Iran Wants Syria Cooperation in Face of U.S. Pressure

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami  said on Thursday Syria and Iran had to cooperate for the sake  of peace in the Middle East and in the face of pressure from  the United States.


Pro-Chavez Lawmakers Push for Venezuela Media Curbs

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan pro-government  lawmakers began a final drive on Thursday to push through a  media content bill that international watchdogs and opposition  leaders warn could gag the press.


Blair Cuts Short Ethiopia Trip, Heads Home

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair  left Ethiopia for home late on Thursday, a day ahead of  schedule, airport sources in Addis Ababa said.


Blast at hotel in Red Sea resort

A possible gas explosion at a hotel on the border between Egypt and Israel causes several casualties.


Report: Saddam Benefitted From U.N. Deals

NEW YORK - Suitcases full of cash, secret bank accounts, covert operatives, corrupt politicians on the take. A report detailing alleged illicit U.N...


Ravens' Lewis Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge

ATLANTA - Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will be sentenced to four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house after pleading guilty Thursday to a lesser charge in a federal drug conspiracy case.    Under the deal with prosecutors, Lewis would serve his sentence during the NFL offseason...


Insurgents Hit Baghdad Hotel With Rockets

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Rockets struck a Baghdad hotel housing foreign contractors and journalists late Thursday, drawing return fire and underscoring the precarious security in the heart of the Iraqi capital. Outside Baghdad, roadside bombings killed two more American soldiers...


Explosion Rips Through Egyptian Hotel

A strong explosion damaged the Hilton hotel in Egypt's Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border, on Thursday night, witnesses said. Israeli medics said they had been informed of "a large number of casualties.


Brazil Seeks Airline Debt Payment Plan

The government will allow financially troubled airline Vasp to continue operating for at least another six months if Brazil's fourth-largest airline comes up with a debt payment plan by Friday, Defense Minister Jose Viegas said Thursday.


Oil Prices Hit \$53 a Barrel, Then Stage a Retreat

Over the summer, rising oil prices meant higher gasoline costs for drivers in the United States. This winter, as crude oil touched \$53 a barrel today, they will translate into higher heating bills for American households.


ECB holds rates steady

The European Central Bank held its key interest rates steady on Thursday, amid signs it is becoming increasingly concerned about the negative effects on economic recovery of the runaway price of oil.


Alcoa Third-Quarter Profit Rises

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. said Thursday that third-quarter profit rose 1.1 percent in the third quarter compared with a year ago, but fell significantly compared with the previous three months.


AMD Posts Profit, Sees Sales Growth

Computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday posted a third-quarter profit compared with a loss a year earlier and predicted a fourth-quarter pickup in sales.


AT amp;T to Cut Workforce 20, Take \$11.4 Bln Writedown (Update2)

AT amp;T Corp., the largest US long- distance telephone company, will eliminate 20 percent of its workforce this year and write down \$11.


Apple, Dell Hit By LCD Patent Suit

Dell Computer (Quote, Chart), Nokia (Quote, Chart) and Apple Computer (Quote, Chart) are among 34 companies manufacturing giant Honeywell (Quote, Chart) has filed suit against, charging they infringed its patent on liquid crystal display technology (LCD).


Browns' Suggs Impatient to Start (AP)

AP - Waiting has become a part-time job for Lee Suggs, one he'd like to quit for good.


Phillies Eye Baylor, Manuel and Little (AP)

AP - The Philadelphia Phillies are wasting no time trying to replace Larry Bowa, setting up interviews with former managers Don Baylor, Charlie Manuel and Grady Little for next week.


Denmark's First Players' Strike Is Over (AP)

AP - Denmark's first soccer strike ended Thursday with an agreement between teams and the National Players' Association, which had walked out Aug. 17.


Vikings #39; Moss probable with ankle injury

Randy Moss left Vikings practice Thursday afternoon with a sore ankle, but the All-Pro wide receiver isn #39;t expected to miss any action Sunday at Houston.


Hockey Players Look for Lockout Work (AP)

AP - Just months ago, Steve Montador was living every hockey player's dream  #151; playing in the Stanley Cup finals. Now his Calgary Flames are closed for business  #151; along with the rest of the NHL  #151; and he's chasing pucks in front of 2,000 people in a remote corner of France.


Mauresmo Wins First Match at No. 1 (AP)

AP - Amelie Mauresmo overcame a slow start to win her first match at No. 1 in the rankings, beating Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 7-5, 6-4 at the Porsche Grand Prix on Thursday.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair left Ethiopia for home late on Thursday, a day ahead of schedule, airport sources in Addis Ababa said.


Asian, European Leaders Gather in Vietnam for Annual Summit

Leaders from 38 Asian and European nations are in Vietnam for a summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting, known as ASEM. The main purpose is to discuss global trade and international issues, but that the question


Lewis Pleads Guilty

Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will be sentenced to four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house after pleading guilty Thursday to a lesser charge in a federal drug conspiracy case.


Portis Keeping Silent

Clinton Portis, who said after Sunday's loss in Cleveland that the Browns seemed to know the Redskins' plays, is taking another tack this week: He's not talking.


Astros Lead Braves

Jeff Bagwell and Raul Chavez homered, and the Houston Astros took a 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves heading into the fourth inning Thursday, as Houston moved a step closer to winning a playoff series for the first time.


Treasuries Slip as Payrolls Jitters Weigh

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt prices fell on  Thursday as anxiety over Friday's U.S. September payrolls  report largely overwhelmed relief at bond-friendly comments by  a top Federal Reserve official.


Stern Goes Satellite, But Will Listeners Follow?

Sirius claims it will need to generate only one million more subscribers to pay for the five-year, US\$500 million deal with Stern.


Labor Costs, Hurricane Hit Alcoa Profit

Alcoa Inc. (AA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s biggest aluminum producer, said on Thursday that net income for the quarter rose slightly, as labor problems and


PalmOne in partnership with Microsoft

Is this a joke or is it a misleading headline? The answer is neither. It #39;s for real. PalmOne, the handheld manufacturers as opposed to PalmSource, the operating system company, signed a licensing agreement


CA Opens Utility Pricing for Mainframes

Keeping its promise to migrate toward more flexible pricing for its software, Computer Associates (Quote, Chart) has unleashed Measured Workload Pricing for its mainframe management products.


Aragones in trouble over racist remark

Madrid: Spain coach Luis Aragones landed himself in trouble on Wednesday after appearing to make a racist comment about French striker Thierry Henry during a training session.


Clarke and McGrath punish India

An innings of the utmost brilliance from a novice, a superb exhibition from a temporary captain, a precise burst from a returning paceman and a robust contribution from an underestimated


Blair Cuts Short Ethiopia Visit

Prime Minister Tony Blair is on his way back to the UK following a three-day trip to Africa, Downing Street confirmed tonight. Mr Blair has cut short his visit to Ethiopia - he was due to return to the UK tomorrow.


Italy Transports 360 Migrants to Libya

Italian military planes carried 360 would-be migrants from the Italian island of Lampedusa to Libya on Wednesday, a move that officials here described as an emergency response


UPDATE 3-AMD posts profit, sees sales growth; shares rise

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday reported a \$44 million third-quarter profit from a loss a year earlier, and predicted


Alcoa profits up slightly despite fire, hurricane and strikes

PITTSBURGH Alcoa reported slightly improved earnings today on higher aluminum prices, though the company was plagued throughout the third quarter by a fire, a hurricane and labor strife.


AT amp;T to Cut About 7,400 Jobs

AT amp;T Corp. (TN: Quote, Profile, Research) will cut another 7,400 jobs and reduce the value of its assets by \$11.4 billion, spurred by its retreat from traditional consumer


Bank of America to cut 4,500 jobs

Bank of America Corp., which operates 25 branches in the Houston area, plans to cut about 2.5 percent, or 4,500 jobs, from its work force.


KPMG agrees to pay \$115 million to settle shareholder suit

The accounting firm KPMG and a Belgian affiliate agreed Thursday to pay \$115 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit claiming the companies failed in their audit of Lernout  amp; Hauspie Speech Products, which later collapsed.


Reuters opens Bangalore office

BANGALORE, Oct. 7. - Reuters, the 3.2-billion information group, opened its back office here today, its fourth such centre in the world after Tiverton in the UK, New York and Singapore.


Oracle Extends PeopleSoft Offer (Reuters)

Reuters - Oracle Corp.  on Thursday\said it had again extended its  #36;7.7 billion tender offer for\all of the common stock of rival business software maker\PeopleSoft Inc. , though it did not change the terms of\its hostile takeover proposal.


AT T Expands Job Cut Plan by 7,400

AT T Corp. is cutting 7,400 more jobs and slashing the book value of its assets by \$11.4 billion, drastic moves prompted by the company's plan to retreat from the traditional consumer telephone business following a lost court battle.


Shock Jock Dodges Censors With Move To Satellite Radio

Howard Stern, one of the most popular but polarizing personalities in radio, has proclaimed his emancipation from the decency czars of the Federal Communications Commission.


Bank of America to cut 4,500 additional jobs

Bank of America said Thursday that it would cut an additional 4,500 jobs from its work force, increasing the number pared since its acquisition of FleetBoston Financial by 36 percent, to 17,000.


Update 2: Brazil Seeks Airline Debt Payment Plan

The government on Thursday extended the operating concession of financially troubled airline Vasp for another six months after the airline delivered a debt payment plan, the defense ministry said in a statement.


Kabul Blast Was Outside U.S. Embassy, No U.S. Casualties (Reuters)

Reuters - An explosion in the Afghan capital\Kabul was 200 to 300 meters (yards) outside the U.S. embassy\and there were no U.S. casualties, a U.S. official said late on\Thursday.


European music-sharers face legal attack

The entertainment industry took aim at law-breaking European internet file-sharers on Thursday, with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announcing plans to sue hundreds of copyright infringers.


Kodak, Sun Microsystems Settle Java Suit

ROCHESTER, NY - Eastman Kodak Co. accepted a \$92 million payout by Sun Microsystems Inc. to settle a \$1 billion patent-infringement lawsuit over the Silicon Valley company #39;s Java programming language.


CORRECTED: Siebel Sees Sales Topping Street

Business software maker Siebel Systems Inc. on Monday said third-quarter revenue would beat Wall Street estimates, driven by a rebound in licensing revenue, sending its shares up 14 percent.


Texting Your Google Search

Mobile SMS users in the United States received a new mobile search tool today courtesy of none other than Google (Quote, Chart). The new SMS service, now in beta at Google Labs, promises to help mobile users execute search queries via SMS (define).


What #39;s gone wrong with Tiger #39;s swing - by Vijay

ST ANDREWS (Scotland) - Vijay Singh has avoided the  #39;Tiger Slump #39; debate - until now. In fact, the Fijian has come up with a theory about what is wrong with Tiger Woods #39; game: He has not adapted his swing to the changes in his body.


Young star salutes with ton on debut

Aren #39;t we blessed to have so many young players breathing life into cricket just as soon as it comes a little predictable. It was about time the Australian selectors took the risk of giving Michael Clarke a baggy green cap.


Denmark soccer strike ends but parties refuse to disclose deal

Denmark #39;s first ever soccer strike was called off Thursday according to the players #39; and clubs #39; representatives, who refused to release details of the agreement.


Explosion at Hotel Near Israel Leaves Many #39; Wounded (Update1)

An explosion at a Hilton resort hotel frequented by Israelis on Egypt #39;s Red Sea coast near the border with Israel left many, many #39; #39; wounded, Israel #39;s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.


Sunni leader blames Shi #39;ites

MULTAN (Pakistan) - A leader of a radical Sunni group blamed yesterday #39;s bombings at a religious gathering on radical Shi #39;ite Muslims.


Bush administration seeks clarification of Israeli officials #39; <b>...</b>

The Bush administration expressed confidence Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon intends to  quot;move forward quot; on peacemaking with the Palestinians after he withdraws Jewish settlers and Israeli troops from Gaza.


Howard has no regrets on Iraq as poll battle goes down to wire

The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, yesterday called on voters to trust him and refused to express regret over the Iraq war ahead of tomorrow #39;s general election.


Dems, GOP Claim Lead Going Into 2nd Debate (AP)

AP - President Bush needs to do a lot more than improve his body language for Friday night's second debate, says Democrat John Edwards. The Republicans say it's John Kerry who's got the explaining to do about his policies.


Russian Envoy Sees Korea Nuclear Talks in Late Jan (Reuters)

Reuters - North Korea could return to six-party\talks on its nuclear programs in late January after President\Bush forms his new cabinet, Russian ambassador to Japan\Alexander Losyukov said Monday.


Studies Question Ranking of Best Hospitals (AP)

AP - Older patients with similar chronic conditions receive treatment that varies widely, even among the top-ranked hospitals, according to studies released Thursday that suggest more expensive and frequent intervention does not make for better care.


Blasts Hit Egyptian Resorts, 23 Feared Dead

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Suspected bomb blasts hit three  Egyptian Red Sea resorts used by vacationing Israelis on  Thursday and at least 23 people were feared dead from the  biggest explosion, Israeli media said.


Kabul Blast Was Outside U.S. Embassy, No U.S. Casualties

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An explosion in the Afghan capital  Kabul was 200 to 300 meters (yards) outside the U.S. embassy  and there were no U.S. casualties, a U.S. official said late on  Thursday.


UN Panel to Look Into Genocide in Sudan's Darfur

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi  Annan named a five-member panel on Thursday led by Italian  judge Antonio Cassese to investigate whether genocide has taken  place in Sudan's Darfur region.


Yes, but can your VoIP service do this?

Vonage and AT #38;T, still locked in a price war, are separately planning new features in a battle for VoIP customers.


Brief: AT T lays off 20 of workforce

AT T today announced layoffs affecting more than 20 of its workforce, far higher than the 8 it had said earlier in the year would be laid off.


IBM promotes open-source in India

The new Open Source Software Resource Centre will be funded with \$1.2 million over three years and will try to promote open-source software by establishing a portal for exchanging information on the subject and initiating proof-of-concept projects.


Google introduces wireless service

Text messaging users can use Google SMS to get specific search information such as prices, definitions, area codes, ZIP codes and phone listings.


Stocks Drop on Poor Retail Sales, Oil

NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks sharply lower Thursday as oil prices continued their climb higher and new questions about the safety of arthritis drugs pressured pharmaceutical stocks. The Dow Jones industrials, which include drug makers Pfizer Inc...


Bush Defends Iraq Invasion Despite Report

WASHINGTON - President Bush and his vice president conceded Thursday in the clearest terms yet that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, even as they tried to shift the Iraq war debate to a new issue - whether the invasion was justified because Saddam was abusing a U.N. oil-for-food program...


Blast Kills 23 on Egypt-Israeli Border

CAIRO, Egypt - Three explosions shook popular resorts on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where Israelis were vacationing Thursday night at the close of a Jewish holiday, Egyptian officials and witnesses said.    The first blast, about 10 p.m., shook the Hilton hotel in the Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border...


Sun, Kodak settle Java lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO - Sun Microsystems Inc. has agreed to pay US\$92 million to settle a software patent lawsuit brought against it by Eastman Kodak Co., Sun announced Thursday. The settlement comes just six days after a New York jury found Sun guilty of violating Kodak's patents, but before any damages had been awarded. Kodak had been seeking \$1.06 billion in lump sum royalties in the case.


PeopleSoft trial airs dirty laundry

As PeopleSoft Inc. and Oracle Corp. continue dragging each other into courtrooms across the country, the trials are bringing to light reams of internal documents and discussions usually hidden from public view. Highlights so far from this week's case in Delaware's Chancery Court include:


Canon Introduces LCOS Projector

New lens technology creates a versatile sub-\$5000 projector good for home theater or business.


UPDATE 1-Brazil ministry requests Vasp license extension

The Brazilian defense ministry said on Thursday it had requested the president extend the flying license of indebted airline Vasp (VASP3.


Kidd Skipping Night Session, Irking Nets (AP)

AP - Jason Kidd is refusing to attend night sessions during the New Jersey Nets' two-a-day practices at training camp, and he doesn't care if the team fines him for it.


Siebel #39;s New CEO Sees CRM Provider More As Partner Than Vendor

quot;CRM is not a product. CRM is not an event, quot; CEO Mike Lawrie says.  quot;It #39;s a business strategy to drive companies closer to their customers.


Microsoft Looks to Expand Windows at Home

Efforts by Microsoft Corp. and the PC industry to expand into to the living room will get a boost next week as they show off technologies that try to balance Hollywood #39;s piracy fears with the appeal of digital media.


SAP touts NetWeaver enhancements

OCTOBER 07, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Looking to penetrate further into the software infrastructure market, applications vendor SAP AG is rolling out a new set of Java and business intelligence enhancements to its NetWeaver middleware and integration stack.


Brady's Targets Depleted by Injury (AP)

AP - When Tom Brady looked downfield last season, his top targets were Deion Branch and Troy Brown. He'll be focusing on other wide receivers Sunday.


Israel strikes refugee camp, killing two teens

Two Palestinian teenagers are dead and three others wounded after an Israeli strike in northern Gaza. The Israeli military says the incident began when an unmanned drone aircraft spotted a flash from two suspicious


Thomas Faces Long, Slow Rehabilitation (AP)

AP - The Chicago White Sox are optimistic Frank Thomas' latest surgery will clear up chronic problems with his feet, but said the slugger faces a long, slow rehabilitation.


Three Explosions Reported In Egyptian Resort Areas

CAIRO, Egypt -- A string of explosions Thursday rocked the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, where Israelis have been celebrating the end of a Jewish holiday.


Ties to US and Asia at stake in Aussie polls

SYDNEY - Voters face a stark foreign policy choice in tomorrow #39;s polls - Prime Minister John Howard #39;s unquestioning support for the United States alliance versus Labour opposition leader Mark Latham #39;s emphasis on building ties with Asia.


DBS warned of further supervisory action after safe deposit box <b>...</b>

DBS Group Holdings may face  quot;further supervisory action quot; after Hong Kong #39;s de facto central bank ordered it to investigate how 83 of its safe deposit boxes in its Hong Kong branch were destroyed.


Ferrero Upset by Ferrer at Lyon Open (AP)

AP - Third-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero was upset by David Ferrer 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 Thursday in the second round of the Lyon Open.


Correction: GLF-Woods-Wedding Story (AP)

AP - In a story Oct. 6 about Tiger Woods' wedding, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Oprah Winfrey was among the guests. Winfrey was not invited and did not attend the wedding, according to her production company, Harpo.


Money Funds Rose in Latest Week (AP)

AP - Assets of the nation's retail money market mutual funds rose by  #36;135.5 million in the latest week to  #36;833.76 billion, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday.


AT T to Cut About 7,400 Jobs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AT T Corp. T.N will cut another  7,400 jobs and reduce the value of its assets by \$11.4 billion,  spurred by its retreat from traditional consumer telephone  services, the company said on Thursday.


AMD Posts Profit, Sees Sales Growth

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Advanced Micro Devices Inc.  AMD.N on Thursday reported a \$44 million third-quarter profit  from a loss a year earlier, and predicted sales growth in the  current quarter because of better-than-expected demand for its  personal computers processors.


US Stocks Lower

Investors sent US stocks sharply lower today as oil prices continued their climb higher and new questions about the safety of arthritis drugs hit pharmaceutical stocks.


KPMG to Pay \$115 Mln to Settle Lernout  amp; Hauspie Suit (Update5)

KPMG International, the world #39;s No. 4 accounting firm, will pay \$115 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over claims it helped Lernout  amp; Hauspie Speech Products NV artificially inflate sales for more than two years.


Big Music anti-piracy war

p2pnet.net News:- Any lingering doubts as to whether or not the record label cartel has embarked on an all-out, across the board war against former clients to bludgeon them into buying  #39;product #39; have been dispelled.


CRM vendors branch out

Siebel is aiming to take a larger role in enterprises, by branching out from customer relationship management (CRM) and by making its tools easier to use.


CA Introduces Usage-Based Pricing For Mainframe Software

Computer Associates International Inc. on Thursday introduced usage-based pricing for its mainframe-management products in response to customer interest in the more flexible licensing model.


Mars Rover #39;s Wheels Are Malfunctioning

A steering problem disabled the Mars rover Spirit Oct. 1, and the craft has not moved since, Space.com reported Wednesday. Spirit #39;s right-front and left-rear wheels did not operate as commanded, NASA said in a statement Tuesday.


John Doerr Disclaims Rumored GBrowser

iseff writes  quot;Contrary to the rumors which have been circulating, John Doerr (VC and early investor in Google) told the Web 2.0 conference that although he believes in another browser war, Google won #39;t be a part of it.


Explosion rocks hotel in Taba, Egypt, killing 23

A huge explosion struck Hilton hotel at Egypt-Israel border, killing at least 23 people, Egyptian police sources said. Witnesses said they heard a second explosion at the Sinai desert region of Nuaiba, between the Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh.


Africa: Blair calls for action

The Prime Minister made a passionate appeal to the developed nations to give the people of Africa more hope. Mr Blair was speaking at a summit in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa of the Africa Commission, which


Palestinian Teens Killed in Israeli Strike

JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip Oct. 7, 2004 - Two Palestinian boys, ages 14 and 15, were killed in an Israeli missile strike on Thursday, their relatives said.


Two Rockets Hit Downtown Baghdad Sheraton

Security guards at the Palestine hotel said two rockets hit the nearby Sheraton hotel, shattering windows and filling the main lobby of the hotel with smoke and debris.


US Stocks Fall in Broadest Decline Since July on Oil Prices

US stocks fell in the broadest decline in more than two months as the price of oil climbed to \$53 a barrel, raising concern fuel costs will hamper profit growth.


Stocks Fall on \$53 Oil, Drug Sector Woes

Stocks sank on Thursday as crude oil climbed to a record \$53 a barrel and major drug makers #39; shares slid on the possibility they will face more stringent scrutiny from regulators.


Blu-Ray Backers To Release Camcorders

A group of companies backing the Blu-ray DVD format announced plans to release camcorders that are compliant with the standard and can record on smaller disks than are currently available.


Sun settles Kodak #39;s Java suit for \$92 million

com October 7, 2004, 3:22 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


MS Word Security Flaw Reported

A flaw in Microsoft Word 2000, and possibly Word 2002, could be used by hackers to crash PCs or run other code on the compromised machine.


Your Daily Tech News Service...

GamePC have thrown up their review of Microsoft #39;s Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005! Here #39;s a snip. Windows XP Media Center Edition was originally launched roughly two years ago, and was the first variant


Rover finds more evidence of water

THE Mars rover Opportunity has found new evidence of past existence of water on the Red Planet, NASA said today. Opportunity keeps finding new clues of past water as it continues probing Mars, said mission


AT amp;T asks if Microsoft is the best desktop choice

Telecommunications giant AT amp;T has revealed that it is researching desktop alternatives (ie, Linux and Mac OS X) to Microsoft systems.


Taymor Shifts Crowns and Moves to Met (AP)

AP - Julie Taymor shifts crowns Friday. Having conquered Broadway with "The Lion King," the celebrated director makes her Metropolitan Opera debut, taking on the Queen of the Night and all the forest creatures in a new production of Mozart's "Die Zauberfloete."


Sorry lads, the grass is NOT greener

JUST over a year ago I travelled from Barcelona to Madrid on one of Spain #39;s inter-city trains. It was quite an experience. But there again, so is an attack of mumps.


MOTOR RACING: I WON #39;T BE THE BACK-MACHER THIS TIME

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER last night shrugged off his Chinese torture and insisted he has nothing to prove in this weekend #39;s Japanese Grand Prix.


We wont let go this time, says Gilchrist

BANGALORE, OCTOBER 7: Stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist said Australia were determined not to repeat the errors of 2001 after taking control of the first Test against India on Thursday.


Mauresmo wins first match at No. 1

Amelie Mauresmo of France overcame a slow start to win her first match at No. 1 in the rankings, beating Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 7-5, 6-4 at the Porsche Grand Prix on Thursday.


Packers quarterback Favre dealing with family tragedy once again

For the second time in less than a year, Brett Favre is dealing with a death in the family. Favre #39;s brother-in-law died after crashing an all-terrain vehicle on the player #39;s property in Sumrall, Miss.


Too Far: Jamal Lewis should have his sentence lengthened

Toward the end of last week, we heard that Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis had reached a plea bargain in regard to a drug distribution ring he and a childhood friend got going in 2000.


#39;Small setback #39; for navy escalates into human tragedy, political <b>...</b>

OTTAWA (CP) - What began with word of a minor fire aboard a Canadian submarine in the North Atlantic has grown into an ongoing high seas drama carrying devastating personal consequences and a potentially high political cost.


Insurgents Hit Baghdad Hotel With Rockets

Rockets struck a Baghdad hotel housing foreign contractors and journalists late Thursday, drawing return fire and underscoring the precarious security in the heart of the Iraqi capital.


Election doubt as UN staff ask to pull out

Fresh doubts were raised over the feasibility of holding elections in Iraq yesterday with reports that the already minuscule United Nations team there wants to pull out because of the dangerous security situation.


Biologists Call Tropical Forest Protection (AP)

AP - Fearful that growing pressure for development could cause the loss of vital plants and animals, biologists and conservationists are trying to rally new interest in protecting tropical forests and the keys they may hold for vital medicines.


UK's pay gap 'continuing to rise'

The disparity between the earnings of the UK's top directors and their staff is continuing to widen, a report finds.


FCC delves into radio tag challenges

Industry experts join government panel to look at what's keeping the old-fashioned bar code around.


Sun settles Kodak's Java suit for \$92 million

The move comes less than a week after a jury ruled in Kodak's favor in the \$1 billion patent-infringement lawsuit.


Flaw found in older Office versions

Microsoft blasts revelation of vulnerability in Word application.


US Still Wants Aircraft Deal with EU

quot;Our goal remains a new agreement benefitial to both sides, quot; says a senior official from Trade Representative Robert Zoellick #39;s office -- dismissing suggestions that the US action against the


AT amp;T Cuts More Jobs

AT amp;T Corp. on Thursday said it is reducing one fifth of its workforce this year and will record a non-cash charge of approximately \$11.


AT amp;T to Cut 7,400 More Jobs, Take \$11.4 Bln Writedown (Update3)

AT amp;T Corp. said it will cut 7,400 more jobs this year and write down \$11.4 billion of assets as the phone company retreats from the residential business it once dominated.


Biovail Names Douglas Squires As New CEO

Pharmaceutical company Biovail Corp. on Thursday said company founder Eugene Melnyk will give up the chief executive title and remain chairman.


GenVec Shares Plunge on Study Halt

GenVec Inc. shares lost almost half their value Thursday after the Food and Drug Administration halted a study of its lead product candidate because the anti-cancer drug may increase blood clots in patients.


Record industry sues fans for illegally downloading music from <b>...</b>

A year ago, Brianna LaHara felt the full weight of the American music business when the terrified 12-year-old was accused of illegally swapping songs online and forced to pay \$2,000 (1,175) compensation.


Sun: \$92M to settle Kodak suit

Network computer maker Sun Microsystems Inc. Thursday said it agreed to pay \$92 million to settle a long-running patent infringement lawsuit with Eastman Kodak Co.


Flaw found in older Office versions

com October 7, 2004, 3:26 PM PT. Most IT Managers won #39;t question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.


Computer Associates Rolls Out On-Demand Pricing

Computer Associates will offer an on-demand pricing model for many of its mainframe applications. The licensing program uses what CA calls  quot;measured-workload pricing quot; based on actual system


Pires furious at Henry slur

Robert Pires has called for action to be taken against the Spain coach, Luis Aragones, over racist comments apparently aimed at his Arsenal and France team-mate, Thierry Henry, which were picked up on television.


FIFA to finance lavish 2006 World Cup party

BERLIN: Footballs world governing body FIFA will finance an extravagant, 22-million-euro, pre-World Cup party in Berlin in 2006, it was confirmed on Thursday.


Packers place Pederson on IR

The Green Bay Packers placed backup quarterback Doug Pederson on injured reserve Thursday, ending his season. Pederson broke a rib, cracked a bone in his back and tore a muscle in his side in a 14-7 loss Sunday to the New York Giants.


2003 tri-series helped me: Clarke

Bangalore, Oct. 8. (PTI): After winning the battle against Indian spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Australia #39;s Test debutant Michael Clarke said the tour of 2003 for a triseries helped him adapt to the subcontinent conditions.


Run is back in Pittsburgh _ and Steelers are back in first place

Hines Ward occasionally glances around the NFL, sees teams such as the Colts and Rams throwing down after down and wonders why it can #39;t be the Steelers.


Update 1: Regulators Ask Prosecutors to Probe UFJ

Financial regulators on Thursday asked prosecutors to investigate allegations that UFJ Holdings Inc. #39;s banking unit illegally obstructed recent inspections by reporting misleading information about its nonperforming loans.


Man beheaded in Haitian capital

A MAN #39;S beheaded body lay in the street in a seaside slum today near the smouldering remains of another beheaded corpse that was wrapped in tyres and set ablaze - victims accused of spying on loyalists of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.


Murdoch will have to play by Australian rules

Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corporation yesterday agreed to be bound by key Australian rules when it reincorporates in the US. This will restrict Murdoch family #39;s ability to


At least 35 die in Egyptian blasts

A SERIES of explosions ripped through three Egyptian holiday resorts popular with Israelis last night, leaving at least 35 people dead and 160 more injured.


40 die in sectarian bomb attack

AT LEAST 40 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in a double bomb attack at a religious commemoration in Pakistan yesterday, the nations second suspected sectarian attack in less than a week.


Oracle raps PeopleSoft customer refund program

Oracle tells a judge the anti-takeover measure is unnecessary and ties the hands of a future board of directors.


India to grow at 8 for 10 years: FM

The Indian economy is poised for sustained economic growth of 7-8 per cent for the next ten years, Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told participants in a keynote address at the opening session of the World Economic Forum #39;s 20th India Economic


Oracle again extends PeopleSoft offer

Oracle Corp. has again extended its \$7.7 billion cash offer for PeopleSoft Inc. by two weeks. Shareholders now have until Oct. 22 to tender their shares, Oracle said Thursday.


AT T boosts 2004 job cuts to 20 percent

AT T Corp. will cut more than 20 percent of its workforce this year, ratcheting up its planned layoffs from a previously estimated target of 8 percent, the long-distance telecommunications carrier announced Thursday.


TI-Qualcomm cross-licensing deal upheld again

A Delaware judge has thrown out the last claim against Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) filed by Qualcomm Inc. in a licensing dispute between the two companies, ending the current round of litigation, TI said in a release Wednesday.


Rochester Business Journal

Bank of America Corp. will make further cuts to its work force, eliminating another 4,500 positionsor 2.5 percent of its employee baseduring the next six months.


UPDATE 2-US Air seeks court-imposed cuts in wages, benefits

Bankrupt US Airways Group Inc. (UAIRQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday asked a court to impose wage and benefit cuts on its union employees to save


US Stocks Edge Higher as Oil Tops \$52

US stocks were higher on Wednesday even as crude oil prices touched a record at over \$52 per barrel, which helped boost energy shares.


House Passes Resolution Honoring X Prize Recipients

WASHINGTON, DC- By a voice vote, the House of Representatives last night approved a resolution introduced by Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) congratulating Mojave Aerospace Ventures for winning the X Prize and


Who spends the IT industry #39;s R amp;D dollars anyway?

During his opening keynote at TechXNY on Tuesday, Computer Associates #39; interim CEO Ken Cron threw out a number that struck me kind of funny: \$20 billion.


Gordon Cooper, NASA Mercury Pioneer, Dies

LOS ANGELES Oct. 4, 2004 - Gordon Cooper, who was the youngest and perhaps cockiest member of the original seven Mercury astronauts and set the space endurance record that helped clear the way for the first moon landing, has died.


Edmistone eases into semi-finals

Australia #39;s Jade Edmistone has qualified fastest for the semi-finals of the women #39;s 50 metres breast stroke at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.


Mauresmo underlines new status

Mauresmo, 25, took time to find her rhythm against her Swiss opponent but, when her trademark backhand finally clicked, she dominated to take a place in the last eight.


Button in Silverstone plea

Jenson Button believes the potential loss of the British Grand Prix would be  quot;devastating quot; for Formula One. The race is facing the axe in 2005 because the British Racing Drivers #39; Club has failed to meet the asking price for promotional rights.


Room for Owen, Rooney and Defoe as Sven looks forward

ALL week Sven Goran Eriksson has been bombarded with advice on whether Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney or Jermain Defoe should be given the nod to play in attack against Wales in tomorrows World Cup qualifying match at Old Trafford.


Three share lead in South Carolina

North Augusta, SC (Sports Network) - Grace Park, Kim Saiki and Silvia Cavalleri each posted rounds of six-under-par 66 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship.


Islamist group claims resort blasts

A CAR bomb that ripped through a hotel on the Red Sea coast of Egypt #39;s Sinai desert early today was one of three explosions targeting tourists, killing at least 35 people dead and wounding scores more.


Sadr Militia Offers to Surrender Arms

BAGHDAD, 8 October 2004 - Militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr offered yesterday to surrender heavy and medium weapons in return for the release of prisoners and a role in Iraqs political process, hours after the US military freed one of


UN envoy returns to Iraq for meetings on transition

The top United Nations envoy for Iraq has returned to Baghdad this week and is meeting with a wide spectrum of Iraqi political leaders and actors to see how theworld body


Blog Search Engines

Blog Search Engines\\When searching for blogs or marketing your own blog, one must always take blog search engines and directories into account. Some blog search engines search databases of thousands of blogs, while some search through their own directory listings. If you own a blog, you're going to want to ...


News: Shifting cyber threats menace factory floors

A new report says that external attackers have overtaken insiders as the most likely cyber threat to remote-controlled factory equipment.


Sirius goes stellar (Variety)

Variety - NEW YORK -- Shares in Sirius Satellite Radio surged for a second day as investors flocked to the satcaster in the wake of the Howard Stern deal.


More Protection Urged for Rare Toothfish at CITES (Reuters)

Reuters - Environmentalists urged fishing nations\Thursday to do more to protect the rare Patagonian toothfish,\dubbed the "white gold" of the sea which is being driven to\extinction by rampant poaching.


About 100 Wounded at Egypt's Taba Hospital-Source (Reuters)

Reuters - About 100 people were taken to a hospital\in the Egyptian border resort of Taba on Thursday after a huge\blast tore through an Egyptian hotel, a hospital source said.


France Urges Caution in Oil-For-Food Case (AP)

AP - France urged caution Thursday in dealing with a U.S. inspector's allegations it was involved in corruption at the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq, while others singled out in the report rejected the charges as "far-fetched."


Japanese FM presses case for reducing US military presence (AFP)

AFP - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura pressed the United States to reduce its military presence in Japan, saying it was  quot;very important quot; and that Tokyo expected a  quot;reasonable solution. quot;


Woman mauled by grizzly in southern Alberta, escapes to find help (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - BLAIRMORE, Alta. (CP) - A woman who stumbled upon a grizzly bear sow and two cubs in a wilderness area of southwestern Alberta was mauled Thursday but managed to escape.


Ex-U.S. Official Cites Syrian Cooperation (AP)

AP - Syrian President Bashar Assad is offering to make peace with Israel and says he is ready to cooperate with the United States in stabilizing Iraq, a former senior State Department official said Wednesday.


Survey: State leads in use of generics

Massachusetts leads the nation in the use of generic drugs, with 51 percent of its prescriptions written for the cheaper, non-brand medications, according to a survey.


Court Says U.S. Company Must Pay in Iran Murder Case

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The family of an Iranian-American  dissident assassinated on Tehran's orders is entitled to  millions of dollars in assets owed to Iran by a California  defense contractor, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday.


Afghans refugees see hope in their absentee ballots

About 740,000 Afghans who fled violence and repression at home are expected to vote in Saturday's election.


For marines on raids, an eerie silence

Apparently lifeless towns like Haswah, a chronic site of insurgency, may typify what control US-Iraqi forces can achieve.


Extra cash for 'super-microscope'

The giant Diamond synchrotron being built in Oxfordshire in southern England is to receive a further 120m of funding.


Nobel Peace winner to be named

Speculation grows ahead of Friday's announcement of the 2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.


Rights 'catastrophe' in Chechnya

The Council of Europe says human rights in Chechnya are "catastrophic" - not the view of the region's president.


Kabul explosion on eve of polls

Afghan and American troops seal off the diplomatic district in  Kabul after a rocket explodes in the area.


Mars Rovers Probing Water History at Two Sites

NASA's Spirit and Opportunity have been exploring Mars about three times as long as originally scheduled. The more they look, the more evidence of past liquid water on Mars these robots discover.


Incubus Singer Arrested at N.Y. Airport

NEW YORK - The lead singer of the rock band Incubus was arrested for a carrying a switchblade in his bag while trying to board a plane on his way to a concert in North Carolina.    Brandon Boyd, 28, was stopped Wednesday at LaGuardia Airport when baggage screeners spotted the knife in his carry-on luggage, said Lou Martinez, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport...


Bush, Cheney Concede Saddam Had No WMDs

WASHINGTON - President Bush and his vice president conceded Thursday in the clearest terms yet that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, even as they tried to shift the Iraq war debate to a new issue - whether the invasion was justified because Saddam was abusing a U.N. oil-for-food program...


Blasts Kill 30 on Egypt-Israeli Border

CAIRO, Egypt - An explosion tore through a resort hotel Thursday night where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 100, officials said.    Two smaller blasts were reported later at other tourist sites in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, and witnesses gave unconfirmed reports that car bombs caused all three blasts...


Astros and Braves Tied 2-2 After 8

ATLANTA - Jeff Bagwell and Raul Chavez homered early for the Houston Astros, but the Atlanta Braves rallied to a 2-2 tie heading into the ninth inning Thursday, as Houston sought its first victorious playoff series.    Houston took a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 against Atlanta at Turner Field...


Blasts Kill 30 on Egypt-Israeli Border

CAIRO, Egypt - Three explosions shook popular resorts on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Thursday night as many Israelis vacationed at the close of a Jewish holiday. Officials said at least 30 people were killed and 114 wounded, and witnesses gave unconfirmed reports that all three explosions were caused by car bombs...


Google Introduces Google SMS

Continuing their (exponential?) company growth, Google has introduced another service, this time, aimed at the mobile phone generation.


Judge allows ex-Computer Associates CEO #39;s business travel

A federal judge in Brooklyn said Thursday that the former Computer Associates CEO can leave the country to attend a computer conference in France.


Furcal's 11th-Inning Homer Ties Series for Braves (Reuters)

Reuters - Rafael Furcal smacked a two-run homer\in the bottom of the 11th inning to hand the Atlanta Braves a\4-2 victory over the Houston Astros in the National League\Divisional Series Thursday.


Western hotel in heart of Baghdad hit by rockets

Rockets struck a Baghdad hotel housing foreign contractors and journalists late Thursday, drawing return fire and underscoring the insecurity even in the heart of the capital.


Johnny Damon Complains of Migraines (AP)

AP - Boston Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon is having a recurrence of migraine headaches that first bothered him after a collision in last year's playoffs.


Rodgers Hoping to Star in Cal Showdownn (AP)

AP - This time, Aaron Rodgers is determined to finish what he starts against top-ranked USC.


Network Adds Delay to Nascar Telecasts

NBC is adding a 5-second delay to its Nascar telecasts after Dale Earnhardt Jr. used a vulgarity during a postrace interview last weekend.


Nintendo handheld to feature wireless downloading

Device will eventually let people download sample games at stores, as well as game data included in films at movie theaters.


Photo 1 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash

\$2.5 million in prize money is on the line as gamers from Uzbekistan to Ecuador compete in the World Cyber Games.


Record crude oil prices rise for 3rd day

Crude oil futures rose to a record for a third day, reaching US\$52.53 a barrel in New York, on concern US supplies may be insufficient to meet demand this winter.


Judge weighs airline #39;s request for 23-percent pay cut

ALEXANDRIA, Va. A federal bankruptcy judge is weighing whether to grant US Airways #39; request to impose 23-percent pay cuts on its workers to shore up its financial position while it reorganizes.


Grimsby feels the chill as Birds Eye site shuts

Unilever is shutting its Birds Eye factory in Grimsby with the loss of 600 jobs as part of an attempt by the consumer goods giant to revive its struggling frozen food arm.


TOKYO--Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed on Thursday that the company #39;s dual-screen DS handheld gaming console can download game data wirelessly, then play it back.


Google launches new site for readers, publishers

Leading web search engine Google launched a new site for book lovers at the world #39;s largest publishing show on Thursday that will provide a new avenue for sales.


Music chiefs turn to law to stop internet downloading

The music industry is to sue 28 people in London and the South-east alleged to have illegally swapped music over the internet, mimicking tough legal action in the United


Blu-ray Disc Association Launches With More Than 70 Companies

More than 70 companies from the consumer electronics, information technology, media producers, and software industries held the first official meeting of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA).


NASA Mars Rovers Find More Signs of Water

The Mars rovers have found fresh evidence that water was plentiful in both the hills and plains of the now-barren Red Planet, scientists at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Thursday.


Microsoft Probes Flaw in ASP.NET

Microsoft Corp. is investigating a reported security flaw in its ASP.NET technology that could allow intruders to access password-protected sections of a Web site simply by altering a URL.


Braves rally to even series

ATLANTA - With plenty of incentive, Rafael Furcal made sure the Atlanta Braves #39; season lasts at least two more games. Set to report to jail once the post-season ends, Furcal hit a two-out, two-run homer


Twins #39; young guns impress

The notion that young people should be seen, and not heard, has never caught on within the Twins organization. Not in Spring Training.


Blasts Kill 30 on Egypt-Israeli Border

EILAT, Israel Oct. 7, 2004 - An explosion tore through a resort hotel in Egypt #39;s Sinai Peninsula, where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday Thursday night, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 160, officials said.


Ten Palestinians killed in IDF operations in territories

Ten Palestinians and a Thai worker were killed over the past two days in clashes in the territories, mainly in the Gaza Strip, with Operation Days of Penitence entering its 10th day this morning.


Israel kills 3 more including children

JABALIYA (Gaza Strip) - Three Palestinians, including two children, were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza yesterday as the UN delivered aid to Palestinian families trapped in the Jabaliya refugee camp.


AT amp;T deepening workforce slashing, taking \$11.4-billion asset <b>...</b>

NEW YORK (CP) - AT amp;T is deepening its job cuts and now expects to eliminate 20 per cent of its workforce this year. The formerly dominant long-distance telecommunications operator also said Thursday it will


News Ltd bows to shareholder demands over move to US

The Australian Council of Super Investors was one group that had urged News Corp to include major provisions of Australian corporate law in its proposed new US constitution in order to protect Australian shareholders.


Google Launches Beta of SMS Search Queries

Google has launched a beta test to let US mobile phone and handheld device users tap into its search results via the short message service (SMS) platform.


VoIP to Reach 10 of US Homes in 5 Years

VoIP will reach about 400,000 US households by the end of this year, a number that will grow to 12.1 million, or 10 percent of all homes in the US, by 2009, according to a forecast by New-York-based research firm JupiterResearch.


Braves Beat Astros 4-2 to Even National League Playoff Series

Rafael Furcal hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros 4-2 to even their first-round National League playoff series at one game apiece.


Lonard second in Scotland

Australian golfer Peter Lonard is tied for second after the opening round of the Links Championship event at St Andrews, Scotland.


Analysis / Culprits unknown, but goals a plenty

Suicide bombers, booby-trapped cars or a gas leak; by midnight it was still impossible to get confirmed information from official Egyptian sources.


Egypt: Sinai blasts linked to Israel #39;s Gaza raid

Egyptian government spokesman Magdy Rady linked to the Israeli military operation against the Palestinians in the neighboring Gaza Strip, where 84 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli offensive that began on Sept.


Retailers Post Modest Gains in September

NEW YORK Oct. 7, 2004 - The outlook for the holiday shopping season grew more uncertain Thursday as the nation #39;s largest retailers reported they had a fourth straight month of tepid sales in September.


Cingular opposes Nextel plan

WASHINGTON -- Cingular Wireless has urged communications regulators to reject a request by rival Nextel Communications Inc. to lower the cost of its plan to swap airwaves with the government, which is aimed at reducing interference with public safety communications.


Google Rolls Out Test of Short Message Service

Google Inc. on Thursday announced a new test service that allows people to use mobile phones or handheld devices to tap Google #39;s Web search via text messages, or short message service.


McDowell rides Old Course luck

Graeme McDowell, another great talent from the Walker Cup crop of 1999-01, equalled the course record yesterday and so took the lead in the Dunhill Links Championship.


Ever Busy, Phelps Gets Back to Main Thing;

Doesn #39;t it seem as though Michael Phelps just got out of the pool at the Olympics in Athens? He has barely had enough time to dry off, let alone spend any quality time at his usual haunts in suburban Baltimore


Kewell, Aloisi and Viduka on sidelines

HARRY Kewell and John Aloisi did not travel with the Socceroos to the Solomon Islands yesterday, adding a touch of uncertainty to tomorrow #39;s Confederations Cup qualifying tie regarded as a foregone conclusion a week ago.


FTC Files First 'Spyware' Case in U.S. (AP)

AP - The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday filed the first case in the country against software companies accused of infecting computers with intrusive "spyware" and then trying to sell people the solution.


Google Rolls Out Test of Short Message Service (Reuters)

Reuters - Google Inc. on Thursday announced\a new test service that allows people to use mobile phones or\handheld devices to tap Google's Web search via text messages,\or short message service.


Frontier justice won't stop the spam

Spam makes sense. Sure, most of it reads like filthy gibberish. But the authors of this dreck are not semi-literate perverts. They're cool, rational business folk who have found a sleazy but effective way to make a buck.


Windows Media Center survives in shrinkwrap purgatory

Batteries not included, Sopranos not recordable


Afghans Prepare to Vote, Security Fears Loom (Reuters)

Reuters - Afghans have one day left to make up\their minds about who to vote for as their country's first\elected president even though threats of violent reprisals by\Taliban militants may deter some from casting their ballots.


Cuba Hospitalizes Dissident After Wife's Protest (Reuters)

Reuters - Cuban authorities transferred a jailed\dissident suffering from a herniated disc to a military\hospital on Thursday after his wife staged an unprecedented\protest in Havana's Revolution Square.


Canada Lawmakers Avoid No-Confidence Vote (AP)

AP - Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin reached a last-minute agreement with opposition leaders Thursday night to avoid a no-confidence vote in Parliament that could have brought an end to his government and new elections.


At least 30 killed in blasts at Egyptian resorts frequented by Israelis (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - An explosion tore through an Egyptian resort hotel Thursday night where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 100, officials said.


AP Poll: Kerry Holds Small Lead Over Bush (AP)

AP - Sen. John Kerry has taken a slim lead over President Bush, according to an Associated Press poll that shows the president's support tumbling on personal qualities, the war in Iraq and the commander in chief's bedrock campaign issue  #151; national security.


Player can't hit the high notes

As more and more retailers try to cash in on the online music scene, things are becoming increasingly befuddling for consumers -- especially for consumers who stray from the Apple iPod fold.


Cuba Hospitalizes Dissident After Wife's Protest

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban authorities transferred a jailed  dissident suffering from a herniated disc to a military  hospital on Thursday after his wife staged an unprecedented  protest in Havana's Revolution Square.


Ministers 'sorry' for Iraq error

Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt says the entire Cabinet is sorry for the failings in intelligence used to justify the war in Iraq.


Baghdad 'Safe Zone' Proves Vulnerable in Hotel Attack

Insurgents fired two rockets into the Ishtar Sheraton Hotel in central Baghdad, setting rooms ablaze and forcing an evacuation.


Times Reporter Is Held in Contempt in Leak Inquiry

Judith Miller was held in contempt after she refused to divulge sources to prosecutors investigating the leak of an undercover C.I.A. officer's identity.


Thornton Gets Star on Hollywood Walk

LOS ANGELES - Billy Bob Thornton got a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame Thursday - as well on a special greeting on the pages of Variety from ex-wife Angelina Jolie.   "Billy, I love your brilliant mind...


Blasts Kill 30 on Egypt-Israeli Border

EILAT, Israel - An explosion tore through a resort hotel in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday Thursday night, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 160, officials said.    Two smaller blasts were reported later at other tourist sites in the Sinai, and witnesses gave reports that car bombs caused all three explosions...


Reuters re-writing journalistic rules

BANGALORE: With global information group Reuters launching its data centre operations in Bangalore, journalism is being given a new spin.


AT amp;T expands job cut plan by about 7,500

Company also will slash value of its assets by \$11.4 billion. Moves are prompted by plan to retreat from traditional consumer telephone business.


KPMG Units Agree to Pay to Settle Malpractice Suits

The American and Belgian arms of KPMG International, a global accounting cooperative based in Switzerland, have agreed to pay \$115 million to settle claims of accounting malpractice growing


Snow says US tax reforms likely to focus on capital

Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Thursday that future revisions to the US tax code would likely feature more write-offs to capital purchases by businesses.


AT and T to cut workforce by 20

US telecom giant AT and T will shrink even further, announcing on Thursday it would cut 20 percent of its workforce in 2004 and take an \$US11.


Mars rover plots crater  #39;escape #39; while twin keeps climbing hills

NASA #39;s Mars rovers don #39;t seem to be wearing out so mission planners have begun to think more boldly, including a plan to let one climb up a steep  quot;escape hatch quot; from a crater it has been exploring and set out on a trek across a plain.


Microsoft #39;s Media Center has survived the New Year cull, but it now looks set to inhabit the strange zone of purgatory between being a fully-marketed product and the remaindered bin.


More protection urged for rare toothfish

toothfish, dubbed the  quot;white gold quot; of the sea, which is being driven to extinction by rampant poaching. other threatened species, quot; the US-based National Environment Trust (NET) said in a report on Thursday.


Los Angeles to bid for Summer Olympics

After hosting the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, the City of Angels may submit a bid for the Games. The City Council unanimously endorsed a proposal Wednesday to vie for the Summer Games as early as 2016.


Sponsored bibs to attract hosts

In an attempt to encourage more cities to bid for world events, FINA will from next year introduce the wearing of bibs bearing sponsors #39; names for swimmers as they march to the poolside.


Bradley back in lineup following confrontation

Milton Bradley was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers #39; lineup Thursday, a day following a clubhouse confrontation between the outfielder and a reporter he called an  quot;Uncle Tom.


Lidge Blows Save, Micelli Loses Game (AP)

AP - Phil Garner insisted bringing in Brad Lidge in the seventh inning was business as usual. For the Houston closer, the result was quite unusual.


Dozens killed in bomb blasts at Sinai resorts

The surge of violence in the Middle East spilled across Israel #39;s southern border into Egypt last night as more than 30 holidaymakers were killed and scores more injured in a devastating series of apparently coordinated car bomb attacks in Red Sea resorts.


Geldof flies the flag for the poor

The great and the good of Africa and international finance, hidden inside cavalcades of ageing limos flanked by motorcycle outriders flying the yellow and gold flag of Ethiopia, poured into the UN building in the heart of Addis Ababa in great long lines


Photo 3 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash

\$2.5 million in prize money is on the line as gamers from Uzbekistan to Ecuador compete in the World Cyber Games.


Photo 8 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash


Photo 2 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash


Photo 5 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash


Photo 6 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash


Heavy rain hits Suzuka on Friday

The forecasts had predicted rain throughout the weekend here at Suzuka and so far, they havent lied!


Photo 7 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash


Suzuka: not for the faint-hearted

Along with Spa, the Japanese circuit is one of the toughest of the year. The drivers cannot afford the slightest mistake but can make a real difference.


Photo 4 of 8: Global gamers clash for cash


HP launches standards-based telecommunications push

Hewlett-Packard Co. on Thursday signaled its commitment to the Intel Corp. processor architecture and carrier-grade Linux for telecommunications infrastructure, announcing it will introduce a blade server based on those specifications as part of a new hardware, software and services strategy.


With Oil Prices Up, It Could Be a Long Winter

This winter, rising oil prices will translate into higher heating bills for households.


More Job Cuts Set by AT T; Total to Hit 20 of Staff

The company said most cuts would come in its network operations division, where work has become increasingly automated, and in the customer service group.


Airline Workers See Their Security Quickly Vanish

Employees at US Airways, Delta and United are facing the stark realization that the security they hoped their jobs would provide is being taken away.


KPMG Units Agree to Pay to Settle Malpractice Suits

The American and Belgian arms of KPMG International have agreed to pay \$115 million to settle claims of accounting malpractice.


Phelps wins first medal at Short Course World Championships

Michael Phelps led all the way in winning the 200-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships on Thursday night, giving the world #39;s best swimmer a chance to equal the six gold medals he won at the Athens Olympics.


Bank of America to Cut 4,500 More Jobs

The Bank of America Corporation said yesterday that it would cut an additional 4,500 jobs from its ranks, beginning this month, as it simplifies operations.


Drug Stocks Down on Safety Concerns

Drug stocks across the board fell amid renewed safety concerns over a class of blockbuster drugs used to treat arthritis. Preprint articles published on the New England Journal of Medicine #39;s Web site Wednesday


Select Comfort Cuts 3Q Profit Forecast

Mattress retailer Select Comfort Corp. on Thursday said its same-store sales grew 15 percent in the third quarter ended Oct. 2, but lowered its profit forecast due to charges from boosting its warranty reserve during the period.


Sun and Kodak Settle Out of Court

prostoalex writes  quot;The patent dispute between Eastman Kodak and Sun Microsystems in regards to three patents that EK claimed Sun was violating with Java, came to an end.


Lidge blows save in longest stint of season

Phil Garner insisted bringing in Brad Lidge in the seventh inning was business as usual. For the Houston closer, the result was quite unusual.


Park heads three-way tie at Asahi Ryokuken

Grace Park had four straight birdies on the back nine in a 6-under 66 that put her in a tie for the lead with Kim Saiki and Silvia Cavalleri after Thursday #39;s opening round of the LPGA Asahi Ryokuken International Championship.


Soccer / Extravaganza to kick off 2006 World Cup

World football #39;s governing body, FIFA, will hold an event to mark the opening of the 2006 World Cup in Germany on the eve of the opening game, the organization #39;s president, Sepp Blatter, announced yesterday.


Tragic new chapter in history of town synonymous with the peace <b>...</b>

Beneath the sparkling five-star tourist sheen of Taba lies a richly historical region that is littered with memories of failed Middle East peace processes.


Mars Rovers Planners Plot Crater 'Escape' (AP)

AP - NASA's Mars rovers don't seem to be wearing out, so mission planners have begun to think more boldly  #151; including a plan to let one climb up a steep slope from a crater it has been exploring to set out across a plain.


Study: Stem Cells Emit Healing Molecules (AP)

AP - Embryonic stem cells may not have to actually grow replacement body parts to be useful. New research suggests these cells also secrete healing molecules powerful enough to reverse a lethal birth defect in mice.


Rare, Large Hornets Breeding in Arkansas (AP)

AP - Entomologists at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville say a rare breed of hornet known as the European hornet is breeding for the first time in northwest Arkansas.


Malden Mills workers OK strike

LAWRENCE -- Seven hundred workers at Malden Mills Industries could go on strike as early as tomorrow after the mill's largest union voted to reject the company's final contract offer.


AOL Shifts Strategy

For years, America Online Inc. grew steadily  by treating subscribers to exclusive content  it hoped would produce the sort of captive audience that advertisers crave. But now, with users departing for online competitors, company officials are re-thinking their strategy. -The Washington Post


GenVec Halts Human Testing of Top Drug

GenVec Inc. has suspended human testing of its leading drug, a potential cancer therapy, after a patient died during a study. Its stock closed at \$1.20, down \$1.06. But analysts said the link between the death and the drug has yet to be proved.
-The Washington Post


Stern's Move Is a Signal Event

Though Howard Stern's defection from broadcast to satellite radio is still 16 months off, the industry is already trying to figure out what will fill the crater in ad revenue and listenership that he is expected to leave behind.


AT T Plans More Cuts In Workforce

AT T Corp. said it would restructure its business, cutting 20 percent of its jobs and writing down the value of its network by \$11.4 billion, as it winds down its residential telephone business.


Australia Govt in Pole Position for Saturday Vote

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's government looked set for a  fourth straight term, according to a poll trend released on the  eve of Saturday's election, as rival leaders made last-minute  pitches over the economy and the U.S.-led Iraq war.


ECB leaves interest rates unchanged

European Central Bank holds rates at record low of 2, citing concerns about soaring oil prices. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Central Bank left its key interest rate unchanged Thursday, taking more time


Parmalat sues bank

MILAN: Parmalat #39;s administrators sued Bank of America yesterday, the latest of several lawsuits against some of the world #39;s biggest financial institutions over the food group #39;s 14 billion-euro bankruptcy.


Stocks: Energy costs and retail sales worry investors

Disappointing retail sales and oil prices that threatened to top \$53 per barrel sent stocks lower Thursday as investors worried that rising energy costs could further hamper consumer spending.


US Airways: Workers should not count on pension

US Airways lawyers told a federal bankruptcy judge here Thursday that the carrier can #39;t afford to maintain its current pension plans.


Asian Stocks Fall as Oil Heads for 4th Weekly Gain; Sony Drops

Asian stocks fell as a fourth weekly gain in oil prices increased concern that record fuel costs will stifle consumer spending. Sony Corp.


Birds Eye jobs among 1,400 to go in cost cuts

Foods giant Unilever is to close one of its Birds Eye factories with the loss of 600 jobs in an effort to cut costs, as two other companies also revealed job cuts in the UK.


Kodak, Sun Microsystems Settle Java Suit

Eastman Kodak Co., poised to ask for more than \$1 billion in damages from Sun Microsystems Inc., has reached an out-of-court settlement in a long-running patent dispute over the Silicon Valley company #39;s Java programming language.


Mars Rover Find Possible New Evidence of Past Water

The US space agency NASA says one of its two rovers on Mars has found possible fresh evidence that liquid water existed there in the past.


Microsoft Lets the Digital Media Play

Microsoft is making a major push into the entertainment world with the launch this week of its Portable Media Center platform. The software, which will be available first on a device from Creative, allows


Exploring other browser options

In the wake of the browser wars of the late 1990s, Microsofts Internet Explorer has reigned supreme - at least in the PC market.


Border Patrol expands fingerprint searches

Border Patrol agents and other federal law enforcement officers can now simultaneously search through two federal fingerprint databases to see if aliens crossing illegally into the United States are wanted by authorities.


Phelps wins first medal, Sandeno wins three at Short Course World <b>...</b>

Phelps led all the way in winning the 200-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships on opening night Thursday, giving the world #39;s best swimmer a chance to equal the six gold medals he won at the Athens Olympics.


Frazar, six others share lead in Vegas

Harrison Frazar took some time off to rest and find a way to make golf fun again. For the second week in a row it paid off with a share of the first-round lead, though he


MAURESMO BATTLES BACK IN GERMANY

Newly-crowned world number one Amelie Mauresmo struggled in her second-round clash in Filderstadt on Thursday before progressing to the quarter-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.


Smoltz, Lidge big factors in Game 2

The box score says John Smoltz and Brad Lidge did not figure in this Game 2 thriller. Typical of the  quot;win-at-all-costs quot; mind-set that the Astros and Braves carried into


US goes to El Salvador in search of road points

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - The United States men #39;s national team is aware of its struggles in Central America, but knows it needs points Saturday in El Salvador to assure a spot in the next World Cup qualifying round.


NFL Star Lewis Expected to Serve Prison Term in Drug Case

National Football League running back Jamal Lewis will not be able to outrun a trip to jail. The Baltimore Ravens player is expected to be sentenced to four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway


Notes: Bradley incident in the past

Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley and Los Angeles Times reporter Jason Reid, who engaged in a clubhouse altercation after Wednesday #39;s workout, met before Game 2 on Thursday night.


Kidd skipping night practices, irking Nets

Jason Kidd is refusing to attend night sessions during the New Jersey Nets #39; two-a-day practices at training camp, and he doesn #39;t care if the team fines him for it.


Reservations Decline at US Airways

US Airways Group Inc. attorneys and executives acknowledged in bankruptcy court Thursday that bookings had fallen more steeply than they had anticipated in reaction to their Chapter 11 filing last month.


Israeli FM asks Egypt to help rescue Israeli wounded

In the wake of three explosions that had killed at least 35 people in Egypt #39;s Sinai Desert, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Friday asked his Egyptian counterpart to help rescue Israeli wounded.


Libyan, Italian leaders inaugurate gas pipeline

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday inaugurated a natural gas pipeline linking their countries beneaththe Mediterranean, news from Tripoli reported.


Stern's Move Is a Signal

Though Howard Stern's defection from broadcast to satellite radio is still 16 months off, the industry is already trying to figure out what will fill the crater in ad revenue and listenership that he is expected to leave behind.


Ex-Enron Official Details Merrill Lynch Deal

HOUSTON, Oct. 7 -- The government prepared Thursday to rest its fraud and conspiracy case against four former Merrill Lynch   Co. executives and two former mid-level Enron Corp. executives, following testimony from a key Enron executive that a barge sale was a sham designed to inflate profits.


Money From Salvadoran Immigrants Aids Farming Cooperative Back Home

SAN PEDRO MASAHUAT, El Salvador -- Marta Sonia Ayala hunched over a metal table in a room that resembles a large restaurant kitchen, scooping heaps of a light brown powder into plastic bags. Later, she placed the bags of frijolito -- beans ground into flour -- in a heat-sealing machine, placed colored labels on them and shipped them to 22 stores throughout the country where they would sell for \$1.35 a pound.


Martha Stewart Should Fit Right In

The now-notorious domestic diva will probably feel right at home this Christmas at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia, what with the town's traditional inmate knitting bee.


3 Bombings at Resort Towns in the Sinai

Three explosions shook three Egyptian Sinai resorts popular with vacationing Israelis, killing at least 30 people and wounding 100.


Boston techies envision TV's on-demand future

At the end of a boisterous dinner, after several glasses of good red wine, technology entrepreneur John Landry pulled out his iPaq hand-held and beckoned me over to his side of the table.


FDA Accused of Silencing Vioxx Warnings

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration silenced one of its drug experts who raised safety concerns weeks before Merck   Co. yanked the blockbuster drug Vioxx due to increased risks for heart attack and strokes, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said Thursday...


CD in Iraq Said to Have U.S. Schools Info

WASHINGTON - Federal law enforcement authorities notified six school districts in five states last month that a CD found by the U.S. military in Iraq contained crisis-planning information about their schools, two U.S...


Stern #39;s Move Is a Signal Event

Though Howard Stern #39;s defection from broadcast to satellite radio is still 16 months off, the industry is already trying to figure out what will fill the crater in ad revenue and listenership that he is expected to leave behind.


ECB and Britain leave key interest rates alone

BRUSSELS: Record high oil price pose the biggest threat to the global economic recovery, the European Central Bank said yesterday as it left its key interest rate unchanged at 2 per cent.


Reuters Plans to Triple Jobs at Site in India

Reuters, the news service and data company, which is trying to meet stringent cost-cutting targets, said Thursday it would triple the number of employees it has in India by the end of next year.


AT amp;T Plans More Cuts In Workforce

AT amp;T Corp. said it would restructure its business, cutting 20 percent of its jobs and writing down the value of its network by \$11.


Sun settles Kodak #39;s Java suit for US\$92 million

Sun Microsystems has settled a patent suit brought by Eastman Kodak relating to Java software, agreeing to license Kodak #39;s patents for US\$92 million.


Ellis in seven-way tie for Las Vegas lead

Danny Ellis posted the lowest score but had to be content with a share of the lead on eight-under-par with six other players after the first round of the \$4 million Las Vegas Championship on Thursday.


Kidd Takes Another Shot at Nets

The first week of training camp is not over and the Nets #39; best player, Jason Kidd, has sounded off twice. On Thursday, the issue was whether Kidd, who is rehabilitating


Rocket Explodes Above US Base in Kabul, No Casualties

A rocket exploded in the air above the US military compound in Kabul on Friday, the eve of Afghanistan #39;s presidential poll, but there were no casualties, a spokesman for the international peacekeeping force said.


Update 8: Oil Remains Near Record Price in Asia

Oil retreated further from its US\$53 per barrel threshold in early Asian trade Friday, but players in the market remained edgy about tight supplies heading into North America #39;s winter heating season.


Ultimate planner set to lose control of her life

The media call it  quot;Camp Cupcake, quot; the locals call it  quot;the college campus, quot; but it #39;s unlikely Martha Stewart will ever call it home.


Better browser now the best

Except for times when I use one online database that supports Microsoft #39;s dismal excuse for a browser, I never have much use for the blue lower-case  quot;e quot; on my desktop.


Word mangled by unpatched security hole

A highly critical and unpatched security hole in Microsoft #39;s ubiquitous Word software could be used to launch a denial of service attack and give system access.


AOL Shifts Strategy to Attract More Advertisers, Users (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - For years, America Online Inc. grew steadily into the nation's biggest Internet service by treating subscribers to exclusive content and services it hoped would produce the sort of captive audience that advertisers crave. But now, with users departing for faster or cheaper online competitors, company officials are re-thinking their "walled garden" strategy.


Rick Say wins silver medal behind Phelps at short course world <b>...</b>

INDIANAPOLIS (CP) - Rick Say of Victoria ensured there would be no Canadian medal drought at the world short course championships, picking up a silver medal in the men #39;s 200-metre freestyle Thursday night.


Breaking down the teams

PITCHING: Braves left-hander Mike Hampton, already pitching with a bad knee, had to leave the game with one out in the seventh inning when his left forearm tightened.


NBC Puts a Delay on NASCAR

NBC will begin to air its NASCAR coverage with a five-second delay, after Dale Earnhardt Jr. #39;s use of profanity in a post-race interview Sunday.


Peacekeepers Battle Gangs in a Ravaged Haiti

Description: NPR #39;s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports on gruesome violence in the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince. UN peacekeepers are attempting to restore calm in the city, where armed bands of gangsters are


Furcal shows no leniency for Astros

Rafael Furcal could be in jail. Instead, he was at Turner Field on Thursday sparking an Atlanta Braves team desperate to avoid another October meltdown.


Jeter, Yankees Look Dashing Once Again

Here it comes. You can feel the rumbling of anticipation now. Just two games into the American League playoffs, we already have a colossal collision coming into focus.


Here #39;s to turnaround: Bottoms up

Last. Last. Last. Last. End-of-the-season division snapshots were grim a year ago for the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and New York Jets.


Boston Scientific goes shopping

Boston Scientific Corp. wants to get deeper under your skin. Lawrence C. Best, its chief financial officer, says the company will make more than \$2 billion worth of deals over the next two years, many of them in technologies that play a much more invasive medical role, compared to Boston Scientific's traditional products.


Efforts Mount to Persuade Sihanouk to Stay On (Reuters)

Reuters - Efforts to persuade aging\and ailing Norodom Sihanouk to reverse his decision to abdicate\the Cambodian throne mounted Friday.


At least 30 killed as suspected car bombs rock Egypt's Red Sea coast (AFP)

AFP - Suspected car bombs ripped through a hotel and two beachside tourist sites on the Red Sea coast of Egypt's Sinai desert, killing at least 30 people, most of them Israelis.


After terror and invasion, Afghans vote (AFP)

AFP - Three years after the September 11 attacks on the United States changed the course of Afghanistan's history, the shattered nation votes Saturday in unprecedented presidential elections.


For \$999, a lifetime of Internet phone calls

Making unlimited phone calls for a fixed monthly price has proven to be a key selling point for Internet phone services like Vonage and AT amp;T CallVantage.


Cheney: Weapons Report Justifies Iraq War (AP)

AP - Vice President Dick Cheney asserted on Thursday that a finding by the chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq that Saddam Hussein's government produced no weapons of mass destruction after 1991 justifies rather than undermines President Bush's decision to go to war.


Bush, Cheney Concede Iraq Had No WMDs

WASHINGTON - President Bush and his vice president conceded Thursday in the clearest terms yet that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, even as they tried to shift the Iraq war debate to a new issue - whether the invasion was justified because Saddam was abusing a U.N. oil-for-food program...


Blasts Kill 35 Near Egypt-Israeli Border

EILAT, Israel - An explosion tore through a resort hotel in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday Thursday night, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 160, officials said.    Israeli security officials said a car bomb caused the explosion, which was followed by two smaller blasts at other tourist sites in the Sinai...


CD in Iraq Said to Have U.S. Schools Info

WASHINGTON - Federal law enforcement authorities notified school districts in six states last month that a computer disc found in Iraq contained photos, floor plans and other information about their schools, two U.S. officials said Thursday...


Cellphone marketing firm secures \$17.5m

With everyone from ESPN to Eminem opening sales channels to cellphone-owning fans, m-Qube Inc., a Boston wireless company that delivers entertainment content, has raised \$17.5 million in venture capital funding to ramp up its sales and technology development.


Update 1: Tokyo Stocks Lower; Dollar Up Vs. Yet

Tokyo stocks fell Friday morning as investors sold banking issues after Japanese authorities began a criminal investigation into UFJ Holding Inc.


Ravens' Lewis Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge (AP)

AP - Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty Thursday to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug deal and will be sentenced to four months in prison, to be served after the regular season ends in January.


Google introduces wireless service

Google today launched a beta test version of Google SMS, this new service will allow US wireless users to query Google for almost any type of information.


IBM Boosts Mainframe Offerings

The company is opening a technology center in France to showcase how mainframes can be used for back-office tasks such as account reconciliation and funds tracking.


Phelps Wins First Medal, Sandeno Wins 3 (AP)

AP - Michael Phelps led all the way in winning the 200-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships on opening night Thursday, giving the world's best swimmer a chance to equal the six gold medals he won at the Athens Olympics.


Woodgate comeback on hold

Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate has suffered a setback in his comeback from a thigh problem - which has kept him on the sidelines since April.


Mansell Into British Grand Prix

The latest personality to pile into the situation concerning the future, if any, of the British Grand Prix is former World Champion Nigel Mansell.


Braves Beat Astros 4-2 to Even Series

ATLANTA Oct. 7, 2004 - Rafael Furcal hit a two-out, two-run homer in the 11th inning that sent the Atlanta Braves over the Houston Astros 4-2 Thursday and tied their NL playoff series at one game each.


Szczerbiak Is Healthy Heading Into Season (AP)

AP - Wally Szczerbiak sat back after another day at the Minnesota Timberwolves training camp, with ice packs on his knees and recovery drink in hand, and smiled.


Secret delivery of deadly cargo in France

Saint-Paul-Les-Durance - A lorry carrying a shipment of plutonium from US weapons arsenals arrived early onFriday at a reprocessing plant in the south-western French town of Cadarache, a security source said.


Thomson Set to Start Game 3 for Braves (AP)

AP - John Thomson had a successful stint in the bullpen before Thursday's game and is on track to start for the Braves on Saturday in Game 3 of the division series against Houston.


N.Y. Youth Soccer Group Mandates Headgear (AP)

AP - For the first time in the nation, a New York regional youth soccer association will require the mandatory use of protective headguards, affecting nearly 35,000 players 14-years-old and younger.


Frazar, Six Others Share Lead in Vegas (AP)

AP - Harrison Frazar took some time off to rest and find a way to make golf fun again. For the second week in a row it paid off with a share of the first-round lead, though he had to share it with six others in the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas.


Ellis in Seven-Way Tie for Las Vegas Lead

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Reuters) - Danny Ellis posted the lowest  score but had to be content with a share of the lead on  eight-under-par with six other players after the first round of  the \$4 million Las Vegas Championship Thursday.


Furcal Shows No Leniency for Astros

Rafael Furcal could be in jail. Instead, he was at Turner Field on Thursday sparking an Atlanta Braves team desperate to avoid another October meltdown.


Yankees Still Pondering the Enigmatic Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 7 - Kevin Brown is as predictable as the height of the artificial turf at the Metrodome because he rarely changes. He trudges into the clubhouse with his chin to his chest, says little, takes his uniform into the trainer's room and gets dressed apart from his teammates and reporters.


The Red Sox Are Passing Baseball's Chemistry Test

As Boston aims for a first-round playoff sweep over the Anaheim Angels on Friday at Fenway Park, the Red Sox are positively giddy.


Kidd Takes Another Shot at Nets

The first week of training camp is not over and the Nets' best player, Jason Kidd, has sounded off twice.


Ready for Guard Duty

Coach Eddie Jordan and guard Gilbert Arenas continue to work on strengthening their relationship as the team continues to work on mastering the Princeton offense.


Revisiting Past Goals

Eleven and half years after his first international journey with the American squad, Brian McBride is heading back to El Salvador for a World Cup qualifying match at intimidating Estadio Cuscatlan.


Another Shot for Crawford

Trying to end a four-game losing streak, Georgetown will start quarterback Andrew Crawford, who lost his starting job to Keith Allan earlier this season, in Saturday's homecoming game against VMI at Harbin Field.


Baseball Crowds Market

Area companies may not have the budget to buy premium sports tickets or lease luxury suites to Washington's new baseball team.


Cavs Finish Off Tigers

Alvin Pearman runs for 104 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns and No. 10 Virginia shuts Clemson down after the first quarter on its way to a convincing 30-10 victory.


Europe sues users over file sharing

The international record industry announced Thursday that it is planning to file lawsuits against individuals who are sharing files, especially music, over the Internet.


Google tests short message service

There #39;s no doubt the Internet will continue to make its mark in the world of business and technology. Its maintained is position for the past year.


Cracking May Signal Past Water on Mars

NASA #39;s Mars rover Opportunity has found an unusual pattern of cracking on a rock it discovered inside a Martian crater -- evidence, perhaps, that water may once have soaked parts of the crater bed, researchers said yesterday.


US border crossings now linked to FBI database

The US Department of Homeland Security unveiled new computer workstations Thursday that allow Border Patrol agents on the Canadian and Mexican borders to tap into the FBI #39;s fingerprint database, overcoming a technological hurdle that


Computer doubles as telephone

If you #39;re already paying for high-speed Internet service, why not make the most of your money? Those cables aren #39;t just good for downloading sports scores, they can digitally transmit and receive phone calls, too.


Carroll takes bronze for Australia

Australia has won two medals on the first day of the World Shortcourse Swimming Championships in Indianapolis. The Australian 4x200 metre women #39;s freestyle relay team took silver, while 17-year-old Lara Carroll


Give back our sacred heritage, Mr Blair

Addis Ababa - Ethiopian campaigners pressed British Prime Minister Tony Blair to return sacred Ethiopian objects and ancient artefacts that were looted by British troops more than a century ago.


Fifth Asia-Europe Meeting opens in Hanoi

The 5 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 5) officially opened in Hanoi on Friday morning with the participation of top leaders and high-ranking officials from 39 ASEM member countries and more than 1,200 domestic and foreign reporters.


Oil price hits \$53

LONDON, Oct 7: World oil prices bolted to new record summits on Thursday, reaching \$53 in New York on markets nervous about tight global supplies with winter approaching in the northern hemisphere.


UPDATE 3-US pension agency chief warns of solvency risk

The longer-term solvency of the US agency that insures pensions is at risk, threatened by troubled airlines and other companies failing to fund their retirement plans, the agency #39;s director said on Thursday.


Martha Stewart Begins Serving Sentence

One precaution TV icon Martha Stewart must take when serving her sentence at the Alderson, West Virginia, prison is refrain from doing any business.


Shakeout seen for high-tech businesses

Industry watchers say a report that IBM Corp. has put its once-dominant personal computer business up for sale could signal the first move in a broader consolidation destined to shrink the number of PC manufacturers by about a third over the next couple of years.


McDowell equals record

A little over a month ago in Munich, when it was too late to make the team, Graeme McDowell scored a 62 on the final day of Ryder Cup qualifying.


SCHUEY TOPS WET FIRST PRACTICE

Only a handful of cars ventured out during the first 50 minutes of the hour-long session. There was a flurry of activity towards the end, however, when rainmeister Michael Schumacher took his accustomed position at the top of the timesheets.


Mauresmo struggles past Schnyder at Filderstadt

New world number one Amelie Mauresmo struggled to a 7-5 6-4 victory over Patty Schnyder in the second round of the Filderstadt Grand Prix on Thursday.


Retreat driven by spinelessness, not reason

Aaron Lerner October 8, 2004. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is hardly the first Israeli prime minister who makes major policy moves because of orthopedic problems (the absence of a backbone).


IBM brings Unix, faster chip to Power blades

Big Blue says it has improved the processor of its JS20 blade servers and now sells them with its AIX version of Unix.


Search Engine Forums Spotlight

Links to this week's topics from search engine forums across the web: Link Building With Affiliate Programs -- Does it Work? - Yahoo Launches Personal Search - Google To Snap? - Moving to a New Host - Any Issues With SEO? - Extending Your Search Marketing Campaign to Europe - New Overture Features - Raid of the Googlebots


Australian opposition leader to win campaign but lose election: analysts (AFP)

AFP - Australian Labor Party leader Mark Latham may be tipped to lose Saturday's election but he is being seen as a winner regardless of the outcome after a strong campaign performance marked him out as one of the leading politicians of his generation.


Efforts Mount to Persuade Sihanouk to Stay On

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Efforts to persuade aging and ailing  Norodom Sihanouk to reverse his decision to abdicate the  Cambodian throne mounted Friday.


Family seeking Sweden death probe

The family of a Briton found dead in Sweden are trying to get the inquiry into his death re-opened.


Pentagon Sets Steps to Retake Iraq Rebel Sites

Pentagon planners and military commanders have identified areas in Iraq that must be brought under control before elections.


Reporter for Times, Silent Over Sources, Is Facing Jail Time

A reporter for The New York Times was held in contempt of court for refusing to name her sources to prosecutors investigating the leak of the identity of a covert C.I.A. agent.


Melissa Etheridge Has Cancer, Cancels Tour

LOS ANGELES - Singer Melissa Etheridge has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has canceled upcoming tour dates to undergo treatment, her publicist said Thursday.    Etheridge, 43, will undergo surgery and a "speedy and complete recovery" is expected by her doctor, publicist Marcel Pariseau said in a statement...


An Ominous Drone From the Gaza Sky

By day, the streets of this densely populated Palestinian labyrinth are jammed with seething funeral processions and solemn mourning tents. But gradually, long before dusk, the camp is transformed into a ghost town, with civilians cowering in their apartments and masked gunmen darting through the shadows carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles and homemade bombs.


Bush: WMD Report Bolsters War Decision

President Bush said today that he was right to order the invasion of Iraq last year despite a new report by his chief U.S. weapons inspector that shows the country did not possess the weapons of mass destruction that were the original rationale for the war.


Kerry: Bush, Cheney in Denial About Iraq

Democratic Sen. John Kerry said Thursday that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have failed to recognize a deteriorating situation in post-war Iraq and "may well be the last two people on the planet who won't face the truth."


Bush: War in Iraq Was Right Despite No WMDs

President Bush said on Thursday he\was "right to take action" in Iraq even though a new U.S.\report found that Baghdad had no stockpiles of weapons of mass\destruction and that its nuclear program had decayed.


New Google Service May Strain Old Ties in Bookselling

Allowing consumers to search the content of books online could shift the balance of power between companies that produce books and those that sell them.


Still Exploring After Martian Winter, Rovers Send Back More Signs of Water

The two roving vehicles Spirit and Opportunity have explored Mars about three times as long as originally scheduled and keep finding evidence of past liquid water.


The Man Who Grasped the Heavens' Gravitas

The New York Public Library focuses on Isaac Newton and the influence of his ideas in its thoughtful and engaging exhibition.


Pension Guarantor Calls for Changes

The government #39;s pension insurance agency yesterday called on Congress to strengthen its hand in seeking to attach assets of bankrupt companies to protect those companies #39; pension plan


Cards Use 'Small Ball' to Beat Dodgers (AP)

AP - Mike Matheny, Edgar Renteria and the St. Louis Cardinals can win with singles, doubles and triples, too.


No. 10 Virginia 30, Clemson 10

Alvin Pearman ran for 104 yards, including two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and Virginia shut down Clemson after the opening 15 minutes in a convincing 30-10 victory Thursday night.


#39;We need to stay positive #39; - Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh conceded that India had an uphill task to get back in the game, but expressed his happiness at taking a five-wicket haul.


Between club and country

I think an English football manager must have a hell of a nerve to tell a man to give up his international career or risk losing his place in the club that pays him.


Cambodia #39;s Sihanouk Signals Abdication

The announcement Thursday that King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia would abdicate his throne because of poor health has raised new uncertainties for a country with


Southern Mississippi Edges Houston 35-29 (AP)

AP - Damion Carter came on in an emergency and saved Southern Mississippi's perfect start.


Cardinals Crush Dodgers to Grab 2-0 Series Lead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mike Matheny's two-run single  highlighted a three-run fifth inning rally which lifted the St.  Louis Cardinals to an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in  the National League Divisional Series Thursday.


Cards Roll, and It's Getting Late Early for Dodgers

Even without hitting home runs, the St. Louis Cardinals' potent attack continued to pummel the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-3, Thursday.


Yankees Still Pondering the Enigmatic Brown

Yankees pitcher Kevin Brown was more animated than usual on the eve of the start that could turn his misguided September punch into an almost amusing memory.


The Red Sox Are Passing Baseball's Chemistry Test

As Boston aims for a first-round playoff sweep over the Anaheim Angels on Friday at Fenway, the Red Sox are positively giddy.


Backfield Carries Load

Virginia's win over Clemson would not have been possible without 239 rushing yards.


Defense Improving

The overall defense is coming off as fine a performance as anyone could have expected as the Hokies prepare for their first-ever ACC road game against Wake Forest.


Park in Three-Way Tie

Grace Park has four straight birdies on the back nine in a 6-under-par 66 that puts her in a tie for the lead after the opening round of the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship.


Cards Take 2-0 Lead

The Cardinals blasted their way to another 8-3 win over the Dodgers and head to Dodger Stadium with a 2-0 lead in the NL playoff series.


Conferees Ban Lease of Boeing Tankers (Reuters)

Reuters - House and Senate conferees agreed\late on Thursday to ban the leasing of aerial refueling\aircraft as part of a final deal on a  #36;422 billion defense\authorization bill, killing a proposed  #36;23.5 billion Air Force\plan to lease and buy 100 Boeing Co.  tankers,\congressional sources said.


As Stewart Enters Prison, Her Company Refurbishes

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is focused both on life without Ms. Stewart and on life once she returns.


Eagle soars above others

It was a rough September for many retailers battered by hurricanes on one side and rising fuel prices on the other, but American Eagle Outfitters Inc.


Biovail, Innergex Power, Shermag: Canadian Equity Preview

The following is a list of companies whose shares may make gains or losses in the Canadian market. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.


Stewart Attorney Asks For Prosecution #39;s Papers

One day before Martha Stewart is slated to enter prison, lawyers for the multimillionaire businesswoman continued to press her appeal, accusing the government of withholding


Nintendo unveils titles for DS portable gaming system

Super Mario, Madden football and Tiger Woods golf highlight the opening array of games for the Nintendo DS portable gaming system, scheduled for launch on Nov. 21.


Yes, but can your VoIP service do this?

SAN FRANCISCO--The next battle between top Internet phone service providers Vonage and AT amp;T will involve features like voice mail, according to key executives at both companies.


IBM brings Unix, faster chip to Power blades

com October 7, 2004, 9:01 PM PT. With the economy slowly turning up, upgrading hardware has been on businesses radar in the past 12 months as their number two priority.