IAEA Has Questions about Iran #39;s Nuclear Program The International Atomic Energy Agency says there are many open questions on the nature and aims of Iran #39;s nuclear program, which could soon include uranium conversion suitable for the building of atomic bombs.


One killed in Nepal violence KATHMANDU: Angry protesters burnt tyres in Kathmandu and forcibly shut down schools and shops on Wednesday, following the killing of 12 Nepalis by their abductors in Iraq.


La. Lawmaker Wants Opponent Off Ballot (AP) AP - The Louisiana Supreme Court was asked Wednesday to knock a congressman off the Nov. 2 ballot for switching at the last minute to the Republican Party.


Dow Down on Oil Prices; Nasdaq Rises NEW YORK - Stocks were mixed Wednesday as a lower reading on manufacturing activity and rising oil prices chilled an early spate of bargain hunting, sending blue chips lower. Technology shares made a modest advance despite brokerage downgrades of two semiconductor companies...


Israel Warns Syria on Deadly Bus Blasts JERUSALEM - Israeli leaders warned Syria on Wednesday that it bears the blame for a double suicide bombing by Hamas militants because it harbors the group's leadership, and they hinted at possible retaliation.    In a first response to Tuesday's attack that killed 16 people in a southern Israeli city, Israeli troops blew up the home of one of the bombers and isolated the West Bank city of Hebron, where the attackers lived...


Ballmer bullish on future, bearish on Linux Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer addressed a gathering of software industry leaders here on Wednesday, touting his company #39;s vision for a bright future


Spreading Spam LOS ANGELES - This June a barrage of spam popped up in 152,000 in-boxes. They pitched the standard stuff: One was an advertisement for the  quot;Top Drug Store Online, quot; another offered mortgage refinancing, another


BMC update aims to nip downtime in the bud Batch scheduler revamp promises to fend off application failures and boosts BMC's service management push.


City of brotherly love may embrace Wi-Fi Philadelphia may spread the joy of wireless Internet access to its citizens.


Blue Chips End Lower After Oil Rises US blue chips ended slightly lower on Wednesday after crude oil climbed above \$44 a barrel, renewing fears that high energy costs would cut into corporate profits.


A Pall Falls Over Forest Sometimes bad things happen to good companies. Consider drug maker Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX). The company is debt-free, cash-rich, and pumping out free cash flow at \$700 million a year.


Nokia Ships One Million N-Gage Game Decks Nokia (NYSE: NOK) announced that it has shipped its one millionth game deck globally since the sales of the N-Gage platform started eleven months ago.


HEWITT BRINGS ON FERREIRA FAREWELL Lleyton Hewitt made it a sad US Open farewell for Wayne Ferreira with a clinical straight-sets victory. The No4 seed breezed into the second round after a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 triumph.


Can El Duque stop the bleeding? Once comfortable leaders in the AL East, the New York Yankees suddenly find themselves in a potentially disastrous tailspin. Theyll ask unbeaten Orlando Hernandez to help them recover from the worst loss


PGA should toughen requirements for keeping Tour cards Frank Beard played on the PGA Tour for 20 years and was the leading money winner and Player of the Year in 1969. He will answer your questions every Tuesday on SI.


ESPN.com news services PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Trail Blazers have committed to forward Darius Miles, a long-term move that creates questions about Shareef Abdur-Rahim #39;s role with the team.


Agent: Nothing to Alonzo #39;s return His agent says there #39;s nothing to reports that Alonzo Mourning plans another comeback, the New Jersey Nets say they wouldn #39;t be surprised if he tried and the man himself isn #39;t saying anything.


French FM in Amman after Qatar talks, heartened by calls for <b>...</b> AMMAN : French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier arrived in Amman for the second time in 24 hours after a visit to Doha, where he said he hoped the captors of two French newsmen in Iraq would heed widespread calls to free the pair, a diplomatic source said.


'Prime Time' Wants Third Super Bowl Ring (AP) AP - Deion Sanders insists he didn't come out of retirement for money, accolades or to prove he's still got a wealth of talent at age 37.


Edwards Promises to Spread U.S. Wealth (AP) AP - Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards on Wednesday accused the Bush administration of leading the nation from "the edge of greatness to the edge of the cliff."


Israel Threatens Syria After Hamas Bombings  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel threatened Syria Wednesday  over what officials said was complicity in Palestinian suicide  bombings that killed 16 people in the first such attacks in the  Jewish state in nearly six months.


New Planets could advance search for Life Astronomers in Europe and the United States have found two new planets about 20 times the size of Earth beyond the solar system. The discovery might be a giant leap forward in


Behind the music: Microsoft? Microsoft is set to unveil the latest version of its media playback software on Thursday, giving its partners powerful new tools for selling digital entertainment services even as it launches its own music download store.


Apple #39;s iMac is no longer flagship product The last time Apple Computer Inc. introduced an all-new iMac computer, back in January 2002, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs was featured smiling with the desktop on the cover of Time magazine.


eBay grabs the lot in Korea EBay, the online marketplace, yesterday continued its push across the globe with a \$530m (296m) offer to take full control of its South Korean affiliate, Internet Auction Co.


Write home, ET, don #39;t phone ET shouldn #39;t phone home: the message would never get there. He should post a letter instead, say computer experts. They report in Nature magazine that radio messages would literally be a waste of energy.


IBM to Share Technology and Designs for New Computer BM plans to announce today that it will share the designs and technology for a fast-growing line of computers known as blade servers.


Culture Plays a Role in Dyslexia A new study reveals that cultural factors influence how dyslexia manifests itself by finding that the disorder affects the brains of Chinese and English speakers differently.


Oracle delivers delayed patches Database software maker Oracle pushed out a host of long-awaited patches after struggling to organize its software fixes into a monthly release schedule.


Linux Doesn #39;t Make Sense for Desktops Longhorn #39;s woes may open a door for Linuxa very tiny doorbut Linux just isn #39;ta good choice for desktops. Instead, desktop Linux proponents should wake up and switch to the Mac OS.


TIMES NEWS TRACKER ike most bill collectors, Marvin Smith is always seeking ways to get chronic debtors to pay up. When he calls the first time, he typically hears excuses and requests for more time.


Owls Use Dung to  quot;Fish quot; for Beetles Levey, who is the lead author of the study, added that the finding is particularly noteworthy because it demonstrates that tool use can substantially benefit a wild animal.


Update 4: Philly Considers Wireless Internet for All Forget finding an Internet cafe. For less than what it costs to build a small library, city officials believe they can turn all 135 square miles of Philadelphia into the world #39;s largest wireless Internet hot spot.


Plastic magnet breaks the mold The world #39;s first practical plastic magnet has been created at the University of Durham, according to a report in New Scientist magazine.


Hewitt back in top form Lleyton Hewitt finished as the No. 1-ranked player in the world in 2001 and 2002 by running down more balls and winning more matches than anybody.


Ferguson has no fears for record buy Rooney Alex Ferguson has moved quickly to put a protective shield around teenage striker Wayne Rooney - and Manchester United #39;s new record signing insists he is mature enough to evade the pitfalls that could derail his emerging career.


Smyth Nets Twice as Canada Routs Slovakia Adam Foote added a pair of assists for Canada, who improved to 2-0 in the tournament while handing Slovakia a loss in its first game of the eight-nation event.


Menechino hits tie-breaking home run as Blue Jays rally past <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Frank Menechino hit a tie-breaking home run in the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Wednesday.


For Serena Williams, Less Is Definitely More he is one of the best tennis players in the world, but the talk surrounding her has nothing to do with aces or ground strokes. When it comes to Serena Williams, the discussion turns to clothing.


BASEBALL ROUNDUP Astros Apply Power in a Drive for More The Houston Astros, who are battling for a wild-card playoff spot, powered their way to a season-best sixth straight victory yesterday.


Last season #39;s MVP to miss three games SEATTLE -- Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson, last season #39;s WNBA most valuable player, will miss the next three games while she visits her seriously ill grandmother in Australia.


Zo seeks another comeback with Nets East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Retired NBA center and seven-time All- Star Alonzo Mourning is going to give his playing career one more shot.


Gunmen seize Russian school, taking 400 hostages A television grab shows a soldier helping a girl away from the scene at a school in the town of Beslan in the province of North Ossetia near Chechnya, September 1, 2004.


Pakistan Found to Aid Iran Nuclear Efforts new assessment of Iran #39;s nuclear program by the United Nations #39; International Atomic Energy Agency says that, as early as 1995, Pakistan was providing Tehran with the designs for sophisticated


Curfew in Nepal as murders spark riot A curfew was imposed on Kathmandu last night, with orders to shoot people on sight, after thousands of demonstrators ransacked a mosque and fought pitched battles with police to protest at the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages by insurgents in Iraq.


Nepalese Attack a Mosque and Muslims in Katmandu Thousands of enraged Nepalese attacked a mosque and more than a hundred Muslim-owned businesses and homes here on Wednesday to protest the killing of 12 Nepalese workers by terrorists in Iraq.


Microsoft Wins a High-Definition DVD Battle (Reuters) Reuters - Blu-ray on Wednesday said Microsoft\Corp.  has won the DVD technology group's backing of a\video compression standard for new high-definition discs,\marking an advance for the software maker in an emerging\consumer electronics arena.


GM, Ford, Toyota see sales fall General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have reported disappointing US sales, prompting the two largest US automakers to cut planned vehicle production in the fourth quarter, which could hurt profits.


BofA pledges to move unit to Boston Ken Lewis, chief executive of Bank of America Corp., stands by job promises made to Massachusetts officials before BofA bought FleetBoston Financial Corp.


US Airways Pilots Hint Deal Is Near on Cuts he pilots #39; union at US Airways said yesterday that it might be close to reaching an agreement on wage and benefit cuts that the struggling airline contends are necessary to avoid another bankruptcy filing.


Joint Venture Wins Enron Pipeline Auction Enron Corp. (ENRNQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said a joint venture of Southern Union Co. (SUG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and a General Electric Co.


Oil Futures Prices Rise 4.5 on Outsize Drop in Supplies Crude oil futures prices surged by almost \$2 a barrel yesterday, the biggest increase in two months, after the Energy Department reported that United States oil supplies had declined more than expected.


United may cut 6,000 employees United Airlines is mulling plans to cut 6,000 jobs -- or 10 percent of its work force, according to the Financial Times. The move would allow the bankrupt carrier to cut annual operating costs by \$655 million.


Interest rates start to bite as house price growth slows to three <b>...</b> House prices grew by just 0.1 in August, their weakest in almost three years, the Nationwide said yesterday, providing further evidence that the house price boom has hit the buffers.


Court Now Says Shareholders Can Sue Oracle Reversing a lower court decision, an appeals court ruled Wednesday that a group of Oracle (ORCL:Nasdaq - news - research) shareholders can sue the company and top executives for allegedly covering up weak financial results in 2000 and 2001.


PepsiCo Reaffirms 2004 Profit Forecast PepsiCo Inc. (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s No. 2 soft drink company, on Wednesday reaffirmed its 2004 profit forecast and named former Kraft Foods Inc.


Two Californians accused of trying to smuggle 50 immigrants by <b>...</b> Two US citizens have been detained and accused of trying to smuggle 50 Mexican nationals into Los Angeles in California aboard a rented yacht, authorities said Wednesday.


Microsoft Launches Online Music Store (Reuters) Reuters - Microsoft Corp. launched a new online\store for music downloads on Wednesday, taking direct aim at\Apple Computer Inc.'s popular iTunes music service.


Digital Radio a New Front in Piracy War (AP) AP - Technologies that let people record satellite and Internet radio broadcasts digitally are opening a new front in the recording industry's war on music piracy.


'Astro Boy' Makes Video Game Debut (AP) AP - Tetsum Atom is a butt-kicking, pint-sized hero that wants nothing more than peace between humans and robots. More than a half-century after debuting in Japanese comic books, "Astro Boy"  #151; as he's known outside of Japan  #151; is starring in two new video games from Sega of America Inc.


Is Linux Really a Contender Against Longhorn? (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - Microsoft looks to be giving the Linux client an opening against Windows with its changes to Longhorn's timing and features. Or are other contenders waiting in the wings? Check out two vastly different views of its opportunities.


Microsoft Unveils Version of Music Store (AP) AP - On the face of things, Microsoft Corp.'s online music service looks a lot like the market leader, Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes.


Strong Hurricane Approaches Bahamas, Florida (Reuters) Reuters - Hurricane Frances barreled toward the\Bahamas islands with 140 mph winds on Wednesday, a growing\threat that put millions of people on alert along Florida's\heavily populated east coast.


Special X-Rays Unmask Mummy's Face, Virtually (Reuters) Reuters - The face of a man who died and was\mummified in Egypt 3,000 years ago has been modeled, using\special CAT scans and without unwrapping his bandages, Italian\researchers said on Wednesday.


San Diego-Born Panda Hua Mei Has Twins (AP) AP - San Diego's native-born panda, Hua Mei, gave birth to twins on Wednesday, less than a year after she was sent into a Chinese breeding program.


Survey Records Tarantulas' Travels (AP) AP - From now until the start of winter, male tarantulas are roaming around, searching for female mates, an ideal time to find out where the spiders flourish in Arkansas.


Protected Status Sought for Calif. Owl (AP) AP - Environmentalists asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday to grant protected status to the California spotted owl, claiming the bird's old-growth forest habitat is threatened by logging.


Women on Waves Portugal has a long tradition of protecting the human life. It was the first European country to abolish the death penalty, and more than 50 of voters rejected a 1998 referendum that would have liberalized abortion laws en (abortion is legal in Portugal if the pregnancy resulted from a rape, if it endangers the mother's life, or if the fetus is severely malformed; the morning-after pill is also legal).    Now a Dutch boat from an organization called Women on Waves intends to pick women in Portugal, bring them to international waters (where the law of the boat's country applies: the Netherlands allows abortions for six weeks after conception, if not performed within 25 km from an Amsterdam hospital), perform abortions, and return them to land. The Portuguese government has refused entry to Women on Waves' ship, the Borndiep (previously Sea Change).


Johnson  amp; Johnson May Buy Guidant, NY Times Says (Update2) Johnson  amp; Johnson, the world #39;s biggest producer of medical devices, is in talks to buy heart defibrillator maker Guidant Corp.


No big deal One day after the Yankees #39; worst loss in team history, the Boss finally broke his silence. George Steinbrenner issued a brief statement Wednesday, in which he shrugged off Tuesday #39;s embarrassing 22-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.


Sanders back on the scene OWINGS MILLS, MD. -- Deion Sanders is back in the National Football League, this time with the Baltimore Ravens. The seven-time Pro Bowl defensive back passed his physical yesterday and formally ended his


Annan urges big increase in troops for Darfur The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, called for a substantial and speedy expansion of the international forces in Darfur after reporting that the Sudanese government had failed to stop attacks on civilians.


Women take a shine to video games The makers of video games need acknowledge that women like to buy and play games, says a study.


LATEST FUTURES NEWS SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) -- Oil futures fell again Tuesday, nearing a five-week low and ending the month with a loss of more than 2 percent amid new signs that key oil-producing countries will safeguard supply levels.


Ford posts sluggish sales, cuts production DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. posted weaker US vehicle sales for August Wednesday and cut its fourth-quarter production, while its rival Chrysler posted a fifth straight month of stronger results.


Ballmer bullish on future, bearish on Linux SEPTEMBER 01, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Addressing a gathering of software industry leaders in Boston today, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer touted his company #39;s vision for a bright future and cast doubt


Time for a red card TEENAGE soccer player Wayne Rooney will get a staggering \$140,000 a week after his transfer from Everton to Manchester United. The rising star #39;s salary of \$7.


Braves 7, Phillies 2 Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones each hit a solo homer, and Jaret Wright pitched six strong innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.


Henin-Hardenne advances The early action on the second day of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York saw an easy victory for the number one seed, Belgium #39;s Justine Henin-Hardenne.


Baseball: Long, long night #39;s journey for Yanks NEW YORK The Yankees could not help but watch the scoreboard. Their heads swiveled repeatedly toward the outfield as hit after hit for Cleveland sailed over or against the wall.


Jump into different world is plunge into abyss FOR those who hoped that the ego had landed after the 2003 Rugby World Cup success, the news that he is resigning from his post as England coach to aim for Sven-Goran Erikssons job in football has the foreboding of an embarrassing new chapter for Sir


Chalabi, Claiming Exoneration, Plans Another Comeback In his first public appearance since an Iraqi judge ordered his arrest three weeks ago, the Iraqi exile Ahmad Chalabi announced his return to Iraq #39;s political scene


Microsoft Wins a High-Definition DVD Battle  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Blu-ray on Wednesday said Microsoft  Corp. MSFT.O has won the DVD technology group's backing of a  video compression standard for new high-definition discs,  marking an advance for the software maker in an emerging  consumer electronics arena.


Microsoft Launches Online Music Store  SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. launched a new online  store for music downloads on Wednesday, taking direct aim at  Apple Computer Inc.'s popular iTunes music service.


There's Gold in That There Dead Air At a time when the nation's wireless companies are increasingly desperate for more airwaves to serve its customers, little-known NextWave Telecom Inc. has networks up and running in 26 markets but has never served a single paying customer.
\-The Washington Post


Aether Declines Higher Bid for Transit Division Aether Systems Inc., a Maryland wireless data company that is selling off its operating units, said Wednesday it received a \$30 million offer for a division it had already agreed to sell to another buyer for \$25 million. -The Washington Post


Judge Rules in Favor of Md. Vote Machines An Anne Arundel County judge Wednesday  rejected a challenge to the state's touch-screen voting machines, saying they are more accurate than the paper ballots plaintiffs are seeking to make optional for the November elections. -The Washington Post


Instant Messaging Is Growing Up, Going to Work IM DNWFM, WFU?<br> If you're an avid instant messenger, you probably know what I mean: "Instant messaging doesn't work for me, does it work for you?" Yet I appear to be on the way to becoming a minority, a fuddy-dud resisting the text-chat party. Instant messaging, or IM, is catching on with...


Spherix Executive Resigns The chief executive of Spherix Inc. resigned after the board of the Beltsville company rejected his proposal to scale back its biotechnology division and focus on information services.


Spokane Diocese in bankruptcy court The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday, saying it did not have the money to cover lawsuits filed by alleged victims of clergy abuse.


Maryland Judge Rules In Favor Of State In E-Voting Suit Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Joseph Manck has rejected a challenge to Maryland's electronic voting system.


Scarce insects duck UK splat test Insects in the UK are less common than many of us think, a simple test by birdlovers suggests.


Shock, awe and obscenity of snouts in a trough of greed REVELATIONS of the  quot;self-righteous and aggressive looting quot; of Hollinger International by its former chief executive Conrad Black and his associates are so jaw-droppingly obscene it is tempting to conclude that, given the extremity of the behaviour Black


Insurance, high gas costs hurt vehicle sales High gasoline prices and lofty insurance rates drove vehicle sales lower in Canada for another month, industry experts said. According to data provided by the auto makers and compiled by analyst


Stocks End Mixed Amid Rising Oil Prices Stocks staggered to a mixed finish Wednesday as lower-than-expected manufacturing activity and rising oil prices chilled an early spate of bargain hunting, but technology shares posted a modest advance.


Scientists discover planets in our galactic back yard Until recently, they were able only to detect the presence of planets equivalent in size to our own neighboring gas giant Jupiter.


Microsoft Challenges Rivals With New Online Music Service icrosoft started selling music tracks yesterday on its MSN online service, taking on Apple Computer and a host of others in the fast-growing market for digital music.


IBM and Intel to open up blade specifications In an effort to encourage hardware vendors to build components for the blade platform they co-develop, Intel Corp. and IBM Corp. on Thursday will open up parts of the BladeCenter


From Microsoft, a First Take F you #39;re trying to figure out if somebody is a gadget freak, try this simple test: work the phrase  quot;video iPod quot; into a sentence.


Hitachi shrinks iPod hard drives If we don #39;t know anything about Apple #39;s next version of the iPod, one reasonable certainty is that it will be smaller and more robust, as Hitachi has just made the hard drives used 10 per cent smaller with the use of a new connector.


Jets sign Pennington for long term The New York Jets announced Wednesday they had signed quarterback Chad Pennington to a long-term contract extension. The New York Daily News reported Pennington became the highest


Wharf weighs in for new England If England #39;s new one-day master plan was to bat, bowl and field better than in the recent past, then it succeeded admirably here yesterday.


Darfur Situation Worsens; Talks Resume KHARTOUM, 1 September 2004 - Conditions are worsening for refugees in Darfur, UN agencies said yesterday, as the Sudanese government and rebels struggled to make headway in talks aiming to ease the conflict in the Darfur region.


Three Killed in Rush for IKEA Vouchers Three men were trampled to death in a rush to claim vouchers at the first IKEA furniture showroom in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, hospital officials said.


China Showcases Space Program to the World By STEPHANIE HOO     JIUQUAN, China (AP) -- Rising space power China provided a rare peek into its top-secret launch center Wednesday, capitalizing on its recent success in orbit to promote the military-funded project as a lure for foreign investment and a key to growing prosperity.    A police car with flashing lights led busloads of international journalists across northwestern China's vast Gobi Desert to the Jiuquan space center, past armored patrol vehicles and a sign, in English: "Foreigners are not allowed to enter without permission."    It was the first time China let foreigners enter, though officials forbade photographs of the command-and-control center with its rows of computer screens or the mammoth assembly hall where workers built the spacecraft that lifted China's first astronaut into orbit last October...


Microsoft Launches MSN Music In the right corner, weighing in with 100 million downloaded iTunes songs: heavyweight champion Steve Jobs. In the left corner, weighing in with billions and billions of dollars and near universal


US website offers Caller ID falsification service Overdue debtors beware: You may not be able to rely on Caller ID to screen out those annoying bill collectors much longer. A California entrepreneur has a plan to bring the hacker technique of Caller ID spoofing


Rape Charge Against NBA Star Kobe Bryant Dropped District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said he filed the motion to dismiss the criminal case Wednesday because Bryant #39;s 20-year-old accuser was no longer willing to testify.


Former champs Lleyton Hewitt and Serena Williams move on at US <b>...</b> Wearing what she described as her  quot;micro-mini quot; outfit, third-seeded Serena Williams advanced to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over fellow American Lindsay Lee-Waters.


Sports: Braves 7 Phillies 2 PHILADELPHIA Andruw and Chipper Jones belted solo homers to support Jaret Wright in Atlanta #39;s 7-to-2 win over Philadelphia. Chipper Jones gave the Braves a 5-to-2 lead in the fourth with his 26th homer of the season.


Three-way England battle for Gerrard role STEVEN GERRARD will be handed the chance to play in his preferred central midfield for England after Nicky Butt was ruled out of this week-end #39;s opening 2006 World Cup qualifier in Austria.


Woodward Remains England Coach, Will Continue Talks on Future Clive Woodward, who led England to victory at last year #39;s rugby World Cup, will today hold further talks about his future, a day after saying he will quit as coach.


Colangelo resigns as CEO of D-Backs Jerry Colangelo has resigned his position as chief executive officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks, effective immediately, handing the reins of the organization to CEO Elect Jeff Moorad.


UPDATE 1-Harmison hat-trick helps England to easy win England fast bowler Steve Harmison grabbed a hat-trick to set up an easy seven-wicket win over India in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Wednesday.


Has Coughlin fired up Giants #39; O-line? In the week before last week #39;s preseason game against the Jets, Tom Coughlin sharply criticized his defensive backs, who did not appreciate his comments but responded with a far better game.


Powell: US Wants UN Sanctions Vs. Iran WASHINGTON Sept. 1, 2004 - Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States wants UN sanctions imposed on Iran after the Bush administration concluded the country is on the verge of enriching enough uranium for four nuclear weapons.


Indian hostages set to return home After 42 days in captivity, the three Indian truckers are all set to fly back home today. They are currently in Kuwait and would be taking a special flight back home later tonight.


Radiation Not Good for Treating All Cancer By JEFF DONN    BOSTON (AP) -- Many older women with early breast cancer can safely skip radiation after having a lump removed, two studies suggest.    Most women should still undergo radiation, because it helps prevent relapses within the same breast, the researchers say...


DIY print boom DIGITAL photography continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. The ability to review images seconds after capture, download and manipulate them on a personal computer and either burn them on to a blank CD or


IT workers happier about job market Monthly measurement of techie optimism marks another slight hike, less worker worry.


IBM, Intel push 'open' blade server spec The effort to dominate their way into a de facto standard isn't sitting well with rivals HP and Dell.


Plastic magnet breaks the mold Researchers in England have made the first magnet made of plastic that works at room temperatures.


Oracle delivers delayed patches The fixes come about eight months after a security researcher told the database software maker of the problems.


Security pros warn of critical flaws in Kerberos Vulnerabilities in technology widely used for network authentication leave computers open to attack.


Security pros warn of critical flaws in Kerberos (cont.) Vulnerabilities in technology widely used for network authentication leave computers open to attack.


AT T Wireless: Sun, sand and 3G, anyone? San Diego becomes a battleground for 3G wireless broadband, as AT #38;T Wireless debuts a service that competes with Verizon.


Wi-Fi group backs brawnier security standard An alliance says that Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, or WPA2, is a big improvement on earlier wireless security standards.


Hitachi drive to connect with consumer devices Company hopes to woo makers of music players and other devices with easy integration and trimmer drive.


Ballmer bullish on future, bearish on Linux Speaking to members of the Massachusetts Software Council, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer touted a bright future for technology but warned his listeners to think twice before adopting open-source products like Linux.


Organizers shun wireless for GOP convention network Verizon Communications ran thousands of miles of cable to build a VoIP network in Madison Square Garden, while Cisco supplied the networking equipment, IBM donated PCs and servers, and Microsoft provided desktop and systems software.


USTA nets server savings IBM, which manages computer operations for the United States Tennis Association, has consolidated Internet scoring, staging and Web publishing applications onto a single eServer i5 system to support the U.S. Open's processing requirements.


SCO caps legal costs as losses mount The SCO Group is looking to cut expenses to make sure it has enough cash to push its lawsuit with IBM, the company announced during its third-quarter earnings conference call yesterday.


Analyst firm predicts e-commerce upswing IT investments in Web sites, combined with greater acceptance of online shopping on the part of consumers, will drive the growth.


Apple's Phil Schiller, analysts discuss the iMac G5 The marketing behind the new iMac G5 will leave no doubt in consumers' minds what else Apple has delivered lately.


GOP platform: Broadband and R D tax credits The Republican party platform includes calls for widely available broadband access, electronic health records and more government R D spending.


Digital Gear: Internet keys and cool Cigars Recent gadgets hitting the market include a portable hard drive, a multimedia player, a Bluetooth device and more.


Longhorn cuts delay Microsoft Business Framework By cutting WinFS from Longhorn and indefinitely delaying the storage system, Microsoft Corp. has also again delayed the Microsoft Business Framework (MBF), a new Windows programming layer that is closely tied to WinFS.


SAP to speech enable applications On Wednesday SAP moved one step closer to voice-enabling its applications by signing a deal with VoiceObjects, a developer of voice application management systems.


IBM and Intel to open up blade specifications In an effort to encourage hardware vendors to build components for the blade platform they co-develop, Intel Corp. and IBM Corp. on Thursday will open up parts of the BladeCenter design specifications, according to documents obtained by IDG News Service.


Symantec joins antiphishing group Antivirus software company Symantec Corp. said on Wednesday that it joined a group devoted to fighting online identity theft attacks known as "phishing scams."


Microsoft Lets the Digital Media Play Portable Media Center devices, MSN Music store, and Windows Media Player 10 launched.


EBay to Acquire South Korean Auction Firm By RACHEL KONRAD    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- EBay Inc., which has been aggressively expanding in Asia, plans to increase its stake in South Korea's largest online auction company.    The Internet auction giant said Tuesday night that it would purchase nearly 3 million publicly held shares of Internet Auction Co...


What is AdWare? What Is AdWare?\\As with most things in life, there are two sides to every story and these adware packages have brewed up quite a bit of controversy. Ask a web publisher and, if they can say it in a nice way without cursing while they do, they'll tell you that ...


Urchin Releases ASP Version of Web Analytics Software Urchin Releases ASP Version of Web Analytics Software\\Urchin Software Corporation today released Urchin 6 On Demand, an ASP version of its popular web analytics and marketing intelligence software. The Urchin 6 ASP service provides an integrated approach to attracting quality traffic, increasing sales and conversions and retaining customers. Organizations wishing ...


Toogle: Cool Google Image Search Implementation Toogle: Cool Google Image Search Implementation\\Google has become a synonymous with Internet Searching. It has also become a verb with all those talks about Googling this and Googling that. But the truth remains; Google is the best thing to happen to Internet Searching in years. And it does great at ...


I.B.M. to Share Technology and Designs for New Computer I.B.M. plans to announce that it will share the designs and technology for a fast-growing line of computers known as blade servers.


A Commercial Software Service Aims to Outfox Caller ID A new computerized service enables customers to create phony outbound phone numbers in order to mask their telephone identities.


Letting Gamers Play God, and Now Themselves Peter Molyneux, widely considered one of the best high-concept designers in the video-game industry, is renowned for creating "god games."


Microsoft Challenges Rivals With New Online Music Service Microsoft started selling music tracks on its MSN online service, taking on Apple Computer and a host of others in the fast-growing market for digital music.


The Return of the Venture Capitalists Four years after the Internet bubble burst, the venture-capital industry is showing signs of growth.


Subway suicide bomb kills 10 MOSCOW - A female suicide bomber set off a shrapnel-filled explosive device outside a busy Moscow subway station on Tuesday night, officials said, killing 10 people and injuring more than 50.


Judge to decide whether Chalabi counterfeit case goes forward An Iraqi judge will decide as soon as Thursday whether to allow the counterfeiting case against former Iraq Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi to go ahead.


Former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of war crimes The International Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague Wednesday sentenced former Bosnian Serb Deputy Prime Minister Radoslav Brdjanin to 32 years in prison.


Joint Venture Wins Enron Pipeline Auction (Reuters) Reuters - Enron Corp.  on Wednesday\said a joint venture of Southern Union Co.  and a\General Electric Co.  unit won the auction for its crown\jewel U.S. pipelines with a  #36;2.45 billion cash and assumed debt\bid.


Hopes Pinned on Talks in Russia Hostage Drama (Reuters) Reuters - Gunmen held hundreds of children\and adults captive in a school gym into the night in turbulent\southern Russia Thursday, but the Kremlin remained silent about\an attack which amounted to a huge humiliation.


Prosecutors Drop Sex Case Against Bryant (AP) AP - The criminal case against Kobe Bryant case collapsed Wednesday as prosecutors said they had no choice but to drop the sexual assault charge because the NBA star's accuser no longer wanted to participate.


Yankees Rebound to Defeat Indians 5-3 (AP) AP - The scoreboard was reset to zero, all the runs and hits from the previous day wiped away. Orlando Hernandez and Jorge Posada then went out and restored some order at Yankee Stadium.


Israeli Army Destroys Gaza Homes After Bus Bombings (Reuters) Reuters - Israeli forces Thursday blew up two\Palestinian housing blocs in a Gaza refugee camp that the army\said were used by Palestinian militants to launch attacks\against soldiers and settlers.


Iraqi Judge to Decide on Chalabi Case (AP) AP - An Iraqi judge will decide as soon as Thursday whether to allow the counterfeiting case against former Iraq Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi to go ahead.


Bryant Can Now Focus on Hoops, Business (AP) AP - Kobe Bryant can go on as a basketball superstar, but his squeaky-clean image is gone forever.


Dallaire launches tirade against Western powers for Sudanese waffling (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The Canadian general who watched helplessly while genocide raged in Rwanda launched a  tirade Wednesday against Western countries for their "lame and obtuse" response to unnervingly similar horrors unfolding in Sudan.


Twins Trip Rangers 4-2 (AP) AP - Terry Tiffee hit a go-ahead two-run double in his major league debut to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Wednesday night.


"Kooky" Greens may have last laugh in Australian election (AFP) AFP - Australia's Greens -- dismissed as "kooky" by Prime Minister John Howard for a policy platform that includes state-funded sex-change operations -- may determine the outcome of upcoming elections as it draws disenchanted voters from mainstream parties.


Serena the 'Entertainer' Wins at U.S. Open (AP) AP - This is all you need to know about Serena Williams' concerns at the U.S. Open: After warming up for what would be a 6-4, 6-3 second-round victory Wednesday against Lindsay Lee-Waters, Williams approached the chair umpire with an urgent request  #151; could someone get her purse from the locker room? She forgot to put on earrings.


Joint Venture Wins Enron Pipeline Auction  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Enron Corp. ENRNQ.PK on Wednesday  said a joint venture of Southern Union Co. SUG.N and a  General Electric Co. GE.N unit won the auction for its crown  jewel U.S. pipelines with a \$2.45 billion cash and assumed debt  bid.


U.S. Oil Prices Are Steady  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices were steady on  Thursday, holding gains of nearly \$2 from a day earlier after a  U.S. government report showed crude oil stocks falling to their  lowest level in five months.


Convention Protests Target Labor Policies (AP) AP - Republican National Convention protesters waved symbolic pink slips along a three-mile "unemployment line," labor unions demanded better treatment of workers and a group of AIDS activists infiltrated Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, as arrest totals soared beyond 1,700 for the past week.


Kerry Will Begin Ad Blitz in Seven States (AP) AP - John Kerry will begin his post-Labor Day advertising blitz in seven states from New Hampshire to New Mexico, his political Ground Zero for a  #36;50 million campaign scheduled to expand into another 13 states by Nov. 2.


Victory in Terror War Has Many Meanings (AP) AP - The war on terror might eventually be won, depending on one's definition of winning.


Mauresmo Through After Nervy Start  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amelie Mauresmo's hopes of a first  grand slam title remained intact Wednesday but she had to come  from behind to beat Ukraine's Julia Vakulenko 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in  the second round of the U.S. Open.


Dollar Struggles Near Recent Lows  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar struggled near recent lows on  Thursday after soft U.S. manufacturing data failed to dispel  concerns that the U.S. economy may be running out of steam.


Haynes Emerges from Shadow of Williams Sisters  NEW YORK (Reuters) - We have heard this somewhere before.


Canada Routs Slovakia in World Cup of Hockey  MONTREAL (Reuters) - Ryan Smyth scored twice and Martin St  Louis had a goal and an assist for the second straight game as  Canada eased to a 5-1 win over Slovakia in round-robin play at  the World Cup of Hockey on Wednesday.


Powell Says U.N Must Act Now on Iran Weapons  WASHINGTON (Reuters) -  Secretary of State Colin Powell  said on Wednesday the time had come for the United Nations to  take punitive action against Iran for its alleged nuclear  weapons program.


January Trial Date Set for NHL's Bertuzzi  VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - A Canadian court  set a Jan. 17 trial date on Wednesday for National Hockey  League star Todd Bertuzzi, who is charged with assault for an  on-ice attack last season that left a player with a fractured  neck.


Pennington Reaches Long-Term Deal with Jets  NEW YORK (Sports Network) - The New York Jets and  quarterback Chad Pennington finally agreed on a long-term  contract extension Wednesday.


Enron Broadband Trial Start Delayed  HOUSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday delayed  the start of the trial of five former executives at defunct  Enron Corp.'s ENRNQ.PK broadband Internet unit to March  because of a defense lawyer's scheduling conflict.


Zo Seeks Another Comeback with Nets  EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Sports Network) - Retired NBA  center and seven-time All- Star Alonzo Mourning is going to  give his playing career one more shot.


Israeli Army Destroys Gaza Homes After Bus Bombings  GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces Thursday blew up two  Palestinian housing blocs in a Gaza refugee camp that the army  said were used by Palestinian militants to launch attacks  against soldiers and settlers.


Regulators Attacking Insider Trading Experts say improper trading flourishes in periods of rampant mergers and acquisitions, fueling insiders to cash in on their advance knowledge. But even in the relatively slow dealmaking scene of the past few years, the SEC has brought about 60 cases a year.


Hit by Protests, Mexico's Fox Urges a Truce  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Vicente Fox  called for a truce on Wednesday to ease mounting political  tensions, as hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike  and some deputies literally turned their backs on him.


Organized Crime Transacts \$2 Trillion a Year -- U.N.  BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Transactions worldwide by  organized crime reach \$2 trillion every year, and about half  that amount goes toward corruption and bribes, the United  Nations drugs and crime watchdog said on Wednesday.


Judge Delays Criminal Trial For Former Enron Executives A federal judge in Houston Wednesday agreed to postpone for five months the criminal trial of several former executives in Enron Corp.'s Internet division, just one day after a leader of the unit pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.


New Panama President Vows to Mend Cuba Ties  PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's new President Martin  Torrijos vowed on Wednesday to mend diplomatic ties with Cuba,  ruptured last week when his predecessor pardoned four men  jailed for plotting to kill Cuban President Fidel Castro.


Mourning Will Try to Play Seven-time All-Star Alonzo Mourning will attempt a comeback with the Nets this season, less than a year after a kidney transplant.


Russia terror wave exposes weak intelligence Following the third attack in eight days, the capability of security services against militants is questioned.


This Time, It's Easy for Capriati Looking powerful and focused, Jennifer Capriati rolled to a 6-0, 6-2, victory over Magui Serna at the United States Open on Monday.


US standing with Arabs hits a low Despite \$2 billion in yearly aid, 98 percent of Egyptians have unfavorable view of US.


What's behind the Darfur crisis - and what's next? If the solution seems complex, the roots of the problem in western Sudan are perhaps more so.


Cheney unleashes attack on Kerry The vice-president tell the Republican convention that Democrat John Kerry is unfit for the presidency.


Russia hostage takers surrounded A siege at a south Russian school goes into the night, with a group holding at least 200, many of them children.


DaVita to buy Gambro dialysis unit for \$3 bln cash LONDON (CBS.MW) -- DaVita (DVA) said it has an agreement to buy Gambro Healthcare, the dialysis division of Sweden #39;s Gambro (SE:000016447) for \$3.05 billion in cash.


Eritreans jailed for plane hijack Fifteen Eritreans are jailed for five years each for hijacking a Libyan aircraft being used to deport them.


Panama's new president sworn in Panama's new President Martin Torrijos is sworn in for a five-year term, promising to probe human rights violations.


Charity Begins at Home? Perhaps Not at Hollinger How much does it cost to become a lion on the social scenes in New York, London and Toronto? Not as much as one might think.


Textile Industry to Request Limits on Chinese Goods Officials of the United States textile industry said that they would petition to block the expected flood of Chinese imports.


Move singer Carl Wayne dies at 61 Carl Wayne, the lead singer of influential 1960s pop group the Move, dies at the age of 61 after battling cancer.


France Plans to Cut Phone Stake The French government accelerated its privatization effort, saying it will cede control of its former phone monopoly.


Another Recovery As the 16th-ranked Cavaliers prepare for Saturday's season opener at Temple, inside linebacker Rich Bedesem is healthy again after tearing the ACL in his right knee -- again.


Sanz Wins Four Awards at Latin Grammys LOS ANGELES - Latin Grammy favorite Alejandro Sanz won four awards and Brazilian jazz songstress Maria Rita collected two Wednesday at a ceremony aimed at uniting Spanish- and Portugese-language music with the flash and sizzle of American pop.    Sanz won the male pop vocal album award and album of the year for "No Es Lo Mismo" and took home song of the year and record of the year trophies for writing and performing the album's title track...


Florida Calls for Hurricane Evacuations MIAMI - Nearly a half-million people were ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Frances swirled toward Florida on Wednesday just weeks after Charley's devastating visit, threatening to deliver the most powerful one-two punch to hit a state in at least a century.    Those planning to ride out the storm snapped up canned food, water and generators, while military helicopters and planes were flown out of the area and Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center said it would close on Thursday...


Chiefs Lose Boerigter Kansas City Chiefs backup wide receiver Marc Boerigter will miss the season after injuring his right knee in last week's exhibition loss to Cleveland.


In Shift, Putin Says He Will Back Whomever Ukraine Elects Only days after mocking a call for a new presidential runoff vote, President Vladimir V. Putin said today that he would work with whoever is elected by the people of Ukraine to lead the country, a Russian news agency reported.


Hundreds Held Hostage at Russian School BESLAN, Russia - Armed militants with explosives strapped to their bodies stormed a Russian school in a region bordering Chechnya on Wednesday, corralling hundreds of hostages - many of them children - into a gymnasium and threatening to blow up the building if surrounding Russian troops attacked. At least two people were killed, including a school parent...


Prosecutors Drop Sex Case Against Bryant EAGLE, Colo. - The criminal case against Kobe Bryant case collapsed Wednesday as prosecutors said they had no choice but to drop the sexual assault charge because the NBA star's accuser no longer wanted to participate...


Contact Made With Hostage-Takers in Russia BESLAN, Russia - Attackers wrapped in suicide-bomb belts raided a school in a region bordering Chechnya, seizing up to 400 hostages - including scores of students welcoming the new school year - and threatening to kill captives or blow up the building if it was stormed by encircling Russian troops.    Authorities established contact with the hostage-takers hours after the raid Wednesday, which officials said left at least two people dead in the latest assault in a country the defense minister said has been challenged by a declaration of terrorist war...


Prosecutors Drop Sex Case Against Bryant EAGLE, Colo. - The Kobe Bryant case collapsed Wednesday as prosecutors said they had no choice but to drop the sexual assault charge against the NBA star because his accuser no longer wanted to participate...


Kerry Will Begin Ad Blitz in Seven States NEW YORK - John Kerry will begin his post-Labor Day advertizing blitz in seven states from New Hampshire to New Mexico, his political Ground Zero for a \$50 million campaign scheduled to expand into another 13 states by Nov. 2...


Convention Protests Target Labor Policies NEW YORK - Republican National Convention protesters waved symbolic pink slips along a three-mile "unemployment line," labor unions demanded better treatment of workers and a group of AIDS activists infiltrated Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, as arrest totals soared beyond 1,700 for the past week.    The arrests, including several on Wednesday, far surpass those made in much more violent circumstances at Chicago's 1968 Democratic convention...


French Anxious Over Kidnapping Kidnappers in Iraq are demanding that the French government rescind a ban on religious head scarves in public schools set to go into effect Thursday.


Judge Delays Criminal Trial For Former Enron Executives A federal judge in Houston yesterday agreed to postpone for five months the criminal trial of several former executives in Enron Corp.


Toyota, Nissan, Honda Shares Fall as US August Sales Decline Shares of Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. fell after their combined August US sales declined for the first time since 2002.


Sanders Says His Expectations Are One Deion Sanders stood on the Baltimore Ravens #39; practice field and chatted with his new teammates, some of whom were old friends, some new.


Twins 4, Rangers 2 Terry Tiffee hit a go-ahead two-run double in his major league debut to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Wednesday night.


Bruce Lee statue for divided city In Bosnia, where one man #39;s hero is often another man #39;s villain, some citizens have decided to honour one whom Serbs, Croats and Muslims can all look up to - the kung fu great Bruce Lee.


US Airways mechanics won #39;t reopen contract As US Airways continues concession talks with pilots to avert a second bankruptcy filing, it #39;s facing new strains with mechanics.


Apple #39;s missed opportunity By Paul Jackson, senior analyst. With its new iMac G5, Apple Computer has once again come up with a unique package of design, power and ease of use.


Taiwan #39;s Acer Inc. Reshuffles Leadership Taiwanese high-tech giant Acer Inc. on Wednesday announced a leadership reshuffle and the retirement of Stan Shih - the company #39;s founder and a major figure in Taiwan #39;s bid to dominate the personal computer industry.


Champion jockey among 16 held by police in race-fixing inquiry At six o #39;clock yesterday morning, Kieren Fallon should have been thundering along the scenic gallops above Newmarket at the start of another ordinary but enriching day at the peak of British horse racing.


Yankees unfazed the day after George Steinbrenner was noticeably silent after Tuesday night #39;s 22-0 loss to the Indians, but the Yankees #39; owner had some words for his club less than 24 hours after the worst defeat in franchise history.


MLB: Minnesota 8, Texas 5 A three-run homer in the 11th inning by Torii Hunter led the home-field Minnesota Twins to an 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers. Hunter finished with three hits and six RBI


Salmon opts for surgeries Tim Salmon said on Wednesday that he will undergo season-ending surgeries on his ailing left shoulder and left knee, but the veteran wouldn #39;t call it a career just yet.


How an It girl lost her groove, then found her game There was once an It gal of tennis who graced the national magazine covers, drawing so much attention from the paparazzi and fashionistas that she made her peers as jealous as lottery losers.


No end to Russian crisis Relatives of the hostages seized in a school in North Ossetia faced a sleepless night on Wednesday, as they waited for more information about their loved ones.


Kidnappers in Iraq Free Seven Truckers (AP) AP - Militants released seven foreign hostages Wednesday after their employer paid  #36;500,000 ransom, while France mustered support from Muslims at home and abroad to push for the release of two French journalists still held captive in Iraq.


White Sox Cool Off Athletics 5-4 (AP) AP - Pinch-hitter Ross Gload came through with an RBI single in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox ended the Oakland Athletics' eight-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.


National League Game Summary - Atlanta at Philadelphia The Braves, who ended with 13 hits, have recorded 10 or more hits in 12 straight games, setting a franchise record...With every victory, Wright continues to set a new career high...Marcus Giles went 3-for-5 for the Braves.


Designated hitter to have season-ending surgery Anaheim Angels designated hitter Tim Salmon will have season-ending operations on his left knee and left shoulder. Salmon was examined Wednesday by Dr.


Hundreds Held Hostage at Russian School, UN Demands Their Freedom The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the seizure of up to 400 people at a school in Russia, as the tense standoff enters its second day Thursday.


Malaysia #39;s Anwar Ibrahim Freed From Prison on Final Appeal Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia #39;s former deputy prime minister, was freed by the country #39;s highest court, which overturned his conviction for sodomy following an appeal.


British GP given 48 hour deadline The owners of the Silverstone race track in England have been given 48 hours to agree to a contract or there will not be a British Grand Prix in 2005.


Report: Black Robbed Hollinger of \$400 M the former Daily Telegraph publisher -- and his wife Barbara Amiel used corporate credit cards to pay for their every extravagance.


Apple Introduces New iMac (Article Central) At the Apple Expo in Paris this week, Apple Computer Inc. introduced the new iMac, the latest version of the popular consumer desktop computer.


Owls use dung to attract a few treats WASHINGTON - Small owls that scatter mammal dung around the entrances to their underground burrows may be wiser than the practice would seem to suggest.


Faqs! Facts! Fax! I read with interest the recent Boot Camp article on the new Service Pack (SP2) for Windows XP. I have a dial-up connection to the Internet so I imagine that it would be impossible to download such a large file.


Surfing at the launderette A San Francisco launderette has been rated one of the top places in the world to surf the internet. The winners of the first Yahoo Mail Internet Cafe Awards, published to mark the 10th anniversary of the world #39;s


Hewitt, Serena advance at US Open The 23-year-old Australian continued his solid play yesterday, extending his winning streak to 11 matches.  quot;I have been able to put it together day in and day out the last few weeks, quot; Hewitt said.


Racing uncertainties On one level, horse racing in Britain appears to be on a roll: it is a multi-million pound industry employing 100,000 people. More horses are competing for more prize money at more fixtures and watched by more punters than ever before.


VAUGHAN LOVES IT WHEN ENGLAND PLANS COME TOGETHER Michael Vaughan has toasted England #39;s latest strategic plan after two of the new components starred in the win over India in the NatWest Challenge.


Ravens take Sanders under wing The seven-time Pro Bowl defensive back passed his physical yesterday at the Baltimore Ravens training camp and formally ended his retirement by signing a one-year contract with the club laden with incentives.


Serena marches on, Molik out Serena Williams marched into the third round of the US Open today, beating fellow American Lindsay Lee-Waters 6-4 6-3. The third seed, who again walked on to court wearing long black boots and a jewel-encrusted


D-Backs CEO Colangelo resigns com. Colangelo was originally set to step down on Jan. 1, 2005, but decided to accelerate his timetable. CEO-elect Jeff Moorad, who was to take over in January, will instead begin as CEO on Oct. 15.


Mourning to Attempt Comeback With the Nets he Nets announced last night that Alonzo Mourning, who announced his retirement last season to receive a kidney transplant, will attempt a comeback and will attend their training camp in October.


Israel wants blood ISRAEL will ramp up its campaign to assassinate Hamas leaders in response to twin suicide bombings by the militant group that killed 16 people.


Tennis: Big Names Advance in Open, Medal Winners Out  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer teased, Lleyton Hewitt  shone and Serena Williams dazzled at the U.S. Open on  Wednesday, although the bronze medallists at the Athens  Olympics were both upset.


Yeading determined to ruffle Magpies #39; feathers A team managed by Johnson  #39;Drax #39; Hippolyte with a star striker known as DJ Campbell playing at a ground used in the movie Bend It Like Beckham -- welcome to Yeading FC.


Dollar Near Lows on ISM, Looming Data  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar sat tight near recent lows on  Thursday after soft manufacturing data failed to dispel  concerns that the U.S. economy may be running out of steam.


Congressional Double The U.S. Golf Association is expected to announce the awarding of the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2009 U.S. Amateur championships to Congressional Country Club later this month.


Owens rips union over steroids issue The fallout from Major League Baseball #39;s steroids scandal reached Colorado on Monday with Gov. Bill Owens threatening to test visiting major-league players if stricter testing standards aren #39;t adopted.


Prosecutors Drop Kobe Bryant Rape Case The Kobe Bryant rape case was dismissed after the prosecution said the woman who had accused Mr. Bryant of sexual assault would no longer cooperate.


GOP Governors in Swing States Under Gun (AP) AP - The crowd on the Republican convention floor couldn't be more aware of how close the race for president is, from reminders at breakfast to speeches that run until nearly midnight. But few feel the pressure more than governors of states where the contest could go either way.


Lessons from Hollinger fiasco Hollinger International Inc. #39;s special committee #39;s report that details the apparent abuse by senior executives at the company, primarily Conrad Black and David Radler, is the latest in a series of scandals that have shocked corporate boardrooms across the


US Airways Pilots May Be Near Pay Pact US Airways Group Inc. #39;s pilots union said on Wednesday it may agree this week on a plan to cut wages and benefits to help the seventh-biggest US airline avoid a second bankruptcy filing.


IBM loosens its blade IBM IS to share the designs of its blade servers in a bid to boost their popularity among developers. It follows moves to open up the companys microprocessor business and give partners more access to its


ET should have written home instead... So instead of phoning home, it could have been more energy-efficient if ET had inscribed information and physically sent it, because radio waves disperse as they travel.


Microsoft delivers SP2 at Post Office THE SOFTWARE giant on which the sun never sets is releasing its Microsoft Windows mega-patch in Post Offices throughout Japan. Microsoft in Tokyo has announced that it will exploit a network of 25,000 post


Culture Plays a Role in Dyslexia, Scientists Say Dyslexia, a common reading and learning disorder, could be influenced by culture, researchers said Wednesday. They discovered that a different area of the brain is affected in dyslexic Chinese


Sony #39;s Blu-Ray Discs to Have Half the Production Cost of DVDs Sony announced yesterday that it has developed Blu-Ray (BD) disc production technology that will be enable the company to produce Blu-Ray discs at half the cost of DVDs.


IBM, Honda help knightrider dreams come true IBM says its joint development with Honda Motor Company has yielded a hands-free, voiced-commanded and real-time car navigation system, which has been put into market.


Ballmer Touts Microsoft #39;s Innovation In Spite Of Longhorn Snafu Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said innovation and customer responsiveness should be top priorities for ISVs, even as Microsoft itself last week admitted that the next version of Windows will fall short of the mark when it hits the shelves in 2006.


Sources: Deal discussed to drop charge against Bryant A deal to dismiss the sexual assault charge against Kobe Bryant is being discussed inside the Eagle County Courthouse, sources close to the case told CNN on Wednesday.


Ferreira looks to retirement after US Open loss South Africa #39;s Wayne Ferreira played the final ATP Tour singles match of his 15-year career on Wednesday, losing in the first-round of the US Open to former world No.


CLEAN SLATE FOR ENGLAND - NEVILLE Gary Neville insisted England must  quot;start again quot; this weekend to build for the 2006 World Cup, fuelled by the self-belief they can finally end almost 40 years of international under-achievement.


Sharapova to play at Japan Open Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova will play in October #39;s Japan Open tennis tournament, organizers said Thursday. The 17-year-old Russian, who beat two-time defending champion Serena Williams to win Wimbledon


Eriksson Looking for Butt Deputy Sven-Goran Eriksson heralded a three-way contest for the vacant spot in Englands midfield after Nicky Butt was ruled out of this weekends opening 2006 World Cup qualifier in Austria.


NL beat: San Francisco #39;s weakness is on the mound The San Francisco Giants weren #39;t able to add a veteran starting pitcher for the September stretch drive. The last thing they needed was to have one go down.


GAME DAY RECAP Wednesday, September 01 Leslie scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Wednesday night to lead the Sparks to a 77-69 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars.


Astros, Marlins keep pressure on Cubs The Chicago Cubs found a good way to make up for their poor hitting -- a shutdown pitching performance by Kerry Wood. Wood #39;s eight shutout innings made up for another listless performance by the Cubs #39; offense


Mourning Contemplates a Return to the NBA New Jersey Nets center Alonzo Mourning, who underwent a kidney transplant in December, will attempt a return to the NBA. Mourning, 34, will participate in the team #39;s training camp, which begins in about a month.


France #39;s Ban on Head Scarves Put to Test PARIS Sept. 2, 2004 - France #39;s bold effort to reign in Muslim fundamentalism was put to the test Thursday, with a new law that bans students from wearing Islamic head scarves taking force with the start of the school year.


New suicide bombings shatter calm in Israel Aperiod of relative calm in Israel was shattered this week when Palestinian suicide bombers blew up two buses almost simultaneously in the southern desert city, killing at least 16 passengers and wounding more than 80.


Westinghouse Electric poised to bid two projects China and the United States are close to ending a 15-year-old dispute over nuclear technology transfers that has prevented US companies from selling nuclear reactors


Five remain in hospital after Sasol explosion Five people remained in critical condition on Thursday, a day after a blast in a chemicals plant run by Sasol killed six and injured more than 100, amid a report that the company had flouted safety norms.


7 hostages released in Iraq; attackers hit Chalabi motorcade BAGHDAD, Iraq - A militant group in Iraq on Wednesday released seven foreign truck drivers they had held hostage for six weeks after dropping nearly all their demands for the release of prisoners and compensation for the victims of fighting.


America honoring Sikh text It was a pivotal moment. Dr. Jasbir Kang of Yuba City and more than 50 other American Sikhs stood in the White House on Aug. 18, receiving a warm welcome from the Bush administration.


Microsoft confirms MSN music intro MSN HAS introduced a  quot;preview quot; version of MSN Music in the US which allows downloading of music using Windows Media Player 10 or a web browser.


Halliburton Finds Talk of Nigerian Bribes Halliburton Co. (HAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, said an internal probe found information suggesting that members of a consortium


New-car sales hit brakes in August August was a dismal month for sales of new cars and trucks, with nearly every major automaker reporting a decline compared with a year ago.


Economy Continues Sluggish Expansion US manufacturing grew more slowly in August, a research group reported yesterday, adding to other signs that the economic expansion continued to lose steam in recent weeks.


Canada set to press US on softwood VANCOUVER -- Canada will step up political pressure on the US government to drop punitive duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports in the wake of a pivotal trade ruling.


Crude Oil Little Changed After Surging on US Supply Decline Crude oil futures were little changed after surging 4.5 percent yesterday, the biggest increase in two months, as the US Energy Department reported a bigger-than- expected decline in the country #39;s oil supplies.


FleetCenter name to die soon; new label uncertain Bank of America Corp. is close to a deal to put its own name on the FleetCenter, executives said yesterday. The bank surprised some in the advertising world


Court greenlights lawsuit against HMOs The federal appeals court in Atlanta gave a big boost Wednesday to a lawsuit by nearly 900,000 doctors against the managed health care industry.


United Airlines will cut more jobs in struggle to escape <b>...</b> United Airlines said yesterday that further job cuts will be necessary as it continues slashing costs in order to get out of bankruptcy.


American Eagle plans 1st cash payout Teen clothier American Eagle Outfitters Inc. has decided to pay shareholders its first cash dividend on the heels of a solid back-to-school performance.


Textile groups call for limits US textile-trade groups said yesterday that they would pursue safeguards that target the threat of Chinese imports flooding the US market once quotas expire Jan. 1. The groups - the American


Boeing Wins Air China #39;s Order for Seven 737 Planes (Update2) Boeing Co, the world #39;s second-biggest maker of commercial aircraft, won a \$360 million order from Air China, the country #39;s biggest overseas carrier, for seven 737-700 jetliners used in flying medium-range routes.


Owls use tool to attract food, research shows A clever species of owl baits its lair with dung to attract tasty beetles, offering a remarkable case of an animal using a tool to help it survive.


Acer unveils new management team Acer Inc, the world #39;s fifth largest PC vendor, yesterday formally unveiled its new management team, whose goal it will be to make the company one of the top three players in the industry over the next three years.


Vole gets Blu-Ray SOFTWARE LEVIATHAN Microsoft has been given the blessing by Blu-Ray for its video compression standard for new high-definition discs.


Spam shows signs of levelling off but don #39;t hold your breath It might be too early to celebrate, but according to Symantec #39;s numbers, the rate of increase of internet spam is easing a bit.


UN says Sudan failing on Darfur A new United Nations report says Sudan has not disarmed Arab militias or stopped attacks against civilians in the strife-torn Darfur region.


Equatorial Guinea suspends coup trial Authorities in Equatorial Guinea suspended indefinitely yesterday the trial in an alleged coup plot here, awaiting information


Hosoda says veracity of Jenkins interview needs to be checked TOKYO - Japan #39;s top spokesman withheld comment Thursday on remarks accused US Army deserter Charles Jenkins made in an interview with a Hong Kong-based weekly, which hit stands the same day, about his life in North Korea.


Halliburton Finds Talk of Nigerian Bribes (Reuters) Reuters - Halliburton Co. , once run by\Vice President Dick Cheney, said an internal probe found\information suggesting that members of a consortium it helps\lead considered bribing Nigerian officials to win business.


Tokyo Stocks Edge Up, Techs Regain Ground (Reuters) Reuters - Tokyo stocks edged up on Thursday as tech\issues bounced back after their U.S counterparts made gains,\but car firms such as Honda Motor Co. Ltd. were a bit lower,\hurt by a fall in U.S. industry sales for August.


Dallas rally shocks Seattle The rookie had 198 rushing yards and three touchdowns, helping Dallas erase a 10-point deficit with less than 3 minutes to play as the Cowboys stunned the Seattle Seahawks 43-39 on Monday night.


US Airways Pilots May Be Near Pay Pact (Reuters) Reuters - US Airways Group Inc.'s pilots union\said on Wednesday it may agree this week on a plan to cut wages\and benefits to help the seventh-biggest U.S. airline avoid a\second bankruptcy filing.


Hague Court Imposes Defense Counsel on Milosevic (Reuters) Reuters - Judges at The Hague tribunal on\Thursday imposed a defense counsel on former Yugoslav President\Slobodan Milosevic to avoid further delays in his war crimes\trial.


Rx Depot Co-Founder Has New Online Venture (AP) AP - The co-founder of an Oklahoma prescription drug service shut down for violating federal drug importation laws has a new company providing discounted medicines over the Internet.


ASEAN ministers begin talks on economic integration (AFP) AFP - Southeast Asian economic ministers began talks to discuss ways to speed up economic integration and free trade in an effort to move closer to establishing a regional economic community.


Man Runs Onto Court at Davis Cup Final Security men struggle with an a spectator, center, who stormed the tennis court during the Davis Cup final match between Spanish Carlos Moya and American Andy Roddick in Seville, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004.


Kidnapped French Journalists' Fate Unknown (AP) AP - The managing editor of France's Le Figaro newspaper told a radio station Thursday that two French journalists held hostage in Iraq were still believed alive, even after militants' deadline passed for Paris to overturn a law banning Islamic head scarves or see the pair killed.


Colombia Looks to Build Drug Crime Museum (AP) AP - A sprawling hacienda once owned by Pablo Escobar, emblematic of the drug lord's excesses, may soon house a museum highlighting the evils of drug trafficking, a top Colombian official said.


Clampdown Risk Worries China's Online Game Firms (Reuters) Reuters - China's online games industry fears it\could be in line for a clampdown similar to one hurting\providers of mobile messaging services.


E-Commerce Site Buys Into New Oracle Software (TechWeb) TechWeb - Overstock.com is able to shift work among clusters with Oracle's 10g database.


IBM, Intel to Open eServer Blade Designs (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - In an effort to seed the market for future designs, the companies plan to provide the specifications for the BladeCenter switching framework, the blade adapter framework and the design of the blade itself.


Australian opposition makes interest rate pledge to key "mortgage belt" (AFP) AFP - Australia's opposition party chief signed an unusual public pledge to keep interest rates down if he wins the October 9 general election, declaring the issue "personal".


Dyslexia Not the Same in Every Culture (AP) AP - With 6,000 characters to memorize, Westerners shudder at the idea reading even the most basic street signs and instructions in Chinese. A new set of brain images shows why: Reading English-style alphabets and Chinese characters use very different parts of the brain.


Scientists to Study N.Y. Organic Farmers (AP) AP - Cornell researchers will watch five upstate New York dairy herds to learn about the problems and challenges of converting from conventional to organic farming.


US Airways Pilots May Be Near Pay Pact  NEW YORK (Reuters) - US Airways Group Inc.'s pilots union  said on Wednesday it may agree this week on a plan to cut wages  and benefits to help the seventh-biggest U.S. airline avoid a  second bankruptcy filing.


Oil Holds at \$44 After Sharp Crude Draw  LONDON (Reuters) - World oil prices stood firm on Thursday,  holding onto near-\$2 per barrel gains made the previous session  when U.S. inventory data showed commercial crude stocks falling  to their lowest in five months.


U.N. Tribunal Convicts Bosnian Serb (AP) AP - The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal convicted a high-ranking Bosnian Serb leader Wednesday of torture, deportation, and other crimes against Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, but acquitted him of genocide. He was sentenced to 32 years in prison.


Hopes Pinned on Talks in Russia Hostage Drama  BESLAN, Russia (Reuters) - A prominent doctor negotiated on  Thursday with gunmen holding hundreds of children, parents and  teachers for a second day under threat of death in a school  near Russia's rebel Chechnya region.


Bangladesh Hangs Two Ex-Policemen for Rape, Murder  DHAKA (Reuters) - Two former policemen convicted of the  rape and killing of a teenager were executed by hanging in a  north Bangladesh jail early on Thursday.


Apple unveils  #39;skinny #39; iMac G5 Apple Computer #39;s marketing chief Phil Schiller unveiled the newest version of the popular iMac at the Apple Expo in Paris on Tuesday.


Is  quot;IBMtel quot; the Next Winning Combo? On Sept. 2, IBM (IBM ) and Intel (INTC ) made a strategic move to put themselves at the center of the small but budding computer-hardware industry known as blade servers.


MS Portable Media Centers to ship mid-Sept Creative Technology will today begin shipping its anticipated Zen Portable Media Center in the US, with a UK roll-out in the middle of the month.


Philly goes Wi-Fi crazy The grand city of Philadelphia unveiled today an ambitious plan to coat the city with Wi-Fi, using a mix of public and private funds to provide the service.


Dyslexia Not the Same in Every Culture With 6,000 characters to memorize, Westerners shudder at the idea reading even the most basic street signs and instructions in Chinese.


Taiwan #39;s Acer Reshuffles Its Leadership TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwanese high-tech giant Acer Inc. on Wednesday announced a leadership reshuffle and the retirement of Stan Shih _ the company #39;s founder and a major figure in Taiwan #39;s bid to dominate the personal computer industry.


Acclaim Goes Down Like a Hooker With Rent Bills Acclaim Entertainment, the maker of such popular 1990s video games as Mortal Kombat and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and once one of Long Island #39;s largest public companies, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy


Appeals court slams garage door DMCA claim A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled that the maker of a universal garage door remote did not violate the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA, putting the brakes on one of the more adventuresome interpretations of the controversial copyright law


Dollar Near Lows on Players' Data Nerves  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar barely moved off recent lows  on Thursday after soft manufacturing data left traders nervous  of building positions ahead of U.S. jobs data later in the  week.


Like song says, Yanks get going Alex Rodriguez is generally so wound up after a game that when the Yankees play at home, he goes back to his apartment in Manhattan and watches a re-broadcast of the game on television.


Federer struggles at Open; Hewitt eases into second round Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - World No. 1 Roger Federer struggled in his second-round match against little-known Marcos Baghdatis, but pulled out a four-set win Wednesday.


Fallon in the clear Solicitors acting for Kieren Fallon said last night they expect the six-times champion jockey to be cleared of any allegations of race-fixing following his arrest yesterday.


Rooney: I #39;ll be doing it my way MANCHESTER UNITED new boy Wayne Rooney has insisted he does not need the advice of his new team-mates on how to behave. Rooney signed a 27m deal with the Old Trafford outfit on Tuesday to become Britain #39;s costliest teenage footballer.


Tough loss for Storm as they struggle without Jackson She often wears an oval-shaped, blue-hued necklace with a fluttering fairy painted on the front. Storm forward Lauren Jackson said it was a gift from her mother, something to watch over Lauren while they were separated.


Early runs puts Webb on Easy St. Brandon Webb found himself in the strangest of positions on Wednesday night, protecting a 3-0 lead against the Dodgers after just three innings.


Notebook: Hurricane might disrupt Canes Host Miami and Florida State might have to wait several extra days before playing their season opener. School officials were strongly considering postponing the game five days from Monday to Sept.


Bush Envoy Defends U.N. Against Schwarzenegger  UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - President Bush's ambassador to  the United Nations defended the world body on Wednesday, after  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the United States,  not the U.N., was best for democracy.


China Holds Brothers for Grisly Killing of 12  BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese police have detained two  brothers who killed 12 people, most of them women working in  nightclubs and bath houses whom they robbed and dismembered in  a 15-month spree, a newspaper said on Thursday.


Infineon executives fined; jail term for price fixing NEW YORK, December 6 (newratings.com) - The US Department of Justice has imposed steep fines and announced jail terms for four senior executives of Infineon Technologies (IFX.


Could Apple Blow Its iPod Lead? Rivals are stalking its consumer-electronics star, and history shows its strategy still has old weaknesses. But catching Jobs  amp; Co.


NL Wrap: Baseball-Cubs Edge Expos to Maintain Wild-Card Pace  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Chicago Cubs registered an  important victory in their battle for the National League  wild-card berth, edging out the Expos 2-1 over 11 innings in  Montreal Wednesday.


IBM And Intel To Open Access To BladeCenter Specs The move will make it easier for third-party hardware and software providers to create BladeCenter-compatible products, giving the server-blade market a boost.


Who #39;s calling? It might not be who you think it is A start-up began offering a technology Wednesday that can spoof a caller ID number, potentially opening the door to telemarketing calls that seem to be coming from a relative or a different company.


Acer appoints Italian as new president Taiwan #39;s flagship PC company Acer Inc. has announced it will have a foreigner serving as president starting 2005, a bold change for a 28-year-old Taiwanese brand that is roaring its way across multiple geographies and cultures.


Acclaim Entertainment to liquidate in bankruptcy Acclaim Entertainment Inc., maker of video games such as  quot;Showdown: Legends of Wrestling, quot; filed for bankruptcy and will liquidate its assets after failing to obtain a loan to pay employees and other expenses.


Business Digest Microsoft Corp. said it is cutting a net total of 49 jobs from its Windows Server division as part of a shift to more automated software testing and changes in the way it produces technical documents.


Even in victory, Bryant #39;s a loser He has torn apart his team, his life and the world that revolves around him. Now that the latest bullet has whizzed past Kobe Bryant #39;s head, you have to wonder if he can see the smoldering ruins of what he #39;s left behind.


AL Wrap: Yankees Bounce Back to Maintain Lead Over Boston  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees rebounded from  their worst ever defeat to register a 5-3 victory over the  Cleveland Indians in American League action Wednesday.


UPDATE: Malaysian Stock Mkt Rebounds On Anwar Release KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Malaysian shares rebounded Thursday after the country #39;s high court overturned the sodomy conviction of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and released him from prison.


Jenkins faced N. Korean pressure before Koizumi meeting Charles Robert Jenkins, the husband of former abductee Hitomi Soga, was pressured by North Korean officials to refuse Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi #39;s invitation to go with him to Japan, an interview has revealed.


Israelis accuse Syrians of harboring Hamas Israeli officials pointed an accusing finger at Syria yesterday after two Palestinian suicide bombers killed 16 people and wounded scores more in the first such attack in Israel in more than five months.


China, US near end to nuclear technology dispute China and the United States are close to resolving a long dispute over the transfer of nuclear technology, paving the way for US companies to sell nuclear reactors to China in transactions that may be worth billions of dollars, the


US drafts resolution demanding Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon The United States has circulated a draft resolution to other Security Council members demanding that Syrian forces withdraw  quot;without delay quot; from Lebanon.


Gunmen fire on Chalabi convoy On Wednesday, gunmen fired at a convoy carrying Ahmad Chalabi, a former Iraq Governing Council member and one-time US ally, wounding two of his bodyguards.


S Korea in 'rogue' nuclear trials The BBC is told that South Korean scientists engaged in secret, illegal experiments to enrich nuclear fuel.


Time on Jones #39;s side Even if indicted BALCO chief Victor Conte has the doping goods on sprinter Marion Jones, it #39;s unclear whether the International Olympic Committee can revoke the five medals she won in Sydney in 2000.


Firm says stent won back share of market Boston Scientific Corp. said yesterday it has won back the market share that its flagship cardiac stent system held before three safety recalls reduced doctors' orders of the product.


Councilor envisions citywide wireless Web access Councilor John M. Tobin Jr. envisions a Boston Utopia, with greater public spirit and a more robust sense of community. And he says he knows how to achieve it: WiFi.


GM, Ford sales decline DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. reported disappointing US sales yesterday, prompting the nation's two largest automakers to cut planned vehicle production in the fourth quarter, which could hurt profits.


United ready to cut more jobs United Airlines is poised to make more reductions in its work force -- already 40 percent smaller than it was before the 2001 terrorist attacks. The second-biggest US airline confirmed job cuts will be part of its plan to get out of bankruptcy.


US urged to probe Northwest Airlines fees The Justice Department is being asked to investigate new Northwest Airlines fees that added \$7.50 to the cost of a round-trip ticket purchased through systems used by travel agents.


Philadelphia looks to become one big hot spot For about \$10 million, city officials believe they can turn all 135 square miles of Philadelphia into the world's largest wireless Internet hot spot.


Widening market share in data storage EMC Corp. widened its lead as the world's top seller of data storage computers over Hewlett-Packard Co. and International Business Machines Corp. in the second quarter, researcher Gartner Inc. said. In the second quarter, EMC's sales of the machines that organize and retrieve data rose to 23.1 percent of the worldwide market, or \$745.6 million, from 20.6 percent a year ...


Can MSN music unseat iTunes? The software giant quietly raised the curtain for its MSN Music Web site, which offers song downloads for 99 cents. The store also has a home in Windows Media Player 10, which is slated to launch on Thursday.


Black aide attacks Hollinger report DAVID Radler, former chief operating officer of Hollinger International and right-hand man to Lord Black, has savaged the special report that claimed they had  #39;looted #39; the publishing company of more than \$400m (223m.


US Airways, pilots say they #39;re close to a deal on cutting wages US Airways Group Inc. and its pilots union said they may agree by today on a plan to cut \$295 million in wages and benefits to help the carrier avoid a second bankruptcy filing.


Signs hint at a healthier job market After job growth skidded nearly to a halt in June and July, signs are emerging that companies are ready to jump-start hiring and might already be expanding their payrolls at a faster pace.


Slower Pub Sales Hit Whitbread Shares in Whitbread weakened 3 today after it said slower sales in its pub restaurants and upmarket hotels had offset rising demand for budget lodges.


United sees \$625M in broad cuts United Airlines, denied federal money to help it emerge from bankruptcy and squeezed for cash, plans at least \$625 million in cost cutting, top company officials told employees.


Open Text plummets on profit warning, analysts slashing targets Open Text Corp. shares plunged to their lowest in more than a year yesterday after the business software maker warned that profit in the current quarter will fall short of forecasts and analysts


US Airways, pilots say they're close to a deal on cutting wages US Airways Group Inc. and its pilots union said they may agree by today on a plan to cut \$295 million in wages and benefits to help the carrier avoid a second bankruptcy filing.


Rounding into form A word about Angels in the outfield, and we're not talking about the Hollywood original with Paul Douglas and Keenan Wynn, or the remake with Christopher Lloyd and Danny Glover. This is about the Anaheim fly-chasers, the ones who have not had a moment's peace since alighting on the Fens.


Alternative for dental sedation \Dentists develop an alternative sedation procedure to potentially risky general anaesthetic.


AL East race now a chase Imagine the satisfaction around these parts if the chant suddenly is true. Maybe it's no longer just the jealous, seventh-grade,  quot;you're fat-you're ugly quot; taunting. Maybe it's reality. Finally.


EBay to boost stake in South Korean firm EBay Inc., which has been aggressively expanding in Asia, plans to increase its stake in South Korea's largest online auction company.


Aim is to make most of final shot That night seven years ago, Michael Jennings might not have taken a spot on the Patriots' roster if it had been given to him.


Outside influence They came -- like they always do on a Saturday afternoon in April -- to see the state of the nation. Only this time, it was different.


Judge refuses lower Jackson bail A judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation case refuses to reduce the singer's \$3m (1.67m) bail.


His play is not out of left field Underrated. That was the word Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia used to describe left fielder Jose Guillen. For a player who has faced more than his share of doubters with more than his share of teams (Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Cincinnati, Oakland) during his eight-year career, it was welcome praise. Tough to imagine, but true for a player batting .302 with ...


Militants hold scores of students, teachers MOSCOW -- Militants wearing suicide-bomb belts seized a school in southern Russia and took scores of children, parents, and teachers hostage early yesterday, threatening to blow up the building if government troops tried to storm it.


Iraqi legislature convenes for first time BAGHDAD -- Iraq's interim legislature convened yesterday for the first time, walled off behind US tanks as mortar rounds hit close to its meeting place.


NL notables The Cubs , who are scheduled to begin a three-game series in Miami tomorrow, returned to Chicago to await a decision from government officials, who will determine whether tomorrow night's game will be postponed because of Hurricane Frances.


You can start thinking about Yankees for '05 The Red Sox will play their 2005 season opener against the Yankees in New York April 4, then open their home schedule against the Yankees April 12, according to the preliminary schedule recently distributed to the 30 major league teams and union officials. The teams also are scheduled to end the regular season with a four-game series at Fenway Park ...


Two Qaeda arrests in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistani security forces have arrested two  quot;important quot; Al Qaeda operatives, an Egyptian and a Saudi national, officials said yesterday.


Jets give QB \$64m extension Chad Pennington agreed to a \$64 million, seven-year contract extension with the New York Jets yesterday that includes \$23 million in guaranteed money.


US aims to seek UN sanctions against Iran, Powell says WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said yesterday the United States wants UN sanctions imposed on Iran after the Bush administration concluded the country is on the verge of enriching enough uranium for four nuclear weapons.


Canada, Sweden get home guarantees Ryan Smyth scored two goals to lead Canada to a 5-1 victory over Slovakia in the World Cup of Hockey last night in Montreal.


Amid protests, Fox touts successes Mexico leader tries to reassure nation MEXICO CITY -- Amid a welter of mass demonstrations and political conflicts, President Vicente Fox used his annual state-of-the-union address yesterday to try to assure Mexicans that their raucous, evolving democracy is on the right path.


Annan says Sudan hasn't halted attacks on civilians in Darfur UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said yesterday that Sudan's government has not stopped attacks on  quot;terrorized and traumatized quot; civilians in its Darfur region and urged the speedy deployment of an expanded international peacekeeping force.


Health benefits, concern surface in study of farm-raised fish MUNICH -- The heart health benefits from fish like salmon and mackerel seem to be weakened when farm-raised fish are fed vegetable oil instead of fish oil, new research indicates.


Right on course He will tell you the story because it embodies so much of who he is and where he came from. There is no denying he became hooked on golf at an early age -- 7 to be precise -- and that he was a genuine phenom and that he could never get enough of it.  quot;I was very ...


Clark is all business on, off course In the Deutsche Bank field of 156 golfers, many are well-known, but a lot are far removed from the spotlight. Meet another of those unheralded golfers -- South African Tim Clark.


Chip shots BREADWINNER: There were 18 groups in Monday's pro-am at TPC Boston in Norton whose contributions benefited the Red Sox Foundation, but few had a better story than the one that included three generations of the Thumann family -- Henry Thumann, the 90-year-old founder of the deli meats company based in New Jersey, Robert Burke, and Robert Burke Jr. Thumann's used ...


Cheney and G.O.P. Mount Vigorous Assault on Kerry Vice President Dick Cheney said that the nation's fundamental security was at stake in the presidential election.


Tactics by Police Mute the Protesters, and Their Messages New York police have developed a pre-emptive strike policy, cutting off demonstrations before they grow large.


Keeping score around New England PROS Stow man Jacques Panet-Raymond , who directs the golf schools at Stow Acres CC, shot 4-under 68 to win a NEPGA pro-member at Kernwood CC in Salem. The annual NEPGA Assistants Pro-Pro Match-Play Championship is down to four teams after a day of competition at Bass Rocks GC in Gloucester. Brian Owens (North Kingstown) and Dan Dwyer of the ...


Dual County League capsules ACTON-BOXBORO Coach: Bill Maver (19th year, 141-50-1). Last year's record: 13-0. Returning starters (8): Bobby Abare, RB/LB, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Larry Abare, RB/S, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Nate Crutchfield, FB/NG, 5-9, 205, Sr.; Ben Larkins, OT, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Pete Rankis, TE, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Andrew Sides, TE/DE, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Joey O'Brien, DE, 5-7, 175, Sr.; Dave Crocker, CB, 5-10, ...


Bay State Carey capsules BRAINTREE Coach: Bill O'Connell (second year). Last year's record: 6-5. Returning starters (7): Steve Arki, FB-LB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Joe Burbank, WR-DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Zach Clark, OL, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Andrew Dominguez, QB-DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Pat McGrail, WR-DB, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Dave Wall, WR-DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Craig Whitney, OL-DL, 5-8, 190, Jr. Returning lettermen: Too many to ...


Dyslexia Not the Same in Every Culture With 6,000 characters to memorize, Westerners shudder at the idea reading even the most basic street signs and instructions in Chinese. A new set of brain images shows why: Reading English-style alphabets and Chinese characters use very different parts of the brain...


Ferreira was a major headache at big ones Maybe a morbid thought, but wouldn't this be a fitting epitaph on Wayne Ferreira's tombstone:


Bush Ready to Accept GOP Nomination NEW YORK - President Bush was reaching out to Americans to keep him on the job, recalling the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks "when one era ended and another began," and offering himself as a resolute wartime commander in chief with ambitious plans for a second term...


As Frances Nears, Fla. Urges Evacuations MIAMI - Nearly a half-million people were ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Frances swirled toward Florida on Wednesday just weeks after Charley's devastating visit, threatening to deliver the most powerful one-two punch to hit a state in at least a century.    Those planning to ride out the storm snapped up canned food, water and generators, while military helicopters and planes were flown out of the area and Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center said it would close on Thursday...


Official: 16 Killed in Russian Crisis BESLAN, Russia - Armed militants with explosives strapped to their bodies stormed a Russian school in a region bordering Chechnya on Wednesday, corralling hundreds of hostages - many of them children - into a gymnasium and threatening to blow up the building if surrounding Russian troops attacked.    Casualty reports varied widely...


Calif. Horse Country Wary of West Nile NORCO, Calif. - Rowdy, a 4-year-old horse, got sick after splashing through the Santa Ana River on a training ride...


NASA is trying to reduce the size of liftoff debris NASA is relying on an overhaul of the space shuttle #39;s towering external fuel tank to eliminate dangerous debris that triggered the fatal breakup of Columbia nearly two years ago, space agency officials said Monday.


Canada Romps Ryan Smyth scored two goals to lead Canada to a 5-1 victory over Slovakia on Wednesday night in the World Cup of Hockey.


Twins Roll Rangers Terry Tiffee hits a go-ahead two-run double in his major league debut as the Twins edge out a dramatic 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.


Microsoft launches iTunes rival Software giant Microsoft unveils its MSN Music music download service to rival Apple's iTunes and others.


Earths May Not Be Far Behind The race to find distant new Earths heated up considerably yesterday with the detection of two of the smallest planets ever detected outside the Solar System.


Dual cores to lead Intel show Get your blue golf shirt on. The Intel Developer Forum is back. Servers a central focus.


Sharman Networks use Weedshare to establish in Australian Court <b>...</b> SYDNEY, Australia (Todd Macalpine/ OZMUSICWEED / www.ozmusicweed.com) - Ozmusicweed, the first Australian Weedshare site (http://www.


Three Minutes With Mark Cuban The outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks talks about the future of high-definition TV.


Should Your Next PC Be a Workstation? Despite sub-\$1000 prices, the answer still depends on what apps you run.


Sneaky Sharing Despite well-publicized wins by piracy foes, illegal digital music and movie trading continues to flourish in underground havens.


Microsoft unveils digital music service LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) - Microsoft launched a preview version of its new service for downloading digital music late Wednesday, placing it squarely in competition with Apple #39;s rival iTunes music service.


US Auto Sales Decline 12; Chrysler Gains Share (Update1) US auto sales declined 12 percent to 1.43 million vehicles in August, as near-record gasoline prices hurt demand. The six largest automakers all had sales drops for the first time in almost two years.


IHS Energy acquires Yergin #39;s Cambridge Energy Research IHS Energy, which provides maps and technical databases to oil and natural-gas producers, acquired Cambridge Energy Research Associates, the consulting company


United Airlines plans job cuts CHICAGO -- United Airlines said yesterday further job cuts will be necessary as it continues slashing costs to get out of bankruptcy.


SP2 plays havoc with online banking St.George Bank may be forced to make changes to its online banking interface as adoption of Windows XP Service Pack 2 becomes widespread among consumers.


Philadelphia is at forefront of wireless for all For about \$10 million, city officials believe they can turn all 135 square miles of Philadelphia into the world #39;s largest wireless Internet hot spot.


IBM teams with Honda on voice-driven car navigation IBM said on Wednesday that it has jointly developed with Honda Motor Company a hands-free, voiced-commanded and real-time car navigation system.


Taylor: Wayne #39;s leading the way England Under-21 coach Peter Taylor hailed Wayne Rooney as the standard-bearer for a new generation of domestic talent. Taylor believes it is up to the country #39;s other best young players to follow Rooney #39;s lead.


Rockies keep Bonds stuck at 696 Even Barry Bonds can #39;t belt home runs if he doesn #39;t get any pitches to hit. The Giants #39; left-handed slugger remained stuck on 696 for the second consecutive evening


Sox figure out how to get A #39;s If general manager Ken Williams has his wish, next season will be void of the fifth-starter conundrum the White Sox seem to be undertaking on a daily basis.