Jobless Claims Up on Impact of Charley

WASHINGTON - The number of new people signing up for jobless benefits rose last week, reflecting the impact of hurricane Charley, which recently tore through Florida.    The Labor Department reported Thursday that new applications for unemployment insurance increased by a seasonally adjusted 10,000 to 343,000 for the week ending Aug...


Giants Walk to 6-5 Win Over Marlins

Walking Barry Bonds intentionally to load the bases in the 10th inning turned out to be the wrong move for Florida - because Rudy Seanez then walked pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski on four pitches...


Canadian Stocks Fall, Led by Toronto-Dominion Bank, EnCana

Canadian stocks fell, led by Toronto- Dominion Bank, after the lender said it would buy a controlling stake in Banknorth Group Inc.


Field Poll: Californians liking economy

Bee Staff Writer. Californians are slowly growing more optimistic about the health of the economy, but a majority still feels the state is in bad economic times, according to a new Field Poll.


Open draw reveals potential for Serena vs. Venus in final

Serena and Venus Williams drew into opposite halves yesterday of a US Open draw that created the possibility that the sisters could be finalists in the tournament for the third time.


Treasuries Tick Higher, Curve Flattens (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Treasuries prices were a shade\firmer on Thursday, though gains were tentative at best as a\drought of major data left the market at the mercy of volatile\oil price changes.


Edward C. Baig: Personal Tech - Express takes digital music a step further, but it's no iPod (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Steve Jobs is a master when it comes to figuring out ways to help the masses savor songs digitally. Now Apple's boss is counting on a new lightweight mobile base station called AirPort Express to continue to bang the drum for digital music.


Dollar General's 2Q Profits Up 18 Percent (AP)

AP - Discount retailer Dollar General Corp. reported an 18 percent increase in second-quarter earnings, citing a tax benefit and improved sales.


Hormone-Charged Birds Force Out Rivals in West (Reuters)

Reuters - Hormone-fueled songbirds are\steadily forcing out a rival species in North America's


Oracle sees enterprise future for Apple

Apple #39;s appeal to enterprise and high-end computing grew yesterday when Oracle announced its support and use of Xserves internally.


In letters to Bush, Kerry, Cuban exiles seek firmer anti-Castro US stance (AFP)

AFP - In an open letter to US President George W. Bush and his Democratic rival John Kerry, the leading Cuban-American lobby group called for tougher US policies against Cuba's communist government.


Treasuries Tick Higher, Curve Flattens

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries prices were a shade  firmer on Thursday, though gains were tentative at best as a  drought of major data left the market at the mercy of volatile  oil price changes.


FDA to Review Eyetech, Pfizer Eye Drug

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. advisory panel on Friday will  review data on an experimental drug that is injected into the  eye to stop vision loss in elderly patients at risk of going  blind.


Stocks Near Flat as Oil Eases Further

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on  Thursday after a report showed a larger-than-expected rise in  weekly jobless claims, but a continued drop in oil prices  boosted investor sentiment.


Greenspan: Banks Can Stop Illegal Tying

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan  Greenspan said internal controls are usually enough to prevent  banks from engaging in illegal types of "tying," a practice in  which low-cost loans are offered to borrowers who agree to buy  other high-fee services.


IBM claims to treble chip speed with  #39;strained #39; breakthrough

IBM says that it has developed a technique of using  #39;strained germanium #39; which, it claims, will triple the performance of commercial chips.


Stocks Decline Despite Slide in Oil Prices

Stock prices fell in early trading today with investors collecting some profits after Wednesday's gains.


Vodafone, Nokia Team Up to Simplify Mobile Software

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Mobile phone giants Vodafone and  Nokia teamed up on Thursday to simplify software for cell  phones written with the Java computer language that promises to  bring cheaper, smarter handsets.


Nokia, Vodafone team up on Java effort

The companies want to create more consistent platforms that can be used with any handset.


School that awarded MBA to cat sued

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania attorney generals office Monday sued an online university for allegedly selling bogus academic degrees - including an MBA awarded to a cat.


Microsoft DRM monopoly fears

p2pnet.net News:- European Union antitrust regulators will launch an investigation into whether or not the proposed Microsoft-Time Warner joint acquisition of a US DRM company will strengthen Microsoft #39;s  quot;already leading position quot; in the DRM solutions


Optus, Vodafone in 3G link

TELCOS Optus and Vodafone Australia will combine to create a national 3G mobile network, just three weeks after rival Telstra Corp entered a similar deal.


US weekly jobless claims rise 10,000 to 343,000

WASHINGTON : The line of people filing new claims for jobless benefits grew last week, hurt by damage to businesses caused by Hurricane Charley, a US government report showed.


Penny Miss at Dollar General

Dollar General (DG:NYSE - news - research) fell Thursday after reporting cost overruns that left first-quarter earnings a penny shy of Wall Street estimates.


Vivendi wins \$4.6 billion tax windfall

PARIS -- Vivendi Universal SA has reached a deal with French authorities to change its tax regime in a deal that will boost its bottom line, the entertainment and telecommunications giant said Thursday.


Apollo #39;s Apple

Just a couple of years ago the for-profit education centers were truly living up to their names. They were schooling the market on rich stock gains as the country retooled the workforce in the grand pursuit of higher learning.


Three Odeon Bidders May Know Winner Friday-Sources

The three final bidders for Odeon could learn as early as Friday who has succeeded in buying the UK cinema chain for more than 380 million pounds (\$683 million), sources close to the auction said on Thursday.


Microsoft offers kit for XP SP2 application testing

IT administrators preparing for the Windows XP SP2 juggernaut may want to catch up on their reading before deploying the service pack.


Silicon carbide: coming soon to a chip near you

New Japanese research into silicon carbide growth could revolutionise the electronics industry. A team of scientists has developed a method of making near-perfect silicon carbide crystals.


Nokia, Vodafone team up on Java effort

Nokia and Vodafone have positioned themselves at the forefront of further developing Java for mobile devices, with the ultimate aim being more consistent platforms for developers across various handsets.


IBM To Buy Data Management Vendor Venetica

IBM continued its data management-related acquisition streak Thursday by announcing plans to buy Venetica, a maker of content integration software.


Microsoft Finalizes MOM 2005

On Wednesday Microsoft announced that it had completed the development of Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005, its next-generation operations management server product, which will ship in separate versions aimed at enterprises and mid-sized businesses


Sri Lanka #39;s Internet down after damage to submarine cable

Sri Lanka #39;s main telecommunications provider says an Indian cargo ship snapped an undersea fiber optic cable that is a key Internet link between the tropical island and the rest of the world.


#39;Fab Five #39; search for gold in US women #39;s soccer

Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy all played together in the groundbreaking 1991 women #39;s World Cup.


Russian jets #39; black boxes shed little light

MOSCOW - Fight recorders have failed to provide reliable information about what brought down two Russian jetliners nearly simultaneously this week, killing 89 people, but that terrorism remained a leading possibility, a top official said today.


Indian violence kills 6, injures 51

Six persons, including two Border Security Force (BSF) men, were killed and 51 others injured in three blasts triggered by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants


Gandhi Kin Urges Palestinians to Rise Up Peacefully

The grandson of slain Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi urged Palestinians on Thursday to rise up peacefully to demand an end to Israeli occupation, and said freedom was close.


BA chief signs on for Heathrow holiday duty

LONDON (AFP) - British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington and other senior management will help out the ground staff at London #39;s Heathrow airport during the upcoming busy holiday weekend, after days of staff shortages and delays, the company said


All leads open on Russian plane crashes; press says terrorism (AFP)

AFP - Russian authorities said they were still pursuing all leads in their investigation of mysterious twin plane crashes that killed 89 people, while the press attributed the tragedies to terrorism.


More talks scheduled as Italy presses Libya on immigration crisis (AFP)

AFP - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is aiming to make cooperation with Libya a model for Europe's efforts to stem a tide of illegal immigration from Africa, but further talks are still needed between Tripoli, Rome and the EU to resolve the crisis.


Japanese Music Companies Are Raided (AP)

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


Bush Calls McCain About Anti-Kerry Ads (AP)

AP - President Bush wants to work with Republican Sen. John McCain to pursue court action against political ads by "shadowy" outside groups, the White House said Thursday amid growing pressure on the president to denounce attacks on John Kerry's war record.


Nvidia and Sony to jointly develop GPU for PS3

Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (SCEI) and Nvidia announced today that they have been working together to develop the custom graphics processing unit (GPU) for SCEI s next-generation computer entertainment system, according to a joint press


Scientists Say Sunoil Could Power Cars, Homes (Reuters)

Reuters - British scientists say they have found a\new, greener way to power cars and homes using sunflower oil, a\commodity more commonly used for cooking fries.


Citigroup Sued Over Enron Securities

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc. C.N faces a lawsuit  from angry investors who allege they were defrauded in a  "massive scheme of deception" when they bought securities tied  to the credit-worthiness of bankrupt energy trader Enron Corp.  ENRNQ.PK.


Musicians  #39;unconcerned #39; about file sharing

A survey of artists and musicians in the US has revealed that a large majority have embraced the internet and consider it to be a helpful tool to their careers.


Baltimore's  quot;Free Books! quot; Charity in Dire Straits

I spend anywhere from three to eight hours every week sweating along with a motley crew of local misfits, shelving, sorting, and hauling ton after ton of written matter in a rowhouse basement in Baltimore. We have no heat nor air conditioning, but still, every week, we come and work. Volunteer night is Wednesday, but many of us also work on the weekends, when we're open to the public. There are times when we're freezing and we have to wear coats and gloves inside, making handling books somewhat tricky; other times, we're all soaked with sweat, since it's 90 degrees out and the basement is thick with bodies. One learns to forget about personal space when working at The Book Thing, since you can scarcely breathe without bumping into someone, and we are all so accustomed to having to scrape by each other that most of us no longer bother to say "excuse me" unless some particularly dramatic brushing occurs.


Apollo's Apple

Learning institutions have cooled off lately, but Apollo Group remains upbeat about the future.


DoJ Cracking Down on P2P

If this were a Hollywood movie, the federal lawman would be played by an A-list actor. But in the real world, the marshal displays only the familiar, everyman face of U.S. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, while the film might be a bootleg copy swapped illegally online.  -washingtonpost.com


China confirms bird flu in pigs

China confirms reports that the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found in its pig population.


IBM grabs content management company

Big Blue plans to acquire Venetica to fill out its lineup of software for accessing business documents.


Fab Five Want to Go Out With Gold Medal (AP)

AP - The long goodbye ends for the Fab Five on Thursday when the U.S. women's soccer team plays Brazil for the Olympic title. It will be the long-anticipated chance for Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain to end their time together as world champions, a bragging right they haven't been able to claim for five years.


DoJ Cracking Down on P2P (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - If this were a Hollywood movie, the federal lawman would be played by an A-list actor. But in the real world, the marshal displays only the familiar, everyman face of U.S. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, while the film might be a bootleg copy swapped illegally online.


Brazil Jobless Falls to 7-Month Low

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's unemployment  rate fell in July for the third straight month to a seven-month  low of 11.2 percent and wages rose, underscoring the  strengthening economy, official data showed on Thursday.


Getting Into Gottschalks

A look at this West Coast retailer reveals a market-crushing year-to-date run.


Wine-tippling in China 9,000 years ago

Wine, the elixir of the gods, may be as old as human history, and a team of archaeologists who combine their science with chemistry has found evidence that Chinese were already enjoying sips of fermented rice, honey and fruit in the late Stone Age, more


Data loss hits Russia crash probe

Russian officials remain baffled after examining the black boxes from Tuesday's mystery double air crash.


'Virtual Girlfriend' Demands Gifts

HONG KONG - She needs to be coddled with sweet talk and pampered with gifts, but you'll never see her in the flesh. A Hong Kong company has developed a "virtual girlfriend" for new cell phones with video capability...


Fab Five Want to Go Out With Gold Medal

ATHENS, Greece - The long goodbye ends for the Fab Five on Thursday when the U.S. women's soccer team plays Brazil for the Olympic title...


SIA, Thai splurge billions on planes

BIG aircraft orders from Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International yesterday underscored the potential for growth in the Asia-Pacific aviation industry.


Optus,Vodafone rebut 3G rivals

Optus and Vodafone responded yesterday to the Telstra and Hutchison 3G infrastructure joint venture, unveiling plans to build a 3G network of their own.


Brown-Forman profits, outlook up

CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Higher margins on the hard stuff and profits from a pair of low-carb wines launched earlier this year helped boost liquor giant Brown-Forman #39;s fiscal first-quarter profits 67 percent.


Merck falls after FDA trial casts cloud on Vioxx

Shares of Merck  amp; Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fell on Thursday after a US study suggested that patients taking its Vioxx arthritis drug had a 50 percent greater risk


Fairfax, PBL reap advertising bonanza

TONY JONES: To business news now and a sharp rebound in the advertising market has improved the fortunes of Australia #39;s media giants.


Bush Calls McCain About Anti-Kerry Ads

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - President Bush wants to work with Republican Sen...


Yemeni Poet Says He Is al-Qaida Member

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A Yemeni poet accused of crafting al-Qaida propaganda admitted he is a member of Osama bin Laden's terror network in a dramatic appearance Thursday before a U.S. military commission...


#39;Super #39; Earth found

European astronomers sighted the planet orbiting a Sun-like star, mu Arae, in a southern constellation called the Altar and which is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.


Feds launch Internet crime crackdown

Federal agents armed with search warrants conducted raids in three states Wednesday as part of a nationwide crackdown on the theft of copyrighted materials through the Internet, the Justice Department announced.


IBM grabs content management company

IBM plans to acquire content-management software maker Venetica, the 18th acquisition that Big Blue #39;s Software Group has made since 2001.


Line Up for Linux On Day of Free Software

ADVOCATES of open-source software will celebrate Software Freedom Day on Saturday by holding Linux installation events around the country.


Jones advances to long jump finals

After enduring the indignity of having to train at a nearby college track by herself while heats of the 100 and 200 meters were being run, Marion Jones finally made her grand


Spain #39;s Martinez and Fernandez win 49er gold

Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - Spain #39;s Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez won gold in the 49er sailing class Thursday. Martinez and Fernandez, reigning world champions, finished seventh in the 16th race and posted 67 net points in the event.


Four Killed as Bombs Rip Through Buses

A passenger bus and another carrying paramilitary soldiers and their families were blown up in separate explosions in northeastern Indias insurgency-wracked Assam state today, killing four people and wounding 39 others, officials said.


No pigs with avian flu in Chinese mainland: Ministry

There are no pigs in the Chinese mainland infected with the H5N1 virus, or avian flu virus, and relevant research has reached no clear conclusion on H5N1 infecting pigs, announced


Two Investment Banks Settle with SEC (Reuters)

Reuters - Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.  and\Thomas Weisel Partners agreed to pay a combined  #36;100 million to\settle charges involving conflicts of interest between research\and investment banking, U.S. regulators said on Thursday.


Brazil Jobless Falls to 7-Month Low (Reuters)

Reuters - Brazil's unemployment\rate fell in July for the third straight month to a seven-month\low of 11.2 percent and wages rose, underscoring the\strengthening economy, official data showed on Thursday.


Britain, S.Africa Renew Call for Fair Zimbabwe Polls (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain and South Africa\called jointly Thursday for Zimbabwe to establish a conducive\environment for fair elections next year -- after the main\opposition party said it would boycott them.


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

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


Krispy Kreme Profit Drops, Stock Hammered

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. KKD.N on  Thursday reported a sharp drop in quarterly profit and signaled  that business may not recover any time soon, sending its shares  down more than 17 percent in pre-market trading.


Two Investment Banks Settle with SEC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.  and  Thomas Weisel Partners agreed to pay a combined \$100 million to  settle charges involving conflicts of interest between research  and investment banking, U.S. regulators said on Thursday.


Deal draws 3G battle lines

AUSTRALIA #39;S telecommunications players have chosen sides in the pending war to win consumers to the new generation of mobile phones.


Radcliffe leave its late for 10,000 metres decision (AFP)

AFP - British marathon flop Paula Radcliffe is leaving it until the last before deciding whether or not to run in the Olympic 10,000 metres.


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


Iraq Oil Exports Cut in Half After Attack

BASRA, Iraq (AP) -- A sabotage attack on a cluster of about 20 oil pipelines in southern Iraq has cut exports from the key oil producing region by half, a top oil official said Thursday.


EU Probes Microsoft-Time Warner Deal

On 12 July, Microsoft and Time Warner, both US companies, sought clearance under the European Union #39;s Merger Regulation for plans to jointly acquire ContentGuard.


Glaxo Settles Paxil Suit With NY Attorney General (Update1)

GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Europe #39;s largest drugmaker, said it settled a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who accused the drugmaker last June of withholding safety data on the antidepressant Paxil.


Spirits Boost Brown-Forman Profit

Brown-Forman Corp. (BFb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which sells products ranging from Jack Daniels whiskey to Lenox china, on Thursday posted a better-than-expected 67 percent jump


Two Investment Banks Settle with SEC

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Thomas Weisel Partners agreed to pay a combined \$100 million to settle charges involving conflicts of interest between research and investment banking, US regulators said on Thursday.


Datawest shares soar on bid by Open Solutions

Shares of Datawest Solutions Inc. (DS.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) rose on Thursday after the Canadian maker of software for banks said it would be bought by rival Open Solutions Inc.


UPDATE 1-Argentina loan review delayed, talks continue

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday the third review of Argentina #39;s \$13 billion loan program was delayed but both sides were still talking.


Brazil Jobless Falls to 7-Month Low

Brazil #39;s unemployment rate fell in July for the third straight month to a seven-month low of 11.2 percent and wages rose, underscoring the strengthening economy, official data showed on Thursday.


Microsoft Reprimanded for Misleading Linux Ad

A UK advertising watchdog group has ordered Microsoft to change an ad that compares the costs of running Linux and Windows operating systems.


EDWARD C. BAIG

Steve Jobs is a master when it comes to figuring out ways to help the masses savor songs digitally. Now Apple #39;s boss is counting on a new lightweight mobile base station called AirPort Express to continue to bang the drum for digital music.


Carter leads Kiwi 1-2 punch in Athens

Hamish Carter and fellow Kiwi Bevan Docherty shook off the long-shot Swiss youngster, Sven Riederer, with 800 meters to go, then had a friendly duel to the line for Olympic gold on Thursday.


US Women Win Bronze Medal in Water Polo

Center fielder Ellen Estes scored three goals including the decider to help the United States beat Australia 6-5 Thursday in the Olympic women #39;s water polo bronze medal game.


Boumsong support for McLeish

Jean-Alain Boumsong has come out in full support of Alex McLeish following Rangers #39; exit from the Champions League on Wednesday.


Top Shiite cleric arrives in Najaf to broker peace

Iraq #39;s top Shiite cleric made a dramatic return to this violence-wracked city on Thursday aiming to broker a peace deal to end more than three weeks of devastating fighting between US forces and Shiite militants.


Linux group aims for Google-like search

KDE developers are crafting a search engine for the desktop, but don't look for it just yet.


News: 'Electronic Jihad' fails to materialise

Rumours that the Internet would witness a sustained and devastating cyber-attack by Islamic "cyber-terrorists" today have turned out to be completely baseless.\


Weak GM, Ford Sales Spur Production Cuts?

DETROIT (Reuters) - Hurricane Charley's damaging path  through Florida and the growing ineffectiveness of sales  incentives caused U.S. car and trucks sales to slip in August,  raising the likelihood of costly cuts in vehicle production,  analysts said.


Colo. State Rep. Concedes in House Primary (AP)

AP - After a 16-day delay while ballots were counted, a state representative Thursday conceded to the state's former state natural resources chief in the tight GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District.


Russian Air Crash Flight Recorders May Not Help

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Investigators examined flight recorders  Thursday from Russia's mystery double air crash in which 89  people died, but one official doubted they would be of any use.


Darfur Rebels Say Power Deal First, Disarming Later

ABUJA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Rebels from Sudan's Darfur  region Thursday rejected calls to disarm or confine their  fighters to their bases before a political solution to the  conflict.


Prosecutors seize Yukos records

Russian prosecutors seize financial documents for the last two years  from oil producer Yukos, raising fears of fresh tax demands.


Pinochet loses immunity

Chile's Supreme Court strips Augusto Pinochet of immunity, paving the way for a possible trial on human rights abuses.


Ditech's Business on Speed Dial

Ditech makes the cell phone experience clearer -- and makes for a happy experience for investors.


Bush, McCain Discuss Ads by Outside Groups

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - President Bush wants to work with Republican Sen...


Poll: Presidential Race Movement Limited

WASHINGTON - Voters are so deadlocked on their choice for president that the campaigns will need to focus on keeping the intensity of support high and turning them out on Election Day, according to pollsters who conducted a bipartisan survey.    The overall race between Democrat John Kerry and President Bush, a Republican, remains deadlocked...


Intel Gives Centrino Chip Line a Wireless Upgrade

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp. INTC.O on Thursday  said it has upgraded the wireless networking capabilities of  its Centrino line of notebook computer chips to allow broader  network access with improved security.


Drugs Giant to Go Public on All Clinical Trials

British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline today agreed to make public information about all its clinical drug trials following accusations that it misled doctors about the safety of an anti-depressant for children.


US weekly jobless claims rise

The US Labor Department said Thursday the number of workers filing first-time applications for unemployment benefits rose by 10,000 last week.


Merck Disagrees With Vioxx Analysis

Pharmaceutical company Merck  amp; Co.  quot;strongly quot; disagreed Thursday with the conclusions of a Food and Drug Administration-funded study that said use of the company #39;s arthritis pain reliever Vioxx increased the risk of heart attack.


Deutsche Bank, Thomas Weisel settle research charges

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Deutsche Bank (DB) and Thomas Weisel Partners settled a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into alleged conflicts of interest over the firms #39; research and investment banking activities.


Smithfield #39;s 1Q Profits Beat Outlook

Pork processor Smithfield Foods Inc. said Thursday that improved profitability in the hog production segment, combined with strong results in pork, offset lower earnings in the beef segment to push first-quarter profits above revised expectations.


Argentina visit will be big test for new IMF head

Rodrigo Rato visits Argentina next week in a key test for the IMF #39;s new head as strains grow with the fund #39;s third biggest borrower after the government made a risky gamble to halt its loan program.


UK  #39;Ministry of Porn #39; crackdown

p2pnet.net News:- UK civil servants have been fired and  quot;disciplined quot; in a crackdown on Net porn at work, says Britain #39;s The Sun newspaper here.


Vodafone, Nokia Team Up to Simplify Mobile Software

Mobile phone giants Vodafone and Nokia teamed up on Thursday to simplify software for cell phones written with the Java computer language that promises to bring cheaper, smarter handsets.


Server Shipments Defy Pessimism in the Market

Global server sales rose nearly 8 percent in the second quarter, compared to the same period last year, according to new data from Gartner.


CA shareholders back management over bonuses issue

AUGUST 26, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Computer Associates International Inc. avoided a revolt at its annual meeting yesterday, when shareholders voted down a proposal requesting that the company #39;s board adopt


Siemens Warns Loud Phone Tune Could Damage Hearing

Mobile phone tunes are considered by many to be a curse of modern life, but for users of some Siemens handsets they could be a positive hazard to health, the German engineering giant warned on Thursday.


IBM buys content integration vendor

To help its customers get a handle on all the data scattered across their enterprises, IBM Thursday announced plans to acquire Venetica, a privately held company that makes content integration software.


Teenage bullies thrive in cyberspace

The fight started at school, when some eighth-grade girls stole a pencil case filled with makeup that belonged to a new classmate, Amanda Marcuson, and she reported them.


Jana vows to rise from the rubble

ATHENS was hit by an earthquake named Fani Halkia yesterday and Jana Pittman was left crying in the rubble of her shattered dreams.


New Zealand wins gold, silver in triathlon

They battled over the final three kilometers before Carter pulled ahead for a victory by just under eight seconds. Carter covered the three-event competition in one hour, 51 minutes, 7.73 seconds.


Gardner takes his bronze and retires

Rulon Gardner defeated Iran #39;s Sajad Barzi, 3-0, in overtime in the 264-pound division of Greco-Roman wrestling at Ano Liossia Olympic Hall.


Rezazadeh reigns as world #39;s strongest man

The  quot;Iranian Hercules quot; Hossein Rezazadeh extended his reign as the world #39;s strongest man this morning, defending his super-heavyweight Olympic weightlifting gold medal with a jaw-dropping display of strength.


US women win bronze in water polo

Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - Ellen Estes scored the game-winning goal with just 2:20 remaining, leading the United States women #39;s water polo team to a 6-5 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match Thursday.


No place for Anelka or Silvestre in Domenech #39;s squad to face <b>...</b>

France coach Raymond Domenech named his 20-man squad Thursday for upcoming 2006 World Cup qualifying matches against Israel and the Faroe Islands.


IBM buys content integration developer

IBM Corp. has agreed to acquire content integration software maker Venetica Corp., a move that continues IBM's pattern of snapping up its business partners to augment its software portfolio.


'Phishing' Scam Now Lures German Banking Clients (Reuters)

Reuters - Two clients of Germany's Postbank\(DPBGn.DE) fell for an e-mail fraud that led them to reveal\money transfer codes to a bogus Web site -- the first case of\this scam in German, prosecutors said on Thursday.


Weak GM, Ford Sales Spur Production Cuts? (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Charley's damaging path\through Florida and the growing ineffectiveness of sales\incentives caused U.S. car and trucks sales to slip in August,\raising the likelihood of costly cuts in vehicle production,\analysts said.


Texans LB Bell Placed on Injured Reserve (AP)

AP - The Houston Texans placed inside linebacker Marcus Bell on injured reserve Wednesday with a shoulder injury he suffered last weekend in a game at Pittsburgh.


Brent Crude Falls to \$40

LONDON (Reuters) - London Brent crude fell briefly through  \$40 on Thursday for the first time in three weeks, extending  heavy losses to a fifth session as renewed exports from Iraq  and higher-than-expected U.S. gasoline inventories encouraged  big-money funds to take profits.


Canada's TD Buys Banknorth for \$3.8 Bln

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO made a  much-anticipated push into U.S. retail banking on Thursday,  announcing it would acquire a majority stake in Banknorth Group  Inc. BNK.N for \$3.8 billion.


American Hoopsters No One's Dream Anymore

ATHENS (Reuters) - The days of U.S. domination of the  Olympic basketball tournament are over and so, it appears, is  the fans' love affair with the American Dream Team.


Africa puts hope in Darfur talks as Sudan dismisses UN ultimatum (AFP)

AFP - Sudan's government defiantly dismissed a UN deadline for it to disarm its proxy militia in the Darfur region, insisting it would resolve the conflict there through ongoing African Union peace talks.


Ranks of Poverty-Stricken, Uninsured Rise

The number of Americans living in poverty increased by 1.3 million last year, while the ranks of the uninsured swelled by 1.4 million, the Census Bureau reported Thursday.


UK Launches Own Case Against Cleric Sought by U.S.

LONDON (Reuters) - British anti-terrorism police arrested  Thursday Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri who was already  jailed in London under a U.S. arrest warrant.


Deutsche Bank Paying \$87.5M Settlement

Deutsche Bank Securities has agreed to pay \$87.5 million to settle allegations that it issued stock research that was biased by its investment-banking business, regulators announced Thursday, as part of a crackdown on conflicts of interest on Wall Street.


Fred #39;s profit down after June and July disappoint

Discount retailer Fred #39;s Inc. (FRED.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said second-quarter profit fell, hit by increased markdowns, higher diesel fuel costs and other factors, sending its shares down almost 19 percent.


Career Education falls 7 pct after news report

Shares of Career Education Corp. (CECO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) fell on Thursday, after a newspaper said a grand jury probe was launched that could result in criminal charges against the company.


Update 1: Official Threatens BofA on State Funds

The state treasurer has threatened to withdraw some state funds from Bank of America because of job cuts and other moves following its acquisition of Fleet Boston Financial Corp.


Target janitorial provider settles overtime claim

Global Building Services Inc., a Newhall, Calif.-based company that provided janitorial services to Target stores in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas, has agreed to pay \$1.


IBM Brings High-Performance Computing to Houston (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - The company's third supercomputing center will focus on the energy industry.


Motorola, DoCoMo to make 3G phones for businesses

Motorola and NTT DoCoMo, Japan #39;s top mobile phone operator, plan to jointly develop third-generation handsets, giving Motorola a way into a market largely out of reach for foreign manufacturers.


Minister  #39;sickened #39; by staff web porn use

The pensions minister has condemned hundreds of his staff for using the internet at work to view pornography, including images of children.


Microsoft Ordered to Pull Anti-Linux Ad

The British watchdog agency charged with monitoring fairness and accuracy in advertising has ordered Microsoft to pull print ads comparing the total cost of ownership of Linux and Windows.


Intel Gives Centrino Chip Line a Wireless Upgrade

Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it has upgraded the wireless networking capabilities of its Centrino line of notebook computer chips to allow broader network access with improved security.


Everton rejects Rooney bids from Man Utd, Newcastle

Everton said Thursday it has rejected Manchester United #39;s bid for star striker Wayne Rooney and Newcastle #39;s revised offer for the same player.


Andrey Moiseev: One verstatile guy

Andrejus Zadneprovskis of Lithuania got the silver. Libor Capalini of the Czech Republic won the bronze. Modern pentathlon combines shooting, fencing (one duel against every other competitor


Chile #39;s Supreme Court lifts Pinochet #39;s immunity from prosecution

SANTIAGO : Chile #39;s Supreme Court lifted the immunity from prosecution of former dictator Augusto Pinochet, who faces criminal charges over the disappearance of political opponents during Operation Condor.


10:16 am: Hungary #39;s designated prime minister must wait a month <b>...</b>

The millionaire businessman Hungary #39;s Socialists have chosen as this country #39;s next prime minister, will have to wait a month before he can be formally


LONDON (Reuters) - British police launched their own  terrorism case Thursday against a Muslim cleric already jailed  in London under a U.S. arrest warrant.


Chechnya Bans Masks, to Open Fire on Infringers

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Police in the Russian region of Chechnya  have new orders to open fire on anyone wearing a mask, the  local interior minister was quoted as saying Thursday.


Satellite fault shuts train doors

A satellite system which automatically opens train doors has failed, leaving passengers stuck on board.


Russia: Terrorism Leading Theory on Plane Crashes

A top Russian official said Thursday that flight recorders failed to provide reliable information about what brought down two jetliners just minutes apart, but for the first time a government leader conceded that terrorism was considered the leading possibility.


Briefly: Cisco reports access control server flaws

roundup Plus: Toshiba tinkers with Wi-Fi for TV...Music promoter offers concert downloads...WS-I tackles Web services attachments.


Mobile hard drive carries Linux

The drive, loaded with the open-source OS, can be plugged into the USB port of any computer to turn it into a Linux machine.


Cisco reports access control server flaws

Hackers could exploit the vulnerabilities to launch DOS attacks and bypass user authentication on the servers.


HP to lead consumer launch with branded iPod

Friday product launch to put music player at forefront of effort to make once-stodgy printer manufacturer "cool."


GlaxoSmithKline settlement with NY includes drug study info <b>...</b>

A lawsuit filed by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer against GlaxoSmithKline over charges that the pharmaceutical company withheld information about the safety and effectiveness of Paxil has been settled.


German business circle shows pessimism on growth

German business confidence dropped in August, reflecting concerns about economic recovery in the country, a survey made by a leading economic institute showed Thursday.


Nasdaq chief comments on NYSE controversey

HOUSTON -- The New York Stock Exchange could have avoided the controversy over former chief Richard Grasso #39;s \$187.5 million pay package if it had faced more competition, the head of the Nasdaq Stock Market said Wednesday.


New Windows XP update  #39;huge #39;

If Microsoft Corp. possessed the panache of Apple Computer Inc., it would have named the new Windows XP operating system release after a fabulous feline, as in Jaguar or


Balancing P2P and Copyright Infringement

Internet file sharing, commonly referred to as peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, allows individuals to trade copies of their digital files over the Internet.


Vodafone and Nokia team up on software

Mobile phone giants Vodafone and Nokia have teamed up to simplify software for cell phones written with the Java computer language that promises to bring cheaper, smarter handsets.


Mobile hard drive carries Linux

Peripheral maker LaCie released on Thursday a mobile hard drive loaded with, MandrakeSoft #39;s version of the Linux operating system.


This isn #39;t same Lion Heart, trainer says

Trainer Patrick Biancone says the Lion Heart who will try to get 1 1/4 miles in Saturday #39;s Travers is not the same Lion Heart who failed to get the same distance in the Kentucky Derby 17 weeks ago.


Kufa Shelled As Iraqi Shiite Cleric Leaves For Najaf

Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Hussien al-Sistani has begun a trip to the city of Najaf to help bring an end to the fighting there. Once he arrives, he plans to lead a peace march.


Thatcher charged over coup plot

SIR Mark Thatcher could face 15 years in jail after being charged yesterday with helping to finance a mercenary plot to topple the head of an oil-rich African state.


Iraq oil line attacks spark price rise fear

THERE were fresh fears over petrol prices today after saboteurs attacked a number of pipelines in southern Iraq. The latest attacks add further pressure on petrol companies to raise prices at the pumps in order to protect their investment.


Nokia, Vodafone Collaborate on Mobile Java

Nokia and Vodafone announced they will team up for a mobile service architecture initiative, with the aim of simplifying mobile Java standards.


Server shipments and revenue increase

The latest Gartner figures show that both server shipments and revenue increased in Q2 as Hewlett-Packard and IBM lost market share to Sun and Dell.


25 killed in mortar attacks on Kufa mosque:

World News Najaf, Aug 26 : At least 25 people were killed and over 60 wounded when mortars slammed into a mosque where thousands of supporters of radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr had gathered in the southern Iraqi town of Kufa Thursday, Xinhua reports


Typhoon Aere kills 34; thousands evacuated from coastal areas in <b>...</b>

SHANGHAI, China Typhoon Aere (EYE #39;-ray) is tearing through mainland China where nearly a (m) million people have been ordered to leave their homes.


Jets Trying to Forget Last Giants Game (AP)

AP - Don't remind any of the New York Jets about their last meeting with the local rival Giants. The Jets' season pretty much fell apart that Saturday night last summer when Chad Pennington broke his right wrist.


Nasdaq Down, Dow Flat

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. technology stocks fell in light  trading on Thursday after a brokerage cut its forecast for the  semiconductor industry, while blue chips were flat as a  continued drop in oil prices eased investor worries.


Iraq's Sistani in Najaf; 74 Killed in Two Cities

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's most revered cleric arrived  in Najaf Thursday to try to end a bloody three-week uprising  but attacks on crowds of Shi'ites that killed at least 74  inflamed tensions as tens of thousands converged on the city.


Smithfield Foods Profit High on the Hogs

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Smithfield Foods Inc. SFD.N, one of  the nation's largest meat producers, on Thursday said quarterly  earnings more than doubled due to higher hog prices and its  acquisition of Farmland Foods last year.


News: WinAmp flayed by skins attack

A serious security flaw in NullSoft's popular WinAmp player opens the door for crackers to seize control of vulnerable systems.


Sprint Certifies Xserve and QuickTime

Sprint and Apple announced that the Xserve G5 and QuickTime have been certified as mobile multimedia delivery platforms for Sprint #146;s new PCS Vision Multimedia Services. Aug 26


New Hungarian PM faces popularity test

The man picked to take over as Hungary's prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany, will have to convince voters that joining the euro is worth making sacrifices for.


Maker of Antidepressant Drug to Release All Trial Results

In a settlement that the New York State attorney general said would transform the drug industry, GlaxoSmithKline agreed today to release the results of all its drug clinical trials.


My Fund Manager Ate My Retirement!

How much of your retirement savings are consumed by your mutual funds?


Judge Stops Partial-Birth Abortion Ban

NEW YORK - In a highly anticipated ruling, a federal judge found the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional Thursday because it does not include a health exception.    U.S...


Video Girlfriends Demand Diamonds

A Hong Kong company has developed a virtual girlfriend for cell phones with video capability. Also: RealNetworks offers paid internet content   hellip;.Vodafone, Nokia team up to simplify mobile software   hellip;. and more.


Toronto-Dominion to buy stake in Banknorth

Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto said Thursday it agreed to acquire a 51 percent stake in New England regional bank Banknorth Group Inc.


Glaxo Settles Paxil  #39;Suicide Pill #39; Suit

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


Ride the Cyclical Wave

Some stocks you buy and never sell. Others you bought and wish you #39;d sold. But there are those cyclical stocks that should be bought and sold repeatedly over the years as their prices move in time to the economy.


Video Girlfriends Demand Diamonds

She needs to be coddled with sweet talk and pampered with gifts, but you #39;ll never see her in the flesh. A Hong Kong company has developed a  quot;virtual girlfriend quot; for new cell phones with video capability.


IBM to Buy Content Management Developer Venetica

IBM on Thursday agreed to acquire Venetica Corp., a maker of content integration software that allows enterprises to access and embed unstructured data including business documents, e-mail, digital media, still images, and Web pages.


Olympics: Kenteris and Thanou to be investigated by athletics <b>...</b>

ATHENS : Greek sprinters Kostadinos Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou are to be investigated by the world governing body of athletics and face being charged with a doping offence, it was announced.


Bertuzzi pleads not guilty

Vancouver Canucks star Todd Bertuzzi has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm. The plea was entered during a brief arraignment hearing Thursday morning in a Vancouver court room.


Chile Court Lifts Pinochet Immunity in Rights Case

Chile #39;s Supreme Court stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of immunity from prosecution on Thursday in one notorious human rights case, raising hopes of victims


Brown-Forman Earnings Jump 67 Percent

Brown-Forman Corp. , which sells products ranging from Jack Daniels whiskey to Lenox china, on Thursday posted a better-than-expected 67 percent jump in earnings as aggressive marketing boosted sales of premium spirits and new wines.


Oil Falls for Fifth Session as Iraq Truce Eases Supply Concern

Crude oil futures fell for a fifth session, the longest period in 10 months, as a cease-fire in Najaf eased concern that shipments from Iraq will be disrupted.


Prosecutors Again Raid Yukos Offices

Russian prosecutors have again raided the offices of the country #39;s giant oil firm Yukos, seizing financial documents covering the past two years.


Germany wins bronze

ATHENS, Greece - Womens World Cup champion Germany settled for bronze at the Olympics, beating Sweden 1-0 Thursday on Renate Lingors goal and a spectacular game from goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg in her 100th international appearance.


Double Russian Air Disaster  #39;A Terrorist Act #39;

Suspicions grew today that terrorists were to blame for the twin airline crashes, with a top official saying terrorism was the main theory and many Russians insisting the double disaster could not be explained by mere coincidence.


Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study (Reuters)

Reuters - Nearly half of video game players\watched less television last year or plan to cut their viewing\time this year, according to a report issued on Thursday that\lends credence to industry fears that young men are switching\off the tube.


Israeli, Palestinian ministers meet in Italy (AFP)

AFP - Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and his Palestinian counterpart Nabil Shaath held "extremely useful" talks in the Italian Adriatic resort city of Rimini, Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said.


US poverty rate climbs, along with number lacking health coverage (AFP)

AFP - The number of Americans living in poverty or without health insurance grew last year, a government survey showed, adding potential dynamite in the battle for the White House.


Five killed, scores hurt as rebels bomb buses in India's northeast (AFP)

AFP - Five people were killed and scores wounded in northeast India when militants blew up two buses, threw a grenade into a market and triggered twin blasts on a railway track, officials said.


US Sees Japan Beef Trade Unlikely in 2004

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan's lucrative market for U.S.  beef, ruptured by mad cow disease worries, is likely to remain  closed for the rest of this year, U.S. meat industry officials  said on Thursday.


Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nearly half of video game players  watched less television last year or plan to cut their viewing  time this year, according to a report issued on Thursday that  lends credence to industry fears that young men are switching  off the tube.


HP's iPod to lead consumer push

Friday product launch will count on music player to deliver cool factor to once-stodgy printer maker.


GlaxoSmithKline settles with NY, will disclose drug study info

A lawsuit filed by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer against GlaxoSmithKline over charges that the pharmaceutical company withheld information about the safety and effectiveness of Paxil has been settled.


Work Begins on US Missile Defense for Commercial Airliners

US officials are taking steps to head off fears that terrorists could use portable anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down civilian airliners.


Update 5: Oil Prices Slide, Despite Iraq Export Drop

Oil prices fell for a fifth consecutive day Thursday despite a sharp drop in Iraqi exports after pipelines were sabotaged - evidence that the bull market may have lost some steam.


BlackRock Paying \$375 Million for State Street Research

MetLife expects the transaction to have a positive impact to net income of between \$145 million and \$165 million. Shares of New York-based BlackRock, an investment management firm, rose \$1.


Yukos accounting division raided; Russian official warns of money <b>...</b>

Russian prosecutors continued their onslaught against the country #39;s largest oil producer on Thursday, raiding the accounting division of Yukos and seizing documents.


Update 2: German Business Confidence Dips in August

An index of German business confidence dipped in August, reflecting worries about the strength of the country #39;s economic recovery, a survey of German executives showed Thursday.


UK fires civil servants for viewing porn

The British government has fired 19 civil servants and disciplined more than 200 in an unprecedented crackdown on viewing Internet pornography at work, officials said Thursday.


Nokia, Vodafone Partner on Mobile Service Architecture

Nokia and Vodafone, in conjunction with Sun Microsystems, would define the licensing framework of the initiative, while the role of creating and licensing the Technology Compatibility


Intel expands Centrino capabilities

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Intel expanded the capabilities of its Centrino chips Thursday by introducing support for an additional wireless networking standard known as 802.


Global Server Revenue Jumps in Second Quarter

IBM held tight to its top ranking for server revenue, laying claim to a 30.7 percent market share in the quarter. HP -- which topped the charts in terms of units shipped -- remained in second place on the revenue list with 27.


EDS Sells Wireless Group

Continuing its transformation process, EDS (Quote, Chart) sold off one of its wireless software ventures for \$57 million, officials said Thursday.


MS Pushes MOM 2005 out the Door

Drowned by the hoopla surrounding SP2 for Windows XP, Microsoft announced yesterday that both versions of Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 (MOM 2005) were released for manufacturing, the final step before they become officially available.


From Dreamers to Cinderellas

Write down the date, Aug. 26, and the time, 2:30 pm in Athens. Its the moment that Olympic basketball entered a new era. Itsa real basketball tournament now, almost a


Olympics-German women beat Swedes to take bronze

Germany beat Sweden 1-0 in a repeat of the 2003 World Cup final to take Olympic bronze in the women #39;s soccer tournament on Thursday.


Taiwan claims first two taekwondo golds

Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - The first taekwondo medals of the Athens Games were awarded Thursday night in the men #39;s and women #39;s flyweight division, and Taiwan captured both golds.


Rangers bolster goaltending by signing Weekes

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


Eq. Guinea might seek Thatcher extradition

Equatorial Guinea might seek the extradition of Mark Thatcher from South Africa where he is charged with bankrolling a coup attempt, The Sun said Thursday.


Saboteurs Attack About 20 Iraq Pipelines

BASRA, Iraq Aug. 26, 2004 - Saboteurs have attacked about 20 oil pipelines in southern Iraq, reducing exports from the key oil producing region by at least one third, a top oil official said Thursday.


More BA flights cancelled

British Airways passengers at Heathrow Airport have suffered further travel disruption with two more flights cancelled due to  quot;technical quot; problems.


Janco Partners Initiates Google with 'Sell' Rating (Reuters)

Reuters - Janco Partners on Thursday\initiated coverage of Google Inc. with a "sell" rating and a\target price of  #36;76, saying while the world's No. 1 Web search\provider's fundamentals are strong, its current stock valuation\is too high.


Mountain West Changes TV Networks (AP)

AP - Mountain West Conference football and basketball games will move from ESPN to College Sports Television in the fall of 2006.


Huge fire erupts at ammunition depot in eastern India; thousands evacuated (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - NEW DELHI (AP) - Firefighters and police evacuated thousands of villagers and battled a huge fire Thursday in a government ammunition depot in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, police said.


New Shuttle Tanks Should Not Shed Foam (AP)

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


U.N. Warns of Full-Scale Locust Plague in Africa (Reuters)

Reuters - Locust swarms infesting Mauritania and\other African nations could develop into a full-scale plague\without additional foreign aid, the U.N. Food and Agriculture\Organization said Thursday.


No. 1 Illinois Defeats Chicago St. 78-59 (AP)

AP - Even though Illinois moved to the top of the college basketball poll for the first time in almost 16 years, the Illini were too busy preparing for Chicago State to celebrate.


Oil Prices Slide Despite Iraq Export Drop

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Oil prices fell for a fifth consecutive day Thursday despite a sharp drop in Iraqi exports after pipelines were sabotaged -- evidence that the bull market may have lost some steam.


Europe's New War with America

The EU says competition is bad, especially if it might produce a winner.


Business As Usual at Moscow Airport (AP)

AP - From well-heeled businessmen with briefcases to mothers carting weather-beaten baggage, passengers streamed through Domodedovo Airport on Thursday  #151; business as usual at the terminal from which two doomed airliners departed.


Nokia, Vodafone join forces to simplify mobile phone software (AFP)

AFP - Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia and British mobile operator Vodafone said they would collaborate to simplify mobile phone software using the Java computer language, paving the way for cheaper mobile phones in the long run.


Liberal MP has no apology for calling U.S. missile defence supporters idiots (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin didn't ask Carolyn Parrish to retract her latest anti-American slur, and the maverick MP has no plans to back down, she says.


Survey: Powell, Guiliani Could Also Be VP (AP)

AP - More than half the delegates to next week's Republican National Convention were willing to suggest a new running mate for President Bush if Dick Cheney leaves the ticket, an Associated Press survey found.


Olympics: Cut It Out, Give It Back, Cool the Hype

ATHENS (Reuters) - Calls of "cut it out" and "give it back"  competed with a hot United States-vs.-China medals race  Thursday as the 28th Olympiad in Athens went into its final  days with over 70 medals still to be won.


Ibrahim Wins Egypt's First Gold in 56 Years

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greco-Roman wrestler Karam Ibrahim won  Egypt's first Olympic gold medal in 56 years on Thursday,  crushing Ramaz Nozadze of Georgia in just over three minutes to  lift the 96kg title in Athens.


Stocks Down, Starbucks, Techs Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were slightly lower on  Thursday, as a broker downgrade on the semiconductor industry  rattled investors, while coffee-shop chain Starbucks SBUX.O  disappointed with slowing growth.


Vaso Active: Settles SEC Fraud Charges

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Drug maker Vaso Active Pharmaceuticals  Inc. VAPH.PK on Thursday said U.S. regulators approved a  settlement with the company and its former chief executive over  allegedly misleading disclosures in public documents.


Bertuzzi Pleads Not Guilty to Assault (AP)

AP - Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge stemming from a hit on Steve Moore during a game that left the Colorado Avalanche forward with a broken neck.


Vodafone Australia to share 3G network with Optus

SYDNEY, AustraliaFollowing a similar announcement by rivals earlier this month, Vodafone Australia and Optus said they agreed to share third-generation network sites and infrastructure.


Glaxo settles suit over Paxil

GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to disclose information on all clinical studies of its drugs to settle a lawsuit that accused it of withholding negative information about the antidepressant Paxil, the New York Attorney General #39;s office says


Mortgage Rates Inch Higher

The weekly survey from mortgage company Freddie Mac had rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages inching higher this week, up to an average 5.82 percent from last week #39;s 5.81 percent.


BIOTECH STOCKS

LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- Biotechnology and pharmaceutical stocks fell Thursday, with Merck helping drag down the sector on word its Vioxx drug could increase the risk of cardiovascular trouble.


Deutsche Bank, Weisel to Pay \$100 Mln to End Probe (Update1)

Deutsche Bank AG and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC will pay a total of \$100 million to settle allegations they published misleading stock research to win investment-banking business, becoming


S amp;P raises outlook on Ingersoll-Rand

Standard  amp; Poor #39;s on Thursday raised its outlook on Ingersoll-Rand Co. to  quot;positive quot; from  quot;stable, quot; citing the proposed sale of its Dresser-Rand business unit.


State Street Research

State Street Research, which isn #39;t related to State Street Corp., was founded in 1924 by investor and former Harvard University treasurer Paul Cabot in Boston.


Guidant says stent #39;s market share up

Indianapolis-based Guidant Corp., which co-promotes Johnson  amp; Johnson #39;s Cypher drug-coated heart stent, says the device #39;s market share has risen by as much as half, helped by Boston Scientific Corp.


IE Flaw Affects Windows XP SP2 Systems

Microsoft on Thursday flatly denied reports that one of Windows XP Service Pack 2 #39;s most touted features leaves users open to possible attacks.


Intel formally introduces tri-mode Wi-Fi chip

As expected, Intel introduced its tri-mode wireless chip Thursday with several software enhancements to the product to help improve security and reliability, it said during a Webcast.


Feds Raid P2P Users, RIAA Pushes Lawsuits

US Attorney General John Ashcroft said the crackdown sent a message to  quot;those who steal over the Internet, quot; with Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray adding the crackdown represented the


Nokia, Vodafone Push For Java Standards

Mobile phone giants Nokia and Vodafone are pushing to create a universal Java standard to create a more consistent platform for developers of different handsets.


CA Shareholders Reject Compensation Recovery Plan

Executives urge patience as the company continues to review payments to executives who left in the wake of an accounting scandal. By Darrell Dunn.


Fishing Just for Fun Damages Stocks, Study Finds

People fishing for sport are doing far more damage to US marine fish stocks than anyone thought, accounting for nearly a quarter of the


Russian Oil Project to Be Vetted for Whale Threat

A top environmental group said on Thursday it had agreed to probe an oil and gas project led by Royal Dutch/Shell off the Russian far east coast because of fears it threatens endangered whales.


IBM Acquires Content-Managment Developer Venetica

IBM has reached an agreement to purchase Venetica, a privately held developer of content-integration software. The acquisition will enable IBM to provide improved ability to integrate unstructured


Analysts Hint at Bounce in Chip Stocks

Despite the beatings chip stocks have endured during the past few months, some analysts on Thursday hinted a bounce might lurk behind a sector whose shares have been punished on concerns customer demand has withered.


Siemens 65 series defect could lead to hearing damage

A defect in Siemens 65 series mobile phones could lead to failures in audio transmission, the company warned. Because of the software defect, when a phone call is cut off due to a low battery, the disconnection


Janco Partners Initiates Google with  #39;Sell #39; Rating

Janco Partners on Thursday initiated coverage of Google Inc. with a  quot;sell quot; rating and a target price of \$76, saying while the world #39;s No.


Triathlon:  #39;Shagged #39; Docherty delighted

Ultra-competitive Bevan Docherty rated himself a golden chance in the Olympic men #39;s triathlon last night - but he had a satisfied smile as he fingered the silver round his neck shortly after the finish.


Russia, Japan lead team sychronized swimming; Americans march to <b>...</b>

Russia, Japan and the United States were 1-2-3 after the Olympic team technical event, the same places they finished in the duet competition a day earlier.


Andrejus Zadneprovskis of Lithuania grabs silver

ATHENS, Greece -- Andrey Moiseev of Russia won the gold medal in the men #39;s modern pentathlon, beating out Andrejus Zadneprovskis of Lithuania.


Pinochet Stripped Of Immunity

A court stripped Gen. Augusto Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution Friday, paving the way for the trial of the former Chilean dictator on human rights charges.


China Confirms Bird Flu in Pigs

China has confirmed that it found a deadly strain of bird flu in pigs as early as two years ago. China #39;s Agriculture Ministry said two cases had been discovered, but it did not say exactly where the samples had been taken.


Attacks cut Iraq #39;s oil exports in half: report

Oil exports from Iraq have been cut in half by a series of well-orchestrated attacks, officials said Thursday, but the news failed to have any immediate impact on oil prices.


Australian Air Force to be armed with stealth cruise missiles

Australia will equip its Air Force with stealth cruise missiles to maintain military superiority over its neighbours, the Government announced yesterday.


British anti-terrorism police arrest radical cleric Abu Hamza

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


One million join ranks of US poor

An extra 1.3 million Americans slid into poverty in 2003 while health care cover also fell, official figures show.


Fewer mortgages approved in July

The number of mortgages approved for house purchases fell by more than a fifth in July, the British Bankers' Association says.


Sell Starbucks?

Comparable sales growth in August was a little lighter than expected, causing a sell-off. That doesn't mean sell.


Black Eyed Peas to Produce Music for 'Urbz' Game

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The band that brought the  infectious grooves of "Hey Mama" and "Let's Get It Started" to  nightclubs across America has signed up to do the same for a  video game where success is measured by how cool players are.


Texas School to Offer Women's Gaming Scholarship

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - As part of a drive to attract more  women into the male-dominated video game industry, a program  for aspiring game developers at Southern Methodist University  will offer a women-only scholarship, organizers said on  Thursday.


Black Eyed Peas to Produce Music for 'Urbz' Game (Reuters)

Reuters - The band that brought the\infectious grooves of "Hey Mama" and "Let's Get It Started" to\nightclubs across America has signed up to do the same for a\video game where success is measured by how cool players are.


Calif. to Vote on  #36;3B Stem Cell Project (AP)

AP - Silicon Valley tycoons, Nobel laureates and Hollywood celebrities are backing a measure on California's Nov. 2 ballot to devote  #36;3 billion to human embryonic stem cell experiments in what would be the biggest-ever state-supported scientific research program in the country.


Cool Midwest Summer Creates Bigger Spiders (AP)

AP - Midwestern spiders always get big as they prepare to lay eggs, but this year they're even fatter thanks to a cool, wet summer that sustained their favorite snack  #151; insects.


New Shuttle Fuel Tanks Should Not Shed Foam

By MARCIA DUNN    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA's redesigned space shuttle fuel tanks should no longer shed dangerous pieces of foam when launches resume next spring, officials said Thursday...


Krispy Kreme Doughnut Reward Plan Raises Concerns

Krispy Kreme has offered to reward students with a doughnut for every A on their report card - up to six per grading period - sparking concern among school officials trying to fight childhood obesity.


'Drug Train' Takes Americans to Canada for Pills

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Carla Coco-Boutte stepped off the train for a brief Canadian excursion, but she wasn't looking for typical souvenirs such as aboriginal carvings or smoked salmon. The 51-year-old former airline employee planned to return to her home in Santa Barbara, Calif., with an armload of prescription drugs she bought at a fraction of what she would pay at home...


More Platinum Found in Women With Breast Implants

By DIEDTRA HENDERSON    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Researchers have found high concentrations of platinum in women who got silicone breast implants and in the children they bore and breast-fed afterward.    The type of platinum found in the women's blood and urine was different than the traces of regular platinum not uncommon in people's bodies...


CIOs expect moderate hiring, study says

IT job growth will be driven primarily by the nation's largest employers, according to new data.


Breakthrough promises hotter, tougher, faster chips

Developments in silicon carbide wafers may lead to a new world of fast, robust electronics.


Intel's Centrino connects with all Wi-Fi standards

New component will help next generation of Intel's wireless chip reach full audience for Wi-Fi.


Smithfield profits from protein-rich pork

The flip side of low-carb dieting is high-protein eating, and that #39;s helping boost profits at Virginia #39;s Smithfield Foods, the world #39;s biggest pork producer.


Bill Gates Gives \$400,000 to California Stem-Cell Bond Measure

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates has donated \$400,000 to a campaign in California trying to win approval of a measure calling for the state to sell \$3 billion in bonds to fund stem-cell research.


Northwest #39;s Net move hits more turbulence

Galileo International is cutting privileges for Northwest Airlines on its travel reservation system, after the airline said it would put an extra charge on bookings made outside its Web site.


Intel #39;s Centrino connects with all Wi-Fi standards

Intel announced on Thursday a component that #39;s compatible with all Wi-Fi standards, which will let the chipmaker reach the full audience of individuals seeking to be wirelessly connected.


Sport Fishing Takes Big Bite Out of Fish Stocks

Recreational fishing accounts for almost a quarter of the total take of depleted saltwater fish species in the United States, including economically important species such


IBM buys Venetica

Computer giant IBM Thursday acquired Venetica, a privately held company based in Charlotte, NC. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter.


Powerful processors that run hot but need no cooling and devices capable of withstanding extreme environments may be the result of new research reported today in Nature, the science journal.


Syniverse to acquire EDS Interoperator

Syniverse Technologies in Tampa signed a purchase agreement to acquire EDS Interoperator Services North America for approximately \$57 million payable in cash.


Intel formally introduces tri-mode Wi-Fi chip

As expected, Intelintroduced its tri-mode wireless chip Thursday with several software enhancements to the product to help improve security and reliability, it said during a Webcast.


US, Brazil tied 0-0 in gold medal match

ATHENS, Greece - The US-Brazil soccer game for the gold has started, with a 0-0 score in the first half. This is an unexpected and interesting matchup: the US #39;s seasoned veterans face an up-and-coming, hungry


Israel foils suicide bombing attack: radio

Israeli soldiers have foiled a possible suicide bombing attack and detained a Palestinian woman, Israel Radio reported on Thursday.


Hamza held under Terrorism Act

Hamza, 47, was held this morning on suspicion of involvement in the  quot;commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism quot;.


New Hybrid Disc Offers CD-DVD Combination

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Recording companies looking to wring more profits out of music sales are hoping to sell retailers on a new hybrid disc. On one side is standard CD audio; on the other, the enhanced sound, video and other media capabilities of a DVD...


Tech Firms Seek to Soften Proposed Anti-Piracy Bill

By ALEX VEIGA    LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Internet service providers and other technology firms are proposing to soften a bill in Congress that they claim will make them targets of frivolous entertainment industry copyright lawsuits.    The group, which includes Verizon Communications Inc., SBC Communications Inc...


Man Buys Up Domain Names in Bush Push

RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) -- Type vermontdemocrats.com into your computer and you'll get a surprise: the re-election Web site of President Bush, a Republican...


Boeing in \$7.5 bn deal with SIA

SIA receives offers from both Airbus (the A330-200)  amp; Boeing (the 7E7) for its regional routes. Singapore Airlines (SIA) yesterday said it would buy up to 31 long-range Boeing 777s in an order worth up to


Deutsche Bank, Thomas Weisel Join Research Settlement

Deutsche Bank (DB:NYSE - news - research) and Thomas Weisel Partners, two holdouts from last year #39;s so-called global settlement involving tainted Wall Street research, have finally reached their own deals with regulators.


Smithfield Doesn #39;t Go Whole Hog

When was the last time you heard about a company more than doubling its profit from the previous year, but an error in judgment restrained that profit?


Gates, others lead California effort for stem cell research

Silicon Valley tycoons, Nobel laureates and Hollywood celebrities are backing a measure on California #39;s Nov. 2 ballot to devote \$3 billion to human embryonic stem cell experiments in


CenturyTel to offer EchoStar TV service

CenturyTel Inc. (CTL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it would offer EchoStar Communications Corp.(DISH.O: Quote, Profile, Research) satellite television service to


OPEC expects oil prices to fall to \$30 per barrel

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) expects to see a fall in global oil prices to as much as US\$30 per barrel, its president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Thursday.


Intel Unveils Tri-Mode Centrino

Intel Thursday unveiled tri-mode Centrino technology that will enable laptops to access WLANs based on the 802.11a, b and g specifications.


Siemens warns of problem with 65-series phones

Siemens has issued a statement warning users of a bug in their 65-series handsets (C65, CX65, M65, S65, SL65 as well as all provider variations such as the CV65, CT65, CXV65 and CXT65).


ATHENS OLYMPICS 2004 / US beats Spain to reach semis

Stephon Marbury, concerned about his lousy shooting in Athens, used an off day to go to the gym and work on his shot. By finding his range, he saved the United States #39; hopes for a basketball gold medal.


Mystery Persists Behind Causes Of Double Plane Disaster

Russia is observing a day of mourning for the 89 people killed in two plane crashes that occurred within minutes of one another late on 24 August.


Panama Pardons Four Anti-Castro Figures (AP)

AP - Panama's president on Thursday pardoned four Cuban emigres accused of trying to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro despite Havana's threat to cut diplomatic ties over such a move.


Researchers Urge Stricter Fishing Rules (AP)

AP - Millions of casual fishermen reel in a higher take of the nation's most prized saltwater fish than previously thought, researchers say, prompting them to urge improved regulation of recreational fishing.


quot;Phishing quot; lures German banking clients

Two clients of Germany #39;s Postbank have fallen for an e-mail fraud that led them to reveal money transfer codes to a bogus Web site -- the first case of this scam in German, prosecutors say.


EU launches another probe into Microsoft monopoly

The European Commission has announced that it is to investigate the recent purchase by Microsoft and Time Warner of ContentGuard, a specialist in digital rights management.


Nigeria hits Shell with 840m compensation claim

SHELL has been hit by an 840 million compensation claim from the Nigerian government only 24 hours after being fined in Britain and the United States.


Krispy Kreme #39;s Bad Dough

This morning, Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD) announced that second-quarter 2005 net income dropped by 56 from last year despite higher sales.


Mortgage rates edge higher

Mortgage rates around the country crept up this week, although 30-year mortgages still were below the 6 percent level for a fourth straight week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.


USA: Smithfield Foods reports higher Q1 earnings

US meat processor Smithfield Foods has said its first-quarter earnings more than doubled from the year-ago period, boosted by higher sales.


Bill Gates contributes to stem cell campaign

Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates contributed \$400,000 to the campaign backing a California ballot measure that would make billions of dollars available for human embryonic


US Weekly Jobless Claims Rise

The US Labor Department said Thursday the number of workers filing first-time applications for unemployment benefits rose by 10,000 last week.


Big German banks hit by phishing attacks

Two of Germany #39;s biggest banks became the latest victims of phishing attacks last week as internationally organized criminal groups roam the globe seeking new targets, according to a spokesman at Postbank.


Halkia #39;s Win Extraordinary, Says Pittman #39;s Coach

Fani Halkia #39;s victory in the Olympics women #39;s 400 meters hurdles was extraordinary but drug-related questions about the Greek #39;s performance are unfair, Australian coach Phil King said Thursday.


NHL #39;s Bertuzzi Pleads Not Guilty to On-Ice Assault

NHL star Todd Bertuzzi pleaded not guilty on Thursday to an assault charge for an on-ice attack that left a player with a fractured neck and shocked the sporting community.


Australia plans  #39;most lethal #39; cruise missiles

SYDNEY, Aug 26 (AFP): Australia announced plans Thursday to acquire long-range cruise missiles that will give its defence force the  quot;most lethal capacity quot; for air combat in the region.


Senior Islamic Militant Wounded in Gaza Blast

An explosion wounded a senior Islamic Jihad field commander in a Gaza refugee camp Thursday in what the Palestinian militant group called an Israeli assassination attempt.


American to Test Onboard Food Sales (Reuters)

Reuters - American Airlines on Thursday said it\will begin testing onboard food sales to coach passengers in\September on a handful of flights, including several in the\Dallas and New York markets.


Intel Updates Wireless Chips, Software (AP)

AP - Intel Corp. unveiled an update to its wireless networking technology Thursday, adding simpler software, improved security and support for a more robust, less interference-prone radio standard.


Intel Launches Tri-Mode Wi-Fi Chipset (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Intel has unveiled a new Centrino chipset that supports three \Wi-Fi standards, along with new wireless software and improved security features.


Stocks Near Flat, Starbucks, Techs Fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips were near unchanged on  Thursday but technology stocks slipped, as a broker downgrade  on the semiconductor industry rattled investors, while  coffee-shop chain Starbucks SBUX.O disappointed with slowing  growth.


Kerry Challenges Bush to Weekly Debates (Reuters)

Reuters - Democrat John Kerry on Thursday\challenged Republican President Bush, to weekly debates from\now until the Nov. 2 presidential election.


American to Test Onboard Food Sales

CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Airlines on Thursday said it  will begin testing onboard food sales to coach passengers in  September on a handful of flights, including several in the  Dallas and New York markets.


Charlize Theron to Be Face of Dior Perfume

NEW YORK - Add Christian Dior to the list of Charlize Theron fans. The company announced Thursday that the Oscar winner will be the new face of J'adore, the designer's fragrance that debuted in 2000...


Dream Team Hits Jumpers, Downs Spain

ATHENS, Greece - Larry Brown was right. The Americans did start hitting their jump shots, and suddenly they look as if they might be the team to beat at the Athens Games...


Deutsche Bank, Weisel to Pay \$100 Mln to End Probe (Update2)

Deutsche Bank AG and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC will pay a total of \$100 million to settle allegations they published misleading stock research to win investment-banking business, becoming


Shell to pay \$1.5 bn as eco-claims in Nigeria

LONDON, August 26 (New Ratings) - The beleaguered global oil giant, Shell (SHE1.ETR), has been reportedly asked by the Nigerian government to pay \$1.


Beware That WinAmp Skin

The popular skinning feature in Nullsoft #39;s WinAmp media player has left the door wide open for malicious attackers to hijack PCs.


U.S. call center jobs moving to Canada

Research firm predicts closure of more than 3,000 U.S. centers as jobs fly north.


Nokia, Pointsec team on mobile data security

Nokia has teamed with Pointsec Mobile Technologies AB on encryption technology for smart phones based on the Nokia Series 60 and Series 80 design platforms, which run on the Symbian operating system.


CA shareholders back management over bonuses issue

Shareholders yesterday rejected a proposal requesting that Computer Associates' board adopt a policy of revoking executive bonuses paid based on financial results that are later revised.


Via Tunes Open-Source Media Player

Xine media player takes advantage of video accelerators in Via chipsets.


Stocks Near Flat, Starbucks, Techs Fall (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. blue chips were near unchanged on\Thursday but technology stocks slipped, as a broker downgrade\on the semiconductor industry rattled investors, while\coffee-shop chain Starbucks (SBUX.O) disappointed with slowing\growth.


Russian Oil Project to Be Vetted for Whale Threat (Reuters)

Reuters - A top environmental group said on\Thursday it had agreed to probe an oil and gas project led by\Royal Dutch/Shell off the Russian far east coast because of\fears it threatens endangered whales.


NASA Experts Report Drought Forecast Breakthrough (Reuters)

Reuters - Climate experts at NASA believe they\have found a way of forecasting droughts and floods months in\advance, the New Scientist magazine reported on Wednesday.


Responding to McCain, Bush Plans Legal Action on Ads (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush on Thursday\sought to smooth over differences with Sen. John McCain by\promising to take legal action to stop political ads by outside\groups, including those attacking the war record of Bush's\Democratic presidential rival, John Kerry.


Equatorial Guinea Wants Thatcher Extradited --Lawyer

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea  wants Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister  Margaret Thatcher, extradited from South Africa after his  arrest on suspicion of involvement in a coup attempt, one of  the country's lawyers said Thursday.


Auditors get poor grade

Big four accounting firms made several major errors last year, regulator says in first report. NEW YORK (Reuters) - The nation #39;s four biggest accounting firms didn #39;t get very good grades for auditing their


Ingersoll-Rand to sell Dresser unit for \$1.2bn

NEW YORK: Ingersoll-Rand has agreed to sell its Dresser-Rand energy equipment business to private equity firm First Reserve, which specialises in the energy industry, for \$1.


Intel updates wireless chips, software

Intel Corp. unveiled an update to its wireless networking technology Thursday, adding simpler software, improved security and support for a more robust, less interference-prone radio standard.


Sport fishermen depleting some saltwater species

Americans fishing for sport along coastlines or at sea are doing far more damage to US marine fish stocks than anyone thought, accounting for nearly a quarter of the catch from overfished species, researchers report in the latest issue of the journal


IBM to Buy Software Developer Venetica

International Business Machines Corp. said Thursday that it agreed to acquire Charlotte, NC-based Venetica, a privately held developer of software for organizing and accessing business documents and media.


NASA #39;s backup plan involves rescue shuttles, space station

Significant technical challenges, particularly trouble encountered while developing a way to repair severe wing panel damage, have led NASA to develop an unprecedented backup plan.


#39;It still hasn #39;t sunk in #39; - Fridman #39;s father

#39;I awoke at 2 am in a daze and couldn #39;t get back to sleep, quot; Uri Fridman says of the morning after his son earned Israel #39;s first-ever Olympic gold medal in mistral windsailing in Athens.


Al-Sistani Wants US-Led Forces to Leave Najaf (Update2)

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq #39;s foremost Shiite cleric, wants US-led military forces to leave Najaf and nearby Kufa as a condition for establishing peace with cleric Moqtada al


Russian jets #39; crashes still mysterious

MOSCOW (CP) - Russia mourned 89 victims of a double air disaster today as debate intensified over whether the two passenger liners could have plunged almost simultaneously from the sky by accident.


CenturyTel to Offer EchoStar Service (Reuters)

Reuters - CenturyTel Inc. (CTL.N) will offer\EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH.O) satellite television\service to its customers in 22 states, the rural telephone\company said on Thursday.


U.S. Says Over 100 Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep (Reuters)

Reuters - More than 100 people have been\arrested in the largest global crackdown to date on identity\theft, hacking and other Internet-based crimes, Attorney\General John Ashcroft said on Thursday.


Via Tunes Open-Source Media Player (PC World)

PC World - Xine media player takes advantage of video accelerators in Via chipsets.


4 killed, dozens wounded in separatist violence in India's Assam state (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - GAUHATI, India (AP) - Bombs ripped through two buses, killing four people and wounding 39 others, and a series of blasts elsewhere injured 15 more as separatist violence surged Thursday in India's northeastern Assam state, police said.


MCI Offers to Pay Part of States' Claims

NEW YORK (Reuters) - MCI Inc. MCIP.O has offered to pay  states from 2 cents to 30 cents on the dollar to settle charges  it owes them as much as \$2 billion in back taxes, people  familiar with the matter said on Thursday.


Cal's Tedford Seeks Accountability in Poll (AP)

AP - Jeff Tedford plans to keep California in contention for a Rose Bowl berth during each season of his new five-year contract.


Citigroup Sued Over Enron Securities

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc. C.N faces a lawsuit  from angry investors who allege they were defrauded in a  "massive scheme of deception" when they bought securities tied  to the credit-worthiness of bankrupt energy trader Enron Corp.  ENRNQ.PK


Darfur Rebels Say Power Deal First, Disarming Later

ABUJA (Reuters) - Rebels from Sudan's Darfur region  Thursday rejected calls to disarm or confine their fighters to  their bases before a political solution to the conflict is  found.


Confusion as Yemeni Faces U.S. Military Tribunal

A Yemeni accused of guarding Osama bin Laden with explosive belts seemed to acknowledge his Al Qaeda membership.


CenturyTel to Offer EchoStar Service

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CenturyTel Inc. CTL.N will offer  EchoStar Communications Corp. DISH.O satellite television  service to its customers in 22 states, the rural telephone  company said on Thursday.


Prices climb after bombing spree

LONDON: World oil prices rebounded slightly Thursday in the wake of multiple pipeline attacks in major producer Iraq, traders said.


Update 2: Gilead Sciences Stocks Rise Six Percent

Biotechnology stocks were trading down marginally Thursday afternoon with the large exception of Gilead Sciences Inc., whose shares were boosted by good results for an HIV treatment.


ConocoPhillips eyes \$2B stake in LUKOIL

Reuters reported Thursday that Russian officials confirmed that Houston-based oil giant ConocoPhillips is interested in taking a \$2 billion stake in Russian oil major LUKOIL.


Centrino to connect with all Wi-Fi standards

Intel on Thursday announced a component that #39;s compatible with all Wi-Fi standards, which will let the chipmaker reach the full audience of individuals who want to wirelessly connect to local area networks.


Revenge Really Is Sweet, Study Shows

Revenge feels sweet, and Swiss researchers said on Thursday they have the brain scans to prove it. In a study investigators said might


How Not to Get  #39;Phished #39;

With phishing attacks skyrocketing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a consumer alert detailing ways Web surfers can avoid being fleeced by online scammers.


Via Tunes Open-Source Media Player

Via Technologies has released a version of the open-source Xine media player that is designed to take advantage of hardware digital video acceleration capabilities in two of the company #39;s PC chipsets, the CN400 and CLE266.


Practice makes Marbury near perfect

No, not by hopping the next flight out of Athens, which was what all the US men #39;s basketball players no doubt felt like doing after shooting bricks and playing like strangers in their miserable first week of the Olympics.


Bangladesh to take Interpol #39;s help to solve Hasina attack

Dhaka, Aug 26 (UNI) Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said the government has decided to take Interpol #39;s help to investigate the August 21 grenade attack on Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina.


S Korea sees trouble ahead on N.Korea nuclear talks

South Korea is sceptical about reaching a substantive agreement at the next round of six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea #39;s nuclear programmes, Seoul #39;s top negotiator to the talks said today.


New component will help next generation of Intel's wireless chip technology reach full audience for Wi-Fi.


Intel Unveils Tri-Mode Wi-Fi Chip

Centrino update supports 802.11 a, b, and g wireless, and offers improved security.


MCI Offers to Pay Part of States' Claims (Reuters)

Reuters - MCI Inc. (MCIP.O) has offered to pay\states from 2 cents to 30 cents on the dollar to settle charges\it owes them as much as  #36;2 billion in back taxes, people\familiar with the matter said on Thursday.


Dozens of Internet Crime Suspects Nabbed (AP)

AP - A summer-long effort targeting Internet crime has resulted in dozens of arrests and convictions on charges including use of "spam" e-mail to steal credit card numbers, computer hacking and online fraud, Justice Department officials said Thursday.


NCAA Denies Reinstatement for Williams (AP)

AP - Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams has had his request to be reinstated denied Thursday by the NCAA.


Global Warming Means More Frost-Free Days - Report (Reuters)

Reuters - Frost will become less and less\common across much of the world as global warming accelerates,\U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.


Senators: Intel Chief Needs Budget Power (AP)

AP - Two senators working on legislation that would overhaul U.S. intelligence agencies said Thursday a new intelligence chief should have significant and clear power over the budget.


Long Jump Gold for American Dwight Phillips

ATHENS (Reuters) - Dwight Phillips of the United States  completed a hat-trick of global long jump titles when he  crushed the field with his opening leap to take gold in  Thursday's Olympic final Thursday.


Chiron Delays Flu Vaccine Shipments

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chiron Corp. said on Thursday it is  delaying the shipment of its flu vaccine, Fluvirin,  because it  has found a small number of lots that do not meet product  sterility standards.


Marbury Leads Dream Team Past Spain 102-94

ATHENS, Greece - Written off after their opener and branded failures back home, Stephon Marbury and the Americans are showing signs that they just might be the team to beat after all. Marbury set a U.S...


Top Russian Official: Plane Terror Likely

MOSCOW - A top Russian official acknowledged on Thursday what many citizens already suspected - that terrorism was the most likely cause of two jetliners crashing minutes apart, a feeling reflected in a newspaper headline warning that "Russia now has a Sept. 11."   Just a day after officials stressed there were many possibilities besides terrorism, presidential envoy Vladimir Yakovlev told Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency that the main theory "all the same remains terrorism."   He said the planes' flight recorders had not provided any clues to the disaster...


Aide: Al-Sistani Brokers Najaf Peace Deal

NAJAF, Iraq - Rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed Thursday to a peace deal presented by top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city of Najaf, according to a top aide to al-Sistani.    Al-Sistani, the most influential cleric among Iraq's Shiite majority, reached the deal in direct talks with al-Sadr in the evening, only hours after making a dramatic return to Najaf...


Crawford sprints to gold

Shawn Crawford leads an American 200m 1-2-3 amid extraordinary scenes in the Olympic Stadium.


Oil Slides, Najaf Peace Deal Struck

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


Harris Corp. to add 200 DC-area jobs

Melbourne, Fla.-based Harris Corp. says it will expand its Washington area work force after winning an IT support contract from the National Reconnaissance Office.


IBM Buys Venetica for Content

IBM (Quote, Chart) announced Tuesday that it will acquire Venetica to manage access to its DB2 Information Integrator for Content software.


Nokia, Vodafone join forces to simplify mobile phone software

HELSINKI : Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia and British mobile operator Vodafone said they would collaborate to simplify mobile phone software using the Java computer language, paving the way for cheaper mobile phones in the long run.


Finding Super-Earths

A European team of astronomers has discovered a planet only 14 times more massive than the Earth. This is the smallest extra-solar planet discovered so far, and it lies at the threshold of the largest possible


Tomlinson can #39;t rise to the challenge

There was disappointment for Britain in the men #39;s long jump final this evening, after Chris Tomlinson could only manage fifth place.


Goosen leads BMW Open; Montgomerie a stroke back

Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen shot a 6-under-par 66 Thursday for the first-round lead at the BMW Open, and Colin Montgomerie was a stroke behind and bolstered his chances of making the Ryder Cup team.


Guo wins gold in 3m springborad diving

China finished one-two through Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia in the women #39;s 3m springboard diving final at the Olympic Games on Thursday.


In Crocodile Evolution, the Bite Came Before the Body

A new fossil find suggests that the crocodile's crushing jaws evolved on dry land #151;and long before its water-friendly body.


Modified Mice Stay Super-Fit -- Without Exercise

By altering a gene, scientists have produced "marathon mice" with more muscle, less fat, and twice the endurance of regular mice. The find could lead to new anti-obesity drugs.


Update 1: Glaxo Stocks Advance; Merck Stocks Slip

Pharmaceutical stocks were trading slightly higher after news Thursday that GlaxoSmithKline Plc was going to settle with New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer over allegations the company hid safety studies for its anti-depressant Paxil.


Krispy Kreme stock slump has investors bellyaching

Some of the biggest names on Wall Street have gobbled up shares of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the doughnut store chain


Gilead says its HIV drug combination beats drug made by <b>...</b>

After a preliminary analysis of a late-stage drug trial, Gilead Sciences of Foster City said its two drugs Viread and Emtriva are better able to control levels of HIV than Combivir, a treatment made by competitor GlaxoSmithKline Plc.


Sears Canada sacks chairman-CEO Mark Cohen over  #39;strategic <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Sears Canada Inc. has dismissed Mark Cohen as chairman and chief executive officer, citing  quot;strategic differences quot; between him and the board of directors.


Global Server Sales Up, Gartner Says

August 26, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Research and analysis firm Gartner (gartner.com) said on Wednesday that global sales of servers surpassed \$11.


Ulmer gives Carter golden advice

ATHENS: A soothing pre-race pep talk with newly-crowned cycling champion Sarah Ulmer helped Hamish Carter turn a childhood dream into reality and bury his Olympic demons with a coveted triathlon gold in Athens last night.


China finishes 1-2 in springboard diving

Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia gave China gold and silver Thursday night in the Olympic women #39;s springboard diving event. China ran its diving medal total to seven.


Pahlavan Rezazadeh quot; stuns world, set new record

Iran #39;s heavyweight weightlifting champion Pahlavan Hossein Rezazadeh once again won one of the olympic games #39; most precious gold medals.


Sports: Sanchez wins 400 hurdles

ATHENS, Greece The Dominican Republic has its first Olympic gold medal. Felix Sanchez won the men #39;s 400 meter hurdles in 47-point-63 seconds.


Williams relieved to have resolution

USC wide receiver Mike Williams told ESPN The Magazine #39;s Bruce Feldman Thursday that the NCAA has refused his request for reinstatement.


South African Police: Thatcher Preparing to Flee Before Arrest

South African police say the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was planning to flee the country before his arrest on suspicion of involvement in a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.


Terry Hicks slams son #39;s treatment

No-one should have to endure the conditions accused Australian Taliban fighter David Hicks has encountered in Guantanamo Bay, his father said before flying out of the US outpost.


American Air Sees  #36;1 Billion More in '04 (Reuters)

Reuters - American Airlines expects soaring jet\fuel prices to push its expenses up more than  #36;1 billion in\2004 from last year's level, parent AMR Corp. (AMR.N) said on\Thursday.


U.S. Money Funds Drop to  #36;848.66 Billion (AP)

AP - Assets of the nation's retail money market mutual funds fell by  #36;6.07 billion in the latest week to  #36;848.66 billion, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday.


Margaret Thatcher 'Distressed' About Son's Arrest

LONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Margaret  Thatcher is "distressed" about her son's arrest in South Africa  on suspicion of involvement in a coup plot in oil-rich  Equatorial Guinea, a spokesman said Thursday.


London oil drops to \$40 a barrel

The slide in crude oil prices takes a barrel in London down to little more than \$40, as traders realise profits after the recent surge.


Sears Canada sacks Cohen

Sears Canada Inc. fired chief executive officer and chairman Mark Cohen Thursday, saying the board and Mr. Cohen had strategic differences about the future direction of the business.


Striking truckers leader arrested

Police Thursday arrested a top leader of India #39;s striking truckers who are protesting new taxes, officials said. Truck union leaders say the arrest of OP Agrawal, chief of the All India Transport Welfare Association, would not affect the ongoing strike.


US Audit Body Says Big 4 Firms Missed Problems

The Big Four accounting firms, misinterpreting a nine-year old rule, wrongly let corporate clients understate liabilities and distort their financial health, the regulatory


State to Start LUKoil Bid at \$1.9Bln

The government on Thursday set the date and starting price of an auction for its remaining stake in LUKoil and officially confirmed that US oil major ConocoPhillips will participate.


UPDATE 4-Citigroup sued over Enron-linked securities

Citigroup Inc. (CN: Quote, Profile, Research) faces a lawsuit from angry investors who allege they were defrauded in a  quot;massive scheme of deception quot; when they


Intel Strikes Up Tri-Band Wireless Technology For Centrino

Intel, looking to maintain mind share and market share in the mobile PC space, said Thursday it will begin shipping new, tri-band wireless functionality in its Centrino platform next month and will boost software and security support.


Justice Department fights cyber crime

WASHINGTON -- Moving against Internet crime, the Justice Department has launched a new crackdown on people who trade copyrighted programs over the Internet.


Recreational Fishing Puts Bite on US Fish Stocks, Study Says

Researchers behind the study say fishing for fun now makes up almost a quarter of the total take of overfished populations. These include seafood favorites such as red snapper, red drum, and bocacciospecies


China May Join \$10Bln Sakhalin-2

Russia said Thursday that China Petroleum  amp; Chemical Corp., Asia #39;s biggest oil refiner, may join Royal Dutch/Shell Group #39;s Sakhalin-2 project in the Pacific and buy liquefied natural gas from the venture #39;s offshore fields.