Ad spending predicted to rise

Fueled by optimism for a growing US economy, two advertising forecasters yesterday predicted notable gains for the industry next year, despite the absence of the presidential


PUTIN ON RUSSIAN-BELARUSSIAN COMPROMISE IN GAS PRICES

Russia and Belarus achieved compromise and settled the gas pricing problem, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a joint press conference with his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.


AT amp;T Cell-Phone Brand Will Live On

The enterprise customers doing cell-phone business with the confusing mix of AT amp;T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, and AT amp;T now have a future roadmap, after the three companies


Vonage, NETGEAR to Offer VoIP/WLAN Devices

Vonage has teamed with NETGEAR Inc. to develop a suite of broadband telephony devices incorporating the latest version of Texas Instruments #39; VoIP and WLAN chipsets.


Olympic Results: Tuesday, August 24

Australia has pulled off an upset win in the Olympic baseball semi-final, defeating gold medal favorite Japan, 1-0. Two Australian pitchers shut down Japan #39;s all-professional lineup Tuesday while Aussie first


Saints behaviour unacceptable: Barnwell

Southampton have been told it was  quot;unacceptable quot; they parted company with manager Paul Sturrock after just two games into the Barclays Premiership season.


Rangers seek Champions League riches against CSKA Moscow

Rangers can reduce their grim 68 million pound (\$123 million) debt by beating CSKA Moscow in Wednesday #39;s final Champions League qualifier but manager Alex McLeish


Jets end not subject to suspension

New York Jets defensive end John Abraham, alleged to have violated the terms of his aftercare treatment, will meet with league officials Wednesday to appeal the findings of a recent random test.


Bali bomb conspirator escapes punishment for the crime

One of the key members of the Bali bomb conspiracy, Idris, has escaped punishment for the crime. Indonesia correspondent Tim Palmer reports, the man confessed to his involvement in the Bali bombing, but the


Verizon, Qwest Ask Court to Block Rules

Verizon and Qwest asked a federal court to block temporary rules forcing the companies to lease phone lines to rivals for at least another six months.  -Reuters


Fosters restructure proves costly

Australia #39;s largest beer and wine company, Foster #39;s Group, said its second-half net profit fell 72 per cent on costs to restructure its wine business, and forecast modest growth for 2005.


Internets Google goes public

After a series of missteps, Google finally pulled off its much-hyped initial public offering last week. The good news about this unusual IPO, which sought to deprive Wall Street banks of full control over


UK Regulator Calls Shell Misconduct Unprecedented #39; (Update2)

UK regulators said Royal Dutch/Shell Group, Europe #39;s second-largest oil company, was guilty of unprecedented misconduct #39; #39; in overstating reserves that led to fines of \$151.


Markets lower as falling price for oil and BMO earnings fail to <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - A strong profit report from the Bank of Montreal and a lower price for oil weren #39;t enough to spark buying interest as North American stock markets edged lower Tuesday.


UPDATE 4-Sanderson warns on prices, costs, 3rd-qtr net up

Poultry producer Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said it is being hurt by lower wholesale prices and higher grain costs in the


She Loves You; well, Virtually

Hong Kong-based phone technology firm, Artificial Life, has announced the upcoming release of its new 3G game Virtual Girlfriend. Virtual Girlfriend is a mobile phone game that is based on intelligent animated


Microsoft leaves UN industry group

Microsoft has followed a European company in withdrawing from a UN software standards group for commerce. Known as the United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic


Gold medalist Noguchi pondering future

ATHENS - While world record holder Paula Radcliffe is still picking up the pieces after burning out in the women #39;s marathon at Athens Olympics, gold medal winner Mizuki Noguchi is simply basking in the glory and pondering her next move.


Australian rowers reprimanded

ATHENS: The Australian Olympic women #39;s eight have been reprimanded for a breach of team protocol over an ugly war of words between crew members after one quit rowing three quarters of the way through the Olympic final.


Italian troops  #39;to stay in Iraq #39;

Italy says it has no intention of withdrawing its 3,000 troops from Iraq in the face of demands from kidnappers who have seized an Italian journalist.


Locusts invade "Passion of Christ" town (Reuters)

Reuters - It seemed like an invasion of Biblical proportions in the Italian town of Matera, the outdoor setting for Mel Gibson's film\"The Passion of The Christ".


Afghans to Free 400 Pakistani Prisoners (AP)

AP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai promised Tuesday to repatriate 400 Pakistani prisoners who fought with the former ruling Taliban regime and have been held in Afghan jails since 2001, a Pakistani official said.


Oil Prices Fall to \$45 as Iraq Oil Flows

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than a dollar to  \$45 on Tuesday, in a third day of losses as a more optimistic  Iraq export picture helped unwind some of the supply worries  that have lifted the market to historic levels.


Jets Sign Quincy Carter

Quarterback Quincy Carter signed with the Jets on Tuesday, three weeks after his surprising release by Dallas.


Treasuries Slip on Lower Crude Oil

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices fell for a third  session on Tuesday as oil prices simmered down and dealers  became convinced of future Federal Reserve rate hikes after  upbeat comments by Fed Governor Ben Bernanke.


United Adds Fee for Frequent-Flier Phone Bookings

United Airlines is adding a \$15 fee for booking frequent-flier trips by telephone.


Rulon Gardner Wins First Two Matches

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Rulon Gardner won two pool matches Tuesday, his first in the Olympics since his monumental gold-medal upset of Russia's supposedly unbeatable Alexander Karelin in Sydney, to move within one victory of reaching the Greco-Roman wrestling semifinals at 264 1/2 pounds (120kg).


Polish Cops Bust 100-Member Computer Piracy Gang

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish police have broken up a gang of  more than 100 hackers who sold pirated music and films, using  academic computer systems around the world to store their  wares, a police spokeswoman said on Tuesday.


Amazon lists PlayStation 3

Retailer's Japanese arm posts product page for hotly anticipated game console.


Bank Shares Higher As M amp;A Hits Market

Financial stocks got a lift Tuesday as speculation about merger and acquisition activity was injected into the market after Citigroup Inc.


US Home Sales Slow In July

Home sales slowed in the Untied States in July, but experts say they still moved at a healthy pace. Tuesday #39;s report from a business group (the National Association of Realtors) says sales of previously-owned homes dropped 2.9 percent in July.


Group urges EPA to cut pollution

If the government required deeper cuts in air pollution from power plants, at least 3,000 lives would be saved and 140,000 children would avoid asthma and other respiratory ailments, an environmental group said Tuesday.


International hacker ring busted

p2pnet.net News:- A large international network of hackers who stole computer programmes, films and music and then sold them on the black market has been broken up by Polish police.


Argentina beat Italy for place in football final

Favourites Argentina beat Italy 3-0 this morning to claim their place in the final of the men #39;s Olympic football tournament. Goals by leading goalscorer Carlos Tevez, with a smart volley after 16 minutes, and


Katie Smith tears cartilage; disappointment for Serbia  amp; <b>...</b>

Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - US women #39;s basketball player Katie Smith will miss the remainder of the Olympics after an MRI exam revealed torn cartilage in her right knee.


Argos #39; Bishop grabs weekly CFL award

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Toronto fans weren #39;t the only people who took notice of quarterback Michael Bishop #39;s first start of the season.


Study: Apple, Dell lead PC customer satisfaction index (MacCentral)

MacCentral - The PC industry is doing a better job of satisfying its U.S. customers than in recent years, and improvements to technical support seem to have done the trick, according to the results of a study released Tuesday by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.


Karzai declares Afghanistan and Pakistan "brothers in fighting terror" (AFP)

AFP - Pakistan and Afghanistan have reaffirmed they are partners in fighting terrorism, Afghan President Hamid Karzai declared at the end of a two-day visit.


Citigroup to Acquire First American Bank

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc. C.N the world's  largest financial services company, said on Tuesday it will  acquire First American Bank in the quickly-growing Texas  market.


Short Ride to Disaster

Selling stocks short is a very, very risky move that shouldn't be attempted by new investors.


Khan guarantees medal

British lightweight Amir Khan beats South Korean Baik Jong-sub to secure at least a bronze medal.


Holmes on course for double

Britain's Kelly Holmes stays on track for a medal double as she qualifies for  the 1500m semi-finals.


Najaf's Residents Feel Trapped in Battle (AP)

AP - For nearly three weeks, Amer al-Jamali hasn't been able to go to work. He cannot visit his father, find medication for his diabetic children or even sleep on his roof to escape the city's suffocating heat made worse by power outages.


China braces for Typhoon Aere after seven feared dead in Taiwan, Japan (AFP)

AFP - Typhoon Aere pounded northern Taiwan with heavy rain and powerful winds triggering landslides and causing widespread disruption to transport, and leaving at least seven people feared dead.


Web Scribe Ranks Olympic Last-Place Losers (Reuters)

Reuters - For those who believe the adage "all\Olympic athletes are winners," a Canadian man has dedicated the\past 10 days to proving you wrong.


RealNetworks Sells 1 Million Songs Since Price Cut (Reuters)

Reuters - RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK.O) has sold\more than a million song downloads since launching a 49 cent\per song campaign a week ago, the Internet media and software\company said on Tuesday.


UPDATE 4-Possis tumbles after disappointing heart trial

Shares of Possis Medical Inc. (POSS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) tumbled as much as 41 percent on Tuesday after the company cut its earnings outlook due to


Russia, Belarus set new deadline for common currency

Sochi. (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko announced they have set a new deadline - January 1, 2006 - for the introduction of a common currency in their nations.


85 jobs to go with closure of Belfast brewery

A brewery in west Belfast which produces Bass beer is to close in January with the loss of up to 85 jobs. It will bring to an end 107 years of brewing at Ulster Brewery on Glen Road.


RealNetworks Sells 1 Million Songs Since Price Cut

RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has sold more than a million song downloads since launching a 49 cent per song campaign a week ago, the Internet media and software company said on Tuesday.


Cingular, AT amp;T Reach Branding Agreement

It #39;s official. Cingular Wireless may continue to use the AT amp;T Wireless brand in its advertising, at least in the short term, following its planned merger with the carrier.


Of Marathon Mice And Fat Men

NEW YORK - By attacking the same basic biology drug companies are targeting for new anti-fat drugs, researchers have genetically engineered mice with abilities far beyond those of normal rodents.


Gartner: Chip revenue to see steady growth

Worldwide semiconductor revenue is expected to rise by over 27 percent during 2004, according to a new report. Revenue this year will reach \$226 billion, market research company Gartner said Tuesday.


T-Mobile, Colubris Land Wi-Fi Hotel Deals

T-Mobile USA has inked a deal to deliver Wi-Fi access to Accor Hotels #39; Red Roof Inns. Separately, Colubris Networks has been tapped by i-Hotel International to help it deliver high-speed wireless access to hotels across Canada.


Hadash Party joins prisoners #39; strike for 24 hours

The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality Party (Hadash) is organizing a 24-hour hunger strike on Wednesday at a protest tent being set up at the Umm el-Fahm junction in solidarity with Palestinian security prisoners.


Wi-Fi Adapters Turn Inward

Those wireless LAN cards that insert into a laptop, Tablet PC or PDA have just gone on the endangered species list, according to a new report published this week.


McPeak collects elusive Olympic medal

ATHENS - Holly McPeak finally won the Olympics medal that has eluded her for so long, teaming with Elaine Youngs to win a bronze medal for the United States in beach volleyball Tuesday night.


Discus Champion Thrown Out of Games

Hungarian Olympic discus champion Robert Fazekas will lose his gold medal and be expelled from the Games after breaking doping rules, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday.


American Decathlete Clay Currently in Third

World record holder Roman Sebrle moved ominously close to Dmitriy Karpov with just two disciplines remaining in the Olympic decathlon Tuesday.


Jets sign Quincy Carter

Quarterback Quincy Carter signed with the New York Jets on Tuesday, three weeks after his surprising release by Dallas. Carter, who started every game for the Cowboys last season, was released Aug. 4, before the team #39;s first exhibition game.


Father and son collect consecutive holes-in-one as partners in <b>...</b>

Tradition goes that if you #39;re lucky enough to shoot a hole-in-one, then you buy the drinks back at the clubhouse. Steve Percassi, 57, and his 28-year-old son, Steve Jr.


Chechen Government: 12 Militants Killed

Chechnya #39;s Kremlin-backed government says its forces have killed 12 militants in the latest clashes in the breakaway republic.


IRAQ VIOLANTE DO NOT SURRENDER TO TERROR BLACKMAIL

(AGI)  Rome, Italy, Aug 24  The president of the Left Democrat MPs, Luciano Violante, speaking of the abduction of the Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni in Iraq said that it was necessary not to surrender to the blackmail of terrorists.


BIG HIKE IN ENERGY BILLS

The company says the record price of wholesale gas, which also effects the cost of electricity, is to blame. A spokesman said the increases would add an extra 7p a day to electricity bills.


Putin Says Belarus Gas Spat Is Over

President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia and Belarus have put a sharp dispute over natural gas deliveries behind them and that there are no obstacles to good relations.


Vonage Teams With Netgear on VoIP Tech

According to a June 2004 report by industry research firm In-Stat/MDR, more than 10 percent of all broadband subscribers will use broadband IP telephony by the end of 2008.


Iraqi ministers escape attacks

BAGHDAD (BBC)-- Two Iraqi interim government ministers have survived apparent assassination attempts in the capital Baghdad. Convoys carrying the environment and education ministers were attacked on their way to offices in the city.


Blue Chips Nudge Ahead, Oil Eases

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips were little changed on  Tuesday as an upgrade on Caterpillar Inc. CAT.N and a  three-session drop in oil prices offset weakness in technology  shares.


U.S. Takes the Bronze in Women's Beach Volleyball

ATHENS (Reuters) - Americans Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs  beat an injured Natalie Cook and partner Nicole Sanderson of  Australia to claim the bronze medal in the Olympic women's  beach volleyball competition Tuesday.


German Officials' Growth Outlook Better (AP)

AP - German finance professionals grew less pessimistic about the country's economic growth outlook, but remain concerned that the euro's record highs against the U.S. dollar will weigh on exports, a monthly survey showed Tuesday.


Twenty Schools Sign Up for Legal Song Downloads

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. colleges and universities are  increasingly giving students free access to download services  like Roxio Inc.'s Napster to discourage illegal song copying,  the recording industry said Tuesday.


Bin Laden Driver Charged at Guantanamo

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - Osama bin Laden's chauffeur was formally charged Tuesday in the first U.S. military tribunal since World War II, appearing at a pretrial hearing where his lawyer challenged the process as unfair...


Eclipse to consider open-source data reporting

Business intelligence software company Actuate proposes an open-source Java-based reporting tools.


At the same time, an increase in inventory is making chip vendors and distributors worried.


AMD chips edge ahead of Intel

Figures from ZDNet Germany labs indicate that AMD's fastest chips outpace those of Intel for mainstream applications.


Nokia to offer encryption tool

The handset maker is teaming up with a Swedish security company to offer encryption software for some of its phones.


Colgate to Cut 12 Percent of Work Force (Reuters)

Reuters - Colgate-Palmolive Co.  said on\Tuesday it would cut about 12 percent of its 37,000-person work\force as part of a four-year restructuring plan for which it\anticipates after-tax charges of  #36;550 million to  #36;650 million.


PluggedIn: Lost? Your Phone Knows a Way Out (Reuters)

Reuters - Back when everyone\believed the world was flat, people thought these rocky shores\on Spain's windswept "coast of death" were the end of the\world. In today's world, you only need a mobile phone to get\there ... and back.


Polish Cops Bust 100-Member Computer Piracy Gang (Reuters)

Reuters - Polish police have broken up a gang of\more than 100 hackers who sold pirated music and films, using\academic computer systems around the world to store their\wares, a police spokeswoman said on Tuesday.


Twenty Schools Sign Up for Legal Song Downloads (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. colleges and universities are\increasingly giving students free access to download services\like Roxio Inc.'s Napster to discourage illegal song copying,\the recording industry said Tuesday.


Blue Chips Are Flat, Caterpillar Gains


Trial Letdown Hits Possis Medical

Disappointing trial data regarding the AngioJet catheter takes a 38 bite out of Possis Medical's stock.


Colleges Rally Against Music Piracy

The nation's colleges and universities are taking more aggressive steps to curb rampant Internet music piracy, according to a report released today. -washingtonpost.com


Stocks to Watch Tuesday (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks to watch on Tuesday: JOHNSON  \JOHNSON , GUIDANT CORP.


HP Shelves Virus Throttler

Security service was discontinued because of compatibility problems with Windows.


A missed chance RBI could rue

OIL continues to set new records by the day. Last Friday, it was in whispering distance of \$50 a barrel as Iraq and the woes of the giant Russian producer, Yukos, kept markets on tenterhooks.


Shell Shocked?

Long-suffering investors in Royal Dutch Petroleum (NYSE: RD) and Shell Transport (NYSE: SC) likely spent the day wondering whether this morning #39;s news might finally clear the air.


Trial Letdown Hits Possis Medical

Shares of device maker Possis Medical (Nasdaq: POSS) are down 38 to \$19.20 after the company cut its fiscal 2005 earnings outlook after a trial involving its AngioJet blood clot treatment yielded disappointing results.


Sumitomo puts \$29 bn takeover bid for UFJ

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), Japans second largest bank, today put forward a 3,200 billion (\$29 billion) takeover bid for United Financial Group (UFJ), the countrys fourth biggest lender, in an effort to regain initiative in its bidding


Japan Tobacco #39;s Canadian Unit Files for Bankruptcy Protection

Japan Tobacco Inc. #39;s Canadian unit, JTI-Macdonald, filed for bankruptcy protection after the Quebec government sued it for C\$1.


Cognos Makes \$52.2 Million Offer for Frango

Business-software maker Cognos will buy Swedish financial-reporting software company Frango for \$52.2 million. Cognos says the acquisition will strengthen its portfolio of corporate performance


Cisco Systems Acquires P-Cube

P-Cube develops service control platforms, which help service providers identify subscribers, classify applications, improve service performance and charge for multiple services without costly infrastructure upgrades, Cisco said.


OMB Names Timothy Young As No. 2 IT Exec

As associate administrator for E-government and IT, he #39;s being assigned to identify, develop, and implement the government #39;s E-government priorities.


Apple tops US consumer satisfaction

Recent data published by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows Apple leading the consumer computer industry with the the highest customer satisfaction.


Rangers coach calls on fans to back spurned Australian Olympian

Rangers coach Alex McLeish has called on fans to back the likely return of Australian Olympian Craig Moore for the crucial Champions league return leg against CSKA Moscow here.


Noguchi looks back

quot;I really feel its weight, quot; Noguchi said.  quot;Every time I look at it, my eyes well up in tears. I want to show it to all the people who made it possible.


NBA stars face formidable challengers

Winning a gold medal would ease the sting of two Olympic qualifying defeats for the United States team of NBA stars. But their path to defending the throne is a rocky one, with unbeaten Spain coming up first


Italy upsets Americans in semifinals

US women #39;s water polo coach Guy Baker was seething so much about an unusual call that he could barely speak. His world champion squad was too  quot;crushed quot; to explain what happened.


UPDATE 1-Argentina outplay Italy to secure easy passage

Favourites Argentina swept Italy aside on Tuesday to march into the final of the Olympic Games soccer tournament without having conceded a goal in five games.


Karzai declares Afghanistan and Pakistan  quot;brothers in fighting <b>...</b>

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan and Afghanistan have reaffirmed they are partners in fighting terrorism, Afghan President Hamid Karzai declared at the end of a two-day visit.


S P Lifts Calif. Bond Rating 3 Notches (Reuters)

Reuters - Standard   Poor's Ratings\Services on Tuesday raised its general obligation bond rating\on California to 'A' from 'BBB,' citing an easing of the Golden\State's cash crunch.


Colleges Rally Against Music Piracy (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Colleges and universities across the country are taking new steps to fight rampant Internet music piracy by beefing up their education efforts, offering legal music downloading options and stiffening penalties for illegal file sharing, according to a report released today.


Intel Cuts Prices in Preparation for New Product Line (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Intel has slashed prices by up to 35 percent on some of its \Pentium 4 and Itanium processors, bringing down the costs of some desktop and notebook computers by as much as  #36;200.


Gateway Adds Micro Center to Its Distribution Channel (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Gateway has added another marquee name to the roster of retailers that sell its line of personal computers and other products: Micro Center. Gateway's new line of notebooks, desktops and monitors are now available at the retailer's 20 stores nationwide, says a corporate statement.


Whale trapped at N.S. power plant after swimming through sluice gates (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N.S.  (CP) - A hydroelectric plant in Nova Scotia remained shut down Tuesday after a wayward whale swam through the underwater gates that connect the facility with the Bay of Fundy.


Product Review: IBM ThinkPad X40 (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - The ultra-portable sector of the notebook industry over the last few years has become a showcase for the engineering prowess of the world's largest computer companies.


A Golden Moment for Misty May and Kerri Walsh

ATHENS (Reuters) - Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh  finished off their Olympic beach volleyball competition with a  perfect record and a gold medal after beating Brazil in  straight sets in the final match Tuesday.


Ex-Member of Kerry Legal Team Arraigned (AP)

AP - A former member of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's legal team pleaded innocent Tuesday to a charge of soliciting a prostitute.


JTI-Macdonald Files for Court Protection

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Japan Tobacco's  2914.T JTI-Macdonald Corp. unit filed for court protection  from creditors on Tuesday in a fight with Quebec tax officials,  who have accused the firm of smuggling to avoid more than \$1  billion in taxes.


S P Lifts Calif. Bond Rating 3 Notches

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Standard   Poor's Ratings  Services on Tuesday raised its general obligation bond rating  on California to 'A' from 'BBB,' citing an easing of the Golden  State's cash crunch.


Iraq Forces Advance on Najaf Shrine, Battle Rages

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces tightened  their grip on the streets around a sacred shrine in Najaf  Tuesday after the government warned Shi'ite rebels inside they  would be killed if they did not surrender.


Oil Prices Fall to \$45 as Iraq Oil Flows

Oil prices dropped sharply today, extending losses to a third day as a more optimistic Iraq export picture helped partly unwind some supply worries.


Food Prices Up As India Strike Continues

Prices for food and essential commodities spiraled upward Tuesday as thousands of truck drivers in India ignored a government appeal to call off a four-day-old nationwide strike.


Failed European first Mars probe, Beagle 2, still a mystery

Scientists are no closer to discovering what happened to the ill-fated space probe Beagle 2, which vanished while attempting to land on Mars, according to an investigation released Tuesday.


Global chip sales to increase 27 percent in 2004: study

Worldwide semiconductor revenue is forecast to reach 226 billion US dollars in 2004, a 27.4 percent increase from 2003 revenues, according to the latest quarterly update released Tuesday by Gartner.


Pay heed to domestic market, IT firms told

Indian software companies, which have been busy conquering the world and neglecting their backyard, should not continue doing so. This is because the domestic market is going to grow into a huge opportunity


EDS Signs With Opsware, Again

Global IT services powerhouse EDS extended it contract with Opsware (Quote, Chart) for data center automation software and services, the company said Tuesday.


Nokia to offer encryption tool

Nokia plans to work with Swedish security company Pointsec Mobile Technologies to develop an encryption tool for high-end phones, the companies said Tuesday.


Highlights from NBC #39;s Olympic coverage, and a look ahead

HIGHLIGHT: Gymnastics team Al Trautwig and Tim Daggett #39;s superb job on the audience #39;s protest of Alexei Nemov #39;s score on the high bars.


Italy #39;s military presence in Iraq will continue despite abduction

Italy will do whatever is possible to secure the release of an Italian freelance journalist kidnapped byIraqi insurgents, but will not bow to demands to withdraw its troops, the Italian government said Tuesday.


Typhoon Aere Lashes Taiwan #39;s Capital

Typhoon Aere battered northern Taiwan on Tuesday with howling winds and sheets of rain that grounded flights, shut down financial markets and triggered mudslides on the densely populated island.


Execs upbeat on IT spending

Amid mixed indications of software industry's health, polled tech execs predict spending rise.


AMD desktop chips edge ahead of Intel

Figures from ZDNet Germany labs show AMD's fastest chips outpacing its rival's for mainstream applications.


Vonage connects with Linksys, Netgear on VoIP

Vonage teams with Wi-Fi equipment makers Linksys and Netgear on voice over Internet Protocol.


Adelphia Wants Rigas Family to Repay Billions

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones/AP) -- Adelphia Communications wants its founder to pay more than \$3 billion the cable company says it #39;s owed.


Challenges Face Mideast Leaders

(CBS/AP) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that he would push ahead with a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip despite a stinging setback to the plan from his Likud Party.


Shell Settles Corporate Fraud Charges for \$120 Million

Royal Dutch/Shell, one of the world #39;s largest oil companies, agreed yesterday to pay \$120 million in penalties to settle charges of corporate fraud with the Securities and Exchange Commission for overstating its oil reserves.


TD, Banknorth in Talks on Possible Deal

Canada #39;s Toronto Dominion Bank (TD.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday that it is in talks with US-based Banknorth Group (BNK.


Update 4: Kuwait Foreign Minister Discusses Oil

Kuwait #39;s foreign minister said Wednesday that Middle East oil exporters are producing at maximum capacity to stabilize prices that are being driven up by speculators from outside the region.


Japan #39;s banking revival starts with a cleanup

quot;Revival starts with a cleanup, quot; said post-World War II finance minister Juichi Tsushima on August 17, 1945. And a convoluted cleanup in Japan #39;s banking business is what is under way today.


EU will probe Microsoft, Time Warner buy

European antitrust regulators have announced they will conduct an in-depth investigation into a plan by Microsoft and Time Warner to acquire digital rights management company ContentGuard, a move that #39;s seen as a setback for the deal.


Toll Brothers profit jumps 56 percent

NEW YORK - Toll Brothers Inc., a US builder of luxury homes, said on Wednesday third-quarter profit rose 56 percent, easily beating analysts forecasts, helped by record home-building revenue.


Durable Goods Orders Rise on Plane Demand

Orders for US durable goods -- items meant to last at least three years -- posted a larger-than-expected rise in July, boosted by an increase in demand for passenger


HHG buoyed by return to profits

British insurer and fund manager HHG was back in the black at the half-year stage today as it recovered from losses of 902m (1.


ATA says its not leaving Midway Airport

INDIANAPOLIS ATA Airlines is denying reports that it wants to sell its gates at Chicago #39;s Midway Airport. The Indianapolis-based airline released a brief statement from chairman J-George Mikelsons, saying


Stocks to Open Higher, Oil Still Focus

US stocks are expected to open modestly higher Wednesday, as oil prices remain center stage but thin summer volumes are likely to continue.


Microsoft announces SP2 support for Singapore users

The days of piece-meal patching and shipped updates are over as Microsoft Singapore urged users to take advantage of the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP to upgrade to Service Pack 2 (SP2).


UT club has dreams of a mission to the red planet

and a small but determined group of engineering graduate students is organizing to get the word out. Members of the campus chapter of


NTT DoCoMo, Motorola Strike Phone Deal

NTT DoCoMo, Japan #39;s top mobile-phone carrier, and Motorola Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 cell-phone maker, plan to develop a next-generation mobile phone that subscribers in Japan can also use while traveling in


Semiconductor sales booming in 2004

Worldwide semiconductor sales will reach \$226bn in 2004, a 27.4 per cent increase from 2003, according to the latest prediction from Gartner.


New RealPlayer Software Manages Media From Different Stores <b>...</b>

Harmony, which is incorporated in version 10.5 (and will also be in the next version of the RealRhapsody music service), allows the player to manage Digital Rights Management (DRM)-protected


Aussie teacher quits after web threats

AN AUSSIE teacher has quit after 35 years after his students threatened him on a web page. Greg Frawley was one of about 10 teachers threatened on the page set up by students at Hurlstone Agricultural High School.


Yahoo! loses US appeal over French ruling on Nazi auctions

Yahoo! has lost an appeal against a US district courts ruling which said that the company does not have to obey a French courts decision requiring it to block French citizens from accessing internet auctions of Nazi memorabilia at Yahoo!


Cisco boosts carrier offerings with P-Cube buy

Cisco Systems has confirmed that it is to spend \$200m to acquire privately held P-Cube, a California-based developer of internet protocol (IP) service control platforms.


Microsoft pulls out of standards group over intellectual property <b>...</b>

Microsoft has pulled out of an international standards body because of concerns over control of intellectual property contributed to the group.


US tops the spam league

The US is the originator of over 42 of the worlds unsolicited commercial e-mail, making it the worst offender in a league table of the top 12 spam producing countries published yesterday by anti-virus firm Sophos.


SMIC to challenge latest TSMC infringement claims

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) said Wednesday it will defend itself against the latest allegations of patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation


UN organizes open-source software day across Asia

The United Nations, through its International Open Source Network (IOSN) will organize the first annual Software Freedom Day on Saturday in an effort to educate Asian users


Hollywood sues DVD-chip makers

The Motion Picture Ass. of America (MPAA) yesterday confirmed the organisation has begun legal proceedings against two makers of DVD chip alleging that the pair #39;s willingness to offer their products more widely than they should.


Actuate Joins Eclipse; Starts Open Source BI Project

Actuate Corp. announced that it has joined the Eclipse Foundation, the organization focused on delivering an open source development environment, and has launched a new Eclipse project to focus on open-source business intelligence and reporting tools.


SAP Delivers for the Mailman

Neither rain nor sleet nor gloom of night can keep the US Postal Service from its appointed rounds, but a 25-year-old Human Resources software system is apparently stopping the mailman in his tracks.


NASA Picks Swede Launch Site for Balloons

STOCKHOLM, Sweden Aug. 24, 2004 - NASA has agreed to launch its largest scientific balloons from a site in northern Sweden, a spokesman said Tuesday.


Google #39;s Real Rivals: Yahoo, MSN, And Amazon

A customer-satisfaction study of E-business Web sites says Google has a huge lead among search-engine sites but will face still challenges from portals.


3rd time proves golden charm for El Guerrouj

Hicham El Guerrouj was likening the meaning of his daughter #39;s name to the precious gold he had earned, but the Moroccan might as well have been describing the last half of the men #39;s 1,500 meters at Olympic Stadium last night.


Olympic Results: Wednesday, August 25

The first of 18 gold medals to be awarded Wednesday, on the 12th day of the summer Olympics in Athens goes to Kate Allen of Austria.


Greek judo star dies after leap

ATHENS A member of Greeces Olympic judo squad who leaped from a third-story apartment after an argument with her boyfriend just days before the Athens Games has died, a hospital source said Tuesday.


Isinbayeva aims to be female Bubka

Yelena Isinbayeva beat her own world record to clinch the Olympic women #39;s pole vault gold on Tuesday coming one step closer to matching the performances of her idol, Sergei Bubka.


Olympic diary: Day 12

Brazilian fans got a little bit too excited during the final of the women #39;s beach volleyball competition. Seeing that their team of Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar was struggling


Moorcroft Would Back Radcliffe Bid

David Moorcroft believes Paula Radcliffe is capable of making the impossible possible by competing in the Olympic 10,000metres in Athens.


Foudy Improves, Remains Game-Time Decision

ATHENS, Greece - US soccer captain Julie Foudy #39;s sprained right ankle showed signs of improvement Wednesday, although she remains a game-time decision for Thursday #39;s gold-medal game against Brazil.


US boxer topples the Russian giant

He saw the looks and he heard the snickers and he guessed that the joke was at his expense. Boxing has never been the subtlest of sports, and Ward has never been the largest of light heavyweights.


Danish player strike is called off

Danish league players suspended their weeklong strike on Wednesday, allowing the Brondby and Aalborg clubs to field their full squads for Thursday #39;s UEFA Cup matches.


Sudan accepts deployment of more AU peacekeepers: official

Sudan is to accept the deployment of more African peacekeepers for the cantonment of the rebels in Darfur, Sudanese Agriculture Minister Majzoub al-Khalifa said Wednesday, as


Settling Israeli Settlements

Palestinian officials have called on the Bush administration to clarify its position on the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.


Polio threatening to reach epidemic proportions in Africa

The crippling Polio disease has spread to at least one dozen countries in West and Central Africa and is threatening to become an epidemic, the United Nations has said.


Palestinian intelligence chief shot

Gunmen ambushed the head of the Palestinian intelligence service in Gaza City today, seriously wounding him in the chest and killing two bodyguards after opening fire on his convoy, Palestinian officials said.


BA cancels four more flights

British Airways has cancelled four domestic flights but says other services have returned to normal at Heathrow Airport after severe disruptions earlier this week.


Pakistan #39;s Caretaker Prime Minister Steps Down

Pakistan #39;s caretaker prime minister has stepped down, clearing the way for Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to take control of the country #39;s Parliament.


Hopes for peace talks as Nepal rebels lift blockade

Nepal #39;s ruling coalition has expressed hopes for peace talks with Maoist rebels, as the capital, Kathmandu, returned to normal after the rebels lifted a week-long blockade.


Japan #39;s NTT DoCoMo, Motorola strike deal to develop mobile phone

TOKYO Schaumburg(Illinois)-based Motorola and Japan #39;s top mobile-phone carrier plan to develop a more sophisticated mobile phone that subscribers in Japan can use while traveling to other parts of Asia and to Europe.


Rulon Gardner Loses Bid for Repeat Gold (AP)

AP - Rulon Gardner was in another Olympic wrestling upset  #151; his own. One of the biggest stars of the 2000 Summer Games, Gardner was thrown to the mat in overtime Wednesday by Kazakhstan's Georgi Tsurtsumia and lost 4-1 in his Greco-Roman semifinal match.


Durable Goods Orders Rise on Plane Demand (Reuters)

Reuters - Orders for U.S. durable goods --\items meant to last at least three years -- posted a\larger-than-expected rise in July, boosted by an increase in\demand for passenger aircraft, a Commerce Department report on\Wednesday showed.


Oil Prices Halt Three-Day Losing Streak (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices rose modestly on Wednesday,\halting a three-day losing streak on profit-taking from record\highs near  #36;50 a barrel.


Two Russian Planes Crash, Cause Unclear (Reuters)

Reuters - Two Russian passenger planes crashed\almost simultaneously, killing all 89 people on board in what\investigators said on Wednesday was probably a freak\coincidence but might have been a terrorist attack.


Beltre Hits 40th in Dodgers' Win (AP)

AP - Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam to become the first player to reach 40 home runs this season, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-2 victory over the Montreal Expos on Tuesday night. His previous career high for homers was 23, set last season.


TD, Banknorth in Talks on Possible Deal (Reuters)

Reuters - Canada's Toronto Dominion Bank (TD.TO)\said on Wednesday that it is in talks with U.S.-based Banknorth\Group (BNK.N) about a possible deal.


DoubleClick Signs on MSN to Use Its Rich Media Ads (Reuters)

Reuters - A top executive for Web marketing\company DoubleClick (DCLK.O) on Tuesday said Microsoft Corp's\(MSFT.O) MSN Web portal will use its rich media ads online,\paving the way for wider use of a key DoubleClick  product.


EU Probes Microsoft/Time Warner Venture (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Commission on Wednesday\launched an in-depth investigation of plans by Microsoft Corp.\and Time Warner Inc. to acquire joint control of U.S.\ContentGuard Holdings Inc.


Jeter Helps Yankees Steal One in Cleveland (AP)

AP - A night after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch, Derek Jeter stole two bases in the ninth inning and scored on Hideki Matsui's two-out single to lead the visiting New York Yankees past Cleveland 5-4 Tuesday night, handing the Indians their ninth straight loss.


Typhoon Aere Pounds Taiwan, Heads Into China (Reuters)

Reuters - A powerful typhoon triggered landslides\and flash floods in northern Taiwan on Wednesday before plowing\into China where hundreds of thousands of people have been\evacuated.


Justice Dept. to Announce Cyber-Crime Crackdown (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - The Justice Department is set to announce a major crackdown on cyber-crime that will include arrests, subpoenas and property seizures of alleged e-mail spammers and online scam artists, according to law enforcement and industry sources.


Redefining Swedishness (and causing a stir in the literary world) (AFP)

AFP - In once uniform Sweden, a book being hailed as the ultimate generational novel serves as a reminder that you no longer need to be a blond, blue-eyed, beer-guzzling giant, or even speak the language correctly, to be considered truly Swedish.


NTT DoCoMo, Motorola Strike Phone Deal (AP)

AP - NTT DoCoMo, Japan's top mobile-phone carrier, and Motorola Inc., the world's No. 2 cell-phone maker, plan to develop a more sophisticated mobile phone that subscribers in Japan can also use while traveling to other parts of Asia as well as Europe, the companies said Wednesday.


Gunmen Attack Senior Palestinian Officer (AP)

AP - Gunmen opened fire at a convoy carrying the deputy Palestinian intelligence chief on Wednesday, seriously wounding him in the chest and killing two bodyguards, Palestinian officials said.


Jets Sign Quarterback Quincy Carter (AP)

AP - Herman Edwards believes not giving Quincy Carter a second chance would be a crime.


Canada Picks Same-Sex Advocates As Judges (AP)

AP - Two judges known for supporting same-sex unions were nominated Tuesday to fill vacancies on Canada's Supreme Court, and they will be assessed in the country's first-ever public screening of such appointments.


Mortgage Applications Off in Aug. 20 Week (Reuters)

Reuters - New applications for U.S. home loans\fell last week after a brief bounce, as 30-year mortgage\interest rates edged up, an industry group said on Wednesday.


NTT DoCoMo, Motorola to develop 3G mobile handset for business users (AFP)

AFP - Japan's top cellphone operator NTT DoCoMo and US telecoms giant Motorola announced a deal to jointly develop a third-generation handset for business users, marking the American company's first major foray into the lucrative Japanese mobile phone market.


Zimbabwe Opposition to Boycott Elections (AP)

AP - Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change said Wednesday that it would boycott future elections until the government reforms election laws, ends what the movement calls state-sponsored political violence and repeals what it terms repressive media and security laws.


Bryant Judge Restricts Courtroom Cameras (AP)

AP - The judge in the Kobe Bryant rape case on Tuesday sharply restricted how the news media may cover the trial using television and still cameras, saying he was worried too much exposure could threaten the fairness of the proceedings.


Actuate Joins Eclipse, Starts Open-Source BI Project (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - After joining the Eclipse Foundation, the company launches a project to create open-source business intelligence and reporting tools.


Baseball Today (AP)

AP - San Francisco at Florida (7:05 p.m. EDT). Giants rookie Noah Lowry (3-0) starts against Dontrelle Willis (9-9).


Fact and Comment (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - The news from Iran is grim. This Islamic dictatorship--the biggest source of terrorist training and financing in the world and the nation that's doing all it can to stir up trouble in already combustible Iraq--is clearly on the cusp of becoming a nuclear power. The clerical fascists running the country have dropped just about all pretense of their atomic programs being energy-related only. Tehran announced in July that it had resumed making the centrifuges needed to produce highly enriched uranium, a key ingredient for nuclear bombs. ...


Toronto hostage-taker holds woman at gunpoint, shot dead by police: reports (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - An armed hostage-taking at the height of morning rush-hour in front of Toronto's busy Union Station on Monday morning ended with a police sharpshooter killing a male suspect, broadcast reports said.


EU Extends Review of Microsoft Deal (AP)

AP - Software giant Microsoft Corp. and the media and entertainment powerhouse Time Warner Inc. ran into fresh trouble with the European Union on Wednesday as antitrust regulators ordered an in-depth probe of their deal to collaborate in making anti-piracy software.


Critical Netscape Flaw Found (PC World)

PC World - Web servers may be vulnerable to attack, security company warns.


Sharapova Loses to Wild Card in Conn. (AP)

AP - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was upset in three sets by wild card Mashona Washington Tuesday in the Pilot Pen tennis tournament. Sharapova had 12 double-faults in the match. Three of them occurred in the two games that Washington broke the fourth-seeded Russian in the deciding set of her 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win.


Els Reflects on Season of Heartache (AP)

AP - "To be No. 1 in the world is one thing, but to win a major, that's what we all strive for. That's what we all want."  #151; Ernie Els, three weeks before the Masters.


Humpback Whale Trapped at Power Plant (AP)

AP - A hydroelectric plant in Nova Scotia remained closed Tuesday after a wayward humpback whale swam through the underwater gates connecting the facility with the Atlantic Ocean.


Trading Privacy for Convenience

A test project, now in use at Reagan National Airport, aims to give frequent fliers a quicker pass through security checkpoints by using the latest biometric technologies -- such as eye scans -- to verify a passenger's identity.


NASA Picks Swede Launch Site for Balloons (AP)

AP - NASA has agreed to launch its largest scientific balloons from a site in northern Sweden, a spokesman said Tuesday.


Project Shows Promise for Grape Growers (AP)

AP - Since the discovery five years ago that a ravenous insect was spreading grape-killing Pierce's Disease in California, grape growers have contributed millions of dollars to fund research projects they hope can end the scourge.


Skilled Labor in High Demand,  Low Supply

Some contend that low-cost labor in India, China and elsewhere is far from the only thing inhibiting job growth in the United States --  skilled workers just aren't out there. American adults rank 12th in literacy among those of 20 high-income, industrialized countries, according to a study.


Blueberry Compound Fights Cholesterol, Study Finds (Reuters)

Reuters - A compound used by blueberries and\grapes to fight off fungal infections could help lower\cholesterol, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.


Fishing Warnings Up Due to Mercury Pollution-EPA (Reuters)

Reuters - Americans were cautioned about\eating fish from more than one-third of U.S. lakes and nearly\one-fourth of its rivers last year due to pollution from\mercury and other chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection\Agency said on Tuesday.


Weak El Nino Forecast in Pacific by End August-NOAA (Reuters)

Reuters - A weak El Nino, a weather pattern\that distorts wind and rainfall patterns worldwide, is expected\to develop in the central Pacific by the end of this month,\U.S. government forecasters said on Tuesday.


Molineux joy at Hoddle deal

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has been unveiled as the new boss of Championship strugglers Wolves. Hoddles appointment was announced at a Molineux press conference this morning, and he will take charge of the side for an initial six-month period.


Inhaled Anthrax Vaccine Protects in Animals-Report (Reuters)

Reuters - A powdered anthrax vaccine that\people potentially could take by themselves protects rabbits\against the deadliest form of the bacteria, researchers said on\Tuesday.


Durable Goods Orders Rise in July

America's factories saw orders for costly manufactured goods in July post the biggest gain in four months, an encouraging sign that the economy is emerging from an early summer funk.


China raises domestic fuel prices

China is planning to raise domestic petrol and diesel retail prices by about 6 as crude oil prices stay near record highs.


Cigarette firm acts in tax row

One of Canada's biggest cigarette firms seeks creditor protection after a C\$1.4bn(US\$1bn) tax claim over alleged smuggling.


US house sales fall in July

Sales of non-new houses in the US fell last month but still exceeded analyst forecasts.


Famous film maker put up for sale

Ilford Imaging, the world's largest producer of black and white camera film, is up for sale after going into administration.


State discloses venture results

Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill yesterday released results for the 103 venture capital funds the state pension plan invested in from 1986 through 1998, which ranged from a searing 127 percent annual gain to a dismal 46 percent annual decline.


Funeral director suspended for 5 years

A state regulatory board yesterday handed a five-year suspension to a Lawrence funeral director accused of unprofessional conduct and deceptive practices, including one case where he refused to complete funeral arrangements for a client because she had purchased a lower-priced casket elsewhere.


Putnam as pariah

The flagship George Putnam fund has managed to beat the Dow Jones industrial average by four percentage points in this year's trying market.


Shakedown street

Whether you live in Brookline or Scituate or Framingham, it is a good day when the town finally gets around to doing something about your beaten-up street. The potholes get filled, and the street gets repaved. New sidewalks and lighting go in. Trees and even some flowers are planted.


Jeter Walks, Runs and Pulls Yanks to Victory

Derek Jeter, who suffered a bone bruise on his left elbow when he was plunked by a pitch Monday, not only played Tuesday, but he turned out to be the star.


In place of dollars, a cool change

Cash has never been so cool. Usher Raymond IV, the 25-year-old R amp;B singer who has been dubbed the king of pop, launched the Usher Debit MasterCard late last month. The sleek black card, which features the artist's face, has been passed out to concertgoers during his nationwide ''The Truth Tour. quot; The card is also available through a website, ushermc.com.


Jets Turn to Carter to Back Up Pennington

Dissatisfied by the performance of three backups who have never taken a regular-season snap in the N.F.L., the Jets signed Quincy Carter.


July home sales strong

An expected spike in mortgage rates was supposed to cool off the red-hot housing market, but that spike failed to happen, and real estate sales remained strong in July both locally and nationally, according to reports released yesterday.


Prices for oil fall for 3d day

WASHINGTON -- Oil prices tumbled for a third consecutive day yesterday, briefly falling below \$45 a barrel, as geopolitical concerns that had brought the market to a boil in recent weeks appeared to cool off.


Yukos suffers another setback

MOSCOW -- Russian oil company Yukos suffered a fresh setback yesterday in its survival struggle against multibillion-dollar tax bills when one of its appeals was thrown out and another adjourned by a Moscow court.


Royal Dutch/Shell fined \$120m

WASHINGTON -- A \$120 million fine levied on Royal Dutch/Shell Group by the Securities and Exchange Commission resolves the company's part in the SEC inquiry into the overstatement of oil and gas reserves, but the role of individuals is still under investigation, regulators said yesterday..


A young monk opens a rare window of candor in Tibet

He confirms Chinese are diluting traditional Buddhist culture and the monks' role.


Fresh face lift

ATHENS -- In a race of attrition that resembled a demolition derby as much as an Olympic final, Joanna Hayes of the United States captured gold in the 100-meter hurdles last night because she managed to keep her feet while others were losing theirs.


Toronto-Dominion seeks Banknorth stake

Toronto-Dominion Bank is in the final stages of negotiations to take a controlling interest in New England regional bank Banknorth Group Inc. in a transaction worth as much as \$3.5 billion, according to executives involved in the talks.


Give handball a sporting chance

ATHENS -- I saw a game that featured, with only the slightest expansion of our basic concepts, fast breaks, fouled in the act of shooting, sneakaways, pivotmen, turnovers, weaves, give-and-gos, lookaway passes, backward bounce passes, skip passes, a penalty shot, a backdoor play, and great shot blocking worthy of a Russell or a Roy.


Hunt for clues to Russia crashes

Russian investigators refuse to rule out sabotage after two airliners crash minutes apart, killing 89 people.


Middle management

TORONTO -- The life of the setup reliever, lived to the fullest here last night by Mike Timlin, is rarely rewarded in the box score with the capital S' (as in save, or seal of approval).


Another one-run game won? This is too good

TORONTO -- Maybe the capricious forces that rule the baseball universe, the ones that so far this summer have dictated that 26 of the 30 teams in the major leagues would have won more one-run games than the Red Sox, finally are tilting in the Sox' favor. After last night's 5-4 escape over the Toronto Blue Jays, the one in ...


On tap: aluminum bottles

PITTSBURGH -- How much would you pay for a bottle of beer that stays cold nearly an hour longer?


Top Shia leader returns to Iraq

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, seen by many as crucial to ending the Najaf crisis, is back in Iraq from the UK.


July Durable Good Orders Rise 1.7 Percent

America's factories saw orders for costly manufactured goods post the biggest gain in four months, a sign that the economy is emerging from an early summer funk.


Cheney rejects gay marriage ban

US Vice-President Dick Cheney opposes a federal ban on gay marriage - seemingly contradicting George Bush.


A Bank Takeover in Japan Breaks Tradition

The biggest takeover battle in Japanese history got even bigger as the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group sought to disrupt a rival's expansion plans with a \$29 billion hostile bid for UFJ Holdings.


Carter signs with Jets

Quarterback Quincy Carter signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets yesterday, three weeks after his surprising release by Dallas.


BC freshmen forced to stand on own feet

Kicker Ryan Ohliger of Newark, Del., and punter Johnny Ayers of Oakton, Va., will have the huge responsibility of being the only freshman starters on the Boston College football team this season. Pressure? What pressure?


Dozens Charged in Crackdown on Spam and Scams

Federal and state law enforcement agencies have quietly arrested or charged dozens of people with crimes related to junk e-mail, identity theft and other online scams.


Clearing the hurdle of doping scandals

ATHENS -- Evita Agiasoteli has been counting Greece's Olympic medals. Each one comes with a celebration from the boy next door, who likes to run through their neighborhood in the northern Athenian suburb of Nea Ionia yelling  quot;Hellas! quot; with each gold. Other neighbors often leave their evening yogurts unfinished so they can join the boy's victory cheer.


Some Light Shed on Panel Decision to Deny Aid to United

Members of a federal loan board said they felt United Airlines bid for \$1.6 billion in assistance was based on a faulty business plan.


After comeback, comedown for US

Playing from behind finally doomed the US women's volleyball team. After struggling just to get out of the preliminary round, the Americans were eliminated from the Olympics yesterday in Athens when a late rally fizzled against Brazil in a quarterfinal defeat, 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-27, 15-6.


Zimbabwe opposition poll boycott

Zimbabwe's main opposition party say they will not take part in elections unless major reforms are made.


No finishing kick left for Pappas

ATHENS -- Tom Pappas, a US gold medal favorite in the decathlon, saw his quest for an Olympic crown dashed yesterday by a serious foot injury that forced him to withdraw from the pole vault portion of the 10-event competition.


Europe helps tackle Morocco fires

France, Spain and Italy are sending water-bomber planes to Morocco to fight a major forest fire .


Ward: No size too great

ATHENS -- As the deeply religious Andre Ward, the 20-year-old from Oakland, Calif., waited through the day for last night's match with two-time world champion Evgeny Makarenko, he pondered his predicament. Not only was he facing the pre-Olympic gold medal favorite in the quarterfinals of the light heavyweight division, but he was stepping in against a 6-foot-6-inch opponent who towered ...


Aussies face Cuba in final

Brendan Kingman's sixth-inning RBI single sent Australia to a stunning 1-0 victory yesterday over Japan, putting the Aussies in today's gold medal game against Cuba.


Lincoln's summer run comes to end

Sidearm curveballs, regular fastballs, and even some knuckleballs. No matter the direction or the spin, Jordan Brower was nearly unhittable.


Hmong ordered from Thai camp

Soldiers order about 1,500 ethnic Hmong people to leave a refugee camp in central Thailand.


US sailors lose guessing game

In the course of an hour, the notorious Meltemi wind yesterday cost American sailors Tim Wadlow of Marblehead and Pete Spaulding their chance to win a medal in their first Olympics.


NL notables

Braves right fielder J.D. Drew cut his head when he hit it on the dugout railing following batting practice and was removed from the starting lineup against Colorado. Drew was taken to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, where he received two staples to close the wound. He returned to Turner Field and was in uniform by the fourth inning but did ...


Beltre's slam lifts Dodgers

Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam to become the first player to reach 40 home runs this year, and Alex Cora homered and had five RBIs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-2 rout of the Expos in Montreal.


Israel wins first Olympic gold

Israeli windsurfer Gal Fridman makes sporting history by winning his country's first gold medal in the men's Mistral.


Thousands at Bangladesh funeral

Up to 30,000 people attend the funeral of a Bangladeshi opposition politician killed in a grenade attack in Dhaka.


AL notables

The Yankees posted their 48th come-from-behind victory, most in the majors. Chris Young -- the Rangers' 16th starter this season -- became the first pitcher from Princeton to start a major league game since Dave Sisler of the 1961 Washington Senators.


Indian politician sent to prison

Top Hindu nationalist politician Uma Bharti is remanded in an Indian jail over charges of inciting religious violence 10 years ago.


Software Seeks Online Bargains

Consumers in the United States are already spending record amounts of money online. One e-commerce company has a novel way to help Net shoppers hunt for bargains this holiday season.


Controversy mishandled all around

ATHENS -- For a while, if the Olympic repo men were to come looking for his gold medal, it seemed as if Paul Hamm would have to do the old twin spin that used to work so well back home in Wisconsin.  quot;Sorry, I'm his brother Morgan, quot; Paul would say.  quot;Paul's down at the Parthenon. Or maybe the Plaka. No, ...


Dominant US women's squad a true dream team

ATHENS -- Through five games, the US women are outscoring opponents by 29 points a game. They've been dominant to the point of ennui. They crush their opponents on the glass, hand out twice as many assists per game, and, generally, have it their way, every game. They lead the Olympics in nine statistical categories.


Barents Sea 'faces major threats'

The pristine Arctic waters of the Barents Sea are overfished and face serious pollution problems, the UN says.


Going deep -- for memories

TORONTO -- Last night, Doug Mientkiewicz was on call as the Red Sox' emergency catcher in case calamity befell Doug Mirabelli , raising the uncomfortable specter of the one-time minor league catcher trying to corral Tim Wakefield's knuckleball. He escaped that duty, serving only as a pinch runner and defensive replacement at first base for Kevin Millar in last night's ...


They're quick to impress

ATHENS -- Another night, another strong showing for America's sprinters. Allyson Felix , at 18 years old the youngest of the young lions, cruised to victory in her 200-meter heat, and then easily won her semifinal heat (22.36) to advance to the finals.


'DNA analysis' spots e-mail spam

Computational biologists at IBM develop an anti-spam filter that works in the same way scientists analyse DNA.


Coach still fighting mad at Estrada

ATHENS -- It had been 24 hours since Providence super heavyweight Jason Estrada not only lost a boxing match but also his dignity, and US boxing coach Basheer Abdullah still wasn't over it.


Band 'dumps sewage on tourists'

The Dave Matthews Band is sued for allegedly dumping human waste from a bus onto a boat in the Chicago River.


Efforts to eradicate polio falter

JOHANNESBURG -- The global effort to eradicate polio will not meet its deadline to stop transmission of the virus by the end of the year, a World Health Organization official acknowledged yesterday, citing the spread of cases from northern Nigeria.


Magazine offers reward for return of paintings

OSLO -- The weekly magazine Se og Hoer offered a \$14,800 reward yesterday for information leading to the return of two priceless Edvard Munch masterpieces stolen from an Oslo museum over the weekend. The city-owned Munch Museum reopened yesterday, two days after three masked robbers, including at least one with a pistol, snatched ''The Scream quot; and ''Madonna quot; and fled in ...


Naples police in huge mafia swoop

Hundreds of carabinieri police are taking part in an operation to crush a wave of mafia killings in Naples.


Afghan leader vows to release 400 Pakistani prisoners

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai promised yesterday to repatriate 400 Pakistani prisoners who fought with the former ruling Taliban regime and have been held in Afghan jails since 2001, a Pakistani official said.


A Trail of 'Major Failures' Leads to Defense Secretary's Office

In tracing responsibility for the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, a panel drew a line that extended to Donald H. Rumsfeld.


Bush Campaign's Top Outside Lawyer Advised Veterans Group

Benjamin L. Ginsberg said the veterans attacking John Kerry's Vietnam War record asked for his help and that he agreed.


Outsourcing issue flares up at chip conference

STANFORD, CALIFORNIA - On Monday, the same day the California Senate passed a bill that would ban state agencies from contracting services out to companies that use overseas labor, opponents and proponents of offshore outsourcing clashed during a conference at Stanford University.


Actuate moves to take enterprise reporting to open source

Business intelligence software vendor Actuate Corp. is hitching its wagon to the open-source movement in the hope of seeing its applications get even broader acceptance in the marketplace.


Top Cleric Looks to Broker Deal in Najaf

NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's most powerful Shiite cleric returned to the country from Britain on Wednesday and his aides called for a nationwide march to Najaf to end nearly three weeks of fierce fighting between U.S. forces and Shiite militants in this holy city...


Israel Wins First-Ever Olympic Gold

ATHENS, Greece - A windsurfer whose first name means "wave" in Hebrew gave Israel its first Olympic gold medal ever Wednesday, taking a plunge in the Saronic Gulf to celebrate. Gal Fridman sailed a remarkably consistent regatta, never finishing worse than eighth in the 11-race series...


Stocks to Watch Tuesday

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks to watch on Tuesday: JOHNSON    JOHNSON JNJ.N, GUIDANT CORP. GDT.N


Preston Bows Out

Matt Daniels had a homer and four RBIs, and tossed a two-hitter to lead Richmond, Texas, to a 13-1 win over Preston, Md., at the Little League World Series on Tuesday.


NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's most powerful Shiite cleric returned home from Britain on Wednesday to help broker an end to nearly three weeks of fighting in Najaf and is calling on his followers to join him in a march to reclaim the holy city, his spokesmen and witnesses said.    Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani return came as heavy fighting persisted in Najaf's Old City...


Adrian Beltre Hits His 40th Home Run

Adrian Beltre's first five full seasons in the majors were marked by stretches of inconsistency and only flashes of power potential. This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers' third baseman has become one of baseball's most prolific sluggers...


Midfield Now Strength

Not so long ago, D.C. United was throwing inexperienced players into the starting lineup and calling up minor leaguers to fill the roster.


Russian Jet Crashes Kill at Least 135

BUCHALKI, Russia - A Russian airliner crashed and another apparently broke up in the air almost simultaneously after taking off from the same airport, officials said, killing all 89 people aboard and raising fears of a terrorist attack.    Authorities said rescuers found wreckage from a Tu-154 jet with at least 46 on board, about nine hours after it issued a distress signal and disappeared from radar screens over the Rostov region some 600 miles south of Moscow...


Unit's Report Supports Kerry's Version

WASHINGTON - The Navy task force overseeing John Kerry's swift boat squadron in Vietnam reported that his group of boats came under enemy fire during a March 13, 1969, incident that three decades later is being challenged by the Democratic presidential nominee's critics.    The March 18, 1969, weekly report from Task Force 115, which was located by The Associated Press during a search of Navy archives, is the latest document to surface that supports Kerry's description of an event for which he won a Bronze Star and a third Purple Heart...


Mitch Decides to Stay

Ryan Mitch, a backup quarterback who had missed two practices and a team meeting, returned Tuesday and pledged to remain with the Maryland program the next four years.


Prison Abuse Report Cites Top Commanders

WASHINGTON - Inattention to prisoner issues by senior U.S. military leaders in Iraq and at the Pentagon was a key factor in the abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison, but there is no evidence they ordered any mistreatment, an independent panel concluded...


Wide-Open Receiving

The wide receivers position is the one truly unsettled position for the Virginia Cavaliers as they begin a season of great expectations.


2 Russian Jets Crash Within Minutes

Officials made no immediate statements about the possible causes of the twin crashes but the timing raised suspicions of a terrorist attack.


MLB, D.C. Talk

Major League Baseball negotiators held day-long sessions with District officials Tuesday and toured RFK Stadium as part of efforts to find a new home for the Montreal Expos.


A Push for More Power At Iraq Plant

The story of Baiji power station, which can produce more electricity than any plant in Iraq, helps explain why power generation remains one of the most vexing reconstruction challenges in the country.


Money Is Driving Moscow Makeover

For decades, pilgrims to Red Square have first passed in the shadow of the stolid Moskva hotel and the elegant Manezh exhibition hall. Once they made it across the square's cobblestoned expanse, they found their view obscured by the modernist concrete hulk known as the Hotel Rossiya.


From Coal to Culture

This old mining town in the northeast of England used to be a grimy industrial wasteland. Now it's becoming a gleaming cultural center and -- who would have thought it? -- tourist destination


Slopes Only for Bloom

Two-sport star Jeremy Bloom lost an appeal to an NCAA panel on Tuesday to keep his college eligibility as a football player at Colorado while still being allowed to receive endorsements as a professional skier.


On the Road to Greatness

Based on Che Guevara's early days, <I>The Motorcycle Diaries</i> is a tender tribute to the young man, not the myth


Nice Witch of the North

Comedienne Shabana Rehman's Pakistani roots and Norwegian lifestyle make a provocative comic brew


Justice to Announce Cyber-Crime Crackdown

The Justice Department is set to announce a major crackdown on cyber-crime that will include arrests, subpoenas and property seizures of alleged e-mail spammers and online scam artists, according to law enforcement and industry sources.
-The Washington Post


Verizon, Qwest to Fight FCC Rate Freeze

Verizon Communications Inc. and other parties have asked a federal court to throw out a set of temporary regulations banning giant regional phone companies from raising the wholesale rates they charge competitors for at least six months. -The Washington Post


Northwest Ticket Fees Urge Web Use

Beginning Friday, travelers on Northwest Airlines will have to pay as much as \$10 extra to buy tickets by phone or in person, rather than through Northwest's Web site.
\-The Washington Post


Report Says Air Force's Space Programs Improved

The Air Force's management of its space programs has improved during the past year but some systems, including an early warning missile contract, will continue to need special attention, according to an advisory panel review released yesterday.


Md. Machines Seek Vote Of Confidence

Critics say the state has been too quick to embrace electronic voting and could be headed for a fiasco in November elections.


EU Extends Review of Microsoft-Time Warner Deal

Software giant Microsoft Corp. and the media and entertainment powerhouse Time Warner Inc. ran into fresh trouble with the European Union on Wednesday as antitrust regulators ordered an in-depth probe of their deal to collaborate in making anti-piracy software.


'NFL 2K5' Edges Out 'Madden NF'

The virtual football championship matchup this year pits "Madden NFL 2005" against "ESPN NFL 2K5" from Sega's ESPN Videogames division. Both E-rated titles excel at delivering the National Football League experience to your living room through a combination of excellent controls, online gameplay and improved defensive features.


Museum welcomes flesh-eating bugs

London museum takes charge of 100 flesh-eating beetles used to strip animal carcasses down to bare bones.


Fear and Loathing in  #133; Lobsterland

When lobsters flirt or fight they first signal their intention by urinating in one another's faces. Strange facts like this are published in a new book about the little-known life of these familiar crustaceans.


Secret Sex Lives Of High-flying Finch Uncovered In The Rockies

To shed light on the secretive sex lives of rosy-finches, birds that nest high in the Rocky Mountains, researchers clip on crampons and get climbing.


Textile Fragments Provide Details of Ancient Lives

Charred and brittle bits of fabric are providing new insights into the lives of prehistoric people, thanks to advances in chemical analysis of textiles.


Who Knew? U.S. Presidential Trivia

Just 11 weeks remain in the race for the White House. Getting into the campaign spirit, National Geographic News reviews presidential trivia.


US deserter reunited with family

arrived on a remote island in northern Japan to start a new life with his Japanese wife and their two daughters. court-martial last month after saying he deserted from South Korea because he was frightened.


Grains Found in Georgia Traced to Huge Asteroid Impact

ATLANTA (AP) -- A layer of quartz grains found in an east Georgia kaolin mine have been traced to the impact of a giant asteroid that crashed near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay 35 million years ago.    The 54-mile-wide crater left by the meteor, the sixth-largest in the world, has previously been identified as the source of a rare mineral called Georgiaite...


NASA Picks Swede Launch Site for Giant Balloons

By TOMMY GRANDELL    STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- NASA has agreed to launch its largest scientific balloons from a site in northern Sweden, a spokesman said Tuesday.    To launch them, the Swedish Space Corp., which owns Esrange, has signed a \$1.32 million contract with the Swedish construction company NCC to double the size of the present launch pad...


Space Radiation May Harm Astronauts' Blood Cells

In the time it takes you to read this sentence, more than 10 million red blood cells in your body will die. Don't be alarmed; it's natural, and stem cells in your bone marrow are constantly making enough new cells to replace the dying ones. But what if those blood-making cells stopped working? This could be a concern for astronauts taking long trips beyond Earth orbit.


Meteorites Supplied Earth Life with Phosphorus

University of Arizona -- University of Arizona scientists have discovered that meteorites, particularly iron meteorites, may have been critical to the evolution of life on Earth.     Their research shows that meteorites easily could have provided more phosphorus than naturally occurs on Earth -- enough phosphorus to give rise to biomolecules which eventually assembled into living, replicating organisms...


Health Highlights: Aug. 24, 2004

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:    -----      Contaminated Fish in Many U.S. Lakes and Rivers      Fish that may be contaminated with dioxin, mercury, PCBs and pesticides are swimming in more than one-third of the United States' lakes and nearly one-quarter of its rivers, according to a list of advisories released by the Environmental Protection Agency...


EU will probe Microsoft, Time Warner buy

The decision is a setback for the two companies and their plan to acquire ContentGuard, a digital rights management firm.


Briefly: Microsoft IPTV to woo Swiss test group

roundup Plus: Sony speeds up Memory Stick cards...Real touts one week, 1 million songs...Chipmaker Fujitsu prepares WiMax chip.


SP2: Bad for your blood pressure?

That's what some IT managers say, a survey finds. Even more believe it'll be the toughest Windows update ever.


Report: companies expect fast IT spending growth

But IDC researchers voice a more cautious view, based on factors including high oil prices.


Actuate pushes open-source data reporting

The software maker proposes open-source Java-based reporting tools for consideration by the Eclipse open-source foundation.


IBM lays claim to extension of server reign

Says new research shows that it remains the top server computer vendor. But HP trumpets leadership in "high growth" segments.


Japan designers shoot for supercomputer on a chip

The MDGrape 3 chip will calculate faster than most supercomputers in existence, its creators say.\


Nanotech will tap nature's potential, investor says

Venture capitalist says a revolution is at hand, despite a setback like Nanosys' canceled IPO.


Latest International news on mobile: sms INT to 7333

Hamid Karzai was sworn in on Tuesday as Afghanistan #39;s first elected president in a ceremony attended by several foreign dignitaries, including US Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld, report agencies.


Verizon blames federal rules for broadband holdup

Company is holding back high-speed fiber service out of fear that it will have to lease the links to rivals at below its own cost.


CompactFlash card takes licking, keeps ticking

Bridge demolition destroys digital camera, but CompactFlash card hangs on to bridge's final moments.


Sony speeds up Memory Stick cards

Starting in October, the company will begin selling higher-speed cards that transfer data at rates of up to 80mbps.


ISS: Critical Netscape flaw could be widespread

Security company Internet Security Systems is warning of a critical security hole in a commonly used technology from the Mozilla Foundation called the Netscape Network Security Services library that could leave Web servers vulnerable to remote attack.


Washington State Ferries expands ferryboat Wi-Fi service

Washington State Ferries expects to provide passengers on its high-traffic Puget Sound routes with free Wi-Fi service it will begin rolling out next month.


Tight security as Karzai is sworn in

AFGHANISTANS capital Kabul was placed under tight security today for the historic inauguration of Hamid Karzai as the countrys first popularly elected president.


EDS extends IT automation deal with Opsware for three years

Outsourcing vendor Electronic Data Systems has renewed an agreement for IT services from automation and utility software company Opsware that could be worth \$145 million over eight years.


Actuate moves to take enterprise reporting to open-source

Business intelligence software vendor Actuate is teaming up with the open-source movement in an effort to give its applications more exposure in the marketplace.


HP shelves virus-throttling product

Virus Throttler, unveiled by HP in February, was one of two new security services developed by company researchers that debuted at the RSA Security Conference.


New IRS accounting system, a year late, nears completion

With the deployment of a new financial accounting system for the IRS running a year late, officials involved with the project now say it will go live in October.


Study: E-business customer satisfaction on the rise

Users of portals, news sites and search engines were a bit less satisfied than average consumer scores overall, a University of Michigan survey show. Scores were higher for online travel, retail, auction and brokerage sites.


Indiana man charged with hacking into former employer's systems

Patrick Angle, was charged with intentionally deleting the source code for software he had been developing for Massachusetts-based Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates.


Connexion by Boeing partners with iPass

The agreement with Connexion by Boeing will give iPass customers Wi-Fi access while flying, while Boeing gets a partner that knows how to sell service contracts for hot spot connectivity to business travelers.


EU extends MS, Time Warner probe

The European Commission (EC) opened an in-depth investigation on Wednesday into plans by Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. to take over U.S. digital rights management (DRM) company ContentGuard Holdings Inc.


SMIC to challenge latest TSMC infringement claims

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) said Wednesday it will defend itself against the latest allegations of patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation made by rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC).


Intel to launch tri-mode Wi-Fi chip set

Fulfilling a long-time goal, Intel Corp. is set to introduce on Thursday its first chip set that supports all three current forms of Wi-Fi, according to sources familiar with the announcement.


Rossi named new Atalanta coach

Serie A strugglers Atalanta have named Delio Rossi as their new coach, the club announced on its website on Tuesday. Rossi, the 44-year-old who previously coached Salerno and Lecce in Italy #39;s top-flight, replaces Andrea Mandorlini.


Outsourcing issue flares up at chip conference

STANFORD, CALIF. -- On Monday, the same day the California Senate passed a bill that would ban state agencies from contracting services out to companies that use overseas labor, opponents and proponents of offshore outsourcing clashed during a conference at Stanford University.
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Introducing IBM eServer p5 systems.
Powered by IBMs most advanced 64-bit microprocessor (POWER5(tm)), p5 systems can run UNIX and Linux simultaneously. Learn more about eServer p5 systems.


BEA departures continue

BEA Systems continues to see an exodus of high-level executives, with Chief Marketing Officer Tod Nielsen exiting this week.


India beats Germany in Champions Trophy field hockey

India rallied to outscore Germany 3-1 for its first victory in the men #39;s Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday.


Gartner: '04 chip revenue growth strong, '05 weaker

BOSTON - The semiconductor industry remains on track to record a significant increase in revenue during 2004, according to Gartner Inc.'s latest forecast for the year released Tuesday. After that, however, the outlook takes a turn for the worse.


Yahoo's legal battle over Nazi items continues

PARIS - Yahoo Inc. may after all find itself having to answer to the French courts for its failure to block French users' access to information about the sale of Nazi memorabilia on its U.S. Web sites.


ISS: Critical Netscape hole could be widespread

Security company Internet Security Systems Inc. (ISS) is warning its customers about a critical security hole in a commonly used technology from the Mozilla Foundation called the Netscape Network Security Services (NSS) library that could make Web servers vulnerable to remote attack.


Players get a chance to beat Tiger Woods at his own game

Tiger Woods is faltering on the PGA Tour these days, while Vijay Singh has taken over the No. 1 ranking in the world. If only Woods could play like his video game character in  quot;Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.


Yahoo Faces New Court Battle over Nazi Items

U.S. court says it's a French matter; plaintiff organizations want ban on sale of Nazi memorabilia.


NBC's Olympic Coverage Irks HDTV Owners

HDTV sports fans are disappointed that there's a limited menu of Olympic sports that can be seen on high definition and that many of these events are shown 24 hours or later than they are on NBC.


Report Shows Universities Curtailing Online Piracy

By ALEX VEIGA    LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Despite evidence that sharing music and movies online remains popular, a report issued Tuesday by a committee of entertainment and university leaders says universities have made strides the past year to curtail online piracy.    The report, submitted to Congress by the Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities, highlights steps taken by the universities to tackle Internet piracy but offers few details of their effectiveness...


University Offers Free Microsoft Software to Students

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- Students returning to Washington State University this week found free Microsoft software waiting for them...


NTT DoCoMo and Motorola Strike Phone Deal

TOKYO (AP) -- NTT DoCoMo, Japan's top mobile-phone carrier, and Motorola Inc. (MOT), the world's No...


Bank of America Exec to Get Severance Pay

Bank of America Corp. said a departing executive is eligible to collect about \$20.7 million in severance and other payments from the company.


Boeing wins \$7.35B airplane order

Singapore Airlines, Asia #39;s most profitable airline, eyes growth with plans to buy up to 31 jets. SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore Airlines said Wednesday it planned to buy up to 31 Boeing Co.


Jamaica to Provide Free Internet Access

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Jamaica's government on Tuesday announced a \$5 million program to provide free Internet access in poor communities across the island.    The "e-Jamaica" initiative will establish 60 Internet centers across the country by 2010, mostly in post offices, said Commerce and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell...


Microsoft offers SP2 compatibility guide

Microsoft has launched a do-it-yourself kit to help IT professionals assess their software #39;s compatibility with Windows XP Service Pack 2. Fears among system administrators and IT managers that XP SP2 may


BenQ wins ODM contract from Nokia

SOME INDUSTRY OBSERVERS had predicted that BenQ had shot itself in the foot by promoting its own branded mobile handsets at the recent European footie (soccer) fest in Portugal.


More delays for British Airways passengers in London (AFP)

AFP - British Airways cancelled four more flights due to what it called lingering problems from a staff shortage at London's Heathrow Airport which delayed thousands of travellers earlier in the week.


Indian Software Giant Shares Start Trading (AP)

AP - Shares of India's top software firm, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., soared as much as 41 percent in their first day of trading Wednesday.


Williams-Sonoma Profit Up; Keeps Forecast (Reuters)

Reuters - Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM.N) on\Wednesday posted a better-than-expected 55 percent increase in\quarterly profit, sending its stock up 6 percent, as sales\jumped at its Pottery Barn chain.


Nobel prizes to be announced in October, Blair and Bush in the running (AFP)

AFP - The 2004 Nobel prizes will be announced between October 4 and 11, the Nobel Foundation said, with US president George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the running for the prestigious Peace Prize.


Hockey teams seek foreign secrets of success (Reuters)

Reuters - When India play Pakistan, it is a classic hockey match, their historic rivalry sucking in the whole stadium.


Astra Cancer Drug Tied to More Pneumonia (Reuters)

Reuters - AstraZeneca Plc. said on Wednesday a new\study in Japan showed a higher rate of a potentially fatal side\effect in patients taking its lung cancer pill Iressa than that\demonstrated in an earlier analysis.


Aussies finish 1-2 in women #39;s triathlon

Austrian Kate Allen won gold in the Olympic women amp;apos;s triathlon Wednesday while American Susan Williams took the bronze. Allen was time in two hours, four minutes, 43.


Banknorth, TD Bank Are in Talks

Canada #39;s TD Bank Financial Group is discussing  quot;a possible transaction quot; with the Northeast regional bank Banknorth Group Inc.


Heat is on MTFG to place UFJ bid

Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. was under pressure Wednesday to come up with a takeover offer for UFJ Holdings Inc. that would fend off an unexpectedly generous \$29 billion rival bid by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc.


Two Turks kidnapped in Iraq, risk execution: TV report (AFP)

AFP - A Turkish television channel aired footage showing two Turks believed to be held hostage in Iraq by armed militants who have threatened to execute them unless their company withdraws from the country within 72 hours.


Two Israelis among dead in Russian plane crash

At least two Israeli citizens were among 89 people killed in two passenger plane crashes in Russia late on Tuesday, an Israeli embassy official said on Wednesday.


Typhoon forces 240,000 to flee

CHINA evacuated hundreds of thousands of people as Typhoon Aere lashed neighbouring Taiwan yesterday, triggering landslides and leaving at least seven people feared dead.


More BA flights canceled

More British Airways flights were canceled Wednesday after thousands were stranded by canceled flights at London #39;s Heathrow Airport because of staff shortages at the airline.


Hicks charged with war crimes

ACCUSED Australian Taliban fighter David Hicks was charged with war crimes by a US military tribunal today after meeting his father for the first time in five years.


Experts Say Nepal Rebels #39; Plan Resembles Peru #39;s Shining Path

Nepal #39;s communist insurgency has been flexing its muscles, with a successful blockade of the capital Kathmandu. Experts say the Maoists have modeled themselves on Peru #39;s Shining Path, using violence to end Nepal #39;s rigid caste system.


India, GCC agree to promote economic cooperation

New Delhi, Aug 25 (VNA) - India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed on Wednesday a Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation to boost economic and trading ties as well as to explore the possibility of a free trade area between India and GCC


US economy boosted by rise in manufacturing orders

Fears of a slowdown in the US economy today eased as factories reported a jump in orders for costly manufactured goods during July.


Toll Brothers 3Q Profits Beat Estimates

Luxury home builder Toll Brothers Inc. reported Wednesday that strong demand pushed third-quarter profits well above Wall Street expectations.


Sprint provides VoIP to eighth-largest cable company

Sprint Corp. said Wednesday that it will provide Internet telephone service to cable operator Mediacom Communications Corp. #39;s customer base of 2.7 million homes in 23 states.


Stocks Edge Lower As Oil Prices Climb

Stocks edged lower Wednesday as investors weighed rising oil prices against a pair of government reports that gave a mixed picture about the economy.


UPDATE 2-US mortgage applications fall 6.3 percent in week

Applications for US home loans fell 6.3 percent last week after a brief bounce in early August spurred by a drop in mortgage rates, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Last call for Jack Daniel #39;s?

Brown-Forman #39;s whiskey sales are strong but Wall Street sees cracks in the company #39;s china sales. By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer.


HHG gets out of red zone

AMP spin-off HHG plc has produced a pound stg. 46 million (\$A117 million) profit for the six months to June 30 - a massive turnaround from the pound stg.


Motorola takes step into Japan market

TOKYO Motorola and NTT DoCoMo said on Wednesday that they would jointly develop third-generation cellphones, giving the American company an important foothold in the Japanese market.


Dragging the Net for Cyber Criminals

In an attempt to stem the growing tide of online scams, identity theft and the proliferation of junk e-mail, the Justice Department and state law enforcement officials have initiated what


Sheep put brave face on stress

LONDON, England -- Sheep have shown researchers why stressed-out people are comforted by the sight of a friendly face. Scientists at the Babraham Institute in the eastern English city of Cambridge discovered


Small  #39;scope spots big planet

A new extra-solar planet has been identified orbiting a star 500 light years from our solar system. The discovery was made by a team using a four-inch diameter telescope to make their observations - a size


Linksys, Vonage In Equipment Deal

Irvine-based Linksys (www.linksys.com) announced that it is in a deal with Voice over IP (VoIP) provider Vonage (www.vonage.com) to provide equipment for home and small businesses.


Semiconductor Market Grow 27 Percent in 2004

However, the Gartner Dataquest Semiconductor Inventory Index showed inventories in the supply chain at the low end of the  quot;caution quot; zone.


EFF wins JibJab case

p2pnet.net News:- Still smiling because of its victory over Hollywood, the EFF has chalked up another win. This time, Music publisher Ludlow Music has officially backed down on its threats against web animation


MS anti-Linux ad  #39;misleading #39;

p2pnet.net News:- A Microsoft UK  quot;WEIGHING THE COST OF LINUX VS. WINDOWS? LET #39;S REVIEW THE FACTS quot; magazine ad has been nailed as misleading by Britain #39;s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).


Yahoo Continues Fight Over Nazi Paraphernalia

Furthering a story that began in 2000, the US Court of Appeals has ruled that US District Court judge operated outside the realm of his jurisdiction by attempting to rule on a case with international ramifications.


Beware  #39;Peeping Tom Webcam Worm #39;

A warning was issued today about a Peeping Tom computer virus which can hijack webcams and spy on users. The virus, or worm as it is technically


Sony preparing high-speed Memory Stick Pro

Sony is continuing development of its Memory Stick format, with a new high-speed variety due out this fall. Backward compatible with existing devices, it will be recognizable by a red and white color scheme.


El Guerrouj: destiny fulfilled

The great Moroccan reveals hidden depths to fit the final piece into a reign that was lacking just one achievement, reports Len Johnson.


In memory of Luke, Loretta races for her life

LUKE. His name is tattooed forever on her right ankle. His memory, just as permanently, in her heart. Loretta Harrop ran the race of her life in Athens yesterday, the inspiration of her late


Victory is golden for city cyclist

Edmonton #39;s Lori-Ann Muenzer defied two of the world #39;s best cyclists Tuesday to top the field of 500-metre sprinters, laying claim to the first gold medal ever won by a Canadian track cyclist.


More blazers than tracksuits at Games

If you picture an Olympic team as athletes in tracksuits with a few blazer-clad types in the background to look after them, it is time for a radical rethink.


Formula One statistics for Belgian Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher #39;s Hungarian Grand Prix victory was the German #39;s 12th in 13 races this year, a Formula One record for a single season.


Sri Lanka spinners throttle South Africa

Sri Lanka spinners Rangana Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan shared six wickets to help bowl South Africa out for 191 in the third one-day international on Sunday.


McLEISH GOING FOR GLORY

Rangers manager Alex McLeish insists the prestige of taking on European football #39;s elite is the only thing spurring him on to steer the club into the Champions League.


Iraq #39;s Sistani Returns, Plans to End Najaf Crisis

Iraq #39;s top Shi #39;ite cleric made a sudden return to the country on Wednesday and said he had a plan to end an uprising in the  quot;burning city quot; of Najaf, where fighting is creeping ever closer to its holiest shrine.


Royal Dutch/Shell Fined \$150 Million

Description: Royal Dutch/Shell agrees to pay more than \$150 million to settle fraud charges in the United States and Britain. The company was accused of overstating its proven oil and gas reserves by more than 20 percent.


Kuwait pumping crude oil at maximum levels

Kuwaiti FM says his country is producing oil at maximum capacity to try to stabilise oil prices. NEW DELHI - Kuwait #39;s foreign minister said Wednesday his government was pumping crude to maximum capacity to


Europe starts new Microsoft probe

The European Commission has opened a probe into Microsoft #39;s and Time Warner #39;s plans to buy anti-piracy software manufacturer ContentGuard.


US July Durable Goods Orders Probably Rose 1, Survey Shows

US orders for durable goods may have risen for a second straight month in July, paced by more bookings for commercial aircraft, computers and machinery, according to a survey of economists ahead of today #39;s government report.


Motorola To Develop FOMA Mobile Phone Handset for DoCoMo

DoCoMo previously procured FOMA handsets only from domestic manufacturers. The two companies -- Motorola and DoCoMo -- said they aim to market the new handset from next spring targeting business users.


Dozens charged in spam, scam crackdown

Federal and state law enforcement agencies have quietly arrested or charged dozens of people with crimes related to junk e-mail, identity theft and other online scams in recent weeks, according to several people involved in the actions.


Sheep pine for absent friends: official

The Cambridge University team which discovered that sheep prefer happy, smiley people has once again pushed back the envelope of ovine understanding with the revelation that sheep cheer up when they see snaps of friends and relatives.


Advertising watchdog reprimands Microsoft over  #39;facts #39;

Microsoft recently launched a  #39;Get the Facts #39; ad campaign telling consumers Linux isn #39;t cheaper than Windows. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) thinks they should get the facts too -- but it #39;s warned Microsoft to make sure its are straight first.


Rbot virus spies on surfers

A new worm has been discovered in the wild that #39;s not just settling for invading users #39; PCs - it wants to invade their homes too.


Computer Associatates Bonus Proposal Defeated

The management of Computer Associates (CA:NYSE - news - research) on Wednesday defeated three efforts by shareholders and corporate governance advocates to punish the company for an accounting scandal that led to the restatement of \$2 billion in revenue


Israelis celebrate first gold medal

Israel #39;s first gold medalist ever, Gal Fridman, Wednesday met an outburst of joy seconds after he won the men #39;s Mistral sailing race at the Olympics.


Humpback Whale Trapped at Power Plant

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, Nova Scotia - A hydroelectric plant in Nova Scotia remained closed Tuesday after a wayward humpback whale swam through the underwater gates connecting the facility with the Atlantic Ocean.


Bronze possible for Hill

ATHENS -- Shawn Hill #39;s Olympics are over, but it remains to be seen if he will bring back a medal from Athens. The 23-year-old Mississauga pitcher tossed six quality innings in Canada #39;s 8-5 loss to Cuba on Tuesday night, ending up with a no decision.


Radcliffe is running again

Paula Radcliffe stepped up her training in Athens this morning as she prepares to make a final decision over whether to run the 10,000m on Friday night.


Flight Data Recorders Found of 2 Crashed Planes in Russia

Investigators picked through the scattered wreckage today of two Russian passenger jets that crashed nearly simultaneously Tuesday night after leaving Moscow, and reported


Paris marks liberation from Nazis

Thousands of people in Paris are preparing to mark the anniversary of the city #39;s liberation in World War II. Sixty years ago, the Nazi troops who had occupied the French capital for four years, surrendered.


Durable Goods Orders Up; Homes Sales Down

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Orders for U.S. durable goods posted  a larger-than-expected rise in July, but new home sales showed  signs of buckling under the weight of higher interest rates,  two government reports showed on Wednesday.


Astra Cancer Drug Tied to More Pneumonia

TOKYO (Reuters) - AstraZeneca Plc. said on Wednesday a new  study in Japan showed a higher rate of a potentially fatal side  effect in patients taking its lung cancer pill Iressa than that  demonstrated in an earlier analysis.


Toronto-Dominion in Talks With Banknorth of Maine (Update2)

Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canada #39;s second-largest bank by assets, said it #39;s in talks for a possible transaction #39; #39; with Banknorth Group Inc.


Music Publisher Settles Copyright Skirmish Over Guthrie Classic

San Francisco, CA - Music publisher Ludlow Music, Inc., has officially backed down on its threats against web animation studio JibJab Media Inc.