Bush, Kerry to square off in last debate (AFP)

AFP - President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry go head-to-head for the final time in their knife-edge election battle, with their final televised debate.


Alabama to Vote on Segregation Language (AP)

AP - Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing school segregation, an Alabama law mandating racially separate classrooms is still on the books.


China Spurns Taiwan President's Peace Overture

BEIJING (Reuters) - China spurned Taiwan President Chen  Shui-bian's peace overtures Wednesday, accusing him of only  paying lip service to easing tensions.


Bush, Kerry Looking for Edge in Debate

SANTA FE, N.M. - Running even just 20 days before the election, President Bush and Sen...


Sectarian Tensions Simmer in Lebanon

The arrest last month of Neameh Qayssamani, a newly elected member of the municipal council in Lebanon, and dozens of other men in the Chouf Mountains recalled a fearful time most people believed had passed forever.


Japan's Wide Role in Afghanistan

Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman,    Hatsuhisa Takashima , said here last week that his country had been active in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.


A Focused Senator, But Indecisive Candidate

John Kerry has lurched from course to course during his presidential campaign, periodically switching drivers and roadmaps -- and messages -- as he reacts to more and more information and advice.


Bollor ups Havas stake to 20.2

Corporate raider Vincent Bollor said yesterday he had raised his stake in French advertising group Havas to 20.2 as Alain de Pouzilhac, Havas #39;s chairman, rounded on him for keeping his real intentions secret.


Blatter Blasts Beckham over Booking

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly condemned David Beckhams decision to seek a yellow card during Englands clash with Wales on Saturday.


China spurns Taiwan presidents peace overtures

China spurned Taiwan President Chen Shui-bians peace overtures on Wednesday and said that his calls for easing tensions were false.


Sinai Bedouins Targeted in Egypt Attacks (AP)

AP - Salem Hameed has lived in his tin-and-wood hut at the foot of the red mountain range for most of his 42 years. Asked where he's from, his answer is not Egypt or Sinai or Taba, but al-Karadma  #151; the name of his clan.


Slobodan Milosevic's Trial Resumes (AP)

AP - The defense of Slobodan Milosevic resumed Tuesday, even as an appeals panel of the U.N. war crimes tribunal considered the former Yugoslav president's request to fire his court-appointed lawyer and let him represent himself again.


BEIJING (Reuters) - China spurned Taiwan President Chen  Shui-bian's peace overtures Wednesday, accusing him of merely  paying lip service to easing tensions between the two arch  foes.


Reseller Selling Standalone Windows Media Center Software

At least one vendor is selling OEM copies of Microsoft #39;s new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system online, possibly exploiting a loophole in Microsoft #39;s contracts.


Intel pumps up third-quarter profit

SANTA CLARA, Calif.Driven by demand for flash-memory chips used in cellphones, Intel Corp. #39;s third-quarter profits rose as the chip-making giant struggled to overcome lacklustre PC sales, growing inventory, product missteps and stiff competition.


Gannett Says Its Net Profit Jumped 11

By Reuters. The Gannett Company yesterday reported an 11 percent jump in quarterly net profit on advertising sales gains at its newspapers and broadcast television stations.


Grapefruit crop to be smallest since 1938

Citrus growers will harvest the smallest crop since 1993 because of three hurricanes that ravaged the state and damaged groves locally and statewide, the Florida Department of Citrus said Tuesday.


PayPal users still stranded as site glitch continues

OCTOBER 12, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - A routine monthly code update performed Friday for the PayPal.com online payment Web site has caused havoc for users, many of whom have managed to access the site only intermittently since the changes were made


Blaze Sub Sister Vessels Suspended from Service

By Jennifer Hill and Kim Pilling, Scottish Press Association. Canada has suspended three of its former Royal Navy submarines from service after last weeks fatal blaze on a fourth vessel.


Oil prices decline sharply

Oil prices fell sharply yesterday after briefly passing \$54 a barrel amid nagging concerns in the market that the global supply buffer is too thin to handle a significant output disruption.


FTC asks court to halt a spyware operation

The Federal Trade Commission has asked a US District Court to shut down a computer spyware operation. The FTC said Tuesday the operation hijacks computers, secretly changes their


Big loss for Cablevision

Cablevision #39;s MSG Network and Fox Sports NY will lose big ad bucks and be forced to cut the prices they charge cable and satellite companies now that the Mets have walked away to start their own channel, media insiders said yesterday.


Size of Florida citrus crop expected to fall significantly

Florida will have the smallest orange crop in a decade after a series of hurricanes blew fruit off trees and flooded groves in the state that produces 75 percent of the nation #39;s citrus, a federal forecast released Tuesday shows.


Banks strengthen market on record breaking day

The Australian share market continues to go from strength to strength with another record breaking day. The All Ordinaries hit its peak late, up almost seven points to close at 3,734.


Aggressive market hits Big Food sales

Takeover target Big Food Group says aggressive competition among food sellers drove down second-quarter sales by 3.3 percent, sparking fears its suitor might drop its bid price.


PetroCan CEO shrugs off risk of Gazprom deal

CALGARY - Petro-Canada chief executive Ron Brenneman yesterday dismissed the risks of investing in Russia, a day after reaching a major deal with state-owned gas producer Gazprom.


10 security fixes are released by Microsoft

Microsoft Corp. released 10 security fixes for various products yesterday, including seven that fix flaws the company said pose the highest threat to users.


IBM unveils new arms in EMC war

Stung by its loss of market share to Hopkinton #39;s EMC Corp., IBM Corp. fought back yesterday with a pair of major new data storage offerings, including


Technical problems subside at online payment service PayPal

SAN JOSE, Calif. The online payment service PayPal says it #39;s been able to fix most of the technical problems that have plagued the company for the past five days.


Microsoft to begin music download service in Japan

Microsoft Corp will begin its music download service in Japan with an initial offering of 50,000 songs, a spokeswoman for the US software giant #39;s online service unit said on Wednesday.


JVC signs up to Blu-ray

A HARDWARE from the Land of the Rising Sun, JVC, has signed up to the Blu-ray format and joined the Blu-ray Disc Association. Although the public commitment to the next generation DVD standard is new, JVC


Motorola and Mastercard begin  quot;credit card quot; phone trials

Later this year, a few hundred US residents will be testing two such product lines made by Motorola that use MasterCard #39;s PayPass wireless payment system, according to Motorola.


Firing may aid PeopleSoft in defending  #39;poison pill #39;

Unceremoniously dumping CEO Craig Conway may help PeopleSoft Inc. successfully defend its  quot;poison pill quot; anti-takeover measures in court against would-be acquirer, Oracle Corp.


Hanson sweeps to sixth victory

Australia #39;s Brooke Hanson won a record sixth gold medal at one swimming World Short Course Championships. She saw off American Amanda Beard #39;s challenge to take the 200m breaststroke title in Indianapolis in a time of two minutes and 21.


Brit GP on  #39;05 calendar - reports

The track-owning BRDC ultimately gambled on making a loss next year by succumbing to Ecclestone #39;s proposed race fee. The only sticking point now is the duration of a new contract -- Bernie wants to renegotiate


Storm wins WNBA title, beating Connecticut 74-60

Betty Lennox and the Seattle Storm gave the city its first major professional sports title in 25 years -- and made Anne Donovan the first female championship coach in WNBA history.


Astros don #39;t bank on recent success vs. Cards

ST. LOUIS - Houston was the only team to win a regular-season series from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros also are in position to become the third consecutive National League wild-card team to advance to the World Series.


Final round within reach for Americans

WASHINGTON -- The heavy lifting has been done. The long plane rides to exotic lands and the tough nights on the road playing in front of raucous crowds are a memory for now.


Willie, Minaya

GM Omar Minaya intends to speak with Yankees bench coach Willie Randolph and Dodgers field coordinator Terry Collins about the Mets #39; vacant managerial position, and got permission


McGrady, Yao set for first NBA exhibition game in China

Tracy McGrady is more than willing to trade individual statistics for victories with Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets.  quot;I #39;m really not concerned about that, quot; McGrady said Wednesday.


Dark arenas greet season

The NHL lockout has robbed Tampa Bay Lightning fans of the chance to see their first Stanley Cup banner unveiled at the St. Petes Times Forum tonight in what should have been their team #39;s season opener.


Jackson book rips Kobe

Now comes former coach Phil Jackson #39;s  quot;The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, quot; a diary of the Lakers #39; 2003-04 season (which ended in the NBA Finals loss to the Pistons).


Ex-Guantanamo prisoner leading militant group

Islamabad, Pakistan -- A former Guantanamo prisoner thought to have forged ties with al-Qaida since his release is leading a militant band whose members have strapped explosives on two Chinese engineers they kidnapped in a lawless region near the


Iraq wants reconstruction funding accelerate

The international donors from 55 international organization and countries have gathered for two-days meeting in Tokyo. Approximately \$14 billion were promised by foreign givers in last years gathering in Madrid.


Japanese police: 9 suicides may be part of Web pact

TOKYO -- Nine people were found dead in two rented vehicles Tuesday, with the windows sealed and charcoal burners at their feet, in what police are calling modern Japan #39;s largest suicide pact.


Navy docks sub fleet

A military probe #39;s secret findings on the fire that crippled HMCS Chicoutimi has propelled the navy to dock its four second-hand submarines indefinitely.


Straw withdraws WMD Claims

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw revealed on Tuesday that British spy masters have formally withdrawn the claims that Iraqi troops had the capability of producing chemical and biological weapons on 45 minutes notice, the key justification used by the US and


Italian FM slams EU lawmakers for Buttiglione vote

LONDON : Italy #39;s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has slammed the refusal by European lawmakers to endorse Italy #39;s candidate for justice commissioner because of his views on gays as an attack on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his centre


TAIWAN WILL PATIENTLY WAIT FOR GOODWILL RESPONSE FROM BEIJING: MAC

Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) The Republic of China government will patiently wait for a goodwill response from mainland China to its peace overture, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san said Wednesday.


An opening night shortfall

NEW YORK -- Tracing the tracks of their tears back to the ballpark in the Bronx where all the horrible things happened last October, the Red Sox returned to the American League Championship Series last night, fell behind, 8-0, then rallied mightily before again succumbing to the Yankees, 10-7.


For Rivera, day of tragedy and triumph

Of course he would be here. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera understands duty and obligation. He has been the most dominant closer in baseball for the past decade, a lofty title that is impossible to achieve unless you are a person who is rich in confidence, poise, and responsibility.


A statement, Sox declare

The gloom of seeing their ace bounced after just three innings, his shortest outing in three years, was worsened by the knowledge that the Curt Schilling who had carried them all season might not be seen again this October.


Chances of a goodwill gesture are shaky

Veteran outfielder Larry Walker, a proud son of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, dropped a little bit of Canadian hockey heritage into America's pastime when his Cardinals played the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.


Wakefield works out the kinks

The silver lining on a dark cloud of a night wasn't the result, but rather the work.


4 K's spell trouble for Damon

He has played 1,426 games in the major leagues (1,407 in the regular season and 19 in the playoffs) and Johnny Damon did something last night he had never before done: He struck out four times.


He'll let actions speak

Since Pedro Martinez wasn't talking, leave it to Kevin Millar to clear that up.


It isn't a bad alternative

Subtract the well-documented history, the combativeness, the dislike among the fans, the T-shirt controversy, and the proximity of the cities, and there's virtually no difference between the Houston-St. Louis NLCS and the Boston-New York ALCS.


Patriots on the lookout for a time-share

When it comes to timing, the Patriots can't get a break. When they were making their great stretch drive through the best teams in the NFL last winter on their way to winning their second Super Bowl in three years, they often were overshadowed by a team not even playing at the time.


US has a goal in its sights

A win over Panama and the United States is in. Into the regional finals of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, that is. The Americans lead their group with 8 points off two wins and two ties. By beating the Panamanians tonight at RFK Stadium, the US squad will secure a spot in the final six of CONCACAF ...


Bryant, Jackson at 'psychological war'

Phil Jackson called his relationship with Kobe Bryant at times a  quot;psychological war quot; and sought to trade his star guard in January, according to a diary by the former Lakers coach.


Storm scuttles Sun

Betty Lennox had another huge night, scoring 23 points to lead the Seattle Storm to their first WNBA title with a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun last night.


Facing rocky road?

Rocky Hager says give him at least a half-hour and he'll tell you how much he's enjoyed his stay in Boston as coach of the Northeastern football team.


Dedham's victory sweet

What a difference four weeks can make. The last time Bay State Conference field hockey powers Walpole and Dedham met, Walpole sent the Marauders packing with their first loss of the season, 5-3. But yesterday it was Walpole that was unable to preserve a blemish-free loss column, as host Dedham prevailed, 2-1.


Wheaton has a foothold

The Wheaton men's and women's soccer teams are ranked No. 1 in New England among NCAA Division 3 teams and the women, coached by Luis Reis , have the distinction of a No. 1 national ranking the past two weeks.


Transactions

BASEBALL Cincinnati (NL): Announced P Mike Matthews and P Aaron Myette refused outright assignment to Louisville (IL). Cleveland (AL): Declined to pick up the option on SS Omar Vizquel. Montreal (NL): Released P Dan Smith. Pittsburgh (NL): Released P Nelson Figueroa.


It's Blackmon's busy season

Will Blackmon anchors the Boston College secondary as the resident shut-down cornerback, but it is by no means his only contribution to the Eagles. Blackmon also returns kickoffs and punts, and is so proficient that he leads the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 35.8 yards. One of his returns was a spectacular 96-yard touchdown against Ball State ...


Tonight's key New England game

WEST VIRGINIA (4-1) at UCONN (4-1) When and where: Tonight, 7:30, at East Hartford TV/radio: ESPN. Last season: Did not play. Comments: This is the first meeting on the gridiron for these programs. The Huskies lead the Big East in total offense with 424.2 yards a game and are second in defense, only allowing 268 yards a game. Senior quarterback ...


Same dates at Norton

How can the golfing fraternity not be excited over the PGA Tour's return to the TPC of Boston over Labor Day weekend next year? Not after this year's tournament caused such drama when Vijay Singh shot a 16-under-par 268 for a 3-shot victory over Tiger Woods and Adam Scott to take the World No. 1 ranking away from Woods who ...


Religious Meeting in Indonesia Aims to Blunt Radicals

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesia's president  will open an international religious conference in the world's  most populous Muslim nation on Monday aimed at sending a  message of moderation in the region's battle against violent  religious radicalism.


BoE's King warns of bleaker times

The UK's years of low inflation and falling unemployment may be over, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King warns.


Financial lessons

Jane Christo is gone, but the lessons that brought an end to her long reign at WBUR should not be lost on Boston University itself -- particularly as it looks for a new president.


IBM unveils new arms in EMC war

Stung by its loss of market share to Hopkinton's EMC Corp. , IBM Corp. fought back yesterday with a pair of major new data storage offerings, including one that occupies less than one-twentieth as much space as EMC's rival Clariion storage system.


For \$117m, Iron Mountain adds unit to store bits as well as boxes

Boston information management giant Iron Mountain Inc. , a leader in the archiving and backup of business records, accelerated its push into the digital market yesterday with an agreement to buy Framingham's Connected Corp. for \$117 million in cash.


State Street says it will cut 425 jobs

State Street Corp. said it will eliminate 425 jobs as a cost-cutting move after the financial firm yesterday reported a weak third quarter in which earnings fell 13 percent because of a sharp drop-off in lending and trading activities in securities markets.


Fla. orange crop to be the smallest in a decade

Florida will have the smallest orange crop in a decade after a series of hurricanes blew fruit off trees and flooded groves in the state that produces 75 percent of the nation's citrus, a federal forecast released yesterday shows.


Insurer acquires 330 Stuart St. for \$28m

Liberty Mutual Group, the second-largest international insurer based in the United States, bought an office and retail building across the street from its headquarters in Boston for about \$28 million. The building, at 330 Stuart St., has 105,000 square feet of space, Liberty Mutual said. The seller was the Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corp. Liberty Mutual plans to renovate the ...


Legal setback for music industry

The Supreme Court yesterday declined to examine a lower-court ruling that forces music industry investigators to file a lawsuit to uncover the identities of people who may be copying their songs online.


Crackdown urged on copyright piracy

A federal task force has recommended expanded investigative and prosecutorial powers to combat intellectual property theft ranging from counterfeit drugs to swapping songs over the Internet.


Short-term T-bill rates lower

Interest rates on short-term Treasury securities fell in yesterday's auction. The Treasury Department sold \$19 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 1.68 percent, down from 1.69 percent last week. An additional \$17 billion was sold in six-month bills at a rate of 1.96 percent, down from 1.99 percent.


Germany Softens Stance on Sending Troops to Iraq

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany said Wednesday it could not rule  out sending troops to Iraq, dropping its firm refusal to  consider any deployment to the country whose invasion last year  it staunchly opposed.


UK viewers taking control of TV

More than 15 million homes in the UK will be able to get on-demand movies by 2008, say analysts.


Push to win over net 'refuseniks'

Business and charities in the UK have joined forces to persuade more people to go online.


Mobile phone Lotto plan unveiled

National Lottery players will be able to buy their tickets on their mobile phones, operator Camelot will announce.


Saddam Fit and Well After Hernia Operation

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein underwent a hernia  operation at a U.S.-run hospital inside Baghdad's Green Zone  two weeks ago and has made a full recovery, a U.S. military  official said Wednesday.


Israeli Missile Kills Hamas Militant in Gaza-Medics

GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli helicopter gunship fired a  missile near a house during fighting in the northern Gaza Strip  Wednesday, killing a Hamas militant, medics said.


Funds seek Disney change

Four major pension funds, including the California Public Employees #39; Retirement System, said Tuesday that they will push for shareholders to be able to nominate up


FEC May Regulate Web Political Activity (AP)

AP - With political fund raising, campaign advertising and organizing taking place in full swing over the Internet, it may just be a matter of time before the Federal Election Commission joins the action.


Milosevic Protests as Trial Defense Resumes (Reuters)

Reuters - Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial\resumed after a month-long break on Tuesday with the former\Yugoslav president still at loggerheads with judges over his\demand to run his own defense despite his ill health.


Jackson anger over Eminem video

Michael Jackson asks TV stations to stop playing Eminem's new video, which ridicules the pop legend.


Mourning period over siege at Russian school concludes

BESLAN, Russia -- Wailing and pounding their hands on dirt graves, hundreds of people dressed in black marked the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for the children and adults killed after terrorists seized a school on the first day of classes.


Romania says it had role in Holocaust

BUCHAREST -- President Ion Iliescu yesterday admitted Romania's complicity in the Holocaust, ending decades of denial that hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed in the country when it was an ally of Nazi Germany.


US, Iraqi troops target resistance in Sunni Triangle

BAGHDAD -- US Marines and Iraqi troops raided several mosques in resistance strongholds west of Fallujah yesterday, in a broad offensive just days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.


Militant leader was held in Cuba

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A former prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, thought to have forged ties with Al Qaeda since his release is leading a militant band whose members have strapped explosives on two Chinese engineers they kidnapped in a lawless region near the Afghanistan border.


Real estate bargain ends for US envoy

MOSCOW -- Russia and the United States have agreed to a new lease for the US ambassador's lavish Moscow residence after Russia complained he paid less than \$3 a year for it, officials announced yesterday. The annual rent for Spaso House in central Moscow was set in rubles in 1985, but the currency's value plummeted by 99.9 percent after the ...


Mourning and Anger at School Caught Up in Terrorism

The 40th day since the siege of Middle School No. 1 in Beslan, Russia, brought forth a fresh outpouring of pain. It also laid bare some of the darker emotions, like vengeance.


Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Pleads for Aid

TOKYO - Iraq's deputy leader pleaded with donors Wednesday to fulfill their promises of aid to help rebuild his war-ravaged nation, and accused the United Nations of failing to provide crucial support.    Of the \$13.6 billion in grants and loans promised last year by nations and lending institutions, only about \$1 billion has been deposited in World Bank and U.N...


Targets 'hamper recycling effort'

Government policy is undermining  efforts to improve the UK's recycling record, a report by the charity Forum for the Future says.


For first time, US govt cracks down on spyware installers (AFP)

AFP - The US government has moved for the first time to block unsolicited circulation on the Internet of spyware, a type of software that can inundate Web users with pop-up ads, secretly take control of their computers and spy on their online activities.


Tokyo Edge: New Choices in Digital Entertainment (PC World)

PC World - PC and home theater make sleek package, while new portable music devices abound.


Oil prices fall sharply after rise

WASHINGTON -- Oil prices fell sharply yesterday after briefly surpassing \$54 US a barrel despite nagging concerns that the global supply buffer is too thin to handle a significant disruption of output.


Moscow plans partial Yukos sale

The Russian Justice Ministry announced Tuesday that the Yukos oil company #39;s main production subsidiary, Yuganskneftegaz, had been evaluated at \$10.


Biologists Concerned About Bobwhite Quail (AP)

AP - The bobwhite quail, which is disappearing in the Southeast, can make a comeback and add millions of dollars to the rural economy if landowners are willing to make changes in the way they manage their crops and timber to protect the birds' habitat, biologists say.


Crocodile Attack Renews Calls for Culls (AP)

AP - A savage crocodile attack on a group of campers in northern Australia has sparked renewed calls for the partial lifting of a three-decade hunting ban aimed at saving the animals from extinction.


Iraq Visit Clears Way for Japan Troops to Stay On (Reuters)

Reuters - Japan's defense minister was due to\return home on Monday from a flying visit to Iraq after\declaring the town of Samawa safe, setting the stage for the\government to extend its troops' humanitarian mission there.


Arafat says Palestinian state more likely with Netanyahu as PM

In interview with Financial Times, PA chief says, With Sharon its much harder. Claims contacts with Sharon still held through his son MK Omri Sharon.


Father Denounces Hamdi's Imprisonment

Yaser Esam Hamdi's father criticized the U.S. government for holding his son as an "enemy combatant" but praised the Supreme Court decision that led to Hamdi's release Monday.


Man Guilty in Case of Terror Ties

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a former businessman of lying about his ties to a terrorist leader, marking the second time Soliman S. Biheiri has been found guilty in a sprawling probe into whether Islamic charities in Northern Virginia were financing terrorist organizations.


No quit in resilient Red Sox

com. As manager Terry Francona put it before this American League Championship Series began:  quot;These guys just like to play ball.


US Is One Win From Final Round

Just as US national soccer team coach Bruce Arena had predicted many months ago, the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup has been riddled with treacherous road trips and perplexing


Paypal delivers online payment woes

MORE THAN five days of repairs have failed to fix a so called glitch in the computer systems of Paypal, the so called online payment outfit.


Kewell fit for Liverpool

Socceroo Harry Kewell has played down any injury concerns that arose from Tuesday night #39;s Confederations Cup play-off victory over the Solomon Islands and declared himself fit to take his place in the Liverpool line-up this weekend.


Nine people dead in suspected suicide pact

Nine people were found dead in two rented cars yesterday, with the windows sealed from the inside and charcoal burners at their feet, in what Japanese police are calling modern Japan #39;s largest suicide pact.


UK/Iraq: 45-minute claim withdrawn

Mr Straw made the admission that MI6 (British intelligence) had finally abandoned its dramatic claim when he told British MPs that the Blair government still supported the


EU panel opposes justice nominee

A European Parliament committee has narrowly voted to oppose Italian Rocco Buttiglione as the EU #39;s next justice commissioner, officials say.


Unions Threaten to Extend Nigeria Strike

ABUJA, Nigeria - Nigerian unions threatened to extend their nationwide general strike, which entered its third day on Wednesday, increasing concerns about production in Africa #39;s biggest oil-exporting nation.


YUKOS unit assets may be sold for back tax

Russia oil company YUKOS assets may be sold partially by the Russian Justice Ministry in order to cover its outstanding tax bill. The selling-off will probably touch YUKOS main oil subsidiary Yuganskneftegaz.


Mets Decide the Time Is Right for a Cable Network of Their Own

The Mets loved the idea of the Yankees #39; YES Network so much that they will start their own regional sports channel in 2006. The Mets announced yesterday that their partners will be Time


UK Big Food:  #39;Trading has remained tough

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- UK food supplier Big Food Group (UK:BFP) posted a 3.3 percent drop in same-store sales for the 13 weeks ending Oct. 1.  quot;Trading has remained tough in the food sector in recent months for


Gas line measures approved

WASHINGTON--Two of Alaska #39;s three major oil companies have offered cautious optimism about the potential for a North Slope natural gas pipeline under incentive packages approved Monday by Congress.


Microsoft tells users to patch 21 new flaws in Windows

Microsoft on Tuesday issued 10 security advisories -even of them critical  -ing consumers and businesses to patch 21 new flaws in Windows software products.


A success in the pool and out

Indianapolis, Oct. 12 - The pool where swimmers set four world records, where America #39;s most honored Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson said goodbye, is all gone.


Baseball: Ex-Gold Glove winner Larkin cut loose by Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, United States : Former all-star Barry Larkin, who has the longest tenure of any current player with one team, was cut loose by the Cincinnati Reds.


Yao takes coach on trip down memory lane

The local newspapers had already spent several days building it up as The Return of the Legend - Yao Ming #39;s homecoming to China with the Rockets.


Jackson: I wanted Kobe out

LOS ANGELES  The  quot;unavoidable quot; conflict between coach Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant led Jackson to ask the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Bryant in January and hampered the team #39;s shot at the 2004 championship, Jackson wrote in a soon-to-be-released diary


Sport funding major boon to coaches

The coaches of high-performance athletes will benefit the most from the federal government #39;s announcement yesterday of how it will divide up \$19.


Program predicts cancer risks

\A computer program can predict a woman's risk of breast or ovarian cancer with unprecedented accuracy.


Mets to have a new home on cable

Time Warner Cable and Comcast Corporation announced on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement with Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, LLC (SEE) to form a New


Big Food Says Sales Fell on Competitors #39; Price Cuts (Update1)

Big Food Group Plc, the UK owner of the Iceland grocery chain, said second-quarter sales at stores open at least a year dropped 3.3 percent, the second consecutive decline, after competitors cut prices.


Philippine Shares End Higher

Philippine shares ended marginally higher Wednesday on a technical recovery, successfully shrugging off a sluggish performance at the start of the session caused by a sell-off in Metro Pacific shares, traders said.


New IBM Systems Mark Storage/Server Convergence

NEW YORK -- IBM (Quote, Chart) took the covers off its latest storage strategy Tuesday with an imposing DS8000 enterprise-class storage server along with the much smaller, ultra-dense DS6000.


Blu-ray Disc Association Launches With More Than 70 Companies

Earlier this year, membership was opened to organizations interested in promoting the Blu-ray Disc (BD) format. The growth in membership follows the recent announcement by Sony that PlayStation 3 will support


Space station concerns reduced

As a new crew prepares to lift off Wednesday for the international space station, NASA officials say they are less worried than they were two weeks ago about problems with its oxygen generator


Call for More Action to Cut Global Warming

The Governments chief scientist was today drawing attention to the problem of global warming. Professor Sir David King will address the issue in the Greenpeace business lecture tonight.


Supreme Court asked to intervene in file-swapping dispute

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court was asked Friday to hold two Internet file-sharing services responsible for their customers #39; online swapping of copyrighted songs and movies.


Dell launches Axim X50 wireless media PDAs

Dell debuted the latest additions to its Axim PDA line-up: three new models based on Intel #39;s newest processor and mobile graphics technology, and ready to accept tracks downloaded from Windows Media-based online music stores.


Utah, Pittsburgh to Play in Fiesta Bowl (AP)

AP - The Fiesta Bowl gladly invited BCS-buster Utah on Sunday and had no choice but to accept Big East champion Pittsburgh as the unbeaten Utes' opponent.


Yahoo, Intel Lifts Global Tech Shares

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Weaker oil and metals prices hurt  shares in Asian resource companies Wednesday, offsetting gains  in some technology issues following upbeat earnings reports  from bellwethers Intel Corp. and Yahoo Inc.


Tokyo Edge: New Choices in Digital Entertainment

PC and home theater make sleek package, while new portable music devices abound.


New Lava Has Pushed Through to Surface of Mount St. Helens

Lava has appeared around the crater the first time since Mount St. Helens awoke three weeks ago with bursts of ash and steam.


Bolivians Vote in Municipal Elections (AP)

AP - Bolivians voted Sunday in municipal elections that polls predicted would see indigenous and peasant organizations gaining ground on the traditional political parties that have long dominated the nation.


Chief British Scientist Says Act Now on Carbon Dioxide (Reuters)

Reuters - The world faces a surge in extreme\weather events because of global warming and governments must\act immediately to avert disaster, Britain's chief scientist\said on Tuesday.


Germany Softens Stance on Sending Troops to Iraq (Reuters)

Reuters - Germany said Wednesday it could not rule\out sending troops to Iraq, dropping its firm refusal to\consider any deployment to the country whose invasion last year\it staunchly opposed.


Israeli Missile Kills Hamas Militant in Gaza-Medics (Reuters)

Reuters - An Israeli helicopter gunship fired a\missile near a house during fighting in the northern Gaza Strip\Wednesday, killing a Hamas militant, medics said.


EU Challenges Law Protecting Volkswagen (AP)

AP - The European Union's head office decided Wednesday to take Germany to court to try to force changes in a German law protecting Volkswagen AG from hostile takeovers, according to an EU source.


Unions Threaten to Extend Nigeria Strike (AP)

AP - Nigerian unions threatened to extend their nationwide general strike, which entered its third day on Wednesday, increasing concerns about production in Africa's biggest oil-exporting nation.


Surgeons 'rebuild' patient's face

Surgeons carry out the first full face reconstruction, including the nose, using a single flap of skin.


Israel, Egypt Warm Ties With Prison Swap (AP)

AP - In a series of dramatic steps capped Sunday by a high-profile prisoner swap, Israel and Egypt are moving rapidly to improve relations, seizing the opportunity for a Middle East peace deal presented by Yasser Arafat's death.


Germany in the dock over VW law

The European Commission takes the German government to court for maintaining a law which protects car giant VW from takeover.


Bid to save Ivorian disarmament

Ivory Coast's political rivals are to meet to try to save the disarmament process, which is supposed to start on Friday.


'Miracle baby' nurses face probe

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is investigating the activities of seven women who claim they confirmed "miracle babies".


3 U.S. Soldiers Killed by Bomb in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A roadside bomb attack killed three American soldiers in a convoy on the day of a country-wide offensive by U.S. troops and Iraqi soldiers against Sunni insurgents and suspected extremists...


Collier replaces Lamb as England chief executive

David Collier has been named as the England and Wales Cricket Board #39;s (ECB) chief executive, replacing Tim Lamb. Lamb, who had been in the job since the ECB #39;s inception in 1997, resigned in May but stepped down last month.


Sales tax deduction gets final congressional approval

Congress gave final approval Monday to legislation that could save Washington residents roughly \$500 annually on their federal tax returns by making state sales taxes deductible again after 18 years.


More Holes in The Window

Software giant Microsoft on Tuesday announced 10 security advisories, seven of them critical, urging consumers to patch 21 new flaws in its software products.


IBM #39;s new storage systems take on EMC

IBM has launched its new data storage systems which it says are aimed at  quot;aggressively competing quot; with rival storage management provider EMC #39;s products.


Apple Fan Sites Buzz with Talk of Photo-Ready iPod

Is Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) fine-tuning an enhanced iPod with roughly 50 percent more storage and a color screen to display photos?


Brit GP on  #39;05 calendar - reports

The British grand prix is on Bernie Ecclestone #39;s draft 2005 calendar, which will be published after a World Council meeting in France.


Reds elect not to sign Larkin for 20th year

The Cincinnati Reds informed their captain they aren #39;t interested in keeping him around for another season. Instead, the Reds will replace the 40-year-old shortstop with two unproven youngsters.


Arafat #39;s security chief escapes blast

A Palestinian security chief related to Yasser Arafat escaped a suspected assassination attempt late on Tuesday when a car bomb blew up outside his headquarters in Gaza City, witnesses said.


Blair facing Iraq apology calls

The Conservatives are demanding Tony Blair apologises for the way he presented the intelligence about Iraq #39;s weapons of mass destruction.


Mexico Telescope to Shed Light on Cosmic Dark Ages (Reuters)

Reuters - Perched on the top of\one of Mexico's highest mountains is a gigantic, half-built\telescope that scientists hope will reveal more secrets of the\universe's early years than any before it.


Real Madrid held by Villarreal

Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Real Madrid #39;s powerful offense was held in check during a scoreless draw with Villarreal Sunday.


Intel income rose 15, tops expectations

Intel Corp., the worlds largest semiconductor producer, said yesterday its third-quarter profit rose at the slowest pace in five quarters on record stockpile of computer chips, growing competition and slow sales of PCs.


Microsoft makes itself at home

Los Angeles - US software behemoth Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled a new technological assault that will bring music, movies and television into consumers #39; living rooms via their home computers.


Microsoft pushes out  #39;critical #39; security fixes

Microsoft has released 10 software security patches for its products, including seven it deemed critical and that could allow remote attackers to take control of systems running the company #39;s software.


Froogle arrives in the UK

The service allows users to search for specific items to find the best deal and, unlike some similar British sites, it #39;s free to users and retailers.


Mansell out but Silverstone roars back

Ecclestone is understood to have entered Silverstone #39;s name on the provisional list of venues for the 2005 season, which would leave no room for Brand Synergy, the mystery consortium that has Mansell on its board.


Socceroos ready to fulfil potential: Farina

Socceroos coach Frank Farina says the national team is possibly the strongest Australia has produced. Farina #39;s comments follow Australia #39;s qualification for next year #39;s Confederation #39;s Cup after a convincing


MANAGER PROFILE: Micky Adams

Micky Adams has been rightly regarded as one of the brightest young managers in English football over the last number of years. His glowing coaching reputation has been bore out of a playing career which was


Rice says he could be leaving Raiders

Jerry Rice said he believes he could be traded by the Oakland Raiders before Tuesday #39;s deadline. Rice, who turns 42 today, told Sacramento, Calif.


Williams back in top form

Venus Williams, the former world No1, returned to competitive tennis with a convincing 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian qualifier Alina Jidkova in the first round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.


Larkin leaving big shoes to fill

The split between the Reds and Barry Larkin left the club with two very big holes to fill. The obvious one is at shortstop. The less obvious one is in the clubhouse - where he was the undisputed


Iraqis plead for more international help at Tokyo donors <b>...</b>

TOKYO : Iraq pleaded with the international community to play a bigger part in rebuilding the war-shattered nation at a donors conference to assess how to spend billions of dollars in aid.


US presses NATO to prepare takeover of Afghanistan military <b>...</b>

POIANA BRASOV, Romania : The United States pressed its NATO allies to begin military planning for possibly taking over command of operations in Afghanistan from US forces as early as next year.


Microsoft #39;s Announces Plans for Your Digital Living Room and 22 <b>...</b>

Microsoft began the latest phase of its big push for consumers #39; digital lives by unveiling Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005 (MCE) and a host of products designed to work alongside it.


McDonald #39;s 3rd-quarter earnings rise

McDonald #39;s (MCD) third-quarter earnings rose a higher-than-expected 42 on a preliminary basis, the world #39;s largest restaurant chain said Wednesday, citing strong sales in the United States and a lower tax rate.


AtheroGenics to Discontinue AGIX-4207

Pharmaceutical company AtheroGenics Inc. said Wednesday that a mid-stage trial to evaluate its AGIX-4207 treatment for rheumatoid arthritis failed to meet the study #39;s endpoint, showing no significant improvement compared with placebo.


Host Marriott #39;s Third-Quarter Loss Narrows

Host Marriott Corp. on Wednesday said its third-quarter results improved as occupancy and room rates increased to drive revenue. The lodging real estate investment trust reported quarterly funds from operations


News Corp slashes jobs in printing arm move

NEWS International, the UK newspaper unit of News Corp, is to cut its 1000-person production staff by two-thirds and move its London printing facilities from Wapping to Enfield, in north London.


UPDATE 1-US mortgage applications fall last week-MBA

New applications for US home loans dropped more than 9 percent last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates also eased from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Children #39;s hospital may sue Disney

An unlikely feud is seeing the film empire that built its name on cartoons for children -- the giant Disney corporation -- at odds with Britain #39;s most famous hospital for sick children.


Flaws spark  #39;fix-it #39; frenzy

The new patches apply to a variety of products, including some versions of Microsoft #39;s Windows operating system and server software, its Internet Explorer Web browser and Excel spreadsheet program.


FastT100 offers cost-effective, reliable storage for consolidation <b>...</b>

Johannesburg, 13 October 2004 - While a great deal of the data residing within organisations today is not accessed regularly, the ECT Act as well as basic business strategy maintains that this seldom accessed data is business-critical.


Update 1: Technical Problems Subside at PayPal

Most members of the online payment service Paypal should be able to log on to the Web site after five days of intermittent service outages and furious repair efforts, the company said.


ISS Expedition 10 Crew to Launch Into Space Tonight

The next three humans bound for the International Space Station (ISS) are spending their final hours on Earth before launching into space tonight atop a Soyuz rocket.


Virgin Group Aims at iPod Mini

The MP3 player market, where the iPod Mini once stood alone, will soon have several new entries. IDC predicted last month that the segment will grow from 12.


Motorola to trial m-commerce-enabled phones

Motorola Inc. will conduct an m-commerce field trial of mobile phones enabled with MasterCard PayPass and Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, the company announced Tuesday.


Google woos Froogle UK shoppers

Search giant Google has launched a beta of the UK version of its shopping search technology, Froogle. The site looks like its Google parent in design with the addition of links to recent popular product searches on the home page.


From spam king to spymaster

In what could prove to be one of the great second acts in Internet history, erstwhile king of spam Sanford Wallace takes center stage this week as exhibit A in a federal crackdown on invasive online advertising software.


Intel defeats AMD in court

The documents in question were brought to court during Intel #39;s legal battle with Intergraph. AMD believes they show its arch-rival to be guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, which is why it wanted the EC to take a look.


Turn Your PC Into a Mac

Microsoft #39;s Virtual PC software has been lauded by critics as a convenient way for Mac users to run Windows applications on their Macs, but what if you need to do the opposite?


IBM makes Websphere smarter to improve business continuity

IBM is fleshing out its On Demand computing strategy with the release later this year of Websphere 6.0, the next incarnation of its flagship application server software.


Petition asks high court to hear case on file sharing

By byron kho. A consortium of movie and record companies joined forces on Friday to request that the US Supreme Court take another look at peer-to-peer file-sharing programs.


Astros vs. Cardinals preview

OFFENSE: Expect the Cardinals, so powerful and varied in skill, to average five-plus runs. But this is no mismatch. Houston #39;s attack is hotter and healthier.


We had no choice but to withdraw from Champions Trophy, says HA

SYDNEY: Hockey Australia (HA) defended their decision to withdraw the Olympic champions out of the Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan in December, saying security concerns had left it no choice.


India feeling the pressure

It will be tough for our selectors to make any changes to the team after our first Test triumph. The interesting speculation going into the second Test here in Madras is whether India will


Making his point

The disgruntled receiver, who turns 42 today, expects to be dealt before the Oct. 19 trade deadline. By Gregg Bell -- Bee Staff Writer.


Site eases voter registration (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - In August, Joshua Rosen, a San Francisco entrepreneur and art director, went live with a Web site that makes it very simple for people to register to vote.


Owner #39;s remarks draw big fine

The NHL fined Steve Belkin, one of the Thrashers owners, \$250,000 on Tuesday for saying the league could use replacement players next season, the Associated Press reported.


Q amp;A: Terry Labonte and friends.

Terry Labonte announced his plan for retirement during a special media breakfast at Hendrick Motorsports on Tuesday. Hosted by Fox #39;s Mike Joy, featured guest speakers included NASCAR #39;s Mike Helton, Team Owner


US, Iraq to probe missing N-equipment

Washington has said it will join Baghdad in a full investigation into missing machinery from Iraq #39;s nuclear facilities, and Iraq #39;s science minister has invited UN inspectors to the country.


Germany Opposes US Plan in Afghanistan

At a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Romania on Wednesday, Germany objected to Washington #39;s proposal for NATO forces to take over the US military mission in Afghanistan as part of next year #39;s reorganization efforts.


Iraq Asks Major Donors To Release Cash

Tokyo, Oct. 13 (NNN): Iraq #39;s deputy leader, Barham Saleh, on Wednesday urged donors to release the aid money they have pledged, saying it is the key to destroying terrorism in his troubled country.


Turkish militant formally charged after extradition from Germany

ISTANBUL, Oct 13 (AFP) - A leading Turkish Islamic militant known as the  #39;Caliph of Cologne #39; was formally charged by a criminal court in Istanbul on Wednesday and sent to jail pending trial a day after he was deported from Germany.


Nigeria looks for strike injunction

No. 7 oil exporter turns to court to stop 3-day-old general strike that threatens crude shipments. ABUJA, Nigeria (Reuters) - The Nigerian government sought a court injunction Wednesday to stop a three-day


Palestinian schoolgirl dies of wounds

A 10-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl,who was critically wounded by Israeli soldiers gunfire, died of her wounds Wednesday at the hospital in southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, medics said.


No quick sex, please, we #39;re British

A survey produced by condom maker Durex - who else? - shows that we spend 22.5 minutes in foreplay, 36 seconds ahead of the German runners-up and more than three minutes more than the so-called sexy French.


KDDI to offer music downloads for mobile phones (FT.com)

FT.com - KDDI, Japan's second largest telecoms group, on Wednesday announced that its mobile arm, au, would launch the world's first service offering music downloads directly onto mobile phones.


Microsoft tells users to patch 21 new flaws in Windows (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Microsoft on Tuesday issued 10 security advisories - seven of them critical - urging consumers and businesses to patch 21 new flaws in Windows software products.


Crew Prepares for Launch to Space Station (AP)

AP - All three men heading to the international space station in a Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft this Thursday will be riding the tiny craft for the first time, breaking with 35 years of tradition.


Lava Breaks Surface at Mount St. Helens (AP)

AP - After weeks of earthquakes and steam eruptions, Mount St. Helens has a new lava dome that could even eclipse the volcano's old one.


Harvard Wants to Clone Human Embryos (AP)

AP - Harvard University scientists have asked the university's ethical review board for permission to produce cloned human embryos for disease research, potentially becoming the first researchers in the nation to wade into a divisive area of study that has become a presidential campaign issue.


Mount St. Helens Heats Up, Little Danger of Eruption (Reuters)

Reuters - Temperatures in the crater of Mount St.\Helens have risen above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in recent days\as lava nears the surface but there is no danger of an imminent\eruption, government geologists said on Tuesday.


Raiders' Curry Injured Against Chiefs (AP)

AP - Raiders receiver Ronald Curry likely has a torn left Achilles' tendon that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.


Bomb blast fails to stop NZ Hockey, but Aussies pull out

New Zealand Hockey boss Ramesh Patel is sticking to his guns over the national men #39;s team #39;s participation in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan despite Australia waving the white flag yesterday because of security concerns.


Superstar missing in Madras

India will have to do without Sachin Tendulkar for the second Test against Australia in Madras after team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus refused to rush the batting star back into action.


Microsoft releases seven  #39;critical #39; security patches

Microsoft has issued ten new software security patches, seven of which are deemed so  #39;critical #39; that it is advising firms to download them immediately.


Virgin takes on iPod

Virgin Electronics unveiled on Tuesday a digital audio player with a 5GB hard disk, in a bid to penetrate the market dominated by Apple Computer #39;s iPod.


Motorola turns mobile phone into wallet

Motorola is to conduct a trial of mobile phones incorporating MasterCard #39;s PayPass, a contactless payment technology. The handsets will allow customers to make payments by holding the device next to a reader


Feds Take On  #39;Spamford #39; Wallace In Spyware Case

With Congress considering new legislation to increase penalties against spyware companies that install programs on people #39;s computers without their knowledge, the Federal Trade Commission last week filed a complaint against Sanford Wallace, the New


EU Expands Probe Into Intel Favortism

The European Union #39;s head office Wednesday expanded its probe into whether EU governments are illegally requiring that the computers they buy must contain microprocessors made by Intel Corp.


IBM sets date for new tools bundle

com October 13, 2004, 5:30 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories as organizations spawn projects around identity infrastructure.


Harley-Davidson #39;s 3Q profit up 20 percent

MILWAUKEE -- Harley-Davidson Inc. #39;s third-quarter profit surged 20 percent, revved up by higher gross margin and brisk sales of its brand-name motorcycles and accessories.


AtheroGenics arthritis drug flops

Stock falls on news treatment failed a mid-stage trial, company will cease developing drug. NEW YORK (Reuters) - AtheroGenics Inc.


Qualcomm acquires small UK software company in cash deal

Qualcomm, the San Diego cell phone technology developer, said yesterday it has acquired a British software company for \$36 million in cash.


Sempra to supply LNG from Indonesia

Sempra Energy LNG announced yesterday that it has signed an agreement that will provide supplies of liquefied natural gas from Indonesia to an energy project it plans to develop with Shell Oil Co.


Silverstone deal likely

Formula One fans will wait with bated breath today to see if the British Grand Prix is included on the proposed 2005 calendar. Sources close to the negotiations believe Silverstone will get the all-clear from Bernie Ecclestone after all.


CRICKET: Tendulkar likely to play third Test

Sachin Tendulkar, whose absence from the last few tournaments has been sorely felt by the Indian team, is likely to be fit for the third cricket Test against Australia beginning in Nagpur on October 26.


Radcliffe hopes to run in Beijing

Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, undaunted by her disastrous showing at the Athens Olympics, hopes to run in Beijing in four years and possibly even at the 2012 Games.


West Lafayette place to be for battle of unbeatens

Hope the  quot;College Gameday #39; #39; crew -- which will be broadcasting from Purdue #39;s campus for the first time -- can come up with a title that does justice to the marquee matchup Saturday between the No.


Mass Iraqi grave yields infants, unborn

Investigators have unearthed a mass grave in northern Iraq containing hundreds of bodies of women and children believed killed in the 1980s.


Blair rejects allegation he  quot;misrepresented quot; intelligence on Iraq <b>...</b>

LONDON, Oct 13 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday rejected charges from the Conservative opposition that he  quot;misrepresented quot; intelligence used to make the case for invading Iraq.


Beckham virus spotted on the net

Security firms are warning about a virus that tries to cash in on interest in David Beckham.


Paypal battles to restore service

Ebay says its Paypal system is slowly getting back to normal after breaking down six days ago.


FEC May Regulate Web Political Activity

With political fund raising, campaign advertising and organizing taking place in full swing over the Internet, it may just be a matter of time before the Federal Election Commission joins the action.


Technical Problems Subside at PayPal

Most members of the online payment service Paypal should be able to log on to the Web site after five days of intermittent service outages and furious repair efforts, the company said.


Investors Flock to Web Networking Sites

Internet whiz kids Marc Andreessen, Josh Kopelman and Joe Kraus share something in common besides reaping huge jackpots during the dot-com boom.


MCI President Of Enterprise Sales Resigns

The top sales executive running one of MCI Inc.'s largest divisions resigned yesterday as the company struggles with rapidly eroding sales.


7-Eleven Adopting Wireless Technology

Sherry Neal checked the refrigerated shelves of her 7-Eleven store, touched the screen of a small handheld computer and got an instant four-week sales history on turkey sandwiches.


Host Marriott Quarterly Loss Narrows (Reuters)

Reuters - Hotel owner Host Marriott Corp.\ on Wednesday said its third-quarter loss narrowed as\revenue per room rose, driven by an increase in room rates.


U.N. Nuclear Inspectors Ready to Return to Iraq (Reuters)

Reuters - U.N. inspectors, barred from most of\Iraq since last year's invasion, are ready to return to probe\the disappearance of equipment that could be used in atomic\weapons, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Wednesday.


Harley-Davidson Posts Higher Profit (Reuters)

Reuters - Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc.\ roared to record quarterly earnings on Wednesday,\boosted by more efficient operations and demand for its new\models.


Accenture Profit Up, Outlook Below Street (Reuters)

Reuters - Accenture Ltd. , a leading\global consulting firm, on Wednesday posted\higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on a rebound in\consulting business, but projected profit for the current\quarter to miss Wall Street forecasts.


Chinese Minister Sees Fast Economic Growth (AP)

AP - China's finance minister said economic growth of 9 percent this year would be acceptable, state television reported Wednesday, in the first acknowledgment by a senior official that growth might exceed the government's target of 7 percent.


Bushmeat trade thriving in Kenya

The meat from wild animals killed illegally is being sold in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, a report has said.


Carbon 'reaching danger levels'

The UK government's top scientist says atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are now becoming dangerous.


Stocks Seen Higher as Oil Holds Below \$52

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks looked to open higher on  Wednesday, as McDonald's Corp. MCD.N said  third-quarter  earnings rose sharply, while quarterly reports from Intel Corp.  INTC.O and Yahoo Inc. YHOO.O pleased Wall Street and lifted  technology shares.


Host Marriott Quarterly Loss Narrows

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hotel owner Host Marriott Corp.  HMT.N on Wednesday said its third-quarter loss narrowed as  revenue per room rose, driven by an increase in room rates.


Harley-Davidson Posts Higher Profit

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc.  HDI.N roared to record quarterly earnings on Wednesday,  boosted by more efficient operations and demand for its new  models.


Accenture Profit Up, Outlook Below Street

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Accenture Ltd. ACN.N, a leading  global consulting firm, on Wednesday posted  higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on a rebound in  consulting business, but projected profit for the current  quarter to miss Wall Street forecasts.


Total Lunar Eclipse

On Wednesday night, Oct. 27th, North Americans can see a total eclipse of the moon.


NY Times Profit Slips as Ad Sales Uneven

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Times Co. NYT.N on  Wednesday reported lower quarterly net profit, weighed down by  an inconsistent ad sales environment.


Sky-High Oil Price Down for a Second Day

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell from record peaks for a  second session on Wednesday as traders took profits from a  searing rally on signs that high prices are finally starting to  dampen demand.


HCA Sees Earnings Hurt by Hurricanes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - HCA Inc. HCA.N, the largest U.S.  hospital operator, said on Wednesday it expects its  third-quarter earnings to be hurt by the hurricanes that hit  the U.S. Southeast earlier this year.


Two Lebanese Hostages Freed in Iraq - Lawyer

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iraqi kidnappers have freed two Lebanese  men who were taken hostage west of Baghdad last month, their  company's lawyer said on Wednesday.


Nigerian Govt. Seeks Injunction to Halt Strike

ABUJA (Reuters) - The Nigerian government sought a court  injunction on Wednesday to stop a three-day-old general strike  which has raised fears about oil supplies from the world's  seventh largest exporter.


Alleged IRA Fugitive Arrested in Tenerife

BELFAST (Reuters) - A suspected Irish Republican Army  fugitive wanted in connection with a 1996 bomb attack on a  British base in Northern Ireland has been arrested on a Spanish  island after seven years on the run, police said on Wednesday.


Iraq urges donors to release cash

Iraq's deputy PM asks nations meeting in Tokyo to fulfil pledges of aid, saying it is key to "beating terrorism".


Newfound Star Cluster may be Final Milky Way 'Fossil'

Jet Propulsion Lab -- Just when astronomers thought they might have dug up the last of our galaxy's "fossils," they've discovered a new one in the galactic equivalent of our own backyard.     Called globular clusters, these ancient bundles of stars date back to the birth of our Milky Way galaxy, 13 or so billion years ago...


IRA 'terror arrest' in Tenerife

An IRA suspect wanted in connection with a NI bomb attack on soldiers in 1996 is arrested by Spanish police.


Israel extends offensive in Gaza

Israeli forces thrust into a town in north Gaza and kill a Hamas militant, as a Palestinian schoolgirl dies of her wounds.


Football: Fifa slams Beckham

Fifa president Sepp Blatter meets the FA to discuss David Beckham's deliberate booking.


Austrian holds off teammate to win slalom; Miller doesn #39;t finish

Benjamin Raich of Austria held off teammate Rainer Schoenfelder and Giorgio Rocca of Italy on Sunday to win the first slalom of the World Cup season, while overall leader Bode Miller skied out for a second straight race.


Thai violence ahead of key talks

Suspected militants kill two people in southern Thailand, ahead of a Thailand-Malaysia annual meeting.


UN issues child poverty warning

Millions of children live in poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia despite economic growth there, a UN report says.


Saudi clash killed 'top militant'

A leading militant was among three people killed by Saudi security forces on Tuesday, officials say.


Gaza schoolgirl dies of injuries

A Palestinian schoolgirl has died after being struck when Israeli troops fired at her school in Gaza on Tuesday.


Waistline linked to health risks

Scientists believe measuring your waist could be a better indicator of future health than weighing yourself.


Schools Must Help in Fight Against Obesity

By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter    HealthDayNews -- Health experts are trying to move the nation's battle of the bulge to an important new front: the schools.    Schools need to be more active in teaching heart-healthy behavior and they should offer more physical education and healthful meals, a new American Heart Association statement urges...


The great wide-open

When Aloft Group Inc. chief executive Matt Bowen first saw the Strand Movie Palace, the balcony stairs that Saturday matinee crowds once used were crumbling. Rain was dripping into the projector room, and the upper half of a proscenium arch, a mural probably created as a Works Progress Administration project in the early '30s, was layered in dirt.


Lava Breaks the Surface at Mount St. Helens

After weeks of earthquakes and steam eruptions, Mount St. Helens has a new lava dome that could even eclipse the volcano's old one. The quakes subsided as the new lava emerged Monday and cooled in the open air.


Obesity Surgery May Cure Diabetes

By LINDSEY TANNER    CHICAGO (AP) -- Patients who undergo obesity surgery get far more than cosmetic benefits - many also shed fat-related ailments including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, researchers say.    Their report - an analysis of 136 studies - suggests that in some cases, the drastic operations may alter the patient's body chemistry itself and relieve conditions that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure...


4 U.S. Soldiers Killed by Bomb in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Separate roadside bomb attacks killed four American soldiers in Baghdad, as American troops and Iraqi soldiers stepped up pressure on Sunni insurgents before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan this week.    Last year, insurgents sharply increased their attacks against U.S...


Fox Disagrees With FCC Indecency Finding

WASHINGTON - Fox Broadcasting Co. disagrees with a finding by federal regulators that an episode of "Married by America" was indecent, but isn't saying whether it will appeal a nearly \$1.2 million fine...


Blair Won't Apologize Over Iraq

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair denied Wednesday that he misrepresented intelligence about Iraqi weapons before the war, rejecting growing demands in Parliament that he apologize.   "I cannot bring myself to say that I misrepresented the evidence, since I do not accept that I did," Blair said in the House of Commons...


Stocks to Open Higher As Oil Prices Let Up

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks are called slightly higher at the open as investors use a letup in oil prices and some upbeat corporate news to add to positions...


IBM sets date for new tools bundle

Looking to outdo rival Microsoft, IBM plans to ship a new bundle of development tools that can simplify how software gets built.


Four U.S. Soldiers Killed in Bomb Attack

Four U.S. soldiers were killed late Tuesday and early Wednesday by separate roadside bombs detonated near their convoys, the military announced.


Apple whistles a happy iTunes

This week's earnings report is expected to shed light on the impact of iTunes for Windows, which launched one year ago.


Microsoft selling new Windows at cut-rate price

The software giant is selling Media Center, its new version of Windows, to PC makers at a new, lower price, CNET News.com has learned.


Intel in-line

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Intel, the world #39;s largest manufacturer of semiconductors used in personal computers and servers, reported third-quarter sales and earnings that were roughly in line with Wall Street #39;s diminished expectations.


Minding the Search Engine Business

The UK specific version of Froogle features prices in UK Pounds and AdWords ads from British merchants. The company said it hoped the launch would offer a better online shopping experience both today and during the upcoming holidays.


Bryant turns the page

Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss issued a four-point statement through the Lakers #39; staff. Rudy Tomjanovich offered words of praise outside the locker room.


Rice won #39;t be a Lion

While the Oakland Raiders might be willing to deal the soon-to-be Hall of Fame receiver before the Oct. 19 trade deadline, the Detroit Lions aren #39;t interested.


Cricket fever grips Kollywood too

With less than 24 hours to go for the second cricket Test match between India and Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, cricket fever has gripped the city, literally.


Sports Briefs

YURI KADOBNOVAFP VIA GETTY IMAGESVenus Williams returns against Russia #39;s Alina Jidkova during their match at the WTA Kremlin Cup in Moscow.


Kyle Busch takes Nextel Cup wheel

The 19-year-old Las Vegas native was announced Tuesday as the driver to replace two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Terry Labonte behind the wheel of the No.


Afghanistan takes first difficult steps toward democracy

The election for president in Afghanistan may have brought us one small step closer to worldwide democracy. At least the people there left no doubt that they wanted to vote.


Pakistani Tribesmen Fail to Secure Release of Chinese Hostages

A delegation of Pakistani tribal elders has met with the leader of al-Qaida-linked militants holding two Chinese engineers hostage, but failed to secure their release.


Intel Wins Ruling

A federal judge last week denied a request by Advanced Micro Devices to order Intel to turn over company documents to the European Commission, according to a report from the Associated Press.


SAP to increase focus on business intelligence

SAP plans to expand its focus on business intelligence (BI) software over the next year.


Lycos unfurls Circles social networking site

Lycos Inc. on Wednesday will release a test version of a social networking Web site that, unlike many competing ones, is more focused on letting users communicate with people they already know than on letting users get to know strangers.


EU asks four countries to justify call for Intel chips

The European Commission has asked four European Union countries to justify why they favor Intel Corp. processors in computers for public authorities, it announced Wednesday.


New version of SAP Business One available

German business software vendor SAP AG is rolling out a new version of its SAP Business One software with several functions designed for small and medium-size manufacturers.


Motorola will add NFC payment function to cell phones

Motorola Inc. is the latest company to move towards adding a payment function based on Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology to its line of cell phones, the company announced Tuesday.
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SBC Case Study: Crate   Barrel
What sold them on improving their network? A system that could cut management costs from the get-go. Find out more.


Intel 3rd Quarter Revenue \$8.5 Billion

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 12, 2004 - Intel Corporation today announced third-quarter revenue of \$8.5 billion, up 5 percent sequentially and up 8 percent year-over-year.


Wages rise more than expected

Wages rose faster than expected in the June-August period but analysts say the increases are still not high enough to cause inflation worries at the Bank of England.


End of printing at Wapping

NEWS International is to move printing operations from Wapping to Liverpool and Glasgow as part of plans to invest more than 600 million in new plants.


UDO replacing MO faster than expected, says Plasmon

Sales of UDO (Ultra Density Optical) discs and drives are going well and the format is replacing MO (Magneto Optical) technology faster than expected, the president of technology developer Plasmon Inc. said in a recent interview.


Thai PM in paper peace bid

Around 50 Thai Air Force planes have swamped the largely Muslim south of Thailand with millions of paper birds as a symbol of peace for the restive region where nearly 500 people have been killed since January.


TSMC, Freescale to jointly develop chip technology

TAIPEI - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chip maker, has teamed up with Freescale Semiconductor Inc. to jointly develop SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology for chips made using a 65-nanometer (nm) process, the companies said in a statement Tuesday.


Oil surpasses \$54 then falls sharply; supply fears wane

after briefly surpassing \$54 a barrel for the first time -n speculation that demand doesnt justify further price increases. Also


McDonalds serves up 42 rise in earnings

McDonalds Corp. third-quarter earnings rose a higher-than-expected 42 percent on a preliminary basis, the worlds largest restaurant chain said on Wednesday, citing strong sales in the United States and a lower tax rate.


Host Marriott Quarterly Loss Narrows

Hotel owner Host Marriott Corp. (HMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said its third-quarter loss narrowed as revenue per room rose, driven by an increase in room rates.


Qualcomm buys British firm

Cell phone chip maker Qualcomm said on Tuesday it has purchased United Kingdom-based wireless developer Trigenix, in part to bolster Qualcomm #39;s stake in the European cell phone market.


Sports Buzz

During last Sunday #39;s Nextel Cup race, amid the ongoing furor over Dale Earnhardt Jr. #39;s salty language, NBC ran a commercial for a show coming on later that night called  quot;Law  amp; Order: Criminal Intent.


FEC May Regulate Internet Political Activity

By SHARON THEIMER     WASHINGTON (AP) -- With political fund raising, campaign advertising and organizing taking place in full swing over the Internet, it may just be a matter of time before the Federal Election Commission joins the action.    Well, that time may be now...


Microsoft Increases Focus on Entertainment

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) unveiled the latest version of its entertainment-focused operating system Tuesday, seeking a broader audience on a wider array of computers and stoked by partnerships offering music, movies and even recorded books.


Investors Flocking to Web Networking Sites

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Internet whiz kids Marc Andreessen, Josh Kopelman and Joe Kraus share something in common besides reaping huge jackpots during the dot-com boom.    All three belong to LinkedIn, a rapidly growing online networking service whose ability to connect people with common friends and work interests helped persuade the trio to invest in the company before it even started to generate revenue...


7-11 Adopting Wireless Technology

By DAVID KOENIG     ROCKWALL, Texas (AP) -- Sherry Neal checked the refrigerated shelves of her 7-Eleven store, touched the screen of a small handheld computer and got an instant four-week sales history on turkey sandwiches.    With a couple taps on the wireless device, the store manager placed an order for the next day's sandwiches without ever leaving the aisle...


Technical Problems Subside at PayPal

By MAY WONG    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Most members of the online payment service Paypal should be able to log on to the Web site after five days of intermittent service outages and furious repair efforts, the company said...


Bank of Montreal to pay \$197.4M for Indiana #39;s Mercantile Bank

TORONTO (CP) - Bank of Montreal and US subsidiary Harris Bank are paying \$197.4 million for Indiana #39;s 19-branch Mercantile Bank as they bolster their successful operations in the US Midwest.


ECB confirm Collier as new chief

David Collier has been confirmed as the new chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board. The 49-year-old replaces Tim Lamb, who stepped down at the end of last month after almost eight years in charge.


Intel growth not up to expectations

Santa Clara - Semiconductor giant Intel on Tuesday said its third-quarter profit jumped 15 percent from a year ago to \$1.9 billion (R12.


Qualcomm tries Trigenix on for size

Cell phone chip maker Qualcomm on Tuesday said it has purchased United Kingdom-based wireless developer Trigenix, in part to bolster Qualcomm #39;s stake in the all-important European cell phone market.


Investigators dig up mass grave seeking evidence to nail Saddam

HATRA, Iraq, Oct 13 (AFP) - Forensic experts digging for evidence against ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein have carried out their first full exhumation of a mass grave filled with the skeletons of scores of women and children, many shot in the back of


EU Calls on Israel to End Aggression on northern Gaza Immediately

The European Union, called yesterday on the Israeli government to end its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip immediately, maintaining that Israel has the right to defend itself.


Daiei will not get state

Daiei Inc., Japan #39;s third-largest retailer, must cut debt without government aid after a deadline set by a state bailout agency passed, agency officials said.


Oil dips after touching record \$54 a barrel

WASHINGTON: Oil prices retreated slightly yesterday after surpassing \$54 a barrel amid nagging concerns in the market that the global supply buffer is too thin to handle a significant output disruption.


Harley-Davidson #39;s 3Q Profit Up 20 Percent

Harley-Davidson Inc. #39;s third-quarter profit surged 20 percent, revved up by higher gross margin and brisk sales of its brand-name motorcycles and accessories.


Gloom continues at M amp;S

ALES are still falling at Marks  amp; Spencer, the company revealed today, sparking fresh fears for the retailers recovery. The group confirmed that half-year profits will be between 285m-295m, in line with


DreamWorks sets IPO at 29M shares, \$23-\$25 per share

DreamWorks Animation SKG on Tuesday set its planned initial public offering of stock at 29 million common shares at an estimated price of \$23 to \$25 per share.


Amkor Tech in Talks for Credit Facility

Amkor Technology Inc., a provider of semiconductor assembly and test services, said Wednesday that it started talks with a group of institutional lenders regarding a credit facility for a \$300 million term loan.


Titmice guide out-of-town birds to best food, water

Traveling around the state last week, I noticed the fall foliage making its rapid transition to winter. In fact, Birmingham experienced its first freeze of the season - three weeks later than the normal date of Nov.


No Canadian interest rate hike expected Tuesday

OTTAWA - Amid signs of a softening economy and a strengthening dollar, the Bank of Canada is expected to sit on the sidelines this week and wait to see what happens next.


Now, for Your PC: Mac OS X

A Hawaiian company claims to have developed a \$50 software emulator that allows a Windows PC to run Mac OS X. A legal expert says it's likely Apple will have some objections. By Leander Kahney.


US Official Predicts 4 Percent Growth

The US economy will expand by 4 percent this year, sustaining the recovery begun in 2002, a senior US Treasury official said Sunday.


A Mall for America's Geeks

A road trip detour to the Mall of America offers a look at some remarkable feats of modern engineering. Marvels range from genetically modified glowing fish to roller coasters that no sane human should ride after lunch. Michelle Delio reports from Bloomington, Minnesota.


Click Fraud Threatens Web

Someone could make the argument that watchdogs have better things to do. But click fraud -- endlessly clicking on ads to generate cash or hurt a competitor -- is a serious threat to the web business, and no one's doing much about it. Commentary by Adam L. Penenberg.


Vote Early and Often Online

Polls run by news sites to gauge public opinion of politicians are turning into partisan tools for political spin doctors. People voting, often repeatedly, in response to e-mails from their favored candidates can skew the results. By Louise Witt.


New Tack Wins Prisoner's Dilemma

The winner of this year's competition in the classic computerized strategy game shows that a tactic based on cooperating with team members can succeed over one that relies on echoing rivals' moves. By Wendy M. Grossman.


UCLA File Swappers in Quarantine

The school's tool for fighting piracy on campus automatically isolates students fingered by the entertainment industry for allegedly sharing copyright files. It's another example of a university cracking down on illegal file trading. By Katie Dean.


Campaign Donor Data Goes Mobile

Political wonks no longer need to hunch over their PCs to track the political leanings of different regions. A new service sends that data to cell phones and PDAs, so people can find out instantly if they're in a Democratic or Republican stronghold. By Daniel Terdiman.


You Need a Robolawyer

Stop reading all that 'clickwrap' fine print! A browser bot will accept or reject agreements on your terms. By Mark D. Rasch from Wired magazine.


Music Industry Spurned by Court

The Supreme Court declines to hear the music industry's appeal of a case that forbade it from trying to force phone and internet companies from turning over the names of people suspected of copyright infringement over peer-to-peer networks. Michael Grebb reports from Washington, D.C.


BEATEN FALCONS MUST WAIT

The Atlanta Falcons were denied securing the NFC South title on Sunday when they were beaten 27-0 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons needed a win to clinch the division but quarterback Michael Vick had a day to forget.


Reeve Was a Super Activist

Christopher Reeve's death Sunday deprives stem-cell research advocates of one of their most effective champions. But the wheels he help put in motion will continue turning, they promise.


Gates unveils operating system (SiliconValley.com)

SiliconValley.com - LOS ANGELES - In what may be remembered as one of the oddest couples to grace the stage of the Shrine Auditorium, hip-hop diva Queen Latifah joined Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Tuesday to introduce the software giant's new entertainment-focused operating system.


Red Planet Bound: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - DENVER, Colo. -- The next spacecraft destined for nbsp;Mars is rapidly coming together nbsp;here on Earth -- an interplanetary probe that carries the most powerful instruments ever sent to the red planet.


Two Lebanese Hostages Released in Iraq (AP)

AP - Two Lebanese hostages have been released after more than three weeks in captivity in Iraq, a Lebanese Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.


McDonald #39;s helped by increased sales

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- McDonald #39;s Corp. said Wednesday it expects to earn 61 cents per share in the third quarter, helped by a lower tax rate and increased sales worldwide.


Bank of Montreal to Buy Indiana Bank for \$156.5 Mln (Update1)

Bank of Montreal, Canada #39;s fifth- biggest bank, agreed to buy Mercantile Bancorp Inc., which has branches in northwestern Indiana, for \$156.


NY Times Profit Slips as Ad Sales Uneven

The New York Times Co. (NYT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday reported lower quarterly net profit, weighed down by an inconsistent ad sales environment.


Damage to increase grapefruit price tag

Florida will produce the smallest grapefruit crop in almost 70 years after three hurricanes hit the state #39;s citrus producing counties, blowing over trees, ripping fruit from limbs and flooding groves.


Seattle Storm Wins WNBA Title Over Sun (AP)

AP - Betty Lennox had another huge night, scoring 23 points to lead the Seattle Storm to their first WNBA title with a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.


Giants Defensive Coordinator Baffling NFL (AP)

AP - Tim Lewis has taken the New York Giants' traditional 4-3 defense and added a twist of the old Pittsburgh Steelers' 3-4 to it.


Qualcomm buys UK 3G software developer Trigenix (UPDATED)

LONDON - Qualcomm Inc. has bought Trigenix, a British startup specializing in software that lets mobile network operators adjust the menus on handsets, for \$36 million in cash.


Cricket: A star revered for more than just numbers

#39;Remove Miller from the scorecard and he still lives. That can be said of few cricketers. quot;. That quote from Keith Miller #39;s biographer Mihir Bose helps explain why the death Monday of a cricketer who played


Kaif recalled to bolster Indian batting

India have recalled one-day specialist Mohammad Kaif in a bid to beef up their batting order for the second test against Australia starting on Thursday.


EMC takes Retrospect Dantz

Confirming Macworld UK #39;s report earlier this week, EMC has acquired Retrospect backup software publisher, Dantz Development Corp.


NBA hopeful Liu Wei wins praise from coaches on eve of China showdown (AFP)

AFP - China's national team basketball star Liu Wei, aiming to become Asia's first guard to make it in the NBA, is getting high accolades from the coaches of the Sacramento Kings with whom he is trying out.


Iraq pleads for help

Baghdad - Iraq urged the international community on Wednesday to play an active role in rebuilding the war-shattered nation at a donors conference in Tokyo as a Baghdad bombing killed three US soldiers in the latest wave of violence.


Submarine rescue gets under way

The salvage vessel Anglian Prince began towing HMCS Chicoutimi, which has more than 50 Canadian sailors on board, after waiting for improved weather.


Beckham Criticized for Suspension (AP)

AP - FIFA's president criticized England captain David Beckham for deliberately getting himself suspended for a World Cup qualifier and urged the English Football Association to take action.


McNair inactive; Volek starts against Colts

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair was inactive for Sunday #39;s game against Indianapolis because of a chest injury.


Harley-Davidson Roars to Record Earnings

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc.  HDI.N reported record quarterly earnings on Wednesday as more  efficient operations and the weak dollar boosted its margins.


Edison Int'l Raises '04 Earnings Forecast

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Edison International EIX.N on  Wednesday raised its earnings forecast for 2004, citing  improved performance at its utility unit Southern California  Edison.


'Sorry' Is the Hardest Word for Blair on Iraq

LONDON (Reuters) - Tony Blair's ministers have said it, his  political opponents are baying for it but the British prime  minister refuses to utter it.


Generating Income with Blogs - Blogging for Dollars\\Blogging for dollars might sound like the latest game show or some new drinking game, but it's the latest craze to hit the Internet. Bloggers began blogging for a number of reasons, but as the blog movement has increased in popularity, they have ...


Q3 revenue meets lowered forecasts, Q4 may fall short

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Intel rallied in pre-open trading Wednesday amid relief that the company did a better-than-expected job moving part of its excess inventory and that the weakness it sees in the fourth-quarter isn #39;t as bad as some feared


BMO expands in US

BMO plans to buy Mercantile Bankcorp and a related operation for a total of \$197,4 million. Under the deal, BMO will obtain Mercantile #39;s 19 branches in Northwest Indiana.


Rose fails to stop slide in M amp;S sales

MARKS  amp; Spencer yesterday recorded its fourth quarter of falling sales in a row, just a day before potential suitor Philip Green is expected to report an increase in full-year earnings at rival BhS.


US mortgage applications fall last week

NEW YORK - New applications for US home loans dropped more than 9 percent last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates also eased from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Virgin to sell digital player to compete with IPod

Virgin Group Ltd., owned by billionaire British entrepreneur Richard Branson, said it will begin selling a portable music player to compete with Apple Computer Inc.


Now, for Your PC: Mac OS X

A Hawaiian company specializing in streaming video claims to have developed a \$50 software emulator that allows a Windows PC to run Apple Computer #39;s Mac OS X. Maui X-Stream on Tuesday announced CherryOS, a virtual PC that mimics the hardware of a G4 Mac.


Rivera saves the Yankees

NEW YORKFew had noticed the third-inning ballpark arrival last night of the New York Yankees closer who would ultimately rescue them from a disaster of historical proportions.


Beckham Criticized for Suspension

England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson reacts to a question during a press conference in Baku, Azerbaijan Tuesday Oct. 12, 2004, following captain David Beckham #39;s comments that he deliberately got suspended


WENGER BACKS LEHMANN #39;S CLAIM

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has backed Jens Lehmann to fulfil his World Cup dream by claiming the Germany number one shirt, despite off-the-pitch complications threatening to kill off his chances altogether.


Who? Who? And Clemens

The Houston Astros and their fans patiently waited 42 years before winning their first post-season series on Monday and what do they get for a payoff?


PayPal Cleaning Up Site Glitch

A recent monthly update to its Web site caused no end of trouble for online transaction company PayPal. But after an outage that plagued the site, PayPal appears to be back online.


Possibly the fastest way to spend money

Next, you could have a Motorola mobile phone with MasterCard PayPass to help you spend money faster.  quot;This is layering on more features to make the cell phone


JVC joins the Blu-ray Disc Association

10/12/2004 -- Jobwerx News -- The consumer electronics industry is firmly behind the Blu-ray Disc high-definition optical-disc format and so is JVC.


Investigators excavate mass graves in Iraq

Investigators have begun to excavate at the site of a mass grave in northern Iraq which is believed to contain up to 300 bodies. The site at Hatra, south of Mosul, is believed to contain the bodies of Kurdish


CALIPH OF COLOGNE BACK IN TURKEY

A leading Turkish militant known as the Caliph of Cologne has arrived in Istanbul after he was deported from Germany to face trial for allegedly attempting to overthrow Turkeys secular government.


Daiei to Apply for Aid From Gov #39;t Fund

Troubled Japanese supermarket chain Daiei Inc. said Wednesday it will ask for an emergency cash injection from a government-run corporate bailout fund, after the retailer #39;s biggest creditors refused a request for a rescue package.


UNRWA waits for Israel apology

The chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Wednesday demanded that Israel apologise for wrongfully accusing UNRWA of allowing Palestinians to move rockets in its ambulances, The AFP reported.


Intel profit rises, but inventory glut lingers

SAN FRANCISCO Intel, the largest semiconductor maker, has reported that its profit for the third quarter rose 15 percent from a year earlier, though it continued to struggle with an inventory glut that has reduced its profit margins.


Media Center will succeed, just not yet

Microsoft is promoting its Windows Media Center Extender devices as the easiest way to get music, photos and video from a Media Center PC to a stereo or TV.


McDonald #39;s Says 3rd-Qtr Profit Rose to 61 Cts a Share (Update1)

McDonald #39;s Corp., the world #39;s largest restaurant chain, said third-quarter profit rose to about 61 cents a share, beating analysts #39; estimates, on higher sales in the US and a lower tax rate.


US weighs trade limit for China

WASHINGTON The Bush administration has agreed to consider a petition from a coalition of textile manufacturers, along with the union representing their workers, asking that the federal government limit imports from China next year, an action that could


Computer: IBM #39;s shoe-box sized system

IBM wants to topple the world #39;s leader in computer storage technology with a new shoe-box sized disk system developed at IBM Storage Systems Divisions in Tucson.


PeopleSoft defends poison pills

David Duffield, PeopleSoft founder and acting-CEO, said the firm might have considered the Oracle takeover bid more seriously if terms had been different.


AOL Develops Desktop Search

According to sources familiar with testing, America Online Inc. is developing its own desktop search technology that will initially be added to the AOL Browser beta as early as the end of this week.


Yankees 10, Red Sox 7: Just a typical chapter in unique rivalry

Another game, another postseason classic. It will be news if the Red Sox and Yankees ever play a yawner. Last night certainly does not qualify.


Now you, too, can own Bonds #39; 700th homer ball -- if only for a <b>...</b>

Now, anybody has the chance to say he or she had Barry Bonds #39; 700th home run ball, if only for a moment in cyberspace. The ball will go on sale in a nine-day Internet auction starting Monday, said the attorney


quot;Sorry quot; is hardest word for Blair on Iraq

Tony Blair #39;s ministers have said it, his political opponents are baying for it but the prime minister refuses to utter it -- when it comes to the Iraq war,  quot;sorry quot; is the word on everyone else #39;s lips.


Ibrahimovic completes Juve recovery

ROME (AFP) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his seventh league goal of the season as Juventus came from behind to defeat Lazio 2-1 and restore their four point lead at the top of Serie A. Defending champions AC


150 Foreigners Taken Hostage in Iraq (AP)

AP - Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped more than 150 foreigners in their campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction:


Congress Leads Exit Polls in Key Indian State (Reuters)

Reuters - India's ruling center-left Congress\party was heading for victory in elections in the key western\state of Maharashtra that the heart of business and Bollywood,\television exit polls showed on Wednesday.


U.S. Stocks Rise at the Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened higher on  Wednesday, as McDonald's Corp. said third-quarter earnings rose  sharply and quarterly reports from Intel Corp. and Yahoo Inc.  pleased Wall Street, lifting technology shares.


EU Charges Four Countries Favor Intel

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - France, the Netherlands, Finland and  Sweden are violating European Union law by favoring chips made  by Intel over rival AMD when they buy computers, the European  Commission said in formal charges filed on Wednesday.


US election splits military in Iraq (AFP)

AFP - The soldier is willing to fight to the death in Baghdad's mean streets, but when he hears two words -- John Kerry -- he cringes.


Nordic nations 'most competitive'

Nordic countries are leading the way in global economic competitiveness, with Finland topping the World Economic Forum's latest rankings.


Austrians finish one-two in World Cup super-G, three Canadians in <b>...</b>

LAKE LOUISE, Alta. (CP) - The Austrian women claimed their first victory of the season, finishing one-two in the year #39;s opening World Cup super-giant slalom race Sunday, while three Canadians finished in the top 20.


Global Competitiveness Survey Highlights

NEW YORK - It doesn #39;t look like Britannia will again rule the waves anytime soon. In the World Economic Forum #39;s Global Competitiveness Report, the UK #39;s business environment rose four places to 11th this year, ahead of Germany at 13 and France at 27.


Crude oil prices end sharply lower amid profit-taking

Crude oil futures fell sharply Tuesday as traders opted to cash in profits after six straight sessions of strong gains in oil market.


King #39;s no more Mr Nice Guy

THE little-noticed drop in the pound on the foreign exchanges is starting to worry Mervyn King. In a speech in the rarefied setting of the Eden Project in Cornwall, the Bank of England governor noted that


Astros in, Pettitte out

The former Yankee, sidelined by surgery, can only be a spectator for Houston #39;s NLCS matchup with St. Louis. BY DAVID LENNON. ST.


Radcliffe declares to run in Beijing Olympics

World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe has decided to run at 34 in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing after Athens disappointment.


Miller to receive state funeral

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says a state funeral will be held next week for cricketing great Keith Miller, who died on Monday on the Mornington Peninsula.


Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Pleads for Aid

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, left, chats with Iraqi Minister of Planning Mahdi al-Hafidh, center, and Iraqi Minister of Electricity Ayham al-Samarrai, prior to the start of a 55-nation Iraqi reconstruction donors #39; conference in Tokyo


UK #39;s Blair Attacks Opponents of Iraq War After Grave Found

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair attacked opponents of his decision to take the nation to war in Iraq, saying allowing Saddam Hussein to remain in power would have risked the murder of more Iraqis.


Canada withdraws subs

OTTAWA - Canada has decided to temporarily withdraw from service three British-made submarines after a fire on a fourth vessel, the Defence Ministry said in a statement yesterday.


Japan #39;s troubled Daiei decides to seek aid from government body

TOKYO (AFP) - Debt-ridden Japanese retailer Daiei decided to seek help from a state-backed corporate body, reversing an earlier decision after repeated heavy pressure from its creditors.


McDonald #39;s raises earnings outlook

OAK BROOK, Ill. - Fast food giant McDonalds says earnings this quarter will be better than forecast, thanks to rising sales and a lower tax bill.


Federal government confirms 2003-04 budget surplus of \$9.1 billion

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government confirmed Wednesday that its tax intake massively outweighed spending in the past fiscal year - producing a budget surplus of \$9.


Soyuz-Expedition 10 Launch Journal

The new crew of the International Space Station is in the final hours of preparation to launch at 11:06 EDT tonight, which is Oct. 14 at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia #39;s launch facility there.


EU asks four countries to justify call for Intel chips

The European Commission Wednesday announced it has asked four European Union countries to justify why they favor Intel processors in computers for public authorities.


FDA Approves Use of Chip in Patients (AP)

AP - The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved an implantable computer chip that can pass a patient's medical details to doctors, speeding care.


Cyber-Security to Get Higher-Profile Leader (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said yesterday that the role of overseeing computer security and the Internet should have a higher profile at the agency, in the face of increasing concern from technology executives and experts that cyber-security is getting inadequate attention.


Supremes Quietly Change Piracy Debate

The Supreme Court's decision to skip a hearing on the entertainment industry's legal campaign against online music swappers marks a huge turning point in the Internet piracy debate, regardless of the scant attention it received in the mainstream press. -washingtonpost.com


France rejects militant's appeal

France's High Court of Appeal says a former member of an Italian radical left-wing group must be extradited to Italy.


Report shows China ranks 46th of 104 economies

China ranks 46th out of 104 economies evaluated in the Geneva-based World Economic Forum #39;s latest World Competitiveness Report, dropping two places from last year.


HP, DreamWorks Extend Collaboration

Computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. on Wednesday said it received a three-year multimillion dollar extension to supply film studio DreamWorks SKG with core computer technology.


Crude oil prices retreat but nagging supply concerns linger

Crude oil futures continued to retreat from record levels of more than \$54 US a barrel Wednesday as traders nervously monitored developments in strike-hit Nigeria and recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.


Coles #39; \$1.3b bid raises ALH stakes

Australian retailer Coles Myer intensified the battle for the ALH pubs and liquor chain yesterday, topping an offer by Woolworths with aA\$1.


Yukos shares slide amid subsidiary sale fears

Shares in the oil giant Yukos today continued to slide amid concerns that the Russian government would sell part of a key subsidiary cheaply in order to finance the company #39;s huge tax debt.