Iraq Kills Five NAJAF, Iraq - War-weary Iraqis returned to devastated offices and shops in the holy city of Najaf on Saturday after three weeks of clashes as U.S. forces monitored a fragile cease-fire, but violence persisted in Baghdad, killing at least five people...


Fischer aiming for No. 9 ATHENS -- She won her first Olympic gold medal in kayaking when she was 18, the youngest paddler to do so in Games history. Yesterday, at 42, Germany #39;s golden girl Birgit Fischer won her eighth Olympic gold in the four-woman 500-metre kayak race.


Gold has nice ring to it Andre Ward was the last man standing for the US Olympics boxing team Friday night. Booed by a hostile crowd, confused about the score, running on fumes in the


Hungary in second gold row Adrian Annus faces the threat of becoming the second Hungarian athlete to be stripped of a gold medal after he failed to show up for a drugs test yesterday.


RedEnvelope fends off dissident challenge (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - RedEnvelope, the San Francisco online gift retailer, on Friday fended off a challenge by dissident shareholders unhappy with the its performance -- but has still left some questions unanswered.


Russia Boosts Security After Twin Air Crashes  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia toughened security measures  Saturday and vowed to prevent any recurrence of twin air  crashes in which investigators were pursuing leads linked to  terrorism ahead of elections in volatile Chechnya.


HP iPod nearly same as Apple #39;s Hewlett-Packard on Friday unveiled its much-anticipated HP-branded iPod, a deal that instantly gives the company a popular product and greatly extends the retail reach of its partner, Apple Computer.


US BASKETBALL OUT OF GOLD MEDAL GAME Long, long, long after the Argentineans were still on the floor -- shirts off, tears replacing the sweat on their bodies, celebrating in a manner the hated Americans would have


Argentina Wins First Olympic Gold for 52 Years As the Olympic Games headed into the home straight, Argentina won their first Olympic gold medal in more than half a century when their soccer team beat Paraguay Saturday.


England rule out Rooney England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed in-demand striker Wayne Rooney will not figure in his squad for September #39;s World Cup qualifiers.


Janics claims Kayak double gold for Hungary to deny Fischer ATHENS : Natasa Janics of Hungary captured the women #39;s K1 500m kayak gold medal, then teamed up with Katalin Kovacs to win the K2 500m and deny Birgit Fischer a record-equalling ninth career Olympic gold.


Veteran, rookie enjoy sizzling rounds Fred Funk and PGA Tour rookie Zach Johnson had nearly perfect rounds yesterday and shared a one-stroke lead in the Buick Championship.


Two killed in Baghdad attacks Two civilians have been killed in the Iraqi capital as violence flares in different parts of Baghdad. Guerrillas fired mortars into eastern Baghdad on Saturday, killing the two civilians, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.


Australia bat in final Australia win the toss and bat first in the tri-series final against Pakistan.


Calif. Cities, Counties Sue Microsoft Several California cities and counties have sued Microsoft Corp., accusing the software giant of illegally charging inflated prices for its products because of monopoly control of the personal computer operating systems market.


Disappointing US loses to Argentina Argentina, with almost the same roster that made history in 2002 by becoming the first team to defeat a US squad of NBA players, will compete for the gold medal against Italy, which defeated Lithuania 100-91.


#39;Mutilated bodies found in Najaf #39; - report Reporters have been led to see 15 bodies in a basement in Najaf claimed by Iraqi police to have been used as a religious court by supporters of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.


Pakistan Security Forces Come Under Attack (AP) AP - Suspected Islamic militants fired rockets at Pakistani paramilitary bases in tribal regions near Afghanistan, intelligence officials said Saturday. No one was reported injured.


The Pathway Less Traveled It's hard enough staying the right weight here on Earth. In space, it might be even harder. According to NASA-supported researchers, altered gravity somehow disrupts the natural ability \\of animals to maintain the appropriate weight.


Rival to Boeing says A380 orders ahead of schedule LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Airbus on Friday said it received an order from Thai Airways International for six superjumbo A380 planes. Free!


Curtain rises on new HP line Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, using MTV #39;s Video Music Awards as a backdrop, launched HP #39;s model of Apple Computer #39;s popular iPod portable music player during a presentation in Miami Beach on Friday.


400 relay disaster completes Jones #39; tumble from heights A botched relay handoff followed her failure to medal in the long jump yesterday evening, making the Athens experience a wipeout for a woman who won five medals at the Games four years ago.


Powell Cancels Athens Trip The US State Department says Secretary Colin Powell has canceled a trip to Athens to attend the Olympics closing ceremony because of urgent business in Washington.


U.S., Australia Women to Face Off Again (AP) AP - At first glance, it would seem to be the perfect matchup  #151; a dream draw, if you will. All the United States has to do to claim a third straight gold medal in women's basketball on Saturday is beat Australia, which is 0-12 against U.S. teams in the Olympics and world championships.


Iran Ready to Provide Nuke 'Guarantees' (AP) AP - Iran is ready to provide "guarantees" it won't seek nuclear weapons and warned the United States that success in stabilizing Iraq and Afghanistan was impossible without Iranian support, the president said Saturday.


China OKs Measure to Boost Online Commerce (AP) AP - China's parliament on Saturday passed a law legalizing electronic signatures in an effort to boost its small but growing online commerce industry.


U.S. Study Links Human Activity to Global Warming (Reuters) Reuters - Warmer temperatures in North America\since 1950 were probably caused in part by human activity, the\Bush administration said in a report that appeared to\contradict the White House position there was no clear\scientific proof on the causes of global warming.


Dazed Residents of Iraq's Najaf Survey the Damage  NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Hotel employee Rafaat Maher dreamed  the postwar reconstruction of Iraq would lure throngs of  customers to enjoy the view of sacred Najaf.


GDP growth slower in revision The US economy grew more slowly in the second quarter than previously stated, as it struggled under an increasing trade deficit and a slowdown in consumer spending, the Commerce Department said Friday.


NBA Commissioner Defends US Team Amid Criticism When Michael Jordan led the first NBA-studded  quot;Dream Team quot; into the Olympics in 1992, the hope was that their dazzling displays of basketball would inspire others to play better and bridge the gap with the Americans.


Hammer winner still missing THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) said today it was still trying to find Hungarian Olympic hammer champion Adrian Annus, who is suspected of having tampered with his Athens Games doping sample.


Russia to Tighten Passenger Requirements MOSCOW Aug. 28, 2004 - Russian airlines will be required to document passengers more thoroughly following this week #39;s twin plane crashes, a news agency reported Saturday, as the discovery of explosives stoked


New strike action hits Bangladesh Bangladeshi businesses, schools and shops are closed, as a second general strike in a week takes place. The strike is in protest at a grenade attack a week ago on a rally addressed by the opposition Awami


Jet crash was terrorist act, Russia says MOSCOW -- The downing of one of two Russian passenger jets that crashed nearly simultaneously earlier this week was an act of terrorism, investigators said yesterday after finding traces of explosives amid the wreckage of one of the airliners.


Musharraf ally wins prime minister vote Pakistan's parliament elected former finance minister Shaukat Aziz, a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf, as prime minister yesterday after the opposition boycotted the vote, saying it was undemocratic. Aziz, 55, worked 30 years as a Citibank executive before becoming finance minister when Musharraf took power in a bloodless military coup in 1999. Suave, articulate, and media-savvy, Aziz is credited ...


N. Korea environment in danger, UN warns NAIROBI, Kenya -- Urgent investment is needed in North Korea to deal with severe environmental problems that have depleted the country's forests, contaminated water supplies, and polluted the air, the head of the UN Environment Program said yesterday.


Powell Cancels Athens Visit US Secretary of State Colin Powell has dropped plans to visit Athens and attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics following anti-American protests in the Greek capital.


Despatie second after semi-finals Athens - Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie was second in the semi-final round of the men #39;s 10-metre tower at the Olympic Games on Saturday.


Becks: Fergie right man for Roon Everton this week rejected bids from Manchester United and Newcastle for the England international, only for the 18-year-old to hand in a transfer request on Friday.


Greenspan Sounds Alert on Social Security (AP) AP - For at least the fourth time this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has touched the electrified third rail of American politics  #151; Social Security.


Yemeni sentenced to death, others jailed over Limburg bombing (AFP) AFP - A Yemeni was sentenced to death and 14 others to jail over the 2002 bombing of the French supertanker Limburg and for other terror attacks, in controversial verdicts promptly appealed by both the defense and prosecution.


USOC rejects call for Hamm to return gold US Olympic officials Friday rejected as deplorable a suggestion by the International Gymnastics Federation that mens all-around individual champion Paul Hamm


Ponting opts to bat first AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat in the triangular series final against Pakistan at the VRA Ground in the Netherlands.


Hedge Fund Is Censured and Ordered to Pay Taxes federal judge ruled yesterday against Long-Term Capital Management, the mammoth hedge fund whose collapse in 1998 roiled world markets, finding that the fund acted


Microsoft to release Longhorn in  #39;06 The Microsoft Corp. has decided to advance the timetable on its much-anticipated overhaul of Windows, the Financial Times reported Saturday.


Don #39;t cry ATHENS T he game was over. The gold was over. And here was Tim Duncan, who fouled out for the fourth time in seven games, sitting on the pavement outside the Olympic Indoor Hall, between a pair of giant plastic


McDowell accepts dream is over McDowell was the rank outsider of all those still in with a chance of qualifying for Europes team because he had to win the final counting event - and even then he knew it might not be enough.


Funk loses sole lead after bogey ZACH JOHNSON, a rookie on the PGA Tour, and Fred Funk share the lead after the second round. Johnson is tied with Funk atop the leaderboard when Funk bogeyed the par-4 18th hole.


China Refuses Entry to Hong Kong Politician Chinese authorities have refused to let a pro-democracy politician from Hong Kong visit Shanghai. The incident occurs just two weeks before an election that is being seen as a test of support for the city #39;s democracy movement.


Gunmen shot dead female university lecturer in Iraq #39;s Mosul Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a female university lecturer as she was driving to work in Iraq #39;s main northern city of Mosul on Saturday, local police said.


Explosive Found in Wreckage of Second Russian Jet  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Explosives have been found in the  wreckage of the second of two jets which crashed almost  simultaneously this week, Russia's FSB security service said on  Saturday.


Competition leads to Kimberly-Clark cuts DALLAS - Kimberly-Clark, maker of Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues, said Monday that it aims to cut costs by \$400 million to \$500 million over the next three years and will repurchase \$1 billion in stock during 2005.


U.N.: Sudan Agrees to Process Eritrean Asylum Seekers  CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan has agreed to consider the asylum  claims of 76 Eritreans who forced a Libyan plane to land in  Sudan because they feared returning home, a U.N. official said  Saturday.  Libya had denied the Eritreans refugee status.


Hedge Fund Is Censured and Ordered to Pay Taxes A federal judge ruled Friday against Long-Term Capital Management, finding that the fund acted in bad faith when it took \$106 million in tax deductions.


Ward still standing for US Score tied. One round to go. A shot at an Olympic boxing gold medal at stake. Apparently only US coach Basheer Abdullah didn #39;t know his 178-pound fighter, Andre Ward, was even with


Hammer Champion Facing Ioc Hearing Hammer gold medallist Adrian Annus will return to Athens to testify before an International Olympic Committee disciplinary hearing tomorrow, according to a Hungarian official.


Icon revered by pope is returned to Russian Orthodox Church MOSCOW A Russian icon is back home after hanging for years in Pope John Paul #39;s private chapel. The Vatican is returning the 18th century replica of the Mother of God of Kazan icon to the Russian Orthodox Church


Israel Denies Spying on American Allies  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel denied Saturday spying on its  main ally, the United States, responding to suspicions a  Pentagon analyst passed secret papers to the Jewish state about  one of its most bitter enemies, Iran.


Explosives in second Russian jet Traces of explosive are found in the wreckage of a second crashed airliner, say Russian officials.


Calif. cities, counties sue Microsoft Six California counties and cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, are suing Microsoft for allegedly overcharging them. The lawsuit seeks to recover some of the


Rooney would put United up with 1999 side - Ferguson Manchester United would be as strong as their 1999 European Cup-winning side if they captured England teenager Wayne Rooney, manager Alex Ferguson said.


Official: Puerto Rican failed drug test Puerto Rican wrestler Mabel Fonseca tested positive for a steroid in an initial doping test, a wrestling official said Saturday. Michel Dusson, secretary general of the International


Unlikely duo advances to Pilot Pen championship No. 7 seed Elena Bovina and No. 8 seed Nathalie Dechy advance to today #39;s final following their respective semifinal wins Friday on Stadium Court at the Connecticut Tennis Center.


Final plunge for 10m platform There was nothing much to choose between the top four of world silver medallist Helm, Canada #39;s double Commonwealth champion Despatie and 2000 Olympic gold and silver medallists Tian and Hu after Saturday #39;s semi-final round.


Schumacher singing in the rain Michael Schumacher again proved his supremacy in the rain by splashing his way through to the fastest time in the pre-qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.


IMPRESSIVE SRI LANKA MAKE IT FOUR OUT OF FOUR Sri Lanka moved a step closer to a series whitewash over South Africa after comfortably clinching the fourth one-day international in Dambulla.


Iran Says U.S. Lacks Options on Its Atomic Program (Reuters) Reuters - Washington has hit a dead-end over\Iran's nuclear dossier, lacking enough proof to demand U.N.\sanctions and too bogged down in Iraq for a military strike,\President Mohammad Khatami said Saturday.


Depleted Sri Lanka too strong for South Africa (AFP) AFP - Kumar Sangakkara and Avishka Gunawardene slammed impressive half-centuries to help an under-strength Sri Lanka crush South Africa by seven wickets in the fourth one-day international here.


Credit Suisse to integrate CSFB Swiss bank Credit Suisse is to integrate its private investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) with the rest of its banking business.


Pope returns rare icon to Russia A Vatican cardinal returns a precious Russian icon to the  Orthodox Church in Moscow as a gift from the Pope.


It #39;s a nightmare, admits captain Smith Dambulla, Sri Lanka - Kumar Sangakkara and Avishka Gunawardene slammed impressive half-centuries to help an under-strength Sri Lanka crush South Africa by seven wickets in the fourth one-day international here on Saturday.


Yemen court sentences terror suspects A Yemen court has sentenced 15 men on terror charges, including the bombing of a French oil tanker and a plan to kill the US ambassador to Yemen.


Aussie PM steps up phoney election campaign Australia #39;s prime minister stepped up a phoney election campaign on Saturday amid speculation he could soon call for October polls and renewed claims he lied to voters before his 2001 re-election.


Lenovo to carve up IBM PC empire Healthy or unhealthy, this national dependence on the web has happened in the 10 short years since IBM targeted the domestic consumer with PCs powerful enough to connect with the web.


Homegrown Satellite Radio Software Draws XM Fire (Reuters) Reuters - Catching Blondie's reunion tour\broadcast at 4 a.m. wasn't an option for XM satellite radio\subscriber and single father Scott MacLean.


Lost? Your Phone Knows a Way Out (Reuters) Reuters - Back when everyone\believed the world was flat, people thought these rocky shores\on Spain's windswept "coast of death" were the end of the\world. In today's world, you only need a mobile phone to get\there ... and back.


HP to sell version of Apple's iPod (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Hewlett-Packard on Friday unveiled its own version of Apple's iPod music player, part of its alliance with Apple Computer as well as HP's own foray into consumer electronics.


NYC Police Arrest 250 in Bicycle Protest (AP) AP - In the first major clash between police and demonstrators converging for the Republican National Convention, more than 250 bicyclists were arrested during a protest ride that snaked through the city and passed by Madison Square Garden.


Russia Finds Explosive Traces on 2nd Plane MOSCOW - Officials said Saturday they had found traces of an explosive on the wreckage of the second of two Russian airliners that crashed just minutes apart earlier this week. That would indicate terrorists caused both aviation tragedies...


Kilborn Stays Up 'Late' for Last Time LOS ANGELES - Craig Kilborn bid farewell to viewers of CBS' "Late Late Show" on Friday, concluding five seasons as its host despite the program's expanding audience.    Since announcing two weeks ago that he was leaving, the 42-year-old Kilborn has had difficulty explaining why he is walking away from a show that has seen its audience grow by more than a third during his tenure...


Homegrown Satellite Radio Software Draws XM Fire  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Catching Blondie's reunion tour  broadcast at 4 a.m. wasn't an option for XM satellite radio  subscriber and single father Scott MacLean.


British divers face platform final at Games Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor, who collected Britain #39;s first Olympic diving medals in 44 years with silver in the synchronised platform event, have both made the 12-man


Buick Championship remains wide open As evidenced by the leader board midway through the Buick Championship, it #39;s one of those rare golf courses that gives everyone a chance, from crafty finesse players like Fred Funk and Corey Pavin


Yankees #39; home runs jolt Jays TORONTO - Home runs by Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams were enough to lead the New York Yankees to another victory, despite the struggles of Esteban Loaiza.


Explosives  #39;in 2nd Russian crash #39; MOSCOW, Russia -- Explosives have been found in the wreckage of the second of two jets which crashed almost simultaneously this week, Russia #39;s FSB security service says.


Hundreds of rescuers airlifted to Taiwan village hit by huge <b>...</b> CHUPEI, Taiwan : Bulldozers and hundreds of rescuers were airlifted to a remote mountain village in Taiwan, where at least 19 people are feared dead after a typhoon triggered a massive landslide.


Eritrean hijackers seek political asylum in Sudan KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug 28, 2004 (PANA) -- A group of 84 Eritrean deportees who on Friday forced a Libyan plane to land in Khartoum instead of Asmara, their country #39;s capital, has requested for political asylum in Sudan.


Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II Blasts Vatican  #39;proselytism #39; ROME, Aug 27 (AFP) - Russian Patriarch Alexy II blasted the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches Friday for proselytising in traditionally Orthodox areas of the former Soviet Union, even as the Vatican handed over a precious icon to his Orthodox Church.


British Airways chief admits company  #39;got it wrong #39; over staff <b>...</b> British Airways #39; (BA) chief executive Rod Eddington has admitted that the company  quot;got it wrong quot; after staff shortages led to three days of travel chaos for passengers.


The day on Wall Street: As oil price drops, Dow advances for third <b>...</b> Oil prices went down and stock prices went up, pushing blue chip stocks to their third straight weekly gain. All the major stock market indexes moved up, although it was one of the lightest trading weeks of


Scottsdale e-learning company acquired One of the Valley #39;s top venture-capital-backed companies said Friday that it is being acquired by database publishing giant Thomson Corp.


Chechnya  #39;Black Widows #39; linked to sabotage of Russian jets Russian officials investigating the crashes of two passenger planes have discovered the remains of two Chechen women thought to be  quot;Black Widows quot; - suicide bombers given that name


Learn the Basics of Mutual Funds  PORTLAND, Maine (Reuters) - Some 93 million Americans own  shares of mutual funds, but many of these people have only  vague ideas of how they work. Here are some common questions  and the answers to them.


Investors Take a Holiday  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors may pack up and leave next  week as the Republican National Convention comes to New York  and many on Wall Street take a vacation, draining U.S. markets  of volume and leaving stocks flopping around with little  direction.


Mergers Up But Not Hot This Summer  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Corporate deal makers started the  summer hoping an improved economy would make this merger season  a hot one. As the bullish stock market and other  merger-friendly conditions fizzled, however, so did their  hopes.


Calpine Accounts Questioned  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Calpine Corp. CPN.N has been  struggling badly ever since the Enron Corp. collapse in 2001  exposed the weaknesses of its power generation and trading  business, but a recent study of its accounts suggests worse may  still be to come.


Howard ire over Bush rift report The Tory leader reacts angrily to reports that he has been told his stance on the war means he cannot meet President Bush.


Microsoft says Longhorn to ship in 2006 without WinFS Microsoft is targeting late 2006 for the release of Longhorn, the long-awaited and ambitious successor to Windows XP. A server version is slated for 2007.


Big Business Is Not Immune The announcement yesterday by Attorney General John Ashcroft that the Justice Department had executed search warrants on five homes and one ISP in connection with alleged illegal copying and sharing of music and movie files didnt necessarily send


UPDATE 2-Trulli takes pole at rainy Spa Renault #39;s Jarno Trulli claimed pole position for Sunday #39;s Belgian Grand Prix as weather conditions played into his hands in qualifying on Saturday.


Militia leaves Najaf shrine : Shia fighters left the holiest shrine in Najaf today and began turning in their weapons, after tens of thousands of pilgrims celebrated a peace agreement that ended a bloody rebellion.


Yemeni militants convicted on terror charges The charges include the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker and plotting to kill the United States ambassador. One man was sentenced to death for killing a Yemeni police officer and seven received 10 year prison terms.


Russian Orthodox Church Takes Possession Of Kazan Icon 28 August 2004 -- The Russian Orthodox Church has taken possession of a religious icon that hung for years in the private chapel of Pope John Paul II.


Strategic games of atomic significance in Iran Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi is deeply involved in the most critical chess game of his career. His country faces allegations it is secretly building a nuclear weapons arsenal under


Letting Israel Self-Destruct Take a run down the four-mile stretch of road that leads from Jerusalem to Maleh Adumim, which, with its 31,000 residents, is the West Bank #39;s largest settlement.


British Airways bosses help with check-ins LONDON -- The head of British Airways and top managers helped with passenger check-in Saturday as the airline sought recover from a week of chaos that stranded thousands of passengers.


USOC: No way Hamm drops gold US Olympic Committee officials angrily denounced gymnastics international federation for sending a letter to Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm asking him


Powell Cancels Visit to Athens Citing Busy Schedule Secretary of State Colin Powell has canceled a visit to Greece to attend the closing ceremonies of the Athens Olympics. Greek and US officials say anti-American demonstrations in the Greek capital hours before


Birgit Fischer Wins Second Medal in Kayak Birgit Fischer settled for silver, leaving the 42-year-old Olympian with two medals in two days against decidedly younger competition.


UN Report: Anti-Terror War Still Losing The worldwide war on terror is still on the lose-side, as al-Qaeda is still posing as big a threat as ever, according to an alarming United Nations report.


Hundreds Held in New York Anti-Bush Bike Protest (Reuters) Reuters - Thousands of cyclists snarled traffic\in New York on Friday night and police said they arrested more\than 250 people and confiscated their bicycles in the first\significant protest against President Bush before the\Republican convention.


Iran Ready to Provide Nuke 'Guarantees' TEHRAN, Iran - Iran is ready to provide "guarantees" it won't seek nuclear weapons, President Mohammad Khatami said Saturday, urging the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency to close its investigation into the country's program when it meets next month.    The United States, which says Iran is trying to develop weapons, is pushing the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Tehran to the U.N...


Californians have fresh antitrust crack at Microsoft MICROSOFT IS facing a fresh onslaught over alleged antitrust activities, with authorities in San Francisco and Los Angeles claiming that its products have adversely affected civil servants and local government functionaries.


USA has the stuff bad dreams are made of The United States basketball team didn #39;t just lose to Argentina and, with it, a chance to play for the Olympic gold medal. The high-priced roster of NBA players might have lost something even more precious than that: the world #39;s respect.


#39;Gamble #39; pays off for Trulli and Alonso Jarno Trulli grabbed his second pole position of the season at Spa on Saturday after taking a gamble and qualifying on intermediate tyres.


Two golds for Germany and Hungary on final day of canoe/kayak Schinias, Greece (Sports Network) - Germany and Hungary each claimed a pair of gold medals on the final day of the canoe/kayak program at the 2004 Olympics.


Saboteurs set pipeline ablaze inside southern Iraqi oilfield Rebels blew up a pipeline inside an oilfield in southern Iraq in the latest in a series of attacks on the country #39;s oil infrastructure that


Sudan Rules Out Talk of African Troops (AP) AP - Sudan's government on Saturday ruled out discussion of an African Union proposal to send peacekeepers into the conflict-ridden Darfur region during the latest peace talks with rebels.


Capel Taken Off U.S. Relay After Positive Pot Test  ATHENS (Reuters) - World 200 meters champion John Capel did  not run on the United States 4x100 meters relay team in  Friday's Olympic semi-finals because of a positive test for  marijuana, U.S. head men's coach George Williams said on  Saturday.


Spurred by Soaring x86 Server Sales, Western European Server <b>...</b> LONDON -- According to data from IDC #39;s Western European Quarterly Server Tracker, server sales rose for the fourth consecutive quarter in the second quarter of 2004 with 10.


Gold or Nothing How You Play the Game? At the Olympics, Some Think It Is Whether You Win or Lose. By David Marash. ATHENS, Aug. 28, 2004 - There was literally a field house full of great performances as the world #39;s greatest


Between fear and hope Howard or Latham? It depends on what kind of election it turns out to be, says Alistair Mant. John Howard will probably win an S-type election and Mark Latham an A-type election.


Russia Added to Central Asian Bloc (AP) AP - Four Central Asian nations on Saturday formally approved Russia's membership to their economic bloc, providing Moscow the opportunity to restore its influence in the strategic, energy-rich region.


Hungarian weightlifter stripped of silver, Puerto Rican wrestler <b>...</b> Hungarian weightlifter Ferenc Gyurkovics was stripped of his silver medal and kicked out of the Olympics on Saturday for using steroids.


Amir Khan V Mario Kindelan Head-to-Head Bolton student Amir Khan steps into the ring tomorrow for the biggest fight of his young life. Facing him will be Cuban veteran Mario Kindelan, the 33-year-old defending Olympic lightweight champion.


Peace returns to Najaf Amid the twisted metal and rubble of downtown storefronts and homes, in the side streets where residents tentatively ventured out, and even among the rebels in retreat, the word


Pope returns icon to Russia A Vatican delegation has returned a centuries-old Russian Orthodox icon to Russia #39;s Orthodox patriarch in a special ceremony. The Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, which has spent the last


Investment urged in polluted North Korea Urgent investment is needed in North Korea to deal with serious environmental problems that have depleted the countrys forests, contaminated water supplies and polluted the air, the United Nations top environmental official has said.


Storm aid in high gear People in Polk and other counties declared disaster areas because of Hurricane Charley are getting federal and state help faster than any other emergency in history.


Relay debacle ends Jones #39; jinxed games HERE in the land of myth, that familiar god of sports -- karma -- threw a bolt of lightning into the Olympic stadium yesterday. Marion Jones lunged desperately with her baton in the 4 x 100m relay final, but couldn #39;t reach her target.


50 Hurt During Opposition Strike in Bangladesh Capital In Bangladesh, at least 50 people have been injured in clashes with authorities during a general strike called by the main opposition party.


Gunmen kill  #39;collaborator #39; A SUSPECTED Palestinian collaborator with Israel was executed late today by two gunmen outside a mosque in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian security sources said.


Fifteen rescued from doomed boat AN Australian navy frigate has plucked 15 people to safety from a burning and sinking Indonesian boat. The dramatic rescue was made 200 nautical miles east of Singapore.


Darfur Rebels Boycott Talks for 24 Hours (Reuters) Reuters - Sudan's two Darfur rebel groups\walked out of peace talks in Nigeria for 24 hours Saturday,\saying they needed to mourn 75 civilians killed by Sudanese\government forces and Arab Janjaweed militia in the last three\days.


Chechen capital empties ahead of election to replace slain leader (AFP) AFP - Chechnya's capital Grozny emptied as residents fearing rebel raids fled a day before an election to replace their slain pro-Moscow leader.


Turkish Truck Driver, Iraqi Found Dead (AP) AP - Police found the bodies of a slain Turkish truck driver and an Iraqi man on a highway in northern Iraq, a Turkish diplomat said Saturday.


U.S. Women Win Third Consecutive Basketball Gold  ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. women took their third  consecutive gold medal in Olympic basketball Saturday, breaking  open a close game in the fourth quarter to beat Australia  74-63.


Darfur Rebels Boycott Talks for 24 Hours  ABUJA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Sudan's two Darfur rebel groups  walked out of peace talks in Nigeria for 24 hours Saturday,  saying they needed to mourn 75 civilians killed by Sudanese  government forces and Arab Janjaweed militia in the last three  days.


Spa: Renault on pole position! Jarno Trulli made the most of the conditions in qualifying to claim pole ahead of Michael Schumacher, while Fernando finished third.


Hungarian Weightlifter Stripped of Silver Hungarian weightlifter Ferenc Gyurkovics was stripped of his silver medal and kicked out of the Olympics on Saturday for using steroids. Puerto Rican wrestler Mabel Fonseca was also expelled for a positive drug test.


U.S. Wins Third Gold BULLETIN
BC-OLY--Women's Final BKW,0040
BULLETIN
    ATHENS, Greece (AP)  --  The United States won the gold medal Saturday in women's basketball, beating Australia 74-63.


Sinn Fein Offers  #39;Huge Prize to All #39; Unionist and nationalist politicians in Northern Ireland have the prize of an end to militant republicanism within their grasp, a senior Sinn Fein figure stressed today.


Lebanese Cabinet Votes to Extend President #39;s Term in Office Lebanon #39;s Cabinet voted Saturday to amend the country #39;s constitution to permit President Emile Lahoud to stay in office for three more years after his present term ends.


Asian group welcomes Russia A CENTRAL Asian economic group today formally approved Russia #39;s membership bid, giving Moscow a chance to restore its influence in this strategic, energy-rich region.


Abortion levels hit record high in England and Wales (AFP) AFP - Doctors performed a record number of abortions in England and Wales in 2003, with almost two percent of women aged 15 to 44 choosing to end a pregnancy, according to health ministry figures published in the British press.


Lahoud to Stay in Office Three More Years (AP) AP - Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud's bid to stay in office three more years was assured in a dramatic about-face Saturday when political rival Prime Minister Rafik Hariri bowed to Syrian pressure and proposed a constitutional amendment allowing the head of state to extend his term.


U.S. Women Win Third Consecutive Basketball Gold  ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. women took their third  consecutive gold medal in Olympic basketball on Saturday,  breaking open a close game in the fourth quarter to beat  Australia 74-63.


Democrat Urges Better Reservist Benefits (AP) AP - National Guard and Reserve soldiers deserve better health care and other benefits from the federal government, said North Dakota Democrat Rep. Earl Pomeroy.


Federal judge rejects tax shelter used by Nobel winners NEW HAVEN, CONN. - A partnership that includes Nobel Prize-winning economists is not eligible for \$106 million in tax deductions it claimed from a tax shelter, a federal judge ruled Friday in a case that has


Thai Airways To Finance 14 New Planes Mainly By Borrowing BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thai Airways International PCL (THAI.TH) plans to fund the planned purchase of 14 new aircraft, worth a total of 96.


Powell #39;s Athens trip off amid protests The US State Department has announced the cancellation of Secretary of State Colin Powell #39;s planned lightning visit to Athens to attend the Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday.


Moutain bike gold to France FRANCE finally struck cycling gold when Julien Absalon won the mountain bike cross country title today in the last cycling race of the Games.


A little competition for Schumacher SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Jarno Trulli is the only driver to beat Michael Schumacher this season. On Saturday, the Renault driver claimed another victory.


Toronto Blue Jays Team Report - August 28 (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays look to rebound from a tough loss as they host the New York Yankees for the third of a four-game set at SkyDome.


Moscow admit to finding explosives on both Russian jets The FSB (Russia #39;s security service and ex KGB) have confirmed that explosives have been located on the second crashed Russian jet.


Tehran seeking role in Mid-East Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has warned that peace cannot come to the Middle East without the help of Iran. Mr Khatami was responding to questions from reporters about American policies in the region.


Chechnya prepares to go to polls MAKHACHKALA, Russia -- Chechens this weekend are choosing a replacement for their assassinated president -- the Kremlin hoping the vote will bring some stability to a region racked by a decade of violence.


Investors Take a Holiday (Reuters) Reuters - Investors may pack up and leave next\week as the Republican National Convention comes to New York\and many on Wall Street take a vacation, draining U.S. markets\of volume and leaving stocks flopping around with little\direction.


Duke Welcomes Freshmen With New IPods (AP) AP - Newly arrived Duke University freshmen got something considerably snazzier than the usual Blue Devils T-shirts and ball caps: Their goodie bags included a free iPod digital music player engraved with the school's crest and the words "Class of 2008."


Argentina Wins First Olympic Gold in 52 Years  ATHENS (Reuters) - Argentina won its first Olympic gold  medal in 52 years in the soccer final Saturday, while the U.S.  women's basketball team atoned for their men's failure by  storming to victory.


Tehran seeking role in Mid-East Iranian President Mohammad Khatami warns that peace cannot come to the Middle East without the help of Iran.


Smith saves Man United from defeat at Blackburn Manchester United needed a controversial equaliser from striker Alan Smith in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.


34 Gold Medals Up for Grabs on 15th Day of Olympics The sailing and canoe-kayak events have closed at the Athens Olympics while athletics, wrestling, and basketball will give fans plenty to cheer at the Athens Olympics.


'Friendly' Killer Whale Damaging Boats (AP) AP - A "playful" killer whale who likes to frolic alongside fishermen has damaged three boats in separate incidents in recent weeks.


BoSox Beat Tigers, Keep Pace With Yankees The most satisfying images from the Boston Red Sox's latest win are the X-rays of Manny Ramirez's knee. The Boston slugger fouled a ball off his knee in the fourth inning of the Red Sox's 5-3 home victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night...


The Coming Week: Street Fight With the Republican National Convention kicking off on Monday and a slew of economic reports due out in the week ahead, investors could be in for some rough sledding.


Biz Supports Federal Anti-Piracy Program The record industry #39;s anti-piracy czar has given a thumbs-up to the Department of Justice #39;s Operation Digital Gridlock. The program is the federal government #39;s attempt


EU Probes Microsoft-Time Warner Deal BRUSSELS, Belgium Aug. 25, 2004 - Risking another trans-Atlantic tussle over Microsoft Corp., European Union antitrust regulators said Wednesday they were investigating whether the software giant #39;s deal with media conglomerate Time Warner Inc.


The Olympics Are Ending: Now Athens Pays for a Nice Party The very pleasant Games most people experienced, superimposed on one of the world #39;s historic cities. The very expensive Games that Greeks will have to underwrite for decades.


Musharraf Ally Sworn in As Pakistan PM Pakistan #39;s economic czar Shaukat Aziz was sworn in as prime minister Saturday and said his government #39;s greatest challenge would be combatting terrorism and maintaining law and order.


Move to bolster Lebanon president Lebanon #39;s cabinet has approved a bill to amend the constitution and allow the president, Emile Lahoud, to stay in power for another three years.


Dhaka Seeks Interpol Help in Blasts Probe DHAKA, 28 August 2004 - Bangladesh has called in Interpol to assist investigations into the Aug. 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally which killed 20 people and wounded 300, a senior police officer said yesterday.


British Airways bosses help out as airline claims problems <b>...</b> LONDON Yes, that was the head of the British Airways helping out at London #39;s Heathrow Airport today, as the airline scrambles to recover from a week of chaos.


Hamm rebuffs FIG request ATHENS - American gymnast Paul Hamm apparently has no intention of voluntarily giving up his Olympic gold medal in the men #39;s all-around competition.


Chelsea march on as United falter (AFP) AFP - Chelsea recovered from the shock of going a goal down after only 12 seconds to beat Southampton 2-1 and extend their winning start to the season to four matches.


Cal is skeptical of voting It #39;s Tuesday morning in college football, California still isn #39;t going to the Rose Bowl and, frankly, people want answers.


Hoddle lands manager #39;s job with Wolves WOLVERHAMPTON, Dec 7 (SW) - Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Glenn Hoddle has been named the new manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, succeeding Dave Jones, who was sacked in November.


Injured Athlete Released An athlete from the Central African Republic is released from the hospital Saturday, one day after he was briefly knocked unconscious in an Olympic taekwondo bout.


Branca and Berbatov help Leverkusen crush Bayern Two goals each from Brazilian forward Branca and Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov gave Bayer Leverkusen a decisive 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday.


Traces of explosive found on second plane in Russia Moscow - Officials said Saturday they had found traces of an explosive in the wreckage of the second of two Russian airliners that crashed just minutes apart last Tuesday.


Thatcher to go it alone MARK Thatcher #39;s wife, Diane, is planning to begin a new life in the US and leave her husband to face the coup scandal alone in South Africa.


No backdown on uranium: Iran THE UN nuclear watchdog must accept Iran #39;s right to enrich uranium as part of its civil nuclear program, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said today.


Turkey #39;s Embassy In Baghdad Investigating Reports On Killing Of <b>...</b> ANKARA - Officials of Turkey #39;s Embassy in Baghdad are investigating press reports of the al-Jazeera television saying that two Turkish hostages were found dead in the north of Iraq.


Eagles Have T.O., but Also Need Some TLC (AP) AP - Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse arrived in Philadelphia this spring as the top receiver and pass rusher who can elevate the hopes of a team that has lost three straight NFC title games. But as the 2004 NFL season starts, the Eagles are battered, a reminder that injuries are the great equalizer that can neutralize any big-money, big-name offseason moves.


Zimbabwe court says Mann guilty in 'coup plot' arms deal (AFP) AFP - A court in Zimbabwe found Briton Simon Mann guilty of attempting to illegally buy arms to stage a putsch in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea but acquitted 66 other defendants of involvement in the alleged coup.


Ohio GOP in Midst of Money Scandal (AP) AP - On the eve of the GOP National Convention, Republicans in battleground Ohio are in the midst of a fund-raising scandal and fighting in the ranks that have played out through name calling, anonymous allegations and reports of document thefts.


Kerry War Debate Hinges on Fickle Memories (AP) AP - You'd think the details would be scorched into a veteran's memory like a cattle brand: ducking gunfire, seeing someone die in battle, bracing against a blast's concussion. Who could forget?


To Be Picture-Perfect, a Choice of 3 Bruce Goodman is shopping for a new plasma television. He #39;s been doing that for a while -- about six months.  quot;It #39;s much more work than it ought to be, quot; he said of his research.


SEC to make qualifications of independent directors harder The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will amend its rules on the qualification of independent directors to make it in line with global standards.


MacCentral Week in Review Both under the hood and above it, the Apple iPod from HP looks just like the Apple iPod from Apple. It has the same Click Wheel, backlit black and white LCD screen and chrome and white case design.


Monty tipped for wildcard Ryder Cup qualifiers Thomas Levet and Miguel Angel Jimenez moved two shots clear at 15-under with one round of the BMW International in Munich remaining.


2 Arrested in Alleged NYC Subway Bomb Plot NEW YORK - Two men have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to bomb a subway station in midtown Manhattan, sources said early Saturday.    At least one of the men may have an affiliation with a terrorist organization, according to two law enforcement sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity...


To Be Picture-Perfect, a Choice of 3 Digital, high-definition television can be a complex enough business in its own right. But the shift from analog to digital now also means a shift from fat to flat. -The Washington Post


Longhorn to be Released in 2006, Sans WinFS skillio writes  quot;Everyone #39;s favorite OS maven, Bill Gates, announced a release date for Longhorn on Friday. He confirms what many had suspected - Microsoft will attempt to complete this release in calendar year 2006.


India battles the red river dragon India #39;s fear of a downstream deluge in the Sutlej River in the northwestern state of Himachal Pradesh, should a blockage on the Peerechu river in Tibet burst, highlights the


Chinas here! Dragon fire scorches track Liu Xiang became the first man from China to win an Olympic athletics gold medal here Friday after scorching to victory in the mens 110 metres hurdles with a world record-equalling time.


Kookas enjoy last laugh HAVING finally wrapped their hands around the holy grail - an Olympic gold medal -ustralia #39;s men #39;s hockey players retired to their dressingrooms to perform a victory ritual immortalised by a national team familiar with success.


Men #39;s Tennis: Srichaphan, Hewitt Advance to Long Island Cup <b>...</b> Two-time defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand and former world number one Lleyton Hewitt of Australia have advanced to Saturday #39;s semifinals of the Long Island Cup men #39;s tennis tournament in New York.


Premiership roundup LONDON - Chelsea claimed its fourth straight win of the season by beating Southampton 2-1 on Saturday while Alan Smith scored a controversial late equalizer for Manchester United to draw 1-1 at Blackburn.


BSU #39;s MBA program thriving as others struggle MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State University officials said the college is bucking a nationwide trend toward declining enrollment in MBA degree programs.


Getting a search engine ranking In the final article in a series on building a website, Michael Herman explains how Google ranks webpages and what you can do to improve your ranking.


Va. Tech Gets Big Chance With No. 1 USC (AP) AP - Three straight late-season stumbles have taken the luster off Virginia Tech. Now the Hokies are looking to get it back, and there's no better way to do that than to knock off No. 1 Southern California. The Hokies and Trojans open the season Saturday night in the Black Coaches Association Classic at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. The game begins at 7:45 p.m.


Protesters March Across Brooklyn Bridge (AP) AP - Thousands of abortion-rights activists marched across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, the latest in a growing procession of protests leading up to the Republican National Convention.


And keep on visiting our sponsors! It all counts. Thanks.) p2pnet.net News:- By the time Microsoft finally un-corrals Longhorn, a significant portion of its potential customer base will be long gone.


Uniform Snafu Delays US Bronze Medal Basketball Game The men #39;s Olympic bronze medal basketball game on Saturday between the United States and Lithuania was delayed after both teams showed up at the Olympic Indoor Hall wearing their home white uniforms, officials said.


With protesters waiting, Powell cancels trip to Olympics Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled his trip to Greece at the last minute partly because of concern his presence -- expected to be met with anti-war protests -- might have disrupted the closing ceremony at the Olympics, State Department officials


Governing Body Stands by Hamm All of us in the USA Gymnastics family were surprised and saddened to read the comments Paul Hamm made in an article by Juliet Macur,  quot;Hamm Set to Put Ordeal in the Past quot; (Aug. 25), concerning the support


Manchester United makes second bid for Wayne Rooney, Everton says Manchester United has made a second bid for Wayne Rooney, the 18-year-old striker #39;s club Everton said Saturday. The bid was higher than the unsuccessful 23.


Radcliffe agony  #39;seen by 12.8m #39; Almost 13 million UK viewers tuned in to watch Paula Radcliffe attempt to run the Olympic 10,000 metres on Friday. Radcliffe dropped out of the race with 12 of the 25 laps to go, just five days after quitting the marathon in tears.


Darfur rebels boycott talks for 24 hours over attacks ABUJA : Darfur #39;s two rebel groups said they would boycott African Union-led peace talks with Sudanese officials for one day in protest at alleged recent attacks on civilians by government forces.


New Pakistani PM takes oath Pakistan #39;s new prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, took his oath of office Saturday, becoming Pakistan #39;s 21st prime minister in 57 years.


Bonds Passes on Day Off, Stays in Lineup (AP) AP - Barry Bonds decided against taking a day off and was in the lineup Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. The Giants slugger often skips day games that follow night games, and he originally was scheduled to sit out Saturday.


Uniform Foul-Up Delays Lithuania-U.S. (AP) AP - The United States and Lithuania both arrived wearing white uniforms to the bronze-medal basketball game Saturday, delaying the start for 48 minutes.


Police Patrol Najaf, Workers Clear Rubble (AP) AP - The crash of explosions and crackle of gunfire that have torn through Najaf for weeks gave way Saturday to the clangs of shovels clearing the destruction and the wail of police sirens announcing the return of government control to the devastated holy city.


Golden double for Holmes Britain's Kelly Holmes makes Olympic history by adding 1500m gold to her 800m title.


Fernando lauds fantastic qualifying result The Spaniard will start tomorrows race from third position, and expects to run a strong race.


Bush Takes On Direct Role in Shaping Election Tactics Mixed in with daily updates on security, the president receives a quick campaign overview from Karl Rove.


Nature Outings Reduce ADHD Symptoms 'Green' treatments could provide cheap, healthy therapy for children, study says    HealthDayNews -- The great outdoors provides great benefits to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.    So says a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign study in the September issue of the American Journal of Public Health...


U.S. Eateries Push for Obesity Lawsuit Protection By IRA DREYFUSS    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bills to protect restaurants and food companies against lawsuits by people who claim the meals or snacks made them fat are moving ahead in the states like hamburgers passed out a drive-thru window.    Measures known as "cheeseburger bills" bar people from seeking damages in court from food companies for weight gain and associated medical conditions, including heart disease and diabetes...


California Cities and Counties Sue Microsoft By PAUL ELIAS    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Several California cities and counties, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, sued Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) on Friday, accusing the software giant of illegally charging inflated prices for its products because of monopoly control of the personal computer operating system market...


Bush Acknowledges  #39;Time of Change #39; for Workers President Bush on Saturday acknowledged US manufacturing workers have seen a  quot;time of change quot; in the economy but said his private sector-based policies were the way to boost growth.


U.N. Fears Child Mercenaries Being Hired in Liberia (Reuters) Reuters - Child soldiers who fought during\Liberia's 14-year civil war may be being recruited to fight\again as mercenaries in neighboring Guinea, a senior U.N.\official said.


Pakistani, US national arrested in New York bomb plot (AFP) AFP - A Pakistani national and a US citizen were arrested over an alleged plot to blow up a subway station in New York, city police commissioner Raymond Kelly said.


2 Arrested in Alleged NYC Subway Bomb Plot NEW YORK - A U.S. citizen and a Pakistani national were arrested in an alleged plot to bomb a subway station in midtown Manhattan, and possibly other locations around the city, police said Saturday...


Moyes praises Everton fans David Moyes praised the Everton fans on Saturday - after they booed Wayne Rooney - for supporting the team  #39;superbly #39;. Leon Osman scored twice as the Toffees beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at Goodison Park, but


Levet, Jimenez Share Lead at BMW Open (AP) AP - Thomas Levet shot a 9-under-par 63 Saturday and shared the third-round lead with Miguel Angel Jimenez at the BMW International Open, where a half-dozen players are vying for European Ryder Cup berths.


Bush ahead in latest Time voter poll (AFP) AFP - Republican President George W. Bush leads Democrat John Kerry by two point margin, according to a Time magazine poll out -- well within the poll's margin for error and similar to surveys released earlier.


Halftime: US leads Lithuania in bronze medal game Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - The United States has grabbed a 49-44 lead over Lithuania at the half of their bronze medal game at the Olympics.


ATHENS OLYMPIC 2004 / 2 star athletes face tragic endings By Ken <b>...</b> Marion Jones and Paula Radcliffe came up empty-handed when their Olympics ended before their races did. Tragic endings in their final events at the Athens Olympics left the two biggest female stars with no


El Guerrouj golden again Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco came into these Olympics without a gold medal, but now he has two after winning the men #39;s 5000 meters Saturday night.


Activists pleased by latest Pinochet ruling Human rights campaigners have reacted with delight to news that Chile #39;s former military dictator General Augusto Pinochet could finally stand trial.


'Butterfly Ballot' Creator Fights for Job (AP) AP - The creator of the infamous "butterfly ballot" used in the 2000 presidential election is fighting for her job as Palm Beach County's elections chief.


Iraq Group Takes 2 French Citizens Hostage  DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iraqi militant group has kidnapped two  French citizens and is demanding the French government end a  ban on Muslim headscarves to free them, Arabic television  station Al Jazeera said Saturday.


El Guerrouj hits gold again Hicham El Guerrouj shocks world record holder Kenenisa Bekele to win the 5,000m.


Indian Truckers Call Off Strike Indian truckers have called off their weeklong strike to protest a service tax after reaching an agreement with the government, the finance ministry said Saturday.


RIAA SUES 744 MUSIC PIRATES The recording industry continued its onslaught of lawsuits against illegal filesharers yesterday, filing suit against hundreds of computer users who allegedly make music available online.


Grokster Ruling Fuels P2P Battle The battle against Internet piracy could shift in earnest to Capitol Hill and further into the homes of individual consumers as the recording industry


Borzakovskiy becomes first Russian to win men #39;s 800 ATHENS : Yuriy Borzakovskiy became the first Russian runner to win the Olympic Games men #39;s 800 metres here. Lying at the back of the eight-man field at the bell, Borzakovskiy unleashed his trademark sizzling


With 98 Medals, U.S. Tops Sydney Total (AP) AP - With the women's 1,600-meter relay team winning gold Saturday night, the United States picked up its 98th medal, topping the total won four years ago in Sydney. Next up: the goal of 100 set by the U.S. Olympic Committee. There was a chance of hitting it late Saturday through one more relay, the men's javelin and men's basketball. If not, it could be tight on Sunday.


Away on Business: Friends Behind Bars  NEW YORK (Reuters) - By profession, they are Hong Kong  lawyers, military analysts, U.N. diplomats and surgeons, but in  the mental dossiers of good bartenders these out-of-town  customers are also parents, golfers, cancer patients and  broken-hearted lovers.


Britain Edges U.S. for 400M Relay Gold ATHENS, Greece - Stymied by a sloppy handoff in the middle of the race, the United States lost to Great Britain by a hundredth of a second Saturday night in the 400-meter relay - a race the American men usually dominate.    U.S...


British Quartet Stuns US in Sprint Relay Britain took a shock gold in the men #39;s Olympic 4x100 meters relay Saturday, pipping favorite the United States by one hundredth of a second.


Sports: Holmes added 15-hundred to 800 title ATHENS, Greece Britain #39;s Kelly Holmes has a rare middle-distance double at the Olympics. She came from behind to win the women #39;s 15-hundred today in Athens.


US Economy Grew at Slower Pace Than Expected he United States economy grew more slowly in the second quarter than previously stated, as it struggled under an increasing trade deficit and a slowdown in consumer spending, the Commerce Department said in a report today.


Server Market Share Research has lately shown that enterprises are going to spend a lot of money on IT hardware and infrastructure during the rest of the year, and both Gartner and IDC have new numbers tracking ongoing growth in the server market.


Athletics: Rare distance doubles for El Guerrouj and Holmes ATHENS Hicham El Guerrouj became the first man in 80 years to win the 1,500 and the 5,000 races at the same Olympics, joining Finnish great Paavo Nurmi in the history books Saturday.


Joe Davidson: Access to Info in Kobe Bryant Trial Description: Jury selection got underway Friday in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault trial in Eagle, Colo. News organizations have argued that limits on media access inside the courtroom does not let them fully cover the story.


US NBA stars beat Lithuania to win Olympic men's basketball bronze (AFP) AFP - The United States defeated Lithuania 104-96 here to win the Olympic men's basketball bronze medal game.


Protesters at Home of Swift Boat Backer (AP) AP - Nearly 40 protesters gathered Saturday at the home of the chief financial backer of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, whose ads criticize Democrat John Kerry's military record.


El Guerrouj Completes Rare Distance Double Hicham El Guerrouj became the first man in 80 years to win the 1,500 and 5,000 meters at one Olympics, holding up two fingers in triumph Saturday after outsprinting the world


Holmes completes double by winning 1,500 Kelly Holmes of Britain completed a rare double when she captured the Olympic gold medal in the 1,500-meter race Saturday to go with her win in the 800.