Lashko retires with no gold

AFTER four Olympics competing for two countries, Irina Lashko ended her diving career in Athens without a gold medal. Melbourne-based Lashko, who owns two Olympic silvers and a bronze, finished seventh in


Golden Joy for Fabulous Felix

Felix Sanchez justified his status as the most fancied of all track and field favourites with a magnificent victory in tonights final of the 400metres hurdles.


German Women Grab Hockey Gold

The women #39;s hockey team secured Germany #39;s tenth gold medal at Athens in a sensational surprise victory over the Netherlands.


American Dwight Phillips Captures Long Jump Gold

Dwight Phillips of the United States completed a hat-trick of global long jump titles when he crushed the field with his opening leap in Thursday #39;s final to win Olympic gold.


NCAA says Williams can #39;t return to Trojans

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The NCAA has rejected wide receiver Mike Williams #39; bid to once again play football at Southern California.


Panama Pardons Cuban Exiles in Castro Bomb Plot

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's outgoing president on  Thursday pardoned four Cuban exiles jailed for plotting to kill  Cuban President Fidel Castro in 2000 and three or them flew  straight to Miami, a haven of anti-Castro groups.


Crawford is Golden as the Crowd Boos

ATHENS (Reuters) - Shawn Crawford denied fellow American  Justin Gatlin a sprint double as he set up a United States  clean sweep in the Olympic men's 200 meters Thursday.


Olympic Wrap: Crawford Wins the 200m Amid Jeers

ATHENS (Reuters) - Shawn Crawford led an American sweep of  Olympic medals in the 200 meters in Athens Thursday, ignoring  the jeers of a hostile crowd livid that their local hero was  not on the starting line after missing a doping test.


Law Banning Type of Abortion Is Unconstitutional, Judge Says

A federal judge said that a Supreme Court ruling in 2000 required a clause allowing abortions if a women's health is at risk.


Wambach Lifts U.S. in Women's Soccer Final

Abby Wambach scores the winning goal in overtime to lift the United States past Brazil for the women's soccer gold medal Thursday.


Sun to tout Wall Street wins in September

Struggling company set to show that it's grabbed some customers in the financial community, one of Sun's three chief markets.


Sprint backs Apple tech for video streaming

Cell carrier certifies QuickTime format for delivering video to handsets.


Cisco warns of flaws in ACS product

Cisco Systems is warning customers about security holes in two Access Control Server products that provide user authentication and authorization services for network devices such as firewalls and routers.


Latest spam scams use Google, Olympics

A rash of recent e-mail scams relies on new techniques to try to fool PC users, according to e-mail filtering vendor SurfControl.


SEC deadline delay spells Sarb-Ox relief

The SEC has postponed by a year its plans to shorten the time companies have to file their annual reports -- a move expected to help firms more easily adopt Sarbanes-Oxley reporting requirements.


Financial firms compare notes on disaster recovery

Executives at eight leading financial services firms met earlier this year to share their disaster recovery strategies -- and found that they all face many of the same issues.


TSA readies security systems rollout

The Transportation Security Administration has announced a series of IT-based pilot programs to bolster airport security, but lawmakers and industry executives are frustrated by a lack of progress in deploying needed technologies.


Hackers target French ISP's site

A hacker compromised the corporate Web site of France Telecom SA's ISP subsidiary earlier this week, causing the site to try to install a malicious software program on visitors' computers.


LG Preps Handheld Audio, Video Device

Hard-drive based multimedia player will be available later this year.


Panama Pardons Cuban Exiles in Castro Bomb Plot (Reuters)

Reuters - Panama's outgoing president on\Thursday pardoned four Cuban exiles jailed for plotting to kill\Cuban President Fidel Castro in 2000 and three or them flew\straight to Miami, a haven of anti-Castro groups.


Radical cleric arrested under British anti-terror law; U.S. wants extradition (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - LONDON (AP) - Police arrested a radical Muslim cleric Thursday on suspicion of preparing or instigating "acts of terrorism," a move that could delay U.S. attempts to extradite the suspect for allegedly trying to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon and on other charges.


Darfur Displaced Angry as U.N., Govt Visit (Reuters)

Reuters - Angry Darfuris who fled Arab\militias told the U.N.'s top envoy in Sudan Thursday they are\still not safe because the Janjaweed who tormented them at home\are among security forces guarding refugee camps.


Jokinen, Peltonen Combine for Four Goals (AP)

AP - Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers scored twice and teammate Ville Peltonen added two goals and an assist, leading Finland to a 4-2 victory over Germany in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game Thursday.


Crawford is Golden Amid a Chorus of Boos

ATHENS (Reuters) - Shawn Crawford denied fellow American  Justin Gatlin a sprint double Thursday as he set up a United  States clean sweep in a controversial Olympic men's 200 meters  final.


Swiftboat Crewman: Kerry Boat Under Fire (AP)

AP - A swiftboat crewman decorated in the 1969 Vietnam incident where John Kerry won a Bronze Star says not only did they come under enemy fire but also that his own boat commander, who has challenged the official account, was too distracted to notice the gunfire.


MIT Selects Its First Female President (Reuters)

Reuters - The Massachusetts Institute of\Technology on Thursday named Susan Hockfield as its first\female president, a breakthrough for the world-renowned school\that has churned out more than 50 Nobel prizewinners but which\ranks below the national average for its percentage of female\students.


Blue Chips Near Flat, Tech Stocks Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips closed near the  unchanged mark on Thursday in ultra-light volume, but  technology stocks slipped lower after a broker cut its growth  forecast on the semiconductor industry.


Chiron Delays Flu Vaccine Shipments

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chiron Corp. is delaying shipment of  its flu vaccine, Fluvirin,  because lots containing 4 million  vaccines, do not meet product sterility standards, the  pharmaceutical company said on Thursday .


Peacekeeper Shortage Hampers UN Mission in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.N. peacekeeping mission  seeking to restore order in impoverished, unstable, Haiti has  been hampered by a shortage of promised international troops  and police, a U.N. official said on Thursday.


MTV Awards May Be Toned Down

NEW YORK - In the 21-year history of MTV's Video Music Awards, viewers have been treated to some eye-popping moments - Prince's bare buttocks, Lil' Kim's sequined pasty, Britney and Madonna's steamy kiss last year.    But after the firestorm over the MTV-produced Super Bowl halftime show, in which Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Janet Jackson's costume to reveal her bare breast, might we see tamer VMAs when they air Sunday?    MTV President Van Toffler isn't promising any flesh-baring moments...


Iraqi Government, Al-Sadr OK Peace Deal

NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a dramatic return to Najaf on Thursday and swiftly won agreement from a rebel cleric and the government to end three weeks of fighting between his militia and U.S.-Iraqi forces.    The renegade Muqtada al-Sadr accepted the proposal in a face-to-face meeting Thursday night with the 75-year-old al-Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric...


Flu Vaccine Is Found Tainted in Factory

SAN FRANCISCO - The nation's supply of vaccine for the impending flu season took a big hit Thursday when Chiron Corp. announced it had found tainted doses in its factory...


Stocks Finish Lower on Rising Oil Prices

NEW YORK - A brokerage downgrade of several semiconductor companies pressured tech shares Thursday, while the broader market was little changed as a jump in jobless claims offset investors' relief over declining oil prices.    Late summer trading is known for being thin, but with the Republican National Convention set for New York next week, Wall Street is even less crowded than usual for late August...


UPDATE 1-Chiron delays flu vaccine shipments

Chiron Corp. is delaying shipment of its flu vaccine, Fluvirin, because lots containing 4 million vaccines, do not meet product sterility standards, the pharmaceutical company said on Thursday .


TiVo loss widens, subscribers grow

Digital video recorder maker TiVo on Thursday reported a wider quarterly net loss as it increased spending to accelerate subscriber growth.


Still No Fix for Problem That Doomed Shuttle-NASA

One year after a highly critical report urged NASA to develop the means to fix a broken space shuttle in orbit, the US space agency still cannot repair a


Struggling Sun Microsystems will try to show next month that it still has a lot of friends in the financial community. On Sept. 21, the Mountain View, Calif.


Wi-Fi Surpasses \$1B in Quarterly Revenues

Researchers at In-Stat/MDR reported this week that the Wi-Fi market has experienced five years of healthy growth since 802.11b emerged as the dominant wireless standard.


Crawford leads way as US goes 1-2-3 in 200m

It wasn #39;t the finish the partisan Greek crowd wanted to see, but Shawn Crawford headlined an American sweep in the 200m Thursday night at Olympic Stadium.


UPDATE 2-Everton reject Rooney bids

Everton have rejected bids from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United for England striker Wayne Rooney, the club said on Thursday.


Seoul doubts North Korea will budge until US vote

SEOUL South Korea #39;s deputy foreign minister said on Thursday that progress in resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis is unlikely until after the US presidential election in November.


Whats Next For Google - ISP, Browser, Desktop Search?

What's Next For Google - ISP, Browser, Desktop Search?\\Google has had a meteoric rise to stardom. I remember an article I saw in PC World Indian Edition in the year 1999 which mentioned this small startup with a funny name. I passed it on like yet another search engine which ...


Opec to raise output ceiling issue in Sept 15 meeting

JAKARTA: Opec wants a faster retreat in oil prices and will discuss whether to raise its official oil output ceiling at its September 15 meeting, cartel president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Thursday.


Lukoil Stake to Be Sold for at Least \$1.93 Billion (Update3)

The government stake in OAO Lukoil, Russia #39;s largest oil producer, will be sold for at least \$1.93 billion next month in the biggest state asset sale in the country #39;s history.


Homeland Security taps local Northrop unit

The local arm of defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. won a \$45-million contract with the US government to complete a prototype designed to protect commercial airplanes from ground-based shoulder-fired missiles.


Smithfield #39;s Net Doubles as Pork Demand, Prices Gain (Update4)

Smithfield Foods Inc., the world #39;s largest hog producer, said profit in the fiscal first quarter more than doubled as livestock prices and pork demand surged.


9/11 commissioner: Threat of airplane suicide bombing has <b>...</b>

A member of the 9/11 commission told House lawmakers Wednesday that the risk of an airline passenger detonating a suicide bomb has increased as a result of security precautions to prevent hijackings.


IBM Buying Venetica

IBM signed a definitive agreement to acquire Venetica, a privately held company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth-quarter.


Sweet Revenge May be a Hard-Wired Reward

Scientists have discovered that the sweetness of revenge may have a neurological basis. A Swiss brain imaging study shows that punishing people when they behave unfairly


Warning: Defect in Siemens cellphones may cause hearing damage

Ok, so its one thing for a cellphone to have a bug in it, it happens, but theresa defect in Siemens 65 series of cellphones (including the C65, M65, S65, SL65, CV65, CT65, CXV65, and CXT65) that could potentially result in hearing loss.


Carter  quot;bulletproof quot; snatching gold

New Zealand triathlete Hamish Carter says he felt bulletproof during his gold medal winning performance at the Athens Olympics. The champion says it has been a crazy day in the aftermath of his win, which


Smudger on Sport

ALL golfers will turn their attention to the BMW Open in Munich this weekend, when the last five places in the European Ryder Cup team will be decided.


How the Brits Might Fare in Europe

Todays Champions League draw in Monaco has again thrown-up some mouth-watering prospects for British clubs. Here, the Press Association assesses the chances of Arsenal, Celtic


Schumi still looking ahead, not back

Michael Schumacher has never cared much about statistics and numbers, but he wouldn #39;t mind if all the right numbers came together during this weekend #39;s Belgian Grand Prix.


Cracking under the strain

Severe cracks surfaced inside the Israeli government this week as its senior law officers publicly fell out with the defence establishment and the Foreign Ministry over the country #39;s future strategy in the face of the July verdict of the International


Frances a Fast-Growing Hurricane, Far Out at Sea (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Frances was born in the\Atlantic Ocean on Thursday but the rapidly growing storm was\many days from threatening any populated area.


Surging Cubs Defeat Astros 8-3 (AP)

AP - Sammy Sosa and Aramis Ramirez hit consecutive homers in a five-run third inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 8-3 Thursday for their fifth straight win.


Canadians in Southeast Asia at risk from terrorist groups, report cautions (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Islamic extremists with links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network pose a threat to Canadians living in Southeast Asia, warns a newly obtained intelligence report.


Apple Jumps Ahead of HP iPod, iMac Launch (Reuters)

Reuters - Shares of Apple Computer Inc.\(AAPL.O) rose to an almost four-year high on Thursday ahead of\the launch of Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (HPQ.N) version of the iPod\digital music player and Apple's revamped iMac computer.


The U.S. Gives Mia Hamm a Golden Farewell

ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States gave Hall of Famer Mia  Hamm the perfect send-off Thursday, beating Brazil 2-1 to win  Olympic gold in the women's soccer tournament.


American: \$1 Bln More in '04 Fuel Expense

CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Airlines expects soaring jet  fuel prices to push its expenses up more than \$1 billion in  2004 from last year's level, parent AMR Corp. AMR.N said on  Thursday.


Glaxo Settles Suit Over Paxil Studies

NEW YORK (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc GSK.L has agreed  to disclose information on all clinical studies of its drugs to  settle a lawsuit that accused it of withholding negative  information about the antidepressant Paxil, the New York  Attorney General's office said on Thursday.


Deadlocked NHL Labor Talks to Resume on Monday

TORONTO (Reuters) - The National Hockey League and players  union will meet again Monday after failing to make any progress  in labor talks Thursday.


Frances a Fast-Growing Hurricane, Far Out at Sea

MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Frances was born in the  Atlantic Ocean on Thursday but the rapidly growing storm was  many days from threatening any populated area.


Cisco warns of flaws in ACS product

BOSTON - Networking equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc. warned customers about security holes in two products that provide user authentication and authorization services for network devices such as firewalls and routers.


US Audit Firms Used Wrong Standards, Report Says (Update3)

The four biggest accounting firms misapplied some standards and failed to properly maintain records of some audits, the new US auditing regulator said today in its first inspection reports.


Glaxo Settles Suit Over Paxil Studies

GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to disclose information on all clinical studies of its drugs to settle a lawsuit that accused it of withholding negative information about the antidepressant Paxil, the


Truckers to intensify agitation further  Some AIMTC officials <b>...</b>

THE striking transporters on Thursday adopted an aggressive stand after the Delhi Police arrested some of their leaders including the former President of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), Mr OP Agarwal, here.


Study: Revenge is sweet

Revenge feels sweet and Swiss researchers are saying they have brain scans to prove it. In a study investigators said might help explain how social norms arose and regulate behaviour, brain centres linked


United States tops Brazil 2-1 in extra time to win gold medal in <b>...</b>

Mia Hamm and the rest of the Fab Five of women #39;s soccer from the United States had just enough left in their thirtysomething legs for one more title, beating Brazil 2-1 on Thursday in extra time to win the Olympic gold medal in their final


Israeli wins country #39;s first Olympic gold

Television and radio stations in Israel cut away from their midday programming. News Web sites were updated faster than even the nimblest of fingers could press  quot;refresh.


Ameobi the bait in race for Rooney deal

Newcastle emerged as serious candidates to win the battle for Wayne Rooney last night after Everton rejected Manchester United #39;s offer of 20m for the striker #39;s services.


USC superior in almost every area

The 2003 co-national champion USC Trojans, coming off a 12-1 season and a Rose Bowl victory, and the Virginia Tech Hokies, who finished last season 8-5 with an Insight Bowl loss to Cal, meet


Olympics: Superman Sanchez delivers on his Olympic promise

ATHENS : Felix Sanchez gave the Dominican Republic their first ever athletics Olympic gold medal with a devastating display in the 400 metres hurdles.


Hungary Appoints New Prime Minister after Political Crisis

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife) -- Hungarians prepared for a new political era Thursday, August 26, after the country #39;s ruling Socialists appointed Ferenc Gyurcsany, a flamboyant millionaire, as the new prime minister.


Islamist group executes Italian hostage in Iraq: Al-Jazeera. (AFP)

AFP - An Islamist group has executed Italian hostage Enzo Baldoni in Iraq, Arabic-language satellite news channel Al-Jazeera reported.


Cowboys Launching 24-Hour TV Network (AP)

AP - The Dallas Cowboys Channel, a 24-hour cable network devoted to America's Team, will launch Sept. 8 and be available to more than 1.3 Comcast subscribers in Texas and adjoining states.


Diamondbacks' Top Pick Enrolls in College (AP)

AP - Top Arizona draft pick Stephen Drew enrolled in classes at Florida State on Thursday, a move similar to the one made by older brother J.D. Drew.


Kerry Pulls Ad of McCain Smear Complaint (AP)

AP - President Bush and Sen. John Kerry bowed to the wishes of popular maverick John McCain on Thursday, as the president embraced the Republican senator's legal fight against big-money special interest groups airing negative ads and the Democratic nominee scrapped a commercial that featured McCain.


Rangers Bolster Goaltending by Adding Weekes

Goaltender Kevin Weekes signed Thursday with the Rangers, who expect the unrestricted free agent to compete for the No. 1 job with Mike Dunham.


Oil giant told to pay \$2bn

THE Nigerian Government has ordered Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell to pay \$2.13 billion in compensation for damage caused by nearly 60 years of exploration in the Niger Delta, a Senate paper said yesterday.


Rising fuel costs hurt AMR #39;s outlook

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - American Airlines parent AMR warned late Thursday that surging fuel costs would likely force it to slash its third-quarter and full-year outlook.


UPDATE 3-Guidant resolves Champion stent issues

Guidant Corp. (GDT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it has resolved manufacturing and design problems that caused tiny fractures in its experimental


Session is washed out, Bill sails

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26: A voice vote was enough to complete the three-stage Budgetary exerciseand clear over Rs 500,000 crore worth of finances.


Operation Web Snare

WASHINGTON, DC -- Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray, FBI Assistant Director Jana Monroe, Chief Postal Inspector Lee Heath, and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today announced the arrests


Angst over anglers: Report cites their role in fishery decline

For species at risk, sport fishing accounts for one-quarter of the catch. Regulation could rise. By Peter N. Spotts  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Venetica Buy Pushes IBM #39;s On-Demand Agenda

IBM #39;s planned purchase of Venetica provides Big Blue with one more piece in its on-demand computing strategy. The challenge will be to seamlessly meld Venetica #39;s unstructured-data expertise with structured-data management.


Nokia, Vodafone Attack Java Troubles In Mobile Phones

Nokia Corp. and Vodafone Group Plc on Thursday said they have launched a standards initiative to make it possible for software makers to develop Java applications that can run across cellular phones built by different manufacturers.


TiVo #39;s Loss Widens, Subscribers Grow

Digital video recorder maker TiVo Inc. on Thursday reported a wider quarterly net loss as it increased spending to accelerate subscriber growth.


Marbury Powers US Over Spain, Coaches Square Off

The US and Spanish coaches had to be separated when an argument erupted at the end of the game as the United States beat Spain 102-94 in the Olympic men #39;s basketball quarterfinals Thursday.


Mourinho takes new club to his old den

MONACO, AUGUST 26: Defending champions Porto have been drawn to face Chelsea in Group H, meaning Chelseas new coach Jose Mourinho - who won last seasons title with Porto -ill be able to exploit familiar conditions when Chelsea play their away


Bryant judge questions prosecution #39;s late challenge to DNA <b>...</b>

On the eve of the Kobe Bryant sexual assault trial, a frustrated judge chastised prosecutors Thursday for waiting until the last minute to challenge DNA evidence the defense


Iraqi government accepts peace deal

The Iraqi government tonight accepted a peace deal brokered by Iraqs top Shiite cleric to end weeks of devastating violence in the holy city of Najaf, State Minister Qassim Dawoud said.


Kidnappers say killed Italian hostage

The kidnappers of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, taken hostage in Iraq, say they have killed him, the Arabic language television channel Al Jazeera reports.


#39;Something Happened Fast #39; in Crashes

Flight recorders from two planes that crashed just three minutes apart Tuesday night are providing few clues to investigators but indicate  quot;something happened very fast, quot; a Kremlin representative said Thursday.


FBI cracks down on Napster-like P2P network

WASHINGTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized computers, software and equipment as part of a probe into the illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music and games over an Internet  #39;peer-to-peer #39; (P2P) network, Attorney-General John


Crowd roars for absent Kenteris

THE defiant taunts cascaded down from the Olympic stadium grandstands for minutes.  quot;Hellas, Hellas, quot; followed by  quot;Kenteris, Kenteris quot; - an angry display that held up the main event of Thursday #39;s athletics program.


Al-Sadr accepts cleric #39;s plan to end Najaf uprising, aide says

NAJAF, IRAQ - Militant leader Muqtada al-Sadr agreed on Thursday to a peace plan presented by Iraq #39;s most revered Shia cleric, who rode into Najaf hours earlier to try to end the bloody three-week uprising.


Death toll up as typhoons lash parts of Asia

TAIPEI - Rescuers in northern Taiwan yesterday recovered the bodies of 15 people buried by a mudslide which flattened an entire village, as East Asia cleaned up and counted the cost of Typhoon Aere.


Mirant works to emerge from bankruptcy

ATLANTA -- Energy supplier Mirant Corp. hopes to emerge from bankruptcy in the first half of next year, the company said Thursday as it appointed a chief restructuring officer to oversee the process.


Hamm sets sights on golden finale

ATHENS: Mia Hamm is primed to end her illustrious career with an Olympic gold medal when the powerful US team take on Brazil in the womens final on Thursday (today).


Williams Goes on Bronze-Medal Victory Tour

US elite triathlete Susan Williams became a media darling on Wednesday when she overcame high temperatures and a crash on the bike to win the bronze medal in the womens triathlon at the 2004 Olympic Games in the Athens municipality of Vouliagmeni.


Clerics Said to Reach Najaf Peace Deal

Description: Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is reportedly successful in reaching a peace to end three weeks of violence between allied US and Iraqi government troops and militiamen loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.


Bomb rocks market in violence-plagued southern Thailand

A powerful bomb went off in Thailand #39;s Muslim-dominated deep south and seriously injured 20 people on Thursday morning, when the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in the violence-troubled region.


Marbury Powers U.S. Over Spain, Coaches Square Off

ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. and Spanish coaches had to be  separated when an argument erupted at the end of the game as  the United States beat Spain 102-94 in the Olympic men's  basketball quarterfinals Thursday.


New Zimbabwe restrictions target aid groups

A proposed law would limit foreign funding of churches and AIDS programs.


French investigators probe copy-protected CDs

EMI and retailer Fnac face legal challenge over antipiracy technology that blocks discs from playing on some devices.


Merchant group helps DOJ in fraud stings

A group representing online merchants said it helped the U.S. Department of Justice hunt down online scam artists, in an sweep of online criminals dubbed "Operation Web Snare."


Chiron to delay flu vaccine shipments

Emeryville #39;s Chiron Corp. said Thursday that it will delay shipments until early October of its flu vaccine, Fluvirin, after the company identified a small number of lots that do not meet product sterility specifications.


Mirant appoints Michele Burns to head restructuring

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Electricity merchant Mirant (MIRKQ) said Thursday it appointed Michele Burns chief restructuring officer and the company #39;s main representative as it puts together a plan to get out of bankruptcy.


You can do it too, S #39;pore

If Greece, with 10m people, can pull off the Games at the 11th hour, why not? THE final weekend of the Olympics is at hand, and the reckoning is nigh.


Violence turns to hope as Sistani #39;s arrival in Najaf heralds peace <b>...</b>

Iraq #39;s leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani, reached an apparent agreement with the radical cleric Muqtada Sadr yesterday to end a three-week uprising by Sadr #39;s Army of Mehdi militiamen in Najaf.


Australia acquiring long-range missiles

SYDNEY - Australia has announced plans to acquire long-range cruise missiles that will give its defence force the  #39;most lethal capacity #39; for air combat in the region.


Bomb injures 23 a day before Thaksin #39;s visit

BANGKOK - A powerful bomb exploded in a market in southern Thailand yesterday morning, killing one person and injuring at least 23 a day ahead of a visit to the troubled region by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.


Update 1: OPEC Wants to See Oil Prices Fall Faster

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries wants oil prices to fall faster to an ideal price of around US\$30 a barrel, and will discuss whether to increase production at a meeting next month, the group #39;s president said Thursday.


Sears Canada Board Fires Chair, CEO Cohen

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Sears Canada fired its top executive Thursday over what it characterized as  quot;strategic differences quot; and enlisted the chief financial officer of parent company Sears, Roebuck and Co.


American Air Sees \$1 Billion More in  #39;04

American Airlines expects soaring jet fuel prices to push its expenses up more than \$1 billion in 2004 from last year #39;s level, parent AMR Corp.


WRAPUP 4-US jobless claims rise on back of hurricane

The ranks of Americans filing for initial unemployment compensation rose more than expected last week, swelled in part by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Charley, the government said on Thursday.


Merck says it  quot;strongly disagrees quot; w/ study analysis

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Merck (MRK) is out with a statement that  quot;strongly disagrees quot; with the findings of a new study that raised questions about the safety of its Vioxx arthritis drug.


Russia says Conoco mooting \$US2b Lukoil stake

MOSCOW: Oil giant ConocoPhillips looked close to taking a \$US2 billion (\$NZ3.11b) stake in Russian major Lukoil on Thursday after Russian officials confirmed the US firm #39;s interest in the auction of a 7.6 per cent stake.


Microsoft releases SP2 update for all Windows XP users

NEW YORK, August 25 (New Ratings) - Microsoft Corporation (MSFT.NAS) has released its long-awaited Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) security update for its XP Professional users.


Enter your e-mail:

Archos has turned up the heat in the portable entertainment arena by announcing the 20GB Gmini400, a \$400 digital audio player with a 2.2-inch color LCD screen for watching videos and viewing photographs.


Wambach #39;s goal gives US women #39;s soccer gold medal

Heraklio, Greece (Sports Network) - The old faces of US women #39;s soccer bid adieu, while the new faces introduced themselves in a gold-medal winning effort at the Athens Olympics on Thursday night at Karaiskaki Stadium.


Crashes cost Aussie a medal

SIMON Thompson was the feelgood story when he made the Australian Olympic triathlon team last December. Today, though, Thompson was feeling as bad as they come after believing two crashes on the bike cost


Judge says Nemov #39;s score changed to please crowd

OTTAWA - A Canadian judge, who raised his marks in an Olympics gymnastics final, said he was under intense pressure from a crowd that was out of control and an official who wanted him to do something about it.


Bomb explodes in Thai marketplace

A powerful bomb has exploded in a crowded marketplace in southern Thailand, wounding at least 10 people, officials said. The province, located about 750 miles south of Bangkok, is


WHO warns of potential pandemic over  #39;bird flu #39; virus infections <b>...</b>

Shanghai. (Interfax-China) -The World Health Organization (WHO) warned the of potential dangers of an outbreak of influenza H5N1 infections in pigs in China.


Kidnappers Say They Have Killed Italian Hostage --TV (Reuters)

Reuters - Militants in Iraq said they have killed\Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, who went missing after being\ambushed on the road between Baghdad and Najaf, Al Jazeera\reported Thursday.


Audit Body: Big 4 Firms Missed Problems (Reuters)

Reuters - The Big Four accounting firms,\misinterpreting a nine-year old rule, wrongly let corporate\clients understate liabilities and distort their financial\health, the regulatory body for auditors said in a report on\Thursday.


Durazo's Blast Leads A's Past Orioles 9-4 (AP)

AP - Erubiel Durazo hit a three-run homer and Eric Chavez also connected for the Oakland Athletics, who completed a four-game sweep of the slumping Baltimore Orioles with a 9-4 victory Thursday.


Sides Bicker in NHL Labor Fight (AP)

AP - An NHL executive accused the players' association of conducting "a charade" and said the union has no interest in working out a new labor deal before a lockout would be imposed in three weeks.


The U.S. Gives Mia Hamm a Golden Farewell

ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States gave Hall of Famer Mia  Hamm the perfect send-off on Thursday, beating Brazil 2-1 to  win Olympic gold in the women's soccer tournament.


Crawford Is Golden Amid a Chorus of Boos

ATHENS (Reuters) - American Shawn Crawford won the Athens  Games 200 meters final Thursday in a race delayed five minutes  by chanting and booing from hostile sections of the crowd at  the Olympic stadium.


Kidnappers Say They Have Killed Italian Hostage --TV

DUBAI (Reuters) - Militants in Iraq said they have killed  Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, who went missing after being  ambushed on the road between Baghdad and Najaf, Al Jazeera  reported Thursday.


SEC Settles with Two More Firms

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Thomas Weisel Partners agreed to pay a combined \$100 million to settle charges involving conflicts of interest between research and


UPDATE 2-Chiron delays flu vaccine shipments

Chiron Corp. is delaying shipment of its flu vaccine, Fluvirin, because lots containing 4 million vaccines, do not meet product sterility standards, the biopharmaceutical company said on Thursday .


Fuel Costs Hurt American, United Airlines

American Airlines and United Airlines became the latest carriers on Thursday to say sky-high oil costs are hurting them and worsening a three-year industry downturn.


Pinochet is stripped of immunity by court

The Supreme Court of Chile yesterday stripped Augusto Pinochet, the country #39;s former military dictator, of his immunity from prosecution - opening the way for him to be charged with human


Canada rival to control Banknorth

Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canada #39;s second-largest bank by assets, agreed Thursday to buy a 51 percent stake in Banknorth Group for \$3.


Krispy Kreme posts big drop in net

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts stunned investors on Thursday with disappointing earnings for the second consecutive quarter, sending its shares to their lowest level in more than four years.


US regulator faults Big Four accounting firms - but gently

The new regulatory body for the United States audit industry said Thursday that its initial inspections of the Big Four accounting firms had found  quot;significant audit and accounting issues quot; in audits by all of them.


GM to invest \$200 mln in Saturn plant

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - General Motors said late Thursday that it plans to invest \$200 million to upgrade and expand its Fairfax, Kansas manufacturing plant for production of the 2007 Saturn midsize car, which will begin in the second half of 2006.


Mirant names CFO as chief restructuring officer

Mirant Corp. (MIRKQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) has named its chief financial officer to the additional role of chief restructuring officer, the bankrupt power producer said on Thursday.


FBI Sting Targets P2P Operation

The US Department of Justice has targeted a group known as the Underground Network for its first criminal investigation into intellectual property piracy over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.


Nokia and Vodafone seek simpler software

AMSTERDAM The mobile phone giants Vodafone and Nokia teamed up on Thursday to simplify cellphone software written with the Java computer language.


CIOs Still Slow In IT Hiring

A new survey indicates that CIOs are only hiring for positions that address long-term needs. By TechWeb News. Chief information officers in the US continue to take a cautious approach to increasing IT staff


UN Backs Open Source With New Agency

It #39;s called the International Open Source Network (IOSN), which is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a primary goal to promote Free and Open Source (FOSS) software usage.


China #39;s Guo Easily Wins 3M Springboard

The names may change. Not the results. China still rules the Olympic diving pool. The Chinese earned another gold medal - their fifth of the Athens Games - when Guo Jingjing


Honor gets frown from the Kiwis

New Zealand is glad three of its athletes have been crowned Olympic champions, but if they bring home their olive wreaths from Athens, the wreaths risk going up in smoke.


Hewitt coasts into quarters

SECOND seed Lleyton Hewitt beat Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-1 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals of the Long Island Cup today. Fresh from his third title of the year last weekend in Washington, Hewitt will


Zimbabwe losing faith in democracy

JOHANNESBURG Zimbabweans, weary of political conflict, are increasingly losing faith in democracy and tempted to accept a one-party system, a survey released Thursday has found.


Confusion as Yemeni Faces U.S. Military Tribunal (Reuters)

Reuters - A Yemeni\accused of guarding Osama bin Laden with explosive belts seemed\to acknowledge his al Qaeda membership on Thursday before a\U.S. military tribunal hearing fraught with translation\problems.


Olympic Wrap: Crawford Wins the 200m Amid Jeers (Reuters)

Reuters - Shawn Crawford led an American sweep of\Olympic medals in the 200 meters in Athens Thursday, ignoring\the jeers of a hostile crowd livid that their local hero was\not on the starting line after missing a doping test.


Hewitt Cruises to Waterhouse Quarterfinals (AP)

AP - Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open winner Lleyton Hewitt cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Michael Llodra on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the TD Waterhouse Cup.


Audit Body: Big 4 Firms Missed Problems

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Big Four accounting firms wrongly  let some corporate clients understate liabilities and distort  their financial health in their 2003 accounts, the regulatory  body for auditors said in a report on Thursday.


Confusion as Yemeni Faces U.S. Military Tribunal

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - A Yemeni  accused of guarding Osama bin Laden with explosive belts seemed  to acknowledge his al Qaeda membership on Thursday before a  U.S. military tribunal hearing fraught with translation  problems.


Top Russian Official: Plane Terror Likely

MOSCOW - A top Russian official acknowledged Thursday what many citizens already suspected - that terrorism was the most likely cause of two jetliners crashing minutes apart, a feeling reflected in a newspaper headline warning that "Russia now has a Sept. 11."   A day after officials stressed there were many possibilities besides terrorism, presidential envoy Vladimir Yakovlev told Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency that the main theory "all the same remains terrorism."   Yakovlev said the planes' flight recorders provide no clues to the disaster...


Oil Slide continues as peace deal struck in Najaf

NEW YORK - Oil prices fell for the fifth day in a row on Thursday after word of a peace deal in the embattled Iraqi city of Najaf raised hopes of more reliable oil shipments from the energy-rich country and encouraged a run of profit-taking by big money


Australia #39;s Suncorp-Metway FY Net A\$618M; Outlook Upbeat

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian banking and insurance group Suncorp-Metway Ltd. (SUN.AU) said Friday net profit for the full year ended June 30 jumped 61 to A\$618 million from A\$384 million a year earlier, boosted


Jobless Claims Up on Impact of Charley

The number of new people signing up for jobless benefits rose last week, reflecting the impact of Hurricane Charley, which recently tore through Florida.


American Airlines fuel costs up by \$300 million

FORT WORTH, Texas Soaring jet fuel prices will force American Airlines to spend an additional one (B) billion dollars for fuel this year.


Men #39;s Long Jump : PHILLIPS (USA), MOFFITT (USA) and MARTINEZ (ESP)

ATHENS, 26 August - Comments from Dwight PHILLIPS (USA), John MOFFITT (USA) and Joan Lino MARTINEZ (ESP).  quot;I think I was ready to go as far as I needed to win.


Jury Selection to Begin in Kobe Bryant Rape Trial

Jury selection begins in the Kobe Bryant rape case on Friday when hundreds of potential jurors fill out a questionnaire to help determine if they can sit in judgment in a trial involving race, sex and celebrity.


Hewitt cruises past Llodra

Second seed Lleyton Hewitt beat Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-1 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the TD Waterhouse Cup on Thursday.


Rumors Rife, But Few Clues To Russia #39;s Twin Air Crash

As Russia held a day of mourning Thursday for the 89 people who died when two airliners went down, speculation continued to swirl around the cause of the near-simultaneous crashes.


Dialogue of the deaf

It was a stormy day, with torrential rain lashing down, but an audience splashed their way to a north London theatre to hear four leading commentators discuss Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s latest plan for his country and the Palestinians.


Oracle Extends Offer for PeopleSoft (Reuters)

Reuters - Business software maker  Oracle\Corp. (ORCL.O) said on Thursday it extended again its  #36;7.7\billion hostile tender offer for PeopleSoft Inc. (PSFT.O), to\Sept. 10, as it awaits a U.S. District Court judge's ruling on\whether the takeover attempt can move forward.


Kidnappers Say They Have Killed Italian Hostage --TV

DUBAI (Reuters) - The hostage takers who grabbed Italian  journalist Enzo Baldoni on the road between Baghdad and Najaf  in Iraq have killed him, the Italian government confirmed  Thursday.


Oil Prices Drop Near \$43

Oil prices fell again Thursday as worries over supply disruptions eased. New York light sweet crude ended the day just over \$43, and OPEC president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the cartel hoped


Drug firm settles Seroxat research claim

GlaxoSmithKline escaped with a rap over the knuckles yesterday in the latest crusade against alleged corporate wrong-doing spearheaded by the New York attorney general, Eliot Spitzer.


Vioxx Linked To Increased Cardiac Death

A new study shows that the prescription drug Vioxx can drastically increase a person #39;s risk of sudden cardiac death, and that risk is greater if you take a higher dose, or if you take it for a long time.


Jaw transplant allows man to chew after nine years

A man has been able to savour his first proper meal in nine years after surgeons successfully created and transplanted a jawbone for him.


TiVo Earnings Reflect Cost of Customer Acquisition

TiVo #39;s Q2 earnings reflect the high cost of attracting new subscribers to its customer base. The company lost \$10.8 million, or 13 cents a share, on revenue of \$27.


Rulon #39;s Retirement the End of an Era

You #39;ve surely heard by now that Wyoming wrestler Rulon Gardner is bringing home another Olympic medal. This time it #39;s a bronze.


Badgers lose RB Smith to heart disorder

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin running back Dwayne Smith will not play for the Badgers again because of a recently discovered heart disorder.


New jaw grown on patient's back

A man has eaten his first solid meal in nine years after his face was rebuilt using a pioneering jaw-bone graft.


Be Funny Or You're Fired

I was traveling on Southwest Airlines a couple of days ago.  It  was kind of weird.  Seemingly, they have implemented a new corporate  policy.


Earnings Not So Sweet for Krispy Kreme (Reuters)

Reuters - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N) on\Thursday said its quarterly profit tumbled by more than half\and slashed its sales growth outlook for the rest of the year,\wiping 17 percent off the value of its stock.


Kids Found in Africa Stay in Foster Care (AP)

AP - The lawyer for the adoptive mother of seven children found malnourished in a Nigerian orphanage agreed Thursday to allow the kids to remain in state foster care.


REIT Funds Take Silver On YTD Gain (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - In recent weeks, even when the rest of the market has lagged, REIT funds generally have outperformed.


Wild Card Upsets Loit at Forest Hills (AP)

AP - Kirsten Flipkens, a wild card from Belgium, upset No. 2 seed Emilie Loit of France 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, to move into the semifinals of the Forest Hills Women's Classic at the West Side Tennis Club on Thursday.


Pavin Hits 62 to Charge Into Three-Shot Buick Lead

CROMWELL, Connecticut (Reuters) - Corey Pavin posted his  best score in 14 years, firing an eight-under-par 62 to take a  commanding three-shot lead after the first round of the  inaugural \$4.2 million Buick Championship Thursday.


Lithuania Reaches Semifinals

With a different star but the same team concept, Lithuania reached the men's basketball semifinals for the fourth straight Olympics.


Bertuzzi Enters Plea

Vancouver Canucks winger Todd Bertuzzi pleaded not guilty on Thursday to an on-ice assault charge stemming from a hit on Colorado Avalanche's Steve Moore that broke his neck.


US tech stocks slip

In New York, US blue chips closed near the unchanged mark Thursday in ultra-light volume, but technology stocks slipped lower after a broker cut its growth forecast on the semiconductor industry.


Scans show brain hard-wired for sweet revenge

WASHINGTON - Planning revenge really does feel sweet, according to a new study of brain scans. Researchers in Switzerland said the brain centres linked to enjoyment  quot;lit up quot; in young men who punished those who cheated them.


Women #39;s volleyball: Russia defeats Brazil to reach finals

Russia defeated Brazil in five sets in Athens on Thursday to cruise into the final of the women #39;s volleyball in the Athens Olympics.


Iraq #39;s top cleric wins agreement from rebel and government for <b>...</b>

Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a dramatic return to Najaf on Thursday and swiftly won agreement from a rebel cleric and the government to end three weeks of fighting between his militia and US-Iraqi forces.


Columnists: A Polluted Internet

Worms and viruses that pollute the Internet aren't new. What's new is the incredible magnitude of the problem and how it's growing.


MS rapped over anti-Linux ads

Microsoft has been rapped over the knuckles over an anti-Linux ad campaign. The ASA in the UK has ruled that the ad makes  quot;misleading quot; claims, and has told the company change the copy on the advertisement forthwith.


Report: Embedded Wi-Fi Market Shift Taking Place

Embedded Wi-Fi products are taking off, and their popularity is likely to grow at an accelerating pace, according to In-Stat/MDR. The market for embedded Wi-Fi clients -- including mobile PCs


Drawn and Quartered

It wasn #39;t supposed to end like this for Pau Gasol and Spain. Not after the way things were going in this Olympics. The Spaniards finished group play an undefeated 5-0


Everton admit Rooney will be sold

BILL Kenwright, the Everton chairman, admitted yesterday that it was  quot;inevitable quot; Wayne Rooney would be leaving Goodison Park.


Pavin eagles his way into Buick lead

Cromwell, CT (Sports Network) - Corey Pavin holed out for an eagle on the second hole, then chipped in for birdie at 18 en route to an eight-under-par 62 on Thursday and the first-round lead at the Buick Championship.


Pair of Andres hold key to US boxing medal hopes

Things looked bleak for the US boxing team before a pair of Andres stepped up and saved the Americans from further Olympic embarrassment.


Six killed, 51 injured in Ulfa attacks

GUWAHATI: In stepped up violence, six people, including two BSF men, were killed and 51 others injured in three blasts triggered by the Ulfa in three districts of Assam since Wednesday night.


Taiwan typhoon death toll rises

The death toll from Typhoon Aere has risen to 24 in Taiwan as the bodies of 15 villagers buried in a mudslide in the island #39;s north are recovered.


SEC Settles Case Against Van Wagoner (AP)

AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission settled fraud charges Thursday against Van Wagoner Capital Management Inc., whose high-profile executives allegedly lied about the values of their mutual funds and broke laws meant to protect investors.


Calling Verizon And Cingular 1 And 1A Is OK (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - When Cingular completes its purchase of AT amp;T Wireless, it'll leapfrog Verizon Wireless to become the nation's No. 1 mobile phone company by the most common measures -- subscribers and sales.


Earnings Not So Sweet for Krispy Kreme

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. on  Thursday said its quarterly profit tumbled by more than half  and slashed its sales growth outlook for the rest of the year,  wiping 17 percent off the value of its stock.


Japan's Nikkei Average Edges Up 0.1 Pct

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average edged up 0.1  percent at the opening on Friday on more buying of exporters,  including Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., after another day of falls  in oil prices eased fears about the global economy.


CROMWELL, Connecticut (Reuters) - Corey Pavin posted his  best score in 14 years, firing an eight-under-par 62 to take a  commanding three-shot lead after the first round of the  inaugural \$4.2 million Buick Championship on Thursday.


Iraqi Government, Al-Sadr OK Peace Deal

NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a dramatic return to Najaf on Thursday and swiftly won agreement from a rebel cleric and the government to end three weeks of fighting between his militia and U.S.-Iraqi forces.    The renegade Muqtada al-Sadr accepted the proposal in a face-to-face meeting Thursday night with the 75-year-old al-Sistani...


CBI demands an end to rate rises as growth cools

The Bank of England should leave interest rates on hold until next year to give consumers a breathing space in the run-up to the crucial Christmas trading period, the CBI said yesterday.


Pavin hits 62 to charge into three-shot Buick lead

Corey Pavin posted his best score for 14 years, firing an eight-under-par 62 to take a commanding three-shot lead after the first round of the inaugural \$4.


Daily preview: Friday, Aug. 27

Medals will be awarded in 20 events in track and field, canoe-kayak, equestrian, field hockey, modern pentathlon, mountain biking, soccer and taekwondo.


Tressel picks Zwick over Smith

Justin Zwick will start at quarterback for No. 9 Ohio State in its season opener after the former heralded recruit beat out fellow sophomore Troy Smith for the job in preseason practice.


PINOCHET LOSES LEGAL IMMUNITY

Chiles former President General Augusto Pinochet has been stripped of his legal immunity following a ruling by the countrys Supreme Court.


Oracle gives PeopleSoft shareholders more time

Deadline extended while the software maker waits for a ruling in Justice Department's antitrust case.


NetBeans IDE beta released, tackles Java specs

NetBeans.org, which oversees the NetBeans open source Java tools environment, has released a beta version of the NetBeans 4.0 IDE, featuring support for the latest Java specifications and Apache Ant-based projects.


Spitzer forces Glaxo to publish drug trials

GlaxoSmithKline yesterday said it would publish all details of its clinical drug trials after being accused of concealing information that its leading antidepressant could be harmful to children.


Earnings Not So Sweet for Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. on Thursday said its quarterly profit tumbled by more than half and slashed its sales growth outlook for the rest of the year, wiping 17 percent off the value of its stock.


AirTran Seeks Mediation in Union Talks

The union representing AirTran Airways flight attendants said Thursday that talks with AirTran Holdings Inc. have stalled over work rules.


Industry buoyant as orders flood in

Industrial orders have jumped to a six-year high this month, a survey showed yesterday as a sharp fall in mortgage approvals pointed to a slowdown in the housing market.


Rentokil rules out break-up

Rentokil Initial, supplier of services ranging from security guards and pest control to conferences and exotic plants, has ruled out breaking itself up, despite tumbling profits and a swirl of takeover speculation.


Brain scan shows why revenge is sweet

Revenge, reprimand and schadenfreude really do feel good, according to a brain scan study published today. As well as explaining why Dirty Harry declared  quot;Go ahead, make


Crawford overcomes Kenteris clamour

Thursday was the night every Greek had marked down in their diary weeks and months ago. It was the night Kostas Kenteris was supposed to successfully defend his 200m crown in front of his adoring public.


Another Schu in

SUNDAY #39;S Belgian Grand Prix is set to provide another Michael Schumacher win in the most boring championship in the sport #39;s 54-year history.


Quinn relieved that goalie Ed Belfour #39;s back surgery was deemed a <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Maple Leafs goaltender Ed Belfour is expected to make a complete recovery following back surgery Thursday, says GM John Ferguson.


Ayatollah puts life on the line

AYATOLLAH Ali al-Sistanis supporters say he put principle over politics in risking his reputation - and life - by returning to his adopted home town of Najaf yesterday.


Kidnappers Say They Have Killed Italian Hostage --TV

The hostage takers who grabbed Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni on the road between Baghdad and Najaf in Iraq have killed him, the Italian government confirmed Thursday.


Ben Wallace Recovering After Appendectomy (AP)

AP - Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace had an emergency appendectomy and was recovering Thursday.


Top Russian Official: Plane Terror Likely (AP)

AP - A top Russian official acknowledged Thursday what many citizens already suspected  #151; that terrorism was the most likely cause of two jetliners crashing minutes apart, a feeling reflected in a newspaper headline warning that "Russia now has a Sept. 11."


NL Wrap: Sosa Hits 568th Homer, Cubs Eclipse Astros (Reuters)

Reuters - Sammy Sosa grabbed his 568th career\homer and Aramis Ramirez followed up with another third-inning\blast to guide the Chicago Cubs to an 8-3 win over the Houston\Astros in the National League (NL) Thursday.


Iraqi Government, Al-Sadr OK Peace Deal (AP)

AP - Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a dramatic return to Najaf on Thursday and swiftly won agreement from a rebel cleric and the government to end three weeks of fighting between his militia and U.S.-Iraqi forces.


NL Wrap: Sosa Hits 568th Homer, Cubs Eclipse Astros

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sammy Sosa grabbed his 568th career  homer and Aramis Ramirez followed up with another third-inning  blast to guide the Chicago Cubs to an 8-3 win over the Houston  Astros in the National League (NL) Thursday.


Rangers Sign a Goaltender

Glen Sather, the Rangers' president and general manager, addressed one of the team's glaring weaknesses, signing unrestricted free-agent goaltender Kevin Weekes.


Vote for Pakistan prime minister

Pakistan's parliament is expected on Friday to vote for outgoing Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz as  prime minister.


Briefly: Oracle extends PeopleSoft deadline

roundup Plus: Cisco reports access control server flaws...Toshiba tinkers with Wi-Fi for TV...Music promoter offers concert downloads.


Yen Recovers After Slipping on Japan Data

TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen fell against the dollar on Friday  following a surprise rise in Japan's unemployment rate, but it  quickly recovered as traders turned their attention to an  upcoming speech from the Federal Reserve chief and U.S. growth  data.


Bush Has Slight Edge Over Kerry in New Poll (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush, who is getting\higher marks for his handling of the war on terrorism, holds a\slight lead over Democratic challenger John Kerry, according to\an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Thursday.


UN Anti-Terror Measures Ineffective -- Experts

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. measures aimed at crippling  al Qaeda have had little impact on the threat of terrorism and  need to be tightened, a panel of outside experts reported on  Thursday.


NASA Confident of New Shuttle Fuel Tanks (AP)

AP - NASA's redesigned space shuttle fuel tanks should no longer shed dangerous pieces of foam when launches resume next spring, officials said Thursday.


Revenge Really Is Sweet, Study Shows (Reuters)

Reuters - Revenge feels sweet, and Swiss\researchers said on Thursday they have the brain scans to prove\it.


TD posts profit rise, buys Banknorth stake

TD Bank has reported  quot;solid, broad-based results quot; with a 17 per cent rise in quarterly earnings and a dividend increase - along with a \$3.


Bank of NY sues Citigroup over Enron securities

_ Bank of New York has filed a lawsuit accusing Citibank and its parent company of a  quot;massive scheme of deception quot; designed to hide the failing finances of the bankrupt energy giant Enron while making billions of dollars for itself.


National Foods 2nd-Half Profit Rises 12 on Gourmet Food Sales

National Foods Ltd., Australia #39;s biggest fresh milk supplier, increased second-half profit by 12 percent after selling more specialty cheeses and gourmet foods.


German man regrows jawbone in his back in surgical breakthrough

PARIS (AFP) - A German man has been able to eat his first solid meal in nine years, thanks to a pioneering surgical technique in which the patient incubated a replacement jawbone in a muscle on his back.


Anglers blamed for red snapper decline

US scientists have pinpointed a new set of predators responsible for dwindling fish stocks - people who fish for fun. They report online in the journal Science today that recreational fishermen catch almost


IBM Buys Cross-Platform Content-Management Provider

IBM acquires software developer Venetica to pump up the content-handling capabilities of its DB2 platform. By Paul McDougall and Rick Whiting.


Government to take over terrorist watch lists from airlines

The government will take over from the airlines responsibility for checking passenger names against terrorism watch lists and will begin testing its system within two months, the


Dutch and Aussies seek history in final

ATHENS: The Netherlands and Australia flew through to the Olympic mens hockey finals on Wednesday, setting up the chance for the Dutch to win a third gold in a row and for the Aussies to win their first ever title.


Trojan Felix Sanchez Wins Olympic Gold Medal In 400-Meter Hurdle

ATHENS -- Trojan hurdler Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdle today (Aug. 26) at the 2004 Athens Olympics.


Dim prospects for peace

With public attention focused elsewhere, the Bush administration is letting Middle East peace hopes disappear. Israelis rightly complain that peace requires a partner, a role that Yasser Arafat has been pathetically incapable of filling so far.


Bombs explode in Thailand #39;s south

Two explosions rocked Thailand #39;s troubled southern region Thursday, killing one person and injuring as many as two dozen others.


Bangladesh to ask Interpol to probe into grenade attack case

The Bangladeshi government Thursday decided to seek help from International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to investigate the Aug. 21 grenade attackon opposition


Bryant Judge Chastises Prosecutors (AP)

AP - On the eve of Kobe Bryant's rape trial, a frustrated judge chastised prosecutors Thursday for waiting until the last minute to challenge DNA evidence the defense says shows the accuser had sex with someone else hours after her encounter with the NBA star.


Md. School to Hand Out Blackberry Devices (AP)

AP - The University of Maryland business school plans to give Blackberry wireless devices to all full-time MBA students this fall, an effort to make students technologically savvy and aware that a key to business is being able to access people and information at all times.


AirTran: Regrets flight attendants #39; rejected labor pact

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- AirTran (AAI) said late Thursday it regrets that its flight attendants rejected an agreement negotiated by a private mediator last week.


Dairy giant milks growth

DAIRY company National Foods expects continuing growth after today reporting a 14 per cent rise in net profit to \$68.66 million for 2003/04.


CIOs expect moderate hiring, study says

Chief information officers in the United States are still taking a  quot;measured approach to hiring, quot; according to a report released Thursday by staffing company Robert Half Technology.


SLT internet services fully restored

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has restored fully the internet services pertaining to its dial up internet, dedicated to internet, ADSL and e-mail services, a news release from Sri Lanka Telecom said.


Krispy Kreme Earnings Slide; Change in Strategy Is Planned

Krispy Kreme, which wowed Wall Street with a hot old-economy growth story when it went public, has lost more than two-thirds of its value since it peaked a year ago.


Federal Regulators Find Problems at 4 Big Auditors

The new regulatory body for the auditing industry said that its inspections of the Big Four accounting firms had found "significant audit and accounting issues."


Toronto Dominion Makes Maine Bank Deal

The Toronto-Dominion Bank cautiously entered the United States consumer banking market with a \$3.8 billion deal to acquire 51 percent of the Banknorth Group of Maine.


Australia #39;s National Foods FY Earnings Table

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australian dairy company National Foods Ltd. (NFD.AU) reported Friday a net profit of A\$68.7 million for the year ended June 30, up 14 from A\$60.


Australia  amp; New Zealand

Allen Lew, managing director of SingTel Optus Pty #39;s mobile unit, and Andy Reeves, chief technology officer at Vodafone Group Plc #39;s Australian unit, speak on a teleconference from Sydney


Vivendi tax credit deal amounts to jobs in France

PARIS, Aug 26 (AFP) - Vivendi Universal will create 2,100 jobs over five years as part of a deal agreed with the French government allowing the French media and communications group to book tax credits under a new regime, the finance ministry said Thursday


Sears Canada fires CEO in abrupt move

Sears Canada Inc., which has struggled with declining sales over the past few years, said Thursday it fired chairman and chief executive officer Mark Cohen because of strategic differences over the future direction of the business.


Md. school to hand out Blackberry devices

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland business school plans to give Blackberry wireless devices to all full-time MBA students this fall, an effort to make students technologically savvy and aware


Yokogawa Electric Said to Hire Engineers

Japan #39;s Yokogawa Electric said it planned to hire 2,000 engineers in Singapore by 2010, a newspaper report said Friday. The push will be backed by investment of US\$100 million (euro 82.


New jaw bone grown in mans back muscle

A German who had his lower jaw cut out because of cancer has enjoyed his first meal in nine years - a bratwurst sandwich -fter surgeons grew a new jaw bone in his back muscle and transplanted it to his mouth in what experts call an ambitious


TSA unveils new passenger prescreening program

The Transportation Security Administration today took the wraps off the Secure Flight passenger prescreening program, which it seeks to build as a replacement for the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening Program that airlines use to keep suspect


Crowd turn on sprinters over Kederis affair

Konstandinos Kederis relinquished his Olympic 200m title in absentia here yesterday - but it was almost as if the stadium was filled with his angry spirit as the 70,000 crowd jeered


Thursday #39;s Golf Capsules

Corey Pavin sank seven birdies and matched his career low with an 8-under-par 62 for a three-stroke lead at the inaugural Buick Championship on Thursday.


Abramovich poser for Uefa

Uefa says it will look at Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich #39;s links to CSKA Moscow after the clubs were drawn together in the Champions League.


Pass the baton of trust

These are three innocent sprinters, sharing a baton and their medal hopes with Marion Jones, knowing she could take them all down with one horrific lie.


Ex-tennis star Tanner arrested

FORMER US tennis star Roscoe Tanner has been arrested for allegedly failing to pay child support, an Orange County sheriff #39;s official said.


Al-Jazeera: Militants in Iraq Kill Italian Hostage

The al-Jazeera television channel reports that militants in Iraq have killed their Italian hostage. The Arabic broadcaster says it received a videotape from the militant group calling itself the Islamic Army


British police arrest radical cleric Abu Hamza

British police Thursday arrested radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri under the Terrorism Actat a prison in southeast London where the cleric was already jailed under a US extradition warrant.


Dechy Stuns Capriati 6-4, 7-5 at Pilot Pen (AP)

AP - Defending Pilot Pen champion Jennifer Capriati was upset Thursday, losing 6-4, 7-5 to eighth-seeded Nathalie Dechy.


Japan Raids Record Cos. Over Ringtones (AP)

AP - Japan's anti-monopoly agency raided several top record companies Thursday on suspicion they illegally blocked other firms from offering music ringtone services to mobile phone users.


4 killed, 54 wounded in three separate attacks in India's restive Assam state (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - GAUHATI, India (AP) - Residents of northeastern India were bracing for more violence Friday, a day after bombs ripped through two buses and a grenade was hurled into a crowded market in attacks that killed four people and wounded 54.


Chicago Public Library offers free Wi-Fi

Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey rolled out free wireless Internet connections at the main Harold Washington Library Center and 76 branches.


White House Drafts Intel Reform Orders

WASHINGTON - The White House has drafted executive orders aimed at implementing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations for a more powerful intelligence director and a new national counterterrorism center...


Indian economy suffers due to truckers strike

ISLAMABAD: Indian economists are showing concern over the prolong truckers #39; countrywide strike which is causing shortage of essential commodities.


Sold! To the man at the back in the stetson

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, has devised a novel way of raising funds for the cash-strapped state - a giant car boot sale.


National Foods To Boost Product Release Fourfold -2-

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australian dairy company National Foods Ltd. (NFD.AU) said Friday that it plans to launch at least 80 new products over the next 12 months, compared with the annual average of less than 20.


Egyptian Ibrahim takes wrestling men #39;s 96kg Greco-Roman gold

Karam Ibrahim of Egypt clinched the gold in wrestling men #39;s Greco-Roman 96kg category at the Athens Olympics on August 26 by defeating Ramaz Nozadze of Georgia 12-1.


Coach says Khan will only get better

Already the revelation of the Olympic boxing tournament, Amir Khan can only improve and might become one of the sport #39;s greatest names, the Briton #39;s coach says.


Al-Sistani Brokers Disarmament Deal For Holy City

27 August 2004 -- A deal has been reached to end three weeks of unrest in the Iraqi holy city of Al-Najaf when Iraq #39;s top Shi #39;ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, reached an agreement with radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.


Palestinian militant killed in Gaza blast: security sources

GAZA CITY : An Al-Aqsa Martyrs #39; Brigades militant was killed and two other Palestinians were wounded in an explosion in Gaza City #39;s eastern Shejaya neighborhood, Palestinian security sources told AFP.


Oil production halved as pipelines sabotaged

A sabotage attack on a cluster of about 20 oil pipelines in southern Iraq has cut exports from the key oil-producing region by half, a leading oil official said yesterday.


Police Shoot and Kill Hostage Taker in Toronto

Toronto police shot and killed a man who was holding a woman hostage in the city #39;s business core on Wednesday, ending a standoff that brought morning rush-hour traffic to a gridlocked standstill.


Terrorist attack pumps up oil prices

Oil prices rose off three-month lows yesterday, after an attack on the US consulate in Saudi Arabia and reports of an OPEC pledge to raise its minimum price target.


Surging Red Sox Tame Tigers 4-1 (AP)

AP - Bronson Arroyo gave the surging Boston Red Sox another strong start, allowing six hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.


Dozens Convicted of Cybercrimes (PC World)

PC World - DOJ announces arrests, convictions for online fraud and other Net-related crimes.


XP SP2 Gives Reasons to Switch to Linux (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - Opinion: With security holes to the left of us and program incompatibilities to the right, SP2 is giving corporate IT departments more reasons than ever to consider a move to Linux desktops.


Oracle Sets New PeopleSoft Buyout Deadline (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - The long wait for a decision in the government's antitrust trial against Oracle has prompted the company to extend the deadline yet again for its  #36;7.7 billion attempted buyout of PeopleSoft.


Debate on Kerry's Military Record Rages (AP)

AP - Democrat John Kerry on Thursday lashed out at "the lie that's been put out there" about his Vietnam War service as Republicans and Democrats fiercely debated his military record, sensing a political advantage in keeping the issue alive.


Edwards Has Harsh Words for Bush, Cheney (AP)

AP - Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards took President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to task Thursday on gay marriage, poverty, and other issues, using unusually harsh words at a forum that included undecided voters.


J amp;J eyes Guidant?

Johnson  amp; Johnson is in advanced talks to buy cardiovascular device maker Guidant Corp. for more than \$24 billion, a newspaper report said Tuesday.


Nikkei Average Moves in Tight Range

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average moved in a tight  range until late morning trade on Friday, underpinned by solid  gains in stocks dependent on domestic business, such as Kao  Corp.


Hewitt Continues Excellent U.S. Open Build-Up

COMMACK, New York (Reuters) - Second seed Lleyton Hewitt  continued his excellent build-up to next week's U.S. Open when  a 6-1, 6-4 win over Frenchman Michael Llodra Thursday put him  in the quarter-finals of the \$380,000 Long Island Cup.


Marbury and Late Timeout Are Upsetting to Spaniards

The Americans' passion and ruggedness came out of nowhere, just as Stephon Marbury's 31 points did in a 102-94 quarterfinal victory over Spain.


U.S.C.'s Star Receiver Will Not Be Reinstated

Mike Williams learned Thursday that the N.C.A.A. had denied his request for reinstatement because of questions concerning his academic eligibility and amateur status.


Business School Doles Out BlackBerry Devices

Blending technology and education, the University of Maryland #39;s business school will arm its MBA students with Nextel BlackBerry 7510s.


SUDAN: Darfur peace talks make sluggish progress

DAKAR, 26 Aug 2004 (IRIN) - Hit by power cuts and administrative hitches, the Darfur peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja made slow progress on Thursday, a spokesman for the African Union (AU) which is sponsoring the negotiations said.


4 killed, 54 wounded in three separate attacks in India #39;s restive <b>...</b>

Residents of northeastern India were bracing for more violence Friday, a day after bombs ripped through two buses and a grenade was hurled into a crowded market in attacks that killed four people and wounded 54.


Comcast Subpoenas Elected Leaders In Montgomery Who Favored Union

Two Montgomery County Council members who supported a campaign by employees of Comcast Cable Communications to form a union have been subpoenaed by company attorneys in a federal labor relations case involving a Rockville man who says he was illegally fired by the firm.


Dozens Convicted of Cybercrimes

DOJ announces arrests, convictions for online fraud and other Net-related crimes.


Optus, Vodafone to share wireless network

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd and Vodafone Group Plc have agreed to build a high-speed wireless phone network in Australia through their local


PCAOB Releases Big Four Findings

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2004 (SmartPros) The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board on Thursday revealed findings from a six-month investigation of the nation #39;s Big Four accounting firms.


Oracle Sets New PeopleSoft Buyout Deadline

Oracle extended its \$7.7 billion tender offer for all outstanding shares of PeopleSoft yet again on Thursday, as it waits for US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker to issue a decision in an antitrust lawsuit that aims to permanently block the buyout.


Intel Adds Tri-mode (802.11a,b,g) Wireless Module

Intel announced a new tri-mode wireless module (supporting IEEE standards 802.11a, b and g) for notebooks based on Intel Centrino mobile technology.


Apple AirPort Express

Some wireless gadgets pump music from a computer to a stereo or TV. Others take a broadband connection and make it available to any PC within range.


Defending champion Capriati ousted by Dechy in New Haven

Jennifer Capriati #39;s preparations for next week #39;s US Open were dealt a body blow when she lost 6-4 7-5 to eighth seed Nathalie Dechy of France in the quarter-finals of the \$585,000 New Haven Open on Thursday.


Leaders call for a peaceful intifada

The Palestinian leadership has announced a three-point programme of non-violent resistance in an attempt to wrest the diplomatic initiative from Israel.


Chile makes final ruling: Pinochet can stand trial

The former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet yesterday lost what could be the final round in his tortuous struggle to avoid prosecution for human rights abuses.


Jones, Boxers Get Shots at Gold Medals (AP)

AP - ATHENS, Greece  #151; For two weeks in Greece, they were mostly missing in action: Marion Jones and the U.S. boxing team.


WTO Delays Decision On E.U.'s Biotech Ban (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - BRUSSELS, Aug. 26 -- The United States will have to wait until next year to see its fight with the European Union over biotech foods resolved, as the World Trade Organization agreed to an E.U. request to bring scientists into the debate, officials said Thursday.


Passports taken from three Sydney terror suspects (AFP)

AFP - Australian authorities have cancelled the passports of three Sydney men who allegedly underwent guerrilla training with a radical Islamic group linked to Al-Qaeda.


Three Share First-Round Lead at Tradition (AP)

AP - Jose Maria Canizares birdied his last hole to complete a 5-under-par 67 and share the first-round lead with Bruce Summerhays and Vicente Fernandez at the Tradition on Thursday.


Accounting Board Finds Violations at Big Four

Initial reviews of the nation's largest accounting firms have turned up numerous rule violations and shoddy recordkeeping practices, as regulators embarked on a new effort to regularly examine auditors' work.


Wal-Mart #39;s Vice Chairman retires

LONDON, December 7 (newratings.com) - Wal-Mart Stores (WMT.NYS) announced yesterday that its Vice Chairman, Thomas Coughlin, would retire on January 24, 2005, after having served the company for 25 years.


Ahold Sees U.S. Retail Profits Fall

Dutch food retailer Royal Ahold NV said income from its U.S. retail operations plunged 30 percent in the second quarter, blaming sluggish performance at Giant Food and Stop   Shop Stores, its two biggest American chains.


Examiners Asked to Wait Before Taking Bank Jobs

The nation's top bank regulator asked examiners to avoid going to work for banks they supervise for at least a year after leaving the government, but acknowledged he lacks the authority to make such a restriction mandatory.


SPH, MediaCorp Lay Off Over 200

State-owned broadcaster MediaCorp and Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. said Tuesday that they will shut down an English language channel and lay off more than 200 employees ahead of a merger of their mass market TV and free newspaper operations.


Paxil Maker Will Post Its Unfavorable Test Results

NEW YORK, Aug. 26 -- Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline agreed Thursday to settle charges that it hid and misrepresented unfavorable data about the effectiveness and safety of its top-selling anti-depressant Paxil for children and adolescents, agreeing to post all clinical trial data on its drugs by the end of 2005.


Research Settlement Completed

NEW YORK, Aug. 26 -- Wall Street passed a significant milestone on Thursday, as two investment banks agreed to pay a combined \$100 million to settle charges that they published overly bullish research reports on questionable companies to win their investment banking business.


Two Montgomery County Council members who supported a campaign by employees of Comcast Cable Communications to form a union have been subpoenaed by company attorneys in a federal labor relations case involving a Rockville man who says he was illegally fired by the firm.


Britain Arrests Radical Cleric Al-Masri (AP)

AP - Police arrested a radical Muslim cleric Thursday on suspicion of preparing or instigating "acts of terrorism," a move that could delay U.S. attempts to extradite the suspect for allegedly trying to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon and on other charges.


Nikkei Up as Economic Optimism Grows

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.39 percent  by midsession on Friday, bolstered by solid gains in stocks  dependent on domestic business such as Kao Corp. 4452.T.


White Sox Down Fading Indians 14-9 (AP)

AP - Carl Everett homered and drove in four runs, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 14-9 victory over the fading Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.


Tentative Accord Reached in Najaf to End Fighting

The deal calls for the withdrawal of Moktada al-Sadr's fighters from the Imam Ali shrine and a pullback of U.S. forces.


Crude prices fall despite attacks on Iraq pipeline

LONDON: World oil prices fell strongly yesterday for the second day running as worries over supply disruptions eased with traders claiming overnight pipeline attacks in major producer Iraq were unlikely to affect the country #39;s crude exports.


India approves \$104bn budget

NEW DELHI: India #39;s parliament passed the annual budget yesterday as opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, accusing the country #39;s premier of insulting them after they refused to debate the spending bill.


Accounting Board Finds Violations

Initial reviews of the nation #39;s largest accounting firms have turned up numerous rule violations and shoddy recordkeeping practices, as regulators embarked on a new effort to regularly examine auditors #39; work.


Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline agreed Thursday to settle charges that it hid and misrepresented unfavorable data about the effectiveness and safety of its top-selling anti


OPEC To Try To Curb Oil Prices

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) expects to find a solution with non-OPEC members and oil companies to jointly stabilize oil prices at their meeting next month, OPEC president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.


Oracle Extends Offer for PeopleSoft

Business software maker Oracle Corp. (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it is extending again its hostile tender offer for all of the common stock of PeopleSoft Inc.


Ashcroft launches actions against P2P users

Ashcroft takes federal enforcement action taken against criminal copyright piracy on peer-to-peer networks. Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray, and US Attorney for


Relaxed Buildup For Carter

A relaxed buildup, out of the spotlight, has been the key to Hamish Carter #39;s Olympic success. Carter led home a New Zealand gold and silver finish in the men #39;s triathlon on Thursday night, beating home teammate Bevan Docherty.


O #39;Malley bounces back after injury

Peter O #39;Malley is determined to take advantage of the distraction of the Ryder Cup after posting a five under par 67 on the first day of the BMW International Open in Munich.


Schumacher on favourite stage

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER is back at his favourite race to claim a title demoralised opponents conceded to him months ago, an unprecedented seventh F1 crown.


Yankees 7, Blue Jays 4

Alex Rodriguez finally came through in the clutch, hitting a go-ahead single in the ninth inning to help the New York Yankees rally past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 Thursday night.


Aides to the country #39;s most powerful Shiite leader said they had reached a tentative agreement on Thursday to end the three-week siege in this holy


Al Jazeera Reports Journalist Executed

The Iraqi kidnappers of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni killed him because Italy refused to heed their earlier deadline to withdraw troops from Iraq, says Al Jazeera television.


Pipeline Attack Slows Iraq #39;s Oil Production

Insurgents attacked eight oil pipelines in southern Iraq late Wednesday, temporarily slowing production of the country #39;s most important export on Thursday, according to


Record Level of Americans Not Insured on Health

The number of people without health insurance rose by 1.4 million, to a record 45 million last year, amid rising costs for coverage.


Lenovo, IBM may soon reveal PC unit deal

Hong Kong, December 7: China #39;s largest personal computer maker, Lenovo Group Ltd, could announce as early as Tuesday that it is buying control of IBM #39;s PC-making business for up to US\$2 billion, a source familiar with the situation said.


Smithfield #39;s profit more than doubles

SMITHFIELD Pork processor Smithfield Foods Inc. said yesterday that net income in the first quarter more than doubled as improved profitability in hog production and strong results in pork offset lower beef earnings.


Mortgage Rates Increase

Mortgage rates rose this week, although 30-year mortgages were still below the 6 percent level for a fourth week, Freddie Mac said Thursday.


Study Cites Sport Fishermen #39;s Impact on Species

Fishermen are famed for overstating the size of their catches, but science has found an instance in which anglers have apparently underestimated their prowess.


Doctors graft new jaw on man #39;s back

Doctors in Germany have rebuilt a man #39;s face after growing a new jaw on his back, it has been revealed. By the fourth week after receiving the pioneering transplant, the patient was able to enjoy his first solid meal for nine years.


Mattos: Venetica Buy Makes IBM King of Content

IBM #39;s intent to purchase Venetica Corp., which it announced on Thursday, is the latest gambit to prove that the Armonk, NY, company is dead serious about ruling the content integration market.


TiVo-like Application for XM Radio Under Fire

The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 26, 10:48PM (#10084803).


Paul Hamm:  #39;I competed my heart out #39;

Gymnast Paul Hamm became the first-ever American to win the men #39;s all-around title in one of the closest-ever Olympic competitions.


Asia Stocks Near Flat on Economic Data

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares struggled to break above  the flat line on Friday as dour economic reports in Japan and  South Korea followed lackluster trading in U.S. markets to cap  gains.


Bryant Trial Begins

After months of legal wrangling, the case of People v. Kobe Bean Bryant commences on Friday in Eagle, Colo., with testimony set to begin next month.


No Mistaking Identity

LaVar Arrington, Washington D.C.'s most popular athlete, has endeared himself to the area with a hard-hitting style of linebacking and a soft touch with the fans.


Weeks Strong at Safety

U-Va.'s fifth-year senior safety Marquis Weeks drives the Cavaliers defense confidently from his strong safety position.


White House Proposes Intelligence Changes

WASHINGTON - The White House has drafted executive orders aimed at implementing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations for a more powerful intelligence director and a new national counterterrorism center...


Terps Tab Statham

Ralph Friedgen yesterday named Joel Statham his starting quarterback to open the season but conceded that all of Maryland's quarterbacks are struggling.


NHLPA 'Not Negotiating'

The NHL blasted the NHLPA on Thursday for turning the last two days of contract negotiations into a "charade" as the sides try to reach a labor agreement with a Sept. 15 deadline looming.


Strong start benefits Pavin

A second hole eagle allowed Corey Pavin to card an eight-under-par first round of 62 in the PGA Buick Championship and open up a three shot lead.


NCAA denies reinstatement request for Mike Williams

The NCAA refused to reinstate Southern California All-American Mike Williams on Thursday, leaving the star receiver unable to rejoin the top-ranked Trojans after being shut out of the NFL draft by the courts.


A-Rods late delivery

The way Alex Rodriguez jumped out of the batter #39;s box in the ninth inning last night, he looked as happy as a little leaguer after his first big hit.


U.S. Tally in Online-Crime Sweep: 150 Charged

The cases, involving credit card fraud, corporate espionage and other offenses, are part of what the Justice Department calls Operation Web Snare.


Oracle Extends Hostile Offer for PeopleSoft

Oracle said that it had extended its hostile tender offer for PeopleSoft to Sept. 10, as it awaits a ruling on whether the takeover attempt can proceed.


Tech Shares Pushed Lower, but Market Barely Budges

A downgrading of several semiconductor companies by a brokerage firm put technology shares under pressure on Thursday.


18 Holes on 2 Wheels

Is the Segway  a futuristic, two-wheeled, self-balancing "human transporter"  headed for the golf course?


World Bank unveils 12 billion dollar plan to cut poverty in India (AFP)

AFP - The World Bank unveiled plans to lend up to 12 billion dollars to India under a fresh four-year program beginning in 2005 to alleviate poverty in the world's second most populous nation.


Sure, It's Pragmatic. But Stylish? The Minivan Is Getting a Makeover

Making the minivan hip would be an Olympian feat, but the pragmatic advantage of vans was underscored in statistics that showed them to be safer than cars.


Coyotes Juggle Centers

The Phoenix Coyotes signed free-agent center Petr Nedved and traded center Daymond Langkow to the Calgary Flames for two players on Thursday.


STOCKS TO WATCH

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Among the companies whose shares are likely to see active trading on Friday are Hewlett-Packard (HPQ: news, chart, profile) and Delta (DAL: news, chart, profile).


National Foods posts increased net profit

Australia #39;s biggest supplier of fresh milk, National Foods, has posted a net profit of \$68.7 million, an increase of 14 per cent on last financial year.


US Tally in Online-Crime Sweep: 150 Charged

The Justice Department announced Thursday that more than 150 people had been arrested, charged or convicted in the last three months in a wide-ranging sweep of criminal activity on the Internet.


NASA Notes Some Progress in Making Shuttles Safer

A year after investigators concluded that the space shuttle Columbia was lost because of a damaged wing and a flawed approach to safety at NASA, agency officials said


Security overkill in Athens means more empty seats

It was splashed on the front page of Greece #39;s mass-circulation To Vima, a left-leaning daily newspaper:  quot;Muslim blessing for the Athens Games.


NHL exec says union engaging in a  #39;charade #39;

Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - The negotiations to save the National Hockey League from a work stoppage seemed to take a turn for the worse on Thursday.


Shujaat says Aziz will make Pakistan an economic power

ISLAMABAD: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former prime minister and president of the Pakistan Muslim League, on Thursday said optimistically that after becoming the countrys prime minister Shaukat Aziz would turn Pakistan into a robust economic power.


HP Set to Launch Latest Push Into Consumer Markets (Reuters)

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ.N) on\Friday will unveil a range of products including its version of\the iPod digital music player that raises the stakes in a war\between PC and electronics makers for a spot in increasingly\digitized living rooms.


Crews Search for Asia Typhoon Victims (AP)

AP - Bulldozers and rescue crews on Friday scraped away at the dirt and boulders that officials said buried as many as 15 people in a northern Taiwanese village ravaged by Typhoon Aere before it spun toward China.


Iraqis flock to shrine after deal

Thousands of Iraqis walk through Najaf to the city's great shrine as a peace deal takes effect.


Asia Stocks Near Flat on Economic Data (Reuters)

Reuters - Asian shares struggled to break above\the flat line on Friday as dour economic reports in Japan and\South Korea followed lackluster trading in U.S. markets to cap\gains.


Yen Firms Ahead of Greenspan, U.S. GDP (Reuters)

Reuters - The yen firmed against the dollar on\Friday, after dipping on a surprise rise in Japan's\unemployment rate, as investors grew cautious ahead of U.S.\growth data and a speech by the Federal Reserve chief.


Iraqi Holy City  Left Broken by Urban Warfare

U.S. troops' pinpoint fire and munitions restrictions have ensured that Najaf's Imam Ali shrine remains all but unscathed. But the core of the city around it, dear to millions of Shiite Muslims, has been mauled by combat.


U.S. Denies Role in Cuban Exiles' Pardon

Bush administration officials denied any role Thursday in the pardon of four Cuban exiles by Panama. Three of the exiles -- convicted in a plot to assassinate Fidel Castro -- were immediately flown to Miami.


Banknorth deal good for consumers, analyst says

Canadian control of Banknorth Group Inc. is likely to be good for consumers on this side of the border, an analyst said yesterday after confirmation that TD Bank Financial Group is to become majority shareholder in Banknorth Group Inc.


Hole in Krispy Kreme strategy gro

It #39;s barely a year since Krispy Kreme Doughnuts came to the Hub, vowing to glaze the town. But last night Chief Executive Scott Livengood was instead eating liberal helpings of fresh-baked


Vodafone Plans Joint Australia 3G Rollout

Vodafone, which has some 330,000 customers in Queensland or about 10 of the state #39;s mobile market, hopes the promotion will add 150,000 new customers or nearly 1 of Australia #39;s 16 million mobile telephone users.


Vivendi to enjoy new tax status

Vivendi Universal SA, owner of the world #39;s largest record company, said the French Government approved a change to its tax status allowing the company to save


Study: Recreational fishers have more impact on counts

TALLAHASSEE - Long considered of negligible impact, US recreational fishers may be responsible for landing nearly 25 percent of overfished salt water species, a Florida State University study released Thursday suggests.


Music Industry Sues 744 More for File Sharing

The trade group representing the US music industry has filed a new round of lawsuits against 744 people it alleges used online file-sharing networks to illegally trade in copyrighted materials, it said on Wednesday.


Guo takes second gold in women #39;s 3m springboard

Reigning synchronized 3m springboard Olympic champion Guo Jingjing breezed to the individual title for her second Olympic gold here Thursday in the diving pool.


Spa is  #39;magic #39; track - Schumacher

It #39;s no F1 secret, but Spa-Francorchamps - not far from Michael Schumacher #39;s German birthplace - is his favourite track. Ferrari #39;s champion won last time out in Belgium (2002) and will probably wrap-up title number seven in the Ardennes on Sunday.


Players refuse to let CBA talks become a distraction

Don #39;t mention the NHL #39;s collective bargaining agreement in the Team Canada dressing room. The 26 players are polite when asked about the subject, but they #39;re not going to get into any heavy discussions regarding


American League Game Summary - New York at Toronto

Hudson #39;s homer was 10th of the season...The Blue Jays are 31-32 as the host this season, while the Yankees are 36-30 as the visitor...Toronto starter David Bush worked the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.


Iraqi abductors kill Italian journalist

Iraqi militants have killed the abducted Italian journalist, Enzo Baldoni, after his country refused to withdraw its troops from the war torn country, Arabic television channel Al Jazeera reports.


Suspect admits al-Qaida membership

A man accused of being the chief propagandist for Osama bin Laden admitted yesterday at a military trial that he was a member of the al-Qaida terrorist


Britain arrests radical cleric

London - British Police arrested radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri on suspicion of terrorism links Thursday, a move suggesting that Britain intends to charge him, which could delay US attempts to extradite him.


HP Set to Launch Latest Push Into Consumer Markets

Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ.N on Friday will unveil a range of products including its version of the iPod digital music player that raises the stakes in a war between


Court reinstates Sav-on suit - report

The California Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated a class-action lawsuit by as many as 1, 400 Sav-on Drug Stores managers and assistant managers who claim they


Arnie #39;s new role is cleaning out the attic

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor-turned-governor, is seeking to maximise revenue in the cash-strapped state of California to keep his pledge of no new taxes.


Monty #39;s last Ryder Cup stand

Colin Montgomerie enhanced his prospects of picking up a Ryder Cup wildcard with a sparkling 5-under par 67 in the first round of the German Open on Thursday.


Schumacher returns to his favorite stage

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Michael Schumacher is back at his favorite race, looking to claim a title demoralized opponents conceded to him months ago: an unprecedented seventh Formula One drivers championship.


NHL Official Says Players  #39;Are Not Negotiating #39;

The NHL #39;s chief legal officer blasted the players #39; association yesterday for turning the last two days of contract negotiations in Ottawa into a  quot;charade quot; as the sides try to reach a labor agreement with a Sept.


Philip Terzian: UN offers no hope for Darfur

The National Islamic Front, the ruling Khartoum cabal that overthrew the elected leadership in 1989, has carried out a policy of genocide against Sudans African peoples since the early 1990s.


Bogota Bomb Blast Kills 2 Police Officers (AP)

AP - A bomb exploded in front of a beauty salon in Colombia's capital Thursday night as a police car drove by, killing two officers and wounding two other people, authorities said.


A Windfall for a Student Loan Program

The student loan industry is collecting a record amount of the old subsidies Congress thought it had retired.


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ.N on  Friday will unveil a range of products including its version of  the iPod digital music player that raises the stakes in a war  between PC and electronics makers for a spot in increasingly  digitized living rooms.


Server sales sag in the middle

Cheap servers and expensive ones are looking fit, says IDC, but midrange models need to hit the StairMaster.


US drugmakers accused of violating antitrust law

A San Francisco law firm filed an antitrust lawsuit Thursday in state court against 15 of the biggest drugmakers, alleging they have conspired to charge  quot;artificially higher prices


Replacement jawbone grown on patient #39;s back

A German man, whose jaw was removed because of cancer, has been able to eat his first solid meal in nine years thanks to a replacement jawbone which was incubated in a muscle on his back.


Sweeping giants: US dominates 200

A disruptive Greek chorus of whistles, chanting, and catcalls could not derail a crowd-silencing American sweep in the men #39;s 200-meter dash at the Olympic Games last night.


Second Olympic gold for Chinese Taipei :

Olympics 2004 Athens  gt; Athens, Aug 26 : Chu Mu Yen Thursday collected the second Olympic gold for Chinese Taipei in the men #39;s 58-kg taekwondo final, minutes after Chen Shih Hsin had won the historic gold in the women #39;s 49-kg, reports Xinhua.


Lack of progress on labor results in frustration

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- While the dialogue at the latest NHL labor meeting Thursday resulted in little progress on a new collective bargaining agreement, it did generate harsh words from a league official.


Newman hopes to right the ship at Bristol track

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Ryan Newman cant afford any more missteps, which is a pretty tough row to hoe when the next race on the schedule is at Bristol Motor Speedway.


Camarillo lifts Mexico over Panama

Alan Camarillo had a special night. One that no baseball player would ever forget. His game-winning three-run home run in the top of the 10th gave


U.S. Searches Computers, Trying to Disrupt Piracy

Federal authorities conducted six searches Wednesday in an attempt to disrupt a network used to trade copies of movies, software, games and music.


Sprint, SBC Announce Wi-Fi Roaming Pact (AP)

AP - Customers of Sprint Corp. and SBC Communications Inc. will be able to use both companies' wireless Internet connections with less hassle under a reciprocal deal announced Friday.


HP Moves Deeper Into Consumer Electronics (AP)

AP - Personal computer giant Hewlett-Packard Co. is stepping deeper than ever into the consumer electronics arena with its fall product lineup  #151; so don't be surprised if you hear about "HP TV" along with "HDTV" when shopping for your next television.


Rangers Park Twins

Chan Ho Park pitches six strong innings in his return from the disabled list and Texas equals its win total from last year by easily defeating Minnesota 8-3.


Pinochet Loses Immunity in Chile

Chile's Supreme Court yesterday stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of immunity from prosecution, paving the way for possible trials of the 88-year-old general on charges of human rights abuses during his 17-year rule.


In support of free speech

quot;I don #39;t think we ought to have 527s, quot; President Bush said the other day, referring to the political fund-raising and advocacy organizations that have sprouted in the wake of his signing the anti-free speech McCain-Feingold campaign-finance  quot;reform quot; law


Airport Screening System Touted as Improvement

For months, homeland security officials have privately debated how to blunt criticism of their planned aviation screening system that passengers and airlines complained was overly intrusive.


Nationwide Web-crime sweep rounds up scores

The Justice Department announced yesterday that more than 150 people had been arrested, charged or convicted in the last three months in a wide-ranging sweep of criminal activity on the Internet.