Strike not called off, only deferred: Truckers

A truckers #39; union on Sunday said its strike against a proposed service tax on the industry had not been called off, but temporarily deferred until contentious issues were sorted out.


Move to block health deal

The California Department of Insurance reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed WellPoint Inc. merger with fellow health care giant Anthem Inc.


NK Faces Severe Environmental Problems: UN

Pollution and deforestation in North Korea are exacerbating its serious food shortage problems, according to a UN report released Friday that outlines a range of environmental challenges facing Pyongyang.


Everything changed for Roddick after Open

In cargo pants and a gray T-shirt, flanked by a couple of friends, Andy Roddick could have been a frat boy on the way to the movies.


IRAQ: Gripped by an uprising the US can #39;t defeat

The smell of burnt flesh filled the air and blood smeared the deserted streets of Najaf #39;s Old City after heavy US air strikes on Shiite militia positions around Iraq #39;s revered Imam Ali shrine, reported Agence France-Presse on August 25.


Israeli troops kill armed Palestinian infiltrator

: Israeli troops killed an armed Palestinian man early today as he tried to sneak into Southern Israel, the army said. Military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops


Rocket kills one Pakistani paramilitary scout

A rocket attack killed one Pakistani paramilitary soldier and wounded eight more, three of them seriously, in the western tribal region where troops are hunting al Qaeda-linked militants, officials said on Sunday.


Clashes Break Out in Lebanon Refugee Camp (AP)

AP - Armed clashes broke out Sunday between Palestinian supporters of Yasser Arafat and Islamic extremists in Lebanon's largest refugee camp, and officials said two people were killed, including a teenage girl on a balcony outside the camp who was hit by a stray bullet.


Australian PM Announces Oct. 9 Election (AP)

AP - Prime Minister John Howard on Sunday called a national election for Oct. 9 which is likely to serve as a referendum on Australia's troop deployment in Iraq.


Bovina beats heat, Dechy in Pilot Pen final

Bovina sweats out a victory: Elena Bovina of Russia withstood on-court heat of 100 degrees yesterday and beat Nathalie Dechy of France 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to win the Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Conn.


China rallies to v-ball win

Ping Zhang had 25 points yesterday as China came from two sets down to beat Russia for the gold medal in Olympic women #39;s volleyball.


Man dies in blast as Chechens go to polls

OISKHARA, Russia - A man tried to bring a suspicious package into a polling station in Chechnya on Sunday, then died in an explosion as he ran away, the head of the Chechen election commission said on Russian television.


French PM calls emergency meeting over journalist hostage in Iraq

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin called an emergency ministerial meeting Sunday to discuss the kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq, local media reported.


South Korea Files Petition on Scoring Error With CAS

After 10 days of deliberation, the South Korean delegation to the Athens Olympics finally filed a petition on the case of Yang Tae-young, bronze medallist in the mens gymnastics individual


#39;Suspect Package #39; Man Dies in Polling Day Blast

A man who tried to bring a suspicious package into a polling station in Chechnya today was killed in an explosion as he ran away, election officials said.


Howard, Latham battle for Oct 9 poll

Prime Minister John Howard has ended the phoney election campaign, naming October 9 as the day he hopes to cement his place in history by winning a fourth consecutive term.


IDF kills gunman crawling toward security fence

Early Sunday morning IDF soldiers shot at three Palestinian men who they spotted crawling two hundred meters from the security fence north of the Karni crossing in the Gaza Strip.


Blast Kills Man Near Chechen Voting Area

OISKHARA, Russia - A man tried to bring a suspicious package to a polling station in Chechnya on Sunday during a presidential election, then died in an explosion as he ran away, the head of the Chechen election commision said on Russian television.    The Chechens voted for a president to replace the Kremlin-backed leader who was killed in a bomb blast in May...


July market commentary

Financial markets had a very tough month, characterised both low trading volumes and fears that the global economic recovery has slowed down.


US Call Centers To Continue Migration Overseas - Report

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Call centers and agent positions in the US, a hot-button sector in the jobs outsourcing debate, will continue to migrate in the next few years


US troops battle in Shia slums

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Shia militants and US forces battled in the Sadr City slums yesterday, and a mortar barrage slammed into a busy neighborhood in the capital in new violence that killed at least five Iraqis and wounded dozens of others.


India Test Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile

NEW DELHI Aug. 29, 2004 - India test-launched a surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons Sunday, a defense ministry spokesman said.


Composer reiterates anti-Jewish comments

Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, who outraged Jews in November by calling them  quot;the root of evil, quot; is at it again, this time saying Jews control the worlds banks and the mass media.


What #39;s that sound? Bose is tinkering with the suspension

Dr. Amar Bose is fascinated by drivers: those that make noise when wired to an electrical current, and those who pilot fast cars. And Bose, whose familiar name is embossed on elaborate automobile audio systems


Real dream team nails three-peat

Maybe this is the end of an era. Dawn Staley has called it quits as an Olympic player. Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes can #39;t imagine playing without her.


Time out for Acuff

Amy Acuff won #39;t leave the Olympics with a medal, but she will leave with thoughts of what could have been. The Calallen High School graduate settled for fourth, but


French Hostage Crisis Adds Tension to Headscarf Ban

The kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq has injected new tension into France #39;s debate over banning Islamic headscarves in schools just as Paris was hoping for a smooth start to the school year this week.


Lewinsky and Loos dish on kiss-and-tell after Clinton and Beckham (AFP)

AFP - Kiss-and-tell queens Monica Lewinsky and Rebecca Loos, in a debate on media payments for interviews, came clean about dishing the dirt on Bill Clinton and David Beckham, but the former White House intern claimed her sex story sat on higher moral ground.


Bush has grand health plans; some are skeptical

If Congress enacted President Bush #39;s entire health care agenda, campaign aides have asserted, as many as 10 million people who lack health


Bush comes up big for top-ranked Trojans

Running back Reggie Bush came out of the backfield to give Southern California a new big-play receiver. Bush caught three touchdown passes to help the top-ranked Trojans beat


Chechnya goes to polls; man blows himself up in Grozny

Moscow, Aug. 29 (PTI): An unidentified man blew himself up today outside a polling station in Grozny during presidential elections in war-torn Caucasian province of Chechnya.


Australian leaders prepare for October poll

Australia #39;s Prime Minister and the country #39;s main opposition leader say  quot;trust quot; will be a key issue when voters go to the polls on October the ninth.


Three Dead, Several Wounded in Lebanon Camp Clash

AIN EL-HILWEH, Lebanon (Reuters) - Three people were killed  and several others wounded Sunday when unknown gunmen attacked  members of a Palestinian faction in Lebanon's largest  Palestinian refugee camp, witnesses said.


Hang Up on This Stock Tip

Last Friday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC to you and me) announced a warning against an investment scam that has caught several hundred people already.


Athletics: A satisfying double distance twist

ATHENS Nawal el-Moutawakel, the first Moroccan to win an Olympic gold medal, was in the mixed zone, avoiding interviews as deftly as she used to avoid hurdles, but then tonight el-Moutawakel was a fan instead of a star.


It #39;s a US women #39;s world

When it comes to US Olympic basketball, men are from Mars and women are from Venus. And Venus is a much happier planet right now. On a day when the US men #39;s team settled


Gold for GB sprint four

Britain #39;s Mark Lewis-Francis held off the USA #39;s Maurice Greene on the last leg to win a stunning gold medal in the men #39;s 4x100m relay.


India Test Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile (Reuters)

Reuters - India successfully test fired\a long-range nuclear-capable Agni II missile off its eastern\coast of Orissa Sunday, a defense ministry spokesman said.


BA heads to roll over flights chaos

ENIOR British Airways executives face the sack after the staff shortage fiasco that crippled the airline #39;s operations at Heathrow last week and threatens to do the same this bank holiday weekend.


A tax shelter factory bared in KPMG memos

KPMG, the accounting firm under scrutiny for promoting tax shelters that were found to be abusive, discussed selling a new shelter highly similar to a banned version more than two years after the US Internal Revenue Service outlawed the original one and


India successfully test fired a long-range nuclear-capable Agni II missile off its eastern coast of Orissa Sunday, a defense ministry spokesman said.


Internet free speech laws, Chapter Whatever (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - Maybe you were out of town last week, or maybe you just weren't paying attention. That's OK. Here's a quick rundown of what you missed, culled from reports by our staff and wire services.


India test fires nuclear capable missile (Reuters)

Reuters - India successfully test fired a long-range nuclear-capable Agni II missile off its eastern coast of Orissa on Sunday, a defence ministry spokesman said.


BCS situation is enough to give anyone a headache

Actually, I just finished looking at the final BCS standings and could use a boost. More to the point, I could use an aspirin. So let me get this straight: Pittsburgh loses to Nebraska and Connecticut, narrowly


Quest for holy grail of game controllers

The quest for a wireless, robust video game controller is a hit and miss task.


Florida recovers from Hurricane Charley

Two weeks after it was hit by Hurricane Charley, Florida is open for business and welcoming visitors. The organisation Visit Florida, which offers advice to holidaymakers


Sun, Dell Lead Server Sales

Server shipments and revenue increased in the second quarter, as Sun Microsystems and Dell gained market share at the expense of Hewlett-Packard and IBM, according to research recently released by Gartner.


Roddick aiming for back-to-back Opens

The US Open is really all that #39;s left for defending champion Andy Roddick this year. He #39;s coming in ranked No. 2 without a big title run since he won Miami in March and although he #39;s been in the mix at nearly


40 injured in French motorway pileup

Bordeaux, France - Seven people were killed and 40 injured in a pileup involving a Spanish coach and 10 cars early on Sunday. The accident took place on the Bayonne-Bordeaux highway in southwest France, the Gironde prefect #39;s office said.


India Test Fires Nuclear Capable Missile

NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - India successfully test fired  a long-range nuclear-capable Agni II missile off its eastern  coast of Orissa Sunday, a defense ministry spokesman said.


Pipeline Explodes in Iraq's South Rumaila Field

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - A pipeline exploded in Iraq's south  Rumaila oil field on Sunday, days after several pipelines in  the same area were sabotaged, a Reuters witness said.


Agassi tries to work major magic at age 34

Can Serena and Venus Williams, who missed the 2003 Open with injuries, re-emerge as the best in the women #39;s game? Venus hasn #39;t won a major in three years, Serena in 14 months.


BROADSHEET/ COMPACT VIEWS

Norwegian police trying to track down The Scream could do worse than check out the Blackburn Rovers technical area. Graeme Souness was on his feet and incandescent with rage for much of this game, and with good reason.


Presidential Vote Under Way in Chechnya Amid Fears of Violence

Voting is under way in Russia #39;s breakaway region of Chechnya to select a replacement for a president who was killed in a bomb attack.


France Seeks Return of Reporters in Iraq Amid Headscarf Threat

The French government demanded the release of two journalists kidnapped in Iraq by a group demanding that France rescind a ban on Islamic headscarves in the nation #39;s schools within 48 hours.


Fischer Delivers Strong Message in Syria

German Foreign Minister Fischer focused on economic ties between Syria and the EU as well as concerns over human rights and weapons of mass destruction in Syria during a visit to Damascus Saturday.


Israel central to Intel #39;s future research

A WEB SITE quotes Intel #39;s chief technology officer, Pat Gelsinger, emphasising the importance of Israel to the firm #39;s future research and development.


Russia Beats U.S. Men for Volleyball Bronze

ATHENS (Reuters) - Russia, silver medallists in Sydney, won  the Olympic bronze medal in the men's volleyball competition on  Sunday, beating the United States in straight sets.


Experts Welcome, But Doubt, Bush Climate Softening (Reuters)

Reuters - Environmental experts Friday\welcomed a hint of a softening in U.S. skepticism about global\warming but saw little chance President Bush might rejoin\international efforts to cap greenhouse gases.


Chechens Vote for New Leader; 'Bomber' Kills Self

ZNAMENSKOYE, Russia (Reuters) - Chechens voted on Sunday  for a new president in a tense election, but many doubted the  Moscow-backed police officer who was set to win would manage to  stamp out rebellion in the turbulent region.


Singer Laura Branigan dies at 47

US singer Laura Branigan, who had hits with Gloria and Self Control in the 1980s, dies unexpectedly in her sleep.


Behind Enemy Lines: Advice From a Partisan

A Republican on how to survive in a Democratic town: This really is the greatest city in the world, but you are now behind enemy lines.


Rogge: IOC accepts human error not manipulation in judging

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said here on Saturday that they accept thehuman error in judging or refereeing but never tolerate any manipulation.


Live: Khan v Kindelan

All the action as Great Britain #39;s Amir Khan takes on Cuban Mario Kindelan in the Olympic lightweight final. (1241 BST). 1200 BST: Anticipation builds as 17-year-old Amir Khan from Bolton bids to become the


Interpol experts at Dhaka to help probe into AL rally blasts

An advance team of Interpol flew in Dhaka today (Sunday) at the request of the government to investigate the August 21 grenade attack on opposition leader Sheikh Hasinas rally at Bangabandhu Avenue.


Republicans, protesters mass in New York (AFP)

AFP - Republicans descended on New York for their national convention to rally President George W. Bush back to the White House, as anti-Bush demonstrators planned a massive, noisy protest in the streets.


China Launches Mapping and Surveying Satellite

China Sunday launched a satellite that will carry out land surveys and mapping for several days before returning to earth, the Xinhua news agency said.


Intel Offers Three-Way Wi-Fi Support

Intel on Thursday introduced tri-mode Wi-Fi support for its Centrino mobile-processor platform, as well as software to make it easier for businesses to set up a wireless connection to any available network at maximum speed.


Golds All Round for Athens from IOC Chief

Olympic supremo Jacques Rogge Sunday offered gold medals all round to Athens for organizing a superb Olympics after years of doom and gloom leading up to the opening.


Backley scrapes Edward praises Khan for taking acclaim in his <b>...</b>

TEAM GB boxing coach Terry Edwards has described teenage sensation Amir Khan as one of the most talented British boxers to emerge so far this decade - and one of the most relaxed.


Horna to face Hewitt in finals

COMMACK - Luis Horna ended the unbeaten Long Island reign of two-time champion Paradorn Srichaphan, outlasting him 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to advance to the final of the \$380,000 ATP event on Saturday.


Explosives Found In Wreckage Of Both Russian Planes

29 August 2004 -- Russian investigators are continuing their probe into the near simultaneous crashes of two airliners on 24 August after finding traces of explosives at both wreckage sites.


US, UK Knew of Equatorial Guinea Plot, Sunday Times Says

The US and UK knew of the possibility of a coup against the government of Equatorial Guinea, the Sunday Times reported, citing unidentified officials at the Pentagon and UK government.


PM advised complete rest today

New Delhi, Aug. 29 (UNI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was indisposed yesterday, due to viral fever, is taking complete rest today, a PM #39;s aide said.


Eight dead, 46 injured in French motorway pileup (AFP)

AFP - Eight people were killed and 46 injured, most of them Portuguese coach passengers, in a pile-up of five vehicles on a motorway in southwest France, authorities said.


China launches science satellite

China on Sunday launched a recoverable science experimental satellite into a preset orbit, atop a Long March 2C carrier rocket from a launch center in northwest China.


EU insists on WMD clause in accord with Syria

The European Union wants to sign a trade and aid pact to ease Syria #39;s diplomatic isolation, but only on condition it agrees to renounce weapons of mass destruction, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said yesterday.


It #39;s best to keep firewalls from competing

Q: I understand that Microsoft #39;s Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, a new update, includes improved firewall protection. I currently use Norton Personal Firewall; will any incompatibility result when both firewalls are installed?


At Buick, Funk Is One Round From First Victory in 6 Years

Fred Funk needed a late rally on a sticky, steamy day to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn.


Najaf Battle.. Sistani Wins Big

The dramatic return from abroad, call on his followers to head for Najaf and the swift ending to a three-week long fierce battle


FRENCH HOSTAGES TALKS

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has cancelled a trip to the south of France to hold an urgent meeting with three top ministers on the fate of two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq.


Explosion kills eight in southeast Afghanistan

Eight school children were killed and 15 others injured as a blast rocked a school in Paktia province in southeast Afghanistan on Saturday, the provincial governor said Sunday.


BA to Investigate Staff Shortage Crisis

British Airways today pledged to carry out an investigation into a staff shortage that sparked travel chaos at Heathrow Airport last week.


Typhoon hits southern Japan

Chaba, one of this year #39;s strongest, had sustained winds of 162kph, and was churning over the tiny southern islands of Amami Oshima and Tanegashima in Kagoshima prefecture (state), the Meteorological Agency said.


Online Statement Denies Vatican As Target (AP)

AP - An online statement posted Sunday in the name of an al-Qaida-linked group pledged that the Vatican would be spared, but repeated threats to "turn Rome into hell."


Three Pakistani soldiers killed near Afghan border (AFP)

AFP - At least three Pakistani soldiers have been killed and seven injured in two separate attacks in the rugged tribal region near Afghan border, officials said.


Israelis Fear Fallout from Pentagon Spy Probe

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's image in the United States  may be tarnished and relations with its main ally suffer even  if suspicions a Pentagon analyst gave secrets to the Jewish  state prove false, Israeli officials said Sunday.


U.S. Women Show Dream Team How It's Done

ATHENS, Greece - Three teammates, three Olympics, three gold medals. Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes...


S.C. Residents Brace for Gaston

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Rain doused the South Carolina coast early Sunday as Tropical Storm Gaston, just under hurricane strength, picked up speed and pushed ashore...


Kindelan stops Khan #39;s run to gold

Cuba #39;s Mario Kindelan has stopped the amazing run of British teenager Amir Khan by outpointing him in the lightweight final of the Olympic boxing tournament.


Langers picks could define new Ryder era

When Hal Sutton made his two captains selections for the US Ryder Cup team, he really chose from only about five serious candidates.


Twins End Angels' Nine-Game Winning Streak (AP)

AP - Johan Santana won his eighth straight decision Saturday, Jacque Jones and Augie Ojeda homered, and the Minnesota Twins kept rolling toward a third straight AL Central title wit ha 7-1 victory that ended the Anaheim Angels' nine-game winning streak.


Israeli Army Kills Gunman in Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers shot dead a  Palestinian gunman in the Gaza Strip Sunday as he approached  the border fence with Israel, the army said.


India Test Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India successfully test fired a  long-range nuclear-capable Agni II missile off its eastern  coast Sunday, a defense ministry spokesman said.


Oil Higher on Iraq After Heavy Fall

Oil prices edged higher on Thursday from a heavy drop the day before as renewed violence and sabotage attacks in Iraq revived fears over supply disruptions.


China rallies for gold in women #39;s volleyball

Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - China dropped the first two sets, but rallied for a victory over Russia in the women #39;s volleyball gold medal match.


What we learned

USC: Reggie Bush is all that. It #39;s fitting that The President, as he #39;s nicknamed, chose the nation #39;s capital as the venue for his national coming-out party.


Kremlin candidate favourite as Chechens vote amid fears of <b>...</b>

GROZNY, Russia : Chechens voted in an election expected to crown a Kremlin-backed candidate as the strife-torn republic #39;s new leader, with thousands of security personnel patrolling its streets against the threat of rebel attacks.


Footprints on the Moon

The Moon offers a unique preserved laboratory free from the weathering that ages the record of how life arose on Earth. Studying radiation and polar craters may be targets for the next human or robotic missions.


Alaska Brown Bears Gather for Annual Salmon Feast

Each summer, the falls at McNeil River turn into a mosh pit of bears. Instead of thumping music, it's the sound of salmon slapping their way up the falls at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary that sends the bears into a fishing frenzy.


El Guerrouj is doubly good Distance king, Great Britain #39;s Holmes <b>...</b>

quot;We are the World #39; #39; was the theme of the track and field competition on the last full day of activity at the 2004 Olympic Games as 14 countries other than the United States won medals at Olympic Stadium.


Master Kindelan stops pupil Khan #39;s great run

Nearly twice Khan #39;s age at 33, the defending champion relied on his greater experience to counter-punch methodically and win a 30-22 decision.


Roon: Its time to leave Everton

Wayne Rooney believes the time has come for him to leave Everton as he is  #39;disappointed #39; by the way the club has been dealing with his transfer request.


US troops clash with assailants in northern Iraq, killing two <b>...</b>

MOSUL, Iraq US troops have clashed with insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades from a mosque in northern Iraq. The US military says two attackers were killed and 34 civilians hurt.


Duke University Welcomes Freshmen With New iPods

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


Israeli Army Kills Gunman in Gaza Strip (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli soldiers shot dead a\Palestinian gunman in the Gaza Strip Sunday as he approached\the border fence with Israel, the army said.


Shelley #39;s career is a study in contradictions

He #39;s a crusader for campaign finance reform embroiled in a scandal over political donations; a defender of workers #39; rights who allegedly subjected his own employees to humiliating dressings-down and inappropriate workplace demands.


Golds all round for Athens from IOC chief

ATHENS, Greece -- Olympic supremo Jacques Rogge today offered gold medals all round to Athens for organising a superb Olympics after years of doom and gloom leading up to the opening.


Silver boxing medal for teenager Khan

British teenager Amir Khan has failed to win a gold medal in the Athens Olympics after losing his lightweight division boxing final.


Sikh community celebrates 400 years of installation of holy <b>...</b>

SINGAPORE : Singapore #39;s Sikh community on Sunday celebrated the 400th anniversary of the first installation of its holy book - the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.


Silver medal for Amir Khan

Bolton teenager Amir Khan has lost the final of the Olympic lightweight boxing competition to defending champion Mario Kindelan. The 17-year-old claims the silver medal for Great Britain but his Cuban opponent #39;s experience showed.


Ten dead in bomb blast

TEN people, most of them youths, were killed and an unknown number were injured when a bomb went off overnight in a religious school in Afghanistan, the US military said today.


Saboteurs blow up Iraq oil pipeline

Saboteurs blew up an export pipeline in southern Iraq today in the latest in a series of attacks targeting the volatile countrys crucial oil industry.


Rocket, bomb kill two Pakistani soldiers (Reuters)

Reuters - A rocket attack and a remote control bomb killed two Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and wounded 11 in the western tribal regions where troops are hunting al Qaeda-linked militants, officials said on Sunday.


Blast Kills Man at Chechen Polling Station

OISKHARA, Russia - Against a backdrop of war and squalor, Chechens voted Sunday for a replacement for their assassinated president in a vote the Kremlin hopes will bring some stability to the violence-torn region. A man was killed when he attempted to blow up a polling station...


Coaching likely in Staley #39;s Olympic future

With a gold medal dangling from her neck, Dawn Staley said Saturday that she won #39;t play basketball in the Olympics again. She sure would like to coach in one, though.


German FM Joschka Fischer arriving Monday.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warned Sunday that an Iranian nuclear arms buildup would be a  quot;nightmare, quot; saying Europe is looking to head off any dangerous confrontation with Tehran.


Week ahead: Apple #39;s Paris buzz

Following are some of the notable technology-related events scheduled for the week of Aug. 15. Apple Computer fans are dishing the scuttlebutt this week.


S Korea lodge appeal in Hamm medal row

South Korea have appealed to sport #39;s supreme legal body in an attempt to award Yang Tae-young the Olympic gymnastics all-round gold medal after a scoring error robbed him of the title in Athens.


Blair tried to bully BBC over Iraq coverage

London: Former BBC chief has accused British Prime Minister Tony Blair of attempting to force the corporation to change its tone of coverage of the Iraq war and the issue of weapons of mass destruction.


Iran Hosts Iraqi Official, Eyes Better Relations (Reuters)

Reuters - Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih\said Sunday he brought a message of friendship to Iran, which\has been angered by charges it is stirring up tension in Iraq,\the official IRNA news agency said.


Slovaks Commemorate Start of Revolt (AP)

AP - Military jets thundered overhead, and hundreds of people, including veterans and top officials, gathered in Sunday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Slovak uprising against Nazi rule.


Big Explosion Rocks Afghan Capital (AP)

AP - A big explosion rocked the center of the Afghan capital on Sunday, but there was no immediate word on the cause, the extent of damage or casualties.


Largest Protest of Week Expected in NYC (AP)

AP - New York braced Sunday for tens of thousands of demonstrators in the largest scheduled protest of the week against the Bush administration, as Republican delegates descended on a heavily fortified convention city.


BA staff to get cut-price flights

British Airways says it is rewarding ground staff with cheap flights after a chaotic week of cancelled flights.


RPT-Blast in Kabul Kills Several People-Witnesses (Reuters)

Reuters - Several people were killed on Sunday by a\powerful blast in the Afghan capital, witnesses said.


Palestinian PM Qorei set for talks in Egypt (AFP)

AFP - Palestinian premier Ahmed Qorei is to hold talks with senior officials in Egypt this week over Israel's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip and the possibility of a new truce by armed factions.


Bangladesh opposition calls for Monday strike (Reuters)

Reuters - Bangladesh's main opposition party called for a fourth strike day in a week on Monday to protest against a deadly grenade attack on a political rally.


Florida Hopes to Get It Right in Primary Ballot (Reuters)

Reuters - Florida, which held up the results of the\2000 presidential election by more than a month, holds a\primary this week that many regard as a test of the state's\readiness to avoid another fiasco in November.


BA staff to get cut-price flights

British Airways has said it plans to give 17,500 staff two extra discounted flights as a reward for coping with stress and disruption in the last week.


German FM: Iranian nuclear arms buildup would be a  #39;nightmare #39;

Fischer says an Iranian nuclear challenge only adds to Middle East problems that include bringing security and stability to postwar Iraq.


Ex-head of BBC says Tony Blair lied

The former chief of the BBC has accused Britain #39;s Prime Minister Tony Blair of being incompetent or lying to Parliament about the war in Iraq, the BBC said.


Welcome to New York. Now Go Hail a Cab.

You saw the movie, you memorized the song, so let's skip the bit about the Bronx being up and the Battery down. What you need to know is the best way to get around.


South Korean gymnast goes to sport court to get gold medal

The South Korean gymnast who lost the all-around title to Paul Hamm because of a scoring error filed an appeal Sunday with a sports arbitration panel, asking it to help him get the gold medal.


British Airways to Conduct Internal Probe Into Canceled Flights

British Airways Plc, Europe #39;s second- biggest airline, said it will conduct an internal investigation into a labor shortage that led it to cancel more than 100 flights in the past week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.


UN Publishes Environmental Report on North Korea

The first report on environmental conditions in North Korea such as the quality of water, air, forest, soil, and diversity of wildlife has been published.


Rooney hovers between Manchester United and Newcastle

That England #39;s Euro 2004 wonder boy Wayne Rooney will leave Everton is virtually certain, following an increased offer by Manchester United and the teenager #39;s determination to move on.


Ten dead in Afghanistan bomb blast: US military

KABUL : Ten people, most of them youths, were killed and an unknown number were injured when a bomb went off overnight in a religious school in Afghanistan, the US military said.


Investors Take a Holiday (Reuters)

Reuters - Investors may pack up and leave town\this week as the Republican National Convention begins in New\York and many on Wall Street take vacation -- draining U.S.\markets of volume and leaving stocks with little direction.


Intel Clouded by Back-To-School Fears

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp.'s INTC.O upcoming  mid-quarter report will be closely watched for signs of weak  back-to-school computer sales, though recent market share gains  in memory chips could help offset any softness in computer  microprocessor demand.


Investors Take a Holiday

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors may pack up and leave town  this week as the Republican National Convention begins in New  York and many on Wall Street take vacation -- draining U.S.  markets of volume and leaving stocks with little direction.


Largest Protest of Week Expected in NYC

NEW YORK - New York braced Sunday for tens of thousands of demonstrators in the largest scheduled protest of the week against the Bush administration, as Republican delegates descended on a heavily fortified convention city.    Marchers planned to chart a circular course through the city to the convention site at Madison Square Garden and then back south again...


Deadly Blast Mars Chechen Voting

OISKHARA, Russia - Against a backdrop of war and squalor, Chechens voted Sunday for a replacement for their assassinated president in a vote the Kremlin hopes will bring some stability to the violence-torn region. A man was killed when he attempted to blow up a polling station...


Canadian Banks Target US as Springboard to Success

Frustrated in a domestic market that offers them little chance to grow, many a Canadian bank has ventured south to the US market in a hunt for the prize asset that will vault them into the Big Time.


Air J pilots pay bill poses danger to airline, says official

Government officials, already concerned that Air Jamaica is buckling under the weight of record high fuel prices, are growing increasingly uneasy with the costs to the national carrier of its pilots.


Brown-Forman to make first move in 300m Glenmorangie bid battle

BROWN-FORMAN, the drinks group behind Jack Daniels, will launch a formal bid for Glenmorangie, the Scotch whisky producer which was put up for sale last week.


Intel Clouded by Back-To-School Fears

Intel Corp. #39;s (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) upcoming mid-quarter report will be closely watched for signs of weak back-to-school computer sales, though recent


Korean Olympic Team Files Petition with CAS

Koreas Olympic delegation filed a petition on Saturday, appealing for a correction of a scoring error committed during Yang Tae-youngs performance in mens gymnastics with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Shin Bak-je, the headperson of


Intel Clouded by Back-To-School Fears

Intel Corp. #39;s upcoming mid-quarter report will be closely watched for signs of weak back-to-school computer sales, though recent market share gains in memory chips could help offset any softness in computer microprocessor demand.


Korean Challenges Hamm Gold

South Koreas Tae Young Yang has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport challenging the result of the mens all-round gymnastics final.


Militants Holding French Journalists Demand End to Ban on Scarves

A militant Iraqi Islamic group holding two French journalists has demanded that France annul a new law banning Muslim head scarves in public schools, adding an ominous new


Celtic in seventh heaven as Thompson strike clinches win against Gers (AFP)

AFP - Celtic clinched their seventh consecutive win against Rangers with a 1-0 win at Parkhead courtesy of a late Alan Thompson strike.


One Dead in Afghanistan Explosion (AP)

AP - A big explosion badly damaged a house in downtown Kabul Sunday, killing at least one man. The building was in flames.


Kremlin Man Heads for Win in Tense Chechnya Poll

GROZNY, Russia (Reuters) - A Moscow-backed policeman was  set to become rebel Chechnya's new president in a fraught  election Sunday marked by a bomb blast in which only the  attacker was killed.


Three Americans, Two Afghans Killed in Kabul Blast

KABUL (Reuters) - At least three American nationals  involved in the training of Afghanistan's new police force were  killed Sunday in a powerful blast in Kabul that also killed at  least two Afghans, a defense ministry official told Reuters.


China squashes little grasshopper #39;s shoes

As a wise, old, bearded Buddhist monk might say, LeBron James is still but a little grasshopper. Ah, but the grasshopper sure can jump - and not just on the basketball court, so says John Petkovic of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.


Somalia forms central government

After years of anarchy, Somalia is poised to set up a new parliament which will elect a president.


Belgian GP, Race

Jarno ninth and retirement for Fernando in an extremely disappointing result for the team in Belgium.


Investors Take a Holiday

Investors may pack up and leave town this week as the Republican National Convention begins in New York and many on Wall Street take vacation -- draining US markets of volume and leaving stocks with little direction.


Van Wagoner barred from mutual fund industry roles

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday it filed settled fraud charges against San Francisco-based Van Wagoner Capital Management Inc.


Schumacher finishes second at Spa but still claims seventh season <b>...</b>

Michael Schumacher clinched an unprecedented seventh Formula One drivers #39; title at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, despite not winning for just the second time in 14 races this season.


Sistani #39;s Initiative

Fortunately, it ended as such. The major massacre did not occur, but small ones did. The shrines and the holy places were not destroyed, although some walls were hit.


At least three American nationals involved in the training of Afghanistan #39;s new police force were killed Sunday in a powerful blast in Kabul that also killed at least two Afghans, a defense ministry official told Reuters.


Bush: Kerry's Vietnam Tour 'More Heroic' (AP)

AP - President Bush said opponent John Kerry's service was "more heroic" than his during Vietnam, in an interview shown Saturday on NBC News.


Effort Intensifies to Secure Penn Station (AP)

AP - Trash cans are welded shut, armed guards are watching rail yards and thousands of cops are patrolling Penn Station. North America's busiest train station is the epicenter of the city's largest police deployment in memory.


Quenching a big thirst

THE world #39;s biggest beer company was formed at the weekend after Belgium brewer Interbrew and Brazilian drinks group AmBev merged.


Younger players will lead next run for basketball gold

Staley #39;s generation set the tone for America #39;s dominance of women #39;s basketball. She was hoisted off her feet by a player who represents the future of the sport, a generation that will be charged with keeping the gold medals coming.


Stale memories of Athens

There will be many lingering memories from these Athens Olympics, not least of which will be every detail of the in-venue catering, a tawdry little collection of the stewed, the strange and


Jimenez wins BMW International Open by two shots

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez won his fourth European Tour title of the year with a two-shot victory at the BMW International Open on Sunday, with the European Ryder Cup team to be finalised later in the day.


Serving up a Slam to savour

SOMEWHERE along the road that each year begins in Melbourne and stretches to Paris and London before ending in New York, tennis has become interesting again.


Tribal Leaders Meet US, Iraqi Officials For Al-Sadr City Talks

Shi #39;a tribal leaders in Baghdad #39;s Al-Sadr City district met today with Iraqi police and US Army officials for talks on how to restore calm amid almost daily clashes that have killed and injured many people.


French ministers meet over kidnapping

French ministers have been holding emergency meetings to discuss how to respond to the kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq.


Birdstone Shows Belmont Was No Fluke

The downpour that engulfed Saratoga somehow held off until just after Birdstone won the Travers Stakes on Saturday and solidified his credentials as the top 3-year-old in training.


Hammer Gold Medallist Annus Loses Medal

ATHENS (Reuters) - Olympic men's hammer champion Adrian  Annus has been stripped of his gold medal after failing to take  a drugs test, the International Olympic Committee said Sunday.


Two Afghan Blasts Kill at Least 15 People

KABUL (Reuters) - At least 15 people have been killed in  explosions in an upscale district of the Afghan capital Kabul  and at a school in a southeastern province, officials said  Sunday.


This Jersey wears on star

Jason Kidd performed a few of the old dance steps last night at the Meadowlands, but his new partners kept stepping on his feet, and on their own toes.


Big Anti-Bush Protests Expected in NYC

NEW YORK - Demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday to protest President Bush's foreign and domestic policies as Republican delegates gathered to nominate the president for a second term.    A day ahead of the start of the Republican National Convention, up to 250,000 demonstrators were expected to march up Seventh Ave...


U.S. Wrestlers Shut Out

Daniel Cormier and Joe Williams of the United States each lose in Olympic freestyle wrestling, leaving America without a finalist in the three gold medal matches.


Gymnast Goes to Court

The South Korean gymnast who lost the all-around title to Paul Hamm because of a scoring error files an appeal Sunday with a sports arbitration panel asking it to help him get a gold medal.


France demands release of hostages

France #39;s interior minister demanded Sunday the release of two French journalists believed kidnapped by Islamic militants in Iraq.


Afghan School Explosion Kills 10

29 August 2004 -- The US military says an explosion near a school in southeastern Afghanistan has killed 10 people. US military spokeswoman Master Sergeant Ann Bennett says the people killed by the explosion


Damascus feels Beirut #39;s ripple effect

HE is jowly, uninspiring and favours shiny, wide-knotted ties. He has served for six quiet years as President, yet his modest proposal last week that he be re-elected was enough to unleash a constitutional and political crisis.


Mugabe claims Blair trying to oust him

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has vowed he will never retreat in the face of what he calls British and US government attempts to oust him.


El Guerrouj, Holmes complete doubles; Americans yield

ATHENS, Greece - Hicham El Guerrouj became the first man in 80 years to win the 1,500 and the 5,000 races at one Olympics, joining Finnish great Paavo Nurmi in the history books on Saturday.


Athletics: Clumsy US relay teams hand foes gold

ATHENS No one had run faster than the US 100-meter sprinters - at least without a baton. But put the stick in an unpracticed American #39;s hand on the track in these Olympics, and it transforms talent into tumult.


Casey, Howell lock up Ryder Cup berths

MUNICH, Germany - Paul Casey, David Howell and Ian Poulter of Britain and Paul McGinley of Ireland cemented their places in the European Ryder Cup team with top-25 finishes at the BMW International Open on Sunday.


Four Secure European Ryder Cup Spots (AP)

AP - England's Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and David Howell, and Irishman Paul McGinley secured spots on Europe's Ryder Cup team at the BMW International on Sunday.


Middlesbrough 3 Manchester City 2

WHILST Nicolas Anelka appears to play his own version of I #39;mA Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, #39; the rest of the City squad are getting on with making a decent fist of life in the Premiership jungle.


G.I. Says Prisoner Humiliation Encouraged (AP)

AP - Staff Sgt. Ivan "Chip" Frederick, who last week agreed to plead guilty to some charges in the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal, said in an interview published Sunday that "secret services" operating in the jail encouraged the humilation of prisoners.


Equatorial Guinea coup plotters deserve firing squad: president (AFP)

AFP - The alleged plotters of a coup in Equatorial Guinea are "blood-thirsty pirates" who deserve the firing squad, the country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema said.


Personal wealth column

The panels, each with a capacity of 190 watts, can provide 36 kilowatts of pollution-free electricity, enough to power as many as a dozen typical homes.


Rampaging elephants trample bulls

THE bulls and the bears are on holiday, leaving the Republican Elephants free to roam in Wall Street #39;s backyard. Although the three most watched market indices closed higher on Friday, only 848 million shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange.


California Cities, Counties Sue Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT:Nasdaq - news - research) is being sued by several California cities and counties, which accuse the company of charging inflated prices due to its alleged monopoly control of the PC operating system market.


Warner to Start at QB for Giants (AP)

AP - Two-time MVP Kurt Warner beat out Eli Manning for the job of starting quarterback of the New York Giants. Coach Tom Coughlin announced the decision Sunday, a day after indicating he would not decide until after this week's final exhibition game. The Giants open the regular sesaon Sept. 12 at Philadelphia.


Jimenez Wins BMW Open; 4 Claim Ryder Spots (AP)

AP - Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez won his fourth title on the European tour this season, and four others claimed Ryder Cup berths Sunday at the BMW Open. The event was dominated by competition for Europe's Ryder Cup team. Englishmen Paul Casey finished third to secure one of four guaranteed spots and was joined by countrymen David Howell and Ian Poulter and Irishman Paul McGinley.


Muslim Leaders Condemn Kidnappings (AP)

AP - Muslim leaders in France on Sunday condemned the kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq and said the government should not capitulate to militant demands to revoke a law that bans the wearing of Islamic head scarves in schools.


Singh shows us a side we didn #39;t know he had

Tears did not flow, the voice did not crack, the lower lip did not quiver. But if the year in golf taught us anything, it is that Vijay Singh cannot be judged by anyone else #39;s standards.


Alonso thinks of what might have been

The young Spaniard was leading when he spun into retirement on lap 12 of the Belgian Grand Prix. He talks about his race


Giants to Start Warner

The New York Giants announce that two-time MVP Kurt Warner beats out Eli Manning for the starting quarterback job.


ARMCHAIR MBA Buffing the Image of the Chief Executive

N the wake of the corporate governance scandals of the last several years, chief executives must make changes to rebuild their stature as leaders, says Andrea Redmond, co-leader of the


Australia #39;s Howard to Campaign on Record, Latham Pledges Change

Australians will go to the polls on Oct. 9, with Prime Minister John Howard campaigning for a fourth term on his record of economic management, low interest rates and national security.


Microsoft sets date for Longhorn

Microsoft has announced that start shipping its next version of its Windows operating system in 2006. However to meet the new tight deadline a number of technical innovations will have to be dropped from the OS.


Sensational Saytiev wrestles back to the top

Russia #39;s Buvaysa Saytiev has confirmed his status as an all-time wrestling great by winning a second Olympic gold medal, eight years after his first victory in Atlanta.


UK #39;s Blair Liar or Incompetent, Says Former BBC Director Dyke

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has been accused of either lies or incompetence in his handling of the Iraq war, by Greg Dyke, former director-general of the British Broadcasting Corporation.


8 Dead, 54 Injured in French Auto Pileup

At least eight people have been killed and at least 54 others injured in a road accident in southwestern France. Authorities say a Spanish bus, a minivan, and at least two cars were involved in the pre-dawn


Gandhi's Grandson Urges Palestinians to March Home (Reuters)

Reuters - The grandson of Mahatma\Gandhi urged Palestinian refugees Sunday to march home from\Jordan en masse, even if the Israelis "kill 200 people," to\shock the world into taking notice.


Two Afghan Blasts Kill at Least 15; Taliban Claims 1

KABUL (Reuters) - At least 15 people have been killed in  explosions in an upscale district of the Afghan capital Kabul  and at a school in a southeastern province where nine children  died, officials said Sunday.


Gandhi's Grandson Urges Palestinians to March Home

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The grandson of Mahatma  Gandhi urged Palestinian refugees Sunday to march home from  Jordan en masse, even if the Israelis "kill 200 people," to  shock the world into taking notice.


China to modernise rail routes

Three overseas firms win contracts to improve speeds on China's intercity rail routes to ease freight bottlenecks.


Six Dead in Afghanistan Explosion

KABUL, Afghanistan - An explosion tore through the office of an American defense contractor in the heart of the Afghan capital Sunday, killing as many as six people and seriously injuring several more, officials and residents said. The victims included several apparent U.S...


Iraqi Leaders Meet in Peace Effort

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military and Iraqi Shiite and tribal leaders held talks Sunday aimed a reducing tensions in the Baghdad's Sadr City slum, where 10 people died in fighting a day earlier between Shiite militiamen and U.S...


75,000 Without Power As Storm Slams S.C.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Tropical Storm Gaston sloshed ashore in South Carolina Sunday, spinning sheets of rain and near hurricane-force wind as it uprooted trees, flooded roads and knocked out power to at least 75,000 homes...


Kerry hits Bush on economy

Standing before a crowd of about 15,000 at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry ticked off a list of domestic problems he said President


No winners in Powerball, Hoosier Lotto

INDIANAPOLIS -- None of the tickets sold for the latest Hoosier Lotto game matched all six numbers drawn, so the jackpot grows to an estimated \$7 million for Wednesday #39;s drawing.


Coughlin taps QB ahead of schedule

Coach Tom Coughlin announced the decision Sunday, a day after indicating he would not decide until after this week #39;s final preseason game.


Marlon hails sprint revival

Gold medal-winning Marlon Devonish says the men #39;s 4x100m Olympic relay triumph puts British sprinting back on the map. Devonish, Darren Campbell, Jason Gardener and Mark Lewis-Francis edged out the American


Evidence on second plane backs terror fear

RUSSIAN investigators have found explosive residue on the wreckage of the second of two airliners which crashed at almost the same time, a security spokesman said yesterday.


Olympic Games were good investment, says Greek economy minister (AFP)

AFP - Greek Economy Minister Yiorgos Alogoskoufis said the Olympic Games had been a good investment for his country, despite earlier misgivings about spiralling costs.


Rogge wages war on drugs cheats

IOC president Jacques Rogge has vowed that a record number of doping tests will be carried out at the Beijing Olympics in an effort to fight the war he admits will never be won.


Monty, Donald in Ryder Cup

European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer named Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald as his wildcard picks for the side to face the USA in September.


Wayne rooney disappointed in Everton

LIVERPOOL, Aug 29 (SW) - Everton and England striker Wayne Rooney has said he is  quot;disappointed quot; with the way his club and their fans have responded to his transfer request.


Giants tab Warner as starter

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New York Giants put an end to any possible quarterback controversy as Kurt Warner was named the starter over rookie Eli Manning for the season opener.


Jays left stranded vs. Yanks

com. Just when the Blue Jays seemed to be making it a game on Saturday, the Yankees sprinted away with a three-homer barrage. New York scored nine times in the ninth inning, cashing in an 18-6 win over Toronto.


Internet Turns 35, Still Work in Progress (AP)

AP - Thirty-five years after computer scientists at UCLA linked two bulky computers using a 15-foot gray cable, testing a new way for exchanging data over networks, what would ultimately become the Internet remains a work in progress.


France's Testud Pulls Out of U.S. Open (AP)

AP - Sandrine Testud of France pulled out of the U.S. Open on Sunday because of an injured right foot.


Marathon Leader Pushed Off Road by Protester

ATHENS (Reuters) - Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil was pushed  off the road by a lone protester while leading the men's  Olympic marathon on Sunday.


AP Survey: Terror Fight Is RNC Priority (AP)

AP - First and foremost, delegates to the Republican National Convention want their next president  #151; whoever that may be  #151; to focus on fighting terrorism, an Associated Press survey found.


Iran Hosts Iraqi Official, Eyes Better Relations

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih  said Sunday he brought a message of friendship to Iran which  has been angered by charges it is stirring up tension in Iraq,  the official IRNA news agency said.


Anti-Bush activists on the march

Opponents of President Bush take to the streets of New York for a protest march ahead of the Republican convention.


NASA Says Shuttle Is On Track for May Flight

NASA engineers said yesterday that plans to send the space shuttle aloft next May appear to be proceeding smoothly, but designers acknowledged  quot;setbacks quot; in devising onboard techniques to


WEEKAHEAD-Emerging debt trade seen thin ahead of US jobs data

Emerging market sovereign spreads are expected to move in narrow ranges and thin volume this week but trade is seen likely to pick up once traders assess US August jobs data to be released on Friday.


Nursing homes no haven

Hurricane Charley exposed glaring weaknesses in the emergency plans that were supposed to protect hundreds of Charlotte County #39;s most vulnerable residents, the people living in nursing homes.


France Pleas for Release of Journalists

The French government and Muslim community in France requested the release of two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq. Al-Jazeera TV broadcast video of the hostages and disclosed the names of the


Open-Roddick can #39;t wait for  #39;electric #39; atmosphere

Andy Roddick hopes to use home advantage to the maximum as he begins the defence of his US Open crown next week. Roddick, who opens this year against American


Kremlin Candidate Favourite As Chechnya Votes Amid Violence

A Kremlin-backed career police officer was set to be crowned leader of Chechnya in a vote Sunday that Moscow hopes will show progress towards peace in the embattled


Bangladesh #39;s Opposition Party Calls for Another Strike

The main opposition party in Bangladesh has called for another nationwide strike to protest a deadly grenade attack at a party rally in the capital, Dhaka, eight days ago.


Baldini Wins Marathon

Italy's Stefano Baldini wins the marathon in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 54 seconds. Mebrahtom Keflezighi of the United States takes silver.


Iraqi Leaders Meet in Peace Effort

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military and Iraqi Shiite and tribal leaders held talks Sunday aimed at reducing tensions in the Baghdad's Sadr City slum, where 10 people died in fighting a day earlier between Shiite militiamen and U.S...


China Launches Satellite

New China News Agency reported that the satellite was set into orbit by a  #39;Long Walking- 2C #39; rocket. The satellite was launched at 15:50 local time (10:50 in Turkey) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center in Gansu province in northwestern China.


Basketball: US coach right behind team

Their character questioned and commitment belittled, the United States men #39;s team responded to their critics by taking the bronze with a gold-medal effort.


Rogge gives top marks to Athens

Olympic supremo Jacques Rogge on Sunday gave top marks to Athens for organising a superb Games.  quot;I am an extremely happy President of the IOC, quot; he told reporters on the day the Games wrap up.


Athletics: It #39;s Britain by a vest thickness

ATHENS - Britain took a shock gold in the men #39;s 4x100m relay, pipping favourites the United States by 100th of a second. Mark Lewis-Francis held off 2000 Olympic 100m champion Maurice Greene in a blistering last leg to clinch the gold in 38.


Diving: Hu steps up to take diving gold

ATHENS - Hu Jia, Olympic silver medallist in 2000, went one better to win the men #39;s platform crown and bring China six of the eight diving titles.


Athletics: Russian flies high for gold

ATHENS - Russian Yelena Slesarenko deprived Hestrie Cloete of the high jump gold medal by soaring to the title with a display bordering on perfection.


Judge Bars R.I. Man From Sending 'Spam' (AP)

AP - A judge granted Verizon Wireless a permanent injunction against a Rhode Island man accused of sending millions of unsolicited text-message advertisements to cell phone customers in four states.


AU Probes Darfur Allegations, Peace Talks Resume (Reuters)

Reuters - Peace talks between Darfur\rebels and the Sudanese government resumed Sunday evening after\a 24 hour boycott by rebels who accused Khartoum Saturday of\violating a cease-fire by killing 75 civilians in six villages.


Montgomerie Gets Spot on Ryder Cup Team (AP)

AP - Colin Montgomerie will play in his seventh Ryder Cup, added to the European team Sunday as one of two wild-card selections by captain Bernhard Langer. Langer also chose 26-year-old Luke Donald, giving England five players on a team that will try to retain the Ryder Cup against the United States on Sept. 17-19 at Oakland Hills outside Detroit.


Crude oil futures start heading down

NEW YORK - Crude oil futures in New York have plunged 7.6 per cent in their biggest weekly decline in a year, because of reduced concerns about supply disruptions in Iraq.


Monty #39;s in; Langer adds Montgomerie and Donald

Munich, Germany (Sports Network) - European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer finalized his team on Sunday when he added six-time Ryder Cup veteran Colin Montgomerie and rookie Luke Donald.


Tae-young goes to court

The South Korean gymnast who lost the all-around title to Paul Hamm because of a scoring error filed an appeal Sunday with a sports arbitration panel asking it to help him get a gold medal.


Standoff bolstered Sadr #39;s support

Interviews with Iraqi Shiite clerics reveal that moderates are increasingly supporting Sadr #39;s anti-US campaign. By Scott Baldauf  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Explosion Kills 7 at US Firm in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan Aug. 29, 2004 - An explosion tore through the office of an American security contractor in the heart of the Afghan capital Sunday, killing seven people, including two Americans, officials and witnesses said.


Italian Wins Bizarre Men's Marathon (AP)

AP - Stafano Baldini of Italy took the lead two miles from the finish to win the gold medal and American Meb Keflezighi took a stunning silver Sunday in an Olympic marathon disrupted by a costumed intruder who grabbed the race leader with about three miles to go.


Two Turkish Hostages Freed in Iraq (AP)

AP - Two Turkish hostages were freed by Iraqi militants Sunday, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said, less than a week after the men's employers said they were ending operations in Iraq to save the lives of their employees.


Sudanese peace talks restart after one-day rebel boycott (AFP)

AFP - The African Union's peace talks on the crisis in Darfur restarted at the end of a one-day boycott called by two rebel groups in protest over alleged government attacks on civilians.


Iraq Shadows Bush Presidency, Campaign (AP)

AP - War is hell on a presidency. And it plays havoc with presidential campaigns.


Greece set for Games finale

Athens prepares to bid farewell to the 2004 Olympic Games at Sunday's closing ceremony.


Veterans lead way for US women

Sue Bird, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft, didn #39;t get many minutes at the Athens Games. By Jack Gruber, USA TODAY. In the gold medal game, a 74-63 victory against Australia, she played just one.


Italian first, American surprising second in bizarre marathon

Stafano Baldini of Italy took the lead two miles from the finish to win the gold medal and American Meb Keflezighi took a stunning silver Sunday in an Olympic marathon disrupted by a costumed intruder who grabbed the race leader with about three miles to


Chirac sends foreign minister to Middle East to negotiate on Iraq hostages (AFP)

AFP - French President Jacques Chirac said that he would immediately dispatch his foreign minister to the Middle East to help negotiate the release of two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq.


Farmers' Almanac Predicts a Wild Winter (AP)

AP - Gas up the snowblower but don't put away your umbrella: The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a wild winter with heavy precipitation and dramatic temperature swings in the Northeast.


Two Afghan Blasts Kill at Least 17; Taliban Claims 1

KABUL (Reuters) - At least 17 people including children  died in two explosions within 24 hours in Kabul on Sunday and  overnight at a religious school in a southeastern province of  Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.


MTV Turns Up Celeb Heat in Sizzling Miami

MIAMI - An already broiling Miami prepared for even more sizzle on Sunday as MTV brought the annual party known as the Video Music Awards to the city for the first time in the awards' 21-year history.    The change of scenery for the awards, typically held in New York or Los Angeles, helped raise the decadence level at the already raucous, celebrity-soaked affair...


Tax Cuts Still Cornerstone of Bush Economic Plan

President Bush #39;s speech on Thursday to the Republican convention offers him a chance to seize the initiative in an economic debate that polls show is being won by his Democratic rival, John Kerry.


Doping cases hit record

With a record 24 athletes ousted for drug-related violations, perhaps the biggest upset of the Olympics was no US team member flunked a doping test.


Triumphant Olympics End With Pride, Relief (AP)

AP - Efharisto! A nervous world learned the Greek word for thank you and repeated it endlessly at an astonishingly successful Athens Olympics that quelled fears, surprised skeptics and greatly honored the birthplace of the games.


African Union Probes Cease-Fire Violation (AP)

AP - This small village of mud and straw huts lay ruined and abandoned Sunday, the ground charred, after residents said Sudanese soldiers attacked with a warplane and helicopters, driving farmers from their homes days before a U.N. deadline to end the violence in the ravaged Darfur region.


Tiger Woods Opens Calif. Education Center (AP)

AP - Tiger Woods says the primary goal of his youth education center is to help students improve their grades, not master their golf strokes.


Two turns of a screw lay behind Sea King crash on destroyer deck - report (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - HALIFAX (CP) - Two turns of a screw caused the spectacular crash of a Sea King helicopter onto the deck of a Canadian destroyer at sea last year.


Kremlin's Man Wins, Early Results in Chechnya Show

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Preliminary results gave victory to Alu  Alkhanov in Chechnya's presidential election Sunday, with the  Moscow-backed policeman winning more than 50 percent of the  vote, the region's acting president was quoted as saying.


Lanka may withdraw \$5 million SCI suit

Sri Lanka Telecom will shortly withdraw its \$5 million suit filed against Shipping Corp. of India Ltd (SCI) for allegedly damaging the islands main submarine telecommunications cable, Sudhir S Rangnekar, director, liner, SCI, said on Friday.


Marathon leader attacked, but result stands

Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima was tonight involved in the first high-profile security breach of the Olympic Games as a spectator watching the mens marathon accosted the long-time race leader.


Athens closes 2004 Olympic Summer Games with pride and relief

ATHENS (CP) - With pride and relief, Athens bid farewell to its guests from 201 countries at the close of the 2004 Olympic Games on Sunday.


Ferguson bemoans finishing

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson agreed it was handball by Louis Saha that led to their equaliser - but felt his side deserved to win.


Afghan children killed in blast

At least seven children have been killed and 15 wounded when a blast ripped through a school in the southeastern Afghan province of Paktia.


Sudanese peace talks restart after rebel boycott as UN deadline expires (AFP)

AFP - Sudanese peace talks restarted here at the end of a one-day boycott called by rebel groups in protest at alleged government attacks on civilians, and as a UN deadline for action on the Darfur crisis expired.


Baldini Triumph in Marathon Marred by Intruder

ATHENS (Reuters) - Italian Stefano Baldini won the Olympic  men's marathon Sunday after an intruder dashed on to the course  late in the race and bundled the then leader Vanderlei de Lima  into the crowd.


Anti-Kerry Ads Not Unfair, Laura Bush Says (Reuters)

Reuters - First lady Laura Bush said on Sunday\that campaign advertisements accusing Democratic presidential\candidate John Kerry of lying about his Vietnam War record were\fair.


Ward Wins Gold

Andre Ward beats Magomed Aripgadjiev of Belarus for gold in the light heavyweight division.


No entry for spam

AFTER a couple of days #39; leave, one gets back to work, opens the e-mail and starts swearing. You know the reason: Spam. Except for tech-savvy Internet users who have installed tools such as spam filtering software


Cut n #39; paste and colour codes

My system configuration is as follows: Pentium IV - 1.60 GH, 128 MB RAM, Windows XP Pro OS, OXP. NAV2003 updated upto August 09, 2004.


Schumacher Wins Seventh F-1 Title After Second Place in Belgium

Ferrari #39;s Michael Schumacher secured a record-extending seventh Formula One driving title by finishing second to McLaren #39;s Kimi Raikkonen at the Belgium Grand Prix.


Somalia inaugurates transitional gov #39;t

Somalia inaugurated a transitional parliament Sunday, taking an important first step toward forming a new government for the devastated country even as rivalries continue


United Parent Reports \$6M Profit in July

United Airlines #39; parent company said in a bankruptcy-court filing Thursday that it eked out a \$6 million net profit last month during the middle of the busy summer travel season.


Turning the corner

SASKEN Communications, which provides embedded software to the telecom industry, has seen its fortunes change for the better the last year.


Italian Stefano Baldini won the Olympic men #39;s marathon Sunday after an intruder dashed on to the course late in the race and bundled the then leader Vanderlei de Lima into the crowd.


Car Bomb Kills 2 Americans in Kabul

A powerful car bomb exploded at dusk Sunday outside the downtown office of an American security contracting firm and an adjacent building used to train Afghan police.


US, Afghan soldiers arrest 22 suspected Taliban Afghanistan

KABUL, August 30 (Online): US and Afghan soldiers conducting a large sweep arrested 22 suspected Taliban after a firefight in a forbidding mountain region of Zabul province, Afghan and US military officials said .


Soaring traffic fines, insurance rates have more Canadians fighting tickets (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - FREDERICTON (CP) - When a 23-year-old university student from New Brunswick decided to go to court to fight a  #36;400 speeding ticket, she knew it was a long shot.


125,000 Without Power As Storm Slams S.C.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Tropical Storm Gaston sloshed ashore in South Carolina Sunday with near hurricane-force wind, spinning sheets of rain that flooded roads as the storm knocked out power to thousands of people...


Triumphant Olympics End With Pride, Relief

ATHENS, Greece - Efharisto! A nervous world learned the Greek word for thank you and repeated it endlessly at an astonishingly successful Athens Olympics that quelled fears, surprised skeptics and greatly honored the birthplace of the games.    Efharisto, Athens, for architectural masterpieces of stadiums and arenas that showcased record performances...


Brazilian Attacked During Men #39;s Marathon

ATHENS, Greece Aug. 29, 2004 - The defrocked Irish priest who bolted from the crowd and tackled the marathon leader about three miles from the finish Sunday has been arrested before for disrupting sporting events.


Olympics: Baldini wins Olympic men #39;s marathon marred by <b>...</b>

ATHENS : Stefano Baldini of Italy won a dramatic men #39;s marathon at the Olympic Gamesafter long-time race leader Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil was attacked by a spectator in the latter stages of the race.


ATHENS OLYMPIC 2004 / El Guerrouj grabs 2nd gold, place in history <b>...</b>

Two days ago, before he would add another chapter to his legendary tale, Hicham El Guerrouj received a message from a friend in France.


ATHENS OLYMPICS 2004 / IOC boss Rogge hails  #39;awakening of Asia #39;

IOC President Jacques Rogge hailed  quot;the awakening of Asia quot; at the Athens Olympics as the global event headed toward its finale.


China rears sporting head

ATHENS: While India continued to wallow in the misery of a lone silver medal, it was euphoria for China as it celebrated its best performance at Olympics after sprinting home in Athens in the final few days of competition with an unexpected surge of gold


Israeli FM cautions EU not to back new UN vote on barrier

Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom cautioned the European Union Sunday to not back any Palestinian moves to condemn Israel at the United Nations for its controversial West Bank separation barrier.


Frenchmen claim discovery of Great Pyramid burial chamber (AFP)

AFP - Two French amateur archaelogists this week published a book in which they claim to have located the secret burial chamber of the Pyramid of Cheops near Cairo, the largest pyramid ever built.


B.C. halfway house seen as killer haven was pressured into closing, says source (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - VANCOUVER (CP) - Operators of the controversial Vernon, B.C. halfway house whose residents were linked to three killings were stampeded into closing it even though there's no evidence of negligence, The Canadian Press has learned.


Sportsview: USC Shows Its Flaws in Opener (AP)

AP - The inexperienced receivers had a tough time getting open. The retooled offensive line had some trouble protecting the star quarterback. And the No. 1 team was trailing the 17 1/2-point underdog with 17 minutes left in the season opener. Southern California doesn't look unbeatable  #151; yet.


ConocoPhillips may buy up to 25 of Russia #39;s Lukoil

US oil major ConocoPhillips is seeking to buy up to 25 percent in Russian oil giant Lukoil to add billions of barrels of reserves to its books, an industry source familiar with the matter said on Friday.


MIT Makes Yale Provost First Woman to Be Its Chief

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Thursday named Susan Hockfield, provost of Yale University, as its 16th president. She succeeds Charles M. Vest, who


Rogge calls Athens unforgettable, dream games #39;

Four years ago, the IOC warned Athens was in danger of losing the Olympics because of severe delays. On Sunday night, the verdict was vastly different.


Monty gets the call

The confidence Colin Montgomerie has displayed throughout the week in Munich proved to have been justified today when, as expected, he was named as one of Bernard Langer #39;s wild cards for the European Ryder Cup team.


Raikkonen wins Belgian Grand Prix; Schumacher second

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Michael Schumacher wasn #39;t in the winner #39;s circle at Sunday #39;s Belgian Grand Prix, but still managed to make some noise.


Deadly Blast Mars Chechen Voting

GROZNY, Russia Aug. 29, 2004 - Chechens battered by five years of war, terrorism and misery voted Sunday for a president in an election that the Russian government portrayed as step toward stability, though


Agnis suspect guidance tested

Over a year after its induction in the Army, the Agni-II intermediate range missile was test-fired on Sunday to test its guidance system over a shorter range.


Royals Recall Gobble, Place Sullivan on DL (AP)

AP - The Kansas City Royals recalled left-hander Jimmy Gobble Sunday from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, and placed right-hander Scott Sullivan on the 15-day disabled list with a back strain.


Two Turkish Hostages Freed in Iraq -Agency (Reuters)

Reuters - Two Turkish engineers abducted by\Iraqi militants were freed on Sunday after the companies they\work for said they would withdraw from Iraq to save their\lives, the state-run Anatolian news agency said.


FBI Probing Suspected Israeli Spy at Pentagon

Reuters, CNN, CBS news, and the Washington Post are reporting that the FBI is investigating a possible Israeli spy in the Pentagon.  The suspected individual is described as a mid-level Pentagon analyst "specialized in Iranian affairs."  The analyst is suspected of passing classified documents to Israel via the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington.   According to CBS news, the analyst had ties  #8220;to Rumsfeld's deputy Paul Wolfowitz and Defense Undersecretary Douglas Feith, both regarded as leading architects of the war on Iraq. #8221; However, another government official claims the suspect is "not in a level to influence policy."


Blast in Kabul Kills 7 at Compound of a U.S. Contractor

At least two Americans died in a blast at the office of an American firm that provides security for President Hamid Karzai.


Update 3: US, Europe Meet on Airplane Subsidies

US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and his new European counterpart Peter Mandelson failed to make headway on a trans-Atlantic standoff over subsidies for Airbus and Boeing at a meeting Monday, saying the dispute remains headed for WTO arbitration.


Conoco Said in Talks for 25 of LUKoil

US oil major ConocoPhillips is seeking to buy up to 25 percent in oil giant LUKoil to add billions of barrels of reserves to its books, an industry source familiar with the matter said Friday.


When Turnabout Is Not Fair Play

In the spring of 1999, then-Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov set off on an official visit to the United States. Over the mid-Atlantic, however, Primakov ordered his pilot to turn the plane around and return to Moscow.


US, Russia, China at the Top of the Table

ATHENS -- After 16 days of competition and 301 events, the United States finished atop the medal charts for the third straight Summer Olympics, with Russia the overall runner-up and China second in gold medals -- its best showing ever and the leading edge


Athens Games a Watershed in War Against Cheats

It started with a missed drugs test and ended with a stripped gold medal. In between it was dominated by steroids, stimulants and diuretics.


Russo on Football: No. 1 USC shows its flaws

The inexperienced receivers had a tough time getting open. The retooled offensive line had some trouble protecting the star quarterback.


Afghanistan Explosions Kill at Least 17 People, AFP Reports

Two explosions, one at a religious school Saturday night and another in the Afghan capital Kabul Sunday, killed at least 17 people, including five children, and the Taliban militia has


Latham condemns PM #39;s rates  #39;scare campaign #39;

Opposition Leader Mark Latham has accused Prime Minister John Howard of running a scare campaign after Mr Howard warned interest rates would rise under Labor.


Heskey left out of England squad, Cole back in

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has left Emile Heskey out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup Group Six qualifiers away to Austria in Vienna next Saturday and Poland in Chorzow four days later.


Startup Launching Web-To-TV Video Service (AP)

AP - The promise of Internet-based video has long been hamstrung by copyright and piracy worries, slow dial-up connections, technical challenges and consumer disdain for watching blotchy videos on their home computers. But a Silicon Valley startup is tackling those obstacles, hoping to become the first major provider of cinema straight from the Internet to the living room boob tube.


Dunn Hits 39th HR As Reds Beat D-Backs (AP)

AP - Edgar Gonzalez held Cincinnati hitless through six innings, but Adam Dunn's 39th homer helped the Reds rally for a 6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Ryan Freel drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning single and the Reds avoided a three-game sweep.


Digital Gear: Entertaining Gadgets

Slick CDs and portable DVD support, plus digicam choices and new security options.


Afghan Blasts Kill at Least 17, Taliban Hits Kabul

KABUL (Reuters) - At least 17 people including children  were killed in a bomb attack in Kabul on Sunday and another  blast overnight at a religious school in the southeast.


Thousands Rally for Mexico Presidential Favorite

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Some 160,000 Mexicans marched on  Sunday to support the presidential hopes of the capital's  leftist mayor who faces government-backed legal challenges that  could knock him out of the 2006 race.


Poll Shows Chechen Police Official in Lead

GROZNY, Russia - The Russian government's choice for president of war-ravaged Chechnya appeared to be the victor Sunday in an election tainted by charges of fraud and shadowed by last week's terrorist destruction of two airliners.    Little more than two hours after polls closed, acting Chechen president Sergei Abramov said preliminary results showed Maj...


Marathoner Slips to Third After Attack

ATHENS, Greece - A defrocked Irish priest bolted from the crowd and grabbed the marathon leader about three miles from the finish Sunday. The Brazilian runner wound up with the bronze - and a special award for sportsmanship - and the former priest was arrested...


Equatorial Guinea Wants to Quiz Thatcher in S. Africa (Update1)

Equatorial Guinea prosecutors have asked South Africa for permission to question Mark Thatcher, who was arrested in Cape Town last week on suspicion of bankrolling a failed plan to overthrow


China Bans Nike Ad

Chinese authorities have banned a Nike television commercial that features LeBron James battling cartoon martial arts masters.


Rhode Island Man Barred From Sending Junk Text Messages

A federal judge in New Jersey granted the injuction to Verizon Wireless, though the carrier did not get the \$150,000 in damages it was seeking.


Brazil Protests to CAS Over De Lima Assault

Brazil #39;s Olympic Committee will protest to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the assault on Vanderlei de Lima who was pushed off the road when he was leading the Olympic marathon on Sunday.


John Howard 1st Iraq Invader to Face Vote

Prime Minister John Howard will become the first of three allied leaders who launched the US-led invasion of Iraq to face voters, having announced Sunday that Australians will go to the polls on Oct. 9. The


Powerful typhoon Chaba set to hit southern Japan

TOKYO: A powerful typhoon was poised to strike the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu today, threatening large areas of the country with strong winds and heavy rain.


U.S. Wins Medals Race, Finishing With 103 (AP)

AP - The United States finished atop the medal charts for the third straight Summer Olympics, with Russia the overall runner-up and China second in gold medals  #151; its best showing ever and the leading edge of a surge by Asian teams. The American team amassed 103 total medals, topping its target of 100, and won 35 golds to 32 for China and 27 for Russia.


Clement Leaves Game With Neck Strain (AP)

AP - Cubs starter Matt Clement left Sunday's game against the Houston Astros with an upper back and neck strain.


Separate Blasts in Turkey Wound 11 People (Reuters)

Reuters - A train in southeastern\Turkey derailed on Sunday after hitting a land mine placed by\suspected Kurdish separatists, while a separate mine blast\wounded 10 soldiers, security officials said.


GOP Convention May Briefly Lift Stocks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fasten your seatbelts. The Republicans  are in town. If things go smoothly at the Republican National  Convention, the stock market could get a brief boost this week,  experts say.


Bush Ties Attack in Saudi Arabia to Iraqi Elections

President Bush tied Monday's deadly assault on a U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia to the upcoming elections in neighboring Iraq, depicting it as part of a broader campaign by Islamic extremists to drive Americans out of the Middle East.


Programs: For Stealth Lovers, 'Thief' Is a Steal

(Gene Emery is a columnist who covers science and  technology. His Internet address is GEmery(at)Cox.net. Any  opinions in the column are his alone.)


California cities and counties sue Microsoft for antitrust

SAN FRANCISCO Several California cities and counties, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, are suing Microsoft for what could amount to billions of dollars.


Triumphant Olympics end with pride and relief

A nervous world learned the Greek word for thank you and repeated it endlessly at an astonishingly successful Athens Olympics that quelled fears, surprised skeptics and greatly honored the birthplace of the games.


Song, spectacle bring 2004 Olympics to a close

With an outpouring of joy, pride and some relief, Athens marked the completion of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games with a closing ceremony full of spectacle, fireworks and music.


Hewitt wins Waterhouse Cup

Australian Lleyton Hewitt posted a straight-set win over Peruvian Luis Horna on Sunday to capture the title at the TD Waterhouse Cup.


Chirac Sends FM to Mideast to Win Iraq Hostage Release

French President Jacques Chirac sent his foreign minister to the Middle East on Sunday to try to win freedom for two journalists held in Iraq by militants demanding France end its ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.


Allawi Holds Meetings With Insurgents

Iraq #39;s interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi, said Sunday he has held private meetings with representatives of insurgent groups from the restive cities of Fallujah


CANBERRA, Australia Aug. 29, 2004 - Prime Minister John Howard will become the first of three allied leaders who launched the US-led invasion of Iraq to face voters, having announced Sunday that Australians will go to the polls on Oct. 9.


Israeli reservists deal with double lives of being civilians and <b>...</b>

At home, Eran Kurtzer is a suburbanite with a wife, baby daughter and small insurance agency. But for six weeks a year, 33-year-old Kurtzer is an army major leading a company of paratroopers on patrols through olive groves on the hills of the West Bank.


Programs: For Stealth Lovers, 'Thief' Is a Steal (Reuters)

Reuters - (Gene Emery is a columnist who covers science and\technology. His Internet address is GEmery(at)Cox.net. Any\opinions in the column are his alone.)


California Cities And Counties Sue Microsoft For Antitrust

The suit, whose plaintiffs include San Franciisco and Los Angeles, is the latest in a string of similar actions brought against Microsoft across the country.


Ochoa wins LPGA Wachovia Classic

Lorena Ochoa birdied three of the last four holes Sunday to overcome a five-stroke deficit and win the Wachovia LPGA Classic. Ochoa finished with a 65 to score a 19-under 269 for her second career win.


Arafat appeals to kidnappers

PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat today issued an urgent call for the immediate release of two French journalists taken hostage in Iraq.


Both Candidates Use McCain in Campaign Ads (AP)

AP - Republican maverick John McCain campaigns with President Bush. He's good friends with Democrat John Kerry. And, in an unusual twist, he's shown up in campaign advertisements for both.


Hewitt Wins Long Island, Sends U.S. Open Warning

COMMACK, New York (Reuters) - Former world number one  Lleyton Hewitt hammered out a warning to his rivals for next  week's U.S. Open as he demolished Peru's Luis Horna 6-3, 6-1,  to win the Long Island Cup on Sunday.


Triumphant Olympics End With Pride, Relief

ATHENS, Greece - Efharisto! A nervous world learned the Greek word for thank you and repeated it endlessly at an astonishingly successful Athens Olympics that quelled fears, surprised skeptics and greatly honored the birthplace of the games.    Fireworks and spectacular lighting kicked off the closing ceremony Sunday night, a two-hour extravaganza of folk dancing and music in the Olympic tradition that summed up the glee and relief the games brought to Greece...


Marathoner Finishes Third After Attack

ATHENS, Greece - A defrocked Irish priest bolted from the crowd and grabbed the marathon leader about three miles from the finish Sunday. The Brazilian runner wound up with the bronze - and a special award for sportsmanship - and the former priest was arrested...


Chirac Presses for Release of Two in Iraq

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac dispatched his foreign minister to the Middle East on Sunday to work for the release of two French reporters abducted in Iraq, vowing to spare no effort to free them from kidnappers demanding the France scrap its ban on Islamic head scarves in state schools.    Chirac appealed to the kidnappers with an implicit reminder that France opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq...


Iraqis, U.S. Officials Meet in Peace Bid

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. military officials and representatives of rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr held talks Sunday aimed at reducing violence in the restive Baghdad slum of Sadr City, a day after clashes there killed 10 people, officials said...


Ranks of uninsured grow to highest since  #39;98

A stagnant economy and rising health care costs helped push the percentage of people in the USA without health insurance last year to 15.


Khan secures boxing silver

Cuban master Mario Kindelan has met the future of boxing and has survived the experience after he outpointed British teenager Amir Khan in the highlight of final action at the Olympic tournament.


UDPATE 1-Hewitt wins Long Island, sends US Open warning

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt hammered out a warning to his rivals for next week #39;s US Open as he demolished Peru #39;s Luis Horna 6-3 6-1 to win the Long Island Cup on Sunday.


Angels activated Glaus from DL

Anaheim Angels: Troy Glaus was activated from the 60-day disabled list following a five-game rehab assignment in the minors and was back in the lineup for Sunday #39;s game against the Twins.


Notes: Pudge out of lineup again

Ivan Rodriguez isn #39;t just day to day with his illness. He #39;s becoming hour to hour. Tigers manager Alan Trammell initially had Pudge in Sunday #39;s starting lineup after two days off.


Peace talks amid fresh violence

BAGHDAD, Aug. 29. - Iraqi tribal leaders, Shiite politicians, government officials and US military officers met today for talks aimed at reducing tensions in Sadr City, a day after clashes there killed 10 people.


Sudan Talks End in Deadlock on Humanitarian Issues

Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government ended peace talks on Sunday in Nigeria in a deadlock on how to address what the United Nations has called the world #39;s worst humanitarian crisis.


Equatorial Guinea president says thwarted  quot;massacre quot;

Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said an international plot to overthrow him would have resulted in a massacre and those responsible deserve death by firing squad.


No let-up in violence

DHAKA, Aug. 29. - Crude bombs were set off and buses torched here today ahead of the Opposition-called general strike even as the government announced a 10-million-taka reward for specific information


Agni-II missile test-fired

India today successfully test-fired its longer-range missile Agni-II from the Integrated Test Range on the Wheelers Island in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast, defence sources said.


More than just tennis

The atmosphere suits certain players. While others have to learn to deal with the unique situations that a New York crowd promote.


Liverpool lose out to Bolton 1-0

Kevin Davies scored a first-half winner against Liverpool to push Bolton up into third place in the Premiership. Davies was Bolton #39;s hero when he coolly gathered and powered in a shot into the goal in the


SI.com

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Robin Ventura  #39;s career will be remembered in large part for grand slams, whether they counted or not.


Fast Track America

Shawn Crawford is weird. Two years ago, the US Olympic sprinter wore a Phantom of the Opera mask during a race in Italy; Crawford was disqualified after the disguise blocked his sight, causing him to stray from his lane.


Hostage Takers Widen Demands Beyond Iraqi Affairs

BAGHDAD, Aug 29 (AFP) - For the first time since the kidnappings of foreigners started in Iraq in April, hostage takers have set conditions external to the country by demanding that France lift a ban on Islamic headscarves in state schools.


Karzai Sworn in as First Democratically Elected Afghan President

150 foreign guests attending Tuesday's inauguration included U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, the highest-ranking American official to visit Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.


Confident Hewitt Eyes Second U.S. Grand Slam Title

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The secret is out. Lleyton Hewitt is  back in form and hungry for another grand slam title.


Java, Open Source, Regex, and Conformance

\\The other day Tim Bray wrote up an interesting piece on java.util.regex.\\I sent him off a quick email detailing my past experiences  and he just\blogged his feedback .\\"Well... yeah, but here's a story. I was kind of surprised at the results on my\OS X box, so I took the code and data over to a nearby Windows XP box and got\similar results, so I took 'em to a Debian-stable box I had handy and once\again, about the same story. "\\"Only, not quite the same. Because it was Perl 5.8.1 on one box and 5.8.3 on\another and 5.6.1 on the third, and the i18n/regex code was slightly different\in each version, and no two of them gave quite the same results. "\\"Now, I'll grant that Unicode/i18n is one ...\\


Acid oceans spell doom for coral

The increasing acidity of the world's oceans could banish all coral by 2065, a Danish marine expert warns.


Donald delight at call up

Luke Donald has expressed his delight at being named as one of captain Bernhard Langer #39;s wildcards for the European Ryder Cup team.


Benitez: Reds need time to gel

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has conceded that his side could take a few months to kick into gear following Sunday #39;s 1-0 defeat at Bolton.


Democrats in N.Y. Showcase Swing Voters (AP)

AP - Delores Ramirez was a supporter of President Bush in 2000, but on this muggy Sunday afternoon the retired Virginia businesswoman was standing on the steps of New York's City Hall with dozens of supporters of Democrat John Kerry who just finished a weeklong tour of five states.


How tragic fuse was lit in Darfur

The UN determines this week whether Sudan's leaders have met Monday's deadline.


Standoff bolstered Sadr's support

Interviews with Iraqi Shiite clerics reveal that moderates are increasingly supporting Sadr's anti-US campaign.


At these Games, the big sports powers see less gold

Gold medals at these Olympics will be more evenly distributed than at any since 1952.


Sadly Fulfilling Marine's Dream

Binh N. Le had not been back to the land of his birth since he came to the United States with an aunt and uncle at age 4, leaving his parents behind.


Longhorn on hold until 2006

MICROSOFT will not broadly release its long-awaited update to the flagship Windows operating system, dubbed  quot;Longhorn, quot; until 2006.


Big Fat celebration to close Games

For the last two weeks, the world #39;s focus was on Athens and sport and everyone was invited to a Big Fat Greek Closing Ceremony.


Warner named Giants #39; starter

New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin Sunday named Kurt Warner the team #39;s starting quarterback for the season opener at Philadelphia Sept.


French minister attempts to secure release of journalists

French President Jacques Chirac has sent his Foreign Minister to the Middle East to try to secure the release of two journalists who are being held hostage in Iraq.


Najaf: A Victory for Politics

Friday #39;s defusing of the three-week military standoff in Najaf has the disappointing result that Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia survive to fight another battle, threatening US military forces and the fledgling Iraqi government.


Agni II missile test-fired again

Indias indigenously built Agni II missile was successfully test-fired again from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)s missile testing range at the Wheelers Island in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast on Sunday afternoon.


Venezuela's Chavez Vows Tougher Land Reform (Reuters)

Reuters - Venezuela's President Hugo\Chavez, emboldened by a recent referendum victory, on Sunday\promised tougher land redistribution as he pressed ahead with\the "revolutionary" reforms at the heart of the nation's\political conflict.


Michael Owen Stars in Real Madrid Debut (AP)

AP - Michael Owen made his debut for Real Madrid on Sunday, setting up a second-half goal by Ronaldo in a 1-0 victory at Mallorca in a Spanish league opener.


Some GOP Gay Rights Backers Torn Over Bush (AP)

AP - On the eve of the Republican convention, some GOP gay rights supporters frustrated by their party platform's hardline stance against same-sex unions say they are torn over whether to back President Bush in this fall's election.


Venezuela's Chavez Vows Tougher Land Reform

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo  Chavez, emboldened by a recent referendum victory, on Sunday  promised tougher land redistribution as he pressed ahead with  the "revolutionary" reforms at the heart of the nation's  political conflict.


Palestinians Mourn Hero's Defeat in Arab Pop Contest

SALFIT, West Bank (Reuters) - Thousands of Palestinians  gathered at a West Bank park on Sunday, defying Islamic  militant disapproval, in the hope their pop idol would become  the first Palestinian to win an Arab song contest.


GB beat Sydney medal haul

Britain's golden night on the track help the nation's Olympians surpass their success in Sydney four years ago.


US counties sue Microsoft

SEVERAL everal California cities and counties have sued Microsoft, accusing the company of illegally charging inflated prices for its products because of monopoly control of the PC operating system market.


Silicon to help explain origins of the universe

ST. PETERS, Mo. - The origins of the universe could soon be uncovered with the help of silicon and other materials. In 2001, NASA launched a robotic spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Fla.


Patchwork of FTAs won #39;t do - Doha Round crucial

WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) members have finally established a framework for negotiations to conclude the Doha Round. This is good news.


Baton passed to Beijing as curtain comes down on Athens

ATHENS - The curtains came down on the Athens Olympics under a full moon Sunday after the sports extravaganza returned to the country of its birth and revival as the biggest in history.


Spectator assaults marathon leader

Italian Stefano Baldini won the Olympic men #39;s marathon overnight after a spectator dashed on to the course late in the race and bundled the then leader Vanderlei de Lima into the crowd.


Old is gold - and twice as good

IT IS impossible to achieve greatness in sport without being measured against history. On Saturday, the last night of athletics in the 2004 Olympics, a man and a woman, a king and a queen of the track, ran into history.


Britannia rules as baton again lets US down

SINCE the United States started taking part in the Olympic Games 4x100m relay in 1920, they have been disqualified three times and lost only once - to Canada in 1996.


Ochoa comes from behind to win Wachovia LPGA Classic

Kutztown, PA (Sports Network) - Lorena Ochoa fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday to come from behind and win the Wachovia LPGA Classic.


Schumi seals seventh title

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, AUGUST 29: Michael Schumacher claimed a seventh world championship despite only finishing second behind Kimi Raikkonen at an incident-filled Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.


Bolton hands Liverpool first EPL loss

Liverpool slumped to its first league defeat of the season on Sunday, surrending a first-half goal to 1-0 at Bolton. Kevin Davies scored in the 38th minute on a Henrik Pedersen cross, lifting


Al Qaeda behind Kabul bombing

A statement purported to be from al-Qaeda claimed responsibility today for a truck bomb which killed seven people, including two US citizens, in Kabul, and which was earlier claimed by the Taliban militia.


MI encouraged us to torture, says US soldier

BERLIN, AUGUST 29: A US soldier expected to plead guilty to charges of abusing Iraqi prisoners told a German magazine he deeply regretted his actions but said the abuses were encouraged by Military Intelligence.


Here Comes the Sun

America #39;s space program owes an unexpected debt to Batman - as well as to Seabiscuit, the Hulk and dozens of other movie projects.


Palestinians Bemoan 'Superstar' Loss (AP)

AP - Palestinians hoping for a morale boost after four years of bloody conflict with Israel were disappointed Sunday, when their contestant in a much-watched contest for the Arab world's best singer lost to a Libyan.


Bolton Sends Liverpool to First Loss, 1-0 (AP)

AP - Liverpool lost for the first time in the Premier League this season, beaten 1-0 at Bolton on Sunday on a 38th-minute goal by Kevin Davies.


Austin Wins Buick Championship in Sudden Death

CROMWELL, Connecticut (Reuters) - Woody Austin birdied the  first hole of a sudden-death playoff against Tim Herron to win  the Buick Championship on Sunday.


Microsoft melds music to its Media

When Microsoft opens its online music store on Thursday, the first song offered should be Dave Brubeck #39;s  quot;It #39;s Dj Vu All Over Again.


California Cities Sue Microsoft

The California local governments are asking a judge to make the case a class action on behalf of all the state #39;s cities and counties.


Greece proved to be ideal host

ATHENS - No question where to watch the sun set on these Olympics. It was here, on the white marble slab benches of Panathinaiko Stadium, just as the bobbing gaggle of rail-thin runners made their way from Marathon.


Basketball: Full of joy, US women win 3rd straight gold

ATHENS They bounded onto the court with the joy of kindergartners, skipping to the beat of the sound system, turning a simple layup drill into a recess game.


THE OLYMPICS 2004: BOXING: I KHAN GO FOR GOLD NEXT TIME

TEENAGE boxing sensation Amir Khan kissed his Olympic silver medal - and vowed to grab a gold in four years. The 17-year-old lightweight star said he would resist the big-money offers and stay amateur.