Telstra may split its services

MARK COLVIN: To Telstra, and a question that may go even deeper than the long-running one about whether it should be privatised. Can the carrier remain as a single giant company, complete with a monopoly on


Car Bombs Kill 34 Children in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents detonated three car bombs  near a U.S. military convoy in Baghdad Thursday, killing 41  people, 34 of them children, and wounding scores.


AT T Lowers Price on Internet Calling Service (Reuters)

Reuters - AT T Corp  on Thursday said it\was lowering the price on its CallVantage Internet calling\service by  #36;5 per month, matching the price from several other\suppliers.


Munich migrates to Linux despite EU debate (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - If Microsoft Corp. had any hope of seeing Munich back away from its landmark decision last year to abandon Windows software in favor of open source Linux, that hope faded Wednesday when city officials decided to move ahead with their migration project.


Ex-Astronaut Casts Doubt on Space Tourism (AP)

AP - Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon during the final Apollo landing, said Thursday he doesn't expect space tourism to become reality in the near future, despite a strong demand.


Private Rocket Ship Lands in California After Flight (Reuters)

Reuters - SpaceShipOne completed the first\leg of its bid for a  #36;10-million civilian space prize with a\wild corkscrew-like ascent into space above the California\desert on Wednesday.


Analysts: IBM selling PC business makes sense

IBM is considering pulling out of the personal computer business it founded - a sign of a big change in the way companies buy computers and a shift of power in the PC industry.


Metcash in \$846m raid on Foodland

INDEPENDENT grocery wholesaler Metcash Trading has made a bold bid to become the third force in our supermarket scene behind Woolworths and Coles with a \$846 million offer for Foodland yesterday.


Spanish government to allow homosexual couples to adopt (AFP)

AFP - The right by homosexual couples to adopt children will reportedly be added to draft legislation legalizing gay marriages to be adopted Friday by Spain's Socialist government.


Quebec can't speak for Canada on world stage, says Robillard (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - When it comes to world affairs, nobody speaks for Canada except Canada, says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Lucienne Robillard.


Despite Reforms, Florida Vote May Face Challenge (Reuters)

Reuters - With hundreds of lawyers mobilizing next\month to monitor the presidential election, what are the\chances of a remake of the Florida 2000 fiasco? Probably quite\high, election watchers say.


Bush's Reserve Resignation Cited 'Inadequate Time' (Reuters)

Reuters - President Bush, accused by Democrats of\shirking his duty in the Texas Air National Guard during the\Vietnam War, wrote that he had "inadequate time" to meet future\Reserve commitments in his Nov. 1974 letter of resignation\released on Wednesday.


The next president could tip high court (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - This election's potential impact on the Supreme Court has seemed to be an afterthought, but the stakes for the court and the law are even higher now than they were in 2000. The prospect of a change on the court is greater and the replacement of one justice could affect the law on hot issues.


21 Palestinians, 3 Israelis Die in Gaza Fighting

JABALYA, Gaza (Reuters) - Twenty-one Palestinians and three  Israelis were killed Thursday, Gaza's bloodiest day for more  than two years, as Israel struck back after a rocket attack  killed two Israeli children in a border town.


AT T Lowers Price on Internet Calling Service

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AT T Corp T.N on Thursday said it  was lowering the price on its CallVantage Internet calling  service by \$5 per month, matching the price from several other  suppliers.


Digitizing the Bill of Rights

Who says the Constitution doesn't apply to the Internet?  One of the most controversial provisions of the USA Patriot Act took a blow yesterday, courtesy of the ACLU and a federal judge in New York. -washingtonpost.com


Nortel Details Previously Announced Cuts

Nortel Networks Corp. gave details of a previously announced job cut program Thursday, saying it is cutting 1,400 in the United States by next June.


US presses Belgrade on war crimes

US diplomats tell Serbia-Montenegrin leaders it is in their best interests to hand over top war crimes suspects.


IPod Speaker Sets Get a Hearing

Compact speakers for personal music players have been around since the original Walkman. Now that mini-hard drive music machines can hold your entire collection, the product category is back with a vengeance.


Huge turnout for  Indian Maoists

Tens of thousands of people attend a rally called by the left-wing rebel  People's War Group in southern India.


Concern over US volcano rumbles

US scientists fear a surge in activity at the Mount St Helens volcano in Washington state might be a sign it is on the verge of erupting.


Merck Pulls Vioxx Painkiller From Market, and Stock Plunges

Merck said it voluntarily pulled the drug after new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Baghdad Bombings Kill 35 Children

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Bombs exploded near a U.S. convoy in western Baghdad on Thursday, killing 35 children and seven adults, a hospital official said...


IMF Forecasts Growth in Sub-Saharan Economies

THE International Monetary Fund forecast yesterday a substantial jump in economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa this year and next, saying the outlook for the region was better than in years.


IBM settles with workers in landmark pension case

IBM has said that it has agreed to pay \$320 million to current and former employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan in a case that may affect millions of workers at many companies and nonprofit organizations.


US consumers tighten purse strings in August

US consumer spending, a key pillar of the nation #39;s economy, was flat in August as Americans reacted to surging gasoline prices.


PepsiCo earnings rise; job cuts planned

NEW YORK - PepsiCo (PEP), the world #39;s No. 2 soft drink company, said Thursday that quarterly profit rose because of tax benefits and strong performances from its key Frito-Lay snack and North American beverage


Nortel trims layoff plan

Telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Networks will not lay off as many employees as it previously predicted, the company said Thursday.


Cereal Giant Shifts To Whole Grain

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Hoping to give a boost to the battle against obesity, General Mills is converting all of its  quot;Big G quot; cereals to whole grain.


Date given for UK Enron case

A judge is set to rule in two weeks on a case involving three UK former bankers fighting extradition to the United States over alleged fraud charges involving Enron executives.


Bruandwo raises stakes

BRUANDWO has bowed to the inevitable and drastically raised its bid for Victorian pubs group Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality.


Intermet files for Chapter 11

TROY, Mich. -- Auto-parts maker Intermet Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming soaring prices for scrap steel and other raw materials.


India posts 7.4 gain in growth

BANGALORE, India India #39;s economy expanded by a more-than-expected 7.4 percent in the April-to-June quarter, buoyed by strong growth in manufacturing and services, the government announced on Thursday.


Roddick Reaches Thailand Open Quarters (AP)

AP - Andy Roddick needed seven match points before finally putting away Jeff Morrison 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 Thursday to reach the Thailand Open quarterfinals.


One small step for space travel

MARK COLVIN: Space travel is a childhood dream, but today it got a little closer to adult reality, for the wealthy, at any rate. The prototype private space vessel  quot;SpaceShipOne quot; made a mostly successful manned test flight over the American Mojave Desert.


IBM claims fastest supercomputer on the planet

Currently, the NEC-assembled Earth Simulator in Yokohama, Japan is ranked at number one, with its 5,120 processors recording an operating speed of 35.


India next in line for cut-down XP

Microsoft has named India as the next market for its stripped-down version of XP, with shipping expected to begin early next year.


Enter your e-mail:

Every week, it seems, I see another announcement about one of the two competing blue-laser-based optical disc formats. The latest news is from the HD-DVD camp.


Congress joins file-sharing battle

Just over a year ago, the recording industry unleashed its first barrage of lawsuits against people who share music online - a move that appeared to curtail illegal file swapping briefly.


Salesforce.com adds customer support product

Hoping to find the same success in the contact center as it found with the sales force, Salesforce.com today added Supportforce.com to its application arsenal.


Clever cars can read road signs

The plaintive plea to the traffic cop is the same the world over: Sorry officer, I didnt know I was speeding. But drivers may soon have to come up with a better excuse.


Smile Pretty for the Cell Phone

Thanks to digital cameras, picture taking has been revitalized. At this year #39;s Photokina, the world #39;s largest photography trade fair, digital cameras dominate the picture.


Linksys Teams With Verizon, Best Buy, Intel

Cisco #39;s Irvine-based Linksys division has announced new relationships with a number of other companies. Linksys said that it has signed an agreement with Verizon to include the company #39;s VoIP phones in its services.


Rogers rejoices after gold rush

MICHAEL ROGERS likes the look and feel of the world champion #39;s rainbow-coloured jersey on his back. The Italian-based Rogers, 25, from Canberra, has been hovering around world championship podiums at junior


Big surprise by Indian board

Calcutta, India - The Indian cricket board made a surprise move on Thursday by granting television production and distribution rights for the upcoming Test series against Australia, even as the Supreme Court was hearing a petition by another network


Major League Baseball Returns to Washington, DC

Major League Baseball is back in the nation #39;s capital for the first time since the Washington Senators team moved to Texas and became the Rangers in 1971.


Domenech pleads with Zidane and Thuram to return - both say no

France coach Raymond Domenech made a last-ditch plea with Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram, asking them to rejoin the team for two crucial games.


Owen prepared to play the waiting game at Real

England striker Michael Owen says that although he is desperately keen to get on the pitch he is prepared to bide his time and wait for his opportunity to break into the first team at Real Madrid.


Indians Pitcher Shot

_ Cleveland pitcher Kyle Denney was slightly wounded in the leg late last night, on the team bus as it left Kauffman Stadium for Kansas City International Airport.


Suicide bombers strike twice in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq Suicide bombers and other attackers, apparently targeting US and Iraqi forces, struck in quick succession in three separate areas of the capital Thursday, killing at least 46 people and wounding 208 others, officials said.


New tape of Briton

BANGKOK The Thai wife of a British engineer held hostage in Iraq said Thursday that newly released video footage of her husband had buoyed her hopes for his safe return.


Rape trials open on storied isle

PITCAIRN ISLAND A string of sex abuse trials opened on Pitcairn Island, the isolated British territory in the Pacific Ocean that is home to the descendants of the 18th-century Bounty mutineers.


N.Korean Defectors with Weapons in the S.Korean Embassy in China

It was reported on September 30 that the South Korean government is aggressively reviewing ways of a conditional handover to China of North Korean defectors who used weapons or violence to enter the Korean Embassy in China.


Typhoon leaves 18 dead, 7 missing

Eighteen people have been confirmed dead and seven others remain missing as a result of Typhoon Meari, which swept through Japan and weakened into an extra-tropical depression around noon (local time).


Baghdad bombings kill 35 children; new hostages seized

Bombs exploded near a US convoy in western Baghdad on Thursday, killing 35 children and seven adults, a hospital official said. Hours


BA plane in emergency Amsterdam landing

A British Airways flight was today forced to make an unscheduled landing in Amsterdam, accompanied by Dutch fighter jets, after a  quot;specific threat quot; was reported.


Nortel trims layoff plan

Nortel reduced layoffs by 250, as the company details plans to cut expenses


Gateway to offer customized PCs again

The company on Thursday will take the wraps off three new configurable desktops.


Munich migrates to Linux despite EU debate

If Microsoft Corp. had any hope of seeing Munich back away from its landmark decision last year to abandon Windows software in favor of open source Linux, that hope faded Wednesday when city officials decided to move ahead with their migration project.


Carmax Reports Record Third-Quarter Sales (Reuters)

Reuters - Auto retailer Carmax Inc. \reported record third-quarter sales on Monday and said used-car\sales had strengthened considerably since the spring and\summer.


Red Hat picks up pieces of Netscape

Red Hat Inc. has gone scavenging among Netscape's remains, agreeing Thursday to pay America Online Inc. (AOL) up to \$23 million in cash for the assets of Netscape Communications Corp.'s Security Solutions unit.


IBM Makes Partial Settlement in Age-Bias Case

Legal action was taken against IBM concerning its conversion to a controversial cash-balance pension plan. Under the terms of the agreement, IBM will pay at least \$300 million to settle certain claims in the complex lawsuit.


Nortel Cuts Fewer Jobs, Exits Real Estate

Nortel Networks Corp. on Thursday said it would eliminate about 10 percent of its work force, slightly less than previously estimated, and consolidate real estate in a cost-cutting plan that will save \$500 million in 2005.


Merck takes down the Dow

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - US stocks traded mixed Thurday as Merck shares lost a quarter of their value, dragging blue chips lower, but the Nasdaq moved higher, buoyed by gains in the semiconductor sector.


Russia Delays Review of Yukos Subsidiary Licenses

Russia #39;s Natural Resources Ministry has postponed consideration of whether to suspend the licenses of the main subsidiary of the troubled giant oil firm Yukos.


ALH investors should wait for a Bruandwo extension

AFTER months of procrastination - an attempt to wear down the shareholders of Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality into accepting an under-priced offer - the joint bid vehicle of Woolworths and pubs king Bruce Mathieson, Bruandwo, has reversed tactics.


Boozy Lunches Off the Menu at Brewer #39;s New HQ

It may be the world #39;s biggest brewer -- and in beer-loving Belgium at that -- but InBev does not want its managers drinking at lunchtime.


Jags could take two-game lead with win

Editor #39;s note: ESPN senior NFL writer John Clayton #39;s weekly  quot;First And 10 quot; column takes you around the league with a look at the best game of the week followed by primers for 10 other games.


Minnesota Twins Team Report - September 30

(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins try to get back on the winning track when they conclude their three-game set with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.


Scores of kids die in Baghdad car blasts

Baghdad: At least 49 people were killed, most of them children, in a series of devastating car bombs that left a trail of carnage in Baghdad and northern Iraq on Thursday, medics and the US military said.


Germany Extends Afghan Mission

The German Parliament on Thursday overwhelming approved a one-year extension of the Bundeswehr #39;s Afghanistan mandate. The decision comes a day after a grenade attack on a German camp in Kunduz injured five.


IMF head calls on China to move toward currency flexibility (AFP)

AFP - Pressure mounted on China to allow its currency to float freely as the IMF's top official urged Chinese authorities to make the move now, while their economy is booming.


Swedish fashion retailer H and M profits rise in third quarter (AFP)

AFP - Swedish fashion retailer Hennes and Mauritz posted a rise in profits for the third quarter, saying its price-cut strategy had paid off.


Arthritis Drug Vioxx Being Pulled

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The arthritis drug Vioxx, used by 2  million people around the world, is being pulled off the market  after a study confirmed longstanding concerns that it raises  the risk of heart attack and stroke, the manufacturer, Merck    Co. MRK.N, said on Thursday.


Oil Nears \$50 on Nigeria Supply Worries

LONDON (Reuters) - High-flying oil climbed back toward \$50  a barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security of  Nigerian supply supporting prices despite a surprise build in  U.S. crude inventories.


Synnex's World Isn't Flat

The company is moving along a dual track -- growth through acquisitions and organic efforts.


IBM agrees on partial pension settlement

In a decision that eventually may affect millions of workers, IBM says it will pay \$320 million to settle part of a pension plan lawsuit.


Government opens Fannie Mae inquiry

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into possible accounting fraud by the mortgage giant Fannie Mae. The criminal inquiry, still in a preliminary stage, came


US Midwest Economy Stronger,Jobs Struggle

Business activity in the US Midwest expanded in September at a faster-than-expected rate, hinting that the economy is climbing out of its summer slow patch, a report showed on Thursday.


Nortel cutting 950 jobs in Canada, mostly in Ottawa, among total <b>...</b>

TORONTO (CP) - Nortel Networks gave details of previously announced job cuts Thursday, saying it is cutting 950 jobs in Canada - almost 10 per cent of its workforce in this country-and 1,400 in the United States among a total of 3,250 to be eliminated


Blue Chips Fall on Merck Recall, Crude Up

US blue chips fell on Thursday after drug company Merck  amp; Co.(MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said it was withdrawing its key arthritis drug Vioxx, while relentless oil prices floated back to \$50 a barrel.


Industry group says inventory is being managed better

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Semiconductor stocks rose Thursday as a chip trade group announced global August sales that showed an expected slowing of growth.


European supermarket chain extends RFID push

European supermarket chain Tesco is planning to extend its RFID rollout in time for the Christmas rush. The company, which began using the tracking technology in October last year, will be introducing the


To HD-DVD or not to HD-DVD?

If you are an equipment manufacturer, parts supplier or content provider, the question has unquestionably been posed to you before.


UPS Steps Up RFID Efforts

The packaging and shipping company plans to upgrade readers it #39;s testing to the next-generation, multiprotocol technology. By Elena Malykhina.


Arsenal duo in France squad

France coach Raymond Domenech has kept faith with Arsenal duo Thierry Henry and Robert Pires for the World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus.


Crisis looming at Ajax

What seemed like the perfect football marriage is suddenly splitting at the seams. Ajax and Ronald Koeman are no longer a couple, although they still live in the same apartment.


Novak cruises into next round

SECOND-seeded Jiri Novak cruised into the ATP Shanghai Open quarterfinals with a 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-1, victory today over Melle Van Gemerden of the Netherlands.


Militants seize 10 hostages in Iraq: al-Jazeera

The pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV channel showed a videotape Thursday of 10 hostages held by Islamic militants in Iraq. An extremist Islamic group calling itself the Islamic Army


India Expects Jump in High-Tech Imports (AP)

AP - India's space agency said Thursday its removal from a U.S. export restriction list earlier this month could result in a threefold import increase of high technology equipment from the United States.


Calif. OKs Anti-Spyware, Swapping Laws (AP)

AP - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed separate legislation designed to combat spyware and the illegal online swapping of copyright material.


Kimberly-Clark Sets Cost-Cut Plan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kimberly-Clark Corp. KMB.N said on  Monday it is targeting \$400 million to \$500 million in cost  savings over the next three years and still expects earnings  this quarter to meet its previous expectations.


Toshiba Unveils Clearer Flat-Panel TV (AP)

AP - Toshiba Corp. has a new flat-panel TV that delivers clear imagery comparable to the old-style cathode-ray tubes by using similar beam-emitting technology.


C W in talks to sell Japanese operations (FT.com)

FT.com - Cable and Wireless, the UK based telecommunications group, is in talks with Softbank and MKS Partners, a private equity group, about selling its Japanese operations, in a move that would represent a retreat from the market.


Red Hat picks up pieces of Netscape (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Red Hat Inc. has gone scavenging among Netscape #39;s remains, agreeing Thursday to pay America Online Inc. (AOL) up to  #36;23 million in cash for the assets of Netscape Communications Corp. #39;s Security Solutions unit.


Sun upgrades J2SE platform (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Application developers are getting a raft of new options this week with Sun updating J2SE, Borland upping its CORBA ante, and Compuware detailing products that will work with Microsoft's Visual Studio 2005 toolbox.


Russian Cabinet Approves Kyoto Protocol (AP)

AP - Russia's Cabinet approved the Kyoto Protocol on global warming Thursday, clearing the way for the worldwide adoption of the pact  #151; despite U.S. opposition  #151; once the Russian parliament ratifies it as expected.


Acne-Like Rash Shows Cancer Drug Is Working (Reuters)

Reuters - An acne-like rash is good news for colon\cancer patients because it shows that a targeted therapy for\the disease is working, Belgian scientists said on Thursday.


Kimberly-Clark Sets Cost-Cut Plan (Reuters)

Reuters - Kimberly-Clark Corp.  said on\Monday it is targeting  #36;400 million to  #36;500 million in cost\savings over the next three years and still expects earnings\this quarter to meet its previous expectations.


U.N. Wants African Monitors in Darfur Camps (Reuters)

Reuters - African monitors should deploy in\camps to help protect the almost 1.5 million people displaced\by the conflict in Darfur and should also monitor police to\help build trust with the local community, the United Nations\said on Wednesday.


Update 4: US Weighs Raising Nations #39; Debt Relief

The Bush administration is exploring proposals to significantly expand debt relief to some of the world #39;s poorest countries, including forgiving all existing debt, Treasury Secretary John Snow said Thursday.


Fannie Mae Probe Under Consideration by Justice, Person Says

The US Department of Justice is considering whether to conduct a criminal investigation into accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, the biggest US mortgage finance company, and has yet to


Crude Oil Inventories Following Hurricane Ivan; Gas and Diesel <b>...</b>

Last week, in this space, we postulated that we would see a large rebound in crude oil imports and domestic production as the recovery from Hurricane Ivan occurred in earnest, leading to a substantial increase in crude oil inventories.


Merck to Withdraw Vioxx Because of Heart Risks (Update4)

Merck  amp; Co. withdrew its Vioxx painkiller, which generated \$2.5 billion in sales last year, because of a link to heart attacks and strokes.


Nortel to cut fewer jobs, trim real estate space

SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 (REUTERS) - Nortel Networks Corp. said today that its cost-cutting plan will save \$500 million in 2005, and even more in future years, as it cuts fewer jobs than forecast but plans to eliminate some of its real estate space.


Aon CEO Ryan retiring

CHICAGO Insurance giant Aon Corporation is looking for a new chief executive officer to succeed Patrick Ryan, who is retiring. The 67-year-old Ryan intends to stay on as CEO until his successor is named and


#39;It flew like a dream #39;

Test pilot makes successful foray into space on rocket ship. But there was some drama... THE spectators on the ground gasped as the rocket ship rolled at least 16 times in about 16 seconds.


Browser Wars, Part II?

com. Back in the mid- #39;90s, they called it the Browser Wars: Netscape Navigator vs. Microsoft Internet Explorer. But that score was settled long ago, when America Online ironically bought


Sharp Puts Its PC in the Living Room

Sharp will make its first play for the living room PC space later this year with a machine that looks less like a computer and more like a consumer electronics product.


AT amp;T Wireless Goes to Market with Ogo

AT amp;T Wireless says its new Ogo messaging device is meant to create an entirely new category of users.  quot;Ogo doesn #39;t pretend to be  #39;all things to all people, #39; and is not bogged down by hardly


Red Hat acquiring LDAP server from AOL #39;s Netscape unit

SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Linux vendor Red Hat Inc. is adding security and authentication tools from Netscape Security Solutions to its software arsenal through a deal with America Online Inc.


Mourinho Begs UEFA to Spare Porto

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has faxed a letter to UEFA pleading with them not to punish his old club Porto after he was spat at by a visiting fan at Stamford Bridge.


Law: Rooney Can Take My Crown

Manchester United legend Denis Law has tipped Wayne Rooney to obliterate his Old Trafford scoring records. Law was the ultimate United marksman and is still widely acclaimed as The King for his amazing goalscoring feats.


Inter win without Vieri

INTER Milan coach Roberto Mancini saw his decision to leave out superstar striker Christian Vieri pay dividends this morning when his side eased past Anderlecht 3-1.


UPDATE 1-Domenech calls Zebina to France squad

France coach Raymond Domenech called up Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina for the first time to his squad for next month #39;s World Cup Group Four qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus.


San Francisco Giants Team Report - September 30

(Sports Network) - Jerome Williams will take the mound for the first time in two months tonight, as the playoff-hopeful San Francisco Giants conclude their three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.


Mora lighting a fire with Falcons

Jim Mora gathered his team for its first meeting in late March and built a fire. A lot of new coaches do that and six months later there are just embers.


Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug from Market

Merck  amp; Co Inc. on Thursday pulled its arthritis drug Vioxx off the market because it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, a move that sent the company #39;s


IBM settles pension case

IBM said Wednesday that it had agreed to pay \$320 million to current and former employees to settle in part a class-action lawsuit over its pension plan in a case that may affect millions of workers at many companies and nonprofit organizations.


Chicago business expands at faster clip

CHICAGO (CBS.MW) - Business activity expanded in the Chicago region in September at a faster pace than in August, marking the 17th straight month of growth, the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index showed on Thursday.


Update 1: PepsiCo to Close Four Frito-Lay Plants

PepsiCo Inc. will close four Frito-Lay factories by the end of the year, as it moves to streamline production, the company said Thursday.


Personal income rises

The US Commerce Department said Thursday personal income posted its biggest increase in three months in August. The government agency also said personal spending was unchanged after rising strongly in July.


Digitizing the Bill of Rights (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from conducting "unreasonable searches" of our "persons, houses, papers, and effects" without a warrant.  The First Amendment, of course, protects our right to free speech.


Controversy Delays Net Song-Swap Bill in Senate (Reuters)

Reuters - A measure that would make it easier\to sue online file-trading networks like Kazaa and Morpheus\failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday because lawmakers\said there was too much opposition.


The world welcomes the fastest computer ever to be made

The supercomputer, Blue Gene/L, is faster than NEC Corp. #39;s Earth Simulator, which had been the world #39;s fastest with its ability to sustain speeds of 35.


Budget Windows Goes to India

Microsoft has tailored its Windows XP Starter Edition for the Indian market, giving it a Hindi interface, as well as help and training resources in that language.


IBM says its supercomputer is world #39;s fastest

New York  Reuters News Service, 30 September 2004 - IBM said yesterday that it has developed the world #39;s fastest computer, putting it back on top after a Japanese supercomputer claimed the title two years ago.


Reports: British GP dropped from provisional list for 2005

The British Grand Prix has been dropped from the provisional calendar of Formula One races for next year, media reports said Thursday.


Spat at, criticised, but Jose Mourinho has th last laugh

AYEAR ago Porto were champions of Europe and Jose Mourinho was their hero. Their champion. This morning, many of those fans were at Stamford Bridge.


Rooney wins Law praise

Ex-Manchester United striker Denis Law believes Wayne Rooney will shatter his goalscoring records at Old Trafford. Law holds the United scoring record for a season with 46 goals and also has a club-best 18 hat-tricks.


Nigerian rebels declare truce

ISN SECURITY WATCH (30/09/04) - The worlds oil markets remained jittery this week after spot prices for crude reached historic highs, and the announcement of a truce between Nigerian rebels and government forces was not enough to convince traders


Despairing for Darfur

While there is growing attention to ongoing genocide in Darfur, this has not translated into either a meaningful international response or an accurate rendering of the scale and evident course of the catastrophe.


The first loan from the IMF for Iraq

The International Monetary Fund announced that the council of governments, stakeholders in the Fund #39;s capital approved yesterday to provide an urgent aid for Iraq estimated at \$ 436 million and representing the first loan from the Fund for Baghdad.


Midwest business activity grows

Business activity in the US Midwest expanded in September at a faster rate than expected, with employment growing in step with a jump in new orders, a report showed Thursday.


Initial jobless claims rose in the latest week

The Commerce Department says personal spending was flat, while incomes surged four-tenths of one percent, marking the biggest increase in three months.


General Mills cereals to go whole grain

Responding to a national push to make whole-grain consumption a public-health priority, General Mills Inc. announced it will make all of its Big G breakfast cereals with whole grain.


What would you want to see in Microsoft #39;s IE?

What #39;s missing in Microsoft IE? Published: September 30, 2004, 4:00 AM PDT By Paul Festa Staff Writer, CNET News.com Print story E-mail story Your take.


Electronic Back-Seat Driver System to Be Tested

Australian scientists have invented an electronic driver #39;s assistant system, similar to the back-seat driver who forever points out road signs and warns against speeding.


#39;Sweet #39; memories could lure hostage back

Rome - One of two Italian women released after three weeks captivity in Iraq said she was ready to go back to the war-wracked country to continue her aid work, and told of being given sweets by her kidnappers as a farewell gift.


Controversy Delays Net Song-Swap Bill in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure that would make it easier  to sue online file-trading networks like Kazaa and Morpheus  failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday because lawmakers  said there was too much opposition.


Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug from Market

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co Inc. on Thursday pulled its  arthritis drug Vioxx off the market because it increases the  risk of heart attack and stroke, a move that sent the company's  shares plunging, erasing \$25 billion of its market value.


PepsiCo Profit Up, Cuts Jobs, Shares Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N, the world's No.  2 soft drink company, on Thursday said quarterly profit rose  due to tax benefits and strong performances from its key  Frito-Lay snack and North American beverage units.


Justice Dept Opens Fannie Probe - Source

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Justice Department is  investigating possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, the  mortgage finance company, a source close to the matter said on  Thursday.


Science pinpoints Earth's 'hum'

Scientists believe they have tracked down the origin of a low-frequency "hum" that emanates from the Earth.


Kyoto 'won't hit' Russian economy

Russian economic growth is unlikely to suffer because of government support for the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, a leading analyst says.


Bankers wait for extradition news

Three UK bankers must wait until the middle of October to see if they will be extradited to the US over an Enron-related case.


Heikki, champion of champions!

The Renault driver won the Race of Champions at the Stade de France last weekend against illustrious opposition!


India rejects foreign economists

India's government drops foreign advisors from its top economic policy body after opposition from left-wing parties.


Briefly: Google tests Froogle in U.K.

roundup Plus: Senate postpones vote on file-swapping bill...HP may expand Puerto Rican research...HP also uses Hitachi drives in servers, storage...Microsoft boosts reporting tools.


New Java looks to shake up desktop

Sun releases Java 2 Standard Edition 5.0, intended to make Java programs run faster and take less time to build.


European supermarket chain extends RFID push

Tesco will use the technology in more stores, focusing this time on tracking cases and pallets, rather than individual items.


Net firms: Don't tax Internet calling

A century-old tariff should not be extended to Internet phone calls, the companies say.


Oracle, AMD and Sun to woo Asian developers

Will invest \$30 million on bringing software developers in five Asian countries into their fold.


Sharp Puts Its PC in the Living Room

New Windows-based computer doubles as a TV and a digital video recorder.


REVIEW: IPod Speaker System Get a Hearing

By DAN DeLORENZO    NEW YORK (AP) -- Compact speakers for personal music players have been around since the original Walkman. Now that mini-hard drive music machines can hold your entire collection, the product category is back with a vengeance...


Search Upstart Launches New Web Site

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Online search engine upstart Vivisimo Inc. is setting out to persuade the masses that Google Inc...


IBM to take \$320M charge for pension settlement

After settling a portion of a 5-year-old lawsuit involving its pension plan, Armonk, NY-based IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) will take a \$320 million charge on its third-quarter earnings.


Update 1: Intermet Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Auto-parts maker Intermet Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming soaring prices for scrap steel and other raw materials.


Astronaut takes a tumble in space

The world #39;s first private astronaut, South African-born Mike Melvill, was jubilant as he returned safely from a harrowing roller-coaster ride into space that stopped the hearts of onlookers.


Microsoft #39;s Starter Edition of XP will roll out to India and <b>...</b>

Microsoft #39;s Windows XP Starter Edition, which is aimed at desktop PCs in developing-world markets, is to be made available in India and Russia.


Earth #39;s a real hum-dinger - literally

Scientists have long known that the Earth rings like a giant bell after large earthquakes - albeit a bell that no one could ever hear - due to slight deformations that leave the planet jiggling like a bowl of Jell-O.


Red Hat taps Netscape to broaden its landscape

com September 30, 2004, 8:02 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.


Report: Phishing fraud could reach \$500M

More than three out of four (76 percent) consumers are experiencing an increase in spoofing and phishing incidents, and 35 percent receive fake e-mails at least once a week, according to a recent national study.


Canas, Novak advance; Nieminen loses

Second-seeded Jiri Novak reached the Shanghai Open quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 victory Thursday over Melle Van Gemerden.


UAE #39;s TEN Sports to Produce Australia-India Cricket Test Series TV <b>...</b>

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has granted the television production and distribution rights for Australia #39;s test series with India even as the Indian Supreme Court hears arguments over who owns the rights.


Race inquiry hits trouble

The ZCU have refused to accept a ruling from the two-man International Cricket Council inquiry panel to bar three of their members from the courtroom while a group of former Test players, who made the allegations, gave evidence.


Sports marketing firm IMG bought

Marketing firm Forstmann Little is set to buy giant sports and lifestyle management company IMG. The firm is being acquired from trusts set up by IMG founder, Mark McCormack, who died in May 2003, and from the family of IMG vice-chair Arthur Lafave.


Japanese storm #39;s fatal landslides

THE death toll from a tropical storm buffeting Japan rose to 17 yesterday, including two men buried inside their homes by mud. Tropical storm Meari has cut a wide swath through Japan


How Much Page Does Yahoo Search Index?

How Much Page Does Yahoo Search Index?\\One of the lesser-discussed facets of Web searching is the spidering limits of search engines. Even if a search engine is a full-text engine, it may not search the entirety of a given page if it's too large. In Google's case the limit is ...


Vivisimo Launches New Clutsy Search Engine\\Vivisimo has launched a new search engine, Clusty. I'm going to get in a lot of trouble because I keep wanting to type "Crusty" instead of "Clusty" but let's continue anyway. You can get it at http://www.clusty.com ; as you might suspect it's in beta.\\Clusty ...


Columnists: Open Source Versus Closed Source Security

In the age old battle between open source and closed source operating systems and applications, can either of them really be considered more secure than the other?


iMac G5:  #147;even more exquisite than last one #148;

#147;This latest head turner manages to better its clever predecessor in design  #151; no small achievement, #148; writes Edward C. Baig for Forbes.com.  #147;The back of the computer is elegant in its simplicity. You can loosen three captive screws to remove the cover to add, say, extra memory, or a wireless AirPort networking card. #148; Sep 30


NTT DoCoMo unveils Japan's first prototype micro fuel cell for 3G handsets (AFP)

AFP - NTT DoCoMo, the top cellular phone operator in Japan, unveiled what it calls the nation's first prototype micro fuel cell aimed at boosting battery life for its powerful third-generation FOMA handsets.


Microsoft questions future participation at CeBIT trade fair (AFP)

AFP - US software giant Microsoft is looking closely at whether it is worthwhile continuing to attend CeBIT, the world's biggest high-tech and computer trade fair, in future, the head of Microsoft Germany Juergen Gallman said.


Sudan's Beshir accuses US of backing Darfur rebels 'to the hilt' (AFP)

AFP - Sudanese President Omar el-Beshir has accused the United States of backing rebels  quot;to the hilt quot; in the country's war-torn Darfur region and said the crisis there has been blown out of all proportion.


DaimlerChrysler appoints board member to head China operations (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - STUTTGART, Germany (AP) - DaimlerChrysler AG has named management board member Ruediger Grube to lead the German-U.S automaker's China operations, reflecting the increasing importance of the Chinese market, the company said.


Edwards: Religion Shouldn't Divide Voters (AP)

AP - John Edwards says voters should know that religion is important to him and to presidential candidate John Kerry but the issue shouldn't be used to divide people in the election.


Arthritis drug removed for safety

Drug company Merck has removed its painkiller Vioxx because of data showing an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Stocks Decline on Merck's Vioxx Woes

NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks lower Thursday after Merck   Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market due to serious health risks...


24 Dead in Gaza Strip Fighting

JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip - Israeli troops pushed deep into the largest Palestinian refugee camp Thursday, a first in four years of fighting, after a Palestinian rocket killed two preschoolers in an Israeli border town.    Twenty-one Palestinians and three Israelis - including a woman jogging in a Jewish settlement and two soldiers - were killed in the fighting in the northern Gaza Strip...


Stocks Shift Lower on Merck's Vioxx Woes

NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks mostly lower Thursday after Merck   Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market due to serious health risks...


Microsoft FAT patent falls flat

Patent office rejects one of four patents on File Allocation Table format for Windows, though Microsoft can appeal.\


August Chip Sales Growth Slows on High Inventory

Global semiconductor sales growth slowed to 1 percent in August as electronics makers reacted to growing inventories in Asia by limiting orders of chips, an industry trade group said on Thursday.


UPDATE 1-Intermet files for Chapter 11, cites steel costs

Auto parts maker Intermet Corp. (INMT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, citing a record rise


Science pinpoints Earth #39;s  #39;hum #39;

Scientists believe they have pinpointed the origin of a low frequency  quot;hum quot; that emanates from the Earth. The noise - which can be picked up in the two and seven mHz (millihertz) range - occurs far below the


Apple To Expand European iTunes Presence

quot;We are well on pace to launch more EU stores. We will do it next month, quot; Eddie Cue, Apple #39;s vice president of applications, told music executives at the annual Popkomm conference in Germany.


Red Hat Takes Netscape Enterprise

Red Hat kicked off its analyst day in New York today by announcing its was going to acquire parts of the Netscape Enterprise solution from AOL.


Woods to battle on

Tiger Woods has vowed to play on despite being plagued by a sore back in his opening round of the WGC-Amex championship in Ireland.


Zimbabwe Cricket Hearing Over Racism Charges Collapses

A hearing about charges of racism on Zimbabwe #39;s cricket team has collapsed only a day after it began. The International Cricket Council, which was conducting the hearing in Harare, adjourned the session Thursday


Castroneves: Mixing up schedule a great move

I #39;m excited about this. Really excited about this. In fact, I #39;m like a kid in a candy store. Before last week #39;s test at Homestead-Miami Speedway, I hadn #39;t raced on a road course in nearly three years.


Federer Leads Top Four Seeds Into Quarter-Finals

BANGKOK (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer led the  top four seeds into the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open by  defeating Swiss compatriot Ivo Heuberger 6-1, 6-3 on Thursday.


Violence spikes in southern Afghanistan, 19 killed

Guerrillas from the ousted Taliban regime killed at least 12 soldiers in Afghanistan #39;s south on Thursday in a sharp escalation of violence ahead of next month #39;s landmark presidential election.


Henin-Hardenne Confirms Filderstadt Withdrawal

BERLIN (Reuters) - Olympic champion Justine Henin-Hardenne  has withdrawn from next week's Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in  Filderstadt because of a mystery virus.


Captain Langer to Play in World Match Play

LONDON (Reuters) - Victorious European Ryder Cup captain  Bernhard Langer has accepted an invitation to play in next  month's World Match Play championship at Wentworth for the  biggest prize in golf.


IBM to pay \$320M to partially settle pension case

IBM Corp. said Wednesday it will take a \$320 million charge this quarter to settle some claims and cap its liability on others in a long-running class-action dispute about changes made in the 1990s to its pension plan.


Sun upgrades J2SE platform

Application developers are getting a raft of new options this week with Sun updating J2SE, Borland upping its CORBA ante, and Compuware detailing products that will work with Microsoft's Visual Studio 2005 toolbox.


Barghouti candidacy means out of Fatah

Fatah chief Farouk Kaddoumi said the group #39;s leader in the West Bank, Marwan Barghouti, by deciding to seek the presidency of the Palestinian Authority.


US Stocks Off After Merck Recall,Oil Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were knocked lower on  Thursday after drug maker Merck   Co.MRK.N, a member of the  blue-chip Dow, recalled its widely sold Vioxx arthritis drug  and oil resumed its climb to \$50 a barrel.


General Mills Shakes Up Cereal

Too many of us are going whole hog, so General Mills is going whole grain.


A UN food fight

THE UNITED NATIONS #39; oil-for-food program is widening into a full- fledged scandal: bribes, siphoned-off billions and a do-nothing job for the son of UN chief Kofi Annan.


Microsoft Appeals EU Ruling

The company will fight the order to reveal its software code to rivals. Also: Startup wants Google to feel outdated   hellip;. Sony plasters Europe with Walkmans   hellip;. and more.


Red Hat to pay \$20 million for Netscape assets

Linux reseller Red Hat said Thursday it was buying some Netscape assets from America Online for \$20.5 million in cash. The Raleigh-based company said it would acquire Netscape Directory Server and Netscape


Microsoft Readies Business-Intelligence Charge

Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled new and reworked business-intelligence tools that provide capabilities ranging from self-service report building for non-techs to mining information from data flows outside of a database.


UPDATE 1-Battling Woods in touch with Mount Juliet lead

Tiger Woods battled through back pain to stay in touch with the lead as fellow American Todd Hamilton set the pace in the WGC-American Express Championship first round on Thursday.


Peterson will give Sooners running start

Texas Tech and Oklahoma meet for the 12th time this Saturday, with the Red Raiders traveling to Norman to take on the No. 2 Sooners.


Porn net includes doctors, police

For parents, the list of those arrested in Australia #39;s biggest child pornography bust makes sobering reading. Teachers, doctors, health workers, police officers and the owner of three Melbourne


Conoco buys stake in Russian oil giant

US oil giant ConocoPhillips has announced a \$US2.4billion (\$3.3billion) strategic alliance with Russia #39;s largest oil company, Lukoil, under which Conoco will buy a 7.6per cent stake in the Russian company and get a share of joint projects.


Consumer Spending Flat, Jobless Claims Up

WASHINGTON Sept. 30, 2004 - Consumers were tightfisted with their money amid soaring gasoline costs in August and hurricane-related disruptions sent applications for jobless benefits to their highest level in seven months.


Tiger Woods #39; Agents Sold

The sports and celebrity management firm which represents clients such as Tiger Woods and Elizabeth Hurley is to be sold to a buyout specialist, it emerged today.


Microsoft hypes BI, adds reporting tools for end users

Microsoft unveiled plans Wednesday to integrate business intelligence reporting into the next version of SQL Server, placing new reporting tools in the hands of end users.


Silverstone dropped from 2005

Motorsport.com. There was bad news for the British Grand Prix on September 30th, as the 2005 provisional F1 calendar does not feature Silverstone.


CLEVELAND PITCHER SHOT IN CALF ON TOUR BUS

A pitcher for the Cleveland Indians is recovering from a shooting after Wednesday nights game. Rookie Kyle Denney was struck in his calf.


What alZarqawi knows

Its often been said in recent weeks that you cant negotiate with terrorists. Morally thats right: in the case of the Jordanian Abu Muab alZarqawi and his Tawhid  amp; Jihad interlopersgroup, the statement is also fact.


#39;Pitcairn women treated as sex things #39;

A woman allegedly raped during her childhood on the remote Pacific island of Pitcairn has said men were given free rein to treat young girls as sexual playthings.


Oil at \$50 Again, Nigeria Worries Persist

LONDON (Reuters) - High-flying oil climbed back over \$50 a  barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security of Nigerian  supply supporting prices despite a surprise build in U.S. crude  inventories.


SEC Charges Brokerage Raymond James

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission on Thursday charged brokerage firm Raymond James  Financial Inc. RJF.N with fraud over the misconduct of a  former broker in 1999 and 2000.


Polish airline may float in 2005

Lot, Poland's national airline, could float on the Polish stock market as early as next spring, the company has said.


Pfizer Reiterates Celebrex Safety

Drug giant Pfizer Inc. reiterated Thursday that its arthritis drug Celebrex was safe to use after competitor Merck  amp; Co. pulled its arthritis drug Vioxx off the market worldwide after studies showed it raised the risk of heart attack.


IBM Settles Pension Suit

IBM (Quote, Chart) has agreed to pay \$300 million to settle most of the claims in a class action lawsuit related to its pension plan, the company announced today.


SIA: Chip sales in-line with historic trends

NEW YORK, September 30 (newratings.com) - Global semiconductor sales increased to \$18.2 billion in August this year, representing 34.


SEC Charges Brokerage Raymond James

The US Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday charged brokerage firm Raymond James Financial Inc. (RJF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) with fraud over the misconduct of a former broker in 1999 and 2000.


Picturesque site of prison is Martha #39;s kind of place

It #39;s the kind of place she would feature on an episode of her TV show or in her magazine. Decorated hills overlook the old brick buildings and once-stately homes on Main Street.


Co. Recalls Air Conditioners/heat Pumps

The Goodman Company is recalling about 875,000 Package Terminal Air Conditioner / Heat Pumps (PTAC) due to possible fire hazards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.


EC anti-competitive ruling challenged by Microsoft today

The European Commission ruled in March that Microsoft had indulged in anti-competitive behaviour with Windows and set a fine of 333mn plus orders to produce a version of Windows without the Media Player within 90 days or face further action.


Nortel lowers layoff projections

Telecommunications maker Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) won #39;t have to lay off as many people as expected. The Canadian company announced Thursday that it plans to lay off 3,250 employees - about 250 less than


MS EC appeal kicks off

Microsoft has told the European Court of First Instance that it should not have to share information with its competitors, arguing that revealing its secret would harm it irreparably.


New EU industry chief warns against protectionism

The European Union #39;s incoming industry chief warned Thursday against protectionist leanings of some European governments, as well as fears about new EU member states abusing their position.


Personalized stamps canceled

Stamps.com said this week that the US Postal Service has refused to extend its customized photo-stamp service. The company will stop taking orders for the service Thursday night as per Postal Service directions, it said.


Microsoft starts pilot in Russia

Microsoft will begin offering less expensive versions of its Windows operating system on personal computers sold in Russia and India as part of a broader pilot program to test how it can get a better foothold in developing markets.


AT amp;T, Vonage Cut Prices on Internet Calling

AT amp;T Corp. (TN: Quote, Profile, Research) and Internet telephone provider Vonage said on Thursday they were cutting prices for their residential Internet calling services


SANDISK Introduces High Performance Flash Memory Cards

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) yesterday introduced the worlds fastest flash memory cards - the SanDisk Extreme III line of CompactFlash SD and Memory Stick PRO digital film cards.


Spacey  #39;sanguine #39; after mauling

quot;A stinker quot; - Daily Telegraph;  quot;underwhelming quot; - the Independent;  quot;brackish quot; - Michael Billington: Kevin Spacey was yesterday soaking up the critics #39; verdicts on his British directorial debut, Cloaca, which is also the first play of his reign as artistic


WiMax could be next big leap in technology

When Scott Richards is at his home in Portland, Ore., he taps into the Internet using a broadband connection from his office about five miles away.


Valencia scorer Vicente out with ankle sprain

Valencia, Spain (Sports Network) - Valencia winger Vicente Rodriguez will be out for at least two weeks after spraining his ankle Wednesday.


35 children die in suicide attacks

A group of Iraqi children had just run across to US troops for sweets at a neighbourhood celebration in Baghdad when the first of three bombs exploded, killing at least 35 youngsters.


Dozens Of Children Slain As Soldiers Hand Out Candy

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- At least 37 people, most of them children, have been killed by multiple explosions that rocked a western Baghdad neighborhood celebrating the opening of a new sewage system.


SanDisk pushes faster, bigger flash cards

Flash memory company SanDisk is offering a one-two punch with new CF, Memory Stick, and SD cards offering greater speed and capacity.


Ten Palestinians, Three Israelis Killed in Gaza

Israeli troops pushed deep into the largest Palestinian refugee camp on Thursday, a first in four years of fighting, after a Palestinian rocket killed two preschoolers in an Israeli border town.


Greek hero Charisteas the man for the big occasion

Greek international Angelos Charisteas seems to love playing football on the big stage, with his late strike for Werder Bremen securing a sensational 2-1 Champions League win over ten-man Valencia on Wednesday.


PepsiCo Up Whopping 35 Percent

or 79 cents a share -- for the third quarter, up a whopping 35 percent from the \$1.01 billion -- or 58 cents -- earned in the year-ago period.


Fire risk prompts air conditioner recall

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall Thursday of Amana, Trane and American Standard combination air conditioner/heat pumps that can overheat and catch fire.


AT amp;T Lowers Price of Residential VoIP Service

Starting tomorrow, AT amp;T Corp. will sell its residential VoIP service for \$5 less than an earlier promotional offer as it prepares for the holiday sales season.


PM expected to approve further operations in Gaza

Following consultation with senior security officials Thursday afternoon, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz decided to widen the IDF #39;s operation in the northern Gaza Strip in response the increasing attacks generating from the area.


US Blue Chips Fall After Merck Recall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The blue-chip Dow Jones average was  knocked lower on Thursday after drug maker Merck   Co.MRK.N,  a member of the Dow, recalled its widely sold Vioxx painkiller  and oil prices hovered around \$50 a barrel.


PepsiCo Profit Up, Cuts Jobs, Shares Rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N, the world's No.  2 soft drink company, on Thursday said quarterly profit rose  due to tax benefits and strong earnings at its key Frito-Lay  snack and North American beverage units.


General Mills Cereals All Going Whole Grain

NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Mills Inc. on Thursday said it  will begin using whole grains in all of its breakfast cereals,  including such well-known brands as Lucky Charms and Trix,  becoming the latest foodmaker to promote healthier eating.


Injured Woods Two Shots Back at Amex

THOMASTOWN, Ireland - Tiger Woods looked as if he should have withdrawn with a bad back. He played as if he was capable of winning the American Express Championship for a third straight time...


Baghdad Bombings Kill 35 Children

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A series of bombs killed 35 children and seven adults Thursday as U.S. troops handed out candy at a government ceremony to inaugurate a new sewage treatment plant...


US Midwest Economy Stronger

Business activity in the US Midwest grew in September at a faster-than-expected rate, hinting that the economy is climbing out of its summer slow patch, a report showed on Thursday.


IBM develops world #39;s fastest supercomputer

IBM has a new supercomputer which is currently world #39;s fastest. The new Blue Gene/L is capable to do 36.01 teraflops. The ex world #39;s fastest supercomputer, the Earth Simulator from NEC, is able to do 35.


SanDisk ups capacity on flash memory cards

com September 30, 2004, 11:11 AM PT. SanDisk announced Thursday increased capacities for several different flash memory cards. The Sunnyvale, Calif.


Clijsters looking forward to new test in quarters

After her first match in five months, former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters was reassured Thursday her left wrist could stand up to top competition again and set her sights on a new test


Nortel Will Cut 3,250 Jobs, 250 Fewer Than Expected (Update6)

Nortel Networks Corp., North America #39;s biggest maker of phone equipment, will pare 3,250 jobs, 250 fewer than it predicted last month, as it reduces other costs including real estate.


General Mills Inc. on Thursday said it will begin using whole grains in all of its breakfast cereals, including such well-known brands as Lucky Charms and Trix, becoming


Survey: Mortgage Rates Inch Up for Week

Mortgage rates inched up this week, but remained well below the year-high levels set in the spring. Freddie Mac, in its weekly survey released Thursday, reported that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages


Forstmann Little to buy Talent Agency IMG

Buyout firm Forstmann Little  amp; Co. Thursday said it would buy International Management Group, a leading talent agency that represents major sports and entertainment stars.


AT T, Vonage Cut Prices on Internet Calling (Reuters)

Reuters - AT T Corp.  and Internet telephone\provider Vonage said on Thursday they were cutting prices for\their residential Internet calling services by  #36;5 per month,\the strongest signs yet of a price war in the nascent market.


Red Hat Spending \$23 Million For Ex-Netscape Security Solutions <b>...</b>

Red Hat to incorporate Netscape Directory Server and Netscape Certificate Management System into products to help customers integrate desktops with a networkwide set of computing services.


Behind the scenes in the final days of the Montreal Expos

MONTREAL (CP) - The long goodbye ended for Expos president Tony Tavares with news from a pair of reporters. It was the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night and Tavares had finally found a moment of respite in the club #39;s executive box.


Jones won #39;t be enough for Arkansas

The Florida Gators and Arkansas Razorbacks meet for just the sixth time Saturday. The Gators hold a 4-1 advantage in the previous five meetings, including last year #39;s 33-28 win.


Extinction Looms Over Larger Species (AP)

AP - Being the biggest dog may pay off at feeding time, but species that grow too large may be more vulnerable to extinction, new research suggests.


Mount St. Helens on Higher Eruption Alert (Reuters)

Reuters - Mount St. Helens could erupt within\days, government scientists said on Wednesday, raising the\alert after movement in the volcano's lava crust was detected\following a week of small earthquakes.


The myth of the first 100 days and Susilo #39;s real challenges

As he steps into the palace, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must address the unrealistic expectation that he should show substantial achievements within his first 100 days in office.


Nine killed, 10 injured in blast in northern India

At least nine workers were killed and 10 others injured Thursday in an explosion believed to have been triggered by some explosive materials brought as scrap in a steel factory in Uttar Pradesh state in northern India.


U.S. to Issue Warnings of Gulf Red Tides (AP)

AP - The government will begin issuing forecasts Friday of red tides  #151; harmful blooms of algae  #151; in the Gulf of Mexico.


What's wrong with the CBC

Up until recently I have been a staunch supporter of the CBC, it's ideals, the reason for it's existence. However, recent events have made me question whether or not this once fine institution has fallen victim to the ruthless grasp of corperate greed in North America.


Breaking RSS Semantics

\\Whats wrong with this picture?\\All these URLs return HTTP 200 0K.  The only problem is that none of them\actually exist and they're just HTML error pages.\


Italian government's public offer of ENEL shares to run October 18-22 (AFP)

AFP - The Italian government's public offer of shares in electricity company ENEL will run from October 18-22, the economy and finance ministry said.


Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug from Market

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co Inc. Thursday pulled its  arthritis drug Vioxx off the market because it increases the  risk of heart attack and stroke, a move that sent its shares  plunging, erasing \$25 billion of its market value.


SEC Charges Raymond James with Fraud

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission on Thursday charged brokerage firm Raymond James  Financial Inc. RJF.N with fraud over the misconduct of a  former broker in 1999 and 2000.


AT T, Vonage Cut Prices on Internet Calling

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AT T Corp.  and Internet telephone  provider Vonage said on Thursday they were cutting prices for  their residential Internet calling services by \$5 per month,  the strongest signs yet of a price war in the nascent market.


Russian move on climate welcomed

The EU and environmental groups hail the Russian cabinet's decision to back the Kyoto climate change treaty.


Privacy questions arise as RFID hits stores

Companies brace for privacy debate as potentially intrusive applications arrive faster than expected.


Briefly: Cisco CEO's salary shoots up from \$1

roundup Plus: SanDisk ups capacity on flash memory cards...Google tests Froogle in U.K....Senate postpones vote on file-swapping bill...HP may expand Puerto Rican research.


Microsoft wins Smart Tags case

A jury decides the Office technology doesn't impose on another software maker's patent.


Personalized stamps canceled

U.S. Postal Service refuses to extend Stamps.com's PhotoStamps customized stamp service.


Tracking RFID--it's everywhere

roundupThere's no question retailers love RFID. But will problems of privacy and unreliability prove to be too great?


Cisco's CEO gets a raise

Company boosts John Chambers' base salary to \$350,000--up from a mere \$1.


Lucent partners with Riverstone

Lucent hopes Riverstone's Ethernet switches and routers will help it round out its product lineup.


The technologist who has Michael Powell's ear

Robert Pepper is the FCC's chief of policy development--and that makes him a very influential man in Washington these days.


AT T slashes Net telephony rates

In an attempt to spark growth in its Net phone offer, the company reduces rates and offers new customers a month free.


SanDisk ups capacity on flash memory cards

Company quadruples the amount of storage on its Ultra II line of cards.


Users say Microsoft's Money is broke

Glitches in the new edition of the personal finance software keep some folks from paying their bills.


Fuel cell's got the power for 3G handsets

NTT DoCoMo unveils a prototype micro fuel cell that recharges mobile phones.


Mortgage rates push higher

Mortgage rates edged up slightly this week, putting an end to a two-week decline, according to surveys conducted by mortgage buyer Freddie Mac and Bankrate.


Football 101: Option football

One of the things that separates college football from the NFL is the diversity of offensive schemes that you see every week. The triple option is unique to college football and it will be showcased


Car Bomb Kills 1 US Soldier near Abu Ghraib

A car bomb killed one US soldier and two Iraqi police at a checkpoint near Abu Ghraib on Thursday morning. Separately, Iraqi police reported numerous injuries and some deaths in two


Recording Industry Sues 762 for Net Music Swaps (Reuters)

Reuters - A recording-industry trade group\said on Thursday it had filed a new round of lawsuits against\762 people it suspects of distributing its songs for free over\Internet "peer to peer" networks like Kazaa and eDonkey.


Equity groups eye NTL arm (FT.com)

FT.com - Several private equity companies and a mobile phone operator, MMO2, have expressed interest in buying all or part of NTL's television and radio broadcasting business ahead of an October 11 deadline for first-round bids, according to people familiar with the deal.


Linksys Delivers Wi-Fi Gear (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Networking specialist Linksys has rolled out a collection of new Wi-Fi\gear for home systems, featuring a line of dual-band 802.11a/g products,\and announced that the company has inked a deal with Verizon to provide\Internet calling equipment.


Freed Italian Hostage Feared Death (AP)

AP - One of two Italian women freed from captivity in Iraq said Thursday they feared for their lives throughout their three-week abduction, despite receiving what they called "privileged" treatment from their captors.


UN rights chief says Sudan "failing" people of Darfur (AFP)

AFP - The UN's top rights official accused Sudan of  quot;failing quot; the people of Darfur and called for an international police presence to curb continued attacks on civilians in the troubled region.


Aboriginals receive ancestors' remains from Sweden in formal ceremony (AFP)

AFP - Sweden returned to Aboriginal elders the remains of 15 of their ancestors taken from Australia for scientific research a century ago.


Congress Abandons Highway, Welfare Bills (AP)

AP - Lawmakers, fighting among themselves and with the White House, have given up trying to pass highway and welfare bills this year that held the promise of tens of thousands of jobs.


Ashcroft 'to defend' Patriot Act

The US Attorney General says a court ruling attacking the Patriot Act as unconstitutional is likely to go to appeal.


A Long Deadly Day in Gaza as Israeli Forces Push Into Camp

Twenty-three Palestinians and three Israelis were killed as Israel's army struck back after a rocket attack.


Spain #39;s new king delivers a dream result

SEVILLE: Carlos Moya #39;s career has been a rollercoaster journey of ups and downs, but converting the winning point for Spain to land the Davis Cup yesterday represented a high point about which he had long dreamed -- and obsessed.


Stocks Decline on Merck's Vioxx Woes

NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks mostly lower Thursday after Merck   Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market due to serious health risks...


UPDATE 5-Lehman in talks to buy UK hedge fund-source

US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (LEH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is in talks to buy leading British hedge fund


Watson Plays Last Tourney Before Surgery (AP)

AP - Tom Watson is tired of wincing every time he hits a golf ball. His right shoulder is aching and his left hip is ailing, so the five-time British Open champion will take a lengthy break from the game and have surgery after playing in the Constellation Energy Classic this weekend.


Del Piero ruled out for two weeks

ROME, Italy -- Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero has been ruled out for two weeks with an Achilles tendon injury. He will miss the Serie A match against Udinese this weekend, and is a major doubt for Italy #39;s


Tennis: Leading seeds overcome difficulties to advance in Thailand <b>...</b>

BANGKOK : The leading trio of seeds each had to overcome niggles to achieve victories but Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Marat Safin all managed to reach the quarter-finals at the 550,000-dollar Thailand Open.


New Jersey Now Tries to Lure the Mets from NYC

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey, which tried for years but  failed to win the Yankees baseball team from New York City, now  has set its sights on the city's other baseball team, the Mets,  who play in Shea Stadium in Queens.


British GP dropped from provisional list

The British Grand Prix has been dropped from the provisional calendar of Formula One races for next year, media reports said Thursday.


Browns Place Winslow on Injured List

Rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., out for the season with a broken right leg, was placed on the Cleveland Browns' crowded injured reserve list Thursday.


JPEG virus found circulating via IM program

AOL Instant Messenger message directs victims to Web sites that host the dangerous images.


Sun to drive Mustang as future release of Java

Fresh from introducing a major upgrade to the Java platform, Sun Microsystems officials on Thursday revealed some details of the next release of Java, code-named Mustang and expected in Spring 2006.


Lycos Europe Folds Anti-Spam Plan

Just three days after launching the anti-spam initiative  quot;Make Love Not Spam quot; to worldwide publicity, Lycos Europe officially pulled the plug on the plan.


Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug Off Market

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co Inc. MRK.N on Thursday  pulled its arthritis drug Vioxx off the market after a study  showed it doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke, a move  that sent its shares plunging and erased \$25 billion from its  market value.


Fannie Mae Target of Criminal Probe

Federal prosecutors in Washington, DC, have opened an investigation into possible wrongdoing at mortgage giant Fannie Mae, just days after regulators accused the company


Update 11: Microsoft Says It Wanted to Share Code

Microsoft Corp. said in court Thursday that it had been prepared during settlement talks to share more software code with its rivals than the European Union ultimately demanded.


Oil at \$50 again as Nigeria worries persist

High-flying oil climbed back over \$50 a barrel this evening, with worries over the security of Nigerian supply supporting prices despite a surprise build in US crude inventories.


Martha #39;s  quot;Cupcake quot; Assignment

Looks like Martha Stewart #39;s time in the slammer will be something of a cakewalk. The homemaking maven, also known as inmate 55170-054, has been assigned to her third choice of prison, in Alderson


Fresh Del Monte #39;s Bad Blip

Shares of Motley Fool Hidden Gems selection Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE: FDP) are down 6 to \$25 after the company cut its full-year 2004 earnings forecast by almost 20.


SpaceShipOne crew confident

The pilot and designer of a private rocket plane say they are confident it could return next week to the sky in a quest to claim a multimillion-dollar prize, despite a harrowing flight


What Makes a Supercomputer Super?

Computer giant IBM announced this week that it has developed the world #39;s fastest computer, putting it back on top after a Japanese supercomputer claimed the title some two years ago.


Red Hat Picks Up Pieces of Netscape

Red Hat has gone scavenging among Netscape #39;s remains, agreeing to pay America Online up to \$23 million in cash for the assets of Netscape Communications #39; Security Solutions unit.


Study: Big Predators Don #39;t Last Long

Apparently, the same things that makes large, toothy predators so good at hunting big game also make them more vulnerable to extinction - as is shown in a new study of a


Building A Database Of Dot-Com Failures

Future online entrepreneurs could log on to see business plans, marketing documents, and other documents from dot-coms launched in the  #39;90s.


PayPal Doubles Buyer Protection on eBay

Online shoppers using PayPal to pay for goods on eBay (Quote, Chart) will now get up to \$1,000 of coverage for non-delivery of items, thanks to an expansion of the company #39;s buyer protection program.


Linksys goes dual-band on Wi-Fi

With its eyes on the future of home entertainment and a relatively uncluttered band of radio spectrum, Cisco Systems Inc. #39;s Linksys division on Wednesday unveiled a line of IEEE 802.


762 song swappers sued

A recording-industry trade group says it has filed a new round of lawsuits against 762 people it suspects of distributing its songs for free over Internet  quot;peer to peer quot; networks like Kazaa and eDonkey.


UPDATE 3-Battling Woods in touch with Mount Juliet lead

Champion Tiger Woods battled through back pain to stay in touch with the lead as fellow American Todd Hamilton set the pace in the WGC-American Express Championship first round on Thursday.


Cricket-Zimbabwe race probe collapses

HARARE (AFP) - A formal hearing into allegations of racism in Zimbabwe cricket, set up here by the International Cricket Council (ICC), collapsed in disarray when the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and the rebel players refused to budge on witness procedure


Nerve-racking weekend ahead for Cup drivers

That #39;s what the public relations folks at Talladega Superspeedway dubbed the next stop in NASCAR #39;s new playoff-style championship, and it would be hard to find many drivers who would argue with the label.


Go-Go Boots May Have Helped Pitcher Who Got Shot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Indians front office wants to find out why one of its players got shot on the team bus Wednesday night in Kansas City.


Pats target NFL record this week versus the Bills

As if playing a divisional opponent was not enough motivation for the New England Patriots this week, they will be shooting to tie the NFL record for most consecutive


Pele: Brazilians should strike

Brazilian legend Pele has suggested that footballers in his native country should go on strike in opposition to late payments and other issues.


Thursday #39;s developments in Iraq:

Three bombs exploded at a Baghdad ceremony celebrating the opening of a new sewage system, killing 35 children and seven adults, officials said.


Freed Italian hostage says she and second woman feared death <b>...</b>

One of two Italian women freed from captivity in Iraq said Thursday they feared for their lives throughout their three-week abduction, despite


Rebel Leader Says Sudan Is Hiding Fighters

Sudanese authorities have moved hundreds of pro-government fighters from the crisis-torn Darfur region to other parts of the country to keep them out of sight of foreign military observers demanding the militia #39;s disarmament, a rebel leader charged


EU study upbeat on Turkish hopes, warns may take time

Turkey #39;s EU entry should be good news if well managed, although Ankara may have to wait until  quot;well into the next decade quot; to join, according to a European Commission study seen by AFP Thursday.


Blue Chips End Down, Merck Recall Weighs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial average  declined on Thursday after drug maker Merck   Co.MRK.N  recalled its widely sold Vioxx painkiller and its stock sunk 27  percent.


Oil Ends Up as Nigeria Worries Persist

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude oil climbed back over \$50 a  barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security of Nigerian  supplies supporting prices despite a surprise increase in U.S.  crude inventories.


Nortel Cuts Fewer Jobs, Exits Real Estate

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. NT.TO said on  Thursday it will eliminate almost 10 percent of its workforce,  slightly less than it previously expected, and vacate real  estate in a cost-cutting plan that will save \$500 million in  2005.


Pepsi Drinking in Diverse Revenues

After Coca-Cola reduces earnings guidance, Pepsi raises its outlook and beats Q2 estimates.


Linksys goes dual-band on Wi-Fi (MacCentral)

MacCentral - With its eyes on the future of home entertainment and a relatively uncluttered band of radio spectrum, Cisco Systems Inc.'s Linksys division on Wednesday unveiled a line of IEEE 802.11g/a wireless LAN products.


Red Hat Picks Up Pieces of Netscape (PC World)

PC World - Linux maker acquires security, authentication tools from AOL.


Sun to drive Mustang as future release of Java (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Fresh from introducing a major upgrade to the Java platform, Sun Microsystems officials on Thursday revealed some details of the next release of Java, code-named  #8220;Mustang #8221; and expected in Spring 2006.


Asian Elephants Threatened by Poachers, Western Zoos (Reuters)

Reuters - Illegal poaching and demand from\Western zoos are fueling the extinction of the Asian elephant,\animal welfare groups said Thursday.


Nova Scotia backbencher to introduce bill to elect Senate replacements (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - HALIFAX (CP) - A Nova Scotia government backbencher is stepping forward to try to fulfil a promise made by Premier John Hamm to hold elections for Senate vacancies.


U.N.: Palestinian Economy Grew 4.5 Pct (AP)

AP - Three of every four Palestinians live in poverty and their economy still depends on donors, despite 4.5 percent economic growth last year, the United Nations said on Wednesday.


28 Palestinians, 3 Israelis Die in Gaza Fighting

JABALYA, Gaza (Reuters) - Twenty-eight Palestinians and  three Israelis were killed on Thursday, Gaza's bloodiest day in  four years of conflict, as Israel's army struck back after a  rocket attack killed two Israeli children at a border town.


US, China Support N.Korea Talks After Cancellation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and China  reaffirmed their confidence on Thursday in six-party talks to  dismantle North Korea's suspected nuclear arsenal despite  Pyongyang's decision to cancel a negotiating round this month.


Terrorism and Security: a Daily Update

Bush Administration seeks upbeat reports, will 'curtail' bad news.


AT T, Vonage Cut Prices on Internet Calling

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AT T Corp. T.N  and Internet  telephone provider Vonage on Thursday said they were cutting  prices for their residential Internet calling services by \$5  per month, the strongest signs yet of a price war in the  nascent market.


Merck's Vioxx Woes Weigh on Stocks

NEW YORK - Stocks were mixed Thursday after Merck   Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market due to serious health risks...


IBM to pay \$320M to partially settle pension case

IBM Corp. said Wednesday it will take a US\$320 million charge this quarter to settle some claims and cap its liability on others in a long-running class-action dispute about changes made in the 1990s to its pension plan.


Microsoft Guards Its Protocols in European Court

Microsoft argued in a Luxembourg court on Thursday that the European Competition Commission #39;s antitrust decision against it would infringe on its intellectual property and cause serious and irreparable harm to the company.


CME shares at new peak as earnings estimates rise

Shares in Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings (CME.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , parent of the largest US futures exchange, reached the latest in a string of record highs on Thursday as earnings estimates continue to rise.


Tigers Romp Devil Rays 8-0 in Game 1 (AP)

AP - Ivan Rodriguez hit his 250th career homer and Jeremy Bonderman threw a four-hitter to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-0 in the opening game of a doubleheader Thursday.


Colts One of 10 Road Favorites This Week (AP)

AP - The Jacksonville Jaguars managed to go 3-0 despite scoring only 35 points. With Indianapolis coming to town Sunday, the Jaguars might need 35 just to keep pace with Peyton Manning.


Fox, Traded by Lakers to Celtics, Retires (AP)

AP - Rick Fox retired Thursday, ending a 13-year pro career during which he was part of three NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers.


Agent: Smith's Appeal to Be Heard Wed. (AP)

AP - The NFL will hear Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith's appeal of a pending four-game suspension next week.


Nailon back with Hornets for camp

Charlotte Bobcats: Primoz Brezec has signed a contract extension with the Bobcats, who selected him from the Pacers in the expansion draft.


QBs could decide things for Tigers, Vols

Are you ready for some football? Allow me to tell you who is most assuredly ready: Tennessee coaches, players and fans are ready, and Auburn coaches, players and fans.


European judge probes Microsoft antitrust case

Day one of a two-day hearing focuses on whether the software juggernaut should have to share information with rivals.


Italy #39;s  quot;two Simonas quot; feared being killed

Two Italian women taken hostage in Iraq said the fear of being killed haunted their captivity despite kindness from their kidnappers who showed them respect because of their charity work.


Lack of Security Keeps Food From Haitians

While desperately hungry flood victims wander the streets of Gonaives searching for help, tons of food aid is piling up in a warehouse guarded by UN peacekeepers.


Feds fund secure ID project

Security company Digimarc gets \$1 million to push state drivers' licenses with "covert watermarks."


Image virus spreads via chat

A note sent through AOL's popular instant-messaging software directs victims to Web sites that host the dangerous graphics.


Intel Rides a Faster Bus

Upcoming Pentium 4 Extreme Edition chips will support a 1066-MHz front-side bus.


Nigerian rebels in talks

down unless the government began talks on autonomy and revenue for the oil-producing Niger Delta region. Militia leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari agreed to a truce on Wednesday to allow talks to proceed.


DaimlerChrysler Invests \$210 million in Mexican plant

MEXICO CITY (Dow Jones/AP) -- DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it plans to spend \$210 million to update one of its assembly plants in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.


Forstmann Little  amp; Co. to buy IMG

(Sept. 30) -- Even if it won #39;t ever happen on the golf course, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh are now teammates. Forstmann Little  amp; Co.


Lawmakers Ask SEC to Probe Military Fund Sales

US lawmakers asked the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday to investigate recent disclosures of improper mutual fund sales practices on military bases.


Netflix, TiVo to Develop Joint Product (Reuters)

Reuters - Online DVD rental service Netflix Inc.\and TiVo Inc., maker of a digital video recorder, on Thursday\said they have agreed to develop a joint entertainment\offering, driving shares of both companies higher.


Private craft rockets past edge of space

MOJAVE, CALIF: Completing the first leg of a quest for a \$10 million prize, a test pilot took a privately financed plane past the cusp of space on Wednesday morning in a flight that had equal measures of white-knuckle moments and triumph.


VoIP Market Leaders Declare a Price War

An announcement that AT amp;T would drop its prices for its VoIP CallVantage Service, its popular residential broadband phone service, from \$34.


Digimarc, government team on ID authentication

Beaverton-based Digimarc Corp. and the federal government have entered into an ID authentication pilot project the company said is worth about \$1 million.


Koala #39;s put on pill to stem population

Wildlife authorities in Australia plan to implant contraceptive hormones into 2,000 koala bears in an effort to keep the numbers down.


Cleveland Pitcher Denney Shot on Team Bus

MINNEAPOLIS - Cleveland Indians pitcher Kyle Denney shrugged off being hit in the leg by a bullet, and said Thursday he was grateful he may have been protected by white cheerleaders boots he was wearing as part of a hazing ritual.


Del Piero injury blow

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero has sustained an Achilles tendon injury that will rule him out for two weeks. The Italian international will miss the World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Belarus


Weeping Woman Tells Court of Pitcairn Island  #39;Rapes #39;

A woman wept as she described being raped as a young girl by a man who is now mayor of Pitcairn Island, as his sex abuse trial opened on this remote rocky outcrop populated by descendants of the 18th-century Bounty mutineers.


Other Comments (Forbes.com)

Forbes.com - Governments react differently to acts of terror. President Bush took the war against terror on the offensive, to Afghanistan and Iraq. In Spain, the newly elected government chose to react to the Madrid train bombings with appeasement, withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin has reacted to the Beslan school massacre by taking yet another step in centralizing political power in the Kremlin. ...


Stocks Knocked Lower by Merck Drug Recall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The blue-chip Dow Jones average fell  on Thursday after drug maker Merck   Co.MRK.N withdrew its  widely used Vioxx painkiller after evidence showed the drug  could increase risk of heart attack and stroke.


Oil Ends Up as Nigeria Worries Persist

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude oil futures briefly climbed back  over \$50 a barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security  of Nigerian supplies supporting prices despite a surprise  increase in U.S. crude inventories.


Toyota Doubles Prius Hybrid Cars for U.S.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. 7203.T said on  Thursday it will double the number of Prius hybrid-electric  cars that it sends to the U.S. market to 100,000 units annually  next year, making it the Japanese automaker's third  best-selling sedan.


Oil Prices Hit Tech Budgets, But Some Suffer Less

SAN FRANCISCO/TAIPEI (Reuters) - From Taiwan to Texas, the  specter of record-high oil prices has dampened expectations for  corporate technology spending, though some well-placed  companies such as low-cost computer maker Dell Inc. could be  spared, analysts said on Thursday.


Wal-Mart of the Gods

A controversial project near a Mexican archeological site yields another snootful of bad P.R. for Wal-Mart.


Gold lifts TSX; Dow sinks with Merck

The Toronto stock market posted a small gain today, pushed higher by the gold sector, but drug company Merck  amp; Co. took the Dow Jones industrial average into the red after taking its arthritis drug Vioxx off the market.


Nortel Lowers Job-Cut Estimates

Nortel Networks Corp. on Thursday said it would cut fewer jobs than announced in August as part of the effort to improve its financial condition.


Wachovia names Carroll capital management chief

Wachovia Corp. (WB.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the fifth-largest US bank, on Thursday named David Carroll head of capital management, one of its biggest businesses, replacing Donald McMullen, who is retiring.


Automaker Invests US\$210 in Mexican Plant

German-American auto maker DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it will invest US\$210 million (euro168 million) to update an assembly plant in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.


PepsiCo Net Rises 35; Frito-Lay to Cut 780 Jobs (Update5)

PepsiCo Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 soft- drink maker, said third-quarter earnings increased 35 percent, boosted by sales in Asia and lower taxes.


Family Spending Part of Its Dollar

While it is true that many Americans have moved into the ranks of being considered millionaires, the lower-income portion of the country has been taking a worse beating than boxer Roy Jones Jr.


AT amp;T lowers price of VoIP phone service

AT amp;T has lowered the price of its CallVantage telephone service to \$29.99 per month. It includes unlimited local and long distance calling within the US and Canada.


Birth control for koalas

MELBOURNE, Australia - Koalas are considered in danger of extinction in parts of Australia, but in one southern state authorities plan to implant 2,000 of the furry marsupials with contraceptives to control their numbers.


Feds fund secure ID project

com September 30, 2004, 12:52 PM PT. Most IT Managers won #39;t question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.


Sun's Schwartz guns for patent glories

The software maker has filed a claim over its per-employee pricing plan, highlighting the tech industry's increasing focus on patents, News.com has learned.


Hornets bring back Nailon for training camp

Former Hornets forward Lee Nailon will return to the team at least for training camp. Nailon and guard Junior Harrington both signed contracts with New Orleans on Thursday, bringing the Hornets #39; preseason roster to 19 players.


Blair to Have Heart Procedure, Will Serve 3rd Term

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair will  go into hospital Friday for a procedure to correct heart  palpitations but will be fully functioning and back at work  next week, his office said in a statement.


Company Recalls Vioxx Arthritis Drug

The company that makes the drug, Merck, said the company recalled the drug voluntarily after it received new research results. The results showed people taking the drug for several years have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Update 2: Crude Slips on Nigeria Worries

Crude oil futures in New York gained Thursday for the ninth time in 10 days, but again failed to settle above \$50, as questions remained about the progress of truce talks in Nigeria and the recovery of production in the Gulf of Mexico.


Research in Motion revenues soar on BlackBerry popularity

WATERLOO, ONTARIO - Research in Motion reported sharply higher quarterly profits and revenues Thursday as sales of its popular BlackBerry wireless e-mail device continue to soar.


Chip Stocks Rise on Industry Report

Semiconductor companies moved higher in trading Thursday after an industry group said sales rose 1.1 percent to \$18.2 billion in August from the previous month, and that inventories are on the decline.


US Cereal Maker Says All its Brands Will be Whole Grain

US cereal maker General Mills is planning to make all of its cereals with whole grains, in an effort to cater to more health-conscious breakfast eaters.


Postal Service asks Stamps.com to stop taking PhotoStamp orders

SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - The US Postal Service has asked Los Angeles-based Stamps.com Inc. to end a market test and stop taking orders for its PhotoStamps program, which allows customers to print


Court Doctors Examine Pinochet for Trial

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Three court-appointed doctors  examined Chile's former military dictator Augusto Pinochet on  Thursday, a key step that will decide whether the 88-year-old  general will stand trial for human rights abuses.


Argentina Leader Calls IMF Head 'Plantation Owner'

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Argentina's leftist  president called IMF head Rodrigo Rato an old-style "plantation  owner" for trying to force the South American country to  swallow free-market reforms as a condition for aid.


AT amp;T, Vonage slash Net telephony rates

update A price war is brewing in the world of Internet telephone services, as providers try to win over consumers who now have a host of options when it comes to making calls.


Microsoft #39;s FAT Patent Rejected for Now

In a heavy blow to Microsoft #39;s intellectual property rights, the US Patent and Trademark Office has initially rejected Microsoft #39;s patent claims on the universally popular FAT (file allocation table) file system.


A wounded Tiger stays in the game

Tiger Woods pursed his lips and cursed under his breath as he stood over his first tee shot, feeling spasms in his back and knowing the sharp pain that was coming with each shot.


Talladega Superspeedway plays major roll in NASCAR history

The nations largest superspeedway at 2.66 miles is the home of the first superspeedway event and first restrictor plate race in NASCARs bold, but controversial, Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship.


Three court-appointed doctors examined Chile #39;s former military dictator Augusto Pinochet on Thursday, a key step that will decide whether the 88-year-old general will stand trial for human rights abuses.


UK PM to undergo heart treatment

Tony Blair is to be admitted to hospital on Friday  for a procedure to correct a heart problem.


Justice Dept Opens Fannie Probe - Source

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Justice Department is  investigating possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, bringing  greater government scrutiny to bear on the mortgage finance  company, already facing a parallel inquiry by the SEC, a source  close to the matter said on Thursday.


GM to Pay to Settle Pollution Violations

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. GM.N will pay  \$92,349 in civil fines to settle air pollution violations at a  Michigan plant, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said on  Thursday.


26 Palestinians Die, 131 Wounded in Gaza

JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip - Israeli troops struck deep inside the largest Palestinian refugee camp Thursday, battling masked gunmen in an unprecedented campaign to stop deadly rocket fire on Israeli towns. Twenty-six Palestinians were killed and 131 wounded, the bloodiest single-day toll in fighting in 30 months...


 By Ignacio Badal

 SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Three court-appointed doctorsexamined Chile's former military dictator Augusto Pinochet onThursday, a key step that will decide whether the 88-year-oldgeneral will stand trial for human rights abuses.


Research in Motion 2Q Profit Soars

Research In Motion Ltd., which makes the BlackBerry handheld device and other mobile products, on Thursday said its second-quarter profit rose significantly on improved sales.


Automaker Invests \$210M in Mexico Plant

German-American auto maker DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it will invest \$210 million to update an assembly plant in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.


Fifth Windows XP  #39;Lite #39; Country is India

Fast on the heels of its announcement that Russia would be the fourth of five countries in a pilot program of a low-cost, limited-functionality version of Windows XP, Microsoft named India as the fifth country.


Red Hat To Acquire Netscape Security Assets

Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik, in a statement the company issued, said the assets have  quot;tremendous longterm strategic value for the open source industry quot; and his company.


AT amp;T Lowers Price on Internet Calling Service

AT amp;T Corp (TN: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it was lowering the price on its CallVantage Internet calling service by \$5 per month, matching the price from several other suppliers.


Controversy Delays Net Song-Swap Bill in Senate

A measure that would make it easier to sue online file-trading networks like Kazaa and Morpheus failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday because lawmakers said there was too much opposition.


Microsoft patent is rejected, but company vows to fight back

The US Patent and Trademark Office has preliminarily rejected a Microsoft Corp. patent on a system for recognizing computer files, a victory for  quot;open source quot; advocates who believe


PS3 to use Blu-ray, PS2 gets new slimline look

PLAYSTATION 3 will use the Blu-ray Disc format, while a new, slimmer PlayStation 2 will go on sale internationally early in November.


No awards for new director Spacey

Oscar-winning film actor Kevin Spacey received some hostile reviews as he launched his first season at the helm of London #39;s famous Old Vic theater with  quot;Cloaca, quot; a play about four men in the throes of a mid-life crisis.


Roman empires to collide

Chelsea #39;s 3-1 win against FC Porto was not owner Roman Abramovich #39;s only reason to smile after Champions League action on Wednesday.


Golf: Hamilton relishes joining golf #39;s elite

KILKENNY, Ireland : British Open champion Todd Hamilton proved he deserved to be playing with the big boys when he shot a blistering six-under 66 in the first round of the seven million dollar WGC American Express Championship.


Shearer Hits three As Magpies Romp Home

Newcastle United cruised into the Group Stage of the Uefa Cup with a resounding 5-1 victory over Hapoel Bnei Sachnin. A hat-trick for Alan Shearer and a brace for Patrick Kluivert ensured the Magpies won 7-1 on aggregate.


Zee looks on as BCCI, Govt fight it out at apex court

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 30: Chances of a judicial intervention before the start of the India-Australia cricket series receded today, as the Supreme Court remained engrossed in the legal debate on whether the BCCI should be treated as an authority of


Shearer just the trick for Toon

Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert teamed up to fire Newcastle into the group stage of the UEFA Cup with a striking master-class in Tel Aviv.


Hawkins blows save, Cubs fall behind in wild-card race

The years of failure for the Cubs always seem to come with an indelible image that serves as a harsh reminder of what might have been.


It #39;s nothing but trouble #39;

TALLADEGA - With Jeff Gordon coasting to victory, behind a pace car and ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr., fans frustrated with a finish under caution littered Talladega Superspeedway with debris after the race in April.


34 children killed in attack

BAGHDAD, SEPTEMBER 30: Insurgents detonated three car bombs near a US Military convoy in Baghdad on Thursday, killing 41 people, 34 of them children who were rushing to collect sweets from American troops.


Sudanese president accuses US of arming Darfur rebels

Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir accused the United States of training and arming the rebels in the western Darfur region, Egypt #39;s Al-Ahram newspaper said Thursday.


Footage Shows 10 New Hostages in Iraq

The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed video Thursday of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants. Al-Jazeera said the 10 -- six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian


China blasts US arms sales to Taiwan

After a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell, China #39;s top diplomat accused the United States on Thursday of endangering peace in the Taiwan Straits by selling weapons to Taiwan.


General Mills to make all cereals whole grain

MINNEAPOLIS - The Trix Rabbit and that Lucky Charms leprechaun are going on a whole-grain diet. General Mills announced on Thursday that it will convert all of its breakfast cereals to whole grain.