Transactions BASEBALL Detroit (AL): Exercised option on manager Alan Trammell. Philadelphia (NL): Retained first base coach Milt Thompson, bench coach Gary Varsho, bullpen coach Ramon Henderson, and catching instructor Mick Billmeyer.


Another win for Heikki Kovalainen! Fin RDD driver Kovalainen scored a new podium and a new victory last weekend in Barcelona. He now increases his lead in the World Series championship. Looking good!


IBM Rolling Out Biggest WebSphere Update in 2 Years  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - IBM late on Tuesday announced the  biggest update of its popular WebSphere business software in  two years, adding features such as automatically detecting and  fixing problems.


Experts Say Control Systems Vulnerable Businesses and government agencies must re-examine the growing threat of cyberterrorism to automated computer systems running power grids, dams and other industrial facilities, security experts said Tuesday.


S. Korea Claims North Has 600 Computer Hackers Communist North Korea is believed to have trained up to 600 computer hackers to launch cyberattacks against countries such as the United States and South Korea, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry.


Satellite Mishap Blamed on Human Error A \$239 million satellite toppled to a factory floor last year because nobody bothered to check that it was secure before moving it, according to a NASA investigation board's report on the mishap.


World's Top Game Players Battle for Cash For the world's best video game players, getting the high score is no longer enough.


DNA pioneer Wilkins dies aged 88 Professor Maurice Wilkins, who helped unlock the structure of DNA with Crick, Watson and Franklin, has died aged 88.


Extinct humans left louse legacy Some of the head lice infesting people today were spread to us thousands of years ago by an extinct species of humans like <i>Homo erectus</i>.


Deep-sea trawling's 'great harm' A coalition of environmental and conservation groups calls for a ban on the damaging fishing practice known as bottom-trawling.


Mussel beds flourish again BBC Northern Ireland rural affairs correspondent Martin Cassidy looks at the renewed strength of mussel fishing in Belfast Lough.


Karzai's Running Mate Escapes Afghan Mine Blast  KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running  mate for Saturday's historic presidential election escaped  unhurt Wednesday when a mine exploded under his convoy in the  remote northeast of the country.  Vice presidential candidate Ahmad Zia Masood, the brother of  assassinated resistance hero Ahmad Shah Masood, had gone to  Faizabad, the capital of mountainous Badakhshan province, for a  campaign rally.


No Deal on Ending Baghdad Clashes-Senior Sadr Aide  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The chief spokesman for rebel Iraqi  cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Wednesday no deal had been  agreed with Iraq's government to end fighting in Baghdad's  Shi'ite slum district of Sadr City.


U.S. Stretches Out S. Korea Troop Cut Until 2008  WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States agreed under  pressure from South Korea Wednesday to stretch out over an  additional three years until 2008 the withdrawal of 12,500 U.S.  troops from that country.


Shipment of Bomb-Grade Plutonium Reaches France  CHERBOURG, France (Reuters) - A shipment of 308 pounds of  U.S. weapons-grade plutonium arrived in the French port of  Cherbourg Wednesday, despite protests by anti-nuclear  campaigners who fear it is vulnerable to a terrorist attack.


UN probing Nepal disappearances A fact-finding mission from the UN begins investigating the large number of political disappearances in Nepal.


Cricket: Kumble hits milestone Indian spinner Anil Kumble takes his 400th Test wicket but Australia reach 316-5 at the close in Bangalore.


Somalis make case to be president Twenty-eight candidates seek support from MPs to be Somalia's new leader ahead of elections on 10 October.


Pentagon rebuffs troop criticism The Pentagon tries to deflect charges that there were not enough troops on the ground at the time of the Iraq invasion.


Strasbourg plot suspects on trial The trial starts of 10 suspects in a failed attempt to blow up a Christmas market in Strasbourg in 2000.


Pakistan reporters reach Srinagar A team of Pakistani journalists on a landmark visit to Indian-administered Kashmir arrive in Srinagar.


Negotiations seek peace in Fallujah BAGHDAD -- Iraqi government officials said yesterday they were quietly negotiating with leaders from the rebel-held city of Fallujah to end a months-long standoff there and avoid a full-scale invasion to take it back from insurgents.


Oil, Astra Lead European Stocks Down  PARIS (Reuters) - European shares retreated on Wednesday as  AstraZeneca's business update disappointed investors and on  nagging concerns that soaring oil prices will hurt the quality  of future earnings.


Range of new missiles said to top 1,200 miles TEHRAN -- Iran said yesterday its missiles now have a range of more than 1,200 miles, a substantial extension of their previously declared range. The old version of Iran's Shahab-3 missile had a range of 810 miles, capable of reaching Israel and various US military bases in the Middle East. In August, Iran tested a new version of the Shahab-3, ...


Top UN envoy details lack of progress in Darfur crisis UNITED NATIONS -- The top UN envoy to Sudan said yesterday that the Sudanese government has failed to improve security for the embattled people of Darfur or to bring to justice the perpetrators of atrocities during the 19-month conflict.


Israel diverts airliner to Cyprus in bomb scare TEL AVIV -- Israeli fighter planes escorted a German airliner bound for the Jewish state to Cyprus yesterday after a bomb threat that was the latest in a string of such scares in Europe that turned out to be hoaxes.


Mortgage Applications Flat Last Week-MBA  NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home loans  were virtually unchanged last week although 30-year mortgage  rates rose to their highest level in a month, an industry group  said on Wednesday.


Woman dies days after son's death in Iraq TUCSON -- A 45-year-old woman collapsed and died days after learning her son had been killed in Iraq, and just hours after seeing his body.


Hurricanes Leave Huge Economic Footprint The four hurricanes that recently struck the southeastern United States left a lingering imprint on the national economy by pushing up oil prices, wiping out jobs and disrupting shipments of fruits and vegetables to grocery stores.


Virgin and SN seal Belgian merger Low-cost airline Virgin Express agrees a tie-up with SN Brussels, the successor to collapsed Belgian carrier Sabena.


Astros Killer Bs Running Out of Chances ATLANTA - The Killer B's are back to try again, facing a familiar nemesis. Who knows? This might be the last chance for Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell to show they can come through when it matters most...


Congress Speeds Up 9/11 Legislation Vote WASHINGTON - Racing the clock, Senate leaders are applying finishing touches to bipartisan legislation addressing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations just as House GOP leaders prepare to debate their version, which Democrats call partisan and weak...


Sharon Aide Nixes Palestinian State JERUSALEM - The real objective of Ariel Sharon's offer to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank is to freeze Palestinian statehood indefinitely, with U.S. blessing, the prime minister's point man with the Bush administration acknowledged in an interview published Wednesday...


Voluntary Flu Vaccine Rationing Urged WASHINGTON - Federal health officials are urging doctors to restrict flu shots to those patients at highest risk from influenza, an appeal for voluntary rationing after the nation's vaccine supply was abruptly cut in half.    British regulators unexpectedly shut down a major flu-shot supplier Tuesday, citing manufacturing problems at the Chiron Corp...


U.S. Delays Troops Withdrawl From S. Korea SEOUL, South Korea - The United States will withdraw 12,500 troops from South Korea by 2008, delaying its original plan to redeploy the troops by the end of next year, the South Korean Defense Ministry said Wednesday.    In a statement, the ministry said the U.S...


Convoy of Karzai's Running Mate Is Attacked A convoy carrying Afghan President Hamid Karzai's vice presidential running-mate came under attack Wednesday in northeastern Afghanistan, the presidential palace and other officials said, the third attack on Karzai's supporters ahead of landmark weekend elections.


Who's afraid of portable storage media? AdvancedForce CEO Vladimir Chernavsky says the latest row about USB ports is part of a bigger debate about how best to manage access to external memory.


House GOP Brings Up Draft  In Order to Knock It Down   Rumors of reinstating the military draft, which have flourished for months in panicky e-mails, online chat rooms, college dorms and student newspapers, suddenly dominated  the House floor yesterday in one of the strangest parliamentary maneuvers in memory. With even its sponsor voting against it, a bill to require young adults to perform military or civil service failed, 402 to 2.


Playoff fever hits some on the job Executives around Boston ended business meetings with a handshake and a cheer of ''Go Sox quot; yesterday, turned office televisions from CNN to baseball, and left the office early to catch the team's first playoff game against the Anaheim Angels, which the Sox won 9-3. The weekday afternoon matchup, which started around 4 p.m., sparked workplace debates across Massachusetts, as some ...


Cheney and Edwards Go Toe to Toe in Debate Iraq and terrorism dominated a hard-hitting and sometimes personal exchange between the vice presidential nominees on Tuesday.


Syrian Sees a Calming of Tension   After six months of public tension between Syria and the United States, relations have settled down into a more pragmatic mode. At least this is how Syria's ambassador to Washington,    Imad Moustapha , describes it.


Stewart case ink expert found not guilty of lying An ink expert who testified for the government at the Martha Stewart trial was found not guilty yesterday of lying on the witness stand.


Genentech gets a subpoena Genentech Inc. , the world's second-biggest biotechnology company, received a subpoena from the US attorney's office in Philadelphia as part of a criminal and civil probe into marketing of Rituxan, its top-selling drug.


Japan to Press U.S. on Troops Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Tuesday he will press his country's case in Washington this week for reducing what he called the "the excessive burden" placed on Okinawa by the presence of U.S. troops.


Wanted: Simple home security Jon Oltsik says the explosion in broadband use forces a rethinking of Internet security. But a lethargic vendor response is not a promising harbinger.


Diplomats: IAEA, Brazil Reach Agreement Brazil has agreed in principle to let the U.N. atomic watchdog agency see parts of equipment to enrich uranium, diplomats said Wednesday. Such a deal would resolve months of dispute over access to the technology that can be used to build nuclear weapons.


Powell: Brazil Has No Nuclear Aspirations   SAO PAULO, Brazil, Oct. 5 -- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Tuesday he was  confident Brazil had no intention of becoming a nuclear power, but he called on the country to work out differences with the U.N. atomic agency over inspections.


Microsoft plans tune-up of Media Center PC The next-generation OS will allow consumers to watch one channel while recording another, CNET News.com has learned.


EU Wants Windows Cleaned of DRM The acquisition by Microsoft and Time Warner of a company with a significant portfolio of patents covering digital rights management technologies generates scrutiny by European antitrust regulators. The main focus of the investigation: Microsoft. By Wendy M. Grossman.


Emirates Airlines signs sponsorship deal with Arsenal According to the deal, the new 60,000-seater ground at Ashburton Grove will be named the Emirates Stadium. The contract also makes Emirates the Gunners #39; shirt sponsor for eight years - starting in 2006-07.


Earnhardt fined for checkered language Dale Earnhardt Jr. cursed on a nationally televised NASCAR broadcast on Sunday, and it cost him the lead in a close race for the Nextel Cup drivers championship.


US vetoes UN resolution on Gaza offensive The United States has vetoed Tuesday an Arab-backed resolution at the UN Security Council that demands an immediate end to Israeli military operations in the Gaza strip that have claimed the lives of at least 80 Palestinians during the past seven days.


US warplanes pound Fallujah Three Kurdish militiamen, their civilian driver killed near Baquba, another civilian killed in Basra bomb blast. By Deborah Haynes - BAGHDAD.


Spain seizes 5 more ETA suspects Spanish police have arrested five suspected ETA members just days after 21 people were seized including the Basque separatist group #39;s suspected leader, officials say.


Big Lots Revises Quarterly, Year Views Big Lots Inc., the largest closeout retailer in the United States, said Wednesday that total sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 2 rose 2.9 percent to \$357.


Carphone Warehouse rings up higher sales Europe #39;s biggest mobile phone retailer, Carphone Warehouse, said in a trading update on Wednesday that sales were up on the back of a 25 per cent leap in new connections.


Agent: Ricky Williams Wants To Return To Fins MIAMI -- Just when the Miami Dolphins season couldn #39;t get any weirder, it did -- Ricky Williams is ready to come back to the Fins.


Canadian Sub Loses Power in Atlantic 57 crew members and Canadas newest Submarine is floating in the rough seas of the Atlantic Ocean, after the HMCS Chicoutimi lost power in an electrical fire.


Update: Avaya to buy German IP telephony vendor U.S. telecommunications equipment maker Avaya Inc. increased its presence in Europe to the tune of about \$635 million on Tuesday, agreeing to acquire German enterprise communications vendor Tenovis GmbH   Co. KG.


Senate Wants Database Dragnet Lawmakers may soon pass a bill that would set up a huge network of databases that law enforcement officials could tap to find terrorists. But that kind of unfettered access to data about Americans raises eyebrows. By Ryan Singel.


Geek Trip Begins at Headwaters The true beginnings of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota -- a spot that was a source of much debate in the 19th century -- mark the first stop in a 2,500-mile odyssey along the length of the mighty waterway. By Michelle Delio.


Web Industry Still Flies Blind The commercial web is 10 years old, yet the online publishing industry still hasn't figured out how to measure accurately the number of people visiting each site. What's at stake? More than \$8 billion a year. Commentary by Adam L. Penenberg.


The Incredible Shrinking Man K. Eric Drexler was the godfather of nanotechnology. But the MIT prodigy who dreamed up molecular machines was shoved aside by big science -- and now he's an industry outcast. By Ed Regis from Wired magazine.


Save money when you hit the links on the Grand Strand EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ  While Chad Pennington #39;s return from a strained right rotator cuff was far from perfect, Curtis Martin was stellar yet again.


Making XP a Welcome Guest on Mac Microsoft's new Virtual PC emulator lets an Apple computer run Windows XP amazingly well. It's a great product for those occasions when you must sully your Mac with a Windows-only application. By Leander Kahney.


Spyware Bill Gets House Nod Anti-spyware legislation sails through the House of Representatives, with the bill's sponsor pressing to have both houses approve a law to reign in invasive computer programs by the end of the year. By Michael Grebb.


3 Yanks Share Nobel for Physics Thirty years of research into the forces that hold everything together pay off grandly for the three Americans, and science moves a step closer to a grand unified theory of the universe.


Greenspan points bank mergers as stability factor The US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said at a meeting of the American Bankers Association in New York on Tuesday the increasing number of bank mergers underlines new opportunity for the financial sector to recover.


Microsoft's Xbox Live Usage Takes Off in Asia (Reuters) Reuters - One-in-seven Asian Xbox video gamers\plays on the Internet just six months after the regional launch\of Microsoft's Xbox Live Internet software, a company executive\said on Wednesday.


Fujitsu-Siemens pre-tax profit, sales up strongly in first half (AFP) AFP - Fujitsu-Siemens, Europe's leading manufacturer of personal computers, said pre-tax profit and sales rose strongly in the six months to September and the PC maker was confident about the outlook for the rest of the year.


British Prime Minister in Sudan British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in Sudan #39;s capital, Khartoum, for talks with the country #39;s leaders expected to focus on the crisis in the western Darfur region.


Software speeds file-sharing service (SiliconValley.com) SiliconValley.com - Napster founder Shawn Fanning's little dorm-room project at Northeastern University in Boston is the stuff of technological legend.


PeopleSoft open to deal, official says (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - The PeopleSoft director who has been leading the defense of the software company's anti-takeover measures said Tuesday the company's board is willing to talk about a deal with rival Oracle.


NASA Inspector's Shuttle Checks Questioned (AP) AP - A former NASA inspector has been accused of lying about inspecting crucial parts on the space shuttle Discovery before and after the Columbia disaster that killed seven astronauts and grounded the entire orbiter fleet.


Remains of Genghis Khan Palace Unearthed (AP) AP - Archaeologists have unearthed the site of Genghis Khan's palace and believe the long-sought grave of the 13th century Mongolian warrior is somewhere nearby, the head of the excavation team said Wednesday.


Japan More Confident on CITES Whale Vote (Reuters) Reuters - Japan is confident it can secure the\votes needed to resume commercial trade in whale products and\that this would be a step toward lifting a ban on hunting the\marine giants, a Japanese official said Wednesday.


From Citation for Nobel Prize in Chemistry (AP) AP - Excerpts from the citation awarding the 2004 Nobel Prize in chemistry to Israelis Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose for their work on how cells break down.


Oil, Astra Lead European Stocks Down (Reuters) Reuters - European shares retreated on Wednesday as\AstraZeneca's business update disappointed investors and on\nagging concerns that soaring oil prices will hurt the quality\of future earnings.


Microsoft's Xbox Live Usage Takes Off in Asia  HONG KONG (Reuters) - One-in-seven Asian Xbox video gamers  plays on the Internet just six months after the regional launch  of Microsoft's Xbox Live Internet software, a company executive  said on Wednesday.


United to Cut U.S. Flights  NEW YORK (Reuters) - UAL Corp.UALAQ.OB, the bankrupt  parent of United Airlines, on Wednesday said it would reduce  U.S. flights and increase capacity on more lucrative  international routes, in keeping with its aggressive  cost-cutting efforts.


Stocks Set to Open Flat; Oil Prices Weigh  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were set to open flat on  Wednesday as high crude oil prices and profit warnings weighed  on the market on the eve of a new earnings reporting season.


Dollar Up; Focus on Fed, Jobs, Oil  LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar rose against the euro and  Swiss franc on Wednesday as investors awaited more clues on the  U.S. interest rate outlook from speeches by Federal Reserve  officials later in the day and U.S. jobs data due on Friday.


Before the Bell: Knight Falls, Too Rises  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Knight Trading Group Inc. NITE.O  shares fell more than 6 percent before the bell on Wednesday  after the Nasdaq stock trader warned of a quarterly loss  because of weak stock trading volume.


Programs: New Games Feature Mind Over Matter  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - The overwhelming scientific  evidence shows that psychic powers are probably a lot of  baloney. After all, psychics always seem to "lose" their powers  if subjected to tests designed to eliminate luck or fraud.


Fannie, Freddie And Free Markets WASHINGTON, DC - Investors in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are feeling some pain in the wake of Fannie #39;s recent accounting problems.


Yukos  #39;pays most of 2000 taxes #39; Yukos has paid three-quarters of its total tax debt of \$3.4bn (1.91bn; 99bn roubles) for 2000, the Interfax news agency has reported.


UPDATE 1-Alaska Air sees \$45 mln-\$55 mln in severance costs Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it expects \$45 million to \$55 million in pre-tax costs for severance pay and other benefits for employees laid off during its planned restructuring.


Asian Shares End Mixed; Tokyo Advances, Hong Kong Falls Asian stocks finished mixed Wednesday, with Tokyo shares advancing on a positive economic outlook but markets in Hong Kong and elsewhere falling on worries about record-high oil prices.


Pakistan #39;s Shoaib Malik restricts Sri Lanka Pakistan #39;s Shoaib Malik took three wickets to help restrict Asian Champions Sri Lanka to 232 for nine in the third match of a three-nation one-day tournament on Wednesday.


Australia Reaches 316-5 vs India; Kumble Gets 400th Test Wicket Anil Kumble became the second Indian cricketer and ninth player in total to get 400 Test dismissals as his three wickets helped restrict Australia to 316-5 on day one of the opening Test at Bangalore.


Tennis: Dent Advances in Japan Open Seventh-seed Taylor Dent of the United States advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 over Tomas Zib of the Czech Republic in second-round action at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo.


No Deal on Ending Baghdad Clashes-Senior Sadr Aide The chief spokesman for rebel Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Wednesday no deal had been agreed with Iraq #39;s government to end fighting in Baghdad #39;s Shi #39;ite slum district of Sadr City.


Afghan Vice Presidential Candidate Survives a Bomb Blast Afghan President Hamid Karzai #39;s running mate in Saturday #39;s presidential election escaped unhurt when a bomb exploded near his convoy in the northern city of Faizabad.


Heeling power During every break in play, every timeout, every chance to catch a breath, one word was on the minds of the Penn State women #39;s basketball players during the second half of Sunday #39;s game against No.


Karzai's Running Mate Escapes Afghan Mine Blast (Reuters) Reuters - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running\mate for Saturday's historic presidential election escaped\unhurt Wednesday when a mine exploded under his convoy in the\remote northeast of the country.\Vice presidential candidate Ahmad Zia Masood, the brother of\assassinated resistance hero Ahmad Shah Masood, had gone to\Faizabad, the capital of mountainous Badakhshan province, for a\campaign rally.


No Deal on Ending Baghdad Clashes-Senior Sadr Aide (Reuters) Reuters - The chief spokesman for rebel Iraqi\cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Wednesday no deal had been\agreed with Iraq's government to end fighting in Baghdad's\Shi'ite slum district of Sadr City.


Britain praises Pakistan campaign against Al-Qaeda (AFP) AFP - British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon held talks here with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and praised his army's operations against Al-Qaeda fighters along the Afghan frontier.


Maryland upset at BB amp;T Classic WASHINGTON  TJ Thompson scored 27 points as George Washington defeated No. 12 Maryland 101-92 in the championship game of the BB amp;T Classic, the Colonials #39; fifth consecutive victory.


Republicans Glad to Lose on Bill to Start New Draft (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON  #8212; Seeking to dispel suggestions that the war in Iraq could lead to reinstatement of the draft, House Republicans on Tuesday hastily brought the idea to a vote  #8212; with the express intent of shooting it down.


Spain Arrests Five ETA Suspects Primed for Action  MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police on Wednesday arrested  five suspected members of the Basque separatist ETA guerrilla  group who appeared primed to stage attacks, Interior Minister  Jose Antonio Alonso said.


US agrees to slow S Korea pull-out \The US agrees to stagger a troop withdrawal from South Korea, due to fears about the North.


Militants die in settlement raid Israeli soldiers have killed three Palestinian militants who infiltrated a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip.


Indian Maoists discuss strategy Two key Indian Maoist groups meet in Calcutta to discuss working closer together, delegates say.


Tiger Woods Weds Swede Model in Barbados LANE BEACH, Barbados - Tiger Woods is now a married man, according to People magazine and several other news outlets. People reported on its Web site that the world's most famous golfer married Swedish model Elin Nordegren in a sunset ceremony at a resort in Barbados on Tuesday...


Alitalia rescue plan agreed after all-night talks ROME : Alitalia bosses and union and government officials forged a deal to save the troubled Italian flag carrier after thrashing out the details of redundancy payments for 3,700 workers who will lose their jobs in a restructuring plan.


United to Trim Fleet Size, Add International Routes (Update2) UAL Corp. said it will reduce the overall size of United Airlines #39; fleet and shift more aircraft to serve international routes, which are more profitable.


Idealab Rethinks Web Search with Snap SAN FRANCISCOBill Gross, the man behind Overture Services and the Idealab incubator, wants to reinvent Web search. During the Web 2.0 conference here on Tuesday, Gross unveiled search-engine Snap, which


UPDATE 1-Big Lots sees wider third-quarter loss Big Lots Inc. (BLI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday forecast a larger-than-expected third-quarter loss and said full-year profit could also fall short of Wall Street #39;s


British manufacturing output falls for third successive month LONDON : Britain #39;s manufacturing industries experienced an unexpected drop in output in August, the first time since January 2002 that output has fallen for three months in a row.


Hynix Sells Non-Memory Unit Hynix Semiconductor wrapped up a \$830 million sales deal of its non-memory unit with Citigroup Venture Capital (CVC), the worlds second-largest memory chipmaker said Wednesday.


US Telecoms giant looks at throwing Windows out Network services giant AT amp;T is evaluating different operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS X, as alternatives to Windows for internal use.


Tiger Woods marries Swedish fiancee in ritzy Barbados resort And he was apparently on some familiar turf when he tied the knot yesterday with Swedish model Elin Nordegren. Witnesses say the two were wed at a golf course in Barbados.


England vs. Wales = Man Utd vs. Man City And you know exactly what he means. Our man on Radio Four (ooooh!) Andy Gray says England should win but in all local derbies it #39;s always the lesser team who cares more.


Kumble joins  #39;Club 400 #39; Bangalore - Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble gave home fans plenty to cheer about on Wednesday when he capped a glorious career by becoming the ninth bowler in Test history to complete 400 wickets.


Some talk isn #39;t cheap Dale Earnhardt Jr. #39;s swearword in a TV interview after his victory at Talladega costs him the NASCAR points lead and \$10,000. A slip of the tongue on TV cost Dale Earnhardt Jr.


Ricky Williams Seeks Return with Dolphins _ Oct. 6, 2004 - Ricky Williams is looking to make a comeback with the Miami Dolphins. But there #39;s a catch -- a little something about a positive drug test.


Storm ends Monarchs #39; playoff run Led by Lauren Jackson #39;s 27 points, the Seattle Storm pummeled Sacramento out of the Western Conference Finals with a decisive 82-62 Game 3 victory Tuesday night at Key Arena to advance to the WNBA Finals.


Blair Urges End of Darfur Slaughter Prime Minister Tony Blair today urged the government of Sudan to adopt a five-point plan designed to help end the slaughter in Darfur and ease the humanitarian crisis there.


Crushing blow for bank customers Safe boxes from a bank branch were taken away and crushed as scrap metal, leaving customers shocked and angry at the loss of their most valued possessions, executives acknowledged Wednesday.


British manufacturing output falls for third successive month (AFP) AFP - Britain's manufacturing industries experienced an unexpected drop in output in August, the first time since January 2002 that output has fallen for three months in a row.


Oil Extends Record Run to \$51.48 Peak  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices extended record-setting highs  above \$51 for U.S. crude on Wednesday, fueled by the impact of  Hurricane Ivan on U.S. winter inventories.


Stocks Seen Flat, Oil Hovers Near \$51  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were likely to open flat  on Wednesday, with high oil prices and profit warnings weighing  on the market before earnings reports start and key jobs data  is released this week.


Monsanto Posts Loss on Herbicide Sales  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Reuters) - Agrochemical company Monsanto  Co. on Wednesday posted a quarterly net loss on a drop in U.S.  sales of the herbicide Roundup.


United Airlines Cutting Domestic Service United Airlines plans to slash the number of its domestic flights and increase its more profitable international schedule, while at the same reducing the size of its fleet.


UPDATE 1-United to cut US flights, focus on international UAL Corp. (UALAQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) , the bankrupt parent of United Airlines, on Wednesday said it would reduce US flights and increase capacity on more lucrative international


Fannie Mae Executives Defend Decisions Fannie Mae executives defended themselves on Wednesday against government allegations they manipulated accounting to hide earnings swings, saying they and their auditors believed they were properly applying complex standards that


UK Scientist Who Played Role in DNA Discovery Dies Nobel laureate Maurice Wilkins, a British scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, died on Tuesday, his university said on Wednesday.


AT amp;T Considers Mac OS X, Linux For 7,000 Desktops hype7 writes  quot;CNet #39;s News.com.com is reporting that AT amp;T is reconsidering its corporate IT investment in Microsoft Windows - with both Mac OS X and Linux being considered.


Sony releases home server that stores 1 terrabyte Sony #39;s Vaio Type X, which is available only in Japan, is a new home server that contains four 250GB hard drives: two for PC files and the other ones for audiovisual materials such as stored TV programs and music.


Bell gets unexpected call, scores first NFL touchdown San Diego - There was not a lot of extra practice time, nor a pep talk from his coaches to let Broncos rookie running back Tatum Bell know he #39;d be such a big part of Denver #39;s game plan Sunday.


Experts Say Control Systems Vulnerable (AP) AP - Businesses and government agencies must re-examine the growing threat of cyberterrorism to automated computer systems running power grids, dams and other industrial facilities, security experts said Tuesday.


'Troy' Makes Homer Britain's Best-Selling Poet (Reuters) Reuters - Nearly 3,000 years after his death,\Homer is the best-selling poet in Britain thanks largely to\Brad Pitt and "the Troy effect," the country's biggest online\seller of books said on Wednesday.


New DTS surround encoders leverage OS X, Xserve (MacCentral) MacCentral - Digital Theater Systems Inc. (DTS) on Wednesday announced the availability of two new audio software encoders aimed at audio professionals creating multi-channel soundtracks for DVD-Audio, DVD-Video and 5.1 CDs: the Pro Series 6.1 Surround Encoder, a standalone solution designed to work on Mac OS X and Windows-equipped computers, and the DTS Pro Series Network Encoder, which allows up to 99 users on Macs or Windows computers to encode audio using an Apple Xserve and Xserve RAID system. Both encoders were announced earlier this year, and are anticipated for release this month. ...


Physics Nobel Goes to 'Theory of Everything' Trio (Reuters) Reuters - Three American scientists won the\2004 Nobel physics prize on Tuesday for showing how tiny quark\particles interact, helping to explain everything from how a\coin spins to how the universe was built.


Latvian Seeks Seismic Monitoring Stations (AP) AP - Latvia's National Geology Service said Thursday it hopes to get funding from the Environment Ministry to build five seismic monitoring stations throughout the country.


Rocket Launchers Allowed in Presidential Debate The next presidential debate will be held October 8th at Washington University in St. Louis. The notable difference between this debate and the last is that "projectile launchers" are explicitly allowed on the premises.


Americans Denied a True Presidential Debate Americans did not see a true presidential debate on September 30, 2004. What they saw was a carefully planned bipartisan press conference in which George W. Bush and John Kerry, acting through their corporate campaigns, agreed to appear and respond to questions. Third party candidates Michael Badnarik (Libertarian), David Cobb (Green), Ralph Nader (Independent), and Michael A. Peroutka (Constitution) were not invited to participate, despite having a mathematical possibility of obtaining enough electoral votes to secure the office of President of the United States.


Infineon execs to get prison terms Four sales executives of German chipmaker Infineon Technologies have agreed to plead guilty to participating in a conspiracy to fix the prices of computer memory chips, the US Department of Justice said Thursday.


Ballmer calls for horse-based attack on Star Office 'Email me immediately and we #8217;ll send in the cavalry'


A web wise terror network Gordon Corera looks at how Osama Bin Laden's terror network has made the most of modern communications.


Rough weather hampers rescue efforts for Cdn submarine stranded off Scotland (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - HALIFAX (CP) - The crew of a disabled Canadian submarine braved a rough night adrift in heavy seas off Scotland as inclement conditions delayed British rescue efforts early Wednesday.


Fujitsu and Cisco Form Strategic Alliance Fujitsu Limited and Cisco Systems announced a strategic alliance focusing on routers and switches for the Japanese markets. Specifically, the companies agreed to jointly develop high-end routers and will collaborate


Afghan Leader's Running Mate Survives Taliban Attack  KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running  mate for Saturday's historic presidential poll escaped unhurt  on Wednesday when a bomb set off by Taliban guerrillas narrowly  missed his car as he headed for an election meeting.


IAEA Chief Says World Getting Impatient with N.Korea  SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's two-year-old nuclear crisis  has taxed the world's patience, the chief United Nations  nuclear regulator said on Wednesday, urging communist Pyongyang  to return to its disarmament treaty obligations.


OutKast lead MTV Europe shortlist OutKast receive five MTV Europe Award nominations,  while Usher gets four ahead of next month's show.


Report Expected to Say Iraq Posed Little Immediate Threat A report due out today from the chief U.S. weapons inspector for Iraq is expected to undercut a key part of the rationale for war.


Scientists Test Steering for Mars Rovers Jet Propulsion Lab -- Engineers on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover team are investigating possible causes and remedies for a problem affecting the steering on Spirit.     The relay for steering actuators on Spirit's right-front and left-rear wheels did not operate as commanded on Oct...


NOAA Satellite Mishap Blamed on Human Error By MATTHEW FORDAHL    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A \$239 million satellite toppled to a factory floor last year because nobody bothered to check that it was secure before moving it, according to a NASA investigation board's report on the mishap...


NASA Inspector's Space Shuttle Checks Questioned ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A former NASA inspector has been accused of lying about inspecting crucial parts on the space shuttle Discovery before and after the Columbia disaster that killed seven astronauts and grounded the entire orbiter fleet...


Israelis, American Win Nobel for Chemistry STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Israelis Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose won the 2004 Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday for discovering a key way cells destroy unwanted proteins - starting with a chemical "kiss of death."   Their work provides the basis for developing new therapies for diseases such as cervical cancer and cystic fibrosis.    The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honored Ciechanover, 57, Hershko, 67, and Rose, 78, for work they did in the late 1970s and early 1980s...


Tiger Woods Weds Swede Model in Barbados SANDY LANE BEACH, Barbados - Tiger Woods married Swedish model Elin Nordegren as a Caribbean sunset painted a spectacular array of colors across the sky over an exclusive resort in Barbados, according to witnesses.    Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were among guests seen by a reporter perched on a hill overlooking the club house of the Sandy Lane resort golf course...


VP Candidates Slug It Out Over Iraq, Jobs CLEVELAND - Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic rival John Edwards slugged it out over Iraq, jobs and each other's judgment in their one and only debate Tuesday night before heading for the battleground state of Florida and its 27 electoral votes. Cheney was appearing Wednesday in Tallahassee, Edwards in West Palm Beach...


Panel says keep sage grouse off endangered list A panel of senior biologists has told the US Fish and Wildlife Service not to list sage grouse as an endangered species. If Fish and Wildlife Director Steve Williams follows the panel #39;s


Putin Arrives in Turkey on Historic Visit President Vladimir Putins visit to Turkey on Sunday will highlight a thaw in relations between the one-time Cold War foes and focus on trade, investment and energy deals, the Reuters news agency reports.


United Airlines announces service cuts, fleet reduction ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. United Airlines #39; parent company plans to slash the number of its domestic flights and increase its more profitable international schedule.


Knight Trading Sees 3Q Operating Loss Knight Trading Group Inc., an equities trading company serving institutional and broker-dealer clients, said Wednesday that it will report a third-quarter operating loss of 1 cent to 4 cents per share due to poor performance in its equity market trading


Howard Stern to Broadcast on Sirius Radio in 2006 Howard Stern, one of the most popular US radio personalities, on Wednesday said he will broadcast his show on Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.


Brave New World? Next Steps Planned for Private Space Travel MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA -- While SpaceShipOnes wispy contrail from sky to space quickly vanished into the thin desert air here, Mondays flight at Mojave Spaceport left a solid line in the sand -- to create a  quot;new space age quot; of personal space travel.


IBM adds self-healing to WebSphere IBM has released the latest version of the core middleware product of WebSphere, its application server platform, promising new autonomic, or self-healing, features.


Via to enter 64-bit processor market VIA Technologies has announced details of its 64-bit architecture based Isaiah processor core with the engineering code name  #39;CN #39;.


Singh critiques Woods #39; swing, says it hasn #39;t changed but his body <b>...</b> Vijay Singh has a theory about what #39;s wrong with Tiger Woods #39; game: he hasn #39;t adapted his swing to the changes in his body.


Giuly will miss French qualifiers PARIS, France -- Barcelona striker Ludovic Giuly has pulled out of France #39;s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Ireland and Cyprus, the French soccer federation has announced.


Cal faces No. 1 USC with eyes - and its offense - wide open Bee Staff Writer. BERKELEY - Jeff Tedford said the lasting image from last year #39;s Cal-USC game wasn #39;t necessarily Tyler Fredrickson #39;s field goal that gave the Golden Bears a triple-overtime triumph.


Astros Killer B's Running Out of Chances (AP) AP - The Killer B's are back to try again, facing a familiar nemesis. Who knows? This might be the last chance for Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell to show they can come through when it matters most.


Cubs Pay Penalty for Wrigley Repairs (AP) AP - The Chicago Cubs paid a  #36;6,725 penalty for renovating landmark Wrigley Field without the required city permits for such work.


Woods Struggling to Cope with Body Changes - Singh  ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) - Vijay Singh thinks the  main reason he has replaced Tiger Woods as world number one is  the American's failure to adapt to changes in his body.


Microsoft to tune up Media Center PC The next-generation OS will allow consumers to watch one channel while recording another, CNET News.com has learned.


PalmOne Eyes Mobile E-Mail Deal with Microsoft will allow users to access e-mail without third-party software.


U.S. to File Case Over Airbus Subsidies  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will on Wednesday  file a complaint at the World Trade Organization over what it  called "unfair" European Union subsidies to aircraft  manufacturer Airbus.


Howard Stern to Broadcast on Sirius Radio in 2006 Shock jock Howard Stern will head to satellite radio, where listeners will have to pay to hear him.


Google Print Opens Widely To Publishers Google's nearly year-old Google Print program is set for a huge expansion of content through the launch of a new program today allowing publishers to more easily submit material for inclusion.


More on Qantas Singapore Airlines has finally ended its great Kiwi Adventure, at a loss of more than \$500 million, but probably a lot more if you take into account opportunity cost, holding costs and


Flu Vaccine Distributor Cuts 2004 Views Medical products distributor Henry Schein Inc. lowered its financial targets for the rest of the year, citing the impact of British regulators shutting down its major supplier of flu vaccine on Tuesday.


Carphone poised to ring up healthy profits Carphone Warehouse today announced a 25 increase in the number of connections during its second quarter, with interim pre-tax profits expected to be at least 27m.


Old favourites set to make a Christmas comeback Cabbage Patch Kids are expected to be among this year #39;s Christmas best selling gifts, industry experts have said. The relaunched 1980s phenomenon has been named in the top 10 list of toys compiled by the Toy Retailers Association.


Manufacturing output shows sharp decline Manufacturing output has unexpectedly fallen for the third month in a row in August and at the sharpest pace in nearly two years, official data show.


Interest Rate Dilemma for Bank Committee Rate-setters at the Bank of England were given plenty to ponder today after figures on house prices and manufacturing output confounded expectations.


Hynix Sells Non-Memory Chip Operation Hynix Semiconductor Inc. said Wednesday it has completed the sale of its non-memory chip operation to Citigroup for 954.3 billion won (\$827.


VW names cost-cutting former Chrysler exec to take over mainstay <b>...</b> Volkswagen AG named former DaimlerChrysler AG executive Wolfgang Bernhard, a cost cutter who won plaudits for helping return DaimlerChrysler #39;s US division to profitability, to a top management post Wednesday and said he would soon take over


Owen should start MICHAEL OWEN is under an intense spotlight now after his early difficulties at Real Madrid and there #39;s talk Jermain Defoe may replace him for England on Saturday.


Baros on shortlist for world accolade MILAN BAROS, who has struggled to maintain a place in Rafael Benitez #39;s starting line-up this season, has been nominated for FIFA #39;s World Player of the Year award.


Everyone has a price  even Arsenal No matter what sort of spin Arsenal put on their mega-buck sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines, the bottom line is that they were the last club one would have associated with the arrangement to have the sponsor be the name of their new stadium.


Racing: Schumacher vows to fight back at Japanese GP TOKYO : World champion Michael Schumacher vowed to end his three-race Formula One losing streak at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend -- come rain or shine.


Kumble breaks 400-wicket barrier Anil Kumble, the India spinner, has become only the ninth player to claim 400 Test wickets as Australia ended the first day of the opening Test in Bangalore on 316 for five.


Blair outlines Sudan demands Tony Blair today said the Sudanese government had agreed to a five-point action plan aimed at ending the conflict in Darfur, which has resulted in what the UN describes as the world #39;s worst humanitarian crisis.


Israelis committed to US plan Jerusalem - The United States-backed roadmap is the only viable blueprint for peace with the Palestinians, the Israeli prime minister #39;s office said on Wednesday.


Value of building permits cooled in August, after hot June and <b>...</b> OTTAWA (CP) - Building intentions cooled in August after a hot June and July, says Statistics Canada. The value of building permits issued by municipalities in August fell by 4.6 per cent to \$4.


Yukos #39;s Biggest Production Unit Gets \$951 Million Tax Bill Russia #39;s Tax Ministry yesterday charged OAO Yuganskneftegaz, the biggest production unit of OAO Yukos Oil Co., with 27.8 billion rubles (\$951 million) in unpaid taxes for 2002, a Yukos official said.


Tax bill nears approval by House-Senate negotiators WASHINGTON Supporters of a major rewrite of corporate tax law are optimistic they #39;ll be able to complete congressional action this week on legislation needed to end a bitter trade fight with Europe.


Good Moose not enough Mike Mussina did all he could to keep the Yankees close, but his teammates wasted one scoring chance after another last night in a 2-0 AL Division Series Game 1 loss to Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins.


Howard Stern to Move to Satellite Radio (Reuters) Reuters - Howard Stern, one of the most popular\U.S. radio personalities, on Wednesday said he will broadcast\his show on Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.  beginning in\2006, after being dropped earlier this year from several\stations that objected to his often off-color humor.


Gee, Thanks Dad (Forbes.com) Forbes.com - L. Lowry Mays is a Texan's Texan, rock-ribbed, 6 foot 2 and larger than life. He started out as an investment banker; in 1972, when a client he was advising backed out of a deal to buy an FM radio station in San Antonio, Tex., Mays partnered with a pal and did the deal himself, paying  #36;125,000. In the three decades since, he has built one of the largest and most powerful media companies in the nation, Clear Channel, a much-maligned giant that, in the view of its enemies, is just too damned big for anyone else's good.


Howard Stern to Move to Satellite Radio  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Howard Stern, one of the most popular  U.S. radio personalities, on Wednesday said he will broadcast  his show on Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. SIRI.O beginning in  2006, after being dropped earlier this year from several  stations that objected to his often off-color humor.


Stocks Open Flat as Oil Prices Weigh  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened flat on Wednesday,  with high oil prices and a spate of profit warnings weighing on  the market.


Treasuries Lower Before Five-Year Auction  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices eased on  Wednesday as the market prepared to absorb \$24 billion in new  supply just a few days before a jobs report which could set the  trend for yields for weeks to come.


Winter Outlook Mixed for U.S. - NOAA  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Warmer than normal temperatures are  forecast to blanket the western United States and Plains states  this winter, but it is unclear whether the Northeast and  Midwest will face warmer, colder or normal winter weather, U.S.  government forecasters said on Wednesday.


U.S. to File WTO Case Against Airbus Subsidies  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said it will file  on Wednesday a World Trade Organization complaint over what it  called "unfair" European subsidies to aircraft manufacturer  Airbus, the European rival of U.S.-based Boeing.


US takes Airbus dispute to WTO The US government asks the World Trade Organisation to step in to stop EU member states from "subsidising" planemaker Airbus.


Bank set to keep UK rates on hold The Bank of England is set to keep interest rates on hold following the latest meeting of the its Monetary Policy Committee.


The spirit of satellite radio Only one satellite radio stock is worth buying...and it #39;s not the one that snagged Howard Stern. This is an update of a column that originally ran on September 30.


United Airlines to reduce US flights UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, announced Wednesday it plans to slash the number of domestic flights and increase its more profitable international schedule, while at the same reducing the size of its fleet.


Trade chief of EU takes US to task BRUSSELS The incoming European Union trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, on Monday criticized the United States for failing to stick to bilateral talks to resolve a dispute over government aid to Boeing and Airbus.


Jerusalem Post faked circulation: Hollinger TORONTO, Oct 5 (AFP) - The Jerusalem Post has inflated its circulation figures, the daily #39;s owner, Hollinger International, confirmed Tuesday.


PalmOne, Microsoft in deal on mobile e-mail Longtime foes palmOne and Microsoft on Tuesday announced a licensing deal that will allow the next generation of palmOne #39;s Treo smart phones to work directly with Microsoft #39;s Exchange e-mail system.


Rupert blinks as the ISS giant awakes Rupert Murdoch #39;s brazen attempt to relocate to dodgy Delaware is in big trouble and the world #39;s most powerful man has blinked.


High stakes for new chief at Mercedes FRANKFURT Eckhard Cordes, the man DaimlerChrysler picked to put the luster back into Mercedes-Benz, has slipped out of the office during his first week on the job, joining colleagues in the Alps along the Swiss-Austrian border to test-drive cars made by


Scientist Who Played Role in DNA Discovery Dies Nobel laureate Maurice Wilkins, a British scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, died on Tuesday, his university said on Wednesday.


Giggs out to break Old Trafford hearts Ryan Giggs will try to tie Manchester United team mate Gary Neville in knots and score a goal to send the Old Trafford crowd home in tears when Wales side play England on Saturday.


Emirates and Arsenal in 100-m deal Arsenal Football Club has signed the biggest club sponsorship agreement in football history with Emirates Airline in an agreement worth 100 million.


UPDATE 1-Centurion Youhana sets up Pakistan victory Yousuf Youhana top-scored with an unbeaten 107 to guide Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka and into the final of a three-nation one-day tournament on Wednesday.


More people dead in Gaza fighting Three Palestinian fighters have been killed by the Israel army after they entered a Jewish town in southern Gaza. Israeli tanks also shelled the north Gaza town of Beit Lahiya early on Wednesday, killing three Palestinians and injuring ten children.


Afghan president addresses rally on final day of campaigning Afghanistan #39;s president, Hamid Karzai, says presidential elections on Saturday will decide the fate of the war-shattered country for centuries.


#39;Still Committed to Road Map #39;, says Sharon Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has reaffirmed his commitment to a Middle East peace initiative, despite comments from one of his senior advisers who effectively dismissed the plan.


Gift cards are hot for Christmas As more and more consumers turn to plastic to solve their gift-giving dilemmas, many states are passing laws to protect those buying gift cards from what may be hidden in the fine print.


IBM launches Websphere 6 IBM today announced that Websphere 6, the long awaited-update to its application server software, will be available by the end of the year.


Indie music label rejects lock-down CDs 'NO copy protection - respect the music' stamped on !K7 discs


School House Shock It's a noble concept that was designed to bridge the digital divide, but reports of fraud and lackluster oversight at the E-Rate program have caused it to be put on ice and now some educators and librarians are scrambling.\ -washingtonpost.com


EBay Seeks New Trial in \$29M Patent Case Online auctioneer eBay Inc. asked for a new trial Tuesday on claims the company stole ideas for an electronic marketplace from a Virginia inventor.


Update 1: Computer Associates to Acquire Netegrity Computer Associates International Inc. will acquire Netegrity Inc. in a \$430 million cash deal that will merge the computer security software makers, the companies said Wednesday.


United Decreases Domestic, Increases International Focus OCTOBER 06, 2004 -- United Airlines today said it is reallocating resources around its global network to emphasize international routes, while substantially slimming down domestic mainline operations.


News Corp. reconsiders governance issues SYDNEY Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp. said Wednesday that it might strengthen corporate governance provisions after investors and shareholder groups said they would vote against the company #39;s proposed move to


Viacom Says Blockbuster Exchange a Success Media conglomerate Viacom Inc. on Wednesday said an offer to trade its shares for those of Blockbuster Inc. was a success, moving it closer to splitting off the video-rental chain.


Update 1: Report: Tax Bill Presented to Yukos Unit The key production unit of beleaguered Russian oil giant Yukos was handed a back taxes bill for nearly \$1 billion, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday, apparently increasing the likelihood that the unit would be sold at auction.


Investors in StarHub sell shares Shareholders in StarHub, Singapore #39;s second-largest phone company, on Wednesday raised 457.7 million Singapore dollars, or \$271 million, in an initial public offering after selling shares at the lowest targeted price, bankers involved said.


St. Paul sees storms paring EPS by 45c Insurer St. Paul Travelers said the three major hurricanes that hit the US east coast in recent months will cut 45 cents from its third-quarter earnings per share.


Smucker Sells Brazilian Unit to Closely Held Cargill (Update1) JM Smucker Co., the largest US maker of jellies and jams, sold its operations in Brazil to closely held Cargill Inc. The sale of Smucker do Brasil Ltda.


YAHOO! Unveils Personal Search Beta Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - News), a leading global Internet company, announced yesterday the availability of the My Yahoo! Search beta (http://next.


20 years later, female astronaut recalls a spacewalk  #39;first #39; As Kathy Sullivan nears her 20th anniversary as the first American woman to walk in space, her adventurous spirit is still alive. The former astronaut says she supports a manned


New WebSphere app server has distinct SOA flavor IBM #39;s affections for service-oriented architectures deepened today when Big Blue offered details on the impending version 6 release of WebSphere Application Server.


Blu-ray Disc Association Launches In an echo of the VHS/Betamax battles, the Blu-ray Disc Association announced yesterday that it has expanded its list of members and officially launched the organization, which is developing standards for next generation disc formats for video.


Cricket: Kumble reaches 400 test wickets BANGALORE, India Anil Kumble, the Indian spin bowler, took three wickets Wednesday to reach 400 in test matches as the first day of the first test against Australia finished finely balanced.


For once, Hughes, Giggs are the enemy at Old Trafford Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs are two of Old Trafford #39;s all-time greats. On Saturday, more than 60,000 fans at Manchester United #39;s famous ground will be willing them to lose.


Top seeds Hewitt, Sharapova safely through in Japan Top seeds Lleyton Hewitt and Maria Sharapova were taken to three sets in their second round matches before safely advancing at the \$860,000 Japan Open on Wednesday.


Fernandes fined 10,000 pounds for high-speed police chase Southampton midfielder Fabrice Fernandes was fined 10,000 pounds (US\$18,000) and handed a two-year driving ban Wednesday for trying to elude police in a high-speed chase five months ago.


Judge says Braves #39; Furcal can play Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal may play in the playoffs despite a probation violation on a drunken-driving charge. For the rest of the season, Furcal must remain in home confinement.


Red Sox blast off against the Angels ANAHEIM, California The Boston Red Sox opened the playoffs with a new nickname, a new Game 1 starter and a welcome new association with the number seven.


Cardinals show their power with 5 homers against Dodgers ST. LOUIS, Missouri Larry Walker savored the moment - make that moments - from the top step of the St. Louis Cardinals #39; dugout.


Baseball Playoffs: Twins double up to beat Yankees in Game 1 NEW YORK It was getting late, and the pregame rock song  quot;Let #39;s Get It Started quot; still applied to the New York Yankees.


Straw in a flap after mid-air incident Baghdad - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Wednesday that he faced a major security threat on his trip to Iraq when a flock of birds flew into a helicopter accompanying him, forcing it to land.


2 men killed in mine accident in Nevada near Utah line Two men were killed in an accident Sunday at a copper and gold mine near Ely. Ruth Volunteer Fire Department Chief Martin Sorenson says the victims were repairing a huge shovel at the Robinson Mine when some safety measures failed and they were killed.


CA to buy Netegrity for \$430 million The smaller firm's technology will help strengthen Computer Associates' ability to provide authentication tools, the company says.


Can Japan rule the consumer electronics realm? Yes, say technologists there; they'll do it with a little help from Sony and a group of people called the Bro Dra.


CA to buy Netegrity for \$430 million Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) announced Wednesday that it plans to buy identity and access management software maker Netegrity Inc. of Waltham, Massachusetts, for \$430 million in cash.


Final buzzer arrives for Pippen As six NBA championship trophies covered with his fingerprints gleamed behind him in a trophy case, Scottie Pippen slumped his lean 6-7 frame over a Berto Center podium Tuesday and bade farewell to his playing days.


Oil inventory rise less than forecast NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - US stockpiles of crude oil rose by 1.1 million barrels last week, the government reported Wednesday, coming in at half of what analysts had expected.


News offers investors more rights Media group News Corp. Ltd. has offered an olive branch to investors opposed to it moving its main share listing to the United States, telling them it is considering moves to enhance shareholder rights.


Viacom: Blockbuster Exchange Successful Media conglomerate Viacom Inc. (VIAb) said Wednesday its exchange offer to split off its Blockbuster Inc. (BBI) unit, which expired at midnight Tuesday, was successful, based on preliminary results.


Monsanto Posts Narrower 4Q Loss Monsanto Co., a producer of Roundup herbicide and insect-resistant seeds, posted narrower fourth-quarter losses on Wednesday, but said lower Roundup herbicide sales in the United States hurt total quarterly revenue.


StarHub sets IPO price at 95 cents, at lower end of range SINGAPORE : StarHub, Singapore #39;s second largest phone company, has priced its shares at 95 cents apiece, at the lower end of its forecast price range.


PalmOne Hooks into Exchange Users of the Treo smartphone will get out-of-the-box compatibility with Microsoft #39;s Exchange Server, thanks to a licensing deal between Milpitas, Calif.


Maurice Wilkins: Maurice Wilkins, who shared a Nobel Prize for the discovery of DNA #39;s structure, died yesterday aged 87. Wilkins was still a staff member at King #39;s College London, where he had worked since 1946.


Nokia makes inroads into Land Rover Nokia has created communication system that integrates mobile phone functions with the on-board system in Land Rover vehicles. The product dubbed, Personal Telephone Integration, was developed specifically


Indie music label rejects lock-down CDs A European indie music label is taking an unusual approach to the issue of CD copy protection - it is branding all its releases with a sticker proclaiming the absence of any such control measure.


Broadcom, Agere Settle Suit IRVINE, Calif. -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM) today announced that it has settled all outstanding litigation with Agere Systems Inc.


Key battles in England v Wales game England will be determined to restore their battered reputation when their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign resumes with a mouth-watering clash against Wales at Old Trafford this weekend.


Long day for Sharapova Tokyo - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova had a long day along with 2002 Wimbledon finalists Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian in their first matches at the Japan Open tennis tournament on Wednesday.


Atapattu seeks improvement Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu put the blame on his batsmen after their eight-wicket defeat by Pakistan. They only totalled 232-9 and Yousuf Youhana (107) and Man of the Match Shoaib Malik (86) comfortably knocked off the runs for the home side.


School House Shock (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - It's a noble concept that was designed to bridge the digital divide: Offer public schools and libraries steep discounts on Internet access and phone service through a special government-mandated program. But reports of fraud and lackluster oversight have caused the program to be put on ice and now some educators and librarians are scrambling.


Ten killed by Iraq car bomb as Iraqi-US forces forge ahead with <b>...</b> RAMADI, Iraq, Oct 6 (AFP) - A suicide car bomb ripped through a queue of young national guard recruits in western Iraq Wednesday, killing 10 of them as Iraqi and US forces pursued their crackdown on the country #39;s insurgency.


Dubious plan to free French hostages snags Chirac in fiasco Paris -- A high-stakes scheme to free two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq threatens to embroil President Jacques Chirac in a political scandal over whether his government assisted private intermediaries in negotiating with terrorists for the hostages


PalmOne Eyes Mobile E-Mail (PC World) PC World - Deal with Microsoft will allow users to access e-mail without third-party software.


The Old World Becomes A Little Newer (BusinessWeek Online) BusinessWeek Online - Europe has long been an innovation leader. Centuries ago, Johannes Gutenberg  revolutionized practically everything with his technological marvel, the printing press. Europe's modern-day innovators have changed how we work and play with inventions such as compact disks, the World Wide Web, and the Linux operating system. Today, engineers at Airbus are pushing the envelope with the world's biggest commercial aircraft, the 600-seat, double-decker A380 superjumbo. ...


Computer Associates to Acquire Netegrity (AP) AP - Computer Associates International Inc. will acquire Netegrity Inc. in a  #36;430 million cash deal that will merge the computer security software makers, the companies said Wednesday.


IBM delivers WebSphere 6.0 (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - IBM on Wednesday formally announced the next major release of WebSphere, code-named Vela, which company officials see as an integral building block for both its ongoing SOA (service-oriented architecture) and On Demand strategies.


DNA Pioneer Maurice Wilkins Dies at 88 (AP) AP - Nobel laureate Maurice Wilkins, one of the scientists involved in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, died Tuesday in London. He was 88.


Scientist Who Played Role in DNA Discovery Dies (Reuters) Reuters - Nobel laureate Maurice Wilkins, a\British scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the\double helix structure of DNA, died on Tuesday, his university\said on Wednesday.


America's Space Prize: Reaching Higher Than Sub-Orbit (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - A new challenge awaits private rocketeers hoping to breach the space frontier with their own versions of reusable spacecraft, this one demanding faster and hardier vehicles capable of orbital flights.


Oil, Profit Warnings Leave Stocks Flat  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed on  Wednesday as high crude prices drove up shares of energy  companies, but profit warnings dragged on such sectors as auto  parts and semiconductors.


Arty cosmetic surgery alternative Adiences of an exhibition are being invited to see what they would look like if they had cosmetic surgery.


EU Commission: 'Yes, But' to Turkey Talks  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkey won a provisional green light  from the European Commission on Wednesday to open membership  negotiations with the European Union, a watershed decision  after 40 years of on-again, off-again talks.


U.S. Filing Complaint on Airbus Subsidies U.S. trade authorities said Wednesday they will file a complaint against the European Union to the World Trade Organization, contesting what they regard as billions of dollars in unfair subsidies provided to aircraft company Airbus by European governments.


Renault to produce cars in Iran French carmaker Renault sets up a joint venture with Iran to build 300,000 of its new 'no-frills' Logan model a year.


United Airlines to Cut 68 Planes and Add to Foreign Flights United Airlines said today that it would cut 68 airplanes from its fleet, shift more responsibility for domestic routes to its regional carrier, and expand international flying.


Nokia makes inroads into Land Rover Company's communication system integrates cell phone functions into Land Rover's "central infotainment display."


EU, US aerospace aid spat heats up EU files counter-case at World Trade Organization over US aid to Boeing; US files over Airbus. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU said Wednesday it will file a counter-case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over


Stocks Hover Close to Unchanged Levels Oil prices slipped from their record highs Wednesday ahead of the weekly report on US inventories, but stocks hovered close to unchanged levels as investors considered the long-term implications of the flu vaccine shortage.


DNA Pioneer Maurice Wilkins Dies at 88 Maurice Wilkins, the third man in the discovery of the structure of DNA, died Tuesday in London. He was 88. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1962 along


Broadcom, Agere Settle Suit Irvine-based Broadcom (www.broadcom.com) said yesterday that it has settled all of the company #39;s outstanding litigation with Agere Systems.


India #39;s greatest Think patience and perseverance. And then turn your attention to Indian cricket. There is one man, Anil Kumble, who instantly comes to mind.


Red Sox open with a bang And when you do all three as well as the Red Sox did on Tuesday afternoon, the result is a 9-3 win over the Angels in the first game of the American League Division Series.


Big Ten gears defenses to stop run For a conference rooted in offensive muscle, the Big Ten seems a little frail in the running department this season. Ohio State and Michigan, which built their reputations on power football, rank


Fake Telephone Calls Trouble European Airlines On October 5, an unidentified call rang in the Lufthansa airlines office while one of its flights was flying from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv in Israel.


SAP presents new capabilities for Netweaver SAP AG announced two updates to the Master Data Management (MDM) component of its NetWeaver integration and application platform on Tuesday. The updates, which will appear by the end of the year, are designed to make it easier to synchronize data between different systems. Two other new NetWeaver enhancements, faster searching of corporate data and more robust handling of errors in Java applications, will only appear in the next release of NetWeaver, planned for 2005, the company said at the SAP TechEd conference in San Diego.


China to strive for prudent, stable fiscal, monetary policies in <b>...</b> BEIJING (AFP) - China #39;s leaders have wrapped up a key economic meeting pledging to strive for stable economic growth next year with an emphasis on quality and efficiency rather than simply a high growth rate.


Hitachi, Toshiba unveil fuel cells CHIBA, JAPAN -- Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. unveiled this week new fuel cell prototypes for a range of applications that could be commercialized as early as next year.


Howard Stern to broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio Howard Stern, one of the most popular US radio personalities, said Wednesday he will broadcast his show on Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) beginning in 2006, after being dropped earlier this year from several stations that objected to


PeopleSoft nearly positive towards Oracle bid PeopleSoft said it could accept a takeover bid from Oracle and now needs time to weigh on it. Oracle has been haunting PeopleSoft for 15 months with the possible bid of \$7.


Smucker to Take 2Q Charge on Unit Sale JM Smucker Co., a maker of jams, peanut butter, shortening and oils, said on Wednesday that it will sell its Brazil operations, Smucker do Brasil Ltda.


UPDATE 1-RESEARCH ALERT-Analysts cut Open Text ratings Analysts cut their ratings and slashed stock targets for Open Text Corp.(OTC.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday, citing concerns that the software maker #39;s warning of weaker-than-forecast quarterly results signal growth


Google Challenges Amazon with Book Search Google Challenges Amazon with Book Search\\Google has quietly launched a new book search service which is predicted to rival Google publishing partner and Internet book retailer Amazon.com. Accoding to a Rueters report Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin will be holding a press conference on Thursday to demonstrate the ...


Goldcorp, Wheaton to merge Goldcorp Inc. yesterday became the third North American mining company this year to launch a bid to buy Wheaton River Minerals Ltd.


Mac OS X Tip of the Week: Make Column View a Permanent Thing In love with column view? Find out how to make it a permanent thing at the Apple Pro/ site in the latest Mac OS X killer tip. Sep 29


All Options Open for OPEC Meeting - Iran All options, including cutting quotas, are up for discussion when OPEC ministers meet in Cairo this week to plan their response to a sharp fall in prices


Doing the balancing act The Australians are currently weighing up their choice in the Federal election, and the country #39;s top-order batsmen also looked confused as they decided between two party #39;s policies.


Henry - may now also committ to the Gunners long-term Arsenal shareholders will head into Thursday #39;s annual general meeting at Highbury secure in the knowledge the future of their club is in safe hands.


BAR look to celebrate century with elusive win SUZUKA, Japan (AFP) - BAR will celebrate their 100th Grand Prix start in Sunday #39;s Japanese Grand Prix with drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato chasing an elusive victory at Suzuka.


Cole found guilty by FA London, England (Sports Network) - The Football Association suspended Fulham striker Andy Cole for three matches Wednesday. The suspension stems from an incident during Fulham #39;s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich on September 18.


Gamblers hope to hit the Nobel Peace Prize jackpot (AFP) AFP - Endless money forms the sinews of war, Cicero once said, but it may also be the dividend of peace -- especially for gamblers who can now place bets online on the person or organisation they think is going to be named the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner on Friday.


Iran Readies Uranium for Enrichment, UN Watching  VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it had processed  several tons of raw "yellowcake" uranium to prepare it for  enrichment -- a process that can be used to make atomic weapons  -- in defiance of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.


Blair: World Will Keep Pressure on Sudan for Peace  KHARTOUM (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair  warned Sudan on Wednesday the international community would not  rest until violence was ended in Darfur and a comprehensive  peace deal was struck across the whole country.


Strong Quake, 5.8 on Richter, Jolts Tokyo  TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake measuring 5.8 on the  Richter scale jolted eastern Japan including Tokyo on Wednesday  evening, but there was no danger of tsunami tidal waves, the  Metereorological Agency said.


Death for Kabila prosecutor A former military prosecutor in the Democratic of Congo is sentenced to death by a military court for murder.


EU spells out Balkan entry terms The EU executive sets tough terms for Eastern European countries hoping to join in the coming years.


AP: Iran Moves Toward Nuclear Production TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has produced "a few tons" of the gas needed to enrich uranium, a top nuclear official said Wednesday, confirming the country has defied international demands and taken a necessary step toward producing nuclear fuel - or nuclear weapons.    Uranium hexafluoride gas is the material that, in the next stage, is fed into centrifuges used to enrich uranium...


Stern to Join Sirius Satellite Radio NEW YORK - Top-ranked shock jock Howard Stern says he is leaving Infinity Broadcasting Corp. to join Sirius satellite radio, beginning in January 2006, where he'll get the national audience he has coveted...


Woods Marries Model in Barbados Ceremony SANDY LANE BEACH, Barbados - Tiger Woods married Swedish model Elin Nordegren at an exclusive resort in Barbados during a sunset ceremony that reportedly cost \$3 million, according to witnesses.    Oprah Winfrey and former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were among more than 120 guests seen by an Associated Press reporter perched on a hill overlooking the club house of the Sandy Lane resort and golf course, which went to extraordinary lengths to shield the ceremony from journalists...


Stocks Decline on Vaccine Shortage News NEW YORK - Oil prices slipped from their record highs Wednesday ahead of the weekly report on U.S. inventories, but stocks continued their slide as investors considered the long-term implications of the flu vaccine shortage...


Getting wine online For many wine aficionados, the most important case in years is about to be opened. On Tuesday, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments from small wineries and state regulators


Oil Climbs Back Over \$50 Per Barrel SINGAPORE, OCT 5: US oil prices scrambled back over \$50 a barrel on Tuesday, kept on edge by a prolonged production outage in the Gulf of Mexico at a time when major exporters are already pumping nearly full tilt.


Stern quits Viacom for multimillion radio deal with Sirius NEW YORK - Howard Stern, the controversial talk radio host who is the scourge of conservative Americans, is quitting Viacom to host his show on the satellite radio service Sirius as part of five-year, multimillion-dollar deal.


Dow falls as oil prices rise; Nasdaq gains NEW YORK - Uneasy investors sold stocks mostly lower Tuesday as oil prices climbed above \$51 per barrel, creating new worries that rising energy costs would curb consumer spending and corporate profits.


Braves' Furcal Allowed to Play in Playoffs (AP) AP - Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal may play in the playoffs despite a probation violation on a drunken-driving charge.


Hewitt on Roddick #39;s heels LLEYTON HEWITT overcame a mid-match blip to make a strong start to his Japan Open campaign and take another small step towards replacing Andy Roddick as the world #39;s No.


Woods struggling to cope with body changes - Singh Vijay Singh thinks the main reason he has replaced Tiger Woods as world number one is the American #39;s failure to adapt to changes in his body.


Giants Place Shaun Williams on IR (Reuters) Reuters - New York Giants\safety Shaun Williams was placed on injured reserve Wednesday\due to a left knee injury.


Fiery Latham offers sharp contrast Win or lose on October 9, Labor Party leader Mark Latham has already etched himself into the annals of Australian political history.


Giants Place Shaun Williams on IR  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Sports Network) - New York Giants  safety Shaun Williams was placed on injured reserve Wednesday  due to a left knee injury.


Woods Marries Model in Barbados Ceremony Tiger Woods married Swedish model Elin Nordegren at an exclusive resort in Barbados during a sunset ceremony that reportedly cost \$3 million, according to witnesses.


Howard Stern to Move to Sirius Radio  NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Shock jock" Howard Stern will jump to  Sirius Satellite Radio SIRI.O in January 2006, moving his  controversial show from the public airwaves and giving the  nascent satellite radio sector a big boost.


U.S., EU Spar Over Airbus, Boeing Aid  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Europe on  Wednesday filed tit-for-tat World Trade Organization complaints  over billions of dollars in subsidies for top aircraft  manufacturers Airbus and Boeing.


Knight Trading Group Warns of Loss  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Knight Trading Group Inc. NITE.O,  one of the biggest traders of Nasdaq stocks, on Wednesday  forecast a third-quarter loss, missing Wall Street expectations  of a profit, because of low trading volumes.


New Smartphone Triumvirate Intel, Nokia, and Symbian's alliance should shake competitors' confidence.


EU hits back over Boeing #39;s  quot;massive quot; aid The EU has hit back after Washington filed a case at the World Trade Organisation over state aid for aircraft maker Airbus EAD.PA , filing its own case over what it called  quot;massive illegal quot; aid for Boeing BA.


United to cut domestic flights United Airlines #39; parent company, UAL Corp., said Wednesday it #39;s airline will reduce US flights and focus more attention on more profitable international flights.


Protection key to News US move THE News Corporation Ltd could probably satisfy most of the corporate governance criticisms relating to its proposed move to the US by simply formally adopting its previously stated intentions.


T-Mobile Secures Wi-Fi HotSpots T-Mobile USA today released a new secure encrypted Connection Manager that will enable users to login to any of the 4700 nationwide HotSpot wireless networks.


Clean green cars move one step closer A new generation of cheaper and more efficient hydrogen fuel cells may bring the environmentalists dream of affordable, green cars one step closer to reality.


Sharapova, Hewitt advance at Japan Open TOKYO -- Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the Japan Open quarterfinals on Wednesday after overcoming a shaky second set to defeat Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.


Angels crash to earth as Red Sox run riot MANNY RAMIREZ #39;s three-run home run capped a seven-run fourth inning as the Boston Red Sox registered a 9-3 win over the Angels at Anaheim in the opening game of their American League Division Series on Tuesday.


When it comes to the playoffs, the more the merrier is my <b>...</b> Of all the changes in sports, the one that fundamentalists have the hardest time accepting is the addition of the wild card in baseball.


Thai PM resumes musical chairs THAI Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reshuffled his 36-member cabinet for the ninth time yesterday, dispensing with three senior ministers in a move designed to limit his own responsibility for key crises.


Airline turns to more profitable routes amid US fare wars SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, said Wednesday it will overhaul its route structure to reduce costs and offset rising fuel costs.


Stocks Slip As Oil Jumps to Record High Stocks sagged Wednesday as oil jumped to a fresh record high on a mixed report about US crude inventories, and investors considered the long-term implications of the flu vaccine shortage.


Monsanto posts Q4 loss, boosts outlook Restructuring charges of \$44 million contributed to Monsanto #39;s reported fourth-quarter 2004 loss of \$42 million, compared to a loss of \$188 million in the same quarter last year.


EADS Buys Military Electronics Co. Racal European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV acquired US military electronics company Racal Instruments Inc. in a deal worth up to US\$130 million (euro105 million), the European defense giant said Wednesday.


Knight Trading Group Warns of Loss Knight Trading Group Inc. (NITE.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , one of the biggest traders of Nasdaq stocks, on Wednesday forecast a third-quarter loss, missing Wall Street expectations of a profit, because of low trading volumes.


Hitachi, Toshiba Show Portable Fuel Cells (PC World) PC World - Devices to power to PDAs, cell phones, and laptops could be available next year.


EU takes US to WTO following move on Airbus aid The European Commission said Wednesday it will seek consultations with the United States at the World Trade Organisation in response to US action over state aid for the European aircraft maker Airbus.


United Airlines: We #39;ll strength hubs, pull back elsewhere United Airlines management says it is  quot;substantially accelerating quot; its restructuring plans to add lucrative international routes, strengthen its hubs, and cut back on other domestic service.


Monsanto Posts Loss, Herbicide Sales Drop Agricultural chemicals maker Monsanto Co. (MON.N: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a quarterly net loss on Wednesday as a drop in Roundup herbicide sales in the


EADS buys Racal Instruments European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. NV, the parent of aircraft maker Airbus, Wednesday said it has agreed to acquire Racal Instruments Group for up to \$130 million.


Congress pulls FDA tobacco oversight In a setback for public health groups, Congress moved closer to passing tobacco buyout legislation yesterday but removed a provision for federal regulation of tobacco products.


Medarex #39;s Hodgkin #39;s treatment gets orphan status PRINCETON, NJ (Dow Jones/AP) _ Biopharmaceutical company Medarex Inc. said Wednesday its Hodgkin #39;s disease treatment was granted orphan drug designation by the Food and Drug Administration.


More Steam, Ash Likely at Mount St. Helens (AP) AP - Weeks or months of occasional steam blasts and possibly some eruptions of fresh volcanic rock and ash are the most likely scenario at Mount St. Helens, scientists say.


Yahoo Unveils Personal Search Yahoo launched a beta version of My Yahoo Search, giving users more-advanced Web-search capabilities. Competition has been heating up in the search-engine space, with Amazon.


Presse Economique / Telecommunications PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2004--Enfora LP, leader des solutions de donnes sans fil, a annonc ce jour le lancement d #39;une nouvelle gamme d #39;accessoires Wireless Portfolio(TM) pour la prise en


Sony to begin selling AV recording server with PC and TV functions TOKYO, Oct 05, 2004 (AFX-UK via COMTEX) -- Sony Corp said it will begin selling on Nov 20 an audiovisual recording server with a storage capacity of 1 terabyte - equivalent to 1,000 gigabytes - that also functions as a high-end PC with seven analog


Fulham Football Club star handed ban The former Manchester United star has been handed a three-match ban and a 10,000 fine for his bust-up with West Bromwich Albion defender Neil Clement last month.


Israel #39;s Labour Party raps Sharon aide #39;s remarks on pullout plan Israel #39;s Labour Party lashed out Wednesday at a Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s aide who said the Gaza pullout plan was aimed at freezing the peace process.


Car bomb explodes in Iraqi town, several killed A car bomb blew up in the western Iraqi town of Anah on Wednesday, killing several people, witnesses said. The blast targeted a recruits queued at National Guards building in the town, some 260 km west of Baghdad.


Thai PM fires ministers over bird flu, Muslim unrest BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra fired ministers responsible for dealing with a bird flu crisis and violence in the largely Muslim south yesterday, just months ahead of a general election.


Fraud trial for Spanish bank boss The chairman of Spain's largest banking group, Santander Central Hispano, is to stand trial on charges of tax fraud.


AP: Iran Moves Toward Nuclear Production (AP) AP - Iran has produced a few tons of the gas needed to enrich uranium, a top nuclear official indicated Wednesday, confirming the country has defied international demands and taken a necessary step toward producing nuclear fuel  #151; or nuclear weapons.


British prime minister to press Sudanese government on Darfur conflict (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - Sudan agrees to a joint withdrawal of government and rebel forces in Darfur and will accept a big increase in international ceasefire monitors, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday after talks with the country's president.


DeLay: Eyelid Operation Improved Vision (AP) AP - Democrats may argue that House Republican Leader Tom DeLay's vision is obscured but the combative Texan says he is seeing things more clearly these days.


Afghan Campaign Ends; Karzai's Deputy Escapes Bomb  KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running  mate for a historic presidential election narrowly escaped a  bomb set off by Taliban guerrillas as the campaign closed on  Wednesday.


Gaddafi asks for Bigley's release Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has appealed for the British hostage in Iraq Ken Bigley to be freed, reports say.


Tiger smuggling 'out of control' The future of the wild tiger is gravely threatened by the trade of skins to China, a lobby group warns.


Golf: Woods' swing blamed for dip Vijay Singh says Tiger Woods lost his number one status after failing to change his swing.


Viewers See Cheney-Edwards Debate As Draw CLEVELAND - Dick Cheney and John Edwards slugged it out over jobs, judgment and Iraq in a hard-hitting debate that set the stage for President Bush's speech Wednesday denouncing his Democratic rival's record on national security.    Their debate Tuesday night was largely a draw, moving the attention once again to their bosses in the second presidential showdown Friday night...


Woods Marries Swedish Model in Barbados SANDY LANE BEACH, Barbados - Tiger Woods married Swedish model Elin Nordegren at an exclusive resort in Barbados, according to witnesses. The sunset ceremony reportedly cost \$1.5 million...


Stocks Slip As Oil Jumps to Record High NEW YORK - Stocks sagged Wednesday as oil jumped to a fresh record high on a mixed report about U.S. crude inventories, and investors considered the long-term implications of the flu vaccine shortage...


Report: Saddam Not in Pursuit of Weapons WASHINGTON - Undercutting the Bush's administration's rationale for invading Iraq, the final report of the chief U.S. arms inspector concludes that Saddam Hussein did not vigorously pursue a program to develop weapons of mass destruction after international inspectors left Baghdad in 1998, an administration official said Wednesday...


Congress Works on 9/11 Panel Legislation WASHINGTON - Racing the clock, Senate leaders are applying finishing touches to bipartisan legislation addressing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations just as House GOP leaders prepare to debate their version, which Democrats call partisan and weak...


Blair Visits Sudan British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Sudan on Wednesday the international community would not rest until violence was ended in Darfur and a comprehensive peace deal was struck across the whole country.


Savvy Shoppers Can Find Cheaper Drugs in U.S. A task force led by the U.S. Surgeon General is still drafting its report on drug importation, but one conclusion is already clear: Savvy shoppers can find cheaper prescription drugs in American pharmacies.


Voluntary Flu Vaccine Rationing Urged By LAURAN NEERGAARD     WASHINGTON (AP) -- A top federal health official, lamenting "a very fragile vaccine production system," urged healthy people Wednesday to defer getting their influenza shots so medication will be available for those most at risk.    "We really need a long-term solution so we don't end up in this year-to-year situation where we don't have a reliable supply," Dr...


Hypertension Hurts Brain Function in Young By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter    Study finds hypertension erodes cognitive ability in those of all ages    HealthDayNews -- For years, experts have known that high blood pressure is related to poor cognitive performance in older adults and can lead to adverse changes in the brain.    Now, researchers report that young adults with high blood pressure are just as susceptible to decreased mental function as are older people are...


Conway: 'Genghis Khan' comment was fair In fact, Larry Ellison compares himself to the warlord, according to PeopleSoft's former CEO, defending previous remarks he made.


Fed chief praises health of US banks THE US banking system is in very good shape after weathering a recession and several big bankruptcies, according to Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan.


Many Cores On Many Chips SAN JOSE, CALIF. - Everywhere you look at the Fall Processor Forum, there #39;s another chip with more than one core. At this annual industry conference where chip companies discuss the designs they #39;re working


WebSphere Gets Makeover from IBM IBM #39;s new WebSphere release, Version 6, automatically troubleshoots systems and identifies network glitches that could lead to power outages.


Judge Allows Atlanta's Furcal to Play in Playoffs (Reuters) Reuters - Despite a probation\violation on a drunken- driving charge, Atlanta Braves\shortstop Rafael Furcal may participate in the playoffs.


Rough weather hampers bid to rescue disabled Canadian submarine British ships battled through rough weather on Wednesday to reach a Canadian navy submarine with 57 crewmembers on board that was drifting in the Atlantic after an electrical fire that officials said was more severe than originally thought.


Designer puts 96 cores on single chip Chips that help a computer's main microprocessors perform specific types of math problems are becoming a big business once again.\


New trojan program squashes adware A new Trojan horse program that attacks and removes troublesome advertising software, known as "adware," is circulating on the Internet, according to antivirus company Symantec Corp.


Hitachi, Toshiba Show Portable Fuel Cells Devices to power to PDAs, cell phones, and laptops could be available next year.


Billion-Dollar Sex Joke Sirius signs Howard Stern to a multiyear deal, and "investors" lose their minds.


Oil Closes Near \$52 on Winter Fuel Fears  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices extended record-setting highs  close to \$52 a barrel for U.S. crude on Wednesday, fueled by  the impact of Hurricane Ivan on U.S. winter inventories.


Stocks Flat as Oil Hits Another Record  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were near the unchanged  mark on Wednesday as crude prices climbed to another record and  profit warnings hit such sectors as auto parts and  semiconductors.


Monsanto Posts Loss, Herbicide Sales Drop  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Reuters) - Agricultural chemicals maker  Monsanto Co. MON.N posted a quarterly net loss on Wednesday  as a drop in Roundup herbicide sales in the United States more  than offset increased demand for its specialty seed technology.


Treasury Bond Prices Lower  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices slipped on  Wednesday as the market struggled to absorb \$24 billion in new  supply just a few days before a jobs report which could set the  trend for yields for weeks to come.


Howard Stern to Join Sirius Satellite Radio Top-ranked shock jock Howard Stern says he is leaving Infinity Broadcasting Corp. to join Sirius satellite radio, beginning in January 2006, where he'll get the national audience he has coveted.


Experts Say U.S. Computer Control Systems Vulnerable By JUAN A. LOZANO    HOUSTON (AP) -- Businesses and government agencies must re-examine the growing threat of cyberterrorism to automated computer systems running power grids, dams and other industrial facilities, security experts said Tuesday...


Second historical flight of a private spaceship successful Tehachapi resident Michael Melvill, pilot of SpaceShipOne, made a second successful flight into space on the morning of Sept. 29 to vie for the \$10 million prize in the Ansari XPrize competition.


Linear #39;s Founding CEO to Step Down Linear Technology Corp., a maker of linear integrated circuits that transform analog signals into digital form, said Wednesday that chief executive Bob Swanson will shift to a new role after 23 years to become executive chairman.


Howard Stern Signs \$500 Million Deal with Sirius Sirius Satellite Radio announced a five-year deal with Howard Stern this morning that will bring the King of All Media to satellite radio in 2006.


United to cut domestic flights, trim fleet UAL Corp., the bankrupt parent of United Airlines, announced Wednesday plans to cut domestic flights by 12 percent, while increasing more profitable international schedules by 14 percent.


Microsoft Introduces MSN TV 2 Internet and Media Player The MSN TV 2 is a complete overhaul of the earlier MSN TV Internet receiver. Based on the Microsoft Windows CE operating system, it ships preloaded with Windows Media Player for TV, Microsoft


EarthLink Offers Free VoIP EarthLink is offering free VoIP calling as an incentive to sign up for its high-speed Internet service. The free service is available to the company #39;s million-plus broadband customers.


Rich Red Devils Fan May Scupper Glazer Manchester United fans attempts to stave off a threatened takeover by American businessman Malcolm Glazer have received a substantial boost.


Southampton #39;s Fernandes avoids jail Southampton, England (Sports Network) - Southampton midfielder Fabrice Fernandes was sentenced Wednesday in a case involving drunken driving.


Soccer: Women #39;s event draws protests DHAKA, Bangladesh The organizers of Bangladesh #39;s first women #39;s tournament on Wednesday said play would continue, despite protests by a Muslim group that termed the event  quot;indecent and against Islamic norms.


US, Iraqi Forces Seal Off Insurgent Stronghold Baghdad, Iraq -- Pro-government forces in Iraq are trying to retake control of insurgent-dominated regions ahead of January national elections.


Gaddafi Joins Appeals for British Hostage #39;s Release The brother leader issued an appeal to the kidnappers saying: We request the release of this poor Briton since his family had requested our help ... and if they have any conditions, convey them to us in any way possible, JANA said.


Powell visits Grenada amid grumbling ST. GEORGE #39;S, Grenada -- Secretary of State Colin Powell began a visit to Grenada on Wednesday to see the devastation left by Hurricane Ivan as islanders complained the United States could be doing more to help.


Iran arms threat Iran has increased the range of its missiles to 2000km, a senior official was quoted as saying, putting parts of Europe within reach for the first time.


Plutonium arrives despite protest A shipment of 140 kg of United States weapons-grade plutonium arrived in the French port of Cherbourg last night, despite protests by anti-nuclear campaigners who fear it is vulnerable to a terrorist attack.


Bomb hoax halts flight NICOSIA - Israeli fighter jets mistakenly buzzed a Swiss aircraft close to Cyprus before intercepting a German airliner and forcing it to land on the island because of a bomb threat, officials said.


SEC Charges Ex-Peregrine Execs with Fraud  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission on Wednesday said it filed civil fraud charges  against six former senior officers at Peregrine Systems Inc.  PRGN.PK who orchestrated and tried to cover up a massive  accounting fraud at the technology company.


This Ginseng Malted Beverage Is for You Anheuser-Busch is experimenting, which is worth a try, although associating the new drink with Bud may be risky.


It's "Show Me" Time at Apollo Superstar educator Apollo is underperforming the S P 500 -- does that make it cheap?


What Howard Sterns Sirius Deal Radio titan Howard Stern and leading Sirius Satellite Radio announced today a five-year, multimillion dollar deal to air Stern #39;s show on the satellite radio provider as of Jan. 1, 2006.


US House, Senate agree on corporate tax bill US Senate and House of Representatives negotiators agreed on Wednesday on a huge corporate tax bill that will repeal export subsidies that violate global trade rules and give manufacturers a new tax break.


Raytheon Buys Photon Research Associates Defense contractor Raytheon Co. said Wednesday that it purchased privately held Photon Research Associates Inc., a provider of physics-based modeling services for government customers.


Knight Trading Sees 3Q Operating Loss Knight Trading Group Inc., an equities trading company serving institutional and broker-dealer clients, said Wednesday that it will report a third-quarter operating loss of 1 cent to 4 cents per share due to poor performance in its


Oil Prices, Inventories Rise NEW YORK -- Crude oil prices have resumed their climb after word that the nation #39;s crude supply grew for the second week in a row.


US files WTO case vs EU for Airbus subsidies WASHINGTON (AFX) -- The US has filed a case with the World Trade Organization alleging that the European Union provides unfair government funding to Airbus, United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick announced Wednesday.


EADS acquires Racal Instruments for \$105 million Arlington, Va.-based EADS North America has purchased Racal Instruments Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of electronic tests and measurement equipment, for \$105 million.


Google Steals a Page from Amazon #39;s Book Search Google Inc. on Wednesday introduced a new search technology to help publishers sell books online, a fast-growing market dominated by Internet retailer Amazon.


Inhale Some Drugs, Feel Better The maker of FluMist said it is looking into whether it can make more of the inhalable flu vaccine to help the federal government deal with a looming flu vaccine shortage.