Many engineers lack even a four-year degree

About 40 percent of U.S. workers in computer and math science have just a high school diploma or associate degree, according to a new report.


British researchers trace John Kerry's family back to European royalty (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - LONDON (AP) - Senator John Kerry has blue blood from all the royal houses of Europe, with even more titled relations than President George W. Bush, Burke's Peerage said Monday.


Chavez's Victory Garners Int'l Approval (AP)

AP - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won international approval from supporters and detractors alike Monday on his decisive referendum victory over opponents trying to oust him.


Giants' Nen Still Hoping to Pitch in 2005 (AP)

AP - It's approaching two years since Robb Nen last pitched in the majors, but he still believes he can do it again  #151; despite his troublesome right shoulder.


Haas and Cink Named as U.S. Ryder Cup Wildcards

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal  Sutton, opting for form and experience, selected Jay Haas and  Stewart Cink as his wildcard picks for next month's match  against Europe.


Venezuela Votes by Large Margin to Retain Chvez

An opposition movement refused to accept the results, raising prospects for more turmoil in the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.


Airline Looks to Delay Its Pension Payments

In an effort to conserve cash, financially ailing US Airways Group Inc. said Monday that it plans to ask the Internal Revenue Service for permission to delay payments into the pension plans of two of its employee groups.


McDonald's Goes for Gold

For a four-year investment estimated at \$65 million, McDonald's has been designated the Official Restaurant of the 2004 Olympic Games.


Auction for Shares In Google's IPO May End Today (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Google Inc.'s initial public offering took a major step forward as the company notified investors that today may be their last chance to submit, withdraw or change bids in the unusual  #36;3 billion electronic auction for stock in the Internet giant.


Four Firms Buy Intelsat

Intelsat Ltd., the pioneering commercial satellite company that connected the world through global television and telephone communications, announced Monday its sale to a group of private investors for \$3 billion in cash. -The Washington Post


Auction for Shares in Google's IPO May End

Google Inc.'s initial public offering took a major step forward as the company notified investors that Tuesday may be their last chance to submit, withdraw or change bids in the unusual \$3 billion electronic auction for stock in the Internet giant. -The Washington Post


BioVeris Files Delayed Annual Report

BioVeris Corp. filed its delayed annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, only days before a scheduled hearing by the Nasdaq Stock Market on whether to delist the Gaithersburg biotechnology company for failing to report earnings. -The Washington Post


Background Investigation Shortfall Sends ManTech to a Loss

Despite an increase in revenue, ManTech International Corp. swung to a loss during its second quarter when a contract to conduct background investigations for the Department of Defense turned out to be far less lucrative than previously expected.


Athletics Win to Hang on to AL West Lead (AP)

AP - Mark Redman pitched eight innings of six-hit ball, and the Oakland Athletics used a three-run fifth inning to beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 on Monday night.


Nikkei Higher by Midday

TOKYO (Reuters) - Gains in banks and exporters helped lift  Tokyo's Nikkei 0.84 percent by midday on Tuesday as a fall in  crude oil prices and a rebound in U.S. stocks led buyers to  pick up shares hit by the index's recent sharp losses.


Hewitt, Sluiter, Muller Win at Legg Mason (AP)

AP - Lleyton Hewitt breezed to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kenneth Carlsen Monday night in the first round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.


Ivan Hlinka, 54, Czech Coach of Gold Medal Hockey Team, Dies

Ivan Hlinka coached the Czech Republic to the hockey gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and became the coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins two years later.


The Geisha Stylist Who Let His Hair Down

Here in the Gion geisha district of Japan's ancient capital, even one bad hair day can cost a girl her career. So it is no wonder that Tetsuo Ishihara is the man with the most popular hands in town.


Hard-Hit Havana Still Short of Water

City workers distributed water in tank trucks Monday and urged about 1.4 million residents of the Cuban capital who had no running water to remain calm, four days after Hurricane Charley roared through the area.


Syrian Court Releases Rights Activist on Bail

A Syrian court has released on bail a human rights activist charged with tarnishing the country's image but considered by advocacy groups to be a prisoner of conscience, one of his attorneys said Monday.


Iraqi peace team to go to Najaf

An Iraqi delegation is going to Najaf to try to end  a stand-off between US-led forces and Shia militants.


Seahawks Defeat Packers 21-3 in Preseason (AP)

AP - Fourth-string quarterback Seneca Wallace led Seattle on two touchdown drives and the Seahawks took advantage of Tim Couch's dismal debut for Green Bay in a 21-3 exhibition victory over the Packers on Monday night.


China Tests New Guided Missile Amid Taiwan Tensions

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has successfully tested a new  guided missile it says is highly accurate, state media said on  Tuesday amid rising tensions with arch-rival Taiwan.


New York City Lowering Its Sights for a Convention Boom

With the Republican National Convention just two weeks away, signs are pointing to a modest economic boost for few businesses.


Streaking Rangers Hold Off Indians 5-2 (AP)

AP - Brian Jordan hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and the Texas Rangers extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.


Suspect Admits Jewish Graves Desecration (AP)

AP - An unemployed man was arrested Monday in connection with the desecration of a Jewish cemetery earlier this month and an attack on a Muslim, judicial officials said.


Hospitalised woman in Vietnam tests positive for bird flu (AFP)

AFP - A 19-year-old woman hospitalised in Vietnam has tested positive for the lethal strain of bird flu that has killed 27 people across Asia this year, including 19 in the communist nation, officials said.


Nikkei Rises by Midday

TOKYO (Reuters) - Gains in banks and exporters helped lift  Tokyo's Nikkei average 0.84 percent by midday on Tuesday as a  fall in crude oil prices and a rebound in U.S. stocks led  buyers to pick up shares hit by the index's recent sharp  losses.


Braves' Chipper Jones Hits 300th Homer (AP)

AP - Chipper Jones hit his 300th career home run on Monday night, connecting in the Atlanta Braves' game at San Diego.


Nikkei Rises by Midday (Reuters)

Reuters - Gains in banks and exporters helped lift\Tokyo's Nikkei average 0.84 percent by midday on Tuesday as a\fall in crude oil prices and a rebound in U.S. stocks led\buyers to pick up shares hit by the index's recent sharp\losses.


A Texan's Race for the House That Could Lead to the F.C.C.

A Republican running for Congress has received heavy donations from industry because of expectations over posts she may receive if she loses and President Bush wins.


A New Campaign for Viagra

Viagra, which has long taken a staid marketing approach, will join its fast-growing competitors in taking a sly, devil-may-care tack.


Halliburton Has More Time to Verify Costs

The U.S. Army had granted Halliburton a third extension to substantiate its costs in Iraq and Kuwait.


Microsoft Delays Automatic Win XP Updates

Business users can postpone SP2 installation to complete testing its effect on other programs.


A's Quiet Orioles

The streaking O's lose for only the third time in 14 games as A's starting pitcher Mark Redman pitches eight strong innings to tame the Orioles, 3-1, on Monday night.


Harris Takes the Field

Cornerback Walt Harris suits up for his first full practice as a Redskin on Monday after missing minicamp and the first two weeks of training camp.


QBs Grab Spotlight

Chris Simms, the Buccaneers second-year pro competing for Tampa Bay's No. 2 job, completed 12 of 15 passes for 110 yards to help the Bucs to a 20-6 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.


Seahawks Stuff Packers

Fourth-string quarterback Seneca Wallace led Seattle on two touchdown drives as the Seahawks defeated the Packers, 21-3, on Monday night.


Full Disclosure Ordered

The NFL told its coaches Monday that they must be more specific in reporting injuries to players, saying the current wording of the policy "invites action that runs counter to our intent."


A Texan's Race Could Lead to the F.C.C.


Stocks End Sharply Higher as Oil Prices Drop

A pull back in oil prices and upbeat outlooks from Wal-Mart and Lowe's prompted new bargain-hunting on Wall Street today.


LifePoint to Buy Rival for \$1 Bln

LifePoint Hospitals has agreed to acquire rival Province Healthcare for \$1.125 billion in cash and stock to broaden its geographic reach.


This Date in Baseball - Aug. 17 (AP)

AP - 1904  #151; Jesse Tannehill of the Boston Red Sox pitched a no-hitter, beating the Chicago White Sox 6-0.


Nation's Charter Schools Lagging Behind, U.S. Test Scores Reveal

The findings dealt a blow to supporters of the charter school movement, including the Bush administration.


BA set to hold key strike talks

British Airways is due to hold important talks with union bosses in a bid to avoid industrial action.


Yahoo to Sell Domain Names (AP)

AP - Yahoo Inc. plans to start selling Internet domain names Tuesday as part of its expanding services for small businesses.


Rival Targets Apple's ITunes Customers (AP)

AP - For more than a year, Apple Computers Inc. enjoyed singular success selling songs exclusively to users of its iPod portable music player. Now, it's got rival RealNetworks Inc. trying to lure iTunes customers away.


Linux clusters gear up for simulated combat

Linux Network scores two military-related deals for Linux clusters.


IBM to round out iSeries Power5 server family

Big Blue is set to debut the eServer i5 550, an iSeries machine it created to serve midsize businesses.


Sides Still Far Apart

With two fruitless negotiating sessions behind them and only one month left before an NHL lockout, the league and the players association will return to the bargaining table on Tuesday.


Hezbollah Re-Elects Sheik Hassan Nasrallah (AP)

AP - Hezbollah's executive has re-elected Sheik Hassan Nasrallah as leader of the militant Shiite Muslim movement, according to a statement Monday by the party that the United States brands as terrorist.


Clashes persist in South Ossetia

Heavy fighting is reported in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region after the deaths of two soldiers.


Briefly: Linux clusters gear up for simulated combat

roundup Plus: Sprint to bake in BlackBerry for businesses...Microsoft ships updated Works...FaceTime pulls in \$16 million.


Search Engines and Competitive Research

Search engines can tell you a lot about your competition, if you know what to look for. A panel of experts offers tips on profiling your competition.


Real launches 'Freedom of Choice Campaign' (MacCentral)

MacCentral - RealNetworks will tout its new Windows-only Harmony technology, which allows files from its music store to be played on Apple's iPod, in a series of print, radio and online advertising, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. In addition, Real will hold what it calls the biggest music sale in history selling songs for US #36;0.49 and albums for  #36;4.99.


Marlins Defeat Dodgers 4-2 (AP)

AP - Miguel Cabrera homered and Mike Lowell singled home the go-ahead run, helping the Florida Marlins beat the Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night in Paul Lo Duca's return to Los Angeles.


Google Says It's Set to End Stock Auction

Google might close the bidding in its auction-style initial public offering late Tuesday, moving it one step away from becoming a publicly traded company.


Safety Gap Grows Wider Between S.U.V.'s and Cars

People driving or riding in a sport utility vehicle in 2003 were nearly 11 percent more likely to die in an accident than people in cars.


China Typhoon Death Toll Rises to 164 (Reuters)

Reuters - The worst typhoon to hit China in seven\years killed at least 164 people and another 24 were listed as\missing, Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.


Coke's Heyer to Go, May Join Starwood

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co.'s president and chief  operating officer, Steven Heyer, will leave the company on  Sept. 1 after missing out on the top job in May, the Wall  Street Journal said on Tuesday, citing an internal memo.


Dollar Struggles to Extend Gains

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar struggled to extend gains  against the euro in rangebound trade on Tuesday after  recovering from multi-week lows on bigger-than-expected capital  inflows into the United States.


AL Wrap: Redman Helps Athletics Maintain AL West Lead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mark Redman pitched eight strong  innings as the Oakland Athletics clung on to first place in the  American League West with a 3-1 road win over the Baltimore  Orioles on Monday.


Australian opposition pulls ahead in close election race, polls show (AFP)

AFP - Australia's opposition has clawed back a potentially election-winning lead, boosted by its insistence on extra protection for cheap prescription medicines, two new polls showed.


Iraqi Delegation Set for Najaf Peace Bid (Reuters)

Reuters - Iraqi political and religious leaders\prepared to go to the holy city of Najaf on Tuesday in a\last-ditch bid to persuade a radical Shi'ite cleric to end a\rebellion that has killed hundreds and rattled oil markets.


Indonesia Reduces Jail Sentences of Militants (Reuters)

Reuters - Six convicted Indonesian militants\linked to the deadly blasts in Bali in 2002 have received a two\month reduction of their jail sentences by President Megawati\Sukarnoputri, a prison warden said on Tuesday.


Iraqi Delegation Set for Najaf Peace Bid

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi political and religious leaders  prepared to go to the holy city of Najaf on Tuesday in a  last-ditch bid to persuade a radical Shi'ite cleric to end a  rebellion that has killed hundreds and rattled oil markets.


NL Wrap: Pujols Drives in Five Runs as Cardinals Rout Reds (Reuters)

Reuters - Albert Pujols homered for the fifth\time in the last four games and drove in five runs as the St\Louis Cardinals routed the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 in National\League play at Busch Stadium on Monday.


NL Wrap: Pujols Drives in Five Runs as Cardinals Rout Reds

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Albert Pujols homered for the fifth  time in the last four games and drove in five runs as the St  Louis Cardinals routed the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 in National  League play at Busch Stadium on Monday.


Oil Prices Slip Below \$46; Risks Abound

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices fell \$1 below record highs  on Tuesday as fears over supply disruptions in Venezuela eased  after President Hugo Chavez won a vote on his rule.


Dollar Stalls Despite Capital Flows

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar barely moved on Tuesday,  struggling to sustain a modest bounce from multi-week lows  against the euro made on bigger-than-expected capital inflows  to the United States.


Global Warming Menaces California Wine Industry (Reuters)

Reuters - California will become hotter and\drier by the end of the century, menacing the valuable wine and\dairy industries, even if dramatic steps are taken to curb\global warming, researchers said on Monday.


New intelligence reform bill may pit US Congress against White House (AFP)

AFP - The powerful chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee promised to introduce this week a new intelligence reorganization bill likely to set Congress on a collision course with the White House, which favors an intelligence "czar" with vaguely defined powers.


Oil Prices Slip Below  #36;46; Risks Abound (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil prices fell  #36;1 below record highs\on Tuesday as fears over supply disruptions in Venezuela eased\after President Hugo Chavez won a vote on his rule.


Sprinters' coach confident

Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou's coach believes they will be cleared by the IOC.


Professor devises climate-based model to predict football sackings (AFP)

AFP - The life of a football manager in the English Premiership is frantic, pressured and apt to end in sometimes arbitrary dismissal. But now under-fire bosses can predict when they might face the sack -- using the weather.


Tokyo Shares Rise But Oil Worries Weigh

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Japanese shares rebounded from  three-month lows on Tuesday but stubbornly high oil prices and  concern over their impact on corporate earnings capped gains.


Celtics Sign Gugliotta, Wait on Payton (AP)

AP - Ten days after trading for Gary Payton, the Boston Celtics still have no idea if the nine-time All-Star will ever wear a Celtics' uniform.


Giants Clobber Expos 8-5 (AP)

AP - Pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the San Francisco Giants took over the NL wild-card lead with their fifth straight victory, 8-5 over the Montreal Expos on Monday night.


Study: Global Warming Could Change Calif. (AP)

AP - Global warming could cause dramatically hotter summers and a depleted snow pack in California, leading to a sharp increase in heat-related deaths and jeopardizing the water supply, according to a study released Monday.


EU nations slam Tiger rebels as fresh killings dim Sri Lanka peace hopes (AFP)

AFP - European Union nations criticised Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels for killing rivals and recruiting child soldiers, appealing to the guerrillas not to undermine the Island's Norwegian-led peace bid.


Storage Services Market Heading To  #36;30 Billion (TechWeb)

TechWeb - The growth comes as more vendors offer more software to offset the plunge in storage hardware prices.


Oracle Releases New CRM Software (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Integration of sales and marketing is key to new release.


Researchers Find New Species of Bird (AP)

AP - Filipino and British wildlife researchers say they've stumbled upon what appears to be a new species of flightless bird found only on the tiny forested island of Calayan in the northern Philippines.


Israeli Soldiers Kill Two Gaza Militants (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli soldiers shot and killed two\Palestinian militants near a Jewish settlement in the Gaza\Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.


Sharon Approves 1,000 Settlement Homes in W.Bank

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  has approved building tenders for 1,000 homes in Jewish  settlements in the West Bank frozen earlier to avoid upsetting  the United States, political sources said on Tuesday.


Mass. still a no-go for Geic

Geico Corp., the nation's fifth-largest auto insurer, started selling policies in New Jersey yesterday for the first time in 28 years, leaving Massachusetts as the lone state where the company won't do business.


Bank of America signs in

They served up a giant Bank of America sheet cake, festooned the bank branch with balloons, and dispatched smiling greeters to welcome customers in upstate New York yesterday, as the first FleetBoston Financial Corp. branches formally switched to Bank of America.


Stakes high for Windows upgrade

Microsoft Corp. has put the finishing touches on one of its biggest software overhauls ever after conceding that its Windows XP operating system -- which runs as many as 300 million computers worldwide -- is susceptible to security breaches.


For the record

Correction: Because of a reporting error, an article in yesterday's Nation pages incorrectly described a Bush campaign ad's accusation about John Kerry's role on the Senate Intelligence Committee in the 1990s. The ad accuses Kerry of having missed three-quarters of the committee's public hearings.


Citizens gets US OK for Charter One buy

Federal regulators granted Citizens Financial Group approval for its biggest acquisition to date, Charter One Financial Inc. of Ohio. The Federal Reserve Board said the pending merger likely would have a minimal impact on competition even in markets where the two banks overlap. When the \$10.5 billion acquisition is complete, Citizens will be the 11th-biggest bank in the nation ranked ...


Stocks surge amid upbeat outlooks

NEW YORK -- A drop in oil prices and upbeat outlooks from Wal-Mart and Lowe's helped send stocks sharply higher yesterday, with the swing exaggerated by thin late summer trading. The Dow Jones industrials surged nearly 130 points.


Krispy Kreme operating chief quits

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.'s John Tate quit as chief operating officer amid a government probe of the chain's accounting and earnings forecasts.


FDA adopts 'lighter touch' on drug imports

WASHINGTON -- Federal drug regulators are using a  quot;lighter touch quot; in their efforts to stop a growing number of cities and states from importing prescription drugs from Canada, and the City of Boston is taking advantage of that new posture.


Power line's cost could grow 40

NEW YORK -- Northeast Utilities , UIL Holdings Corp. , and New England's grid operator have proposed changes to a planned power line in Southwest Connecticut that would increase costs by more than 40 percent.


January trial is set for former HealthSouth CEO

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A federal judge has scheduled jury selection in the fraud trial of fired HealthSouth Corp. chief executive Richard Scrushy to begin Jan. 5.


Taking a crash course

For Doug Mientkiewicz, the hardest part of playing second turned out not to be the double play pivot, fielding ground balls, or applying the tag on a steal. No, it came when he was hit by a 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound train.


Blue Jays hope to go places with Gibbons

From Montana to Maine, Puerto Rico to Canada, John Gibbons tagged along wherever the military deemed his father should live. The constant travel gave him a taste of the nomadic life of a baseball manager, his future profession. It also gave him an accent all his own, a Texas twang inflected with tinges of New England.


Sox and bonds

There are games in which players renew their vows as teammates, and last night's 8-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays was one of them. It may not have been as clear as it was in the Yankee-Red Sox brawl game back in late July, which produced an obvious bond.


Ainge is waitin' for Payton

During a press conference yesterday, Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge answered his cell phone, turned to the audience of reporters, and said,  quot;Hold on, it's Gary Payton. quot; It was an obvious joke, but also wishful thinking.


American says US backed his jail

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Jonathan Keith Idema, an American accused of running a freelance antiterror operation and private prison in Afghanistan, testified in court yesterday that he could prove US and Afghan authorities were fully aware of his actions, and he accused the FBI of confiscating evidence that would support his contention.


Communists condemn whistle-blower

BEIJING -- A Communist Party whistle-blower who publicly accused his superiors of tolerating official corruption has been condemned for breaking party rules and ordered to  quot;do a complete self-examination, quot; authorities announced.


Business economists say terror the biggest risk in US (AFP)

AFP - Terrorism poses the biggest short-term threat to the US economy, a panel of top business economists said in a survey.


Google market debut draws near

Google's market flotation draws a step closer as the firm asks regulators to approve the paperwork.


New Ernie machine to make debut

The new version of Ernie - the number cruncher which selects premium bond prizes - is to be unveiled on Tuesday.


EasyMobile faces Orange showdown

Easyjet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou faces a potential clash with Orange over plans for a mobile phone service.


Saudis Use 9-11 Report in U.S Ad Campaign (AP)

AP - Stung by criticism about its role in fighting terrorism, Saudi Arabia has launched a radio advertising campaign in 19 U.S. cities citing the Sept. 11 commission report as proof that it has been a loyal ally in the fight against al-Qaida.


Mexican Migrant Seeks U.S. Work Visa (AP)

AP - Omar Garcia Escobedo's family thought their 25-year-old son had, like so many other migrants seeking work in the United States, drowned trying to cross the treacherous, fast flowing Rio Grande River.


Stressed, Depressed Japan Princess May Visit Brunei (Reuters)

Reuters - Japan's Crown Princess Masako, who\officials say is suffering from a mental disorder caused by the\stress of adapting to royal life, may emerge from months of\seclusion in September to attend a wedding in the tiny\southeast Asian nation of Brunei, a court official said on\Tuesday.


Nepal Army on Alert, Hotel Shut After Bombs

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal put its security forces on  alert on Tuesday to counter a threat by Maoist guerrillas to  blockade the capital, as tourists moved out of a luxury hotel  after a bomb blast blamed on the rebels.


Motorola Expects Strong Sales Growth

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Motorola Inc., the world's  second-largest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday it expects  to sustain strong sales growth in the second half of 2004  thanks to new handsets with innovative designs and features.


Fighting in Western Afghanistan Kills 3 (AP)

AP - Fighting between rival factions in western Afghanistan killed three militiamen and injured another seven, officials said Tuesday, despite the presence of government and U.S. troops.


Phelps's chase of Spitz mark? It's history

This was the event Michael Phelps didn't really need to compete in if his goal was to win eight golds. He probably would have had a better chance somewhere else.


US dominance an impossible dream

It has come to this: Good thing we're in the easy bracket. The United States men's basketball team is in Pool B, along with Greece, Australia, Lithuania, Angola, and, of course, Puerto Rico, the feisty little brother who enjoyed a pretty big laugh at the expense of Uncle Sam's boys Sunday night. Most of the serious teams are ...


Rangers remain in step

Brian Jordan hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and the Texas Rangers extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Cleveland Indians last night.


Watson holdout ends

After an 18-day holdout during which he parted ways with his second agent (IMG's Tom Condon , who replaced Darrell Wills , formerly of IMG but now decertified) and hired a third ( Pat Dye Jr. ), first-round pick Benjamin Watson signed a six-year contract and reported to training camp yesterday.


A bit of a head-scratcher

In many professional leagues recently, the defending champion has had a smooth start to the season. Mexico proved to be an exception, though, as UNAM Pumas fell to Tecos, 1-0, losing two players and coach Hugo Sanchez to ejections Sunday.


Czech hockey coach Hlinka dies after car crash

Ivan Hlinka, a former Pittsburgh Penguins coach who led the Czech Republic to a gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, died yesterday after being injured in a car crash. He was 54.


Bronze is golden to Methuen's Pedro

Standing in the snow at a medal celebration at the 2002 Winter Games at Salt Lake City, Jimmy Pedro had a sudden inspiration. He took out his cellphone and called his wife, Marie, back in Methuen, Mass.


Greeks get surprise gold in synchronized diving

It was a glorious surprise, igniting a party complete with song and dance: The Greeks won the first gold medal of their hometown Olympics with an unexpected victory last night in synchronized diving.


McCool not getting off the mat

The US women's gymnastics team, which wlll go after Olympic gold tonight, will be doing it without Courtney McCool , whom the coaching staff left off the roster after she had a rough night in Sunday's prelims.


Red Sox and Patriots ceremoniously beaten

Boston sports fans have a track record. Predictably, we watch the Red Sox, Patriots, and big events. So it gets interesting when they go head to head, as they did Friday night. A look at the ratings confirms that the Olympics qualify as an extremely big event.


Today's schedule

Pro baseball: Red Sox vs. Toronto at Fenway Park, 7 p.m.; Atlantic League -- Nashua vs. Camden at Holman Stadium, Nashua, 6:30 p.m.; International League -- Pawtucket vs. Buffalo at McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket, R.I., 7 p.m.; Eastern League: Portland vs. New Britain at Hadlock Field, Portland, Maine, 7 p.m.; Northeast League -- Brockton vs. New Haven at Campanelli Stadium, Brockton, ...


Israel to Build New Housing Units (AP)

AP - The Israeli government on Tuesday invited construction bids for 1,001 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an official said, in direct violation of a U.S.-backed peace plan calling for a settlement freeze.


Sharon 'backs settlement homes'

Reports say Israeli PM Ariel Sharon has given the green light to new homes in West Bank settlements.


Oprah to sit on murder trial jury

US television host Oprah Winfrey is picked to sit on the jury for a murder trial in her home city of Chicago.


Motorola Expects Strong Sales Growth (Reuters)

Reuters - Motorola Inc., the world's\second-largest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday it expects\to sustain strong sales growth in the second half of 2004\thanks to new handsets with innovative designs and features.


U.S. Handling of Helicopter Crash Irks Okinawa (Reuters)

Reuters - Cities in Okinawa expressed outrage at\the U.S. military on Tuesday for refusing to allow Japanese\police investigate the wreckage of a Marine helicopter that\crashed in the grounds of a university there last week.


Testimony Opens in 9/11 Retrial Case (AP)

AP - A witness who knew the Hamburg-based Sept. 11 hijackers outlined the group's hatred of Israel and said its members believed suicide attacks were legitimate as testimony opened Tuesday in the retrial of a Moroccan accused of helping the pilots.


Home PCs to get key Windows fix

PC owners will be able to download a major security update for Windows XP as from Wednesday.


Science creates 'own mavericks'

Britain's scientific community fuels controversies by shunning colleagues with rebel ideas, research suggests.


Ward, Pujols, Jones Put Up Big Numbers (AP)

AP - Daryle Ward, Albert Pujols and Chipper Jones had big nights at the plate at the expense of National League pitchers.


Olympics: Greeks Dive for Joy, More Gold for Thorpe

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece was plunged in national  self-satisfaction on Tuesday after its synchronized divers won  the host nation's first gold medal of the Athens Olympics.


India agree contracts

India players agree central contracts for the first time, with top stars netting a basic salary of 59,000.


Mortar Attack in Central Baghdad Kills 5

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents fired a mortar on a busy street in central Baghdad on Tuesday, killing five people and wounding 30, the Interior Ministry and hospital officials said.    Iraqi officials had earlier reported the explosion was a car bomb, but later corrected that account...


Oil Slips Below \$46 on Venezuela, Russia

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Tuesday as fears of  supply disruptions in Venezuela and Russia receded following a  convincing referendum victory for Venezuelan President Hugo  Chavez and after Russia's YUKOS said it had received an  assurance on September exports.


Crack Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Site Offer Save 30 at The Reg Bookshop


Burundi Army Says Might Enter Congo After Massacre (Reuters)

Reuters - The Burundian army said on Tuesday it\might cross into neighboring Congo to pursue rebels and militia\it blames for massacring 160 Congolese Tutsi refugees at a camp\in western Burundi.


New Flightless Bird Species Found Off Philippines (Reuters)

Reuters - Scientists have discovered a new\species of flightless bird on a remote island in the\Philippines, the conservation group BirdLife International said\on Tuesday.


Macromedia to bolster video on the Web

Macromedia on Tuesday is announcing a video kit to enable users of its authoring tools suite, Macromedia Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional, to more easily add video to their Web sites.


Olympics: China Halfway to Completing Medals Plan

ATHENS (Reuters) - China led the Olympic medal race going  into the fourth day of competition on Tuesday with 10 golds.


NY Seen Steady; Eyes on AMAT, Motorola (Reuters)

Reuters - Wall Street was set for a steady start\on Tuesday as crude oil prices eased, with results from chip\group Applied Materials (AMAT.O) and inflation data a focus,\while shares in a bullish Motorola (MOT.N) may rise.


Burundi Army Says Might Enter Congo After Massacre

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - The Burundi army said on Tuesday it  might cross into neighboring Congo to pursue rebels and militia  it blames for massacring 160 Congolese Tutsi refugees at a camp  in western Burundi.


Home Depot Quarterly Profit Rises (Reuters)

Reuters - Home Depot Inc. (HD.N), the world's\largest home improvement retailer, on Tuesday said quarterly\profit rose, topping estimates, as technology upgrades and\other store improvements helped boost sales.


Home Depot Quarterly Profit Rises

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc. HD.N, the world's  largest home improvement retailer, on Tuesday said quarterly  profit rose, topping estimates, as technology upgrades and  other store improvements helped boost sales.


Dollar Mired Near Lows Before U.S. Data

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar hovered near a one-month low  against the euro on Tuesday as investors awaited U.S. inflation  data later in the day for clues on the future path of interest  rates.


American Allies Embrace U.S. Military Plan (AP)

AP - American allies Japan and Australia embraced a new U.S. plan to restructure its forces abroad, while Russia said it was not concerned by the proposal. But Germany, home to 70,000 U.S. soldiers, said any withdrawal from the former Cold War frontier may hurt its economy.


Taiwan Offers Compromise on Direct China Links

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian proposed  on Tuesday to define direct transport links with rival China as  cross-Strait routes, in a bid to bypass a longstanding  political dispute, but Beijing is likely to ignore him.


Baghdad Blast Kills Seven, Najaf Fighting Rages

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A shell killed seven people in a busy  Baghdad street on Tuesday and U.S. forces fought pitched  battles with Shi'ite militia in the holy city of Najaf.


Oil giant Yukos in plea for time

Russian oil giant Yukos is to ask a Moscow court for more time to pay its tax bill.


Finance workers in union merger

A total of 140,000 members at union Unifi are absorbed into Amicus to create a 'super-union' for UK finance workers.


IT managers prescribe holistic security

Reg Reader Studies But don't swallow own medicine


UK gamers rush to snap up Doom 3

The eagerly anticipated Doom 3 has stormed to the top of the UK games charts.


Wanted: Sleeping Space for Protesters. Hot Water Optional.

The protesters coming to New York are receiving an outpouring of hospitality from scores of people who are opening their homes as temporary, free shelter.


Dollar Mired Near Lows Before U.S. Data (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar hovered near a one-month low\against the euro on Tuesday as investors awaited U.S. inflation\data later in the day for clues on the future path of interest\rates.


Home Depot Profit Tops Estimates on Sales

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc. HD.N on Tuesday  reported a 19 percent rise in second-quarter profit, topping  estimates, as technology upgrades and other store improvements  helped boost sales.


Warming threatens California wine

California is to get hotter and drier by the end of the century, threatening its valuable wine industry.


North Korea Talks Still On, China Tells Downer

BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea's refusal to take part in  working-level talks on the nuclear crisis prompted a diplomatic  flurry on Tuesday with China, the host of the talks, at the  heart of efforts to keep the process on track.


Israel Invites Bids in Construction Plan (AP)

AP - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has approved bids for construction of 1,000 homes in Jewish West Bank settlements after freezing them earlier this month, amid growing friction with the United States over continued settlement expansion.


Higher oil prices to trim China's 2004 GDP growth (AFP)

AFP - Surging oil prices could moderate China's economy this year as rising costs push inflation higher, hitting corporate profits and consumer pocket books, analysts and state press said.


Motorola Expects Strong Sales Growth

Motorola Inc., the world's\second-largest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday it expects\to sustain strong sales growth in the second half of 2004\thanks to new handsets with innovative designs and features.


Soldering Surprise

There's nothing routine about working in space, as astronaut Mike Fincke found out recently when he did some soldering onboard the International Space Station.


U.S. Gymnasts End Rebuilding With Silver (AP)

AP - Twenty years later, the boys are back on the medal stand.


Three Members of Bhutto's Party Killed (AP)

AP - Unidentified gunmen opened fire on supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's party ahead of a key by-election, killing three people, police said Tuesday.


Sharon Allows 1,000 More Settler Homes in West Bank

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has  approved building tenders for 1,000 more Israeli settlement  homes in the occupied West Bank frozen earlier to avoid  upsetting the United States, political sources said on Tuesday.


Staples Posts Sharply Higher Profit (Reuters)

Reuters - Staples Inc. (SPLS.O), the top U.S.\office products retailer, on Tuesday reported a 39 percent jump\in quarterly profit as a weaker dollar boosted results abroad\and initial back-to-school demand drove sales.


Vote now to name BSA's antipiracy weasel

Poll The Mother of all Mustelid polls


Russian Court Rejects Researchers' Appeal (AP)

AP - The Russian Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from an arms control researcher who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason in what rights advocates have called a politically motivated case.


Blu-ray burns for interactive content

Flashy features could tempt consumers--and that tempts Hollywood, which could help Blu-ray beat out a rival technology.


Standards battle could shoot both sides in foot

Tussle over next-generation DVD format could alienate consumers.\


Revealing Hospital Gowns Redesigned

PORTLAND, Maine - Whether its blue or spotted or stripped, the standard issue hospital gown is drafty and revealing. It's embarrassing for just about anyone who's spent a night in a medical center...


Stocks to Be in a Cautious Mood at Open

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks are seen in a cautious mood at the open Tuesday as investors weigh up the merits of Monday's oil-inspired rally...


Hostile Takeover

The battle moves to the political arena as Taipei and Beijing wrap up their wargames


Giving Back Hope

A controversial procedure for injured spines has turned a Beijing hospital into a medical mecca\


Home Depot Rises Before the Bell

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares in Home Depot Inc. HD.N rose  before the opening bell on Tuesday after the world's largest  home improvement retailer reported a 19 percent rise in  second-quarter profit.


BOFH takes a hit from Cupid's arrow

Episode 26 Shall I compare thee to an OS2-free Intel box?


Nortel Says Canada Plans Accounting Probe

Nortel Networks Corp. said on Monday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told\the company it will begin a criminal investigation into


Two Plead Not Guilty in Hacking Case

Two men accused of aiding a Romanian man charged with hacking into the online ordering system of the world's largest computer equipment distributor pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.


Rival Targets Apple's ITunes Customers

For more than a year, Apple Computers Inc. enjoyed singular success selling songs exclusively to users of its iPod portable music player. Now, it's got rival RealNetworks Inc. trying to lure iTunes customers away.


Free-Speech for Online Gambling Ads Sought

The operator of a gambling news site on the Internet has asked a federal judge to declare that advertisements in U.S. media for foreign online casinos and sports betting outlets are protected by free-speech rights.


US hurricane victims face turmoil

Many victims of Florida's worst hurricane for years are still homeless, with no electricity or telephone services.


Google seeks OK to sell shares

Google has signaled that its share auction is nearly complete, asking the Securities and Exchange Commission for approval to begin selling 25.7 million shares of stock starting late this afternoon.


\$1.1b deal to join hospital chains

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- LifePoint Hospitals Inc. , an operator of acute care facilities in rural areas, outlined a deal yesterday to buy rival Province Healthcare Co. for about \$1.1 billion in cash and stock.


J.C. Penney Posts Second-Quarter Profit (Reuters)

Reuters - Department store operator J.C. Penney\Co. Inc. (JCP.N) on Tuesday posted a second-quarter profit,\reversing a year-earlier loss, helped by inventory controls and\strong department store sales.


German investor confidents slides on high oil prices (AFP)

AFP - Investor confidence in Germany has declined more sharply than anticipated, a major economic think tank said, as high oil prices put a damper on hopes of a continuation of the nascent recovery.


J.C. Penney Posts Second-Quarter Profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Department store operator J.C. Penney  Co. Inc. JCP.N on Tuesday posted a second-quarter profit,  reversing a year-earlier loss, helped by inventory controls and  strong department store sales.


Staples Profit Up Sharply, to Enter China

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Staples Inc. SPLS.O, the top U.S.  office products retailer, on Tuesday reported a 39 percent jump  in quarterly profit, raised its full-year forecast and said it  plans to enter the fast-growing Chinese market.


Estee Lauder Quarterly Profit Climbs

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cosmetics manufacturer Estee Lauder  Cos. Inc. EL.N on Tuesday posted a bigger quarterly profit,  bolstered by sales in Europe and an improving U.S. retail  market.


BJ's Profit Rises; Food, Gas Sales Strong

CHICAGO (Reuters) - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. BJ.N on  Tuesday posted higher quarterly profit as soaring gasoline  prices and strong demand for food boosted sales.


PalmOne Unveils SD Wi-Fi Card (PC World)

PC World - Tiny 802.11b adapter will work with Zire 72, Tungsten T3 handhelds.


Americans Miss Cut

In a stunning blow to the U.S., Americans Ian Crocker and Jason Lezak miss the cut in the 100-meter freestyle preliminaries.


Twins of the world unite in France (AFP)

AFP - A tiny French village in Brittany -- the self proclaimed capital of twin-dom -- has played host to an international gathering of thousands of identical twins, triplets and quadruplets.


Developing states to seek voice in fighting terror (Reuters)

Reuters - Developing nations launched their annual diplomatic summit on Tuesday with a plea to the United States and other powerful countries to consult them on tackling terror and resolving the Middle East conflict


Symantec Upgrades Norton Security Products

Revamped Norton AntiVirus, Personal Firewall, and AntiSpam tools fight pests and dangers online.


Afghan president gains backing of militia commanders ahead of polls (AFP)

AFP - A lieutenant of powerful northern warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostam pledged to back incumbent Hamid Karzai in the upcoming presidential vote and said 149 other military commanders would join him.


Iraqi Delegation Flies to Najaf in Peace Bid

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A delegation of Iraqi political and  religious leaders flew out of Baghdad on U.S. military  helicopters Tuesday, heading for Najaf in a bid to end a bloody  Shi'ite uprising, delegates said.


U.S. to Give Cuba  #36;50,000 Hurricane Aid (AP)

AP - Cubans hit hard by hurricane Charley will receive  #36;50,000 in U.S. assistance, the State Department said Friday.


Euro industrial production slows

Industrial production in the eurozone \falls by 0.4 in June from May, with Germany registering the biggest fall.


German welfare rallies escalate

Eastern Germany sees more mass protests over welfare cuts, with smaller rallies in western cities.


Ice yields ancient 'plant matter'

Scientists drilling ice cores in Greenland have recovered what appear to be plant remains from nearly 3km (two miles) below the surface.


Many engineers lack a four-year degree

The news comes as some observers warn that the United States needs to focus more on training scientists and engineers.


AMD begins shipments of Oakville mobile chips

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) has begun shipping commercial versions of its Athlon 64 processors made using a 90-nanometer process, marking another step forward in the company's transition to the more advanced manufacturing technology.


Google seeks to end auction Tuesday

Google Inc. wants to conclude its share auction Tuesday, setting the stage for its stock to go public Wednesday, according to a statement on its IPO (initial public offering) Web site.


Germany Shaken by U.S. Plans to Withdraw Troops

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government said on Tuesday  U.S. plans to pull out 30,000 troops were a sign of Europe's  divisions being healed, but communities hit by the decision  warned they were headed for economic disaster.


Americans Miss Cut in 100-Meter Freestyle

ATHENS, Greece - Top American sprinters Jason Lezak and Ian Crocker missed the cut in the Olympic 100-meter freestyle preliminaries Tuesday, a stunning blow for a country that had always done well in the event.    Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and Australian Ian Thorpe advanced to the evening semifinal a day after dueling teenager Michael Phelps in the 200 freestyle, won by Thorpe...


790,000 Still Have No Power in Florida

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - About 790,000 people remain without power in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, and officials estimate it could take weeks to get electricity fully restored...


'Boots' Takes Gold at the Ferret Olympics

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - While world-class athletes were grunting and groaning on the other side of the Atlantic Sunday, "Boots" went for the gold here in his own way...


Saks Posts Wider Second-Quarter Loss (Reuters)

Reuters - Saks Inc. (SKS.N) on Tuesday posted a\wider quarterly loss as poor sales at its lower-priced\department stores outweighed a strong performance at its Saks\Fifth Avenue luxury chain.


July Consumer Prices Drop, Energy Tumbles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices dropped in July  for the first time in eight months as a sharp run up in energy  costs reversed, the government said on Tuesday in a report  showing underlying inflation pressures largely in check.


Housing Starts Rebound Sharply in July

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Housing starts rebounded sharply in  July, making up almost all the ground lost in a June slump by  posting their largest monthly percentage gain since September  2002, a report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed.


Home Depot, Motorola Rise Before Bell

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Home Depot Inc. HD.N rose  before the opening bell on Tuesday after the world's largest  home improvement retailer reported a 19 percent rise in  second-quarter profit.


Researchers Develop Method to Find Algae (AP)

AP - Marine researchers are hoping to prevent tides of destructive algae from killing fish and fouling beaches through early detection of the microscopic organisms.


U.S. Brokers Cease-fire in Western Afghanistan

KABUL (Reuters) - The United States has brokered a  cease-fire between a renegade Afghan militia leader and the  embattled governor of the western province of Herat,  Washington's envoy to Kabul said Tuesday.  "Our expectation is that the agreement that has been made will  be honored," said ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, adding that the  cease-fire was due to take effect at 4 p.m.


Football: Liverpool sign Nunez

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez seals the signing of Antonio Nunez from Real Madrid.


July Consumer Prices Drop, Energy Tumbles (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. consumer prices dropped in July\for the first time in eight months as a sharp run up in energy\costs reversed, the government said on Tuesday in a report\showing underlying inflation pressures largely in check.


Housing Starts Rebound Sharply in July (Reuters)

Reuters - Housing starts rebounded sharply in\July, making up almost all the ground lost in a June slump by\posting their largest monthly percentage gain since September\2002, a report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed.


Consumer Prices Dip in July

Consumer prices, which have been buffeted this year by soaring energy costs, fell by 0.1 percent in July as gasoline costs posted their biggest decline in eight months, the government reported Tuesday.


Groups: Ill. Butterfly Population Falling (AP)

AP - The number of butterflies fluttering around the Chicago area has dropped dramatically this summer, experts and enthusiasts say.


Rescue workers comb storm-hit Cornish village after flash flood horror (AFP)

AFP - Rescue workers combed a coastal village in north Cornwall for missing persons after a flash flood sent a wall of water tearing through the picturesque tourist spot the day before.


Vietnam Hosts Investment Conference (AP)

AP - Hoping to boost business ties with Singapore, Vietnam's prime minister opened a forum here Tuesday with promises of economic reform and continued growth.


Auto Retailer CarMax Cuts Profit Outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - Auto retailer CarMax Inc. (KMX.N) on\Tuesday said it was cutting its second-quarter earnings\forecast due to slower-than-expected used-car sales.


Stocks Set to Open Up After Reports

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were set to open higher on  Tuesday after an economic report showed U.S. consumer prices  dropped in July for the first time in eight months and another  report said U.S. housing starts rebounded sharply in July.


Treasuries Edge Ahead on Inflation Relief

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasury debt prices firmed on Tuesday  after a key reading of U.S. inflation proved  softer-than-expected, a relief to investors in fixed-income  debt.


Chain Store Sales Growth Slows

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hurricanes Bonnie and Charley slowed  U.S. chain store sales growth in the latest week, a report said  on Tuesday.


Cool Weather Killed Gypsy Moths in Wis. (AP)

AP - Wisconsin's annual battle against a leaf-eating insect got some help from this spring's nasty weather, which resulted in a huge decline in tree defoliation, a state forestry expert said Monday.


Broadband offers magical journey

A 'magic carpet' to take children around the world is one of the projects that has won a community net award.


BHP Billiton year to June profit seen up sharply on higher prices, demand (AFP)

AFP - Australian resources firm BHP Billiton is expected to post sharply higher earnings in the year to June aided by rising commodities prices, high production levels and continued strong demand from China, analysts said.


Profits Up for Farm Equipment Maker Deere

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deere   Co. DE.N, one of the world's  largest farm equipment makers, on Tuesday said quarterly  earnings jumped sharply, driven in part by strength in its  agricultural and construction equipment businesses.


Oil Eases on Venezuela, Russia Optimism

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Tuesday as fears of  supply disruptions receded following a convincing referendum  victory in Venezuela for President Hugo Chavez and after  Russia's YUKOS said it had received a government assurance on  September exports.


Consumer Prices Fell Modestly in July

Consumer prices fell by 0.1 percent in July as gasoline costs posted their biggest decline in eight months, the government reported today.


Home Depot Reports 19 Percent Rise in Profits

Home Depot reported a jump in second-quarter profit on record sales as it benefited from strong performance in stores open at least a year.


Microsoft delays SP2 auto update

Slowdown will give big companies more time to hunt down compatibility problems, the company says.


Google set to list as soon as Wednesday (AFP)

AFP - Google Inc.'s hotly anticipated share listing appears set to launch as early as Wednesday.


IBM rolls out midrange eServer i5

IBM is filling in the center of its Power 5-based eServer i5 lineup on Tuesday, unwrapping a four-way system aimed at midsize companies looking to consolidate a variety of business applications.


NBA Olympians feel urgency after stunning loss (AFP)

AFP - Telephone calls from flabergasted friends back home have helped install a sense of urgency in the United States Olympic basketball team in the wake of their stunning loss to Puerto Rico.


Court to Consider Yukos' Plea on Tax Bill (AP)

AP - A Russian court on Tuesday was to consider the beleaguered Yukos oil company's appeal to suspend government efforts to collect  #36;3.4 billion in back taxes  #151; a massive bill that has put Russia's largest oil producer on the verge of ruin.


Iraq Peace Mission in Najaf; Baghdad Blast Kills 7

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi political and religious  leaders trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising flew into  Najaf Tuesday, where U.S. troops and militia fought pitched  battles near the country's holiest Islamic sites.


Ugandan Army Says Nine LRA Rebels Killed

KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) - Ugandan troops killed nine  Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels after a devastating raid on  the group's headquarters in southern Sudan scattered its main  force, the army said Tuesday.


Consumer Prices Drop, Housing Starts Soar (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. consumer prices dropped in July\for the first time in eight months as a sharp run up in energy\costs reversed, the government said on Tuesday in a report\showing inflation pressures largely in check.


Profits Up for Farm Equipment Maker Deere (Reuters)

Reuters - Deere   Co. (DE.N), one of the world's\largest farm equipment makers, on Tuesday said quarterly\earnings jumped sharply, driven in part by strength in its\agricultural and construction equipment businesses.


BJ's Wholesale Reports  #36;28M 2Q Profit (AP)

AP - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. said Tuesday that sales growth boosted second-quarter earnings 25 percent, and the bulk retailer disclosed it faces  #36;16 million in claims over the theft of some of its customers' credit and debit card information.


Last Call for Investors to Bid on Google

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Time is running out for prospective  investors to submit their offers to buy shares of Google Inc,  the Web's No. 1 search company.


HP's Unix base offered Opteron carrot

HP World Come for a stroll in the Sun


Exploring Venus: The Hothouse Planet

Before spaceprobes could photograph Venus up close, the second planet from the Sun was often compared to a sister world, much like the Earth. Planetary scientist, David Grinspoon, discusses with Astrobiology Magazine how that view evolved to consider the extremes encountered on the Venusian surface.


Yahoo Offering Cheaper Domain Names and Hosting\\Yahoo has changed their small business targeting approach by offering domain names for \$9.95 as part of an aggressive move to expand its presence in domains and small business web hosting. Yahoo is also beefing up its shared hosting accounts, offering 2 gigabytes of ...


Moldovan summertime 'Love Under a Lime Tree' sets European hips swinging (AFP)

AFP - Europe's youth has been singing in Romanian this summer thanks to a Moldovan boys band that has swept to the top of the charts across the continent.


Americans Falter in 100M Freestyle Prelims

ATHENS, Greece - Top American sprinters Jason Lezak and Ian Crocker missed the cut in the Olympic 100-meter freestyle preliminaries Tuesday, a stunning blow for a country that had always done well in the event.    Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and Australian Ian Thorpe advanced to the evening semifinal a day after dueling teenager Michael Phelps in the 200 freestyle, won by Thorpe...


Consumer Prices Fall As Gas Costs Drop

WASHINGTON - Consumer prices, which have been buffeted this year by soaring energy costs, fell by 0.1 percent in July as gasoline costs posted their biggest decline in eight months, the government reported Tuesday.    The Labor Department said the decline in its closely watched Consumer Price Index was the first decrease since a 0.2 percent drop last November, a decline which also reflected a decline in energy costs...


U.S. July Output Up; Factories Run Faster

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. industrial output advanced in  July, as American factories operated at their highest capacity  in more than three years, a Federal Reserve report on Tuesday  showed.


Google IPO Auction to End Tonight

Google IPO Auction to End Tonight\\Google has requested that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declare the Google IPO registration statement effective at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, according to the Google IPO page: www.ipo.google.com. After an IPO registration statement is declared effective, the stock can be ...


U.S. Brokers Cease-fire in Western Afghanistan (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States has brokered a\cease-fire between a renegade Afghan militia leader and the\embattled governor of the western province of Herat,\Washington's envoy to Kabul said Tuesday.


Warming threatens California wine

California will become hotter and drier by the end of the century, threatening its valuable wine and dairy industries, US experts say.


Phaithful Phlock to the Phinish as the 21-Year Jam Ends in Tears

Phish made its farewell in Vermont this past weekend in true Phish style: playing its own musical marathon, swarmed by adoring fans and isolated from the rest of the world.


Stocks Open Higher on Housing, CPI Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday  after two separate reports showed inflationary pressure was  held in check in July and U.S. housing starts rebounded sharply  in the same month.


Iraqi Peace Mission in Najaf; Baghdad Blast Kills 7

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi political and religious  leaders trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising flew into  Najaf Tuesday, where U.S. troops and militia fought pitched  battles near the country's holiest Islamic sites.


U.S. July Output Up; Factories Run Faster (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. industrial output advanced in\July, as American factories operated at their highest capacity\in more than three years, a Federal Reserve report on Tuesday\showed.


Last Call for Investors to Bid on Google (Reuters)

Reuters - Time is running out for prospective\investors to submit their offers to buy shares of Google Inc,\the Web's No. 1 search company.


Intel Delays Digital TV Chips (PC World)

PC World - Chip maker postpones yet another product launch.


Greek Athletes Shocked by Accusations

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's top two athletes, facing a  state prosecutor's investigation over missed drug tests and a  motorbike crash, left hospital Tuesday declaring they were  innocent and should be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games.


Fish Dumped at Landmark in Pollution Protest (Reuters)

Reuters - Environment activists piled thousands of\dead fish at the foot of Berlin's biggest tourist attraction,\the Brandenburg Gate, Tuesday in a demonstration against\over-fishing and pollution in the North Sea.


Auto Retailer CarMax Trims Outlook

DETROIT (Reuters) - Auto retailer CarMax Inc. KMX.N on  Tuesday cut its second-quarter earnings forecast due to  slower-than-expected used-car sales, sparking a 3.7 percent  drop in its shares.


Home Depot Sees 2Q Profit Jump

The Home Depot Inc. reported a nearly 19 percent jump in second-quarter profit on record sales as it benefited from strong performance in stores open at least a year. It also raised its earnings outlook for the year.


Final frontier: 'Star Wars Trilogy' on DVD (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Fans and retailers alike are preparing for the assault of the most anticipated DVD of them all: the Star Wars Trilogy.


Stock lawsuit possible in telecom merger plan (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Former MediaOne Group executives are exploring a class-action lawsuit over Cingular's insistence that AT amp;T Wireless stock options, issued by the millions to employees and former employees of MediaOne, AT amp;T and AT amp;T Wireless, be exercised as soon as the merger closes, people involved in the effort say.


Autodesk: Piracy in India Costs Us  #36;367M (AP)

AP - American design software developer Autodesk Inc. said Tuesday it is losing  #36;367 million in potential revenues each year because of software piracy in India.


IBM Adds New Power5  iSeries Server (Ziff Davis)

Ziff Davis - The company introduces a new midrange server and expands management and support across the i5 server line.


Blind Students to Help Launch NASA Rocket

By ALEX DOMINGUEZ    BALTIMORE (AP) -- A dozen blind students from across the United States are at a summer camp this week working on a project most don't associate with the visually impaired - launching a NASA rocket.    The students are designing and preparing the rocket's payload at the National Federation of the Blind's Jernigan Institute in Baltimore...


Scientist Advocates for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

By KATHARINE WEBSTER     MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- A Nobel laureate in medicine says the Bush administration's limits on funding for embryonic stem cell research have stopped the clock on American scientists' efforts to develop treatments for a host of chronic, debilitating diseases...


The Playboy Google Interview

The Google Playboy Interview In Its Entirety\\The infamous Playboy Interview of Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the Google Guys, is now not only available on newsstands all over the country, but also on the Security Exchange Commission's website because of a possible SEC violation. Now, it will be more difficult ...


Text Message Leads Police to Killers (AP)

AP - A Belgian teenager fired off a mobile phone text message to her father that his live-in girlfriend was trying to kill her in a plea for help just before she died, authorities said.


Deere Earnings Jump, Raises 2004 Forecast

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deere   Co. DE.N, one of the world's  largest farm equipment makers, on Tuesday said quarterly  earnings jumped sharply, driven in part by strength in its  agricultural and construction equipment businesses.


Real is playing for keeps in music price war (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - RealNetworks today is slashing the price of a digital download to 49 cents a song from 99 cents - a bold move in the war over digital music.


RealNetworks Tries to Core Apple

RealNetworks launched round two in its heavyweight digital music match against Apple Computer, slashing the cost of its music downloads to take business away from Apple's iTunes download service. -washingtonpost.com


Rival Targets Apple's ITunes Music Customers

By ALEX VEIGA    LOS ANGELES (AP) -- For more than a year, Apple Computers Inc. enjoyed singular success selling songs exclusively to users of its iPod portable music player...


Intel Delays Launch of New Projection TV Chip

By MATTHEW FORDAHL    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- In another product postponement, semiconductor giant Intel Corp. (INTC) said it won't be offering a chip for projection TVs by the end of 2004 as it had announced earlier this year...


Bikes Bring Internet to Indian Villagers

By S. SRINIVASAN    BITHOOR, India (AP) -- For 12-year-old Anju Sharma, hope for a better life arrives in her poor farming village three days a week on a bicycle rickshaw that carries a computer with a high-speed, wireless Internet connection...


MSN Closes Search Engine Technology Preview\\Microsoft's MSN has closed down the preview/beta page of MSN Search Engine Technology ResearchBuzz reports. \\Trying to access it now gets you this page which includes the text "Once we are ready, we will release another preview of our new algorithmic search engine." I'm glad ...


NHL Labor Negotiations Set to Resume (AP)

AP - With two fruitless negotiating sessions behind them and only one month left before an NHL lockout, the league and the players association will return to the bargaining table Tuesday.


Dollar Gains on Euro After Muted U.S. CPI

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar posted gains against the  euro on Tuesday, digesting a slew of U.S. economic data that  failed to substantially alter expectations for Federal Reserve  interest rate hikes.


High oil prices hit China growth

Rising oil prices are expected to hit China's growth rate this year.


US prices in surprise July slide

US consumer prices  fell by 0.1 in July, the first fall this year, reducing the chances of a September interest rate rise.


RealNetworks Tries to Core Apple (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - RealNetworks really knows how to pick a fight. First, the Seattle-based company landed a sucker punch on Apple Computer last month with its new Harmony technology that allows songs sold from Real's online music store to play on Apple's iPod digital music player.


Google IPO Awaits Final Approval

In a sign that Google Inc. (GOOG)'s initial public offering is imminent, the Internet search company has asked federal regulators to give final approval to the paperwork required for its stock sale.


Charges laid against eight British terror suspects (AFP)

AFP - Eight men arrested in an anti-terror swoop in London and other parts of England two weeks ago were charged with conspiracy to murder and other terrorist-related activities.


Father of Pakistan Al Qaeda Suspect Files Petition

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The father of a computer engineer  detained in Pakistan last month for suspected links with al  Qaeda filed a petition Tuesday calling for his son to be  produced in court and urging authorities not to extradite him.


Eight men face terror charges

Police in the UK charge eight men with terror offences, including conspiracy to murder.


Protester sparks security review

Olympics organisers order tighter security after a man leaps into the pool during a synchronised diving final.


Man charged with killing ex-miner

A 42-year-old man is charged with killing a former miner who was found on his Nottinghamshire doorstep.


Iraqis on Mission to End Najaf Insurgency

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's national conference sent a delegation bearing a peace proposal to Najaf on Tuesday, hoping to end the standoff with radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, which has marred the gathering meant to be a landmark step toward democracy.    As the National Conference in Baghdad put together the mission, a mortar round exploded several miles from the gathering's venue, killing seven people and wounding wounding 35, according to the Health Ministry...


Sharon Resumes West Bank Construction

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has approved bids for construction of 1,000 homes in Jewish West Bank settlements after freezing them earlier this month, amid growing friction with the United States over continued settlement expansion.    The planned construction violates the internationally backed "road map" plan, accepted by Israel, which calls for a construction freeze...


Stocks Rise on Drop in Consumer Prices

NEW YORK - Stocks rose for a second straight session Tuesday as a drop in consumer prices and a decline in crude oil futures Tuesday allowed investors to put aside worries about inflation, at least for the short term. The Dow Jones industrial average pushed past the 10,000 mark for the first time in nearly two weeks...


Sharon Resumes West Bank Construction

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has approved bids for construction of 1,000 homes in Jewish West Bank settlements after freezing them earlier this month, amid growing friction with the United States over continued settlement expansion.


Estee Lauder Profit Up, Shares Down (Reuters)

Reuters - Cosmetics manufacturer Estee Lauder\Cos. Inc. (EL.N) on Tuesday said quarterly net income jumped 51\percent, bolstered by new product sales and an improving U.S.\retail market.


Treasuries Up, Rate Hike Still in Offing (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Treasury debt made moderate gains\on Tuesday after a key reading of U.S. inflation proved softer\than expected, a relief to investors in fixed-income debt.


US industrial production rises 0.4 percent in July (AFP)

AFP - American industry lifted output moderately in July, the Federal Reserve said, a sign the economy may be finding its feet after a mid-summer slip.


Stocks Up, Data Shows Inflation in Check

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks gained on Tuesday after  two separate economic reports showed inflationary pressure was  held in check in July and U.S. housing starts rebounded sharply  in the same month.


Kenteris protests innocence

Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris insists he is not a drug cheat as he leaves hospital.


British eventers slip back

Great Britain slip down to third after the cross-country round of the three-day eventing.


Drug Shows Promise for Alcoholism

Topiramate reduced cravings in small study    HealthDayNews -- A drug called topiramate shows promise as a potential new treatment for alcoholism, according to a study in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical   Experimental Research.    This early-stage study of 150 people with alcohol dependence found that topiramate can reduce self-reported drinking and may reduce self-reported craving for alcohol...


UAE wins first Olympic gold

Ahmed al-Maktoum becomes the first Olympic medallist from the UAE with gold in the men's double shooting trap.


Last Call for Investors to Bid on Google

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Time is running out for prospective investors to submit their offers to buy shares of Google Inc, the Web #39;s No. 1 search company.


Oil Falls on Reduced Concern About Venezuelan, Russian Supply

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil futures fell for a second day after a Russian state railway official said shipments of Yukos Oil Co. oil would continue and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won a recall vote.


Can Glaser, Jobs find harmony?

RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser has survived longer than most in the Internet business, largely by pulling rabbits out of his hat when the competition least expects it.


PCI: Charley not as devastating as Andrew

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), the group from which member companies write about a third of Florida homeowners insurance, said initial reports from claims adjusters indicate damage from Hurricane Charley, while extensive, was ...


Stocks Rise on Drop in Consumer Prices

A drop in consumer prices and a decline in crude oil futures Tuesday allowed investors to put aside worries about inflation, at least for the short term, and they sent stocks modestly higher.


Apax and Permira finalise \$5bn acquisition of moon-landing firm

The company that broadcast the moon landings in 1969 and kept the  quot;Hotline quot; open between the White House and the Kremlin during the Seventies has been sold for \$5bn (2.7bn), including \$2bn of debt, to a private equity ...


US Air to Seek 5-Year Extension for Pension Fund Payments

S Airways, facing a cash shortage as it tries to avoid another bankruptcy filing, said yesterday that it would seek government permission to stretch out \$67.5 million in contributions it owes to the pensions of its mechanics and ...


Housing Starts Rebound Sharply in July

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Housing starts rebounded sharply in July, making up almost all the ground lost in a June slump by posting their largest monthly percentage gain since September 2002, a report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed.


Mills to pay GM unit \$1 bln for stakes in 9 malls

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Mills Corp. (MLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , a real estate investment trust, on Tuesday said it agreed to buy a 50 percent managing stake in nine regional malls from General Motors Corp. #39;s (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) ...


OFT invites comment on Telegraph deal

The Office of Fair Trading has set the clock ticking on the process that could see the Barclay brothers #39; deal to buy the Daily Telegraph reviewed by competition watchdogs.


Cantor Fitzgerald spinning off unit

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Institutional broker Cantor Fitzgerald said Tuesday it #39;s spinning off its fixed-income voice brokerage operations into a new partnership, and will focus on expansion of its remaining institutional fixed-income and equity business.


Around Asia #39;s Markets: Shopping your way to better returns

Singapore real estate investment trusts such as CapitaMall Trust may outperform the market this year as acquisitions of shopping malls and industrial buildings bolster rental income.


Microsoft delays SP2 auto update

Microsoft is delaying distribution of Windows XP Service Pack 2 via its Automatic Update service by at least nine days in order to give corporate customers more time to temporarily block automatic downloading of SP2 by their employees.


New moons for Saturn

Two small moons have been discovered orbiting Saturn by NASA #39;s Cassini-Huygens probe. The find, which was announced yesterday, raises Saturn #39;s satellite count to 33.


Intel Delays LCOS chips for HDTV

LCOS technology sandwiches a layer of liquid crystal between a cover glass and a highly reflective, mirror-like surface patterned with pixels that sits on top of a silicon chip. These layers form a microdisplay that can be used in projection displays such ...


Intel delays delivery of chip for projection TVs - report

BEIJING (AFX-ASIA) - Intel Corp said it is delaying the delivery of its first chip for projection television sets, while rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc is moving on schedule to an advanced manufacturing process, the Wall Street Journal reported.


CA moves to tackle spyware

In a move to round out its computer security offerings, Computer Associates International Inc. yesterday said it acquired Pest Patrol Inc., a Carlisle, Pa., company that specializes in software to detect and eradicate malicious spyware.


Hunters are poised as some whales thrive

CAP DE BON DSIR, Quebec A few miles from this spit along the pink granite coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, there is a sheltered cove that has witnessed the full span of the human relationship with whales.
Save the whales! Then what? Atlanta nbsp;Journal nbsp;Constitution nbsp;(subscription)


PalmOne Unveils Wi-Fi SD Card

If you own a Zire 72 or Tungsten T3 and have been longing for better wireless connectivity than their built-in Bluetooth, help is on the way: PalmOne has announced a Wi-Fi SD card for those handhelds.


IBM seeks dismissal of breach of contract claims in SCO case

IBM has filed court documents seeking a dismissal of a second major component of the lawsuit filed against it last year by Unix supplier SCO.


Many engineers lack a four-year degree

More than one-fifth of US science and engineering workers do not have a bachelor #39;s degree, according to a new report from the National Science Foundation.


HP releases  quot;carrier quot; grade Linux for pigeons

HP, THE SELLER OF tin and fag-free utopian ideals is flogging commodity, standards-based hardware and software, including Carrier Grade Linux, to telephone company Motorola.


Police officer arrested in Internet sex sting

WHITE PLAINS, NY (AP) _ A city police officer was arrested at what he thought would be a sexual rendezvous with a teenage boy, six months after he was caught calling himself a  quot;boy hunter quot; in an Internet chat profile, officials said.


Researchers Develop Method to Find Algae

HOUSTON - Marine researchers are hoping to prevent tides of destructive algae from killing fish and fouling beaches through early detection of the microscopic organisms.


Indian researcher designs revolutionary low cost PC for the poor

Professor Raj Reddy, an Indian researcher in artificial intelligence and a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.Has designed a wirelessly networked personal computer worth just 250 US dollars intended for the four billion people around the world who ...


3Com partners with wireless switch start-up

3Com is the latest networking company to partner with a wireless LAN switching start-up. 3Com said Monday it will begin reselling a version of the Mobility Exchange Switch and management software from Trapeze Networks under the 3Com brand later this year.


Coral gets its color from bacteria

The soft orange glow of a common Caribbean coral comes not from the coral itself but from bacteria that live inside it, US scientists said last week. And the bacteria not only give the coral a little night light, but they also break down seawater to help ...


2004 Global nanotech spending report

Lux Research Inc., a New York-based nanotechnology firm has released a detailed report that suggests global spending on research and capital investment in nanotechnology will reach \$8.6 this year. More than half that figure, \$4.6 billion, will come in the ...


WholeSecurity takes phish-blocking to browser

WholeSecurity Inc has released technology that the firm says can be used to block web users from inadvertently accessing phishing web sites. The company has signed eBay Inc as a flagship customer, and has the software on millions of desktops.


MyDoom worm still causing problems

The experts claim hackers have compromised these sites by exploiting scripting vulnerabilities in their guestbooks.


Hall-of-Fame credentials

HAVEN, Wis. -- An official from the World Golf Hall of Fame joined a casual conversation last year about players on the verge of election and someone mentioned Vijay Singh.  quot;He wouldn #39;t get my vote, quot; the official said.


Plenty of Room at the Inns of Athens

Description: In the weeks leading up to the Olympic games in Athens, hotels were expecting huge crowds to flood the city. Lagging ticket sales at Olympic venues seem to have trickled into the hotel business as well, as crowds have failed to show up as ...


Pratt advances to third round

Australia #39;s Nicole Pratt has advanced to the third round of the tennis event at the Athens Olympics with a three-set win over Italian Tathiana Garbin.


West Indies thrashed by England

JUST yesterday, it looked as though West Indies had a chance to finally win their first match in 2004 against England. How quickly that faded away! Simply put, West Indies lost the plot. England, behind on first innings, did just enough to ...


Yao #39;s 39 carries China past New Zealand

ATHENS, Greece - Yao Ming bounced back from a rough opening game with 39 points and 13 rebounds to lead China to a 69-62 victory over New Zealand in the men #39;s basketball Group A tournament Tuesday.


Olympics-Henin rust-free but Ferrero falters

ATHENS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Any hint of rust after a 12-week lay-off was long gone by the time Justine Henin-Hardenne took to the Olympic tennis court on Tuesday, a fact drummed mercilessly home to Venezuela #39;s Maria Vento-Kabchi.


Rugby-South Africa opt for Venter #39;s physical edge

DURBAN, Aug 17 (Reuters) - South Africa hope AJ Venter will add a physical edge to their play in the loose in the deciding Tri-Nations test against Australia in Durban on Saturday.


Vatican Says It #39;s Willing #39; to Help End Najaf (Correct)

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The Vatican is willing #39; #39; to help end fighting between militiamen loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi and US forces in Iraq #39;s holy city of Najaf, according to a statement on the Holy See #39;s Web ...


UK village wrecked by flash floods

Boscastle - Emergency services searched the wreckage of a picturesque English fishing village on Tuesday for 15 people unaccounted for after flash floods created a wall of water which tore through the valley.


China #39;s Appeal to North Korea: Attend Nuclear Working Talks

China has asked that North Korea attend working-level meetings ahead of the next round of six-party nuclear talks in Beijing.


Chess legend wedding bid  #39;genuine #39;

TOKYO, Japan -- The Japanese woman who plans to marry former world chess champion Bobby Fischer says their feelings are genuine.


Al Qaeda operative said to visit Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A senior Al Qaeda operative captured in Britain this month had traveled in March to a militant hideout near the Pakistan-Afghan border and met with other terror suspects, ...


German welfare rallies escalate

Thousands of people have marched through cities across Germany in renewed protests against welfare cuts.


Migrants #39; ordeal ugly side of paradise

Pleasant visions of fun in the sun in the Dominican Republic are being shattered by sad images of residents being smuggled away on wooden boats, only to perish at sea.


Tamil Tigers are unlikely to change their stripes (NEWS ANALYSIS) :

India News  gt; New Delhi, Aug 17 : For the first time since Sri Lanka #39;s peace process got under way in February 2002, Tamil Tiger guerrillas have come under flak from the West amid growing signs of a revival of the armed conflict.


Deaths in Nigerian cult clashes

At least 18 students have been killed in clashes between rival student gangs in south-eastern Nigeria.


Motorola Expects Strong Sales in 2nd Half

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Motorola Inc. MOT.N, the  second-largest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday it expects  to sustain strong sales growth in the second half of 2004 on  new handsets, sparking a 4.7 percent jump in its shares.


Work Works for Women

Women who work are healthier than women who don't have jobs, suggests a study presented Aug. 16 at the American Sociological Association annual meeting in San Francisco. The University of Pennsylvania study concluded the health benefits that women derive from working aren't diminished by longer work hours or combining longer work hours with those of a spouse.


Symantec to reinforce data protection

Company's upgrades will put a particular focus on protecting personal information from online thieves.


Google IPO Set to Trade this Week

On Monday, Google requested final approval from federal regulators to begin trading their stock. Google has asked that the SEC declare its registration statement effective as of 1 pm pacific time today. Google ...


European/US private equity consortium buys Intelsat in deal valued at \$5bn

An unusual alliance of US and European private equity firms has won the auction to buy Bermuda-based satellite business Intelsat. Europeans Apax and Permira and US firms Apollo Management and Madison Dearborn will pay \$3bn for the business and assume \$2bn ...


Windows Update

Operating systems just ain #39;t what they used to be. For a while, Microsoft released a new version of Windows every two or three yearseach creating a ripple effect on how we all used and thought about technology. But now, there #39;s a ...


New bird survives hungry Filipinos

Manila - A new species of flightless bird has been discovered living on a tiny island in the northern Philippines where the inhabitants formerly ate them, scientists and birdwatchers said on Tuesday.


Intel Delays Digital TV Chips

Intel #39;s LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) high-definition television chips first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January will not be released in time for next year #39;s show, as scheduled.


CA buys PestPatrol anti-spyware developer

Computer Associates said Monday it acquired PestPatrol, a firm marketing anti-spyware software to enterprises, small businesses and individual consumers.


KDE 3.3 Linux desktop closes in on Windows

The final release of KDE 3.3, an open-source Linux desktop environment, is due in a few days and will give users greatly improved email facilities.


Bill Simmons

I #39;m starting to wonder if  quot;Puerto Rico 92, USA 73 quot; was one of those life-altering upsets, along the lines of  quot;USA 4, USSR 3 quot; and  quot;Cadwallader 99, Nevada State 98. quot; It #39;s not that we lost. I knew that was going to happen. Even predicted it. It was the way ...


Nunez officially joins Liverpool

Liverpool, England (Sports Network) - Antonio Nunez arrived at Liverpool Tuesday as part of the deal that sent Michael Owen to Spanish giant Real Madrid.


Iranian judo scandal

Iran #39;s Judo champion, a favourite at the Athens Games, has disqualified himself rather than face an Israeli opponent, apparently on the instruction of Iran #39;s Olympic Committee. So far the International Olympic Committee has been silent. What #39;s your view? ...


The Boks Must Give Lame Kicks the Boot

THE Springboks will need to reduce the amount of possession they give away through errant kicking sharply if they are to limit Australia #39;s lethal counterattacking power in Saturday #39;s tri-nations clash in Durban.


Basketball: China #39;s Yao Takes Anger Out on New Zealand

ATHENS (Reuters) - An angry Yao Ming took his frustrations out on New Zealand at the Olympic men #39;s basketball tournament on Tuesday, pouring in 39 points as China beat the Kiwis 69-62.


Lara #39;s captaincy on the line at Oval

West Indies captain Brian Lara tips his helmet to the fans after becoming one of only four players to reach ten thousand runs in Test matches. Picture:AP ...


Americans lose second beach volleyball match

ATHENS, Greece (Ticker) -- The dream of a second consecutive beach volleyball gold medal has become all but impossible for American Dain Blanton.


Massacre Threatens to Derail Congolese Peace Process

The bodies of about 160 Congolese Tutsis killed in Burundi during the weekend were buried on Monday, but the impact of the massacre is just beginning to be felt. A former rebel group now in the transitional government in the Democratic Republic of Congo ...


Sharon Allows 1,000 More Settler Homes in West Bank

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved tenders to build 1,000 more Israeli settler homes in the occupied West Bank, plans that were shelved earlier to avoid discord with Washington, political sources said Tuesday.


Kidnap accused says he worked for US

A former American soldier accused of kidnapping and torturing terror suspects in Afghanistan has told a Kabul court that the FBI is withholding hundreds of documents showing that he was working for the US Government.


The New Woman in Schrder #39;s Life

Gerhard Schrder is no stranger to sharing his life with members of the opposite sex. On Monday, it was revealed that there was a new young lady on the scene: his freshly adopted three-year old daughter, Viktoria.


Sri Lankan navy detects Tamil rebels smuggling weapons

COLOMBO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan navy on Tuesday detected a trawler of the Tamil Tiger rebels suspected of smuggling weapons in seas close to Mullaitivu in northeast of the country, the Defense Ministry said.


HK government set to petition release of democrat jailed in China

HONG KONG : The Hong Kong government is interceding with the mainland authorities for the release of a legislator who was arrested and jailed in Guangdong.


Latham urges PM to remove public service gag

MARK COLVIN: The Opposition leader, Mark Latham, has challenged the Prime Minister to remove the gag that #39;s prevented senior government advisers, including those in the PM #39;s office, from talking about what happened in the  #39;children overboard #39; affair.


TeliaSonera acquires 100 pct of Lithuanian mobile company Omnitel (AFP)

AFP - The Swedish-Finnish telecommunications operator TeliaSonera said it had bought the remaining 10 percent stake in Lithuania's major mobile company Omnitel that it did not already own for 63.5 million dollars (51.4 million euros).


Matter of Time Before Tibet Lake Bursts -Official (Reuters)

Reuters - A Tibetan lake formed by a Himalayan\landslide is steadily rising and will sooner or later burst its\banks and flood a valley in neighboring India, a Chinese\official said on Tuesday.


Astronomers give Milky Way an age

Astronomers have estimated the age of our galaxy at about 13,600 million years old.


Livermore: No need for HP-UX on x86

CHICAGO -- This cannot be an easy time for Ann Livermore. When Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) missed Wall Street's earnings expectations late last week, the blame was placed squarely on the shoulders of the Enterprise Servers and Storage Group, one of the divisions she manages. "Unacceptable" problems within the group cost HP \$400 million in revenue and \$275 million in operating profit, said HP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina just hours before HP announced the sacking of three senior executives within the division.


Greek Athletes Shocked by Accusations

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) - Greece's top two athletes,  facing a state prosecutor's investigation over missed drug  tests and a motorbike crash, left a hospital Tuesday declaring  they were innocent and should be allowed to compete in the  Olympic Games.


Fish Knocks Off Ferrero

Mardy Fish turns things around for the biggest victory of his career, a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 comeback against former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.


Iverson Breaks Thumb

Allen Iverson breaks his right thumb but plans to play anyway Tuesday for the U.S. men's basketball team, which is coming off a loss to Puerto Rico.


Britain Charges Suspects in U.S.-Linked Terror Case (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain charged eight men on Tuesday\with conspiracy to murder and other terrorism charges, some\relating to plans for U.S. buildings such as the New York Stock\Exchange that were the subject of terrorism alerts this month.


Bollywood megastar Bachchan meets Pakistani students to boost ties (AFP)

AFP - Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan met with a group of Pakistani students as part of a wider initiative to deepen cultural ties between India and Pakistan.


Britain Charges Suspects in U.S.-Linked Terror Case

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain charged eight men on Tuesday  with conspiracy to murder and other terrorism charges, some  relating to plans for U.S. buildings such as the New York Stock  Exchange that were the subject of terrorism alerts this month.


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved  tenders to build 1,000 more Israeli settler homes in the  occupied West Bank, plans that were shelved earlier to avoid  discord with Washington, political sources said Tuesday.


Germany Shaken by U.S. Plans to Withdraw Troops

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany said Tuesday U.S. plans to pull  out 30,000 troops were a sign Europe's divisions had healed,  but communities hit by the decision warned they were headed for  economic disaster.


Home Depot Raises Outlook, Tops Estimates

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc. HD.N on Tuesday  reported a 19 percent rise in second-quarter profit, topping  estimates, as store renovations and efforts to improve service  drove higher average sales in every category.


Home Depot Writes Big Tickets

Shoppers spend more, giving the company yet another quarter of sales growth and even better earnings.


Pay Up for Growth

Legg Mason's Mary Chris Gay knows when to pay for growth and when to sell a stock.


Mounties open Nortel's books

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police formally launch a criminal investigation into company's accounting practices.


India makes Olympic breakthrough

Kashmir veteran Rajyavardhan Rathore wins India's first ever individual silver medal at the Olympic Games.


Israel Ends West Bank Construction Freeze

JERUSALEM - The Israeli government issued bids Tuesday for 1,000 new homes in Jewish West Bank settlements, insisting the construction has Washington's tacit approval even though it violates a U.S.-backed peace plan.    U.S...


Iverson Has Broken Thumb, but Will Play

ATHENS, Greece - Allen Iverson broke his right thumb but plans to play anyway Tuesday night for the U.S. Olympic basketball team, which is coming off an embarrassing loss to Puerto Rico in its opener...


Najaf Fighting Resumes Amid Peace Mission

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A pared-down delegation of Iraqis arrived in Najaf by helicopter Tuesday to present radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr with a peace proposal aimed at ending the violent insurgency wracking the holy city.    Despite the delegation's presence there, fighting intensified in Najaf, with at least one U.S...


Stocks Climb on Drop in Consumer Prices

NEW YORK - Stocks rose for a second straight session Tuesday as a drop in consumer prices Tuesday allowed investors to put aside worries about inflation, at least for the short term.    With gasoline prices falling to eight-month lows, the Consumer Price Index registered a small drop in July, giving consumers a respite from soaring energy prices...


US consumer prices post first decline in eight months

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- US consumer prices declined marginally in July, posting the first fall since last November, the Labor Department said in a report released Tuesday.


Lojack makes Canada move with Boomerang buy

The Westwood company is spending \$48 million to acquire Boomerang Tracking Inc., a Montreal company that operates a stolen car recovery system in Canada.


US July Output Up; Factories Run Faster

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US industrial output advanced in July, as American factories operated at their highest capacity in more than three years, a Federal Reserve report on Tuesday showed.


Researchers Find New Species of Bird

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino and British wildlife researchers say they #39;ve stumbled upon what appears to be a new species of flightless bird found only on the tiny forested island of Calayan in the northern ...


AMD ships 90nm chips

Sunnyvale-based computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., says it #39;s shipped its first low-power Mobile AMD Athlon 64 processors made with its new 90 nanometer (nm) manufacturing process.


Livermore: No need for HP-UX on x86

CHICAGO -- This cannot be an easy time for Ann Livermore. When Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) missed Wall Street #39;s earnings expectations late last week, the blame was placed squarely on the shoulders of ...


Astronomers give Milky Way an age

A team working with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile report that our galaxy is 13,600 million years old, give or take 800 million years.


I #39;m innocent, says Greek Olympic champion Kenteris

Olympic champion Kostas Kenteris, who is likely to be expelled from the Olympics for missing a doping test, said Tuesday that he is not a drugs cheat.


Life in Athens: From songs about Dutch swimmers to watching wedgies

You #39;ve heard of swimmer #39;s ear, but what about swimmer #39;s wave? It #39;s the odd way in which Olympic swimmers -- and many gymnasts -- acknowledge applause: By raising their arms to the sky, palms upward, then moving their hands about as if they #39;re changing ...


Sharon OKs 1,000 new settlement homes

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has approved tenders to build 1,000 more Israeli settler homes in the occupied West Bank, plans that had been shelved earlier to avoid discord with Washington, political sources say.


Ex-colleague backs Scrafton on PM #39;s call

A FORMER senior Defence Department bureaucrat last night backed her former colleague Michael Scrafton #39;s version of a phone call with John Howard over the children overboard affair.


Stocks Up on Earnings, Oil, Economic Data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, getting a  boost from some strong retail earnings, lower oil prices and  two separate economic reports that showed inflationary pressure  was held in check and U.S. housing starts rebounded sharply in  July.


IBM expands into Danish IT services market

Continuing its assault on the European IT outsourcing market, IBM Corp. has signed agreements to buy two Danish IT services companies and another to provide IT services to one of the country's largest banks.


Medical Examiner Finds No Injuries on Thanou-Source

ATHENS (Reuters) - A medical examiner has found that Greek  sprinter Katerina Thanou, who was in hospital with fellow  athlete Costas Kenteris, had no injuries, a judicial source  said on Tuesday.


Yukos Can Ship Oil Amid Tax Dispute, Russia Rail Says (Update5)

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Russia #39;s state-owned railway, the shipper of a fourth of OAO Yukos Oil Co. #39;s crude oil, said it will guarantee exports, the clearest sign yet President Vladimir Putin wants to ensure supplies to world markets.


Construction driving solid product demand

SURGING demand in heavy construction should outweigh any downturn in new home building, according to OneSteel and Boral.


Real slashes song prices in online music battle

In a move likely to step up the digital music dispute between RealNetworks Inc. and Apple Computer Inc., Real slashed prices at its online music store on Tuesday, offering songs and albums for a limited time at nearly half of what Apple charges at its ...


Discovery of Rail points to fragile biodiversity: Birdlife Intl

The Calayan Rail, Gallirallus calayaensis, discovered by scientists in the northern tip of Babuyan islands in the Philippines archipelago. Photo: Des Allen/AP.


Symantec Upgrades Norton Security Products

Symantec has unveiled new versions of its Norton security products--beefing up some of the real-time and automated features--and will release them in the next few weeks.


Pranab Mukherjee congratulates Rathore

Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday congratulated double trap shooter Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in an individual event at the Olympics.


Iliadis Takes Greece #39;s Second Gold with Judo Win

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek teenager Ilias Iliadis swept up the Olympic host country #39;s second gold medal on Tuesday, winning the men #39;s judo under 81kg category.


Bell set for Test debut

Ian Bell is almost certain to make his England Test debut on Thursday in the final match against West Indies.


Forwards providing platform: Young

LOOSEHEAD prop Bill Young believes a change in attitude by the forwards has played a key role in taking the Wallabies to the threshold of winning the Tri-Nations trophy.


Schroeder  quot;adopts Russian girl quot;

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his wife, Doris, have adopted a 3-year-old Russian girl, German newspapers have reported.


Hurricane Charley Tears Into Outback (Reuters)

Reuters - Outback Steakhouse Inc. (OSI.N) on\Tuesday said it lost about 130 operating days and up to  #36;2\million in revenue because it had to close some restaurants in\the South due to Hurricane Charley.


Hurricane Charley Tears Into Outback

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Outback Steakhouse Inc. OSI.N on  Tuesday said it lost about 130 operating days and up to \$2  million in revenue because it had to close some restaurants in  the South due to Hurricane Charley.