Now Boarding: Zero G Flights for the Public (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - The Zero Gravity Corporation \  has been given the thumbs up by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to \  conduct  quot;weightless flights quot; for the general public, providing the \  sensation of floating in space.


House Panel Tackles NCAA's Sanctions

Jeremy Bloom told a congressional panel Tuesday that the NCAA cut his college football career short without giving him a fair chance to argue his case.


Storm Cat Colt Fetches \$8 Million

A Japanese trainer paid \$8 million Tuesday for a colt by top sire Storm Cat at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.


Allied Waste cuts forecast, again

Allied Waste Industries Inc. cut its 2004 earnings forecast for the second time in three months Tuesday saying sales growth was coming from lower-margin businesses instead of the more profitable landfill operation.


ABB won #39;t close Guelph transformer plant

ABB Inc. has reversed a decision to close its transformer plant in Guelph, Ont., saving 300 jobs, the union representing the workers said today.


Major graphics flaw threatens Windows PCs

Microsoft published on Tuesday a patch for a major security flaw in its software #39;s handling of the JPEG graphics format and urged customers to use a new tool to locate the many applications that are vulnerable.


U.S. Revises UN Draft on Sudan in Quest of Votes (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States modified its\call for U.N. sanctions against Sudan on Tuesday but still kept\up the threat of punitive measures if Khartoum did not stop\atrocities in its Darfur region.


Microsoft Eyes Video for Business IM (PC World)

PC World - Software giant teams with Polycom to boost sales of Live Communications Server.


Marlins Homer Way Past Expos 8-6 (AP)

AP - The Florida Marlins found an appropriately wild end for their weird stay in Chicago.


Oracle 1Q Earnings Rise 16 Percent

Business software giant Oracle Corp. said Tuesday that first-quarter earnings rose 16 percent driven by new database license sales that rose 19 percent.


Markets Cheer Lifting of Gazprom Ring Fence

The moment investors have been awaiting for years came unexpectedly Tuesday, when President Vladimir Putin backed plans to lift rules banning foreigners from buying local Gazprom shares.


IMF Voices  #39;Some Concern #39; Over Legal Assault on Yukos

The International Monetary Fund expressed concern Tuesday about the impact of the troubles besetting oil major Yukos on Russia #39;s standing as a place to invest.


NHL Lockout a Virtual Certainty Thursday (AP)

AP - Wade Redden took off his practice gear unsure of when he'd have a chance to put it on again. His injured shoulder wouldn't allow him to play for Canada in the World Cup of Hockey championship on Tuesday night. The lack of a collective bargaining agreement between NHL players and owners figures to keep the Ottawa defenseman off the ice much longer.


Oracle Quarterly Net Income Rises 16 Pct

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp. on Tuesday reported  a 16 percent rise in quarterly net income as the world's second  largest software company benefited from steady demand for its  flagship database software.


Tiger Woods Feels the Pressure at Oakland Hills

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Tiger Woods accepts  he is under pressure to perform at this week's Ryder Cup.


Stocks End Barely Higher

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks ended barely higher  on Tuesday  as oil prices rose and investors tried to anticipate the  economic fallout from Hurricane Ivan as it moved through the  Gulf of Mexico toward a possible landfall in the United States.


OPEC Ponders Modest Rise in Oil Quotas

VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC is pumping near flat out in a bid  to drag down oil prices but will not rubber-stamp all its extra  output with a large increase in formal supply quotas, cartel  ministers and delegates said on Tuesday.


Dollar Weaker; Current Account Gap Weighs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar was mostly lower on  Tuesday, weighed down by a report showing the U.S. current  account deficit ballooned to a new record in the second  quarter.


Rockies Terminate Neagle's Contract

DENVER (Sports Network) - Colorado terminated the contract  of pitcher Denny Neagle on Monday, three days after he was  ticketed for soliciting a women for oral sex.


Powell Says Darfur No Safer After Genocide Label

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sudan must do a lot more to make its  Darfur region safer, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on  Tuesday, adding that Khartoum had failed to improve security  since the United States last week accused it of committing  genocide there.


New cracks in nuclear containment

As North Korea, South Korea, and Iran raise risks of an arms race, the global challenge to nonproliferation grows.


Always in hiding, an Iraqi interpreter's anguished life

As an interpreter for the US Army, Khalid Ahmed faces constant taunts and death threats from fellow Iraqis.


Abductions in Iraq a big business

Groups tied to Abu Musab Zarqawi claim a major car bombing Tuesday, taking Westerners as hostages.


Football: Argentina coach resigns

Marcelo Bielsa resigns as coach of Argentina less than a month after steering the country to Olympic gold.


IETF deals setback to Microsoft antispam effort

SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - An antispam technology proposed by Microsoft Corp. as a standard way of identifying the senders of e-mail messages suffered a blow last week when a group within the


Linux Standard Base Gathers Vendor Support

Several major IT vendors have agreed to support the Linux Standard Base 2.0, which establishes a global standard for the open-source operating system.


Worm Seeks Out Network Passwords

Sdbot  quot;spreads via network shares using NetBEUI functions to get ... user names and passwords, quot; says security firm Trend Micro.


CA Responsive On Storage Management

Computer Associates on Monday unveiled storage-management software designed to help customers keep costs in line. The CA BrightStor r11.


CMU #39;s computer science school receives \$20 million gift from Gates

PITTSBURGH -- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given \$20 million to Carnegie Mellon University to help fund construction of a new computer science building.


Cordero: Fan was  quot;way out of control quot;

Texas Rangers closer Francisco Cordero appeared on the Jeff Rickard Show on Sporting News Radio to discuss Monday night #39;s incident in which several members of the Rangers bullpen were involved in an altercation with Oakland fans and one - Frank


=== Louisville-Tulane game postponed due to Hurricane Ivan ===

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Saturday #39;s Conference USA game between No. 24 Louisville and Tulane has been postponed due to the possible threat of Hurricane Ivan.


Marlins 8, Expos 6

The Marlins homered three times in a six-run third inning, and Jeff Conine drove in the winning run with a walk Tuesday to lift Florida to an 8-6 victory over the Montreal Expos at US Cellular Field.


Zee TV to take legal recourse

Zee TV Network has decided to take legal recourse in the battle over the controversial cricket telecast rights, as its board of directors has chosen not to submit fresh bids.


Adriano double gives Inter 2-0 win over ten-man Bremen

Brazilian Adriano scored both goals as Inter Milan beat Werder Bremen 2-0 in their opening match in Champions League Group G on Tuesday.


Insurgents Target Iraqi Police; 59 Dead

A car bomb ripped through a busy Baghdad market where Iraqis were gathering to join the police force Tuesday, and gunmen attacked a police van to the north, killing at least


Indonesia says tourism unaffected by Australian embassy bomb blast <b>...</b>

The Indonesian tourism industry has so far not been affected by last week #39;s bombing outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta and officials said they do not expect a significant drop in visitor numbers as a result of the attack.


Iraqi President says polls should go ahead

Iraqi elections should go ahead as planned in January despite mounting violence unless the United Nations says it is not feasible, interim President Ghazi al-Yawar says.


L.A., Washington Hotel Workers Strike

LOS ANGELES - Thousands of hotel workers in Los Angeles voted to authorize a strike, their union said Tuesday, joining in an effort that could lead to walkouts in three cities.    About three-fourths of the 3,000 housekeepers, bellmen and other workers at nine prominent Los Angeles hotels took part in the vote Monday, and union spokesman Danny Feingold said Tuesday that 83 percent of them chose to authorize a strike...


Insurgents Target Iraqi Police; 59 Dead

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Guerrillas bombed a Baghdad shopping street full of police recruits and fired on a police van north of the capital Tuesday in attacks that killed at least 59 people and struck at the heart of the U.S. strategy for fighting Iraq's escalating insurgency...


Oracle quarterly profit rises on software demand

Oracle (ORCL) Tuesday reported a 16 rise in quarterly net income as the world #39;s second largest software company benefited from steady demand for its flagship database software.


Officials Can #39;t Say Nukes Safe From Terror

Three years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission cannot independently verify that every nuclear power plant is taking required safeguards to protect


Sony To Acquire Hollywood Studio For \$3Bn

LOS ANGELES, SEPT 14: A consortium led by Sony Corp has agreed in principle to acquire Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc for nearly \$3 billion.


Oracle shows sales and earnings growth in Q1

Oracle Corp. reported revenue and earnings growth in its first fiscal quarter, with its revenue from new software licenses rising 7 percent, to US\$563 million.


A Game Boy for \$200?

A preview page at Walmart.com reveals expected pricing and availability for Nintendo's DS handheld game player.


Hackers Plot Denial-of-Service Attack Against Symantec

A new variant of the MyDoom virus is designed to launch a denial-of-service attack against antivirus software maker Symantec, according to security firm Sophos.


Larsson goal caps return to Celtic as Barca win 3-1

Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson marked his return to Celtic with his Spanish side #39;s third goal in an impressive 3-1 win against the Scottish champions in Tuesday #39;s Champions League Group F opener.


Argentina #39;s  #39;mad man #39; quits

ARGENTINA soccer coach Marcelo Bielsa quit today, just two weeks since he guided them to their first Olympic title. Bielsa, 49, nicknamed the  quot;mad man quot; for his eccentric press conferences and his volatile


Hurricane postpones Louisville-Tulane game until December

Tulane officials have postponed Saturday #39;s football game against Louisville because of the threat of Hurricane Ivan. Tulane officials said in a statement Tuesday that the game is tentatively rescheduled for the weekend of Dec. 4 at the Superdome.


Iraq Appeals for International Troops Before January Elections

The United States and Iraq have issued an appeal at the UN Security Council for more help in establishing a democratically elected government in Baghdad.


Microsoft issues patch for 'critical' JPEG-handling flaw

Microsoft has released a "critical" patch to fix a security flaw affecting how Windows, Office and developer tools software programs process images in the JPEG image format.


SMASH protocol a hit at Enterprise Management World

The new SMASH protocol, which was demonstrated at Enterprise Management World, got good marks from data center managers at the event.


Boston's Beth Israel to pilot PanGo's asset tracking technology

When the asset-tracking project goes live on Oct. 1, the hospital expects to be able to better track patients, clinicians and critical equipment.


IETF deals setback to Microsoft antispam effort

A working group within the Internet Engineering Task Force voted not to proceed with an antispam technology standards proposal submitted by Microsoft because of concerns about intellectual property claims that the company is making.


German software pirate, and his father get jail time

A German court yesterday sentenced a second member of one of Europe's largest software counterfeiting rings to three years prison and handed down a sentence to his father for helping run front operations.


Maximizing your notebook's battery power

Tips to squeeze every last minute of power out of your notebook's battery.


Proxim settles patent lawsuit with Symbol

Under the terms of the agreement, Proxim will pay Symbol \$23 million over the next two and a half years.


IBM broadens suite of RFID services

The RFID services from IBM will include consulting, business case development, technical proof of concept, pilots for the client and trading partners and full system implementation for industrial companies.


Sun, Microsoft to detail interoperability next month

Sun Microsystems and Microsoft next month plan to reveal the work they have been doing to make their products interoperable, a Sun executive said yesterday.


Sun trims fourth-quarter earnings by \$12M

In financial documents filed with the SEC, Sun Microsoystems said its net income for the quarter that ended June 30 had been revised downward by \$12 million and 1 cent per share.


Xerox updates doc software, signs up HSBC and Boeing

Xerox Corp. has won several new document services deals and updated its content management and workflow software, it announced Tuesday.


Senator faults 4 pilots for US Airways bankruptcy

Following a meeting Tuesday with US Airways Group Inc. president and CEO Bruce Lakefield, US Sen. Rick Santorum laid blame for the airline #39;s second bankruptcy filing on four pilots #39; union representatives from


McDonald #39;s Raises Dividend, Shares Climb

McDonald #39;s Corp. (MCD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday raised its annual dividend 38 percent, a move the world #39;s largest restaurant chain said is another sign of its revitalization.


Microsoft issues patch for  #39;critical #39; JPEG-handling flaw

SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 (REUTERS) - Microsoft Corp. today released a patch for its latest  quot;critical quot; security flaw affecting how Windows, Office and developer tools software process images in the JPEG image format.


Bielsa steps down despite strong summer

Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sports Network) - Marcelo Bielsa resigned as Argentina #39;s coach on Tuesday, despite leading his country to the final of Copa America and to an Olympic triumph this summer.


UPDATE 1-Vicente inspires Valencia win over Anderlecht

Vicente scored the opening goal and created the second to give Valencia a comfortable 2-0 victory over Anderlecht in their opening Champions League Group G match on Tuesday.


Eagles bring back Levens; place Andrews on IR

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Eagles made several roster moves on Tuesday, including bringing back Dorsey Levens and placing Shawn Andrews on injured reserve.


Latest Violence in Iraq Leaves Scores Dead, Many Without Power

A car bomb has killed at least 47 people in the Iraqi capital, while an attack on an oil pipeline in the north left much of the country without power.


15 Killed In US Strike On Iraqi Hotspot Of Fallujah

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) - At least 15 people were killed as US jets spearheaded yet another assault on alleged Al-Qaeda fighters in Fallujah while Iraq #39;s premier warned that key elections may be delayed in areas of unrest.


Firefox 1.0 Available Today

Firefox 1.0 Available Today\\Firefox 1.0 (Preview Release) is now available. If you've never tried this wonderful browser it's MORE THAN worthy of your attention. What's new in this release?\\- Improved pop-up blocker: new pop-up blocker blocks even more pop-ups while making it easy to view pop-ups when necessary.\\- Security improvements: ...


AOL Making Portal and Search Engine Changes

AOL Making Portal and Search Changes\\Some big changes are in the making at AOL which will help to expand their content, channels, and advertising revenue past their paid internet service provider members and to the masses. And no, it's not the Netscape homepage! AOL is currently testing a preview of ...


Mets Manager Meets With Team Brass (AP)

AP - Manager Art Howe met with New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon and general manager Jim Duquette on Tuesday, one day after saying that if the team planned to fire him, it should do it now.


Pilots Reach Accord With Alitalia (AP)

AP - Pilots at Alitalia agreed Tuesday to nearly double their annual flying hours and accept lower pay  #151; the first breakthrough in talks aimed at keeping the near-bankrupt Italian carrier in business.


Maryland Wary of No. 7 West Virginia (AP)

AP - Overconfidence usually isn't an issue when facing the nation's seventh-ranked team on the road, yet Maryland has every reason to feel smug about its chances of winning Saturday against West Virginia.


Oracle Quarterly Net Income Rises 16 Pct

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp. ORCL.O on Tuesday  reported a 16 percent rise in quarterly net income as the  world's second largest software company benefited from steady  demand for its flagship database software.


Parties Spar in Congress on Medicare Increase (Reuters)

Reuters - Senate Republicans and Democrats on\Tuesday battled over blame for a record increase in Medicare\health premiums, which Democratic presidential candidate John\Kerry has criticized in his campaign to unseat President Bush.


House OKs Fines for Lawyers for Meritless Suits (Reuters)

Reuters - The House of Representatives on\Tuesday passed a bill to punish lawyers who file lawsuits\deemed meritless by a judge, and bar them from shopping around\for a sympathetic court.


Xserve G5 Supercluster

When the Hypersonic Missile Technology team at COLSA Corporation and the U.S. Army need to model hypersonic flight on a computer system, they #146;ll no longer have to wait two months to get results. They now can use one of the world #146;s largest and most powerful computers: a supercluster of 1,566 64-bit, dual-processor Apple Xserve G5 servers. Sep 14


Regulators promise 'light touch' on BPL

ARLINGTON, VA - Members of three state public utilities promised a light regulatory touch on broadband over power line (BPL) service as electric companies begin to experiment with the alternative to traditional high-speed Internet service.


Argentina loan program delay  #39;unadvisable #39;-bankers

Argentina #39;s postponement of its International Monetary Fund loan program was  quot;very unadvisable quot; as the country tries to regain access to international credit markets, a global banking group said on Tuesday.


Deutsche executives retreat to ready a new strategy

FRANKFURT Deutsche Bank, the largest bank in Germany, appears headed for an important executive overhaul aimed at turning problem areas of the business into profit centers over the coming year.


Problem with the Way Microsoft Opens JPEG Files Affects Dozens of <b>...</b>

A remote attacker could take complete control over computers running many versions of Microsoft software by inserting malicious code in a JPEG image that executes through an unchecked buffer


BellSouth Uses New Cisco Routers to Reach SMBs, Branches

BellSouth today announced it will use the routers that Cisco launched today to allow small and medium businesses and enterprise branches to receive cost-effective access to VoIP, call and content management, security and other applications previously


Mourinho #39;s Chelsea off to a flyer as champions Porto draw

Coach Jose Mourinho began his quest for a second successive Champions League title in the best way possible when his Chelsea side beat Paris St Germain 3-0 in their opening Group H match on Tuesday.


Villeneuve to test drive for Renault

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Canada #39;s Jacques Villeneuve is getting back into a Formula One driver #39;s seat. F1 team Renault announced that Villeneuve will test drive at Silverstone this week.


Palace interlopers are released on bail

LONDON Two campaigners for fathers #39; rights who penetrated Buckingham Palace dressed in Batman and Robin costumes were released on bail Tuesday, the police said.


British envoy for Korean blast site

THE North Korean Government will allow the British ambassador to Pyongyang to travel to its border with China this week to investigate the explosion that occurred there five days ago -- initially reported as a nuclear blast, but now said to have been


US allows Iraqis back to Tal Afar homes

Anxious civilians trickled back into Tal Afar Tuesday, digging through the rubble of buildings flattened during a nearly two-week siege by US-led forces targeting


Ankara, chastened, steps away from adultery law

VAN, Turkey After suffering a wave of criticism from European Union officials, women #39;s groups, newspaper columnists and finally from its own members, Turkey #39;s governing party abandoned a proposal on Tuesday to criminalize adultery.


Arab League avoids stand on UN in Lebanon

CAIRO Arab foreign ministers agreed Tuesday to avoid a position on UN intervention in relations between Syria and Lebanon after Syria and Jordan disagreed over what approach to take.


Terrorism, Debt Loom Over Australia Election

Prime Minister John Howard doesn #39;t have one new Tampa #39; #39; heading into next month #39;s Australian election, but two. The MV Tampa was the vessel Howard #39;s party rode to victory in November 2001, figuratively speaking.


Celtic crash to first ever home Champions League defeat (AFP)

AFP - Celtic crashed to their first ever Champions League defeat at Parkhead when they went down 3-1 to Spanish giants Barcelona in their Group F tie.


Chelsea Impressive in Opening Match (AP)

AP - Chelsea coasted to a 3-0 win on Didier Drogba's two goals, Arsenal needed an own-goal for victory and defending champion FC Porto was held to a 0-0 draw on the opening night of the Champions League season.


South African Films Offer Love, Comedy in Toronto (Reuters)

Reuters - A decade after apartheid ended, South\African filmmaking has come of age and is able to tell stories\about the country's troubled past with humor and affection,\several of the country's directors said on Tuesday.


Probe Recommends Against Overseas Census (AP)

AP - Congressional investigators recommended Tuesday that the Census Bureau not include Americans living abroad as part of the U.S. census in 2010.


Blair Warns of Climate Change's Threat (AP)

AP - Prime Minister Tony Blair warned on Tuesday of the threat posed by climate change and urged support for the principles of the Kyoto accord on global warming, a treaty rejected by President Bush as unfair toward U.S. industry.


U.S. Treasury Prices End Higher

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices ended higher on  Tuesday after soft August retail sales and a record high  current account deficit kept dealers focused on the possibility  of a slower pace of official interest rate hikes.


Chelsea Beats Paris St. Germain in Champions League

LONDON (Reuters) - Coach Jose Mourinho began his quest for  a second successive Champions League title in the best way  possible when his Chelsea side beat Paris St. Germain 3-0 in  their opening Group H match Tuesday.


Mugabe to seek mining shares

The Zimbabwean state could take a 50 stake in the country's leading mining companies to crack down on what it claims is illegal use of export earnings.


Panel Urges Strong Warning on Antidepressants for Children

The panel recommended that the warning should say that antidepressants can sometimes lead children to become suicidal.


Xilinx Expects Revenue Shortfall

Xilinx (XLNX:Nasdaq - news - research) took its place late Tuesday in a long, doleful list of chipmakers that have lowered third-quarter expectations.


Federated rebranding stores to Macy #39;s

Ohio-based Federated Departments Stores Inc. is rebranding 184 of its regional department stores to its Macy #39;s name. The change should be completed by January and will give


Internet stocks nudge techs higher

Yahoo! jumps into the music download biz while Ask Jeeves, Amazon soar; Oracle beats after the bell. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Bucking the broader market #39;s trend Tuesday, Internet stocks rallied on Yahoo!


ABC Sports, for Insider

Green Bay #39;s victory over Carolina on Monday night featured an entertaining performance by Brett Favre. It wasn #39;t that the quarterback had one of his typical Favre nights.


Terps have reason to be wary of No. 7 West Virginia

Overconfidence usually isn #39;t an issue when facing the nation #39;s seventh-ranked team on the road, yet Maryland has every reason to feel smug about its chances of winning Saturday against West Virginia.


Zee rejects plan for fresh bids, demands rights for \$260m

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 14: Zee TV has refused to accept the Bombay High Courts suggestion to call for fresh bids for cricket telecast rights, setting the stage for a legal battle.


Indy 500 changes aimed at regaining interest

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George announced a series of schedule changes Tuesday, including a return to four days of qualifying but with a new format that could give each car potentially 12 attempts to enter the 33-car lineup.


At least 59 die in co-ordinated rebel attacks on Iraqi police

Guerrillas bombed a Baghdad shopping street full of police recruits and fired on a police van north of the capital Tuesday in attacks that killed at least 59 people and struck at the heart of the US strategy for fighting Iraq #39;s escalating


PM gives dire warning on climate

The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, issues a dire warning on climate change as he sets out policies to tackle it.


Selig Has Surgery for Skin Cancer (AP)

AP - Baseball commissioner Bud Selig had surgery Monday to remove a cancerous lesion from his forehead.


Samba servers vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks

Patches released for flaws in software package that lets Windows files and printers be shared by Unix and Linux systems.


The new Game Boy for \$200?

A preview page at Walmart.com reveals expected pricing and availability for Nintendo's DS handheld game player.


Brief: Oracle profit rises on software demand in Q1

The company reported net income of \$509 million in its first fiscal quarter, compared with \$440 million in income for the same quarter a year ago.


Microsoft Warns of Critical JPEG Flaw

Handling of images could allow an attacker to take over your PC.


Ledee could fit on bench for Dodgers

The Dodgers are believed to be closing in on an agreement with free-agent outfielder Ricky Ledee, who would fill the left-handed-hitting reserve role left open by the retirement of Robin Ventura after last season.


"Monday Night Football" Ratings Down (AP)

AP - Green Bay's win over Carolina in the first game of the season on ABC's "Monday Night Football," was the second-most watched prime-time show of the week, trailing only NBC's debut episode of the "Friends" spinoff "Joey."


Microsoft Warns of Critical JPEG Flaw (PC World)

PC World - Handling of images could allow an attacker to take over your PC.


Microsoft Release Patch to Fix Flaws (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday it has found a new security flaw with its Windows XP operating system and warned that an attacker could infiltrate other computers by persuading their owners to open a specialized graphics file.


Cheney Blasts Kerry for Dean Comments (AP)

AP - Vice President Dick Cheney turned Sen. John Kerry's own words against him Tuesday while criticizing the Democrat for calling the war in Iraq "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time."


Weightless Trip to Nowhere Yields Thrills, Nausea (Reuters)

Reuters - Fancy an airplane trip that takes you\nowhere, costs about  #36;3,000, and may make you vomit?


Former Broker Admits Cheating Clients

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Todd Eberhard, a former New York  stockbroker and financial television personality, pleaded  guilty on Tuesday to cheating his clients out of millions of  dollars while generating excessive commissions for himself.


Chavez approves phone firm

With the backing of President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela is setting up a state-owned telecoms firm to challenge dominant foreign owned operators.


PM gives dire warning on climate

The prime minister issues a dire warning on climate change as he sets out policies to tackle it.


Oracle's Earnings Top Expectations

SAN FRANCISCO - Business software maker Oracle Corp.'s quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations, despite sluggish sales in a product line that the company hopes to bolster by completing a long-sought takeover of rival PeopleSoft Inc.    The Redwood Shores-based company said Tuesday it earned \$509 million, or 10 cents per share, during the three months ended in August, a 16 percent improvement from \$440 million, or 8 cents per share, at the same time last year...


UPDATE 1-Celestica cuts 3rd qtr forecasts as orders drop

Celestica Inc. (CLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (CLS.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) cut its third-quarter earnings forecast on Tuesday, triggering a selling spree in its shares.


Allied Waste shares fall as company again lowers outlook

AUSTIN Shares in Allied Waste Industries fell today after the waste hauler cut its 2004 profit outlook for the second time in as many months.


Part of the ECT News Network

Yahoo and Musicmatch today announced they have signed an agreement for Yahoo to acquire Musicmatch for approximately US\$160 million in cash.


Coker pleased players didn #39;t quit

CORAL GABLES  Miami coach Larry Coker admits it took him a while to come down from Friday night #39;s 16-10 overtime victory against Florida State.


National League Game Summary - Atlanta at New York, Game Two

Atlanta holds a 9-4 edge in the season series, and has won four of seven in New York...The doubleheader was the Braves #39; second in five days after they were swept at home by Philadelphia on September 8...The last doubleheader between these clubs at Shea


Australia Still Looking for 27 Citizens in Iraq After Threat

Australia #39;s government hasn #39;t accounted for 27 citizens in Iraq after an Islamic group said it took two Australians hostage, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.


Oracle's Earnings Top Expectations by Penny

Business software maker Oracle Corp.'s quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations, despite sluggish sales in a product line that the company hopes to bolster by completing a long-sought takeover of rival PeopleSoft Inc. -AP


The Milky Way Above La Silla

European Southern Observatory -- Anybody who visits a high-altitude astronomical observatory at this time of the year will be impressed by the beauty of the Milky Way band that stretches across the sky.     Compared to the poor views from cities and other human conglomerations, the dark and bright nebulae come into view together with an astonishing palette of clear stellar colours...


Oracle sales rise on database demand

Software maker meets earnings projects but applications business languishes with unit's sales down 36 percent.


California coach gets new contract

California football Coach Jeff Tedford received a new five-year contract Monday to lead the Golden Bears through the 2009 season. The new deal replaces his existing agreement, which had three years remaining.


Philadelphia Expands Free Wireless Web Access Zone (Reuters)

Reuters - Philadelphia expanded free outdoor\wireless Internet access on Tuesday as part of a\multimillion-dollar plan to connect the entire city by early\2006.


Oprah Car Giveaway Generates Buzz for GM

DETROIT (Reuters) - Just ask "Anna Karenina" about Oprah.  The daytime talk show host, whose recommendation put the 19th  century novel on the best-sellers list, has generated a rush of  interest in General Motors Corp.'s GM.N new Pontiac G6  mid-sized car, GM officials said on Tuesday.


Broker Pleads Guilty to Cheating Clients

A former well-known New York stockbroker pleaded guilty Tuesday to cheating his clients out of millions of dollars and generating fraudulent commissions for himself.


Update 1: Bond Prices Edge Higher at Close of Day

Bond prices edged higher Tuesday, following release of a report showing a dip in retail sales last month. The price of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 5/32 point, or \$1.


LAZARUS MACY #39;S

PARENT COMPANY FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES PLANS TO CHANGE ALL OF THEIR REGIONAL DEPARTMENT STORE CHAINS TO THE MACY #39;S NAME IN JANUARY.


Microsoft Warns of Critical JPEG Flaw

A security flaw in the way many Microsoft applications process JPEG images could allow an attacker to gain control over a computer running the software, Microsoft warned this week.


IBM expands RFID services for manufacturers

IBM is set to begin offering a range of new services designed to bring the benefits of radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems to industrial firms and mid-size businesses.


Xerox #39;s Mulcahy: We #39;re Moving Beyond Documents

She sees Xerox becoming more of an information-services firm. Observers are skeptical, but Mulcahy says she #39;ll buy consultancies if necessary.


Apple Computer face further payout to Beatles #39; company

Apple Computer, maker of the iPod music player and online iTunes Music Store, is likely to be forced into a multimillion-pound payout to Apple Corporation, the Beatles #39; management


Philadelphia Expands Free Wireless Web Access Zone

Philadelphia expanded free outdoor wireless Internet access on Tuesday as part of a multimillion-dollar plan to connect the entire city by early 2006.


Dent rains down the aces on a day of wet weather

BEIJING: Big-hitting Taylor Dent rained down 16 aces Tuesday on the way to a first-round victory at the \$500,000 China Open before the skies dropped water to wash away play.


NY Yankees at Kansas City, 2:10 PM

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees hope to recover from another pitching collapse when they face the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in the second game of their series.


NY Mets at Atlanta, 1:05 PM

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets continue their five-game series following a doubleheader split Monday.


Hurricane Ivan set to bring giant seas to Gulf of Mexico

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 September 2004: - - Hurricane Ivan, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the Caribbean, killed at least 16 people in Jamaica, where it wrecked houses and washed away roads on Saturday, but appears to have spared


Secret Photos  #39;Helped Plan Batman #39;s Palace Protest #39;

A member of the campaign group Fathers 4 Justice tonight claimed he took secret pictures inside Buckingham Palace more than a month before a fellow protester climbed the walls of the Queens official residence.


Israeli settler pay approved, Sharon faces threats

JERUSALEM - Israel #39;s security cabinet approved cash advances on Tuesday to entice Gaza settlers to evacuate their homes, as police investigated death threats against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sparked by his pullout plan.


Talks on Tibet

Two years after the Tibetan government-in-exile renewed negotiations with China, after a full decade, on the question of Tibet, a delegation of the Dalai Lamas special envoys left for a tour of the Middle Kingdom on the weekend.


How Much Hollywood For Comcast?

In a first-of-its kind deal, Comcast (Quote, Chart) has struck a broad content distribution pact with Sony Pictures that includes plans to expand its video-on-demand (define) menu.


Celestica lowers Q3 guidance; shares slump after hours

TORONTO - Celestica late Tuesday came out with a profit and revenue warning for its third quarter, saying some of its biggest customers were reducing orders for the company #39;s electronics equipment.


Alitalia, Pilots Agree to New Contract, Reduce Pay (Update5)

Alitalia SpA, Italy #39;s largest airline, reached an agreement with pilots to increase work hours and reduce pay ahead of tomorrow #39;s deadline set by Chief Executive Giancarlo Cimoli, union officials said.


US lawmakers urge SEC action on credit raters

Lawmakers on Tuesday urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission to move to reform the oversight of credit-rating agencies, with one suggesting its power


Sri Lanka defeats Zimbabwe

LONDON: Sri Lanka survived a scare as they nearly lost their opening match of the Champions Trophy at the hands of Zimbabwe at The Oval.


Vikings add depth in secondary; ink Shaw and Brown

Eden Prairie, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Vikings added some much- needed depth to its secondary on Tuesday by signing veterans Terrance Shaw and Ralph Brown.


Arab Leaders Acquiesce Over Syria, Lebanon (AP)

AP - Arab foreign ministers backed Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday against international calls to remove Syrian forces from its tiny neighbor, even though several Arab nations have publicly stepped up pressure on Syria to comply.


European TV Shopping Seen Doubling by 2008 (Reuters)

Reuters - Television shopping in Europe is\projected to nearly double to 8.8 billion euros ( #36;10.8 billion)\by 2008 as more households sign up for digital TV service,\according to a study released Wednesday.


Thirty-five earn TOUR cards, Davis wins medal at Q-school

Playing in the final group and seemingly a lock to earn a job on the PGA TOUR next year, Hearn squandered six shots and was on the cut line until coming up with two of the biggest putts of his career -- a 15-foot par save on the 17th and a 40-foot birdie


Marlins Homer Way Past Expos

The Marlins homered three times in a six-run third inning to lift Florida to a victory over the Montreal Expos at U.S. Cellular Field.


Children's Antidepressants Must Have Warning Labels

By LAURAN NEERGAARD    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Antidepressants should come with the nation's strongest warning - in a black box on the label - that they can sometimes spur suicidal behavior in children and teenagers, the government's scientific advisers decided Tuesday.    It's a rare risk, and therefore families need detailed information on how to balance that concern with the need to treat depression, which itself can lead to suicide, cautioned advisers to the Food and Drug Administration...


Gambling Linked to Good Health in Seniors

By DIANE SCARPONI     UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -- According to a surprising Yale University study, older recreational gamblers seem to be healthier than non-gamblers...


Study Shows Weightlifters Don't Lift Enough

By EDDIE PELLS    (AP) -- It might be time for workout warriors to stack a couple more weight plates onto the pile. A recent study showed that many inexperienced weightlifters don't come close to pumping enough iron to change the shape of their muscles, or really get any benefit at all...


Flu Is Sending More and More People to Hospital

By LINDSEY TANNER    CHICAGO (AP) -- The number of people hospitalized in the United States because of the flu has climbed substantially over the past two decades to an average of more than 200,000 a year, in large part because of the aging of the population, a government study found.    Severe cases of the flu can result in pneumonia, dehydration or a worsening of chronic medical conditions, and can be life-threatening - especially for the very old or the very young...


HP girds for grid storage campaign

The computing giant talks up new storage products and plans after a major sales stumble.


Theme park takes visitors to RFID-land

A Florida park helps parents keep track of kids with radio ID tags from Texas Instruments.


Job Woes Plague High Tech

Researchers say the industry bled 403,000 jobs between March 2001 and April 2004, and the high-tech market continues to shrink.


Oracle sales rise on database demand

com September 14, 2004, 2:26 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.


Microsoft, Polycom Team on Conferencing

Microsoft (Quote, Chart) and Polycom have formed a multi-year joint venture that will add Polycom #39;s conferencing functionality to Microsoft Office Live Meeting.


Golf: US captain taunts win-hungry Tiger about Ryder Cup struggles

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, United States : Tiger Woods was inspired for a top effort at the Ryder Cup long before United States captain Hal Sutton prodded him with talk about past failures and his place in golf history.


Powell says blast consistent with North Koreas explanation

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Tuesday a blast in North Korea last week that stirred fears of a nuclear explosion might have been demolition work for a power project, as Pyongyang has asserted.


Sun exec: Community brings innovation to Java

SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- A Sun Microsystems official at the BorCon conference here on Tuesday touted the Java Community Process (JCP) for amending the Java programming language, but did not have any revelations pertaining to industry calls for making Java available under an open source format.


JPEG handling flaw threatens PCs, Microsoft warns

A security flaw in the way many Microsoft Corp. applications process JPEG images could allow an attacker to gain control over a computer running the software, Microsoft warned Tuesday.


Super-Secure Quantum Network Warns of Data Danger

It's a hacker's nightmare but a dream for bankers and spies: A computer network so secure that even the simplest attempts to eavesdrop will interrupt the flow of data and alert administrators to the snooping.


Jordan Strives to Become Global Tech Leader

By FADI KHALIL    SOUTHERN SHOUNEH, Jordan (AP) -- Jordan has gone from providing one computer for every 82 students to one for every 17 in its drive to become a leader in information technology, the minister in charge of the campaign told a conference on Tuesday.    Minister of Information and Communication Technology Fawaz Zu'bi said the dramatic increase in access to computers for students was logged last year...


Editorial: Baseball should come down hard on stadium violence

A fight broke out at a major league baseball game between the Oakland A #39;s and Texas Rangers Monday night, and the incident should spark action to eliminate this problem in the future.


Sri Lanka made an unimpressive entry into ICC Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka made an unimpressive entry into the Champions Trophy as they overcame a magnificent Zimbabwe side by four wickets at The Oval.


47 die in bomb attack on Iraqi police building

BAGHDAD - A huge explosion tore through a crowded market close to a Baghdad police headquarters building yesterday, killing at least 47 people in the capital #39;s deadliest single attack in six months.


Iceland's Leader Takes New Job (AP)

AP - Iceland Prime Minister David Oddsson, Europe's longest-serving premier, is stepping down after a 13-year tenure marked by the transformation of his island country with free market policies.


Waiting Game Almost Over at Oakland Hills

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - The intensity,  expectation and pressure began to heighten for the 35th Ryder  Cup on Tuesday as the United States and Europe completed the  first day of official team practice.


Oracle's Earnings Just Top Expectations

SAN FRANCISCO - Business software maker Oracle Corp.'s quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations, overcoming sluggish sales in a product line that the company hopes to bolster by completing a long-sought takeover of rival PeopleSoft Inc.    The Redwood Shores-based company said Tuesday it earned \$509 million, or 10 cents per share, during the three months ended in August, a 16 percent improvement from \$440 million, or 8 cents per share, at the same time last year...


CIA Nominee Promises to Shed Partisanship

WASHINGTON - President Bush's nominee to head the CIA promised Tuesday to shed his political past and provide precise, objective and independent intelligence to the president and Congress. But after a 4 1/2-hour confirmation hearing, some Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee were not convinced...


Schwab pays fine to settle allegations of improper trades

CHICAGO _ Discount brokerage Charles Schwab Corp. on Tuesday settled regulators #39; allegations that it allowed scores of improper mutual fund trades, agreeing to pay a \$350,000 fine.


Homeowners told house prices could fall by 30

Britain #39;s homeowners were warned by a senior member of the Bank of England #39;s interest-rate committee yesterday to brace themselves for the  quot;significant probability quot; that house prices will fall by up to 30.


Langer expects  #39;the worst #39;

Hal Sutton, at his press conference yesterday afternoon, was asked if his desperation to regain the Ryder Cup might encourage a repeat of the bad behaviour at Brookline in 1999.


Drogba silences French boos with a double hit

Didier Drogba silenced the Paris St-Germain crowd who had booed his every move with a two-goal performance that made the striker look worth every penny of his 24 million transfer from Marseilles.


F1 move to clear track debris

Jacques Villeneuve is in line for a shock return to Formula One with Renault as temporary replacement for Jarno Trulli. The former world champion, dropped by BAR last season, had a seat fitting


Red Wings re-sign Yzerman to 1-year deal

DETROIT - Steve Yzermans reign as the longest serving captain in NHL history is not over yet. The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday re-signed Yzerman to a one-year contract, ensuring the veteran center his 19th year as team captain.


UN still cant rule out Iran N-plan

VIENNA, SEPTEMBER 14: After two years of investigating Irans atomic programme, the UN nuclear watchdog still cannot rule out that Tehran has a secret atom-bomb project as Washington insists, the agencys chief said on Tuesday.


ADAMS #39; BUG GIFT FOR BLAIR

SINN Fein boss Gerry Adams plans to start tomorrow #39;s Ulster peace talks by handing Tony Blair a bug found at the party #39;s offices.


Middlesbrough beat Man. City to narrow gap with top four

Middlesbrough narrowed the gap within two points with the top four after grabbing a 3-2 win over Manchester City in the Premier League at the Riverside Stadium on Monday.


Oracle sees profits surge 16

Oracle, the world #39;s second largest software producer, has seen first quarter profits surge 16 on the back of strong sales of database products.


Sony unveils PDA with next-generation organic EL display

TOKYO - Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc said Tuesday it will begin selling a personal digital assistant Sept 25 equipped with an organic electroluminescent display, a next-generation monitor.


Patience is a virtue for Wenger

Patience was something Arsne Wenger felt his Arsenal side lacked in the opening game of last season #39;s Champions League campaign, when Inter Milan took advantage to romp home 3-0.


EUROPE AND US CLASH OVER IRAN

A rift has emerged between the US and Europe over how harshly to deal with Iran and its suspect nuclear program. The Europeans are ignoring American suggestions and circulating their own recommendations to


Asset Sales Seen of Limited Use to US Air

CHICAGO (Reuters) - US Airways Group Inc. UAIR.O,  desperately trying to slash costs in bankruptcy to ensure  survival, may not be able to find much relief through a  potential sale of its assets, analysts said on Tuesday.


U.S. to Rejoin Coffee Trade Regulators (AP)

AP - The United States plans to rejoin the international body that regulates the global coffee trade. Assistant Secretary of State Anthony Wayne will make the formal announcement Wednesday, the State Department said in a statement.


Supreme Court Bars Anti-Abortion Group Ad (AP)

AP - The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to allow a Wisconsin anti-abortion group to run political ads this fall that criticize Democrats.


Tokyo Stocks Seen Steady After Gains

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks are expected to move  little on Wednesday following lackluster trading in the United  States and as investors take a breather after the Tokyo  market's recent gains.


Lockheed, GD Win U.S. Army Contract

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army on Tuesday awarded  General Dynamics Corp. GD.N the lead role in developing a new  warfighter communications system, with Lockheed Martin Corp.  LMT.N. to get an equal share of the work, which GD said was  worth \$7 billion through 2018.


U.S. Study Says a Nuclear Iran Would Aid More Terror

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran could acquire a nuclear bomb in  the next one to four years and would become more willing to aid  terrorist groups once it has an atomic capability, according to  a U.S. study released on Tuesday.


Deadlock over Axum obelisk

Strained relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia could prevent the Axum obelisk's return to Ethiopia from Italy.


Hunting ban to be debated by MPs

A ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales is expected to be backed by MPs on Wednesday.


SHOPTLAK: A Phrase That Heals All Wounds (AdWeek.com)

AdWeek.com - No one in advertising can doubt the power of juvenile humor. Now, Marvin Waldman wants to put it to good use. The former executive creative director at Young   Rubicam in New York, who left in 1999 to focus on social-marketing projects, has come up with a bumper sticker and Web site introducing a phrase he says can bring Democrats and Republicans together: "Cheney is a Dick."


Romanow says a health deal without accountability would be a huge mistake (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government will be making a huge mistake if it gives the provinces more money for health without attaching conditions to ensure it is spent to reform the system, says Roy Romanow.


Tokyo Stocks Open Lower on Profit Grab

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei stock average opened down  0.15 percent on Wednesday as investors took a breather from the  market's recent rises and sold shares of gainers such as Sharp  Corp.


OPEC plans to discuss raising its output ceiling

VIENNA OPEC oil ministers are meeting on Wednesday in Vienna to consider changes to the group #39;s formal output ceiling even as crude prices remain high despite the cartel #39;s efforts to lower them.


Former Enron pension plan participants to finally receive benefits

Over 17,000 former Enron or Enron-affiliated workers, who had money tied to four pension plans when the company collapsed in 2001 amidst revelations of accounting fraud, will receive their benefit payments.


10 Gigabit Ethernet Hits the Enterprise

Vendors Hewlett Packard, Alcatel and S2io each announced 10 Gigabit Ethernet products Monday that are aimed squarely at enterprise data centers.


Techician pleads guilty in ID theft case

A computer technician who prosecutors said made possible the largest identity theft in US history, surpassing \$US50 million (\$A71.


UK scientists help astronomers capture  #39;galactic ballet #39; 300m <b>...</b>

STUNNING images have captured what astronomers call  quot;the graceful interactions of a galactic ballet, played out on a stage some 300 million light years away quot;.


Chelsea impresses in opening Champions League match, downs PSG 3-0

Chelsea coasted to a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain thanks to two Didier Drogba goals to open Champions League play in style Tuesday.


Dent moves past Aussie in China Open

American Taylor Dent has squeezed in an opening-round victory over Australian Peter Luczak before rain washed out the rest of the day #39;s play at the China Open at Beijing.


Red Wings re-sign Yzerman

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - The Detroit Red Wings Tuesday re-signed center Steve Yzerman to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Bonds should get his chance in Milwaukee

Barry Bonds didn #39;t have to worry about another  quot;not-in-my-ballpark quot; manager ordering his team to pitch around the San Francisco slugger.


Giambi returns to Yankees #39; lineup

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi will make his first appearance since late July, as the former American League MVP was inserted in the starting lineup for Tuesday night #39;s game against the Kansas City Royals at


Cross-Atlantic rift reemerges over Iran

A rift has surfaced between the United States and the European Union over how to deal with Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons programme.


Al Fayed Vows to See Diana Crash Photographers Convicted

Mohamed Al Fayed tonight vowed to continue his campaign to see three photographers who took pictures of Diana, Princess of Wales, and his son Dodi at the scene of their deadly crash, convicted of invasion of privacy.


Anwar awaits key court decision

Malaysia #39;s former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to find out on Wednesday whether he can return immediately to active politics.


Hurricane onslaught may blow hole in US economy

As hurricane Ivan roared northwards yesterday through the Gulf of Mexico towards landfall in the US as early as this evening, Wall Street analysts warned that the damage could extend beyond buildings into the wider economy.


Oracle Income Grows on Database Software Sales

Oracle on Tuesday announced a 16 percent increase in its first-quarter net income, attributing the gain to demand for its database software, Oracle Database 10g.


Citigroup apology on bond deals

LONDON Citigroup told employees on Tuesday that it regretted executing a recent E11 billion bond trade that angered its peers in Europe and sparked an investigation by Britain #39;s market regulator.


SD in the cards for Nokia

Nokia joins Secure Digital industry group <nobr>CNET News.com</nobr>


US Study Says a Nuclear Iran Would Aid More Terror

Iran could acquire a nuclear bomb in the next one to four years and would become more willing to aid terrorist groups once it has an atomic


Two sides to Indonesian election

JAKARTA A bomb in Jakarta 11 days before Indonesia #39;s presidential election may lead voters to decide a neck-and-neck race based on security concerns.


Oracle #39;s earnings top expectations by penny

SAN FRANCISCO Business software maker Oracle #39;s quarterly earnings barely exceeded analyst expectations, despite sluggish sales.


Standards Group Rejects Microsoft #39;s E-Mail Authentication Plan

The Internet Engineering Task Force has nixed Microsoft #39;s Sender ID proposal because of patent concerns. By Thomas Claburn. The Internet Engineering Task Force, an international standards organization, has


O #39;Grady third in stage

STUART O #39;GRADY finishedthird behind American David Zabriskie in the 165.8km 11th stage of the Tour of Spain today. Despite a furious chase by the peloton close to the finish, Zabriskie, who had gone it alone


Bonds Should Get Shot at 700 in Milwaukee (AP)

AP - Barry Bonds didn't have to worry about another "not-in-my-ballpark" manager ordering his team to pitch around the San Francisco slugger. Ned Yost of the Milwaukee Brewers swore he wouldn't hold another walk-fest for Bonds, who entered a three-game series at Miller Park on Tuesday night one home run shy of joining Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in the 700-homer club.


Putin Tactics Unlikely to Stem Terrorism (AP)

AP - President Vladimir Putin says he will fight terror by consolidating security agencies and further tightening political control over the country. But his tough tactics risk alienating the public support he needs, and allies abroad seem to be ignoring his pleas to crack down on Chechen separatists.


LotR: The Battle for Middle-Eart

EA #39;s Lord of the Rings-themed RTS is marching into stores nationwide. Precious details inside... Electronic Arts has announced today that the company has shipped their latest title based on the popular Lord


Giambi Returns to Yankees' Lineup (AP)

AP - Jason Giambi returned to the New York Yankees' lineup Tuesday night for the first time since July 23, batting sixth against the Kansas City Royals.


Tropical Storm Jeanne Forms in Atlantic (AP)

AP - Tropical Storm Jeanne formed Tuesday in the Atlantic Ocean and was expected to hit Puerto Rico with strong wind and heavy rain by Wednesday morning.


Game warnings  #39;should be clearer #39;

Warnings on computer games are not big enough, and more needs to be done to help parents understand age limts, a government minister has said.


Bryant's Attorneys Ask Judge for Limits (AP)

AP - Kobe Bryant's attorneys asked a judge Monday to make sure the NBA star doesn't have to answer questions about other "consensual relationships" as he defends himself against a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape.


Thousands in asbestos rally

THOUSANDS of construction workers and victims of asbestos were today making their way through central Sydney to rally outside a general meeting of James Hardie shareholders.


Russian stocks grow on PM #39;s proposals

RBC, 14.09.2004, Moscow 16:47:50.News about Russian President Vladimir Putin #39;s approval of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov #39;s proposal to exchange a stake in Gazprom for Rosneft assets spurred an upward trend on the stock market, traders say.


SunTrust reportedly will close 60 branches after merger

SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI) will close about 60 branches after the completion of its acquisition of Memphis, Tenn.-based National Commerce Financial Corp.


Trade group president blasts hedge funds #39; role in scandal

BOSTON (CBS.MW) -- Mutual-fund companies will feel the impact of the improper trading scandal for years, the president of the industry #39;s trade group cautioned.


China Construction Valued at 194 Bln Yuan on Revamp (Update2)

China Yangtze Power Co., Shanghai Baosteel Group and State Grid Corp. will invest 8 billion yuan (\$964 million) in China Construction Bank in a reorganization valuing the nation #39;s third-largest lender at 194 billion yuan.


Yahoo! Buys Musicmatch To Bolster Online Music Offerings

The competition arrayed against Apple in the growing online music market is shifting. In a deal valued at US\$160 million, Yahoo! announced today the acquisition of one-time Apple partner Musicmatch.


Microsoft Issues Patch; E-Mail ID Plan Rejected

Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O released on Tuesday a patch for its latest  quot;critical quot; rated security flaw affecting its Windows, Office and developer tools software programs.


12:36 pm: Computer technician pleads guilty to conspiracy for <b>...</b>

A computer technician who prosecutors said made possible the largest identity theft in US history, surpassing \$50 million (?40 million), pleaded guilty Tuesday


Soccer / Champions League - Clinical Chelsea axes PSG

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba netted twice to fire last season #39;s semifinalists Chelsea to a clinical 3-0 victory over hapless Paris St.


San Francisco at Milwaukee, 1:05 PM

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Barry Bonds tries to go where just two players have gone before when the San Francisco Giants visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.


Giambi Returns To Yankees #39; Lineup

Kansas City, MO -- New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi will make his first appearance since late July, as the former American League MVP was inserted in the starting lineup for Tuesday night #39;s game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium


50 killed in blast at Baghdad police station

Over 50 people were killed when a car bomb exploded at a police station and recruitment center in Haifa Street in central Baghdad.


US-Turkish Relations Strained

The United States reassured Turkey over a military operation in northern Iraq which has reportedly claimed the lives of ethnic Turkmen civilians, but Ankara appeared unimpressed.


East Timor gas talks to end soon

Australia hoped to finalise negotiations with East Timor over oil and gas reserves by the end of the year, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.


Oracle shows sales and earnings growth

Oracle Corp. reported revenue and earnings growth in its first fiscal quarter, with its revenue from new software licenses rising 7 percent, to \$563 million.


LogicLibrary buys BugScan

Software asset management tools vendor LogicLibrary on Wednesday plans to announce its acquisition of BugScan, which provides security analysis capabilities to identify code vulnerabilities before application deployment.


Todays Opec wields oil power with care

VIENNA: Oils record price surge has thrust the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) into the political spotlight more than any time since the 1970s.


Oracle Quarterly Income Rises 16 Percent (Reuters)

Reuters - Oracle Corp.  on Tuesday\reported a 16 percent rise in quarterly profit fueled by steady\demand for its flagship database software, but executives\warned that customers were still cautious about spending on\technology.


U.S. softens oil sanctions threat against Sudan in revised UN resolution (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States softened its threat of oil sanctions against Sudan on Tuesday to try to get Security Council approval for a resolution pressuring Khartoum to rein in Arab militias accused of attacking civilians in western Darfur.


Some Firms Avoid Dent From Scandal (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - Despite a year of negative headlines, the investing public doesn't understand the mutual fund scandal, couldn't care less and hasn't lost much confidence in the fund families where they invest, says a new study released this week.


Large, N.B. paper mill closes doors, putting at least 400 people out of work (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - FREDERICTON (CP) - The New Brunswick government says there was nothing it could do to prevent the abrupt closure of a major pulp mill in the province, short of buying the cash-strapped operation.


Oracle Quarterly Income Rises 16 Percent

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp. ORCL.O on Tuesday  reported a 16 percent rise in quarterly profit fueled by steady  demand for its flagship database software, but executives  warned that customers were still cautious about spending on  technology.


Highlights From Tuesday's Primaries (AP)

AP - Highlights from the eight states that held primaries Tuesday:


Rattay, Barlow Questionable for 49ers (AP)

AP - San Francisco quarterback Tim Rattay and running back Kevan Barlow are questionable for Sunday's game at Arizona, the latest misery in the 49ers' 1-11 season.


Production Quota Hike Opposed by OPEC Ministers

Several OPEC members argued that the organization should raise its price band, but ministers remained deadset against hiking its official production quotas in a bid to stabilize the oil market.


Inflation rate rises for fourth month in a row

The rate of inflation rose in August for the fourth successive month as this year #39;s series of interest rate rises drove up the cost of buying a house.


We #39;re sorry, Citigroup tells staff

Citigroup, the world #39;s biggest bank, yesterday issued an humiliating apology to its staff after a bond trading coup in August that sparked investigations by regulators across Europe.


Thousands of pictures worth one word: Organization

Now that digital cameras have overtaken film cameras in sales, users are beginning to encounter a familiar problem: bulging image files and folders filling up computer hard drives.


Ryder-Waiting game almost over at Oakland Hills

The intensity, expectation and pressure began to heighten for the 35th Ryder Cup on Tuesday as the United States and Europe completed the first day of official team practice.


Villeneuve May Drive for Renault F-1 Team in Final Three Races

Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula One champion, may drive for Renault in this year #39;s final three races if he impresses in tests today and tomorrow, team manager Flavio Briatore said.


Minnesota Wild re-sign defenceman Nick Schultz to one-year deal

The Minnesota Wild re-signed defenceman Nick Schultz to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Schultz established career-highs in games played (79), goals (6), assists (10), points (16), shots (72) and plus/minus rating (12) last season.


Killer Ivan enters Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Ivan has entered the Gulf of Mexico packing maximum sustained winds of near 160 miles-an-hour. The National Hurricane Center says gusts are even higher and Ivan remains an  quot;extremely dangerous quot; Category Five hurricane.


News: Microsoft warns of poisoned picture peril

A vulnerability in Windows XP and other products means JPEG viruses may not remain just a hoary myth.\


Militants May Attack Iraq Universities (AP)

AP - A militant group threatened Wednesday to attack Iraqi universities if Iraqi authorities continued to permit women to study alongside men, according to a videotape broadcast on the Arab language Al-Arabiya television station.


Judge OKs Rights Suit Against Unocal (AP)

AP - A lawsuit against Unocal Corp. over alleged atrocities that occurred during a 1990s pipeline project in Myanmar can proceed before a jury, a California judge ruled Tuesday.


Ottawa rejects premiers' demand for  #36;36.5 billion in new health cash (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - First the premiers snubbed Paul Martin's breakfast invitation. Then the prime minister reacted in kind to their demand for  #36;36.5 billion in new health-care funding.


Grimes to Face Weworski in Amateur Final (AP)

AP - Virginia Derby Grimes, a two-time Curtis Cup player who underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2002, will face Corey Weworski in the championship match of the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur.


Bush Spending Little Time at White House (AP)

AP - If you're looking for President Bush, don't bother searching the White House. Bush has not spent a full day in Washington since Aug. 2  #151; roaming the country rather than staying in the Oval Office as he seeks a second term.


Kerry Vows to Ease Seniors' Health Costs (AP)

AP - Sen. John Kerry trumpeted his health care program Tuesday as a recipe to bring down soaring medical costs, rejecting Republican contentions that a Democratic plan would mean a government takeover.


Debates Panel Seeks Bush, Kerry Response (AP)

AP - The commission that proposed three presidential candidate debates says time is running out for the Bush and Kerry campaigns to agree on details so organizers can finalize their plans.


Oracle seeks sales gain by wooing clients

Oracle Corp Chief Executive Larry Ellison, who last week won a federal judge #39;s support for his US\$7.7 billion bid for PeopleSoft Inc, now needs to woo PeopleSoft customers to complete his plan to boost sales.


Citigroup memo apologised for bond trades

Citigroup #39;s head of global capital markets, Thomas Maheras, sent a memo to employees apologising for a series of bond transactions last month which are now the subject of an investigation by the UK Financial Services Authority.


Retail Sales Down; Trade Gap Larger

US retail sales dipped in August and the most comprehensive gauge of the US international trade gap widened to a record in the second quarter, government reports released on Tuesday showed.


Manpower survey: Hiring prospects look good but slowing

Tightness in the labour market notwithstanding, the prospects for hiring in the third quarter are down from the second quarter, according to the new Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.


New XP patch issued

MICROSOFT has found a new security flaw with its Windows XP operating system, warning an attacker could infiltrate other computers by persuading their owners to open a specialised graphics file.


Israeli cabinet approves payouts for Gaza settlers

JERUSALEM Israel #39;s security cabinet on Tuesday approved a compensation package that would pay roughly \$200,000 to \$300,000 to each Jewish family that agreed to leave the Gaza Strip under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s withdrawal plan.


Turkey abandons plan for adultery to become a crime

Turkey yesterday shelved plans to criminalise adultery which were threatening the country #39;s prospects of joining the European Union.


Brussels unveils plan to free-up market for car parts

Plans to strip car makers of their exclusive right to sell spare parts such as bumpers, bonnets and headlights were outlined yesterday, as part of a drive to open up a 10bn market across Europe.


Bielsa Quits as Argentina Soccer Coach Weeks After Olympic Gold

Marcelo Bielsa quit as coach of Argentina #39;s soccer team less then three weeks after guiding it to the nation #39;s first Olympic title in 52 years at the Athens Games.


Federer can win all four: Laver

ROD LAVER, the last of only two men to win tennis #39; calender year Grand Slam, believes Roger Federer can become the first modern-day player to emulate his rare feat.


270,000 for settlers to quit Gaza Strip

Jewish settlers in the occupied territories will soon be able to claim compensation, sometimes of more than 270,000, under guidelines approved yesterday by Israel #39;s security cabinet for the Gaza withdrawal plan.


Oracle's Earnings Just Top Expectations (AP)

AP - Business software maker Oracle Corp.'s quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations, overcoming sluggish sales in a product line that the company hopes to bolster by completing a long-sought takeover of rival PeopleSoft Inc.


Lawmakers to Get Federal Pay Raise (AP)

AP - With little debate, House lawmakers on Tuesday included themselves as part of a pay raise that all federal employees will receive next year.


Tokyo Stocks Dip on Profit-Taking

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei stock average fell 0.38  percent by mid-morning on Wednesday as investors took a  breather from the market's recent rises and sold shares of  gainers such as Sharp Corp.


Child healthcare goals to be set

The government is set to unveil standards for the healthcare of children and adolescents on Wednesday.


Panel Urges Child Antidepressants Warning

WASHINGTON - Antidepressants should come with the nation's strongest warning - in a black box on the label - that they can sometimes spur suicidal behavior in children and teenagers, the government's scientific advisers decided Tuesday.    It's a rare risk, and therefore families need detailed information on how to balance that concern with the need to treat depression, which itself can lead to suicide, cautioned advisers to the Food and Drug Administration...


Opec #39;s delicate balancing act

The threat of \$50 a barrel for the New York price seemed very real last month, but in the end it turned out to be a near miss. Still, there is plenty for Opec to think about as the group #39;s energy ministers gather in Vienna.


Canon, Toshiba to sell flat-panel TVs

Canon Inc. and Toshiba Corp. said Tuesday they will start selling large-screen flat-panel TVs next year that boast better images and consume less power than plasma display panels and liquid crystal displays.


Wagoner: GM looking to cut costs, but nothing drastic on tap

Lagging sales and lower-to-flat net vehicle pricing has General Motors Corp. searching for ways to trim costs, but the world #39;s largest automaker doesn #39;t expect drastic operational changes


Yahoo! plays catch-up as it buys music download service

LONDON - Yahoo! is joining the music-download arena with the \$160m acquistion of Musicmatch, which sees it playing catch-up with established competitors such as Apple #39;s iTunes, Coca-Cola #39;s MyCokeMusic and MSN Music.


Microsoft warns of poisoned picture peril

The old bromide that promises you can #39;t get a computer virus by looking at an image file crumbled a bit further Tuesday when Microsoft announced a critical vulnerability in its software #39;s handling of the ubiquitous JPEG graphics format.


Software Tackles Digital Photo Proliferation

Now that digital cameras have overtaken film cameras in sales, users are beginning to encounter a familiar problem -- what to do with the bulging image files and folders filling up computer hard drives?


Langer, Sutton adjust to new Ryder Cup roles

Their personalities couldn #39;t be more different but when it comes to their approach to the game of golf, Ryder Cup captains Hal Sutton and Bernhard Langer are two halves of the same ball marker.


Bielsa quits Argentine coaching post

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has made a surprising decision of resigning on Tuesday after he steered his country to their first Olympic soccer gold medal in Athens.


Wild re-sign D Schultz

----- ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - The Minnesota Wild on Tuesday re-signed defenseman Nick Schultz to a new contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Blue Jackets re-signs G Denis, RW Vyborny

----- COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets retained a pair of players Tuesday, re-signing goaltender Marc Denis and right wing David Vyborny to multi-year contracts.


North Korea May Delay Nuclear Talks, US, UK Officials Say

North Korea may delay discussions to prepare a fourth round of six-nation talks aimed at dismantling the communist nation #39;s nuclear programs, US and UK government officials said.


Anderson Going Back to the Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (Sports Network) - The Tennessee Titans,  who lost kicker Joe Nedney for the season due to a hamstring  injury, have announced that they will bring Gary Anderson out  of retirement for the second time.


49ers Give Donahue Contract Extension

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (Sports Network) - The San Francisco  49ers Tuesday re-signed general manager Terry Donahue to a  multi-year contract. As per team policy, financial terms were  not released, but the deal is a four-year extension and will  run through 2009.


Vikings Add Depth in Secondary; Ink Shaw and Brown

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., (Sports Network) - The Minnesota  Vikings added some much- needed depth to its secondary on  Tuesday by signing veterans Terrance Shaw and Ralph Brown.


Crude prices rise as Ivan halts production in Gulf of Mexico

Opec is under pressure to lift official production levels at a critical meeting today as global crude prices rose again on the back of pipeline attacks in Iraq and hurricanes heading for the Gulf of Mexico.


Vivendi Universal #39;s losses treble

France #39;s largest media group, Vivendi Universal, yesterday revealed that first-half net losses had nearly trebled to 1.86bn (1.


EC takes on carmakers over parts

The European commission yesterday lambasted European carmakers for an unprecedented campaign to overturn its plans to throw open the 10bn (6.


McDonald #39;s raises dividend 38pc, shares climb

LOS ANGELES: McDonald #39;s Corp yesterday raised its annual dividend 38 per cent, a move the world #39;s largest restaurant chain said is another sign of its revitalisation.


850 jobs hit as chiropody and dentistry are axed

Boots is to shut down its lossmaking dentistry and chiropody services as part of its drive to focus on its high street retail chain.


Yahoo! expands in online music

Yahoo! yesterday became the latest big name to make its presence felt in the burgeoning market for online music. The internet portal agreed a \$160m (89m) deal to acquire Musicmatch, a San Diego-based firm


Napier man in Caribbean as violent storms hit

When Napier man Matthew White moved to the Caribbean to work seven months ago, he expected an idyllic paradise with plenty of sun, palm trees, beautiful lagoons, and white sand beaches, however he never planned for one of the storms of the century.


US eases Sudan sanctions threat

The United States has toned down its threat of UN sanctions against Sudan, but said oil sanctions should be considered if the African nation does not stop the violence in the troubled Darfur region.


Yahoo Buys Online Jukebox Musicmatch (AP)

AP - Yahoo Inc. is buying online jukebox provider Musicmatch Inc. for  #36;160 million in a deal designed to broaden the Internet giant's appeal with the growing audience of consumers who buy songs off the Web.


Canada Nips Finland 3-2 in World Cup Final (AP)

AP - The World Cup returned to Canada after 13 long years. How long hockey will be gone is anyone's guess.


Belkin Designs PC-Less Video Extender (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - Belkin on Tuesday announced a wireless remote technology that would beam live video to a remote monitor.


Founder's Son Resigns from Robert Mondavi

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Winemaker Robert Mondavi Corp.  MOND.O, in the process of recapitalizing by eliminating the  controlling voting rights of the Mondavi family, said on  Tuesday that Michael Mondavi had resigned as an officer and  vice chairman.


Snow Says China Trade Gap Too Big

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said  on Tuesday the U.S. trade deficit with China was too large,  less than a week after the government reported that the overall  U.S. trade gap hit its second-highest monthly level ever in  July.


Marchers demand James Hardie funds

Union delegates, asbestos victims and workers are marching from Melbourne #39;s Trades Hall to the Stock Exchange, calling on James Hardie to provide sufficient funds for asbestos victims.


Novell announces Open Enterprise Server

The new product incorporates commercial and open source networking platforms with integrated management tools and identity-based services.


Handset big five work together to drive mobile broadcast services

Mobile handset manufacturers Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Siemens and Sony Ericsson have announced their co-operation in the Mobile Broadcast Services work, launched under the auspices of the sector trade association, the Open Mobile Alliance.


Doan Goal Lifts Canada to World Cup Glory

Shane Doan scored 34 seconds into the third period to break a 2-2 tie and give Canada a 3-2 win over Finland in the championship game of the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday.


Marlins belt three homers en route to 8-6 victory over Expos

Bringing an appropriate end to their odd stay, Jeff Conine drove in the go-ahead run with a walk and the Marlins beat the Montreal Expos 8-6 Tuesday for a sweep of their miniseries at US Cellular Field.


Europe sets deadline for Iran to respond to nuclear concern

Germany, France and Britain formally submitted a draft resolution Tuesday to the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA), setting a deadline for Iran to respond to concern about its nuclear program.


This is a job for Batman!

p2pnet.net OT News:- It was  #39;unbelievably easy #39; to breech security quot; and,  quot;.. it #39;s easier to get onto the Queen #39;s balcony than see my own children quot;.


Sharon death threats investigated

Israeli authorities have launched an investigation into death threats against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other officials supporting his disengagement plan from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, Jerusalem police said Tuesday.


The boob tube on your smartphone

Handset manufacturers unite to develop TV-enabled mobile phones, but dont expect to tune in on your cell phone anytime soon. In an attempt to make cell phones smarter and more expensive, the top five mobile


Anderson going back to the Titans

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - The Tennessee Titans, who lost kicker Joe Nedney for the season due to a hamstring injury, have announced that they will bring Gary Anderson out of retirement for the second time.


Japan executes child killer

A man convicted of murdering eight children in a frenzied knife attack at a primary school three years ago was hanged in Osaka yesterday, in Japan #39;s first execution for a year.


Devil Rays Cool Off Red Sox 5-2 (AP)

AP - Rookie Scott Kazmir outpitched Pedro Martinez to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over Boston 5-2 Tuesday night and sent the Red Sox to consecutive losses for the first time in more than five weeks.


Koizumi Visits Brazil's Expatriate Haven (AP)

AP - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived in Brazil on Tuesday on the first leg of a three-country trip that will also include Mexico and the United States.


Australia sends rescue team to Iraq amid confusion over hostage claims (AFP)

AFP - Australia sent a special hostage rescue team to Iraq as it tried to unravel the mystery surrounding claims that Islamic militants had kidnapped two Australian security guards, officials said.


Blair Fears Climate Change Disaster, Challenges U.S. (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain's Tony Blair pledged on Tuesday\to force international action on global warming, despite the\reluctance of big powers like the United States.


Nikkei Eases by Midday; Techs Wilt

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei stock average fell 0.29  percent by midday on Wednesday as investors took a breather  from the market's recent rises and sold shares of gainers such  as Sharp Corp. and other technology issues.


Studio Mogul Kerkorian And MGM, Off Again

On Monday, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian sold Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. for the third time. As a Hollywood reconciliation story, that means Kerkorian has bought and sold the venerable movie studio more times than Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton.


Federal Pension Agency Seeks More Power

The government's pension insurer said Tuesday that it wants the authority to place liens on the assets of companies in bankruptcy such as US Airways when those companies do not make required payments to their pension plans.


Regulation of Credit Rating Examined

Expressing impatience with the Securities and Exchange Commission, lawmakers said in a hearing yesterday that they will act to force stronger oversight of the influential credit rating business if the agency doesn't soon move on its own.


Privacy Complaint Against Airline Dismissed

Northwest Airlines did not violate its own privacy policy and did not mislead customers when it shared passenger records with the government as part of a secret airline security project after the terrorist attacks in 2001, the Department of Transportation has ruled.


U.S. Plans to Divert Iraq Money

The Bush administration asked Congress on Tuesday for permission to transfer nearly \$3.5 billion from Iraqi water, sewer and electricity projects to pressing security, economic and electoral programs, acknowledging that increasing violence has forced a sharp shift in its rebuilding effort.


Hotel Talks Show Mixed Progress

The hotel business in Washington has largely bounced back since Sept. 11, 2001, argue some of the 3,800 hotel workers threatening a strike, but not for them.


Claim Against AmeriDebt Advances IRS Crackdown

The Internal Revenue Service has filed a \$15 million claim against  AmeriDebt Inc. of Germantown in anticipation that the controversial credit-counseling firm's tax-exempt status will be overturned, according to documents filed in federal bankruptcy court.


Stores' Closure Jilts Brides

Ski buff Ashleigh Strobel envisioned an early winter wonderland for her wedding next month: royal-blue and white snow globes as centerpieces at each table, snowflake-shaped cookie cutters as favors and, glimmering over everything, eight crystal chandeliers lighting the reception hall behind the Walkersville Fire House.


Pierce Is Rare Mix

Redskins linebacker Antonio Pierce was impressive during Sunday's 16-10 win. But just as significant was the leadership and intelligence he exhibited leading up to the game.


Canada Beats Finland in World Cup

TORONTO, Sept. 14 -- The World Cup returned to Canada after 13 long years.


Cup of Civility on Menu

Once the Ryder Cup matches begin Friday at Oakland Hills Country Club, the ideals of sportsmanship and civility will be more difficult to achieve than they are to talk about.


Preparing for Ivan

Virginia Tech officials have been in contact with their counterparts at Duke as well as the ACC over concern about the impact Hurricane Ivan might have on Saturday's game.


Plenty of Tickets Remain

Howard's 0-2 start and the threat of rain from Hurricane Ivan have slowed ticket sales for Saturday's Prince George's Classic at FedEx Field, organizers said Tuesday.


Yahoo to Buy Online Music Seller for \$160 Million

In a move to expand its role in the online music business, Yahoo will buy Musicmatch, a company that sells music online, for \$160 million.


Record Deficit for a Crucial Trade Figure

The United States hit a record deficit of \$166.2 billion last quarter in trade and capital flows with the rest of the world.


OPEC to Put Formal Lifting of Output on the Table

Oil ministers are meeting to consider raising the formal output ceiling as crude prices remain stubbornly high despite OPEC's persistent efforts to lower them.


Senate Wants Intel Chief With Budget Say

WASHINGTON - Senate leaders want to create a strong national intelligence director with budgetary authority but would leave the Pentagon in charge of some military spy agencies, The Associated Press learned Tuesday.    Sen...


New Scrutiny for Airline Bailout Plan Three Years After Sept. 11

The federal loan board that was created in 2001 to help assure the survival of the floundering airline industry may ultimately face the opposite task.


Opec resists raising output quota

VIENNA: Opec is keeping its foot to the pedal on production in a bid to drag down oil prices but may be reluctant to rubber-stamp extra supplies by lifting official output limits, Saudi Arabia said yesterday.


Deal key to opening energy sector to foreign investment

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a plan Tuesday to merge state oil company Rosneft into Gazprom, a move that would end restrictions on foreign ownership in the giant gas company, according to published reports.


Linux Standard Base Takes on Industry Fragmentation

Following the release Tuesday of a new interoperable version of Linux, analysts said the standard should go along way towards preventing a serious roadblock to widespread acceptance of Linux


na move to expand its role in the online music business, Yahoo announced yesterday that it would buy Musicmatch, a company that sells music online, for \$160 million.


It May Not Be Red Sox-Yankees, but Ryder Cup Rivalry Is Real

The Ryder Cup is always emotional, which ensures that it will be compelling. No other event in golf stirs up similar passions, and nobody involved seems immune to it.


#39;Gates of hell #39; in Iraq as 75 die

BAGHDAD: At least 75 people were killed yesterday in a Baghdad car bombing and in an ambush on police in Baquba as fighting flared between US troops and insurgents in Ramadi.


Database Success Helps Oracle Increase Profit

The Oracle Corporation reported Tuesday that first-quarter earnings had risen 16 percent on strong demand for its flagship database programs, enabling the company


No Systematic  #39;Late Trading #39; Found

Brokerage giant Charles Schwab Corp. agreed yesterday to pay \$350,000 to end a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into allegations that its brokers improperly allowed some


BASEBALL ROUNDUP Marlins Make Most Of Playing In Chicago

Bringing an appropriate end to his team #39;s odd stay, Jeff Conine drove in the go-ahead run with a walk in the seventh inning yesterday and the Marlins beat the Montreal Expos, 8-6, for


Bonds Blast Would Make Milwaukee Famous

Wherever Barry Bonds turned Tuesday night, he was confronted with another symbol of his conflicting legacy. Hanging over his head in left field was Hank Aaron #39;s retired No.


World Briefings

BRITAIN: BLAIR WARNS OF CLIMATE THREAT Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the international community to consider global warming a dire threat and agree on a plan of action to curb the  quot;alarming quot; growth of greenhouse gases.


Amazon to Take Searches on Web to a New Depth

Amazon.com, the e-commerce giant, plans to take aim at the Internet search king Google with a new advanced technology.


Database Demand Gives Oracle 16 Profit Rise

Just as lawyers are preparing to defend Oracle's hostile bid to acquire PeopleSoft, Oracle reduced its all-cash offer for the company from \$26 to \$21 per share.


Reds Hold on to Beat Phillies 7-6 (AP)

AP - Felipe Lopez hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the sixth inning and the Cincinnati Reds held on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 Tuesday night.


House Backs Bush on Mexican ID Cards (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. House of Representatives on\Tuesday voted to support a Bush administration plan to allow\the use of Mexican identification cards to open U.S. bank\accounts.


The 35th Ryder Cup begins Friday, when the United States faces Europe at Oakland Hills Country Club.


China Party Chief Rules Out Multi-Party Democracy

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Communist Party chief Hu Jintao  ruled out multi-party democracy on Wednesday on the eve of a  key meeting aimed at tightening the party's grip on power.


Film on cat killers draws protest

Animal-rights activists demand a boycott of a Toronto screening of a flim about killing a cat.


Death Rates in Darfur Rising, WHO Says

Between 6,000 and 10,000 people are dying from disease and violence each month in Sudan's Darfur region as heavy rains and a marauding militia hinder U.N. efforts to respond to one of Africa's worst humanitarian crises, according to a survey of mortality rates by the United Nations' World Health Organization.


Oracle Won't Predict PeopleSoft Acquisition

Oracle Corp. may have won a major antitrust fight with the Justice Department last week over its proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft Inc., but that doesn't mean the company is on the verge of closing the deal. -The Washington Post


Privacy Complaint Dismissed

Northwest Airlines did not violate its own privacy policy and did not mislead customers when it shared passenger records with the government, the Department of Transportation has ruled.
-The Washington Post


Md. Voting Machine Custody Debated

A volunteer Maryland election worker touched off a frenzied legal effort in Montgomery County yesterday after he refused to return a touch-screen voting machine, telling state election officials he intended to let an expert hired by CBS News examine it.


Yanks Widen Lead Over BoSox to Four Games (AP)

AP - Mike Mussina pitched three-hit ball for eight innings and struck out a season-high 11, leading the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 4-0 Tuesday night.


China's communist elite to mull "party building" at plenary session (AFP)

AFP - China's ruling party opens its annual plenary session Thursday, with the communist elite battling to bolster its waning image amid an apparent power struggle between President Hu Jintao and military leader Jiang Zemin.


Oracle Won't Predict PeopleSoft Acquisition (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Oracle Corp. may have won a major antitrust fight with the Justice Department last week over its proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft Inc., but that doesn't mean the company is on the verge of closing the deal.


Hurricane Pushes U.S. Oil Toward \$45

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday as  Hurricane Ivan -- one of the fiercest storms on record --  churned toward the southeastern United States, while the dollar  struggled with worrying economic data.


Nikkei Falls by Midday, Techs Down

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei stock average fell 0.29  percent by midday on Wednesday as investors took a breather  from the market's recent rises and sold shares of gainers such  as Sharp Corp. and other technology issues.


Doan Goal Lifts Canada to World Cup Glory

TORONTO (Reuters) - Shane Doan scored 34 seconds into the  third period to lift Canada to a 3-2 win over Finland in the  World Cup of Hockey championship game on Tuesday.


Canada's Cup Victory May End Up Half Empty

In what might have been the last high-level hockey game for a long time in North America, Canada won the World Cup of Hockey.


Oracle Won #39;t Predict PeopleSoft Acquisition

Oracle Corp. may have won a major antitrust fight with the Justice Department last week over its proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft Inc.


Judge Won #39;t Dismiss Myanmar Suit Against Unocal

A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday refused to throw out a lawsuit against Unocal Corp. over human rights abuses during the building of a pipeline in Myanmar.


Barcelona, Milan lead Group F with first round victories

Scottish champions Celtic saw their three-year unbeaten home record in Europe broken Tuesday as they lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League Group F opener.


Royals rip Yankees for 17-8 win

Rookie Brad Halsey was taking the injured Kevin Brown #39;s turn on Monday night, and the Yankees #39; worst-case scenario was about to be realized at Kauffman Stadium.


Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 2

Rookie Scott Kazmir outpitched Pedro Martinez to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over Boston 5-2 Tuesday night and sent the Red Sox to consecutive losses for the first time in more than five weeks.


Critics Say Putin Must Address Security Corruption

President Vladimir Putin #39;s move to enhance his power in response to a wave of terrorism does not take on the real problem: the corrupt and unreformed security services that


Shell opens door to links with Gazprom

Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Royal Dutch/ Shell, has opened the door to future deals with Gazprom, the Russian gas group, by welcoming its rapid expansion into the oil sector.


CCB picks founding shareholders ahead of IPO

State-run China Construction Bank, the countrys top property lender, has chosen five founding shareholders for its listing vehicle in an initial step towards an estimated \$10 billion IPO, a shareholder said on Wednesday.


METS 7, BRAVES 0 Benson Gets 4-Hit Shutout

ris Benson, whose  quot;tired shoulder quot; briefly symbolized the Mets #39; season-long troubles, pitched a four-hit shutout last night as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 7-0, at Shea Stadium.


Bonds Still Shy of 700

Barry Bonds goes 0-for-2 and draws two walks, one of them intentional, in San Francisco's 3-2 victory over Milwaukee, keeping the Giants in the wild-card lead.


Mussina Stymies Royals

Mike Mussina pitches three-hit ball for eight innings and strikes out a season-high 11 as the Yankees blank Kansas City, 4-0, Tuesday night and boost the margin over second-place Boston to four games.


Sniffing worm snoops network PCs

The latest variant of the SDbot worm contain network-sniffing software that enables it to retrieve passwords from other computers connected to the target PC.


Mourinho praise for Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has praised his team following the 3-0 Group H UEFA Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.


Astros 7, Cardinals 5

Roger Clemens won his 327th career game with seven strong innings, and the Houston Astros kept pace in the NL wild-card race by holding on for a 7-5 victory over the St.


Australia says no to talks amid kidnapping claims

Australia vowed yesterday never to negotiate with terrorists amid claims Iraqi militants have kidnap-ped two Australians and will execute them unless Canberra withdraws its troops from the country.


Delta Pilots Tell Negotiators to Get Pact

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc.'s pilots union on  Tuesday directed its negotiators to work out an agreement to  address the early retirement of a large number of pilots, which  threatens to push the No. 3 U.S. airline into a Chapter 11  bankruptcy filing.


Strong C\$ cuts Aber Diamond Q3 net to US\$8.5M; dividend and <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - The strong Canadian dollar chipped away at Aber Diamond Corp. #39;s quarterly profit but, with sales almost doubling from a year ago, the company said Monday it has initiated a dividend and a share buyback.


U.S. to Push for More Forex Flexibility

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on  Tuesday pledged a renewed drive to get countries such as China  to adopt flexible currency rates in order to rein in the  swelling U.S. trade deficit.


His Sweet Spot Gone Sour, Sosa Takes a Dose of Boos

While Mark McGwire avoids the spotlight and Barry Bonds closes in on 700 home runs, Sammy Sosa struggles to remain the forceful player around whom the Cubs revolve.


Malaysia's Anwar Loses Bid to Lift Political Ban

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysian rebel politician  Anwar Ibrahim failed on Wednesday in a final court bid to erase  his criminal record and to immediately rejoin active politics,  leaving a royal pardon as his only way back.


Bleak Prognosis by C.I.A. Nominee

Porter J. Goss said that rebuilding the C.I.A. would take more than five years and that spies must take more risks.


U.S. Oil Eyes  #36;45, Hurricane Shuts Output (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices headed up toward  #36;45 a\barrel on Wednesday as Hurricane Ivan shut 60 percent of crude\output in the Gulf of Mexico and at least five refiners along\the U.S. coast planned to close as a precaution.


Hurricane Pushes U.S. Oil Toward  #36;45 (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices rose on Wednesday as\Hurricane Ivan -- one of the fiercest storms on record --\churned toward the southeastern United States, while the dollar\struggled with worrying economic data.


AL Wrap: Devil Rays Humble Red Sox, Yankees Triumph (Reuters)

Reuters - Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli\cracked solo homers and rookie Scott Kazmir out-duelled Pedro\Martinez to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 5-2 road win\over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.


Fish, Spadea Win in Delray Beach (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Vincent Spadea and second-seeded Mardy Fish won Tuesday night in the first round of the Millennium International Tennis Championships on Tuesday night.


NL Wrap: Bonds Denied Home-Run Milestone in Giants Win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Barry Bonds failed to collect a hit in  his bid to join the 700-homer club, but he did score a run to  help the San Francisco Giants edge the host Milwaukee Brewers  3-2 in National League action on Tuesday.


SABMiller Venture to Buy Lion Nathan #39;s China Brewers (Update1)

SABMiller Plc, the world #39;s second- largest brewer, said its Chinese venture agreed to buy three unprofitable breweries in China from Lion Nathan Ltd.


Jos. A. Bank Settles Probe Of Sales Ads

Men #39;s apparel seller Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. has agreed to pay \$475,000 to settle an investigation by New York Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer, who accused the company of using deceptive


National League Game Summary - Houston at St. Louis

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Lance Berkman went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs to lead Houston to a 7-5 win over St. Louis in the opener of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.


Court upholds Anwar political ban

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will not be making a swift return to politics after the country #39;s Federal Court Wednesday upheld a 1998 corruption conviction against him.


Tal Afar civilians return home after nearly two-week assault

Anxious civilians trickled back into Tal Afar yesterday, digging through the rubble of buildings flattened during a nearly two-week siege by US-led forces targeting foreign fighters holed up in the city astride a smuggling route to Syria.


Preparing for Playoffs

Top drivers like Matt Kenseth have saved many of their alloted testing sessions for NASCAR's new season-ending 10-race playoffs.


A Blackbird's Song

In California, a Laotian refugee remembers the long suffering of his country's Hmong tribespeople


Sick of Avian Flu

Troubling new research and a lack of transparency raise the likelihood of a new pandemic on the horizon


Dangerous Commission

Pervez Musharraf's war on al-Qaeda and on Pakistan's domestic extremists has earned him many enemies