Receiver to have surgery Thursday, may need ACL repaired Tennessee Titans receiver Tyrone Calico will have surgery Thursday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and may need to have his anterior cruciate ligament fixed as well, coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday.


NHL set to miss opening night The Tampa Bay Lightning were supposed to raise their Stanley Cup championship banner this week to kick off the new season. Instead, the arena that rocked during the finals in June will be dark because of a labor dispute that shows no sign of ending soon.


Lopez Out Indefinitely With Knee Injury SALT LAKE CITY Oct. 12, 2004 - Utah Jazz point guard Raul Lopez, who missed the 2002-03 season after having a second surgery on his right knee, will be out indefinitely after bumping his leg over the weekend.


Nuclear materials from Iraq  #39;missing #39; Equipment which could be used in an illicit nuclear bomb programme has disappeared from previously monitored sites in Iraq, and radioactively contaminated items from there have been found abroad, the International Atomic Energy Agency has told the UN.


Peace in Sadr city, bombing in Fallujah raise questions At the beginning of this week the interim Iraqi government and US occupation forces were hoping to reach a peaceful solution to clashes that have continued for monthsin the


Germany Extradites Militant to Turkey Militant Islamic leader Metin Kaplan, the self-described  #39;Caliph of Cologne #39;, in Cologne, Germany, in this June 1, 2004 file photo.


Straw drops 45-minute claim The government #39;s claim that Iraq could fire chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes was formally withdrawn by the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, yesterday.


Suspected Militants Killed in Saudi Clash RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Oct. 12, 2004 - Three suspected Saudi militants armed with guns and hand grenades including one militant on the country #39;s most-wanted list were killed in a clash with Saudi security forces, officials said Tuesday.


Venus Wins, Russians Dominate Early Action  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Venus Williams carved out a testy 6-4,  6-4 win over qualifier Alina Jidkova, while French and U.S.  Open runner-up Elena Dementieva led seven Russians into the  second round of the Kremlin Cup Tuesday.


PayPal Problems Persist for Fifth Day (AP) AP - Despite furious repair efforts, intermittent service outages at the online payment service PayPal continued Tuesday for the fifth consecutive day, affecting payments, log-ins and account creations.


DHS May Appoint Cybersecurity Chief (AP) AP - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told industry executives Tuesday he supports appointment of a senior cybersecurity chief higher in his department with broader authority and more control over spending. The department later pulled back from the idea.


Microsoft Increases Entertainment Focus (AP) AP - Microsoft Corp. unveiled the latest version of its entertainment-focused operating system Tuesday, seeking a broader audience on a wider array of computers and stoked by partnerships offering music, movies and even recorded books.


New Report Confirms Online Sites Are Cutting Into Papers' Classified Ads (Editor and Publisher) Editor and Publisher - NEW YORK Craigslist and eBay are now cutting into newspaper classified advertising, according to a new report released today by Classified Intelligence, which surveyed 36 newspapers throughout the United States.


Virgin Electronics Unveils Portable Music Player (Reuters) Reuters - Virgin Electronics, the consumer\electronics arm of Richard Branson's Virgin Group,  on\Tuesday unveiled a new portable music player to compete\directly with Apple Computer Inc.'s  popular iPod mini\player.


Intel's 3Q Profits Rise 15 Percent (AP) AP - Driven by record sales of server and mobile microprocessors and a bigger slice of the flash memory market, Intel Corp.'s third-quarter profits rose 15 percent even as it struggled with lackluster PC sales, excess inventory and stiff competition.


Microsoft Releases New 'Critical' Patches (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Microsoft Corp. today released an unprecedented number of software security updates to plug flaws in its products, including seven "critical" defects that it said hackers could use to hijack vulnerable computers running the Windows operating system.


IBM #8217;s Atlantic tools platform set to sail (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - IBM Rational on Wednesday plans to flesh out complete plans for the upcoming IBM Software Development Platform, code-named  #8220;Atlantic. #8221;


Magma Breaks Surface at Mount St. Helens (AP) AP - Magma that has been rising inside Mount St. Helens after weeks of earthquakes and steam eruptions finally pushed its way to the surface Tuesday, forming a new lava dome just behind the existing one in the volcano's crater.


Study: Atomic Radiation Down in Arctic (AP) AP - Atomic radiation levels are beginning to decline in the Arctic, years after Soviet nuclear weapons tests and the Chernobyl nuclear accident spewed their fallout over the region, according to a study released Tuesday.


CITES Accepts Protection Plan for 'Jaws' Shark (Reuters) Reuters - A U.N. conference endorsed on Tuesday a\proposal to slap controls on trade in the ocean's most feared\predator, the great white shark of "Jaws" fame.


Thais Face Jumbo Dilemma in Conserving Elephants (Reuters) Reuters - Elephants kicking soccer balls,\painting flowers with their trunks, or twirling a hula-hoop are\a common sight in Thailand, where the sacred warrior beasts\perform in tourist shows or peddle fruits on the streets of\Bangkok.


CITES Allows Swaziland to Export, Hunt Rhinos (Reuters) Reuters - A U.N. conference gave tiny Swaziland\the green light Tuesday to export some of its white rhinos and\bring in trophy hunters occasionally to shoot the massive\animals.


Problems with online payment service PayPal persist for fifth day SAN JOSE, Calif. Despite repair efforts, service outages at the online payment service PayPal continue for the fifth consecutive day.


IBM raises bar -- and lowers prices -- in storage Effective December 3, IBM expects to carve out a bigger slice of the storage market, and two months prior to shipping, the initial prospects look very good for the channel.


US court refuses piracy appeal THE US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the recording industry seeking to force internet service providers to turn over the names of subscribers suspected of music piracy.


Dell Axim X50 Series VGA Pocket PCs The Dell Axim X50 and X50v are the first Pocket PCs from Dell with 3.7-inch VGA LCD screens. These devices out-power some computers still in use here at home, it will be available in 412, 516 or 620 MHz Intel XScale processors.


Funner Worm Spreads to US Symantec said when someon clicks on an infected link in a message, the worm tries to download code from remote sites, to redirect users to certain Web sites and to send a version of itself to everyone in an IM user #39;s contact list as well.


Gates lays out all-encompassing digital media plans LOS ANGELES -- Microsoft chairman Bill Gates presented his company #39;s vision of digital entertainment Tuesday, and the keyword was unified.


Cendant to spin off mortgage unit As part of its strategy to focus on travel and residential real estate, Cendant Corp. today said it plans to spin off its mortgage and fleet operations.


Blast near convoy of Palestinian security chief Moussa Arafat, cousin of Yasser Arafat and a top Palestinian security chief, has survived an apparent car bomb assassination attempt in Gaza City in an attack that signals deepening internal faction fighting.


Nobel Peace Prize winner says HIV was created for biological <b>...</b> Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan ecologist who last week was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, on Saturday repeated her belief that HIV was created by scientists for biological warfare, Agence France-Presse reports.


Professional Economists: The Economy is Safer in Kerry's Hands The Economist is currently reporting the results of a survey of professional economists. When asked the majority seemed to feel that the economy was safer in Kerry's hands than in Bush's. The Bush tax cuts seem to have gone down particularly poorly with this group.     On the more positive side for Bush, a significant number of the economists say they don't think the problems of the US economy are entirely his fault.


Dell Axim X50 and X50v Pocket PC reviews roundup You cant get your hands on one quite yet (they want to see how badly you really want it and so wont be shipping them out until the 18th), but tons of reviews of Dells new Axim X50 and X50v Pocket PCs have started popping up, and as were known


Chief British Scientist Says Act Now on Carbon Dioxide The world faces a surge in extreme weather events because of global warming and governments must act immediately to avert disaster, Britain #39;s chief scientist said on Tuesday.


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Triple attacks in Sinai, Egypt, leaves 33 dead and 130 injured WANTED FOR MURDER OF 33 PEOPLE AND INJURY OF 130 PEOPLE at 3 locations in Sinai, Egypt, at the end of the Jewish high holiday season (at the end of the Simchat Torah holiday).


Bill Gates charges forward into digital entertainment Today at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, Microsoft #39;s Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates laid out his vision of the future of multimedia.


Dell gets down to CE business Dell is expected to expand its line of line of consumer electronics this week, possibly taking the wraps off of a challenger to Apple Computer #39;s iPod Mini music player.


Uruguay #39;s struggles continue, Saudi Arabia wins again in World Cup <b>...</b> Two-time champion Uruguay continued to struggle in its quest to qualify for the 2006 World Cup on Tuesday, while Saudi Arabia maintained its unbeaten record in Asia.


Reds won #39;t bring back Larkin The team has informed the 40-year-old shortstop it will not offer him another contract, effectively ending a 19-year relationship with the player.


Sharon to fight back for Gaza pullout plan after being forced into <b>...</b> Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s bumpy road of his disengagement plan has restarted with a somewhat surprise defeat in the opening of the Knesset #39;s winter session.


Germany deports Islamic leader An Islamic leader sought by Ankara on treason charges has been deported by Germany hours after a court cleared his extradition. Muhammad Metin Kaplan, 51, was detained at an Internet caf in Cologne and hustled


FRANCE/JAPAN: Carrefour mulls sale of Japanese stores - report French retail giant Carrefour is reported to be planning to sell its operations in Japan in a bid to generate cash amid continuing weak sales in Europe.


Cendant to Spin Off Mortgage Operations Cendant Corp., the world #39;s top hotel franchisor, said Tuesday that it plans to spin off its mortgage and fleet operations in the first quarter of 2005 by distributing PHH Corp.


Virgin unveils  #39;iPod mini killer #39; and openly chides Apple for not <b>...</b> Virgin Digital has announced their own  quot;iPod mini killer, quot; the weirdly-named  quot;Virgin Electronics Player 5GB quot; which features 5GB of storage (which Virgin bills as capable of holding over 1200 songs), a built in FM tuner, weight of 3.1 ounces, and dual


IBM unpacks new storage gear NEW YORK--IBM has introduced two new storage products that the company said provides customers with better performance at a lower cost.


Microsoft Releases 10 Security Updates Microsoft Corp. released 10 security fixes for various products Tuesday, including seven that fix flaws the company said pose the highest threat to users.


Microsoft Officially Launches MSN Music: Mac Users Still Not <b>...</b> Microsoft officially launched the MSN Music Store today, marking the company #39;s entry into the online music download business. The company announced the service


Hughes  #39;surprised #39; but not angry Wales manager Mark Hughes today refused to condemn David Beckham after the England captain admitted he deliberately got himself booked during Saturday #39;s clash with Ben Thatcher at Old Trafford.


Bonds undergoes arthroscopic surgery on left knee Barry Bonds underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday and is expected to be at full strength when the San Francisco Giants open spring training in February.


Guaranteed contracts: the truth If the NHL and NHL Players #39; Association do reach a negotiated settlement this season, or next summer, or any time after that, a hard individual team salary cap will not be part of it.


Microsoft Renews Push Into Entertainment Products  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O on Tuesday  unveiled a new version of its Windows XP Media Center, along  with an array of new devices and services aimed at capturing  consumer spending on movies, pictures and music.


Microsoft Issues Patches for 7 Software Flaws  SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. warned on Tuesday of  seven newly found flaws in its software that could allow an  attacker to steal data and take over a personal computer  running the Windows operating system.


Report Faults Military Technology in Iraq War  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Front-line U.S. troops often lacked  access to surveillance and intelligence data during the  invasion of Iraq because of computer glitches, Technology  Review magazine reported on Tuesday, citing a largely  classified report by Rand Corp.


Red Sox, Yankees Ready for ALCS Battle Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, right, and Manny Ramirez watch a fly ball hit by Ramirez during batting practice for the upcoming American League Championship Series, Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in New York.


Indians decline option on long-time shortstop Vizquel CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians declined to pick up Omar Vizquel #39;s \$5 million contract option for next season, making him eligible to become a free agent when the World Series ends.


Titans #39; Calico to have surgery Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyrone Calico is expected to undergo surgery Thursday on his injured left knee.


Chinese hostage crisis hits impasse A Pakistani rebel leader refused to meet a council of tribal elders trying to secure the release of two Chinese hostages held by his group.


Rosales urges faithful to pray for Sins recovery Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales yesterday urged Catholics to pray for the speedy recovery of Archbishop Emeritus of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin, who suffered arrythmia or irregular


FTC Sues Spyware Suspects Federal authorities have asked a federal judge to shut down an operation that they said installed intrusive "spyware" on people's computers and then sold anti-spyware software to those same victims, a top consumer protection official said today. -washingtonpost.com


Microsoft Releases New 'Critical' Patches Microsoft Corp. today released an unprecedented number of software security updates to plug flaws in its products, including seven "critical" defects that it said hackers could use to hijack vulnerable computers. -washingtonpost.com


E-Voting Group Sues Md. Elections Board A Maryland group seeking paper trails on touch-screen voting machines today sued the State Board of Elections to win the right to monitor polling places on Election Day. -washingtonpost.com


Yahoo Q3 Profit More Than Triples The increase reflected a continued boom in online advertising, as well as a windfall that Yahoo realized from selling part of its stake in rival Google Inc. -AP


Intel Beats Expectations but Warns on Inventory Driven by demand for flash memory chips used in cell phones, Intel Corp.'s third-quarter profits rose 15 percent, but also warned that its gross margins are sagging, and it continues to suffer from a buildup of inventory.


Intel, Yahoo Save Day for U.S. Earnings (Reuters) Reuters - The scorecard of U.S. corporate\earnings ended on a positive note on Tuesday with  chip maker\Intel Corp.  and Internet media company Yahoo Inc\ reassuring investors that they were still growing\despite tough market conditions.


Britain Withdraws Iraq Weapons Claims (AP) AP - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Tuesday said British spy masters have formally withdrawn the intelligence that Iraqi troops could deploy some chemical and biological weapons on 45 minutes notice, information used as a rationale for joining the U.S.-led war in Iraq.


Newspaper: Egypt Attackers Fled on Foot (AP) AP - The attackers in three explosions on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula last week all fled minutes before their vehicles blew up, Egypt's biggest newspaper reported Wednesday, contradicting reports that suicide bombers carried out the attacks.


Coles trumps rival Woolworth's bid for pub and gaming group (AFP) AFP - Australian retail giant Coles Myer launched a 1.18 billion dollar (861 million US) bid for pub and liquor store group ALH, trumping a lower offer by rival Woolworths.


Martin office asked about Montreal sponsorship deal involving hockey great (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Paul Martin's staff contacted the office of former public works minister Alfonso Gagliano in 1999 to inquire about  #36;600,000 in sponsorship money for a Montreal sports group, documents provided to a public inquiry indicate.


Intel Profit Up; Outlook Reassures Market  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp. INTC.O on Tuesday  said quarterly profit rose 15 percent, helped by record sales  in Asia and stronger demand for notebook and server computer  chips, and gave an outlook that reassured jittery investors  that it could grow despite tough market conditions.


Economists: Bush, Kerry Job Plans Lacking (AP) AP - President Bush says his economic policies, including billions of dollars in tax cuts, are helping to create new jobs. But not the millions he promised. Democratic challenger John Kerry says 10 million new jobs would be added in his first term. Don't bet on that either.


White House Sounds Out Europeans on Iran (AP) AP - The Bush administration will talk with European allies later this week about possible economic incentives to Iran if it agrees to suspend the enrichment of uranium, a key step in the production of nuclear weapons, U.S. officials said Tuesday.


FCC Proposes  #36;1.2M Indecency Fine for Fox (AP) AP - Federal regulators proposed a record indecency fine of nearly  #36;1.2 million Tuesday against Fox Broadcasting Co. for an episode of its reality series "Married by America" that included graphic scenes from bachelor and bachelorette parties.


Starbucks CEO to Retire, Shares Fall  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp. SBUX.O on Tuesday  said its chief executive, Orin Smith, will retire next year,  surprising investors, who sent the coffee shop chain's shares  lower in after-hours trading.


Borders Cuts Forecast; Storms Hit Sales  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Bookseller Borders Group Inc.  BGP.N on Tuesday slashed its financial forecast, saying sales  were weaker than expected due in part to hurricanes, and that  profits during the key holiday season would miss Wall Street  estimates.


Medtronic Told to Pay \$400 Mln Damages  NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal jury on Tuesday ordered  Medtronic Inc. MDT.N to pay \$400 million in punitive damages  to an inventor of spinal surgical devices sold by the medical  equipment maker.


Singapore #39;s Temasek to increase exposure to Asia, reshape <b>...</b> SINGAPORE : Temasek Holdings wants to increase its exposure to Asia as the region prospers, so it is reshaping its investment portfolio to have equal emphasis on Singapore, Asia and the rest of the world.


CalPERS, other big institutions, lean hard on Disney The California Public Employees #39; Retirement System and three other heavyweight institutions are turning up the heat on The Walt Disney Co.


DreamWorks Animation IPO Could Raise \$725 Mln DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., whose  quot;Shark Tale quot; film snagged the No. 1 US box office spot for the second straight weekend, on Tuesday


FCC Proposes Record \$1.2 Million  Fine Against Fox Federal regulators proposed a record indecency fine of nearly \$1.2 million Tuesday against Fox Broadcasting Co. for an episode of its reality series "Married by America" that included graphic scenes from bachelor and bachelorette parties.


MSN Music launch tomorrow p2pnet.net News:- Apple #39;s pre-eminence in the corporate online music retail market is about to be seriously threatened. Slightly more than a year ago, Bill and the Boyz said they were planning to develop something similar to Apple #39;s iTunes - only better.


JVC and Fox back Blu-Ray DVD standard JVC has joined the Blu-ray Disc Association, the group responsible for promoting the Blu-ray Disc optical disc format. This format aims to become the successor to current DVD discs for high-definition video content.


PC demand boosts Intel earnings The world's largest chipmaker Intel sees profits rise 15 to 1.9bn thanks to strength in its personal computer business.


Thousands more flee Darfur homes New violence in Darfur has driven some 200,000 more people from their homes, the UN reports from Sudan.


Iraq asks nuclear watchdog back Iraq invites the UN nuclear watchdog to check on the disappearance of materials from its former nuclear sites.


Yahoo's Profit More Than Triples The Internet media company's quarterly profit was boosted by stronger online advertising and its acquisition of Overture Services.


Intel's Third-Quarter Profit Rises 15 Driven by demand for flash memory chips used in cell phones, Intel's profits rose as it struggled to overcome weak PC sales, growing inventory, product missteps and stiff competition.


Oil Prices Surge Briefly Above \$54 a Barrel The International Energy Agency said that higher petroleum prices would hurt economic growth around the world next year.


A Bargain in Drug Distribution? D K Healthcare Resources' stock surprises investors, but the drop brings a favorable valuation.


FCC Proposes \$1.2M Indecency Fine for Fox WASHINGTON - Federal regulators proposed a record indecency fine of nearly \$1.2 million Tuesday against Fox Broadcasting Co. for an episode of its reality series "Married by America."   The Federal Communications Commission cited the network for the April 7, 2003, program, which included scenes from Las Vegas bachelor and bachelorette parties featuring strippers and various sexual situations...


Bones Found in Purported Mob Graveyard NEW YORK - Police and federal agents found remains of two people believed to be former Mafia captains after expanding excavation work at a Queens lot reportedly used by a New York crime family, authorities said.    Searchers had recovered bones and other tissue in a shoe, ribs, a partial jaw and teeth and two personal items that led investigators to believe they had the remains of Bonanno crime family captains Philip Giaccone and Dominick Trinchera, law enforcement officials familiar with the dig said Tuesday on condition of anonymity...


Yankees' Rivera Heads to NYC for Playoffs PUERTO CAIMITO, Panama - Mariano Rivera wept, sang and prayed Tuesday at the funeral for two family members who died at his house, and he later raced to catch a private jet to return to New York for Game 1 of the Yankees-Red Sox pennant series.    The star reliever broke out in tears as a choir sang hymns at the God of the Prophecy Church near his home in this fishing village 40 miles from Panama City...


Sharon Begins Courting Opposition Parties A top Palestinian security leader who is a related to Yasser Arafat escaped unharmed on Tuesday when a booby-trapped car exploded near his convoy in Gaza City. The blast came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tried to cobble together a governing team to carry out his plan to withdraw from Gaza next year.


Briefly: Sun draws Nvidia graphics into Solaris roundup Plus: Tibco scoops up software company...PeopleSoft extends customer assurance...Siebel moves toward self-repairing software.


Tibco scoops up software company The purchase of privately held General Interface puts middleware specialist Tibco in the software development tool market.


Novell vows patent defense of open source Software maker says it will defend customers' open-source packages as vigorously as it would defend its own products.


Massu Defeats Kucera at CA Trophy Olympic champion Nicolas Massu defeated Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 at the CA Trophy tournament on Tuesday.


Intel revenue up 5 percent The traditional third-quarter bump is light for the chipmaker, as lower-than-expected PC sales offset flash memory gains.


Canada #39;s rich getting richer, Canadian Business ranks 100 <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Canada #39;s rich are getting richer, according to Canadian Business magazine #39;s sixth annual Rich 100, a ranking of Canada #39;s wealthiest citizens that hits newsstands Monday.


IBM unpacks new storage gear Big Blue says its expected storage products will offer customers better performance at a lower cost.


Sun draws Nvidia graphics into Solaris Nvidia is supplying graphics drivers for Solaris-based workstations that use x86 chips such as Advanced Micro Devices' Opteron.


Microsoft warns of 22 new security flaws The goal now is to "guess what the criminals are going to attack," an exec says. Redmond will focus first on the critical flaws.


Wi-Fi group: Jumping the gun on gear is risky The Wi-Fi Alliance "strongly discourages" manufacturers from launching products using standards that haven't yet been approved.


Syed Mokhtar wins bid battle Syed Mokhtar, a Malaysian tycoon, appears to have won a takeover battle for motor vehicle and banking group DRB-Hicom after his bid was supported by prime minister Abdullah Badawi in a surprise decision.


Qualcomm tries Trigenix on for size To help bolster its presence in Europe, the proponent of a North American cell phone standard goes on a shopping spree.


Dell hears consumer electronics call Possibly launching a rival to Apple's iPod Mini, Dell is expected to unleash a number of consumer gadgets.


U2 pitches for Apple New iTunes ads airing during baseball games Tuesday will feature the advertising-shy Irish rockers.


Photo 1 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.


Picture 3 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.


Picture 4 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.


Aon  #39;comfortable #39; with past behaviour Aon, the world #39;s second largest insurance broker, yesterday denied its brokers had ever steered business to favoured insurance companies as a way of generating bigger commissions.


Picture 5 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.


Picture 6 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.


Picture 8 of 8: Microsoft's new Media Center push Software maker heads to LA to show off a host of gadgets that use one or another Microsoft technology to access movies, music and video.


Microsoft releases fixes for seven 'critical' vulnerabilities Windows users need to prepare for 'patch Tuesday,' analyst says.


PayPal users still stranded as site glitch continues A coding error during routine upgrade maintenance at online payment Web site PayPal.com has created havoc for users, who have had only intermittent access to their accounts since Friday.


Brief: IBM buys software vendor IBM said it plans to acquire software vendor Systemcorp for an undisclosed sum. The Montreal company makes project portfolio management software for helping companies manage IT projects.


Verizon, Comcast execs slam regulation Top executives of Verizon and Comcast called for less regulation of communications at the Telecom '04 trade show .


IBM enhances support for ISVs IBM is expanding its resources to help application software companies generate leads and close sales.


CES 2005 already a sellout The 2005 Consumer Electronics Show scheduled for early January at the Las Vegas Convention Center is already sold out, and a major expansion is planned for 2006, the organizers said.


CSX Intermodal using CRM software with handhelds CSX Intermodal has about 500 independent truckers using RIM BlackBerry devices to report their progress in deliveries, get notices of changes in routes and more.


EMC buys backup software vendor EMC said it has purchased backup software vendor Dantz Development Corp. for less than \$50 million in a deal that it hopes will put it in a better position to sell data backup technology in the small-to-medium-size-business market.


Update: Intel Q3 revenue slightly higher than new expectations Third-quarter revenue was \$8.47 billion, up 8 percent from last year's third-quarter revenue of \$7.83 billion. Intel shipped a record number of processors in the quarter, but it had forecast even higher growth coming off of its second-quarter earnings conference call.


Yahoo meets earnings forecast; exceeds on revenue Yahoo Inc. significantly increased its revenue and earnings in its third quarter, the result of what the company called an accelerated pace of development for new products and services, which in turn boosted Yahoo's advertising business.


Fonterra bid too low say Aussies Australian dairy group National Foods says its shares are worth up to 22 more than a hostile \$A1.6 billion takeover offer by New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra.


Enterprise security is worst ever, experts say CANNES - Despite the number of IT security products and services cramming the market, businesses are more exposed than ever to emerging threats, according to industry experts speaking at the Etre technology conference in Cannes on Tuesday.


IBMs Atlantic tools platform set to sail IBM Rational on Wednesday plans to flesh out complete plans for the upcoming IBM Software Development Platform, code-named Atlantic.


Supreme Court passes on RIAA, network-sharing cases The U.S. Supreme Court declined Tuesday to hear appeals in two cases concerning the right of the entertainment industry to subpoena file-traders and whether telecommunication companies have to share their networks with startup competitors.
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IBM brings high-end storage functions to midrange IBM on Tuesday announced two new storage products  upper midrange and high-end disk arrays designed for ease of use and lower cost. The DS6000 and DS8000 feature higher physical storage capacities, a modular architecture, and additional visualization technology, all in systems considerably smaller than previous versions.


Microsoft pushes out seven critical security fixes Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday released 10 software security patches for its products, including seven it deemed critical and that could allow remote attackers to take control of systems running the company's software.


Critical Flaws Found in Windows, Office Microsoft issues patches for holes that could allow remote attackers to gain control of your PC.


Australia to Meet Kyoto Target But Refuses to Sign (Reuters) Reuters - Australia is on track to meet targets\set by the global Kyoto Treaty to cut greenhouse gas emissions\but will still not sign the pact because it ignores key areas\of the fight against global warming in developing nations.


Yahoo Profit More Than Triples Thanks to Overture Yahoo Profit More Than Triples Thanks to Overture\\Yahoo's quarterly profit more than tripled when compared to Q3 2003. The increase in Yahoo profit over this time period is largely attributed by the performance of Yahoo's search engine advertising service Overture. Yahoo posted net income of \$253.3 million, or 17 cents ...


Icelandic Tin Bath Could Give Earthquake Warnings (Reuters) Reuters - A tin bath on the cliffs of northern\Iceland, where locals take a dip to treat skin complaints,\could help scientists give an early warning of big earthquakes\and save thousands of lives.


PayPal Outage Effects Online Retailing and eBay PayPal Outage Effects Online Retailing and eBay\\eBay Inc.'s online payment system PayPal said on Tuesday that account data and personal information were not compromised by a glitch in the new system update that has resulted in some users not being able to log into their accounts and also PayPal not ...


Google Ad Copy that Clicks Google Ad Copy that "Clicks"\\Google Adwords are popular among many people just starting home businesses. Even many home biz veterans still use Adwords to promote their own products or supplement their income via affiliate marketing. While there is a learning curve associated with the Adwords process, it's really not difficult ...


Biotech Bug Busters Try to Save Venezuela Art Works (Reuters) Reuters - Biotechnology is meeting art in\Venezuela as scientists try to save the country's art treasures\from being ruined by its tropical insects, fungi and humidity.


News: Homeland Security signals effort to promote cybersecurity chief The Associated Press By Ted Bridis


DLA set for transatlantic merger DLA looks near certain to rubber-stamp its ambitious merger with US suitor Piper Rudnick within hours, as partners are due to cast their votes on the proposed deal at 2pm tomorrow (4 December).


Internet pharmacies face crackdown Many Canadian internet pharmacies supplying Amer-icans with cheap prescription drugs will be forced to close under new licensing restrictions proposed by regulators in the prairie province of Manitoba.


Yahoo Profit Triples on Google Stake Sale (Reuters) Reuters - Yahoo Inc. reported on Tuesday a\quarterly net profit that more than tripled from the year\earlier, boosted by the sale of shares it held in rival Google\Inc. and stronger online ad revenue that analysts said may\signal good results from other Web search providers.


New Mich. Lab Key to Detecting Diseases (AP) AP - A new  #36;58 million lab at Michigan State University will be a key to detecting diseases that start in animals but can be transmitted to people.


Sola Agrees to Be Sold for \$815 Mln  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sola International SOL.N, an  eyeglass lens maker, said on Sunday that it had agreed to be  bought by Germany's Carl Zeiss AG and European private equity  firm EQT for about \$815 million in cash.


FCC Proposes Record Fine Against Fox Federal regulators proposed a record indecency fine of nearly \$1.2 million Tuesday against Fox Broadcasting Co. for an episode of its reality series "Married by America" that included graphic scenes from bachelor and bachelorette parties. -AP


U.S. Considering Incentives for Iran (AP) AP - Reconsidering its hard line on Iran, the United States is weighing the idea of rewarding the Islamic republic if it gives up technology that can be used for nuclear arms, diplomats and U.S. officials said Tuesday.


Bush Taunts Kerry, Tests Debate Lines (AP) AP - President Bush taunted Democratic rival John Kerry and tested debate lines before friendly audiences in Colorado and Arizona on Tuesday while Kerry crammed in private for Wednesday night's final faceoff of the campaign.


Briefly: Piracy crackdown yields \$2.2 million roundup Plus: Sun draws Nvidia graphics into Solaris...Tibco scoops up software company...PeopleSoft extends customer assurance.


Murdoch to take printing out of Wapping in 600m revamp Rupert Murdoch #39;s News International is to move its print presses out of the Wapping site that was the scene of an iconic battle with print workers in the 1980s.


Red Sox, Yankees Begin ALCS Battle (AP) AP - The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees opened the American League Championship Series Tuesday night, a rematch of New York's seven-game victory last year. Curt Schilling (21-6) started for Boston against Mike Mussina (12-9).


Rice Believes He Could Be Traded Soon (AP) AP - Jerry Rice believes he could be traded by the Oakland Raiders before the Oct. 19 deadline. Rice, who turns 42 Wednesday, told Sacramento radio station KHTK on Tuesday that his days with Oakland may be numbered, and that he wants to play for a team that will better utilize his talents.


Titans' Calico to Have Surgery Thursday (AP) AP - Tennessee Titans receiver Tyrone Calico will have surgery Thursday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and might need to have his anterior cruciate ligament fixed as well.


FTC Sues Alleged Spyware Distributor FTC alleges that Sanford Wallace distributed spyware that created pop-up ads on victims #39; computers in order to sell his company #39;s anti-spyware software.


PeopleSoft chairman says bid needed different terms WILMINGTON, Del.--PeopleSoft might have considered Oracle #39;s takeover proposal more seriously if some of the terms were different, PeopleSoft #39;s chairman said in a videotaped deposition played in a Delaware court on Tuesday.


Inputs are dangerous Well, it #39;s  quot;Patch Day Tuesday quot; again, and Microsoft just released another raft of security bulletins. We got ten bulletins this time, but that amounts to something upwind of 20 separate vulnerabilities


Astros to Pitch Backe, Munro Vs. Cards (AP) AP - In Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt, the Houston Astros have one of the best pitching tandems in all of baseball. Only one problem going into the NL championship series: With no time to rest, those guys have been aced out of starting the first two games against the St. Louis Cardinals.


Moussa Arafat survives blast in Gaza Moussa Arafat, a cousin of Yasser Arafat and erstwhile security boss in Gaza, last night escaped unharmed when a car bomb exploded near his convoy in Gaza City.


Seeds of Peace Plant a tree, win the Nobel Peace Prize? The world #39;s highest honor, bestowed last week on a Kenyan feminist dynamo most famous for her grass-roots effort to plant some 30 million trees in Africa, has run smack


Oklahoma's Perkins to Miss 3-4 Weeks (AP) AP - Oklahoma cornerback Antonio Perkins will miss three to four weeks with a knee injury, leaving the second-ranked Sooners without one of the best punt returners in the country.


Novell to defend open source software with patents Novell Inc. is prepared to use its portfolio of U.S. software patents to protect against patent lawsuits the open source software it ships, the company said in statements posted to the Novell.com Web site and in an e-mail sent to customers Tuesday.


Kidd Makes His Return on Monday Night When the Toronto Raptors visit Continental Arena on Monday, Jason Kidd is expected to be in the Nets' lineup for the first time this season.


Minors In So. Maryland? A group pushing to bring minor league baseball to Charles County said Tuesday that it hopes to build a \$18 million stadium and put a team on the field in 2006.


Brewers Ace Ben Sheets Has Back Surgery Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for spring training.


Blazers Suspend Qyntel Woods Without Pay The Portland Trail Blazers suspended reserve forward Qyntel Woods without pay Tuesday pending a team investigation surrounding alleged dogfighting.


PayPal problems continue DESPITE furious repair efforts, intermittent service outages at the online payment service PayPal continued Tuesday for the fifth consecutive day, affecting payments, log-ins and account creations.


New ISS crew ready for launch BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan: A Russian-US crew will blast off from here on Thursday bound for the orbiting international space station on a six-month mission to conduct a series of scientific experiments.


and the world of hurt It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart, said A. Bartlett Giamatti, commissioner of baseball, not long enough before he broke ours by dying, at the age of 51.


SCO plans alternative to Groklaw Web site After a year and a half of being flamed, dissected and dismissed on the Groklaw.net Web site, The SCO Group Inc. (SCO) has decided to set up a Web site of its own to cover the latest happenings in its many legal disputes.


Carriers see key rulings soon LAS VEGAS - The major U.S. regional carriers want to leapfrog cable operators with advanced video services over IP (Internet Protocol), and expected upcoming U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rulings may help pave the way for those roll-outs.


US Airways gets loan concessions Some key US Airways Group Inc. lenders have agreed to extend the terms of their financing to mid-January, The Wall Street Journal reports.


Schultz:  #39;Bittersweet #39; As Starbucks #39; Smith Plans To Retire Decaffeinating: Starbucks (nasdaq: SBUX - news - people ) President and Chief Executive Orin Smith on Tuesday said he plans to retire early next year, because he wants to  quot;slow down.


Supreme Court Says  #39;No #39; to RIAA Appeal The US Supreme Court passed on hearing an appeal from the Recording Industry Association of America, and let stand a lower court #39;s ruling that the RIAA must follow the guidelines of the 1998


MSN Messenger Worm is No Fun A new worm, W32/Funner, is spread over the MSN Messenger instant messaging networks. Experts say it has caused minimal damage, but they say IM networks are ripe for more virus attacks.


IBM Expands ISV Programs IBM is expanding the number of third-part companies that can tap into its ISV partner support programs. An automated application system makes it easier for application software vendors to take


Red Sox hope Martinez tops his  #39;daddy #39; For the Red Sox to get past the Yankees, Pedro Martinez almost certainly will have to find a way to master the team he calls  quot;daddy.


Fifth-Game Success GameNight: After winning the NLDS clincher on three days #39; rest, Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt looks ahead to the Cardinals #39; series.


Lippi upbeat after Slovenia setback Italy coach Marcello Lippi said yesterday that Inter Milan #39;s Marco Materazzi will replace Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence for the Azzurri #39;s crunch World Cup qualifier at home today to Belarus.


As Sadr City calms, sanitation projects loom Residents of the Sadr City slum in western Baghdad on Tuesday said they hoped an unofficial truce between a Shiite Muslim militia and US and Iraqi government


MEPs reject new EU justice chief By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels and Bruce Johnston in Rome. The European Union #39;s incoming justice commissioner accused MEPs yesterday of anti-Catholic  quot;fundamentalism quot; after they voted him unfit to take


Great white shark is seen as a victim The great white shark, traditionally seen as an avid consumer of human flesh, is to be protected from the people it terrifies, an international wildlife conference decided yesterday.


Terror and tourism THE devastating terrorist attacks in the Egyptian resorts of the Sinai Peninsula last week which left more than 30 people dead - mainly Israeli tourists - have been widely attributed to Al-Qaeda.


Gadhafi #39;s son says Libya forsakes Mideast The son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi proposed a new plan for general reforms in which he said his country will move away from the Middle East and reduce spending on the military.


Grief-Stricken Russian Town Ends Mourning (AP) AP - Wailing and pounding their hands on dirt graves, hundreds of people dressed in black on Tuesday marked the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for the children and adults killed after terrorists seized a school on the first day of classes.


U.S. to Probe Said Vanished Iraq Nukes (AP) AP - The United States said Tuesday it will conduct "a full investigation" along with the Iraqi government of the reported disappearance from Iraq's nuclear facilities of high-precision equipment that could be used to make nuclear weapons.


Head of New York City Commission Resigns (AP) AP - The head of a little-known city commission that granted an early jail release to an influential state senator has resigned under fire.


US Airways, Lenders File Cash Pact  ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - The government has thrown US  Airways UAIRQ.OB a lifeline until the middle of January,  agreeing with key lenders to extend financing the bankrupt  carrier must have to operate, court records showed on Tuesday.


US Airways, Lenders File Cash Pact The government has thrown US Airways (UAIRQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) a lifeline until the middle of January, agreeing with key lenders to extend financing the


DreamWorks plans public float THE company behind animated hits such as Shark Tale and Shrek has made initial moves towards a public offering which could be worth up to \$US700m (\$960m).


Ainslie proves a class act Dean Barker, the Emirates Team New Zealand skipper, received the Louis Vuitton Trophy for Act 2 of America #39;s Cup from the Mayor, Rita Barbera, yesterday.


Odds against Silverstone as Ecclestone gets even Bernie Ecclestone is known to be writing his autobiography and the chapter to look out for will be the one in which he explains what it was that imbued him with such a fierce and unremitting hatred for the chaps in blazers and cavalry twills.


Intel Profit Up; Outlook Reassures Market Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest chip maker, on Tuesday reported a 15 percent rise in quarterly profit on an improved personal


Virgin Targets Apple #39;s iPod With the announcement of the Player 5GB, Virgin Electronics has joined the growing list of vendors attempting to take some of Apple #39;s share of the digital music player market.


Short but sweet glimpse of Kewell for Sydney #39;s fans SYDNEYSIDERS had a half-portion of Harry Kewell last night as the rarely-sighted Socceroo star made a cameo appearance for his country as Australia completed the formalities of qualifying for next year #39;s Confederations Cup.


Old soldier Arafat is just fading away The first thing one notices about Yasser Arafat is not his chequered headscarf, folded in the shape of the map of Palestine; not his surprisingly short stature; not even his trembling lips or pale hands.


Microsoft #39;s Media Center packs sticker shocker com October 12, 2004, 10:10 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories as organizations spawn projects around identity infrastructure.


HOLLYWOOD GOLD Riding high with the No. 1 flick,  quot;Shark Tale, quot; DreamWorks is dividing up the riches among its Hollywood founders and investors.


Philips Posts Best Quarterly Results in Four Years Often pigeonholed as just a seller of televisions and DVD players, Royal Philips Electronics said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit surged despite


US Senate OK #39;s bill that allows Florida taxpayers to deduct sales <b>...</b> An estimated 2.5 million Floridians may save an average of \$300 annually by deducting the sales taxes they pay from their federal income tax returns.


\$400 Million Judgment Against Medtronic A jury in Memphis said yesterday that Medtronic #39;s spinal products subsidiary should pay \$400 million in punitive damages for violating agreements covering its use of surgical products invented by Dr.


Textile Makers Fight for Limits The US textile industry said yesterday that it is formally asking the Bush administration to cap China #39;s shipments of trousers, shirts, sheets and other textile items to the United States, warning


FRENCH RAIDER MAY PUSH FOR HAVAS SALE The stakes are getting higher for one of the advertising industry #39;s biggest holding companies. With talk of a sale or breakup of France #39;s Havas, reports emerged yesterday


ALH shares surge on Coles bid SHARES in Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality Group Ltd (ALH) jumped more than nine per cent in morning trade today after retailer Coles Myer finally joined the bidding war for the pubs and bottleshops operator.


Citrus production down, but stockpiles will pick up slack Florida growers will pick far fewer oranges and grapefruits this season than last after hurricanes devastated crops in the state, where most US citrus is grown, the government said Tuesday.


Pension Funds Angle for  #39; #39;Proxy Access #39; #39; (Board members: Please take a moment to participate in a special survey, sponsored by CFO magazine and the National Association of Corporate Directors, that examines the evolving relationship between board members and the corporations chief financial


Oracle Isn #39;t Trying to Bury Rival, Executive Testifies The co-president of the Oracle Corporation, Safra A. Catz, testified on Tuesday that her company #39;s pursuit of PeopleSoft was a serious takeover offer, not an effort to eliminate the company as a rival.


Microsoft Releases A Flurry of Patches Microsoft Corp. yesterday released an unusually large number of software security updates to fix flaws in its products, some of which could be exploited to remotely take over computers running the Windows operating system.


New space station crew ready to go The new international space station crew will leave tonight with renewed hopes that recent oxygen problems and possible supply shortages aboard the orbital outpost won #39;t interrupt its six-month mission.


Colin McRae Rally 2005 October 12, 2004 - More of a simulation game than Asphalt, Colin McRae Rally 2005 lets the player race through eight different countries -- Australia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Sweden and the UK.


Supreme Court decision sought over file sharing In the latest volley of the file-sharing wars, the movie and music industries have filed a petition asking the US Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court decision that favored Grokster and StreamCast Networks, the makers of software that allow


Mussina, Matsui Set Up Game One Victory for Yankees Mike Mussina retired the first 19 batters he faced and Hideki Matsui drove in five runs as the New York Yankees opened the American League Championship Series with a wild 10-7 win over the Boston Red Sox Tuesday.


Jackson tried but failed to trade a defiant Kobe--report Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America -- Phil Jackson painted Kobe Bryant as a pampered star who


Massu gets first win in Vienna Olympic champion Nicolas Massu finally recorded his first win in Vienna yesterday, eliminating Slovak Karol Kucera in three sets at the euro682,750 (US\$845,908) ATP CA Trophy.


Kewell confident over fitness Harry Kewell says he will be fit for Liverpool #39;s match against Fulham this weekend after suffering a foot injury while playing for Australia.


Lippi sticks to his guns against Belarus Italy coach Marcello Lippi is sticking to his guns in a World Cup qualifier against Belarus Wednesday night despite Saturday #39;s shock defeat in Slovenia with 0-1, local media reported Tuesday.


US can clinch spot in final round of regional qualifying with win <b>...</b> The United States national men #39;s soccer team has two games remaining in the semifinal round of regional-qualifying play for the 2006 World Cup, but to a man, the focus is on getting to the next round as soon as possible.


Cards #39; Rolen just happy to be on field Scott Rolen has been nursing a strained right calf muscle for the last month. But compared to his condition when the St. Louis Cardinals were last in the National


#39;Livestrong #39; runners back in race after protests When 10 Virginia Beach high school runners were disqualified after an Oct. 6 cross country meet for wearing those ubiquitous yellow Lance Armstrong  quot;Livestrong quot; cancer survivor support


Arafat Relative Escapes Gaza Bomb Blast A top Palestinian security leader who is a relative of Yasser Arafat escaped unharmed when a car bomb exploded near his convoy in Gaza City, the latest sign of growing chaos as Israels planned Gaza pullout nears.


Iraqi Deputy PM pleads for aid Iraq #39;s Deputy Prime Minister pleaded with donors today to fulfill pledges of aid for the reconstruction of his war-ravaged nation.


US airstrikes leave 11 dead in Iraq FALLUJAH, Oct 12: US planes hammered guerilla positions in of Fallujah and Ramadi on Tuesday, killing 11 people, as the disarming of Shia militiamen gathered pace in Baghdad despite US warnings of internal rifts.


Arafat Relative Unhurt in Gaza Car Bombing JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 -- A top Palestinian security leader who is related to Yasser Arafat escaped unharmed Tuesday when a booby-trapped car exploded near his convoy in Gaza City.


Beslan braces for revenge Tanik Koizev wanders through the burned-out gymnasium of the school where hundreds of hostages died during a terrifying siege in September.


Germany Deports Radical Long Sought by Turks The German police arrested an Islamic radical on Tuesday and deported him to Turkey, which has sought his extradition for years in connection with a failed terrorist attack.


Pakistan tests  #39;nuclear #39; missile: World News: Islamabad, Oct. 12 : Pakistan has tested a medium-range nuclear-capable missile which could hit targets deep in neighbouring India.


Babies found in Iraqi mass grave The bodies of women and children are exhumed in north Iraq, as investigators seek evidence against Saddam.


China rejects Taiwan talks appeal China rejects the Taiwan leader's call for peace talks and warns against moves towards independence.


China Crushes Peasant Protest, Turning 3 Friends Into Enemies Since China's peasantry began falling far behind the urban elite in the go-go 1990's, the countryside has been a font of unrest.


Davis takes six-shot lead at PGA Tour qualifying tournament England #39;s Brian Davis shot a 4-under 68 Sunday and moved out to a six-shot lead after the fifth round of the PGA Tour #39;s 90-hole qualifying tournament.


How Tax Bill Gave Business More and More It was the biggest free-for-all in corporate lobbying in nearly 20 years, and its final product was a tax bill with giveaways for almost every business.


Mexican-Americans Struggle for Jobs In a strange post-industrial twist, most people who have lost their jobs in the garment industry are first-generation Mexican women.


Economists: Bush, Kerry Job Plans Lacking WASHINGTON - President Bush says his economic policies, including billions of dollars in tax cuts, are helping to create new jobs. But not the millions he promised...


Bones Found in Purported Mob Graveyard NEW YORK - Investigators found the remains of two people believed to be former Mafia captains at a vacant lot apparently used for years as a graveyard for people ordered killed by the late mob boss John Gotti and other gangsters, authorities said.    Searchers recovered bones and other tissue in a shoe, ribs, a partial jaw and teeth and two personal items that led investigators to believe they had the remains of Bonanno crime family captains Philip Giaccone and Dominick Trinchera, law enforcement officials familiar with the dig said Tuesday on condition of anonymity...


Insurgent Alliance  Is Fraying  in Fallujah Relations are deteriorating among insurgents as local fighters negotiate to avoid a U.S.-led military offensive against Fallujah, while foreign fighters press to attack Americans and their Iraqi supporters.


Ex-Detainee Leading Pakistani Militants A former  prisoner at the U.S. Navy facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, thought to have forged ties with al Qaeda since his release is leading a militant band whose members kidnapped two Chinese engineers in a lawless region of Pakistan near the Afghan border.


Olympic Champion Massu Finally Wins in Vienna

 By Barry Wood

 VIENNA (Reuters) - Double Olympic champion Nicolas Massubattled for nearly three hours before overcoming Slovakqualifier Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 Tuesday to claim his firstvictory in four attempts at the Vienna Trophy.


Clinton Lends His Voice to Kerry Campaign (AP) AP - President Clinton can't put his recovering heart into John Kerry's election effort out on the campaign trail, but he is using his voice to help in the final weeks of the race.


Franks Says U.S. Should Have Hired Iraqis (AP) AP - The United States should have quickly reformed the Iraqi army after most of its soldiers walked off the battlefield and got them "working for us," retired Gen. Tommy Franks said Tuesday.


Cheney: Iraq Could Have Been Arms Source (AP) AP - Vice President Dick Cheney, who acknowledged last week that Iraq had produced no weapons of mass destruction after 1991, said Tuesday that under Saddam Hussein the country likely could have served as a source of weapons for terrorists.


Edwards Tells Leno Theory on Bush 'Lump' (AP) AP - John Edwards has a theory about what was hidden underneath an unusual wrinkle that appeared on the back of President Bush's suit jacket during his first debate with John Kerry.


Jones, Lions can run, finally I #39;d write  quot;finally quot; 26 times for each of Kevin Jones #39; carries Sunday, but that would look stupid. After waiting six years for some sign, any sign, that the Lions could run


Brazilian striker dies during Indian club match Brazilian striker Cristiano de Lima Jr died yesterday after collapsing on the field during a domestic club tournament in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.


THE WESTERN FRONT Tomorrow night President Bush and John Kerry take the stage together for the final time before Nov. 2. This debate will focus on domestic issues, so it was supposed to be the one Mr.


Excerpts talk of  #39;psychological war #39; -- and truce LOS ANGELES -- Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson called his relationship with Kobe Bryant at times a  quot;psychological war quot; and sought to trade Bryant in January, according to Jackson #39;s diary, an excerpt of which will be published in next week #39;s


Rocco and his brothers Jos Manuel Barroso, president-designate of the European commission, has a crisis on his hands. The former Portuguese prime minister won plaudits in the summer for picking his Brussels team without bending to the will of powerful EU governments.


Great White Shark Gets Protection Oct. 12, 2004 - The great white shark won a bid for protection Tuesday as parties to a global wildlife treaty determined the world #39;s most ferocious deep-sea predator was under threat from excessive and unregulated trade.


Intel Fuels Asian Stocks; Oil Down (Reuters) Reuters - Shares in tech bellwethers Intel\Corp. and Yahoo Inc. rose in after-hours trade on upbeat\earnings reports, driving Asian shares higher Wednesday as oil\prices retreated from record highs.


Afghanistan Set to Start Counting Votes (Reuters) Reuters - Afghanistan was set to start counting\votes on Wednesday from a historic presidential election after\several candidates backed off from declaring the poll illegal.


Columbus' Tomb Opened on Anniversary (AP) AP - Roman Catholic officials opened a tomb said to contain the remains of Christopher Columbus as part of an annual ceremony Tuesday, a day after the Dominican government denied a Spanish request to conduct DNA tests to determine which country has the navigator's true remains.


Intel Fuels Asian Stocks; Oil Down  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Shares in tech bellwethers Intel  Corp. and Yahoo Inc. rose in after-hours trade on upbeat  earnings reports, driving Asian shares higher Wednesday as oil  prices retreated from record highs.


Japan Stocks Firm by Midday After Intel  TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average rose 0.55 percent by  midsession on Wednesday as some techs including Advantest Corp.  gained ground after Wall Street reacted positively to results  from Intel Corp. released after the U.S. market close.


Retailers Finding a Market Downtown In downtown Washington, once synonymous with the demise of urban retail, upscale men's clothier Jos. A. Bank has beaten internal sales predictions by 15 percent one year after opening. And developers are putting the final touches on a 275,000-square-foot shopping complex with five national chains.


Airport Security Screeners Overworked The nation's 45,000 federal airport security screeners suffer from low morale, understaffing and excessive overtime, according to a new report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.


FCC Proposes  Fine Against Fox TV The Federal Communications Commission Tuesday proposed a record-setting \$1.2 million fine against 169 Fox television stations  for an April 2003 broadcast of "Married by America" that featured whipped-cream-covered strippers and digitally obscured nudity.
-The Washington Post


Textile Makers Fight for Limits  The U.S. textile industry said yesterday that it is formally asking the Bush administration to cap China's shipments of trousers, shirts, sheets and other textile items to the United States, warning that an expected flood of Chinese imports next year will otherwise wipe out thousands of American jobs.


US stocks rebound, close with narrow loss US stocks rebound on sharp drop in oil prices to close with just a narrow loss. Wall Street drew support from upbeat earnings news from Johnson  amp; Johnson and Merrill Lynch.


Pocketing sales-tax receipts pays off A bill expected to get President Bush #39;s signature soon would allow Florida taxpayers to deduct sales tax on their federal income tax forms.


Inside Politics  quot;We may be about to experience an election unlike any we #39;ve seen in a while, quot; John Fund writes at www.OpinionJournal.


Woolies, Coles to compete for ALH COLES Myer will belatedly enter the takeover contest for Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality today with a bid that will trump arch-rival Woolworths.


FTC Files First Federal Lawsuit Against Spyware Federal authorities have asked a US District Court judge to shut down an operation that they said installed intrusive spyware on people #39;s computers and then sold the victims anti-spyware software


Dell Adds VGA Screen To New Axim Pocket PC #39;s Dell unveiled three new Axim handheld computers that combine the latest PDA technology in a dual-slot design. As part of the redesign of their Pocket PCs, Dell added a VGA screen (640x480) to the top of the line Axim X50v.


All the new Media Center PCs Bill Gates is giving his big speech right now at Microsofts big Digital Entertainment Anywhere event in Los Angeles. Well have a proper report for you soon, but in the meantime we figured wed


Red Sox rally falls short They came out wanting to set a tone. They wanted to keep the hostile crowd of 56,135 as quiet as possible. More than anything, the Red Sox wanted to jump out front in this


Americans can advance to regional finals with victory Into the regional finals of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, that is. The Americans lead their group with eight points off two wins and two ties.


A failure to communicate No, these aren #39;t allegations against University of Florida football players; they #39;re allegations against the University of Florida football coach.


Iraq welcomes UN nuclear inspectors to return In response to concerns of the disappearance of nuclear materials, Iraqi Science and Technology Minister Rashad Omar told the press Tuesday that UN nuclear inspectors are welcome to return.


US bid to resolve Iran standoff The Bush administration says it will host a meeting of G8 diplomats this week in Washington in a bid to resolve a nuclear impasse with Iran.


The latest developments in Iraq US troops went on the offensive from the gates of Baghdad to the Syrian border, pounding Sunni insurgent positions from the air and supporting Iraqi soldiers in raids on mosques suspected of harboring extremists.


Microsoft releases fixes for seven  #39;critical #39; vulnerabilities OCTOBER 12, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Microsoft Corp. #39;s monthly patch release cycle may be making it more predictable for users to deploy software updates, but there appears to be little letup in the number of holes being discovered in the company #39;s software


IBM enhances support for ISVs The new initiative will automate and simplify the process for independent software vendors to become IBM business partners, according to a statement.


NHL fines Thrashers owner 250-thousand NEW YORK The NHL is fining one of the owners of the Atlanta Thrashers 250-thousand dollars for saying the league would use replacement players next year if a new collective bargaining agreement isn #39;t reached.


Bush Health Savings Accounts Slow to Gain Acceptance So far employers and their workers have been slow to accept health savings accounts as an alternative to conventional health insurance.


Yahoo profit more than triples Internet media company Yahoo reported its quarterly profit more than tripled from the year earlier, boosted by stronger online advertising and its acquisition of Overture Services.


S.E.C. Inquiry on Circulation at Newspapers Said to Widen More than six newspaper companies have received letters from the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking information about their circulation practices.


Problems at Lending Unit Put Merrill Lynch on the Spot Merrill Lynch returned to the business of lending to wealthy clients and got burned again.


Chipmaker Has Profit (and a Glut) Intel reported its third-quarter profit rose 15 percent from a year earlier, though it continued to struggle with an inventory glut.


U2 pitches for Apple com October 12, 2004, 3:15 PM PT. It was a beautiful day for Apple Computer on Tuesday, as the company kicked off a new advertising campaign featuring rock superstars U2.


MSN Messenger hit with outage, virus Microsoft acknowledged on Monday it continued to battle a technical glitch that prevented MSN users from logging on to the service #39;s instant-messaging system, MSN Messenger, for the past three days.


Jackson tells of wanting to trade Bryant Phil Jackson called his relationship with Kobe Bryant at times a  quot;psychological war quot; and sought to trade his star guard in January, according to a diary of the former Lakers coach.


Soccer: Yellow card row leaves Beckham facing red card from <b>...</b> BAKU : David Beckham is set to be hauled over the coals by English football authorities over his admission that he deliberately fouled an opponent to earn himself a convenient booking in last week #39;s World Cup qualifier against Wales.


Olympic champion Massu gets win in Vienna _ Olympic champion Nicolas Massu defeated Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 at the CA Trophy tournament on Tuesday. In the final set, the second-seeded Massu broke Kucera #39;s serve at 2-all and then closed out the match.


Rojo is Smashing Baby! \\Since we launched at Web2  last week there has been a log of great feedback\about Rojo .  \\First off is this *great* new Austin Power logo from Constantin Basturea \\Smashing Baby!\\On the subject of eye candy check out the CafePress store  that Chris  put\together.  Very hip indeed!\\I might get this for my girlfriend:\\... and this for my backpack:\\We've been getting a lot of great feedback.  Thanks to everyone  for helping\us out during our beta trial!\\We even have our first Rojo external plugin :\\"My room mate, Dylan Parker, has just released a plugin for FireFox named\JustBlogIt. JustBlogIt is a Mozilla / Firefox extension that allows easy\right-click posting to a weblog. It a ...\\


Intel Posts Higher Profit, Sales Computer-chip maker Intel Corp. said yesterday that earnings for its third quarter were \$1.9 billion -- up 15 percent from the same quarter a year ago -- but the company cautioned that computer


International finale at RFK? With RFK Stadium being transformed into a baseball stadium for at least the next three years to house the former Montreal Expos, tonight #39;s World Cup qualifier between Panama and the United States


After 19 Seasons, Larkin Leaving Reds  CINCINNATI (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds announced  at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that they will not be  re-signing veteran shortstop Barry Larkin for 2005.


Olympic Champion Massu Finally Wins in Vienna  VIENNA (Reuters) - Double Olympic champion Nicolas Massu  battled for nearly three hours before overcoming Slovak  qualifier Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 Tuesday to claim his first  victory in four attempts at the Vienna Trophy.


N.H.L. Owner Is Criticized for Talking of Replacement Players The day before the regular season was supposed to open, the N.H.L. rebuked a team official for his comments about the league's strategy in its labor lockout.


Seattle Storm Wins W.N.B.A. Title Over Sun Betty Lennox scored 23 points to lead the Seattle Storm to their first W.N.B.A. title with a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.


Report Faults Military Technology in Iraq War  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Front-line U.S. troops often lacked  access to surveillance and intelligence data during the  invasion of Iraq because of computer glitches, Technology  Review magazine reported on Tuesday, citing a report by Rand  Corp.


Affidavit claims CAO knew of losses By Francesco Guerrera in Hong Kong and John Burton in Singapore. China Aviation Oil last month told investors that this year #39;s earnings would exceed its 2003 result, although it had already been hit by \$232


Cisco to Sell Routers with Fujitsu Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest maker of gear to direct Internet traffic, said on Sunday Japanese computer and electronics provider Fujitsu Ltd.


Olympus to Launch Hard Disc Portable Music Player  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese precision equipment maker  Olympus Corp. 7733.T said on Wednesday it would launch a  portable music player equipped with a hard disc drive, entering  an increasingly crowded field now dominated by Apple Computer's  AAPL.O iPod.


He's Got Games Bing Gordon is 53, happily married, two daughters. In other words, he is not what you expect when imagining the hard-core computer gamer who's awake at 3 a.m., living it up on Earth   Beyond, an online role-playing sci-fi galaxy reminiscent of the Final Frontier. -The Washington Post


Yahoo Profit Surges on Sales of Ads, Google Stock Yahoo Inc. reported yesterday that its profit more than tripled in the third quarter as the Internet service recorded substantial increases in advertising and a giant gain from the sale of part of its stake in rival Google Inc.


Airport Security Screeners Overworked, Report Says The nation's 45,000 federal airport security screeners suffers from low morale, understaffing and excessive overtime, according to a new report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.


Haywood Looks to End Wizards center Brendan Haywood worked hard in the offseason to improve enough to play in the fourth quarter of close games this season.


Nicklaus Looks Ahead Jack Nicklaus was as stunned as anyone by the outcome of the Ryder Cup, and he will captain the U.S. team in the Presidents Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in September.


Rix Out, Not Forgotten As Florida State quarterback Chris Rix returns to health, Coach Bobby Bowden will again start sophomore Wyatt Sexton in Saturday night's game against sixth-ranked Virginia.


Walker Is at Home Going into Saturday's game against undefeated Navy at Giants Stadium, Notre Dame's Darius Walker has averaged 87.2 rushing yards and scored three TDs in five games.


DreamWorks announces IPO plan to raise \$725m DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.,whose latest animation hit  quot;Shark Tale  quot; ruled North America box office for the past weeks, announced Tuesday plans for an initial public stock


Microsoft's Media Center packs sticker shocker The software giant prices the software somewhere between Windows XP Home and Windows XP Pro, CNET News.com has learned.


State of the Search Marketing Industry Danny Sullivan's wide-ranging keynote address at Search Engine Strategies San Jose prodded several raw nerves in the industry, sparing neither search marketers nor the search engines themselves, reports Andrew Goodman.


Mussina, Matsui Lead Yankees Past Red Sox (Reuters) Reuters - Mike Mussina retired the first 19\batters he faced and Hideki Matsui drove in five runs as the


News: Patriot Act tour carried a hefty price tag U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft spent \$200,000 of taxpayer money promoting the embattled surveillance law coast-to-coast. \


F.T.C. Files First Lawsuit Against Spyware Concerns The Federal Trade Commission is going after spyware, bits of computer code that install themselves on the computers of Internet users to track or disrupt their online activities.


9 Die in Japan Suicides Tied to Web In Japan, nine people were found asphyxiated in two cars in pacts the police said were facilitated by Internet suicide sites.


Oracle Isn't Trying to Bury Rival, Executive Testifies The co-president of Oracle testified that her company was serious about its takeover offer for PeopleSoft and was not trying to scare off its customers.


Philips Posts Best Quarterly Results in Four Years Often pigeonholed as just a seller of televisions and DVD players, Royal Philips Electronics said third-quarter profit surged despite a slide into the red by its consumer electronics division.


Yahoo Tripled Profits in Quarter, Thanks to Google Shares The \$253 million profit by Yahoo met analysts expectations and included \$129 million related to its sale of shares in Google.


Russia ready to sell major Yukos field The battle between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yukos, the country #39;s largest oil producer, intensified Tuesday after government officials announced plans to sell the company #39;s key energy fields at rock-bottom prices.


Murdoch #39;s goodbye to Wapping print Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corporation is to close its Wapping printing site with the loss of up to 700 jobs and spend more than 600m on three new plants in Enfield, Glasgow and Liverpool.


Algonquin Power, Microcell, Telus: Canadian Equity Preview The following is a list of companies whose shares may make gains or losses in the Canadian market. This preview includes news that broke after markets closed Tuesday.


Investors Flock to Web Networking Sites (AP) AP - Internet whiz kids Marc Andreessen, Josh Kopelman and Joe Kraus share something in common besides reaping huge jackpots during the dot-com boom.


Beltran causes Cardinals concern Not to the Astros, not to the St. Louis Cardinals and certainly not to the Atlanta Braves, who saw firsthand what kind of impact he can have by feasting on the league #39;s best pitching staff during the National League Division Series.


Olympus to Launch Hard Disc Portable Music Player (Reuters) Reuters - Japanese precision equipment maker\Olympus Corp. (7733.T) said on Wednesday it would launch a\portable music player equipped with a hard disc drive, entering\an increasingly crowded field now dominated by Apple Computer's\ iPod.


FTC Sues Spyware Suspects (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Federal authorities have asked a federal judge to shut down an operation that they said installed intrusive "spyware" on people's computers and then sold anti-spyware software to those same victims, a top consumer protection official said Tuesday.


IBM brings high-end storage functions to midrange (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - IBM on Tuesday announced two new storage products  #8211; upper midrange and high-end disk arrays designed for ease of use and lower cost. The DS6000 and DS8000 feature higher physical storage capacities, a modular architecture, and additional visualization technology, all in systems considerably smaller than previous versions.


U.S. Shuttles May Resume ISS Flights in May (Reuters) Reuters - The United States'\grounded Space Shuttle fleet may resume flights to the\International Space Station next May or June, a senior ISS\official said Tuesday.


Researchers to Study Yellowstone Cutthroat (AP) AP - Researchers from the University of Wyoming are trying to determine why the cutthroat trout population in Yellowstone National Park continues to decline and what steps can be taken to preserve the native fish.


Arafat Relative Attacked, Escapes Unhurt (AP) AP - A top Palestinian security leader and relative of Yasser Arafat escaped unharmed when a car bomb exploded near his convoy in Gaza City, the latest sign of growing chaos as Israel's planned Gaza pullout nears. Israel, meanwhile, expanded its military operation in northern Gaza.


Japan's troubled Daiei considering seeking aid from government body (AFP) AFP - Debt-ridden Japanese retailer Daiei is considering seeking help from a state-backed corporate body, reversing an earlier reluctance after pressure from its creditors, officials said.


China angrily rejects Taiwan's peace overture (AFP) AFP - China angrily rejected Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's peace overtures, saying Beijing's stance was unchanged and warning that Chen risked  quot;great catastrophe quot; by pushing for independence.


Bush, Kerry Looking for Edge in Debate (AP) AP - Running even just 20 days before the election, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry are looking for any edge in their third and final debate Wednesday night.


Bush, Kerry to square off in last debate (AFP) AFP - President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry go head-to-head for the final time in their knife-edge election battle, with their final televised debate.


Alabama to Vote on Segregation Language (AP) AP - Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing school segregation, an Alabama law mandating racially separate classrooms is still on the books.


China Spurns Taiwan President's Peace Overture  BEIJING (Reuters) - China spurned Taiwan President Chen  Shui-bian's peace overtures Wednesday, accusing him of only  paying lip service to easing tensions.


Bush, Kerry Looking for Edge in Debate SANTA FE, N.M. - Running even just 20 days before the election, President Bush and Sen...


Sectarian Tensions Simmer in Lebanon The arrest last month of Neameh Qayssamani, a newly elected member of the municipal council in Lebanon, and dozens of other men in the Chouf Mountains recalled a fearful time most people believed had passed forever.


Japan's Wide Role in Afghanistan    Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman,    Hatsuhisa Takashima , said here last week that his country had been active in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.


A Focused Senator, But Indecisive Candidate John Kerry has lurched from course to course during his presidential campaign, periodically switching drivers and roadmaps -- and messages -- as he reacts to more and more information and advice.


Bollor ups Havas stake to 20.2 Corporate raider Vincent Bollor said yesterday he had raised his stake in French advertising group Havas to 20.2 as Alain de Pouzilhac, Havas #39;s chairman, rounded on him for keeping his real intentions secret.


Blatter Blasts Beckham over Booking FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly condemned David Beckhams decision to seek a yellow card during Englands clash with Wales on Saturday.


China spurns Taiwan presidents peace overtures China spurned Taiwan President Chen Shui-bians peace overtures on Wednesday and said that his calls for easing tensions were false.


Sinai Bedouins Targeted in Egypt Attacks (AP) AP - Salem Hameed has lived in his tin-and-wood hut at the foot of the red mountain range for most of his 42 years. Asked where he's from, his answer is not Egypt or Sinai or Taba, but al-Karadma  #151; the name of his clan.


Slobodan Milosevic's Trial Resumes (AP) AP - The defense of Slobodan Milosevic resumed Tuesday, even as an appeals panel of the U.N. war crimes tribunal considered the former Yugoslav president's request to fire his court-appointed lawyer and let him represent himself again.


China Spurns Taiwan President's Peace Overture  BEIJING (Reuters) - China spurned Taiwan President Chen  Shui-bian's peace overtures Wednesday, accusing him of merely  paying lip service to easing tensions between the two arch  foes.


Reseller Selling Standalone Windows Media Center Software At least one vendor is selling OEM copies of Microsoft #39;s new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system online, possibly exploiting a loophole in Microsoft #39;s contracts.


Intel pumps up third-quarter profit SANTA CLARA, Calif.Driven by demand for flash-memory chips used in cellphones, Intel Corp. #39;s third-quarter profits rose as the chip-making giant struggled to overcome lacklustre PC sales, growing inventory, product missteps and stiff competition.


Gannett Says Its Net Profit Jumped 11 By Reuters. The Gannett Company yesterday reported an 11 percent jump in quarterly net profit on advertising sales gains at its newspapers and broadcast television stations.


Grapefruit crop to be smallest since 1938 Citrus growers will harvest the smallest crop since 1993 because of three hurricanes that ravaged the state and damaged groves locally and statewide, the Florida Department of Citrus said Tuesday.


PayPal users still stranded as site glitch continues OCTOBER 12, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - A routine monthly code update performed Friday for the PayPal.com online payment Web site has caused havoc for users, many of whom have managed to access the site only intermittently since the changes were made


Blaze Sub Sister Vessels Suspended from Service By Jennifer Hill and Kim Pilling, Scottish Press Association. Canada has suspended three of its former Royal Navy submarines from service after last weeks fatal blaze on a fourth vessel.


Oil prices decline sharply Oil prices fell sharply yesterday after briefly passing \$54 a barrel amid nagging concerns in the market that the global supply buffer is too thin to handle a significant output disruption.


FTC asks court to halt a spyware operation The Federal Trade Commission has asked a US District Court to shut down a computer spyware operation. The FTC said Tuesday the operation hijacks computers, secretly changes their


Big loss for Cablevision Cablevision #39;s MSG Network and Fox Sports NY will lose big ad bucks and be forced to cut the prices they charge cable and satellite companies now that the Mets have walked away to start their own channel, media insiders said yesterday.


Size of Florida citrus crop expected to fall significantly Florida will have the smallest orange crop in a decade after a series of hurricanes blew fruit off trees and flooded groves in the state that produces 75 percent of the nation #39;s citrus, a federal forecast released Tuesday shows.


Banks strengthen market on record breaking day The Australian share market continues to go from strength to strength with another record breaking day. The All Ordinaries hit its peak late, up almost seven points to close at 3,734.


Aggressive market hits Big Food sales Takeover target Big Food Group says aggressive competition among food sellers drove down second-quarter sales by 3.3 percent, sparking fears its suitor might drop its bid price.


PetroCan CEO shrugs off risk of Gazprom deal CALGARY - Petro-Canada chief executive Ron Brenneman yesterday dismissed the risks of investing in Russia, a day after reaching a major deal with state-owned gas producer Gazprom.


10 security fixes are released by Microsoft Microsoft Corp. released 10 security fixes for various products yesterday, including seven that fix flaws the company said pose the highest threat to users.


IBM unveils new arms in EMC war Stung by its loss of market share to Hopkinton #39;s EMC Corp., IBM Corp. fought back yesterday with a pair of major new data storage offerings, including


Technical problems subside at online payment service PayPal SAN JOSE, Calif. The online payment service PayPal says it #39;s been able to fix most of the technical problems that have plagued the company for the past five days.


Microsoft to begin music download service in Japan Microsoft Corp will begin its music download service in Japan with an initial offering of 50,000 songs, a spokeswoman for the US software giant #39;s online service unit said on Wednesday.


JVC signs up to Blu-ray A HARDWARE from the Land of the Rising Sun, JVC, has signed up to the Blu-ray format and joined the Blu-ray Disc Association. Although the public commitment to the next generation DVD standard is new, JVC


Motorola and Mastercard begin  quot;credit card quot; phone trials Later this year, a few hundred US residents will be testing two such product lines made by Motorola that use MasterCard #39;s PayPass wireless payment system, according to Motorola.


Firing may aid PeopleSoft in defending  #39;poison pill #39; Unceremoniously dumping CEO Craig Conway may help PeopleSoft Inc. successfully defend its  quot;poison pill quot; anti-takeover measures in court against would-be acquirer, Oracle Corp.


Hanson sweeps to sixth victory Australia #39;s Brooke Hanson won a record sixth gold medal at one swimming World Short Course Championships. She saw off American Amanda Beard #39;s challenge to take the 200m breaststroke title in Indianapolis in a time of two minutes and 21.


Brit GP on  #39;05 calendar - reports The track-owning BRDC ultimately gambled on making a loss next year by succumbing to Ecclestone #39;s proposed race fee. The only sticking point now is the duration of a new contract -- Bernie wants to renegotiate


Storm wins WNBA title, beating Connecticut 74-60 Betty Lennox and the Seattle Storm gave the city its first major professional sports title in 25 years -- and made Anne Donovan the first female championship coach in WNBA history.


Astros don #39;t bank on recent success vs. Cards ST. LOUIS - Houston was the only team to win a regular-season series from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros also are in position to become the third consecutive National League wild-card team to advance to the World Series.


Final round within reach for Americans WASHINGTON -- The heavy lifting has been done. The long plane rides to exotic lands and the tough nights on the road playing in front of raucous crowds are a memory for now.


Willie, Minaya GM Omar Minaya intends to speak with Yankees bench coach Willie Randolph and Dodgers field coordinator Terry Collins about the Mets #39; vacant managerial position, and got permission


McGrady, Yao set for first NBA exhibition game in China Tracy McGrady is more than willing to trade individual statistics for victories with Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets.  quot;I #39;m really not concerned about that, quot; McGrady said Wednesday.


Dark arenas greet season The NHL lockout has robbed Tampa Bay Lightning fans of the chance to see their first Stanley Cup banner unveiled at the St. Petes Times Forum tonight in what should have been their team #39;s season opener.


Jackson book rips Kobe Now comes former coach Phil Jackson #39;s  quot;The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, quot; a diary of the Lakers #39; 2003-04 season (which ended in the NBA Finals loss to the Pistons).


Ex-Guantanamo prisoner leading militant group Islamabad, Pakistan -- A former Guantanamo prisoner thought to have forged ties with al-Qaida since his release is leading a militant band whose members have strapped explosives on two Chinese engineers they kidnapped in a lawless region near the


Iraq wants reconstruction funding accelerate The international donors from 55 international organization and countries have gathered for two-days meeting in Tokyo. Approximately \$14 billion were promised by foreign givers in last years gathering in Madrid.


Japanese police: 9 suicides may be part of Web pact TOKYO -- Nine people were found dead in two rented vehicles Tuesday, with the windows sealed and charcoal burners at their feet, in what police are calling modern Japan #39;s largest suicide pact.


Navy docks sub fleet A military probe #39;s secret findings on the fire that crippled HMCS Chicoutimi has propelled the navy to dock its four second-hand submarines indefinitely.


Straw withdraws WMD Claims Foreign Secretary Jack Straw revealed on Tuesday that British spy masters have formally withdrawn the claims that Iraqi troops had the capability of producing chemical and biological weapons on 45 minutes notice, the key justification used by the US and


Italian FM slams EU lawmakers for Buttiglione vote LONDON : Italy #39;s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has slammed the refusal by European lawmakers to endorse Italy #39;s candidate for justice commissioner because of his views on gays as an attack on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his centre


TAIWAN WILL PATIENTLY WAIT FOR GOODWILL RESPONSE FROM BEIJING: MAC Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) The Republic of China government will patiently wait for a goodwill response from mainland China to its peace overture, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san said Wednesday.


An opening night shortfall NEW YORK -- Tracing the tracks of their tears back to the ballpark in the Bronx where all the horrible things happened last October, the Red Sox returned to the American League Championship Series last night, fell behind, 8-0, then rallied mightily before again succumbing to the Yankees, 10-7.


For Rivera, day of tragedy and triumph Of course he would be here. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera understands duty and obligation. He has been the most dominant closer in baseball for the past decade, a lofty title that is impossible to achieve unless you are a person who is rich in confidence, poise, and responsibility.


A statement, Sox declare The gloom of seeing their ace bounced after just three innings, his shortest outing in three years, was worsened by the knowledge that the Curt Schilling who had carried them all season might not be seen again this October.


Chances of a goodwill gesture are shaky Veteran outfielder Larry Walker, a proud son of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, dropped a little bit of Canadian hockey heritage into America's pastime when his Cardinals played the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.


Wakefield works out the kinks The silver lining on a dark cloud of a night wasn't the result, but rather the work.


4 K's spell trouble for Damon He has played 1,426 games in the major leagues (1,407 in the regular season and 19 in the playoffs) and Johnny Damon did something last night he had never before done: He struck out four times.


He'll let actions speak Since Pedro Martinez wasn't talking, leave it to Kevin Millar to clear that up.


It isn't a bad alternative Subtract the well-documented history, the combativeness, the dislike among the fans, the T-shirt controversy, and the proximity of the cities, and there's virtually no difference between the Houston-St. Louis NLCS and the Boston-New York ALCS.


Patriots on the lookout for a time-share When it comes to timing, the Patriots can't get a break. When they were making their great stretch drive through the best teams in the NFL last winter on their way to winning their second Super Bowl in three years, they often were overshadowed by a team not even playing at the time.


US has a goal in its sights A win over Panama and the United States is in. Into the regional finals of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, that is. The Americans lead their group with 8 points off two wins and two ties. By beating the Panamanians tonight at RFK Stadium, the US squad will secure a spot in the final six of CONCACAF ...


Bryant, Jackson at 'psychological war' Phil Jackson called his relationship with Kobe Bryant at times a  quot;psychological war quot; and sought to trade his star guard in January, according to a diary by the former Lakers coach.


Storm scuttles Sun Betty Lennox had another huge night, scoring 23 points to lead the Seattle Storm to their first WNBA title with a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun last night.


Facing rocky road? Rocky Hager says give him at least a half-hour and he'll tell you how much he's enjoyed his stay in Boston as coach of the Northeastern football team.


Dedham's victory sweet What a difference four weeks can make. The last time Bay State Conference field hockey powers Walpole and Dedham met, Walpole sent the Marauders packing with their first loss of the season, 5-3. But yesterday it was Walpole that was unable to preserve a blemish-free loss column, as host Dedham prevailed, 2-1.


Wheaton has a foothold The Wheaton men's and women's soccer teams are ranked No. 1 in New England among NCAA Division 3 teams and the women, coached by Luis Reis , have the distinction of a No. 1 national ranking the past two weeks.


Transactions BASEBALL Cincinnati (NL): Announced P Mike Matthews and P Aaron Myette refused outright assignment to Louisville (IL). Cleveland (AL): Declined to pick up the option on SS Omar Vizquel. Montreal (NL): Released P Dan Smith. Pittsburgh (NL): Released P Nelson Figueroa.


It's Blackmon's busy season Will Blackmon anchors the Boston College secondary as the resident shut-down cornerback, but it is by no means his only contribution to the Eagles. Blackmon also returns kickoffs and punts, and is so proficient that he leads the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 35.8 yards. One of his returns was a spectacular 96-yard touchdown against Ball State ...


Tonight's key New England game WEST VIRGINIA (4-1) at UCONN (4-1) When and where: Tonight, 7:30, at East Hartford TV/radio: ESPN. Last season: Did not play. Comments: This is the first meeting on the gridiron for these programs. The Huskies lead the Big East in total offense with 424.2 yards a game and are second in defense, only allowing 268 yards a game. Senior quarterback ...


Same dates at Norton How can the golfing fraternity not be excited over the PGA Tour's return to the TPC of Boston over Labor Day weekend next year? Not after this year's tournament caused such drama when Vijay Singh shot a 16-under-par 268 for a 3-shot victory over Tiger Woods and Adam Scott to take the World No. 1 ranking away from Woods who ...


Religious Meeting in Indonesia Aims to Blunt Radicals  YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesia's president  will open an international religious conference in the world's  most populous Muslim nation on Monday aimed at sending a  message of moderation in the region's battle against violent  religious radicalism.


BoE's King warns of bleaker times The UK's years of low inflation and falling unemployment may be over, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King warns.


Financial lessons Jane Christo is gone, but the lessons that brought an end to her long reign at WBUR should not be lost on Boston University itself -- particularly as it looks for a new president.


IBM unveils new arms in EMC war Stung by its loss of market share to Hopkinton's EMC Corp. , IBM Corp. fought back yesterday with a pair of major new data storage offerings, including one that occupies less than one-twentieth as much space as EMC's rival Clariion storage system.


For \$117m, Iron Mountain adds unit to store bits as well as boxes Boston information management giant Iron Mountain Inc. , a leader in the archiving and backup of business records, accelerated its push into the digital market yesterday with an agreement to buy Framingham's Connected Corp. for \$117 million in cash.


State Street says it will cut 425 jobs State Street Corp. said it will eliminate 425 jobs as a cost-cutting move after the financial firm yesterday reported a weak third quarter in which earnings fell 13 percent because of a sharp drop-off in lending and trading activities in securities markets.


Fla. orange crop to be the smallest in a decade Florida will have the smallest orange crop in a decade after a series of hurricanes blew fruit off trees and flooded groves in the state that produces 75 percent of the nation's citrus, a federal forecast released yesterday shows.


Insurer acquires 330 Stuart St. for \$28m Liberty Mutual Group, the second-largest international insurer based in the United States, bought an office and retail building across the street from its headquarters in Boston for about \$28 million. The building, at 330 Stuart St., has 105,000 square feet of space, Liberty Mutual said. The seller was the Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corp. Liberty Mutual plans to renovate the ...


Legal setback for music industry The Supreme Court yesterday declined to examine a lower-court ruling that forces music industry investigators to file a lawsuit to uncover the identities of people who may be copying their songs online.


Crackdown urged on copyright piracy A federal task force has recommended expanded investigative and prosecutorial powers to combat intellectual property theft ranging from counterfeit drugs to swapping songs over the Internet.


Short-term T-bill rates lower Interest rates on short-term Treasury securities fell in yesterday's auction. The Treasury Department sold \$19 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 1.68 percent, down from 1.69 percent last week. An additional \$17 billion was sold in six-month bills at a rate of 1.96 percent, down from 1.99 percent.


Germany Softens Stance on Sending Troops to Iraq  BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany said Wednesday it could not rule  out sending troops to Iraq, dropping its firm refusal to  consider any deployment to the country whose invasion last year  it staunchly opposed.


UK viewers taking control of TV More than 15 million homes in the UK will be able to get on-demand movies by 2008, say analysts.


Push to win over net 'refuseniks' Business and charities in the UK have joined forces to persuade more people to go online.


Mobile phone Lotto plan unveiled National Lottery players will be able to buy their tickets on their mobile phones, operator Camelot will announce.


Saddam Fit and Well After Hernia Operation  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein underwent a hernia  operation at a U.S.-run hospital inside Baghdad's Green Zone  two weeks ago and has made a full recovery, a U.S. military  official said Wednesday.


Israeli Missile Kills Hamas Militant in Gaza-Medics  GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli helicopter gunship fired a  missile near a house during fighting in the northern Gaza Strip  Wednesday, killing a Hamas militant, medics said.


Funds seek Disney change Four major pension funds, including the California Public Employees #39; Retirement System, said Tuesday that they will push for shareholders to be able to nominate up


FEC May Regulate Web Political Activity (AP) AP - With political fund raising, campaign advertising and organizing taking place in full swing over the Internet, it may just be a matter of time before the Federal Election Commission joins the action.


Milosevic Protests as Trial Defense Resumes (Reuters) Reuters - Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial\resumed after a month-long break on Tuesday with the former\Yugoslav president still at loggerheads with judges over his\demand to run his own defense despite his ill health.


Jackson anger over Eminem video Michael Jackson asks TV stations to stop playing Eminem's new video, which ridicules the pop legend.