Tokyo Stocks Bounce Up at Opening  TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's key Nikkei average opened up 0.78  percent on Thursday as gains on Wall Street encouraged  investors to scoop up bargains including key technology stocks  following the market's nine days of losses.


Congress to Hear Fannie Mae CEO, CFO  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chief executive and chief  financial officer of mortgage finance company Fannie Mae  FNM.N, under fire for alleged accounting irregularities, will  appear before a congressional panel next week, a company  spokesman said on Wednesday.


51job Inc listed on NASDAQ The Chinese online human resources provider 51job Inc made its debut on the NASDAQ stock market in New York with an initial offering (IPO) price of US\$14 per share yesterday, China Daily reported Thursday.


Phishing Cost Consumers \$500 Million Online tricksters looking to dupe consumers out of credit card numbers and other personal information have netted about \$500 million from their hapless victims in the US, a national study released Wednesday showed.


IBM creates fastest super model in the world International Business Machines Corp (IBM) said it created the world #39;s fastest supercomputer and is using it as the model for smaller, less costly systems due next year that can handle trillions of calculations a second.


Big asteroid Toutatis passes (relatively) close to Earth At just past 6:30 am Pacific Time today, the mountain-size asteroid came within four times the distance of the moon to the Earth - a comparative measurement


Silicon Image unveils low-cost storage appliance Semiconductor company Silicon Image Wednesday announced its SteelVine Storage Architecture and Appliance for the personal video recorder market and small to midsized businesses.


Tougher File-Trading Bill Moves Forward The US House of Representatives passed a bill this week that could allow criminal charges to be brought against individuals who use file-swapping Web sites or networks.


Chelsea defeat champs Porto 3-1 Jose Mourinho #39;s Chelsea put one foot in the second round of the Champions League yesterday with a 3-1 win over his former club, defending champions Porto.


DC #39;s baseball win official Proclaiming it a great day in Washington, Mayor Tony Williams confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Major League Baseball is returning to Washington.


Bradley suspended for remainder of season Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley was suspended for the remainder of the regular season by the league on Wednesday for his actions during Tuesday #39;s win against Colorado.


Cox modest about milestone As the chants of  quot;Bobby, Bobby, Bobby quot; sounded throughout Turner Field on Wednesday afternoon, the man who was the target of these cheers didn #39;t know how to react.


Japan battered by Typhoon Meari At least two people have been killed and several are reported missing after a powerful tropical storm struck south-western Japan. Tens of thousands of others were forced to flee their homes as Typhoon Meari #39;s


Stock Fund Inflow Shrinks To  #36;1.09 Bil (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - Amid a shaky market, investors put just  #36;1.09 billion into stock funds in August. The total reflects  #36;1.21 billion that shareholders pulled from stock funds investing in just the U.S.


Private space ship lands safely MOJAVE: SpaceShipOne has landed safely in the California desert after a wild corkscrew-like ascent into space, and is now a step closer to a \$US10 million prize intended to boost commercial-space travel.


Critics unimpressed with Kevin Spacey Theater critics reportedly were unimpressed with Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey #39;s debut as artistic director of Cloaca at London #39;s Old Vic Theater.


Storage On A Chip Silicon Image #39;s new lower-cost storage appliance should be more palatable to small and midsize businesses. By Martin J. Garvey.


Come 2005, Microsoft will bring Windows XP for beginners NEW DELHI: Microsoft said on Wednesday that starter edition of Windows XP (XP SE) operating system (OS) will be available in India from early 2005, a move that is expected to bring down prices of entry level PCs.


Del Neri takes over at AS Roma Former Chievo Verona coach Luigi Del Neri Wednesday took over to coach troubled Serie A club AS Roma, local media reported Wednesday.


Indian weightlifting federation banned temporarily : The Weightlifting Federation of India has been  quot;temporarily banned quot; from competition pending a decision by the sport #39;s international regulators, officials said on Thursday.


Arsenal not positive enough - Wenger Arsenal couldn #39;t hold a 1-0 lead in Norway as they drew 1-1 at Rosenborg last night. Freddie Ljungberg had the Gunners 1-0 ahead in the first-half, but that was cancelled out after the break after a superb effort from RBK #39;s Roar Strand.


Inter cruises to easy win over Andrelecht in Champions League Brazil #39;s Adriano scored a goal and set up another, leading Inter Milan to an easy 3-1 win over Anderlecht in Champions League Group G on Wednesday (early Thursday, Malaysian time).


CSKA Moscow overcome PSG CSKA Moscow continued their bright start to Group H of the Champions League tonight with a victory against PSG. Sergei Semak scored after 64 minutes for the Russian side, and he was instrumental in CSKA #39;s second as he was taken down.


Record home run hit lands in court In an action that combines America #39;s love of sport and litigation, two baseball fans have called on the courts to resolve their opposing claims to own the ball with which a top player hit a record 700th home run.


Few surprises -- or answers -- so far (Sept. 29, 2004) -- New England and Philadelphia clearly are the cream of the crop so far this season. I like Indianapolis, too, but I #39;m still not sold on its defense.


Screaming axeman attacks two pilots An Algerian asylum seeker with an axe injured the two pilots on a Norwegian internal flight yesterday before being dragged screaming from the cockpit by fellow passengers.


24 dead or missing in typhoon TYPHOON Meari continued to lash Japan with heavy rain today, leaving 12 people dead and another 12 missing, weather officials and police said.


Spies  #39;brokered \$1m hostage ransom deal #39; It is suspected that they were freed in exchange for a \$1 million ransom, a belief that has cast a cloud over national celebrations of the release.


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


Schwarzenegger Vetoes E-Mail Monitoring Disclosure (Reuters) Reuters - California Gov. Arnold\Schwarzenegger vetoed on Wednesday a bill that would have\required the state's employers to give workers written\notification if e-mail and other Internet activity is being\monitored at work.


Pilot Completes 1st Stage of Space Flight (AP) AP - Ignoring a warning to abort the flight, a test pilot took a stubby-looking rocket plane on a corkscrewing, white-knuckle ride past the edge of the atmosphere Wednesday, completing the first stage of a quest to win a  #36;10 million prize.


Federal Scientists Search for Lost H-Bomb (AP) AP - The U.S. government is sending a team of 20 scientists to check out a report of unusual radiation readings that could be coming from a hydrogen bomb that was lost off the Georgia coast in 1958.


Researchers Find Allergy-Free Soybean (AP) AP - Plant geneticist Ted Hymowitz knew that finding an allergy-free soybean would take a painstaking search through thousands of varieties. So Hymowitz got a grant, fetched a hammer and pounded away until he proved he was right.


Russian Government to Discuss Approving Kyoto Pact (Reuters) Reuters - The Russian government said on Wednesday\it would discuss ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on global climate\change to which Moscow holds the key.


British Hostage in Iraq Pleads for Help (AP) AP - A weeping British hostage was shown pleading for help between the bars of a makeshift cage in a video that surfaced Wednesday, a sobering reminder of the grim reality for at least 18 foreign captives still held by Iraqi militants.


Schwarzenegger Vetoes E-Mail Monitoring Disclosure  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold  Schwarzenegger vetoed on Wednesday a bill that would have  required the state's employers to give workers written  notification if e-mail and other Internet activity is being  monitored at work.


Kerry Says Bush Broke Promise on Oil (AP) AP - Democratic Sen. John Kerry said Wednesday the  #36;50 per barrel price of oil reflects a broken promise of President Bush that will hurt average Americans.


Sudan Asks U.N. to Verify Darfur Refugee Returns (Reuters) Reuters - Sudan has asked the United Nations to\help verify reports that 190,000 refugees from the conflict-hit\western Darfur region have voluntarily returned to their homes,\the U.N. refugee agency chief said on Tuesday.


Creditors Agree to Defer Iraq Debt Payments - IMF  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said  on Wednesday Iraq's official bilateral creditors had agreed to  defer debt the country owes them until the end of 2005.


Latin America Hard-Pressed on Poverty Goals - IADB  SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (Reuters) - Slow growth in Latin  American economies will hamper efforts to cut poverty in the  region in half by 2015, the Inter-American Development Bank  president said on Wednesday.


Voters to Judge Bush and Kerry on Foreign Policy in First Debate It is an axiom of the two presidential campaigns that their candidates offer a stark choice about America's role in the world.


02 announces European 3G network launch Mobile operator 02 #39;s parent mmO2 has this morning announced the launch its third-generation European data network. The network will incorporate HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) technology and IMS


Group Warns of Mount St. Helens Eruption SEATTLE - Mount St. Helens began rumbling more intensely Wednesday, prompting scientists to warn that a small or moderate eruption could happen in the next few days...


Briefly: HP may expand Puerto Rican research roundup Plus: HP also uses Hitachi drives in servers, storage...Microsoft boosts reporting tools...Circuit City picks up AT #38;T Net phone plan...Tech firms rally against copyright bill.


HP may expand Puerto Rican research Hewlett-Packard is considering an expansion of its research operations in Puerto Rico for pharmaceutical work and other tasks.


Desktop Linux a vehicle for pirating Windows Consulting firm reports that about 40 percent of Linux PCs will be modified to run an illegal copy of Windows.


RFID gets a reality check At Baltimore pow-wow, hype over new electronic tracking technology is tempered by concerns about cost, privacy and quality.


Salesforce.com launches on-demand support CEO says demand for automated support and service drives addition to customer resource management products.


HP using Hitachi drives in servers, storage Hewlett-Packard says it is putting 300GB hard drives into storage devices and servers, with more products in October.


Stocks open higher on advances in US shares TOKYO - Stocks opened higher Thursday on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as overnight advances in US shares prompted widespread buying of recently battered stocks.


Nasdaq Chief Sees Changes Ahead NEW YORK - Nasdaq plans to list itself on its own National Market by the end of the year, President and Chief Executive Robert Greifeld said Wednesday.


A stinker? Critics pan Spacey #39;s Old Vic debut When Sir Laurence Olivier made the Old Vic in London the base of the embryonic National Theatre, he opened with Hamlet. Four decades later, Kevin Spacey, the film star, selected


Match Reaction From Milan Martin ONeill is refusing to throw in the European towel after his side went down to two late goals in Milan, leaving Celtic pointless after two matches.


No Davis for Carolina in Week 4 Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Panthers will be without running back Stephen Davis for Sunday #39;s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.


Packers Going Through Some Trying Times (AP) AP - A fight between teammates, incessant trade talk about Mike McKenzie, Brett Favre's bum shoulder, a desolated defense.


Baseball's Return to D.C. Long Time Coming (AP) AP - The last time the nation's capital was home to the national pastime, the game was literally a riot.


Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Coughlin to Retire (Reuters) Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.  on Monday\said Tom Coughlin will retire as vice chairman after 25 years\with the world's largest retailer.


Good news: 'Phishing' scams net <i>only</i> \$500 million Three-quarters of wired Americans have noticed an increase in phishing incidents during the past few months, according to new data.


Glavine Fears Mets' Shakeup Reveals Instability The doors are spinning again for the Mets and it is troubling to the veteran pitcher Tom Glavine, who has not had much to feel good about since signing with the team.


Knicks' Houston Proceeding With Caution Allan Houston called playing in the Nov. 3 season opener at Minnesota a realistic goal, but also said, "I don't think anything's a lock."


Police turn forensic skills on handhelds A federal agency examines forensic tools to help law enforcement extract data from handheld gadgets.\


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


Expecting More Virginia's roaring 4-0 start has earned notice nationally. Yet the Cavaliers are well aware that they haven't really accomplished anything yet.


Minors Director Fired After sending no minor league teams to their respective playoffs, first-year minor league director Doc Rodgers is fired by the Orioles on Wednesday.


Tokyo Stocks Bounce Back, Led by Techs  TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's key Nikkei average rose 1.01  percent by mid-morning on Thursday as gains on Wall Street  encouraged investors to scoop up bargains including key  technology stocks following the market's nine days of losses.


Yen Back Under Pressure; Oil, Tankan Eyed  TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen was back under pressure on  Thursday from oil prices and as market players awaited the Bank  of Japan's quarterly survey of corporate sentiment.


Conoco buys stake in Russian oil firm : ConocoPhillips said on Wednesday it was seeking 20 per cent in Russias LUKOIL in a far-reaching alliance opening the way for the two oil majors to tap vast reserves in northern Russia and Iraq.


Clicks and mortar not a firm foundation IF services conglomerate Cendant buys the third-largest US online travel company, Orbitz, as looks probable, then it will be widely seen as another step towards breaking down any lingering sense that business over the internet is  quot;special quot; compared to


From pesto to porridge for Martha Stewart Martha Stewart, who built an empire teaching Americans how to cook, garden and entertain, is facing a very different lifestyle after being told to report to a prison in West Virginia by October 8. The US bureau


Greece #39;s funding under threat The European commission threatened yesterday to suspend development funds to Greece in response to Athens #39;s admission that it had disguised the extent of the country #39;s debts in order to join the euro.


Update 1: Jamdat Mobile, 51job IPOs Soar in Debuts Chinese recruitment firm 51job Inc. and Jamdat Mobile Inc., a developer of mobile phone applications, shot out of the starting gate in trading activity Wednesday after both companies priced their initial public offerings above expectations.


IBM ordered to pay court costs to Compuware New York, September 28: Compuware Corp, a maker of software to manage computer systems, on Monday said a federal court had ordered International Business Machines Corp to pay certain pretrial court costs related to Compuware #39;s ongoing lawsuit against the


Update 2: Tokyo Stocks Slip, Dollar Up Tokyo stocks slid for an eighth straight session Tuesday amid concerns about rising oil prices. The US dollar was up against the Japanese yen.


Apple Plans EU Expansion of iTunes Next Month Apple Computer is planning the next wave of expansion for its popular iTunes online music store with a multi-country European launch in


Blu-ray rivals set up promotional group Four proponents of high-definition DVD technology will invite component manufacturers to join a group set up to help speed its commercialization, while Sony has confirmed that it will use blue lasers in its next Playstation console.


Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge For so sober and meticulous a team, Chelsea have made surprisingly short work of Group H. The holders Porto clutch just one point after this and Paris St-Germain none at all, making the progress of Jose Mourinho #39;s men virtually certain.


Woods beset by ifs and maybes Tiger Woods may not play in the American Express World Golf Championship, which starts at Mount Juliet, near Kilkenny, today and he may get married next week in Barbados.


Zimbabwe officials halt racism hearing Zimbabwe cricket #39;s international status was left hanging in the balance yesterday when the first day of the International Cricket Council #39;s investigation into allegations of racism was marred by the sort of intimidation which has, according to the former


Monkey Off Their Back Ironically it was the first regular season game for the Carolina Panthers that not only began the history of the franchise, but also saw the beginning of a rivalry that goes on to this day.


ConocoPhillips pays \$2bn for Lukoil stake American oil company ConocoPhillips acquired the Russian government #39;s 7.6 stake in Lukoil yesterday, after bidding almost \$2bn (1.


Delphi gets SEC subpoena Automotive parts supplier Delphi Corp. said Wednesday it received a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission in late July related to agreements with Electronic Data Systems Corp.


Devices Up on Medicare Decision Medical device stocks were in the spotlight Wednesday with Medicare #39;s proposal late Tuesday to expand coverage for implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, bolstering shares of those companies making the devices.


Private Spacecraft Makes Successful Trip to Space The private spacecraft SpaceShipOne briefly entered space above the California desert Wednesday, completing the first of two qualifying flights for the \$10 million X Prize.


Dakar winner Sainct killed in Rally of the Pharaohs Three-time Dakar Rally winner Richard Sainct has been killed in an accident during the fourth stage of the Rally of the Pharoahs in Egypt.


Democracy takes a back seat The sound emanating from back-rooms at the Labour Party conference in the Brighton Centre yesterday was the unedifying one of backs being scratched.


Prices ease as US stocks rise OIL prices dropped from record highs above \$50 a barrel yesterday as weekly US inventory data showed a surprise increase in crude stocks, easing fears over stretched international supplies.


Fannie Mae mess is one for the books Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored mortgage company whose financial statements were strongly criticized in a report by its regulator last week, looks set to join Enron and WorldCom in the hall of accounting infamy.


Wall Street treads water as traders await fresh direction US STOCKS were narrowly mixed yesterday as investors digested a jump in second-quarter gross domestic product, while keeping a close eye on falling oil prices.


Salesforce.com Touts Customer-Service Apps Seeking to diversify beyond its sales-force-automation roots, Salesforce.com on Wednesday introduced a new on-demand call center and help desk application service called Supportforce.


HUM.. WHY THE EARTH #39;S SINGING SCIENTISTS believe they have finally worked out what makes the Earth sing. They have long been mystified by a constant deep drone, far below the range of the human ear, which has been picked up by seismic equipment.


AT amp;T reaches out to data-driven profits With its new Ogo mobile device, AT amp;T Wireless says goodbye to voice traffic and embraces the IM-savvy youth market. For AT amp;T Wireless, talk clearly is overrated - which is why the wireless provider launched a device that doesnt make calls.


Samsung working on tiny drive com September 29, 2004, 6:50 PM PT. With the economy slowly turning up, upgrading hardware has been on businesses radar in the past 12 months as their number two priority.


Mourinho gives Porto the blues MANAGER Jose Mourinho got the better of his former club and Chelseas Champions League ambitions remained firmly on track following last nights comfortable win over Porto.


Reports: Expos move imminent NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Montreal Expos have a home and Washington DC once again has a team. According to numerous reports, Major League Baseball formally will announce Wednesday that the Expos will be relocated


REDS 2, CUBS 1, 12TH INNING Elusive Last Out in 9th Haunts Cubs <b>...</b> The silence was unearthly, as if 38,190 people were sitting in the Wrigley Field stands Wednesday afternoon bound and gagged. The Cubs are in a mad chase for the wild card


San Jose hopeful after baseball moves Expos to DC Baseball #39;s decision to move the Montreal Expos to Washington gave officials in San Jose reason for optimism in their bid to acquire a major league team.


Iran stresses need to promote ties with Russia TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Head of Majlis National Security and foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Borujerdi here Wednesday urged promotion of economic cooperation with Russia through the efforts of he two countries #39; officials alongside with their growing political


Tokyo Stocks Rise, Technology Firms Lead  TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's key Nikkei average rose 1.14  percent by midday on Thursday as gains on Wall Street  encouraged investors to scoop up bargains, including key  technology stocks, following the market's nine previous days of  losses.


SEC subpeonas Delphi over EDS payments Automotive parts supplier Delphi Corp. (NYSE: DPH) received a subpoena from the US Securities and Exchange Commission in late July in connection with agreements with Electronic Data Systems Corp.


FOOTBALL: GIGGS: DON #39;T BURN HIM OUT RYAN GIGGS insists demands on Wayne Rooney should be kept to a minimum to avoid premature burnout. The 18-year-old #39;s hat-trick debut at Old Trafford sent Manchester United fans into a frenzy.


Move produces mixed emotions It was 3:45 pm ET on Wednesday afternoon when Expos president Tony Tavares held a team meeting to inform the players that the Expos franchise would be relocated to Washington, DC, starting in 2005.


Blair vows to respond  #39;immediately #39; if contacted by Iraq hostage <b>...</b> LONDON, Sept 30 (AFP) - Hopes remained alive Thursday for the life of Briton Ken Bigley as Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed to respond  quot;immediately quot; if his hostage takers in Iraq contacted the British government.


Blown save in ninth leads to loss on homer in 12th com. Last season, the Cubs were 27-17 in one-run games and won the National League Central Division. This year, the Cubs are 19-28 in those situations and fighting to stay alive in the Wild Card race.


Western Leaders Criticize Putin More than 100 American and European foreign policy experts signed a letter protesting against Russian President Vladimir Putin #39;s leadership.


Choose and cut farms thrive as fake trees gain market share As Kevin Houde wielded the saw, his 4-year-old son Cameron squatted on the ground beside him. Working as a team, they made a clean cut at the base of the 7-foot tree that will mark the Christmas season in their home this year.


Red Hat acquires AOL's Netscape server software The Linux seller plans to release the Netscape Enterprise Suite as open-source software in a bid to expand beyond its core product.


Samsung working on tiny drive The 0.85-inch diameter drive is a candidate for cell phone storage, but can the product compete against flash memory?


Telecom Italia to Buy Rest of Mobile Unit, People Say (Update2) Telecom Italia SpA, Italy #39;s largest phone company, plans to buy the 44 percent of wireless unit Telecom Italia Mobile SpA it doesn #39;t already own, a stake with a market value of about


Congress Debates 411 Wireless Directory Legislation Subcommittee hears objections to, support for 411 wireless directory legislation.


Gateway PC Delivers New Motherboard Standard BTX technology cools down the company's new 700GR desktop.


Wolfensohn's Chance at 3rd Term Unclear World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn would like to make one thing clear as he approaches the end of his second five-year term:  "I can say categorically, I am not campaigning" for a third stint as head of the agency, he declared.


San Francisco Hotel Workers Strike Unionized workers at four large San Francisco hotels went on strike Wednesday morning over issues similar to those causing an impasse between hotels and their workers at several large hotels in Washington.


Lenovo said to buy IBMs PC business Lenovo Group stayed silent Friday about reports it was talking with IBM Corp. about buying the US companys personal computer business, but an executive hinted that the Chinese


U.S. Revises 2nd-Quarter Growth to 3.3 Rate The U.S. economy's soft patch last spring was a bit firmer than previously thought.


Restatement Decision Deferred The Securities and Exchange Commission is months away from deciding whether Washington mortgage giant Fannie Mae will need to restate its earnings in the aftermath of a sharply critical report on its accounting practices, according to government and company officials.


No-Bid Defense Contracts Common More than 40 percent of the Pentagon's \$900 billion in prime contracts during the past six years have been awarded without competitive bidding, according to a Center for Public Integrity study released Wednesday.
\-The Washington Post


Judge Strikes Down Section of Patriot Act Allowing Secret Subpoenas of Internet Data A federal judge ruled that the provision broadly violated the Constitution by giving federal authorities unchecked powers to obtain private information.


Pentagon Spends Without Bids, a Study Finds More than 40 percent of Pentagon business, a total of \$362 billion, has been awarded on a no-bid basis over the last six years.


I.M.F. Asks China to Free Its Currency From Dollar The International Monetary Fund added its voice to the growing calls for China to float its currency immediately.


Imf Warns House Buyers to  #39;Exercise Caution #39; Sudden changes in the housing market pose the biggest threat to the UK economy, the world financial watchdog warned today. In an unusually stark message, the International Monetary


Fresh ALH bid pushes market to new record A bidding war for Australia #39;s biggest hotel owner has helped push the Australian share market into record territory yet again.


Gateway PC Delivers New Motherboard Standard Gateway #39;s new 700GR desktop PC, based on a new chassis design that focuses on helping cool high-end processors and graphics cards, will be available this weekend at US retail stores.


A 3-Decade Campaign Is Over: Baseball Is Back in Washington Back in the days when the Washington Senators were losers, which was often, there was a saying:  quot;First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League.


Gateway PC Delivers New Motherboard Standard (PC World) PC World - BTX technology cools down the company's new 700GR desktop.


Sexual abuse trials underway on Pitcairn Pitcairn Island #39;s sex trials have started this morning with Mayor Steve Christian the first to face the court. The prosecution has told the court Mr Christian committed offences against four women between 1964 and 1975.


UN calls for more AU monitors in Darfur Camps The United Nations said on Wednesday that African Union monitors should be deployed in Darfur refugee camps and should also monitor police to help in building trust with the local community.


Qantas #39; Jetstar Asia lifts off for a long haul future QANTAS chief Geoff Dixon is confident the new low cost Asian airline launched yesterday in Singapore will last the disance. Qantas owns 49 per cent of Jetstar Asia, a sister airline to Jetstar Australia, along


IBM OKs Partial Pension Suit Settlement (AP) AP - IBM Corp. and plaintiffs challenging the legality of its pension plan agreed to a deal Wednesday that settles most claims and caps the company's potential liability at  #36;1.7 billion. The company previously had estimated that a settlement could cost up to  #36;6.5 billion.


IBM Settles Some Pension Suit Issues International Business Machines Corp. said Wednesday it had agreed to settle most of the issues in a suit over changes in its pension plans on terms that allow the company to continue to appeal a key question while capping its liability at \$1.7 billion.
-The Washington Post


Akamai Strives for a Safer, Speedier Net It was dark and eerily quiet in the command center of Akamai Technologies Inc., a company whose mission of easing Internet traffic jams gives it a clear view of what's happening on the Internet.


Oil Ends Below  #36;50 on Nigerian Cease-Fire (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices slid from record highs\above  #36;50 a barrel Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a\surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's\oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire with\the government.


IMF Says China Able to Slow Economy (AP) AP - China can manage to slow its roaring economy to a sustainable level, but only if it avoids loosening curbs on lending and investment too quickly, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.


Russia 'to ratify climate treaty' Russia appears set to approve the Kyoto climate change treaty, which could lead to its adoption worldwide.


IBM reaches settlement in pension suit NEW YORK -- IBM Corp. agreed to a deal Wednesday that all but settles a case in which 140,000 workers claimed the computer giant #39;s pension plan discriminated against older workers.


Mutual-fund industry buffeted by regulators, media, markets: IFIC <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Canadian mutual fund operators face a triple threat from regulatory probes, negative news coverage and lacklustre financial markets, the head of the industry #39;s national association said Wednesday.


Rocket plane lands safely after bid for X Prize Despite a few tense moments, the SpaceShipOne rocket plane made a successful manned flight into space, putting it in the lead in the race to win the \$10-million Ansari X Prize.


Jeff Gordon has momentum Motorsport.com. Momentum is a funny thing in racing. It #39;s not something that you can see or hear. It #39;s not easy to put your finger on exactly when it starts.


Italian Officials Dispute Reports of Ransom Italy #39;s government dismissed reports Wednesday that it paid \$1 million to free two Italian aid workers who were kidnapped in Iraq and held for three weeks before being released Tuesday.


Sudanese Villagers Attacked in Darfur Haggard survivors of fighting in southern Darfur, thorns stuck to their bloody feet, straggled into this refugee community before dawn Wednesday and told harrowing


SportsNetwork Game Preview (Sports Network) - Pedro Martinez tries to stop a personal three-game losing streak this evening when the Boston Red Sox attempt a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.


Expos not quite out of limbo where? -- for so long now, it #39;s easy to overlook one pesky little problem: There are still a whole mess of questions that haven #39;t been answered about the Expos #39; move to Washington.


IMF Approves Aid for Iraq, Pushes for Debt Relief (Reuters) Reuters - The International Monetary Fund on\Wednesday approved  #36;436 million in emergency lending to Iraq\and said it hoped its backing would generate additional\international economic support, including debt relief.


U.S. Denies Cubans Visas for Conference (AP) AP - Cuban scholars charged Wednesday that the U.S. government denied visas to more than 60 Cubans seeking to attend conference on Latin America in the United States.


Alaska Judge Orders Ballots Reprinted (AP) AP - A Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered the state to rewrite, reprint and redistribute all its ballots for the Nov. 2 election, saying the wording of a ballot initiative was inaccurate and biased.


UK hopes for Iraq hostage contact Britain says it is doing all it can to free UK hostage  Kenneth Bigley, but rules out deals with Iraqi militants.


Putin: Don #39;t meddle in Ukraine Ankara - Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly warned on Monday against foreign interference in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics and suggested that Ukraine #39;s opposition was seeking power at any price.


Faulty gene link to obesity risk The old adage that being overweight "is in the genes" may be true, at least partially, for some, say researchers.


A 3-Decade Campaign Is Over: Baseball Is Back in Washington In the first relocation of a major league team since last time the Washington Senators left, the Expos are headed to the nation's capital.


Division Is Almost in Yanks' Hands After a doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins, the Yankees can clinch the A.L. East championship on Thursday by beating them again.


Alaska Judge Orders Ballots Reprinted ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered the state to rewrite, reprint and redistribute all its ballots for the Nov. 2 election, saying the wording of a ballot initiative was inaccurate and biased...


Alaska Judge Orders Ballots Reprinted ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered the state to rewrite, reprint and redistribute all of its ballots for the Nov. 2 election, saying the wording of a ballot initiative was inaccurate and biased...


Italian Officials Dispute Reports of Ransom Italy's government dismissed reports Wednesday that it paid \$1 million to free two Italian aid workers who were kidnapped in Iraq and held for three weeks before being released Tuesday.


Jordan Acts to Curb a Rising Chorus of Critics As violence worsens in Iraq on Jordan's eastern border and in the West Bank in the opposite direction, the kingdom's traditionally moderate Islamic activists have intensified their rhetoric denouncing the government.


Attackers Kill Three Afghan Soldiers Taliban gunmen crept up to an Afghan government office under cover of darkness early Wednesday and launched a battle that left three Afghan soldiers and four attackers dead, police said.


Dad ID's Kidnapped Daughter in Colombia Daniela Vanegas, a bright-eyed girl with thick, dark tresses, was kidnapped almost a year ago as she boarded her school bus in Bogota.


San Francisco Workers Strike Unionized workers at four large San Francisco hotels went on strike yesterday morning over issues similar to those causing an impasse between hotels and their workers at several large hotels in Washington.


US Revises 2nd-Quarter Growth to 3.3 Rate The gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic output, grew at a 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, the Commerce Department reported yesterday, revising its earlier estimate of 2.8 percent.


D-Rays Dim Boston's Bid for AL East Title (AP) AP - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays damaged Boston's slim chances of winning the AL East, beating Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox 9-4 Wednesday night.


George Solomon In a career that spanned 75 years of writing for The Washington Post, the late columnist Shirley Povich covered some of the most memorable sporting events of the century.


Angels center fielder agravates knee Anaheim Angels: Center fielder Garret Anderson left the game at Texas because of a sore left knee. The Angels said Anderson irritated the patella tendon near his left knee.


U.S. Women Defeat Iceland 3-0 (AP) AP - Abby Wambach had a goal and an assist as the U.S. women's national soccer team beat Iceland 3-0 Wednesday night in the second game of its 10-game Olympic gold medal victory tour.


Marshall Holds Off Miami, Ohio 33-25 (AP) AP - Stan Hill threw three touchdown passes and Marshall held off a late rally to beat Miami, Ohio 33-25 Wednesday night.


O'Neal Takes Shot Shaquille O'Neal dismissed as "ridiculous" Kobe Bryant's allegations that O'Neal had paid up to \$1 million in hush money to various women and then took his own shot at his former teammate.


Conoco and Lukoil: Everyone Wins The US oil giant got a good price, Russia #39;s No. 1 oil company acquired a savvy partner, and Putin polished Russia #39;s image.


Martha Stewart headed to West Virginia prison Martha Stewart says she #39;s happy she #39;ll be able to serve her time so soon, although she #39;ll be doing it in a different prison than she #39;d requested.


Report: Black may leave Hollinger Mogul Conrad Black is in negotiations that may culminate in his resignation from Hollinger Inc., according to a published report Thursday.


PRIVATE ROCKETSHIP TO SPACE AND BACK The advent of space tourism is one step closer with the safe return this week of a private manned rocketship from the edge of space.


Google #39;s Chinese Wall The search outfit boasts of making all the information in the world just a click away. These days that doesn #39;t seem to apply in China.


Greenback strengthened slightly after energy price spike pressures <b>...</b> The dollar strengthened slightly against major currencies in Asian trade yesterday, with the yen coming under pressure from a further spike in crude oil prices, dealers said.


Woolworths tops rival pubs offer Retailer Woolworths raised its bid Thursday for Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality Group (ALH) by 15 percent to Aust. \$1.11 billion (\$795 million), topping an offer by private equity firm Newbridge Capital.


Sun burn Mystics, advance to conference finals An infusion of young talent and a change of scenery has done wonders for the former Orlando Miracle. Reborn last year as the Connecticut Sun, the team landed in the WNBA Eastern Conference


St. Louis at Houston, 8:05 PM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros will try to set a franchise record for consecutive home wins and inch closer to the National League wild card lead when they wrap up a three-game set with the St.


Forty apparent asylum seekers make bid for freedom in PRC A group of 44 people, at least some of them North Koreans, entered the Canadian Embassy yesterday, using ladders to scale a spiked fence in what appeared to be one of the biggest recent asylum bids by refugees from the North.


REGION: UNSC shouldnt take up Iran nuclear issue MOSCOW: Russia is against bringing up Irans nuclear programme at the UN Security Council and thinks the issue should be handled by the bodys nuclear watchdog, a top official said on Wednesday.


NZ will keep pushing for apology over Mossad  #39;agents #39; NZ PM Clark demands apology for actions of suspected Mossad agents jailed for passport fraud; Eli Cara, Uriel Kelman released on Wed.


Inter Conquer Brussels Inter emerged as the winners over Anderlecht in Brussels to claim the first spot in the Champions League Group G. The nerazzurri took the lead nearly immediately when Adriano from the left served a low powerful


SportsNetwork Game Preview (Sports Network) - Roger Clemens tries to win his seventh straight decision and possibly vault the Houston Astros into the lead in the National League wild card standings, as they go for a three-game sweep of the NL Central champion St.


14 dead after typhoon hits Japan A weakening Typhoon Meari swept through northern Japan after killing at least 14 people and leaving 13 missing in two days of floods and landslides caused by heavy rain.


Looters Impede Aid to Haiti; UN Sending More Troops The United Nations rushed hundreds more peacekeepers to storm-ravaged Gonaves on Monday to stem looting, while hundreds of weary Haitians lined up for


Salesforce.com expands call center support SEPTEMBER 29, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Hosted CRM evangelist Salesforce.com Inc. began a new branding campaign this week to draw attention to its customer service support functionality, launching a new Web


BYTE OF THE APPLE Steven P. Jobs loves the Beatles. He plays the Liverpool quartet #39;s songs at Apple expositions, and the CEO of Apple Computer (AAPL ) has even compared his own management team to the Fab Four.


Rogers wins unique double gold Michael Rogers made up for his disappointment in the Olympic time trial by collecting the gold medal in the world championships - twice.


Tony Stewart: Championship charge culminated at Talladega In the fall of 2002, Tony Stewart left Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series point leader. He came into the fourth and final restrictor plate race of


Oil Prices Slip as Supply Threats Ease  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices slid toward \$49 a barrel  on Thursday after U.S. crude stocks rose unexpectedly and  rebels in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region agreed to a  cease-fire with the government, reducing an imminent threat to  supplies.


Yen Trims Losses as Tankan, G7 Eyed  TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen trimmed losses made against the  dollar earlier on Thursday, but gains were limited as investors  refrained from taking fresh positions ahead of the Bank of  Japan's quarterly survey of corporate sentiment.


Free Net phone upstart sues Vonage, Fry #39;s Internet phone service Sipphone has charged Vonage Holdings and retailer Fry #39;s Electronics with false advertising for failing to adequately disclose limitations on hardware that allows phone calls to be placed over a broadband connection.


Stocks End Up on Economic Growth Reading and Higher Oil Prices Stocks rose today as investors digested a jump in the second-quarter gross domestic product and kept a close eye on lower oil prices.


Economy Grew at 3.3 Percent Rate in 2nd Quarter While the economic growth in the U.S. was significantly better than a previous estimate, it was still the weakest showing in more than a year.


Moya helps Spain draw first blood CARLOS Moya fired Spain into a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Davis Cup final yesterday. In front of a record tennis crowd of 27,200, the former world No 1 bamboozled Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 at Seville #39;s Olympic Stadium.


Miss Peru Wins World Beauty Title Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, was crowned Miss World 2004 at a glittering event held in China. Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez was the first runner-up, and Miss USA Nancy Randall was third.


Solanki enjoys Bulawayo surface Vikram Solanki praised the quality of the wicket at the Queen #39;s Sports Club after his match-winning century against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Saturday.


Tim's Cook-For-Yourself Diet Plan:  Save money and lose weight My weight has been up and down over the past several years.  I'd lose weight, but I'd have trouble keeping it off, and all the other problems that many people have.  Looking back on it, I find that one of my biggest problems is lack of discipline.  While I could keep myself under control for a while, that control would slip, and the weight would come back.    Over the past year, however, I have managed to find a diet plan which I have been successful with.  As with anything that works well, the progress has been slow, but it has been steady.  This diet plan is of my own devising, so your mileage may vary, but I think it's a lot of common sense that you've already heard anyway.


The Division Is Almost in the Yankees' Hands After a doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins, the Yankees can clinch the A.L. East championship on Thursday by beating them again.


White House: Guard Never Disciplined Bush WASHINGTON - President Bush never was disciplined while serving in the Texas Air National Guard, never failed a physical and never asked his father or family friends for help to get him into the Guard during the Vietnam War, the White House said Wednesday.    Meanwhile, the White House on Wednesday night produced a previously unreleased document from Bush's personnel file on his military service, seven months after it said all materials on the subject had been given to the public...


IMF Approves \$436 Million Loan for Iraq The International Monetary Fund approved a \$436 million loan to Iraq on Wednesday, a milestone in the nation #39;s effort to normalize its finances and rebuild its economy.


Stewart to serve sentence in West Virginia She wanted Connecticut. She would have settled for Florida. But on Wednesday, Martha Stewart drew the short straw. She was assigned to serve her sentence at a federal


Reaching for the Sky A private manned rocket soared into space for a second time yesterday, landing successfully after an unexpectedly bumpy ride that nearly meant an early end to the team #39;s bid to win a \$10 million prize.


IBM claims BlueGene/L now world #39;s most powerful supercomputer IBM announced today that an IBM BlueGene/L supercomputer has surpassed NEC #39;s Earth Simulator in Japan to become the world #39;s most powerful supercomputer.


Dolphins Receiver Chambers Questionable (AP) AP - Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Tim Bowens, who has yet to play this season, will miss Sunday's game against the New York Jets with a herniated disc in his back.


Real Madrid celebrates comeback MADRID: It wasnt just the late September sun that the Spanish capital was basking in here on Wednesday, there was a warm glow as well from the way Real Madrid came back from two goals down to beat Roma 4-2 in Tuesdays Champions League group B match.


Pakistan captain eyes history Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq wants to put the disappointment of his team #39;s ICC Champions Trophy semifinal loss behind him with a victory Thursday against a young Zimbabwe in the opening game of the triangular one-day series.


Specially marked balls used for Ichiro as he closes in on record US Major League baseball has released to the press the specially marked balls used for when Ichiro Suzuki bats as he closes in on the record for most hits in a season.


MLB: Houston 6, St. Louis 4 Jeff Bagwell singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh Wednesday night, giving Houston its franchise-record 15th straight home win, 6-4 over St.


#39;It was just enough. For now #39;  quot;Tony Blair #39;s conference speech ... his 10th as leader of the Labour party, demonstrated why he is still the political conjuror of the day.


COLUMN: Major League Baseball Strikes Out in Montreal  TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada bid a final adieu to the  Montreal Expos who disappeared from the country's sports scene  on Wednesday in a wave of bitterness and nostalgia.


Free Net phone upstart sues Vonage, Fry's Net phone service and retailer push misleading products on consumers, Sipphone charges.


Players' Tempers Burn in the Land of Playoff Fever Baseball suspended Milton Bradley for the rest of the regular season Wednesday for throwing the kind of tantrum that is becoming commonplace in California.


Reducing Information Overkill Vivisimo has launched Clusty, a meta search engine with an impressive array of tools that helps you quickly find relevant results from a variety of information sources.


Google Shares Just May Be Winners After All Wall Street, which forced Google, the Internet search engine, to lower the price of its shares sharply in its initial public offering in August, has decided that the company is worth a lot more today than it was then.


Schools Relax Cellphone Bans, Nodding to Trend Rather than banning the phones outright, schools are capitulating to demands of parents and market realities, and allowing students to carry cellphones in school.


Wisconsin State Journal Someday, we may see Wednesday as being one of the most important dates in the history of aviation. The flight of  quot;SpaceShipOne, quot; however, seemed almost routine - at least until one thought about how miraculous it was.


Ontario spammer sued by Microsoft, Amazon.com A 25-year-old Kitchener, Ont. man is being sued again, this time by giants Microsoft and Amazon.com, for allegedly clogging cyberspace with fraudulent junk mail.


Tech Briefs SourceLabs has raised \$3.5 million in a first round of funding from Ignition Partners and Index Ventures. The Seattle startup, which was founded earlier this year, will help companies integrate and deploy open source software.


Reds 4, Cubs 3, 12 innings Austin Kearns tied the game with a two-out double in the ninth inning, then hit a two-run homer in the 12th and the Cincinnati Reds dealt the Chicago Cubs a key loss, 4-3 Wednesday.


Iraq captors wanted US\$5 million ransom KUWAIT - The Kuwaiti newspaper that predicted the release of two Italian hostages in Iraq says the captors had originally demanded a US\$5 million (\$7.


Former world leaders urge Western pressure on Putin over state of <b>...</b> WASHINGTON : Dozens of political figures including former heads of state and government have signed a letter calling on the West to toughen its stand on the state of democracy in Russia.


Motorola to cut 1,000 jobs, take \$50 million charge Motorola spokeswoman Jennifer Weyrauch said the cuts would be made worldwide  quot;to better align our work force quot; and in anticipation of the separation of its chip operations, now operating independently as Freescale Semiconductor Inc.


KING/5 owner Belo plans to cut jobs DALLAS -- Belo Corp. said yesterday that it would cut 250 jobs, more than half of them at its flagship newspaper, The Dallas Morning News, and that an internal investigation into circulation overstatements


Search Upstart Launches New Site (AP) AP - Online search engine upstart Vivisimo Inc. is setting out to persuade the masses that Google Inc.'s vaunted technology isn't the most efficient way to find things on the Internet.


\$10 million is just one flight away The first private manned rocket glided into space a second time and returned to Earth after recovering from a wild roll on its ascent on Wednesday in a bid to earn the \$10 million Ansari X Prize.


ITALY REJOICES: Captives return from captivity At times, they feared for their lives. They spent many days with blindfolds pressed against their eyes. Their Iraqi captors were convinced they were spies or proselytizers of Catholicism.


Forteen Dead as Storm Batters Japan The death toll from a tropical storm buffeting Japan rose today to 14 after searchers found more victims, including two men buried inside their homes beneath mud and debris that had barreled down a mountainside.


Millions Join to Fight Bird Flu in Thailand Millions of volunteers led by emergency teams fanned out across Thailand today in a new drive to fight bird flu after the prime minister gave officials 30 days to eradicate the epidemic.


California Governor Vetoes Privacy Bills  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold  Schwarzenegger on Wednesday vetoed three bills aimed at   boosting e-mail privacy at work as well as safeguard private  medical and financial data.


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


New Company Starts Up a Challenge to Google Google executives have long conceded that one of their great fears is to be overtaken by a more advanced Internet search technology.


Martha Stewart #39;s new abode ALDERSON - Starting Oct. 8, Martha Stewart will begin serving her five-month sentence for lying to federal investigators here, in the Alderson Federal Prison Camp.


Courtesy KHOU-TV After SpaceShipOne and its veteran pilot survived a whirling, nail-biting ascent Wednesday, the pioneering team that pulled off the private space journey could be just days from a second trip that would guarantee a multimillion-dollar bounty.


Closing the gaps in open source When it comes to open-source issues, companies need a single throat to choke if something goes wrong, said Brad Silverberg of Ignition Partners, a venture capital firm based in Bellevue , Washington .


Battle brews over California emissions rule Automakers, SUV owners, and the federal government may balk at the state #39;s latest effort to curb air pollution. By Daniel B. Wood  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Mystics bow meekly out of playoffs Nykesha Sales may have scored a team-high 18 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to a 76-56 victory over the Mystics in Game 3 of last night #39;s WNBA Eastern Conference


Cubs crumble, lose in 12th CHICAGO - One strike from an important victory, the Chicago Cubs ended up with another agonizing defeat that damaged their drive to the playoffs.


Red-hot Astros edge Cardinals HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Jeff Bagwell made sure the Houston Astros did not waste a golden opportunity in the National League wild card chase.


Blair faces vote amidst hostage crisis The anguish of hostage Kenneth Bigley in Iraq hangs over Prime Minister Tony Blair today as he faces the twin test of a local election and a debate by his Labour Party about the divisive war.


FG Holds Talks with Niger Delta Militants The Federal Government yesterday revealed that security agencies are holding talks in Abuja with the leadership of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), led by Alhaji Asari Dokubo, over the continued unrest in the Niger Delta.


Mariners Defeat Athletics 4-2 (AP) AP - Ichiro Suzuki got one hit and plenty of help in knocking Oakland out of first place. Suzuki's fifth-inning single gave him 255 hits, two shy of George Sisler's 84-year-old major league record, and the Seattle Mariners sent the Athletics into second place in the AL West for the first time since Aug. 5 with a 4-2 victory Wednesday night.


Sisler Known Again Thanks to Ichiro (AP) AP - Day and night, Dave Sisler is tracking every hit by Ichiro Suzuki. The former big league pitcher tunes in the radio each evening, his wife checks the boxscores in the morning.


Astros Continue Charge Jeff Bagwell drives in two runs and Jeff Kent hit his 300th career homer to send the Astros to a 6-4 win over the Cardinals.


Padres Edge Giants Mark Loretta hits a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and the Padres beat the Giants 4-3 Wednesday night to knock the San Francisco out of first place in the wild-card race.


Japan's production growing again Japanese industrial production expands for the first time in three months, pushing the Nikkei up for the first time in nine days.


ConocoPhillips wins Lukoil bid MOSCOW _ US oil giant ConocoPhillips paid nearly \$2 billion for a stake in Russia #39;s second-largest oil producer Wednesday, a deal touted as Russia #39;s biggest post-Soviet privatization and


Martha #39;s new estate Millionaire celebrity homemaker Martha Stewart had hoped to spend her prison time closer to her family and attorneys or in Florida, but instead will be incarcerated at a remote West Virginia prison camp.


Conoco Wins Lukoil Bid, a Window on Iraq ConocoPhillips paid nearly \$2 billion at auction for the Russian government's stake in Lukoil, a purchase that could allow Conoco to become the first Western company to return to Iraq's oil fields.


Cendant plans to buy travel website CHICAGOTravel and real estate heavyweight Cendant Corp. yesterday said it will buy travel website Orbitz Inc. for about \$1.25 billion (US), making it the second-largest competitor in the online travel industry.


Judge leaves Black as Hollinger chief A judge overseeing the battle for control of Hollinger Inc. has allowed Conrad Black to remain atop the company, even after Black acknowledged that a \$1.


STOCKS TO WATCH SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Among the companies whose shares are likely to see active trading in Thursday #39;s session are IBM (IBM: news, chart, profile) and American International Group (AIG: news, chart, profile).


Software maker cuts 800 jobs NEW YORKSoftware maker Computer Associates International Inc. says it will cut 800 jobs, or 5 per cent of its workforce, to reduce costs amid weaker demand and falling prices for software and services.


UPI NewsTrack Sports Baseball will return to Washington in 2005 after an absence of more than three decades. It was announced Wednesday that the Montreal Expos will move to Washington next season and play its home games at RFK Stadium.


Twins swept away; Yankees #39; dominance deceptive yet telling The Minnesota Twins might have moved two steps back toward a return to Yankee Stadium next week for the first round of the playoffs when they got swept by the New York Yankees in a rain


This story ran on nwitimes.com on Thursday, September 30, 2004 12 <b>...</b> Turning point: Austin Kearns slugged a two-run homer in the 12th to win it for the Reds. CHICAGO -- Big names come to town. The payroll increases.


Japan industrial output rise marginally in August TOKYO : Japanese industrial output rose only 0.3 percent in August, suggesting after a series of recent weak data that the recovery in the world #39;s second-largest economy is slowing, economists said on Thursday.


Agere Adjusts For Soft Demand Facing soft demand from major customers, semiconductor and software specialist Agere Systems said it will lay off 500 people and close three facilities to cut costs.


A Fannie smacking Fannie Mae should be rosy red with shame. The spanking applied by federal regulators leads the quasi-government mortgage company to announce it will increase its capital reserves by 30 percent and reform accounting procedures.


Two Yemenis get death for Cole blast SANAA - A court here has sentenced two Yemeni Al-Qaeda militants to death and jailed four others for the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 sailors.


New Zealand releases Israeli spies Two Israelis who were jailed for two months for trying to obtain a New Zealand passport were released from prison and deported Wednesday, Prime Minister Helen Clark said.


Passing offense is adjusting, humming Bee Staff Writer. OAKLAND - If there was a silver lining to the Raiders #39; 34-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, it was the steady progress quarterback Kerry Collins seems to be showing as Rich Gannon #39;s heir apparent.


IMF Lowers Korea #39;s 2004 Economic Growth Forecast The International Monetary Fund has lowered its 2004 economic growth forecast for Korea to 4.6 percent, citing weak domestic consumer spending amid rising household and corporate debt.


Delphi: SEC probing EDS transactions LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) - The US Securities and Exchange Commission is probing transactions between Delphi Corp and EDS, which supplies the automotive parts and components giant with technology services, Delphi said late Wednesday.


Japan #39;s production growing again Japanese industrial production grew in August for the first time in three months, official data has shown. Although only a month-on-month rise of 0.3, and below some forecasts, the news saw Japan #39;s leading shares rise for the first time in nine days.


CA to cut 5 percent of work force Computer Associates International announced on Wednesday that it plans to cut 5 percent of its work force as part of a restructuring effort, a move that comes as the company seeks to rebuild itself after a long-running accounting scandal.


White-knuckle flight MOJAVE, Calif. A test pilot yesterday made a successful foray into space marked by a white-knuckle ascent in which his rocket ship rolled at least 16 times in 16 seconds.


Save lives The United States can and must fulfill its duty to stem the bloodbath in Darfur. It can do so without endangering US soldiers. Unlike so many other crises that the United States must consider entering, the


Martha Stewart sent to W. Virginia prison Stewart said in a statement she was pleased that the government had assigned her  quot;so quickly quot; to  quot;the first federal prison camp for women in the United States.


Westfield tops Multiplex bid for Chelsfield Australian shopping centre giant Westfield Group on Thursday offered 585 million pounds (A\$1.48 billion) cash for UK property group Chelsfield as part of an overseas expansion drive, topping a bid from rival Multiplex Ltd.


Tanager clients: Wachovia to watch over you Tanager Financial Services of Waltham, which helps wealthy people manage their finances, yesterday agreed to a takeover by North Carolina-based banking giant Wachovia.


IBM Settles Some Pension Suit Issues (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - International Business Machines Corp. said yesterday that it agreed to settle most of the issues in a lawsuit over changes in its pension plans on terms that allow the company to continue to appeal a key question while capping its liability at  #36;1.7 billion.


Mom Collects Big Game Organs for Science (AP) AP - Stephanie Bradford isn't content with her daughter dissecting frogs in science class. She wants the students to cut into the hearts and eyes of moose, caribou, bear and other large game.


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


Nigerian Oil Delta Peace Talks to Resume After Truce (Reuters) Reuters - Talks between a Nigerian rebel warlord\and the government will resume on Thursday to address rebel\demands for autonomy in the oil-producing Niger Delta following\a truce agreed a day earlier, the rebel leader said.


Religious Groups Compete to Court Voters (AP) AP - In voter registration drives, sermons and voter guides, religious groups from across the ideological spectrum have intensified the level of their political activity this year, prompted in part by right-left culture clashes and the legacy of the tight presidential race in 2000.


Bush to Tour Damage Again Before Debate (AP) AP - He was going to be in the neighborhood anyway for a debate, so President Bush slipped another tour of hurricane damage onto his schedule Thursday, this time of the Treasure Coast area north of Miami.


Bush, Kerry Set for Crucial First Debate (Reuters) Reuters - President Bush and\Democratic rival John Kerry square off in a crucial debate on\Thursday that will give voters their first chance to size up\the two White House candidates side by side.


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


China Urges Canada to Hand Over NKoreans in Embassy  BEIJING (Reuters) - China urged Canada on Thursday to hand  over 44 North Korean asylum seekers who broke into the Canadian  embassy in Beijing, promising to deal with the men, women and  children in a humanitarian way.


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


Closing ceremony curtailed in respect to victims Athens: An hour-long no-frills closing ceremony dedicated to the victims of this week #39;s school bus crash brought to an end the Paralympic Games in Athens yesterday.


Indians clean up with sweep The Indians #39; bullpen has struggled this season, 27 blown saves in 58 opportunities, but it was impeccable on Wednesday night. Five Cleveland relievers combined


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


AL Wrap: Mariners Overcome Athletics, Angels Move Clear  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jolbert Cabrera's two-run single with  two out in the eighth lifted the Seattle Mariners to a 4-2 road  win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, while Ichiro  Suzuki collected another hit in his record bid.


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


Nikkei Snaps Nine-Day Fall  TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 0.35 percent  on Thursday, snapping a nine-day slide on a technical bounce in  major exporters, but it ended the April-September fiscal first  half down 7.61 percent.


New Company Starts Up a Challenge to Google Vivisimo, an Internet search engine company, is introducing a service that is meant to lessen online information overload.


Private Craft Rockets Past Edge of Space Completing the first leg of a quest for a \$10 million prize, a test pilot took a privately financed plane past the cusp of space on Wednesday.


Belo #39;s cutbacks will hit the heart of Texas: Providence Journal <b>...</b> Media company Belo Corp. said yesterday that it will cut 250 jobs, mostly at its Dallas newspaper and TV station. A company spokesman said cuts will be made across Belo #39;s operations,, though


Big Blue reaches partial settlement on pension issues IBM Corp. said Wednesday it has agreed to pay \$320 million in retirement benefits to settle part of a class-action lawsuit and another \$1.


Wachovia adds to wealth-management unit Wachovia Corp. aims to increase its profile in the Northeast and Southwest by expanding its wealth-management division. The bank, based in Charlotte, said yesterday that it is buying Tanager Financial Services Inc.


Private rocket grabs a 2d slice of space A privately funded spacecraft appeared to rocket past its target altitude more than 60 miles above California #39;s high desert yesterday


Critics lukewarm on Spacey play Theatre critics appeared less than impressed by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey #39;s debut as artistic director of London #39;s Old Vic Theatre.


Web founder attacks royality obession ONE OF THE founders of the Web warned that the interweb was in danger of being stunted by patent hungry software companies. Tim Berners-Lee called on companies to resist the temptation to lock up key technologies by demanding royalty payments.


New Features Coming to SQL Server 2005 in Beta 3 When Microsoft delivers the Beta 3 version of SQL Server 2005, formerly code-named  quot;Yukon, quot; it will carry a number of feature enhancements that weren #39;t available in the more broadly distributed Beta 2 version.


Top 10 depressing things about Expos #39; finale There are plenty of reports on the final day of the Expos, how the city that no one in the United States felt deserved a team is finally losing it.


Rogers wins time trial at road cycling worlds Australia #39;s Michael Rogers won the elite-division time trial Wednesday at the road cycling World Championships, defending the title he was awarded earlier this month after


Ban others as well by the same yardstick: Chanu New Delhi, September 29: Lifter Sanamacha Chanu, who was slapped a life ban by the Indian Olympic Association, today accused the authorities of adopting double standards saying they should have followed the same yardstick while dealing with other dope


NL Wrap: Padres Edge Giants, Astros Soar to Wild-Card Lead Mark Loretta hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th to lift the San Diego Padres a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in National League action on Wednesday.


Axe-wielding passenger in psychiatric ward OSLO - An axe-wielding passenger who attacked two pilots aboard a Norwegian passenger plane in an apparent but failed bid to crash it has been taken to a psychiatric ward, police said yesterday.


CheapTickets moving to Chicago Cendant Corp. plans to move its CheapTickets.com division from Arapahoe County to Chicago as part of the travel-industry giant #39;s planned purchase of Chicago-based Orbitz Inc.


Stewart gets W. Virginia prison camp Martha Stewart lost a bid to serve her five-month prison term near her home in Connecticut and was ordered to report to a minimum-security prison camp in West Virginia next week.


Arroyo: Economic Growth Prospects Are Firm President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo claimed Wednesday that the Philippines #39; growth prospects remain firm despite doomsayers #39; grim economic forecasts.


Kmart sale shows two-pronged strategy Kmarts in Rochester Hills and Woodhaven are among the 50 stores the discount chain will sell to Sears Roebuck  amp; Co. Employees and civic leaders were understandably upset Wednesday after Kmart


Boston Scientific stent sales set record Boston Scientific Corp. said yesterday it sold \$8.3 million worth of its Taxus drug-coated cardiac stents per day this month, a record level the Natick medical


IBM says its Blue Gene computer is fastest IBM has claimed unofficial bragging rights as owner of the worlds fastest supercomputer. For three years running, the fastest supercomputer has been NECs Earth Simulator in Japan.


Chinese pornster sent down for a year A CHINESE UNIVERSITY student has been sentenced to a year in jail for flogging porn on the internet. According to the state Xinhua news agency, the 22 year-old student, identified only by his surname Xie, was


Biz Intel Expanded in Microsoft #39;s SQL Server Microsoft (Quote, Chart) is expanding business intelligence capabilities in its database software with two free software service packs that augment the reporting capabilities in SQL Server 2000.


Chelsea boss Mourinho rises above Porto gob yob Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho brushed off an ugly incident with a Porto fan before last night #39;s 3-1 demolition of the Euro champs at Stamford Bridge.


Mariners beat Athletics 4-2 to knock Oakland out of first place Ichiro Suzuki #39;s teammates won #39;t stand for anybody messing with his spectacular season. When Suzuki got plunked in the back, Seattle starter Bobby Madritsch nearly went ballistic.


Kent and Bagwell power Houston to 6-4 victory over St. Louis The Houston Astros can put themselves in the playoffs. They no longer need help from anyone else. Roger Clemens, Jeff Kent and the Astros took over the NL wild-card lead Wednesday night, beating the St.


China wants refugees handed over China has asked Canada to hand over a group of 44 people, thought to be North Koreans, who stormed the Canadian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday.


Passenger Attacks Pilots mid-air in Norway OSLO (Norway): A passenger on a Norwegian regional flight linking the northern towns of Narvik and Bodoe on Wednesday attacked two pilots with an axe while the plane was in the air, but the plane was later able to land.


S.Lankan president says govt can no longer ignore Tamil rebel <b>...</b> Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has said that the government can no longer ignore the spate of killings by the Tamil Tiger rebels, a presidential statement available here on Thursday.


Iraqi forces  #39;seize Haifa Street terrorist #39; Iraqi security forces today arrested a suspected terrorist operating on Baghdad #39;s blood-soaked Haifa Street, an Iraqi commander said.


Bloggers become weapon in US presidential election (AFP) AFP - The 2004 presidential campaign has marked the coming of age for Internet 'blog' journals as a cutting edge political tool for raising cash and revving up political support.


AUSTRALIA: Metcash proposes takeover offer for Foodland Wholesale grocer Metcash Trading has announced that it intends to make an off-market takeover offer to acquire the entire issued share capital of Australian supermarket group Foodland Associated.


Kimberly-Clark Outlines Cost Savings Kimberly-Clark Corp. said Monday it aims to cut costs by \$400 million to \$500 million over the next three years, and plans to boost its dividend by 12.5 percent and repurchase at least \$1 billion in stock during 2005.


U.S. Targets Zarqawi Network in Dawn Strike in Iraq (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. forces destroyed a building in the\rebel-held city of Falluja on Thursday that they said was being\used by fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group is\threatening to behead a British hostage.


UK Will Listen, Not Negotiate, with Iraq Kidnappers (Reuters) Reuters - Britain is ready to listen to kidnappers\holding a British hostage in Iraq but is not prepared to\negotiate with them or pay them a ransom, Foreign Secretary\Jack Straw said on Thursday.


Israeli Soldier Shot Dead in Gaza Clash -Army (Reuters) Reuters - Two Palestinian gunmen fired on an Israeli\army outpost in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing a\soldier before being shot dead, a military spokeswoman said.


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Close Higher, Dollar Up Tokyo stocks rebounded on Thursday from a nine-day drop, after Wall Street #39;s overnight rise. The US dollar was lower against the Japanese yen.


Search upstart launches new site Online search engine upstart Vivisimo Inc. is setting out to persuade the masses that Google Inc. #39;s vaunted technology isn #39;t the most efficient way to find things on the Internet.


Giants lose in extra innings to Padres SAN DIEGO -- The San Francisco Giants lost both the wild-card lead and right fielder Dustan Mohr in a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.


USS Cole bombing planners to die A judge in Yemen sentenced two men to death and four others to prison terms of as long as 10 years for the deadly attack in 2000 against the warship USS Cole.


Bigley pleads for Blair #39;s help A video of what appears to be British hostage Kenneth Bigley was posted on an Islamic website on Wednesday showing him weeping and pleading for British Prime Minister Tony Blair to help save his life.


Court dismisses bid to halt Pitcairn trials Auckland: The trials of seven Pitcairn men - including the local mayor - on sex charges, will go ahead on the remote Pacific island today after an eleventh-hour bid to stop the hearings failed.


U.S. Targets Zarqawi Network in Dawn Strike in Iraq  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces destroyed a building in the  rebel-held city of Falluja on Thursday that they said was being  used by fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group is  threatening to behead a British hostage.


UK Will Listen, Not Negotiate, with Iraq Kidnappers  LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is ready to listen to kidnappers  holding a British hostage in Iraq but is not prepared to  negotiate with them or pay them a ransom, Foreign Secretary  Jack Straw said on Thursday.


Oil Rises on Nigeria, Norway Disruptions; OPEC May Curb Output Crude oil rose from a three-month low on disruptions to supply from Nigeria and Norway and after OPEC members said they may need to cut output after prices plunged.


GOP Accused of Padding Intelligence Bill WASHINGTON - New immigration barriers and expanded police powers, as well as making more of the public airwaves available for emergency services, are some of the issues trying to find a home in a bill to overhaul U.S. spy agencies...


Bush Document Details Military Departure WASHINGTON - The White House said seven months ago that it had released all the records on President Bush's stateside military service during the Vietnam War, yet new records are still dribbling out as Election Day approaches.    The White House on Wednesday night produced a November 1974 document bearing Bush's signature from Cambridge, Mass., where he was attending Harvard Business School, saying he had decided not to continue as a member of the military reserve...


Foreign Policy at Forefront of Debate BAL HARBOUR, Fla. - The first presidential debate and its focus on foreign policy and security gives both President Bush and Sen...


Iraq War Divides Australian Candidates SYDNEY, Australia - Australian voters face a stark choice on Iraq when they choose a new prime minister - to stay or to go.    Prime Minister John Howard, whose conservative coalition is seeking a fourth three-year term on Oct...


Out of this world On a rollicking flight into space early Wednesday, aircraft designer Burt Rutan #39;s rocket plane completed the first half of a bid to win a \$10 million prize for the first reusable, privately built spacecraft.


I Love iPod (CBS) Lets face it: I know I have a problem. A few years ago, I started converting all my music CDs into MP3 files (and AAC files for my iPod), and realize now that by any standard of sanity, Im clearly unwell.


Tech, electronics firms fear copyright bill WASHINGTON -- Tell Santa to hurry if you want him to bring CD or DVD burners and jukebox programs. By Christmas, such gifts might be threatened if Congress passes a new law to fight movie and music pirates.


Sun finish off Mystics Connecticut Sun point guard Lindsay Whalen drove the baseline and kicked the ball out to Nykesha Sales at the top of the key. Sales let a 3-pointer


Bradley will sit 5 games Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley received a five-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Wednesday, one day after his bottle-throwing incident with fans in right field at Dodger Stadium.


44 believed North Koreans clamber over fence into Canadian Embassy <b>...</b> BEIJING (CP) - China said Thursday it wants the Canadian Embassy to hand over 44 people thought to be North Korean asylum-seekers who climbed over a spiked fence onto embassy grounds.


Global Warming Is Expected to Raise Hurricane Intensity Global warming is likely to produce a significant increase in the intensity and rainfall of hurricanes in coming decades, according to an analysis.


Pratt Union Won #39;t Strike Union employees at Pratt  amp; Whitney return to work today under terms of a new contract, after failing to muster the two-thirds vote needed to go on strike.


Time on a Chip: The Incredible Shrinking Atomic Clock Tiny atomic clocks could be slipped into cellphones, hand-held computers and global positioning system receivers.


Forget Star Chemistry. How About the Film's? The magazine Chemical and Engineering News has started publishing movie reviews that focus on the accuracy of the science in the latest Hollywood releases.


Asian Shares Higher on Oil Dip  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian investors took advantage of a  pause in climbing oil prices on Thursday to buy beaten-down  technology stocks, autos and other exporters, snapping a  nine-session losing streak by Japan's key stock index.


Yen Rises But Upside Limited  TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen edged up against the dollar on  Thursday on lower oil prices, but gains were stemmed as  investors refrained from taking fresh positions ahead of the  Bank of Japan's corporate sentiment survey due on Friday.


Boston Scientific stent sales set record Boston Scientific Corp. said yesterday it sold \$8.3 million worth of its Taxus drug-coated cardiac stents per day this month, a record level the Natick medical-devices giant said demonstrates it has won back doctors' confidence after three recalls.


For an old venture capitalist, it was a good day Since taking office, Governor Mitt Romney has issued scores of proclamations, setting aside days, and sometimes full months, to honor a person or cause. There was Ronald Reagan Day on Feb. 6, Massachusetts Centennial of Flight Day on Dec. 17, and Massachusetts Maple Month one March.


Economy outpaces estimates The economy grew at a faster pace this spring than previously thought, but was at its weakest showing in more than a year, providing ammunition to both candidates in the final weeks of the presidential race.


Martha Stewart to serve time at West Virginia prison Martha Stewart will do her time farther from home than she had hoped, at a remote West Virginia prison where inmates sleep in bunk beds and rise at 6 a.m. to do menial labor for pennies an hour.


AG Reilly seeks 6.2 car insurance cut Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly urged state regulators to cut auto insurance rates 6.2 percent next year, a sharp contrast with the 9.2 percent rate hike being sought by insurers and agents. Reilly said his proposal would shave about \$60 off the existing statewide average premium of \$1,082, while the industry proposal would increase the average premium by \$101. A ...


IBM will settle part of pension lawsuit International Business Machines Corp. said yesterday it will pay at least \$300 million to settle part of a lawsuit that claimed the firm's pension plan discriminated against older workers.


Oil prices fall as US supplies build Oil prices fell yesterday after government data showed US inventories of crude grew last week, surprising many traders and analysts who had expected supplies to shrink due to lingering output problems caused by Hurricane Ivan.


AIG faces criminal probe over loans The US Justice Department has opened a criminal probe into whether American International Group Inc. , the world's largest insurer by market value, helped a major banking client move bad loans off its books, AIG said yesterday.


US Airways follows Delta's lead, slashes managers' pay In a bid to survive and to persuade unions to accept deep pay and benefit cuts, managers at US Airways Group and Delta Air Lines are sharing some of the pain.


Software firm to cut 800 jobs Computer Associates will cut 800 jobs, the software maker said yesterday, reducing its workforce 5 percent in its biggest cost-cutting effort since 2001 amid slack demand and falling prices for software and services.


Mills Corp. to fine-tune hotel plans WILMINGTON -- Mills Corp. , which plans a 750,000-square-foot retail-entertainment center in Tewksbury, said this week that it will submit by year's end a fine-tuned proposal for two 120-room hotels and a small restaurant in neighboring Wilmington.


ConocoPhillips buys \$2b stake in Lukoil US oil giant ConocoPhillips yesterday paid nearly \$2 billion for a 7.6 percent stake in Russia #39;s Lukoil -- the world #39;s number two oil company by reserves -- in Russia #39;s biggest privatization.


Falluja raid  #39;on Zarqawi house #39; At least three people have been killed and several others injured in a US air strike on the Iraqi town of Falluja, west of Baghdad, local medics say.


24 Feared Killed As Typhoon Meari Batters Japan Tokyo, Sept. 30 (NNN): At least 24 people have been killed or are missing after a powerful tropical storm struck south-western Japan.


UK house prices up 17.8pc on yr in Sept UK house prices rose 0.2pc in September compared with the month before to stand up 17.8pc on a year ago, according to Nationwide Building Society.


IBM will settle part of pension lawsuit International Business Machines Corp. said yesterday it will pay at least \$300 million to settle part of a lawsuit that claimed the firm #39;s pension plan discriminated against older workers.


Natural gas supply fears raise prices Natural gas prices have jumped 17 in two days, a chilling development for the millions of Americans who heat their homes with natural gas.


Biomira stock jumps as lung cancer vaccine gets US fast-track <b>...</b> EDMONTON (CP) - Shares in Biomira Inc. shot up as much as 48 per cent Wednesday after the drug developer said one of its cancer vaccines has won fast-track investigation status from the US Food and Drug Administration.


Calgary crows over Imperial CALGARY - Calgary #39;s already sizzling business community has scooped its biggest prize yet with the move from Toronto of Imperial Oil Ltd.


Global economy to slide in 2005: IMF Washington, Sept. 30.(UNI): The expansion of the global economy could hit a 30-year record in 2004 but will likely slide in 2005 as a result of higher oil prices and other factors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sources said.


With Oil Near \$50 a Barrel, Gas Prices Start to Inch Up As the price of crude oil flirts with \$50 a barrel, gasoline prices are heading up again, ending an unusual period in which gasoline prices were falling even as oil prices rose.


SpaceShipOne survives a scare MOJAVE, Calif. -- SpaceShipOne corkscrewed its way into space yesterday, succeeding in its first of two runs for the \$10 million X Prize, but not before prompting the event #39;s otherwise effusive commentator to drop an octave and utter,  quot;Uh-oh.


Founder of Web envisions a new era The inventor of the World Wide Web told a technology conference yesterday that making the Web more useful hinges on a familiar challenge: getting the players


One flight down, one to go In a blistering, heart-pounding flight that briefly appeared to be in jeopardy, a privately built spacecraft safely returned to Earth after soaring to the edge of space over the Mojave desert in California yesterday.


Schilling gets call for Game 1 Weary of fielding questions about his role in the postseason, Pedro Martinez asked the Red Sox before Tuesday #39;s game against the Devil Rays to reveal their plans.


Shoulder injury casts doubts over Tiger KILKENNY - Tiger Woods will decide today if he will be able to play in a multi-million dollar championship after injuring his shoulder.


Ichiro a step closer Even when he gets only one hit and his only impact on the game is an out, Ichiro winds up the focus of a well-pitched game by Bobby Madritsch.


Mayor among accused in Pitcairn rape trial The mayor of Pitcairn Island was the first of seven men accused of sex abuse to stand trial yesterday as the historic case got under way in the Pacific outpost.


Latham calls on PM to admit to WMD mistake Federal Labor leader Mark Latham says the Prime Minister needs to face up to the reality that there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.


IBM in \$320m pension settlement US computer giant IBM agrees a \$320m deal with older staff, who had argued that changes to its pension scheme left them worse off.


Asian Shares Higher on Oil Dip (Reuters) Reuters - Asian investors took advantage of a\pause in climbing oil prices on Thursday to buy beaten-down\technology stocks, autos and other exporters, snapping a\nine-session losing streak by Japan's key stock index.


Japan industrial output rise marginally in August (AFP) AFP - Japanese industrial output rose only 0.3 percent in August, suggesting after a series of recent weak data that the recovery in the world's second-largest economy is slowing, economists said.


US volcano rumbles back to life Scientists in the US fear a volcano in Washington state, near Seattle and Portland, could soon erupt after a surge in seismic activity.


Crude oil inventory increases WASHINGTON -- Oil prices fell sharply yesterday after the US government reported US inventories of crude rose 3.4 million barrels last week, surprising many traders and analysts who had expected to see supplies shrink due to lingering output problems in


Business Glance NEW YORK - Computer Associates International Inc. announced a restructuring plan Wednesday that would reduce its work force by 800 people worldwide, saving the business software maker \$70 million annually once the plan is fully implemented.


House prices rise again House prices rose 0.2 percent in September compared with the month before to stand up 17.8 percent on a year ago, the Nationwide Building Society says.


Private rocket #39;s wild ride lands it closer to big prize The first privately funded manned rocket to reach space completed the first half of a \$10 million flight competition yesterday by soaring to an altitude of


Graphic Content: Is It Time to Take the PCI Express? If you #39;re planning a PC purchase, you have to decide whether the time has come to let your graphics ride the PCI Express. The new standard replaces the PCI and AGP slots that connect graphics cards and other components to your PC.


What #39;s in a nickname? It #39;s never too soon to lobby for anything in this city, and Laura Meissner didn #39;t wait for Wednesday #39;s confirmation that the Montreal Expos are moving to the nation #39;s


Chelsea 3, FC Porto 1 Jose Mourinho may have removed himself, his backroom staff and two key defenders from Porto this summer but he also took one priceless commodity with him to Stamford Bridge - a winning mentality.


Glaus #39; HR lifts Angels back into first place Then he hit a mistake out of the park in the top of the 11th inning and put Anaheim back in sole possession of first place in the American League West.


Navy football shipshape again The doubters were in Paul Johnson #39;s ear three years ago when the ultra-successful coach at Georgia Southern decided to accept the head coaching job at Navy.


Braves give Cox his 2,000th victory The Braves #39; sense of timing is impeccable. Whenever the Mets are down, along comes their tomahawk-chopping nemesis to show them up.


Gunmen Kill Kashmiri Separatist Alliance Leader  SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Two gunmen shot dead a member  of the moderate faction of Kashmir's main separatist alliance  on Thursday, police said, days after New Delhi said it will try  to resume a stalled dialogue with the separatists.


IMF Raises Outlook on Russia Economy International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, September 29, that it raised its outlook for Russias economy, forecasting 6.6 percent GDP growth in 2005.


House prices show modest rise House prices rose only modestly on the month in September, the Nationwide Building Society says, backing expectations that the Bank of England may have nearly finished raising interest rates.


Insurgency grows against unbridled global textile trade due in <b>...</b> GENEVA : A movement to counter the abolition of textile and clothing import quotas at the end of the year is gaining momentum, driven by fears that an unbridled China could wipe out competition because of its sheer production capacity, diplomats said.


UPDATE 1-British Energy, Polygon end legal dispute British Energy Plc (BGY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , the UK #39;s biggest electricity producer, said on Thursday it had ended a dispute with investment firm Polygon regarding British Energy #39;s plans to delist its shares.


One down, one to go MOJAVE, California -- The first private manned rocket to reach space soared toward the edge of the atmosphere again yesterday in the first half of a bid to earn a \$10-million US prize.


Angels move 1 game ahead in AL West Anaheim moved a game ahead of Oakland in the American League West race Wednesday night while New York moved within a victory of the AL East title.


Fiedler given opportunity to spark winless Dolphins By all accounts, Jay Fiedler is a good guy. He signs autographs, performs charity work and always speaks well of others, even the New York Jets.


Britain wants contact with kidnappers The government has appealed to kidnappers holding hostage Kenneth Bigley in Iraq to make contact -- but still ruled out negotiations or ransom payment.


Refugees scale fence at embassy OTTAWA -- In a dramatic breach of security, 44 asylum-seekers scaled home-made ladders and leaped over a spiked fence at Canada #39;s embassy in Beijing yesterday.


Axe-wielding man attacks pilots OSLO (dpa) - Two pilots and a passenger on a Kato Air flight to Bodo airport in northern Norway were attacked and injured by an axe-wielding passenger Wednesday, reports said.


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


China 'may intervene more' in HK Analysts in Hong Kong say China is signalling its intention to take a more active role in the territory's affairs.


Gurkhas win UK citizenship rights The prime minister announces that Gurkhas who have served in the Army are now entitled to citizenship.


Poison porn pics show up online The first images that hide a virus inside them have been found in a pornographic newsgroup on the net.


Zeta Jones 'stalker' denies guilt A woman denies charges of stalking and making threats against film star Catherine Zeta Jones.


2 sentenced to death in Cole blast SAN'A, Yemen -- A Saudi suspected of being an associate of Osama bin Laden and a Yemeni militant were sentenced to death by firing squad yesterday for the bombing of the USS Cole four years ago, the first convictions in the Al Qaeda terrorism attack that killed 17 American sailors.


Yen Holds Gains as Oil Remains Below \$50  LONDON (Reuters) - The yen steadied on Thursday after  bouncing back from recent lows against the dollar and the euro  as oil prices stepped down from this week's record highs, while  investors awaited key economic data from Japan.


Powell calls for Palestinian intifadah to end WASHINGTON -- In a telecast to the Arab world, Secretary of State Colin Powell called yesterday for an end to the intifadah, the four-year violent Palestinian uprising against Israel.


6 suspected of aiding terrorism indicted ROME -- An Italian judge indicted six men suspected of involvement in a group to recruit militants for suicide attacks on US-led forces in Iraq, news reports said yesterday. Abderrazak Mahdjoub, an Algerian, and five others will stand trial on Feb. 22 in Milan, the ANSA news agency said. They are accused of association with the aim of international terrorism, ...


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


Iran aide cites worse relations NEW YORK -- Iran's foreign minister said yesterday his country's relations with the United States are about the worst ever, but he believes the upcoming US presidential election could open avenues for renewed dialogue, even if President Bush is reelected.


Rwandans hope Darfur presence will halt violence EL FASHER, Sudan -- As the sun set over this desert camp, Private Lambert Sendegeya, an African Union soldier from Rwanda, popped in a tape of music from his country and launched into a series of leg bends. Lieutenant Eugene Ruzianda peered from his canvas tent and, removing his green beret, joined the evening exercises.


Suicide bombings defended OSLO -- A leader of one of Norway's most respected Islamic groups defended the use of suicide bombings in certain cases and stirred a debate yesterday in this Nordic country that sees itself as a beacon of peace and nonviolence.


U.S. Forces Strike Targets in Iraq U.S. military attacked a suspected safe house in Fallujah on Thursday. Intelligence reports indicated the site was being used Zarqawi loyalists to plan attacks against U.S. troops and Iraqis.


U.S. Effort Aims to Improve Opinions About Iraq Conflict The Bush administration, battling negative perceptions of the Iraq war, is sending Iraqi Americans to deliver what the Pentagon calls "good news" about Iraq to U.S. military bases.


Microsoft launches appeal against EU ruling US software giant Microsoft on Thursday launched its legal appeal against a stinging EU anti-trust ruling, six months after it was fined nearly half a billion euros for abusing its market dominance.


Looming peril of poison porn pics The first images crafted to contain a malicious program that can take control of a PC have been found on the net. Security experts have been expecting such images to turn up after Microsoft revealed a weakness


Mohr injures knee on final play The Giants lost a crucial ballgame to the Padres on Wednesday night but also may have lost Dustan Mohr for the final four games of the season.


Britain's Cable and Wireless to exit Japan (AFP) AFP - Britain's Cable and Wireless is in talks to quit Japan by selling its money-losing Japanese unit to Softbank or an investment firm in Tokyo.


Sweden to Return Remains of Aborigines (AP) AP - The skeletal remains of 15 Aborigines are being returned home for reburial, nearly 90 years after a Swedish zoologist smuggled them out of Australia for display in a Stockholm museum.


Russia Sets New Date for Launch to Space Station (Reuters) Reuters - Russia hopes to launch three astronauts\to the International Space Station next month, setting a new\date after two postponements for technical reasons, space\officials said on Wednesday. Technical difficulties, including\problems with the docking system of the Soyuz craft, have twice\delayed blast-off from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in\Kazakhstan.


BT mulls u-turn on broadband cost BT is looking again at price rises on wholesale broadband which have angered small net providers.


MMO2 lifts revenue target for UK Mobile phone operator MMO2 raises its UK revenue growth target for this year as it gets more customers and existing users spend more.


Yen Holds Gains as Oil Remains Below  #36;50 (Reuters) Reuters - The yen steadied on Thursday after\bouncing back from recent lows against the dollar and the euro\as oil prices stepped down from this week's record highs, while\investors awaited key economic data from Japan.


BT mulls u-turn on broadband cost Telecoms giant BT is looking again at price rises on wholesale broadband which have angered small net providers.


Microsoft asks judge to suspend penalties Microsoft has told a judge that the European Commission must be stopped from ordering it to give up secret technology to competitors.


Tough Negotiations Ahead for EU, Mercosur Efforts to forge the world #39;s largest free trade zone, uniting the European Union with the Mercosur South American economic bloc, face tough negotiations after a new EU offer received a frosty reception from across the Atlantic.


2-Way Internet Phone Scheduled for This Month Within this year, tech-savvy Koreans will be able to make and receive calls through Internet-enabled phones as you would do on regular phones, at a lower cost.


Duff starts as Chelsea maintain momentum Damien Duff started his second successive game - and his first in this seasons Champions League -s Jose Mourinhos Chelsea slammed defending champions FC Porto on a 3-1 scoreline at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.


Car Bomb West of Baghdad Kills One, Wounds 60 A suicide bomber killed one person and wounded 60 on Thursday when he blew up his car in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, doctors and officials said.


Israeli Tanks Surge Into Gaza Refugee Camp -Witnesses (Reuters) Reuters - A column of Israeli tanks surged into the\heart of the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on\Thursday as the army broadened its sweep for militants behind a\deadly rocket attack on an Israeli town.


IBM Wins \$1 Billion Contract from Lloyds  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - IBM has signed a 7-year, \$969 million  contract with British bank Lloyds TSB to supply it with  Internet telephony and data services, The U.S.-based computer  giant said on Monday.


TUI to cut eight percent of its British workforce (AFP) AFP - TUI -- Europe's leading tourism and travel group -- said it is planning to cut eight percent of its workforce in Britain by the end of the year in order to boost efficiency.