Soros gives bigger role to sons

Billionaire philanthropist and speculator George Soros has given his sons greater responsibility in his firm as it spins off real estate and credit card operations in a move to return to its roots as a hedge fund, a company memo said.


Head Lice Provide Clue to Prehistoric Lives, Loves

A study of an ancient human pest -- head lice -- suggests that the ancestors of today #39;s American Indians may have met and fought with


New deal for Wenger as Arsenal hit the jackpot

Arsne Wenger celebrated Arsenal #39;s massive 100 million sponsorship deal yesterday by declaring that he expects to sign a new contract this week, committing himself to the Premiership champions until at least 2008.


NHL veteran opts for stint in minors

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- The New Jersey Devils signed veteran left winger Dean McAmmond to a contract to play with Albany of the American Hockey League.


Wilkinson convincing as man to  #39;bind side together #39;

Goal-kicker, tackler, distributor, organiser, role-model, conscience, keeper of the flame - Jonny Wilkinson is a man of many parts, all of them fundamental to the immediate well-being of the


News: North Korea has 600 computer hackers, South Korea claims

The Associated Press By Soo-jeong Lee


Do Not Adjust Focus. Those Blobs Are Atoms.

Scientists have produced the sharpest picture yet taken of atoms, with a resolution of roughly one 400-millionth of an inch.


Israeli Tank Fire Hurts 3 in Gaza -- Witnesses (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli tank fire wounded at least three\Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday,\witnesses said.


Britain's Blair to demand answers from Sudan on Darfur (AFP)

AFP - British Prime Minister Tony Blair was due to arrive in Sudan on a landmark visit during which he is to demand immediate action from the country's leaders over the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn western region of Darfur.


EU Commission to Bless Turkish Membership Bid (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Commission was set to\recommend on Wednesday that Turkey start accession talks with\the European Union, finally unveiling its watershed decision\after 40 years of on-again, off-again talks.


National Guard Hands Over More Bush Papers (AP)

AP - More than a week after a court-imposed deadline to turn over all records of President Bush's military service, the Texas Air National Guard belatedly produced two documents Tuesday that include Bush's orders for his last day of active duty in 1973.


Bush Asks Another  #36;691M in Hurricane Aid (AP)

AP - President Bush asked Congress Tuesday for an additional  #36;691 million to aid victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters as the election-year price tag for recent emergencies surged toward  #36;13 billion.


Moore Accused of Offering Gifts for Votes (AP)

AP - Republicans say filmmaker Michael Moore should be prosecuted for offering underwear, potato chips and Ramen noodles to college students in exchange for their promise to vote for John Kerry.


Georgia Congressman Has Lung Transplant (AP)

AP - Rep. Charlie Norwood, who has suffered a breathing disorder for more than six years, underwent a lung transplant Tuesday that doctors said was necessary to save his life.


Depp denies calling US war 'dumb'

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp insists that he never called America "dumb" for going to war with Iraq.


On Debate Day, Cheney Keeps a Low Profile and Edwards Campaigns

Vice President Dick Cheney stayed largely out of sight today, while Senator John Edwards was stumping at an Ohio rally.


U.S. Flu Vaccine Supply Cut in Half

WASHINGTON - Americans' supply of flu vaccine was abruptly cut in half Tuesday, prompting the government to ask most healthy adults to delay or skip flu shots so that the elderly and others most at risk from influenza can get scarce supplies.    British regulators unexpectedly shut down a major flu-shot supplier Tuesday, prompting a record shortage in this country just as flu season is about to begin...


AMD's dual-core performance boost

Though about the same size, the forthcoming dual-core Opteron will be up to 55 percent faster than today's single-core chips, AMD says.


Shutters come down for Kodak

THE photo-equipment maker Kodak yesterday announced plans to axe 600 jobs in the UK and close a factory in Nottinghamshire, in a move in line with the giants global restructuring strategy unveiled last January.


BoSox Win 9-3 to Open Series With Angels (AP)

AP - Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox got the jump on Anaheim in the AL playoffs. Perhaps that's how the Angels prefer it. Schilling pitched 6 2-3 effective innings, Manny Ramirez and Kevin Millar homered during a seven-run burst, and the Red Sox beat the Angels 9-3 Tuesday in Game 1.


Tiger Woods wedding is talk of island

GOLFER Tiger Woods was reportedly close to tying the knot last night with his Swedish fiance, Elin Nordegren, as guests were seen gathering at a Caribbean resort.


Fears over fixture clash

Uefa insisted last night that security will not be a problem when Middlesbrough and Newcastle supporters join those of Arsenal in Athens this month to play European matches against three Greek clubs.


A look around the Big Ten

What is JoePa working up to stop Kyle Orton? Where did the Little Brown Jug come from? What #39;s the deal with Iowa #39;s newfound running game?


Anderson in frame after a change of luck at last

RUSSELL Anderson is right not to dwell on why he has been given the opportunity to revive his Scotland career since it means risking being seen as someone revelling in the misfortune of others.


Oklahoma Defense Likes Challenge of Texas (AP)

AP - There's something about Texas that brings the big plays out of Oklahoma's defense.


Nuggets Sign White Despite Gun Charge (AP)

AP - The Denver Nuggets signed free agent forward Rodney White to a 2-year deal Tuesday, a day after a judge allowed him to leave Washington D.C. for the first time since his arrest last month on a gun charge.


US vetoes Arab draft demanding Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

The United States killed with its veto power on Tuesday another Arab draft UN Security Council resolution. Germany, Britain and Romania abstained from the vote on the draft proposed by Algeria, Tunisia and Pakistan.


Florida Gators Returning to Big-Play Ways (AP)

AP - The way Florida's offense is playing, you'd think Steve Spurrier was coaching the Gators again.


Williams Asks NFL to Clarify His Status

Ricky Williams has asked the NFL for a hearing to clarify his playing status, a possible first step if the running back tries to return to the league.


Lewis Readies Defense

Laywers for Ravens tailback Jamal Lewis are preparing to challenge any league mandated penalty  from his expected plea bargain because the incident occured prior to his NFL career.


Red Sox Strike First

Curt Schilling limits the Angels and the offense blasts the Angels for a 8-3 victory Tuesday in Game 1.


PalmOne licenses Microsoft Exchange for mobile e-mail

PalmOne Inc. has licensed technology from Microsoft Corp. to make its devices work directly with Microsoft's Exchange e-mail server, the companies said Tuesday.


BHP plans up to A\$1.5bil buyback

MELBOURNE: BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc, the world #39;s largest diversified miner, said yesterday it would buy back up to A\$1.5bil of its Australia-listed shares at a discount to the market price.


Update 2: Ex-Enron Exec Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy

A former assistant treasurer at toppled energy giant Enron Corp. pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge Tuesday for his alleged role in making Enron #39;s financial picture appear rosier than it really was.


Kodak plight a snapshot of UK work

The digital revolution #39;s two-way impact on British jobs was felt yesterday when Eastman Kodak announced mass layoffs in Nottingham and Middlesex and B amp;Q said it had been struggling to find staff in the Midlands.


Delphi Deepens Third-Quarter Loss View

Auto parts maker Delphi Corp. on Tuesday warned of a greater-than-expected third-quarter loss because of higher commodity prices and charges from cost-cutting measures and restructuring.


Cash is king for Diageo investors

Ker-ching. An extra \$2.14bn (1.2bn) has landed in the coffers at Diageo, the global drinks giant whose brands include Guinness, Baileys, Johnnie Walker whisky, Gordon #39;s gin and Smirnoff vodka.


AMD #39;s dual-core performance boost

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday detailed performance results for its forthcoming dual-core Opteron processor, showing a speed boost of 30 percent to 55 percent compared with today #39;s single-core models.


EarthLink to offer free net telephony

Earthlink on Tuesday said it now distributes software that lets people make free unlimited calls over a broadband connection. EarthLink Free Online Calling is anything but revolutionary.


IBM Rolls Out Low-End Express Servers

IBM has introduced two new Unix-based servers aimed at small- to mid-size businesses. Based on the Power5 microprocessor, the new servers join IBM #39;s On Demand Express product line, and are priced starting at \$3,993.


Concern Grows Over RFID Tag Production

With the countdown for compliance with radio-frequency identification mandates from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and others #39; closing in, concern is growing that supplies of the necessary


SAP, Infineon Team Up To Accelerate RFID Deployment Cycles

Infineon Technologies AG today will launch a radio-frequency identification package designed to help companies more easily connect and manage RFID hardware and software from multiple suppliers


Cardinals, Red Sox Use Homers to Win Baseball Playoff Openers

The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox put on power-hitting displays to win the openers of their first-round Major League Baseball playoff series.


Yahoo Adds Personalization to Search Technology

Yahoo! Inc. (www.yahoo.com) unveiled new versions of its Front Page, and My Yahoo! (my.yahoo.com). Both pages show enhancements in design and functionality, and are rolled into Beta versions starting yesterday.


Housing affordability gap yawns

Home buyers in England face the biggest affordability gaps in South West and London, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says.


Proposed new UN rules could have allowed Iraq war: Britain (AFP)

AFP - New rules being proposed for a reformed United Nations might have allowed the United States and Britain to carry out their invasion of Iraq with the approval of the world body, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a newspaper interview.


House OKs Bill Imposing 'Spyware' Fines (AP)

AP - Companies and others that secretly install "spyware" programs on people's computers to quietly monitor their Internet activities would face hefty federal fines under a bill the House passed Tuesday.


GOP Gets House to Nix Draft Bill 402-2 (AP)

AP - House Republicans sought to quash a persistent Internet rumor that the government will reinstate a military draft after the election, engineering an overwhelming vote Tuesday to kill legislation they hope will put the rumor to rest.


Intel Joins Nokia, Symbian To Make Smart Phone Chips (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - In an effort to get inside the growing number of advanced mobile phones throughout the world, the company has joined with cell phone maker Nokia   and U.K. software company Symbian to develop processor chips for such high-end smart phones.


Mount St. Helens Exhales Ash, Steam (AP)

AP - Mount St. Helens exhaled a spectacular roiling cloud of steam and ash Tuesday, sprinkling grit on a small town some 25 miles away.


Jetstar Asia Seeks Destinations in India

Budget airline Jetstar Asia on Monday announced cut-rate fares to its initial destinations of Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan and said it was seeking rights to fly to India and additional routes to China.


Edwards, Cheney Gear Up for Sole VP Debate (AP)

AP - Both presidential campaigns are looking for a boost at the other's expense Tuesday when Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic rival John Edwards square off for the only vice presidential debate of the 2004 election.


Kerry: Bush Uses 'Scare Tactics' (AP)

AP - Sen. John Kerry, fighting back after President Bush accused him of having dangerous policies, said Tuesday that the Republican incumbent was resorting to a "blanket scare tactic" rather than focusing on his own important choices to keep the country safe.


NASA Studies Space Railway to Explore Origins of Planets, Stars, and Galaxies

A NASA-led team is studying the construction of a railway in space for a pair of telescopes that will provide views of planet, star, and galaxy formation in unprecedented detail. The proposed Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) mission will also examine the atmospheric chemistry of giant planets around other stars.


Republicans Accuse Moore of Vote Bribery

LANSING, Mich. - Republicans say filmmaker Michael Moore should be prosecuted for offering underwear, potato chips and Ramen noodles to college students in exchange for their promise to vote...


Hormone Leptin May Treat Infertility in Women

By MARTIN FINUCANE    BOSTON (AP) -- An appetite-curbing hormone that failed to live up to its early buzz as a possible key to slowing obesity is now being probed as a potential aid for women who suffer from infertility and eating disorders.    "This represents essentially a new era for leptin," said Dr...


Flu Vaccine Supply Cut in Half

By LAURAN NEERGAARD     WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans' supply of flu vaccine was abruptly cut in half Tuesday, prompting the government to ask most healthy adults to delay or skip flu shots so that the elderly and others most at risk from influenza can get scarce supplies.    British regulators unexpectedly shut down a major flu-shot supplier Tuesday, prompting a record shortage in this country just as flu season is about to begin...


Library Exhibit Traces Impact of Isaac Newton

By MALCOLM RITTER     NEW YORK (AP) -- If you asked people strolling down Fifth Avenue to name a genius, most would probably cite Albert Einstein.     "Ask them to name another one, it would be (Isaac) Newton," said Mordechai Feingold, curator of a new exhibit about the 17th-century English mathematician and physicist who transcended science to become a lasting icon in society...


UPDATE 3-Delphi sees wider loss partly on materials costs

Delphi Corp. (DPH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday warned that its third-quarter loss would be far wider than expected, the latest auto parts supplier to say


Adobe Does Document Security

Electronic document giant Adobe Systems says it will partner with digital certificate company GeoTrust to provide technology to allow documents that use Adobe #39;s popular Portable Document Format to be digitally certified.


Sun #39;s New Multi-threaded Processor, UltraSPARC IV

Implemented using Texas Instruments #39; 90 nanometer process technology, UltraSPARC IV will double the application throughput of the existing UltraSPARC IV through expanded caches and buffers, a better branch prediction mechanism, augmented prefetching


Pippen:  quot;If I had anything to give, Id leave it here... quot;

October 5, 2004 -- Following the official announcement of his retirement, Scottie Pippen and Bulls GM John Paxson met the media at the Berto Center after the teams first official training camp practice this season.


Gardenhire Surprised by Song Fuss (AP)

AP - Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire still is surprised over the fuss made last year when he said a long version "God Bless America" may have affected Twins pitcher Brad Radke in Game 2 of the playoff series against the New York Yankees.


Dozens Arriving for Apparent Woods Wedding (AP)

AP - Former NBA superstars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were among the dozens of guests that arrived at this Caribbean resort island Tuesday afternoon, where Tiger Woods reportedly is to marry his Swedish model fiancee.


Schilling and Big Bats Give Red Sox Game 1

Curt Schilling pitched 6 2-3 effective innings, Manny Ramirez and Kevin Millar homered during a seven-run burst, and the Red Sox beat the Angels.


Microsoft looks to enlist European partners in SMB push

LISBON - Despite the growing profile of Linux, continued security concerns and an anticompetion ruling from the European Commission, Microsoft Corp. faced no coup d'etat when it rolled into Lisbon on Portugal's revolution day Tuesday.


New security products "adapting" to threats

As networks increase in size and complexity, security products are growing in sophistication and security threats are becoming more ingenious.


Tokyo Stocks End Lower

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei closed down 0.84 percent  Monday after a weak U.S. jobs report kept the dollar near a  five-year low against the yen, helping reverse recent gains in  exporters such as Nissan Motor Co.


Microsoft Unveils New Version of MSN TV

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) introduced on Tuesday a new version of its Internet TV service, seeking to broaden its appeal beyond a relatively small base of older, computer-phobic users.


House Approves Bill Imposing 'Spyware' Fines

By TED BRIDIS    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Companies and others that secretly install "spyware" programs on people's computers to quietly monitor their Internet activities would face hefty federal fines under a bill the House passed Tuesday.    The most egregious behaviors ascribed to the category of such software - secretly recording a person's computer keystrokes or mouse clicks - are already illegal under U.S...


Kodak cuts 600 jobs and shuts two plants as digital toll rises

Eastman Kodak, the world #39;s largest photographic company, announced it was cutting 600 jobs in the UK and 270 in France yesterday, as it pressed on with its strategic refocus, brought on by the


International telemarketing fraud probe nets 135

WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (AFP) - More than 135 people have been arrested in an international crackdown on fraudulent telemarketing operations that may have netted hundreds of millions of dollars from unwary victims, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said Tuesday


Philip Morris to invest \$200M in Cabarrus plant

Philip Morris USA will invest \$200 million in the next three years to upgrade its cigarette plant in Cabarrus County, Gov. Mike Easley announced Tuesday.


SpaceShipOne Makes Second Trip to Space, Wins X Prize

The privately owned and operated SpaceShipOne spacecraft has won the \$10 million Ansari X Prize by successfully making its second manned flight into space.


LA #39;s comeback strategy won #39;t work in playoffs

ST. LOUIS -- The Dodgers absolutely love the team persona that they nurtured throughout the long regular season, the never-say-die, don #39;t-count-us-out, play- #39;til-the-end Comeback King thing.


Carter advances to second round at US Mid-Amateur

Huntington, W.Va., golfer Pat Carter has advanced to the second round of match play at the US Mid-Amateur golf tournament. Carter defeated Scott Crawshaw of Pasadena, Calif.


UN atomic experts back in Iran to test bomb claims

TEHRAN: UN atomic inspectors have returned to Iran and will be free to visit a disputed military site in their investigation of US allegations that Iran is seeking nuclear warheads, state television reported.


U.S. Jobs Weigh on Dollar

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Dollar and oil price weakness pulled  Asian export and resource shares down on Monday and knocked  Toyko shares lower, but strength in some bank and technology  issues underpinned broader stock markets.


UPDATE 3-PeopleSoft could be open to Oracle bid-director

A PeopleSoft Inc. (PSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) board member told a Delaware court on Tuesday that the software maker would consider a bid from its rival Oracle Corp.


Oil hits \$51 as hurricanes halt supplies

Crude oil prices jumped above \$51 a barrel yesterday, setting a fresh record amid a prolonged production shut-down in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Ivan.


Gordon Cooper

Gordon Cooper, the former astronaut who died on Monday aged 77, played an important part in the American space programme which culminated in the first manned flight to the moon in 1969.


MSN Search Preview Resurfaces

The public preview of MSN #39;s upcoming search engine is back, this time with a Web index about five times fatter and reworked relevancy algorithms.


Browsers become business bugbear

commentary The debate between Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox has intensified in recent months. Media columnists have put forth the merits of their case; an overwhelming number believe the time is right to bury Internet Explorer.


Glazer opens talks with Irish as United fans revolt

Malcolm Glazer, the US sports tycoon trying to buy Manchester United, has begun talks with the club #39;s biggest shareholder and plans to tell investors that the club #39;s performance


MLB: Boston 9, Anaheim 3

The Boston Red Sox erupted for seven runs in the fourth Tuesday and posted a 9-3 win over the Anaheim Angels in Game 1 of their AL Division Series.


Cassell a no-show; Wolves sign Griffin

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota Timberwolves guard Sam Cassell did not show up Tuesday for the first day of training camp.


Williams retirement saga continues

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Former NFL running back Ricky Williams wants to know where he stands after retiring and subsequently being ordered to pay back nearly \$9 million to the Miami Dolphins.


Iranian missile  #39;can reach Israel

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president, said the rocket had a range of 1,250 miles and added:  quot;Iran is determined to improve its military capabilities.


PeopleSoft Open to Oracle Bid -Director (Reuters)

Reuters - A PeopleSoft Inc.  board\member told a Delaware court on Tuesday that the software maker\would consider a bid from its rival Oracle Corp. \provided the price was right and a deal closed quickly.


Three Americans Share Nobel Physics Prize (AP)

AP - Americans David J. Gross, H. David Politzer and Frank Wilczek won the 2004 Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for their explanation of the force that binds particles inside the atomic nucleus.


Satellite Mishap Blamed on Human Error (AP)

AP - A  #36;239 million satellite toppled to a factory floor last year because nobody bothered to check that it was secure before moving it, according to a NASA investigation board's report on the mishap.


Dye Test Planned on Yellowstone Creek (AP)

AP - Testing with dye is planned next spring to find out why water in a creek near the East Entrance has turned greenish.


Court Hits 'Spam' Envelope-Stuffing Scam

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. court has temporarily shut  down an operation that used "spam" e-mail to drum up customers  for a fraudulent work-at-home scheme, the U.S. Federal Trade  Commission said on Tuesday.


House Passes Tough Computer Anti-Spyware Bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on  Tuesday voted to crack down on deceptive "spyware" that hides  in users' computers and secretly monitors their activities.


Microsoft CEO: Merger Strategy Unchanged

LISBON (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O is still  targeting smaller companies for acquisitions, despite  speculation that now-scuttled merger talks with business  software giant SAP AG SAPG.DE signaled a shift in strategy,  Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said on Tuesday.


Ex-Enron Asst Treasurer Strikes Plea Deal (Reuters)

Reuters - A former Enron Corp.  \assistant treasurer pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District\Court to conspiracy to commit securities fraud for disguising\the company's weak finances before its dramatic collapse.


Stocks Lower as Oil Breaches \$51/Barrel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed mostly lower on  Tuesday as oil prices climbed to another record and economic  data showed slower-than-expected growth last month.


Japan Stocks Open Down After Gains

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average fell 0.36  percent at the opening on Wednesday as profit-taking pushed  down recent gainers including Bridgestone Corp. after the  market had risen in the previous four sessions.


Ex-Enron Asst Treasurer Strikes Plea Deal

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A former Enron Corp.  ENRNQ.PK  assistant treasurer pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District  Court to conspiracy to commit securities fraud for disguising  the company's weak finances before its dramatic collapse.


PeopleSoft Open to Oracle Bid -Director

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O board  member told a Delaware court on Tuesday that the software maker  would consider a bid from its rival Oracle Corp. ORCL.O  provided the price was right and a deal closed quickly.


US Air Unions Object to Plan for Cuts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Big labor unions at bankrupt US  Airways Group Inc. UAIRQ.OB claimed on Tuesday the carrier  has fallen far short of proving that it must have immediate  court-imposed wage and other cuts to survive.


Delphi Sees Wider Loss on Materials Costs

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Delphi Corp. on Tuesday warned that its  third-quarter loss would be wider than expected, the latest  auto parts supplier to say motor vehicle production cuts and  high raw materials costs would hurt results.


US: More Than 135 Arrested for Telemarketing Fraud

More than 100 individuals in the United States and 35 others in foreign nations have been arrested in a crackdown on telemarketing fraud that caused losses exceeding \$1 billion, US officials said on Tuesday.


The Spirit of St. Louis in outer space

What The Associated Press described as test pilot Michael Melvill #39;s  quot;corkscrewing, white-knuckle ride quot; on the first leg of SpaceShipOne #39;s successful attempt to win the \$10 million X-Prize, was actually a remarkable rendition of what generations of


Broadcom Unveils New Multicore Chip

NEW YORK - Communications chipmaker Broadcom today will announce a chip that combines four cores--the central brain of a chip--onto a single piece of silicon.


EarthLink #39;s Calling

EarthLink (Nasdaq: ELNK) is the latest company to bridge the Internet and the telephone. It #39;s offering Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) service for free to its customers, as it announced in a press release today.


IBM Unveils Midmarket Servers

With starting hardware prices of \$3,993 and \$7,050 respectively, the IBM eServer(TM) p5-520 and p5-550 Express models are among the most cost-effective in the industry.


Arsenal unveil mega 100M Emirates deal

Arsenal have confirmed they have struck a lucrative deal with Emirates Airlines for the naming rights of their new Ashburton stadium.


Larsson and Rooney bid for world player award

WAYNE Rooney and Henrik Larsson are among the players nominated for FIFAs prestigious World Player of the Year award. Rooney is one of four Manchester United players on a list which is heavily influenced by the Premiership.


BAR sign Epson for one race

Epson has been a major supporter of motor sport since 1983 and believes the Japanese Grand Prix to be the perfect vehicle to communicate with its home market through the dynamic global sport of Formula One.


Sooners #39; Jones to return; starting RB undecided

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday that running back Kejuan Jones would be able to play in the No. 2 Sooners #39; game Saturday against No.


US vetoes anti-Israel UN resolution

The United States Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding Israel cease all military operations in Northern Gaza and withdraw its forces.


Transmeta's M8800  Efficeon Processor Powers Down

New version of the Efficeon processor uses only 3 watts of power at 1-GHz speed.


Which Candidate Is More Tech-Friendly?

Partisan panel debates presidential candidates' stand on technology issues.


Scripps senior newspaper VP to retire

Alan Horton, senior vice president of newspapers for EW Scripps Co., will retire from the company Dec. 31,. Horton, 61, has been affiliated with Scripps since 1965, when he took his first job out of college as a reporter for The Cincinnati Post.


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Open Lower; US Dollar Up

Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday as investors took profits following four straight sessions of gains. The US dollar was higher against the Japanese yen.


Schwab says he #39;ll stay on as CEO to get firm back on track

NEW YORK Charles Schwab says he is willing to stay on as CEO of the firm that bears his name as long as it takes to get the brokerage back on track.


AMD Offers Performance Details of New Dual-Core Opteron

SAN JOSE, Calif.Advanced Micro Devices Inc. on Tuesday unveiled its dual-core architecture here at In Stat/MDR #39;s Fall Processor Forum and provided the first estimates of the chip #39;s performance.


Earthlink Offers Free Online Calling

Internet-service provider Earthlink Inc. on Tuesday launched a service that enables high-speed subscribers to make unlimited voice calls through their computers at no additional charge.


Nokia, Intel To Team On Symbian Smartphones

Nokia and Intel said Tuesday they would work together to create smartphones based on the Symbian-based Series 60 platform. The Nokia-created Series 60 platform has as its core the Symbian OS.


Larsson secures place on elite list

Henrik Larsson, the former Celtic striker, has become the first player nominated for FIFA #39;s World Player of the Year award to have done so on the basis of performances in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.


England take on Spain in friendly

MADRID: Spain will host England for a friendly on November 17 in Real Madrid #39;s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the profits from which will go towards the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), the Spanish Football Federation announced yesterday.


Cricket-Lancashire sign up Muralitharan

Cricket-First Test blues grip under-strength rivals 10-05-2004, 09:51 BANGALORE, India (AFP) - India and Australia go into the first Test here without their first-choice teams amid growing concern about both the inclement weather and how the wicket


Kwame Brown not ready for start of season

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Wizards forward Kwame Brown will not be ready for the season opener, but could play by the end of November.


Fire aboard ex-Navy sub on way to new owner

Three sailors were injured yesterday after fire broke out on a submarine sold by the Royal Navy to Canada. Chicoutimi had left Faslane in Scotland on Monday after a lengthy refit as part of the sale of four submarines.


US vetoes Arab resolution

UNITED NATIONS: The United States yesterday vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution demanding that Israel stop a major offensive in the Gaza Strip that has cost at least 68 Palestinian lives.


US blamed for troop levels

WASHINGTON: The US did not have enough troops in Iraq to secure the country and paid a heavy price for the mistake, the former head of the US civilian administration in Baghdad has said.


Supersize me, says Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart just keeps getting bigger. The retailer, already the largest in the world, announced aggressive expansion plans yesterday for the coming year, aiming to open or extend up to 530 stores around the world.


Billionaire Soros gives sons bigger role in his empire

George Soros, the billionaire investor, is giving greater control of his business to his two sons, Robert and Jonathan, and at the same time scaling back his empire by spinning off several divisions.


Hollinger to Take \$27M Charge for Suits

CHICAGO - Hollinger International Inc. said Tuesday it will take a pretax charge of \$27 million to settle advertisers #39; lawsuits over inflated circulation numbers issued for years by the Chicago Sun-Times.


Treo, Exchange agree to talk

LONGTIME foes palmOne and Microsoft have announced a licensing deal that will allow the next generation of palmOne #39;s Treo smart phones to work directly with Microsoft #39;s Exchange email system.


AMD hit by weak demand

Advanced Micro Devices yesterday warned that revenues in the third quarter would be lower than earlier forecasts, echoing a similar statement from Intel last month - its biggest rival in the chip sector.


Fast-food giant reports third quarter gains

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Fast-food giant Yum Brandsreported a 13 percent gain in third-quarter earnings today. The company says surging international sales and a turnaround at its KFC chicken restaurants were responsible.


Sun on wrong end of Java IP victory

Sun Microsystems Inc has found itself in the unusual position of losing a Java law suit, brought by photography giant Eastman Kodak.


IBM drops eServer Power5 clock speed to chase Sun

IBM Corp will today announce that it will move its slower 1.5GHz Power5 processors into its eServer p5 520 and 550 servers in an attempt to make the  quot;Squadron quot; servers more appealing to customers using rival Sun Microsystems Inc #39;s Sparc/Solaris boxes and


Clemens Is Still Swinging and Pitching With Intensity

That #39;s what Jaret Wright, the Braves #39; starting pitcher today, wanted to know about Roger Clemens in his improbable career extension with the Astros.


Mega tells nation to accept result

JAKARTA - Choking back tears, President Megawati Sukarnoputri edged closer to conceding defeat yesterday, urging Indonesians to accept the results of the country #39;s landmark leadership ballot.


Alkhanov Sworn in As President of Chechnya

Chechnya #39;s new Kremlin-backed president was sworn in Tuesday, taking the helm of this wartorn Russian region under heavy guard nearly five months after his predecessor


Divide over managing US #39;s wallet

Both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry profess to be  quot;free traders, quot; opposed to tariffs and other impediments to commerce.


UK resists EU curb on Turkey

Britain will oppose European commission moves to impose permanent curbs on Turkish workers migrating to other areas of the EU as a key part of any agreement to admit the country to the union, a foreign office minister said yesterday.


Save the Trees, Save the Apes, Expert Says (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.N. meeting on endangered species\could help secure the survival one of humanity's closest living\relatives, the orangutan, by saving its forest home from\loggers, a leading expert said on Tuesday.


Dollar Stalls Ahead of Employment Figures (Reuters)

Reuters - The dollar was stuck in familiar ranges\on Wednesday as the market awaited U.S. employment figures,\while the yen came under pressure from another round of soaring\oil prices.


Japan Stocks Flat After Wall Street

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average was flat in  mid-morning trade on Wednesday, bolstered by bargain-hunting of  a number of blue-chip stocks after U.S. stocks showed  resilience despite a rise in oil prices to new highs.


SAP taps search technology

Says improved search capabilities will return results an average of 10 times faster than before.


Shula says Patriots could go 19-0

Don Shula knows what it takes to achieve a perfect season, and he says the New England Patriots have a chance to do it. On the other hand, Shula says, the winless Miami Dolphins have a shot at an upset Sunday at New England.


Ultra-Tiny Transistors Won't Be Key to New PC Performance Gains

Chips have become so tiny that atomic-level defects cause serious problems.


Wallstreet update - stocks Stocks climb again as oil prices slip

all Street extended its fourth-quarter rally into a second day yesterday, supported by falling oil prices and a bullish assessment of the economy from a Federal Reserve official.


Score Angels #39; lineup moves a failure

Can #39;t give anything away in October, Mike Scioscia reasoned, and the Anaheim manager picked his best defensive infielders at second and third base to play the first game of the playoffs.


Titans #39; Calico out two-three weeks, maybe ten

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee Titans receiver Tyrone Calico will be out two to three weeks, and up to ten, because of a knee injury. Calico, counted on as a big-play deep threat, has torn cartilage suffered in a loss to San Diego Sunday.


Israeli Town Lies in Rockets #39; Paths

Description: NPR #39;s Linda Gradstein reports from the Israeli town of Sderot, a frequent target of Palestinian rocket fire from the nearby Gaza Strip.


GOP Brings Up Draft to Knock It Down (washingtonpost.com)

washingtonpost.com - Rumors of reinstating the military draft, which have flourished for months in panicky e-mails, online chat rooms, college dorms and student newspapers, suddenly dominated  the House floor yesterday in one of the strangest parliamentary maneuvers in memory. With even its sponsor voting against it, a bill to require young adults to perform military or civil service failed, 402 to 2.


Ultra-Tiny Transistors Won't Be Key to New PC Performance Gains (PC World)

PC World - Chips have become so tiny that atomic-level defects cause serious problems.


Asian, European leaders gather in Hanoi ahead of summit (AFP)

AFP - Asian and European leaders began arriving in Hanoi ahead of a summit aimed at boosting political, economic and cultural ties despite profound inter-regional differences over Myanmar.


Israeli Missile Kills Islamic Jihad Chief (AP)

AP - Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed a militant leader and a father and his son, officials said Wednesday, bringing to 75 the number of Palestinians killed in a weeklong offensive aimed at ending Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli towns.


Australian PM's anti-immigration rhetoric softens as Asian vote beckons (AFP)

AFP - Prime Minister John Howard's former rhetoric against illegal immigration has gone deafeningly quiet in Australia's election campaign, analysts say, not least because he needs Asian votes to win his own seat.


Israeli Tank Fire Kills 3 in Gaza Town

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tanks shelled a town in the in the  northern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday, killing three  Palestinians and wounding 10 children in their houses,  witnesses and medics said.


MTV, Gamers  Hope Video Clicks With Young

MTV and the gaming industry are hoping characters from the gaming world will be able to reach the double-click generation. The message is clear: Young people need to take voting  seriously.
\-The Washington Post


MedImmune Tapped for More Flu Vaccine

MedImmune Inc. said Tuesday that it is evaluating whether it can help stem a threatened flu vaccination shortage by producing more doses of its inhaled vaccine FluMist after a request from federal officials.
\-The Washington Post


Blair Flies to Sudan to Press for Darfur Peace

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Tony Blair flew to Khartoum on  Wednesday as the most senior yet in a parade of Western  government figures seeking to pressure Sudanese officials over  violence in Darfur province.


Phone Group Head Resigns After Uproar

The head of a trade association that represents competitors of the large regional telephone companies resigned after his lobbying blueprint was published by mistake on the Federal Communications Commission's Web site.
\-The Washington Post


Britain's Straw Says Iraq Elections Must Go Ahead

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw  said on Tuesday violence must not upset plans to hold  nationwide elections in Iraq, whose prime minister indicated  the government was gearing up to retake rebel strongholds.


Haiti Flood Death Toll Passes 3,000

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haiti's death toll from  last month's devastating flooding rose to more than 3,000 on  Tuesday, according to government officials who released what  they believe is the final death tally.


US, Brazil Predict End to Brazil's UN Nuke Dispute

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - The United States and Brazil  predicted on Tuesday Latin America's largest country would  resolve a dispute with the U.N. nuclear watchdog over  inspections of a uranium enrichment plant.


Comic Rodney Dangerfield Dies at Age 82

LOS ANGELES - Rodney Dangerfield, the bug-eyed comic whose self-deprecating one-liners brought him stardom in clubs, television and movies and made his lament "I don't get no respect" a catchphrase, died Tuesday. He was 82...


GOP Gets House to Nix Draft Bill 402-2

WASHINGTON - House Republicans sought to quash a persistent Internet rumor that President Bush wants to reinstate the draft if he is re-elected, engineering an overwhelming vote Tuesday killing legislation that would do just that.    Republicans accused Democrats of feeding the rumor mill to scare young voters and their parents into voting against Bush...


Pit Stop on the Cocaine Highway

Traffickers prefer Guatemala, where the radar is spotty and the government is largely unable to stop the flights carrying U.S. bound drugs.


 By Saul Hudson

 BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - The United States and Brazilpredicted on Tuesday Latin America's largest country wouldresolve a dispute with the U.N. nuclear watchdog overinspections of a uranium enrichment plant.


Motor Racing: Panis Reaches the End of the F1 Road

 By Alan Baldwin

 LONDON (Reuters) - Olivier Panis, the oldest driver andonly Frenchman on the Formula One starting grid, says farewellto grand prix racing in Japan this weekend.


Briefly: SAP taps search technology

roundup Plus: Appeals court to rehear e-mail snoop case...Macromedia giving away Flex...T-Mobile adds security measure to hot spots.


Doorstep delivery

Protesters demonstrated outside the Milan courthouse where a judge ruled that two former Grant Thornton auditors should stand trial in January for their part in the collapse of Italian food group Parmalat.


Wal-Mart to open scores of stores

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. #39;s Wal-Mart division plans to open 40 to 45 new discount stores and 240 to 250 new supercenters in the United States starting Feb. 1. The company said that relocations


Analysis: GOP pushes corporate tax breaks

After adding a host of special-interest tax cuts aimed at garnering support from individual senators for the overall bill, the congressional Republican leadership is poised to gain


Kodak To Cut 600 Jobs in UK, 270 in France

Kodak said the reductions are because of the increasing popularity of digital photography. The cutbacks are part of the three-year program Kodak announced in January to reduce its


Cards Dominate Dodgers in Playoff Opener (AP)

AP - Larry Walker and the St. Louis Cardinals turned Game 1 into a slugfest, and that was big trouble for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Walker homered twice and the Cardinals tied a postseason record by hitting five home runs, overwhelming Odalis Perez and the Dodgers in an 8-3 blowout Tuesday in the opener of their NL playoff series.


AMD: Dual-core tech accelerates Opteron by more than 30 percent

AMD used the Fall Processor Forum to provide more details about its dual-core Opteron architecture which is scheduled to be released by mid of 2005.


Glazer puts United in play

MANCHESTER United has received a takeover approach that boosted the club #39;s shares by over 5 per cent as industry sources said US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer planned a bid of \$1.


Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

com. Poor Chone Figgins. He should have known he was in for a rough one when Manny Ramirez hammered a liner off his glove in the first inning of Boston #39;s 9-3 win over Anaheim in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.


FOOTBALL: DUBAI BURY

ARSENAL are to name their new ground Emirates Stadium after clinching a 100million sponsorship deal with an Arab airline. And Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood admitted it was an offer they simply couldn #39;t refuse.


Rooney on Fifa shortlist

Zurich, Switzerland - England and Manchester United teenage sensation Wayne Rooney has made it on to the shortlist for Fifa #39;s 2004 Player of the Year award.


Sheffield Says He Unknowingly Used Steroids

New York Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield says he unknowingly used an illegal steroid obtained from BALCO during the 2002 season, Major League Baseball #39;s official Web Site said Tuesday quoting a magazine article.


Israel assassinates al-Quds commander

TONY EASTLEY: Israel has revealed that in the four years of the Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, it #39;s arrested 13 Palestinians who work for the UN, on suspicion of  quot;terrorist activities.


Lufthansa passenger plane diverted to Cyprus after bomb threat

JERUSALEM - A Lufthansa passenger plane en route to Tel Aviv was diverted to Cyprus on Tuesday, escorted by Israeli war planes, after the airline received a bomb threat, officials said.


BILLY #39;S BIGLEY JOKE FURY

AN audience was sickened to hear Billy Connolly joke about the fate of British hostage Ken Bigley during a live show. Referring to the terrorists who threatened to behead Bigley, the Scots


ULTIMATUM FROM BLAIR

TONY Blair will today deliver an ultimatum to warlords in Sudan as he visits the conflict-ridden African country. In talks in Khartoum he will tell the Sudanese government they need to do more to stop the fighting in Darfur which has claimed 50,000 lives.


Schilling, Ramirez Lead Red Sox to Easy Opening Win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Curt Schilling pitched 6 2/3 innings  and Manny Ramirez hit a three-run homer in a seven-run fourth  frame to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 9-3 win over the host  Anaheim Angels in their American League Divisional Series  opener Tuesday.


NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Yankees slugger Gary  Sheffield says he unknowingly used an illegal steroid obtained  from BALCO during the 2002 season, Major League Baseball's  official Web Site said Tuesday quoting a magazine article.


Clijsters Unsure About Latest Injury, Says Hewitt

TOKYO (Reuters) - Belgian Kim Clijsters is unsure about the  exact nature of the injury that has prematurely ended her  season, her fiance Lleyton Hewitt said on Wednesday.


Red Sox Cast Off Bad Memories by Blasting Off

The Boston Red Sox beat Anaheim, 9-3, and have the look of a team intent on making things easier for themselves this year.


Chiefs Humble Ravens

The Kansas City Chiefs were a confident bunch even sporting an 0-3 mark coming into Baltimore. But by outmuscling the Ravens, the Chiefs have new life.


Mbeki meets with Ivory Coast rebel leaders

South African President Thabo Mbeki traveled to Ivory Coast #39;s rebel-held north on Sunday in a redoubled peace effort for West Africa #39;s war-divided economic hub.


Wizards Feeling Good

The Wizards opened training camp confident they have a better feel for the complicated Princeton offense installed by Eddie Jordan.


Tobacco Rider Adds Fire To Corporate Tax Bill

House Republican negotiators beat back Senate efforts to more aggressively regulate tobacco and to more strictly limit tax shelters Tuesday as a congressional conference committee moved toward approving the most significant corporate tax legislation in two decades.


Union, Hotels Still Deadlocked

Union and hotel officials met Tuesday for the first full day of negotiations in two weeks. But they said they did not come closer to a deal on a contract for 3,800 hotel workers at 14 hotels in the District who have been working without one since Sept. 15.


Regulator Wants Riggs Records on Jet, London Apartment

London's Savoy Court Apartments are counted among Britain's most exclusive private residences. And No. 6 was among the most lavishly appointed.


PBS Selects Crystal City Location for Headquarters

The Public Broadcasting Service said yesterday that it signed a deal to move its headquarters from Alexandria to Crystal City, where Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty has renovated offices and retail space to make the area more pedestrian-friendly and attract non-government tenants.


On Fannie's Board, Many Bonds

As D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) announced the return of Major League Baseball to Washington last week, he praised Fannie Mae chairman and chief executive Franklin D. Raines and financier Frederic V. Malek for their efforts as part of a high-powered ownership group seeking to buy the team.


EEOC Files Suit Against English Fluency Policy

A federal agency filed a lawsuit against the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington yesterday, claiming the hotel discriminated against a former dishwasher by failing to rehire him because he does not speak fluent English.


Guilty Plea in Enron Fraud Case

Former Enron Corp. assistant treasurer Timothy Despain pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating the company.


Crude oil prices breach 51 dollars in New York

Crude oil futures jumped above 51 dollars a barrel Tuesday amid concern that hurricane damage to production in the Gulf of Mexico would keep supplies from rising enough to meet winter needs.


Cards #39; offense relentless

All right. Here are the things a starting pitcher would rather do than face the St. Louis Cardinals lineup: Go out in public wearing that wig Tom Sizemore used to portray Pete Rose in  quot;Hustle.


Ronaldo likely to play against Venezuela, says Brazil doctor

Brazil striker Ronaldo is likely to face Venezuela in Saturday #39;s World Cup qualifier despite strains in both thighs.  quot;I believe that he won #39;t miss out because, with this type


Tobacco Rider Adds Fire to Debate Over Corporate Tax Bill

House Republican negotiators beat back Senate efforts to more aggressively regulate tobacco and to more strictly limit tax shelters yesterday as a congressional conference committee moved


Update 3: Tokyo Stocks Higher; US Dollar Up

Tokyo stocks inched up Wednesday morning as investors tried to shake off pessimism about the nation #39;s economy and stick to an upbeat economic report last week.


Genentech gets served

The biotech giant is hit with a subpoena requesting documents related to the promotion of Rituxan, its best-selling drug. Just two days before its third-quarter earnings release, biotechnology pioneer Genentech


Britain's Straw Says Iraq Elections Must Go Ahead (Reuters)

Reuters - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw\said on Tuesday violence must not upset plans to hold\nationwide elections in Iraq, whose prime minister indicated\the government was gearing up to retake rebel strongholds.


Annan refuses to resign over Iraq programme

The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has said he will not resign over the controversial Iraqi Oil-for-Food programme.


Mexico Lawmakers Protest Education Funding (AP)

AP - Mexico City legislators from the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, the PRD, stormed into the lower house of congress and seized the speaker's podium Tuesday to prevent discussion of proposed funding changes for local education.


Report: S.Korea Says U.S. to Delay Troops (AP)

AP - The United States has agreed to delay the planned withdrawal of 12,500 troops from South Korea by three years to 2008, a news agency reported Wednesday.


Lawyers say Australian terror suspect likely to be freed from Guantanamo (AFP)

AFP - Lawyers for Australian terror suspect Mamdouh Habib were confident he would soon be released from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.


Candidate: No Pregnant, Single Teachers (AP)

AP - A U.S. Senate candidate who said recently that homosexuals should not be teaching in South Carolina's public schools has added another group to his list of poor role models for children  #151; pregnant women with live-in boyfriends.


Lawmakers Weigh Foreign-Born As President (AP)

AP - It's not about Arnold, lawmakers indicated. But the California governor was certainly one of the rising stars on many minds Tuesday as a Senate panel talked about amending the Constitution to let immigrants occupy the White House.


Luggage may hold an explosive surprise

French police said yesterday that they had ended their practice of hiding plastic explosives in air passengers #39; luggage to train bomb-sniffing dogs after one such bag got lost, possibly


Cheney, Edwards Go Toe to Toe in Debate

CLEVELAND - Sen. John Edwards accused the Bush administration Tuesday night of bungling the war in Iraq and presiding over a historic loss of jobs...


France Was Ready to Send Troops to Iraq, Book Says

French officials were prepared to provide as many as 15,000 troops for an invasion before relations soured with the Bush administration, according to a new book published in France this week.


Schilling less than stellar, but it doesn #39;t matter

(Sports Network) - Boston #39;s Curt Schilling wasn #39;t his usual dominant self on Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Division Series versus Anaheim.


Williams asks for hearing to clear status

Former NFL running back Ricky Williams has asked the league to hold a hearing to clarify his playing status. Williams, who is reported to be considering a comeback, wants to know


Wilkinson #39;s battle with nerves

NEW England rugby captain Jonny Wilkinson has revealed how he deals with the potentially crippling nerves that have afflicted him since childhood.


Harrys keeping Kewell

SOCCEROOS superstar Harry Kewell is optimistic he can overcome a painful groin injury and play in Saturdays Confederations Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands.


Wal-Mart to open another 500 stores

Wal-Mart has shrugged off growing opposition to its dominance of the US retail market by announcing plans for another 500 stores in 2005.


Ricky Williams Wants to Rejoin the Dolphins

Ricky Williams wants to rejoin the Miami Dolphins and has asked the N.F.L. how soon he can return, his agent said.


Williams Faces Fight

More than 100 protesters denounced a proposal to build a baseball stadium, vowing that Mayor Anthony Williams will face stiff opposition.


Angelos, MLB at Odds

Baseball and Peter Angelos have not agreed on compensation to offset the impact of a Washington team on the Baltimore franchise.


Asian Shares Firm in Face of High Oil

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares shrugged off record oil  prices on Wednesday to hit five-month highs as key technology  issues cheered resilience in their U.S. peers, but concern  about the impact of high energy costs on firms' profits capped  gains.


At Meeting, Lazard Board Takes No Vote on Offering

The board of Lazard met in Paris but did not vote on a plan by its chief executive, Bruce Wasserstein, to take the firm public.


2 Soros Sons Get More Control of the Business

George Soros, the billionaire financier, is handing more control of his money management firm to two of his sons as he continues to scale back the focus of his investment firm.


Wenger close to new deal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he expects to sign a new contract  quot;within the next few days quot;. Wenger #39;s current Highbury contract expires at the end of this season but his new deal is set to keep him at the club until at least 2008.


Notes: Jones in starting lineup

Ron Gardenhire spotted Jacque Jones in the lobby of the team hotel Tuesday morning. Still coping with the death of his father, Jones didn #39;t hesitate to tell his manager how he felt.


By The Associated Press. Ricky Williams wants to rejoin the Miami Dolphins and has asked the National Football League how soon he can return, his agent said yesterday.


Miller hints that he #39;ll retire after this season

Reggie Miller has the option to extend his current contract to the 2005-06 season, but the Pacers #39; all-time leading scorer is talking like his 18th NBA season will be his last.


Hendry to discipline Sosa

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said on Tuesday that he #39;s hoping time will heal some of the wounds created by Sammy Sosa #39;s early exit from the season finale and


A Look at the Toys of Christmas (Near) Future

As computers and hand-held electronic gadgets eats into sales, this holiday season promises to be an especially competitive one for toymakers.


Spinning Out Clear Winner Even Before Debate Begins

Both campaigns have exhorted their supporters to flood the media with messages declaring a winner in the debates, hoping to influence the post-debate spin wars.


Israel kills Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza strike

withdrawal of troops and settlers from occupied Gaza next year. Militants seek to claim any pullout as a victory.  quot;Islamic Jihad will not be broken by this martyrdom, quot; said Khaled al-Batsh, a senior political leader in Gaza.


Three Americans Win Nobel for Particle Physics Work

Three Americans who helped describe the force that binds together the atomic nucleus were named winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics.


It Took a Few Weeks, but Google Has Topped Its Initial Price

Shares in Google, the Internet search engine, continue to rise and broke the \$135 ceiling.


Internet Grants Cut, and F.C.C. Scolded

The Federal Communications Commission came under sharp criticism in Congress over the suspension of a program that pays for Internet service at public schools and libraries.


Pitt headed for Tempe to play Utah in Fiesta Bowl

Pittsburgh head coach Walt Harris shared a story Sunday night after accepting a BCS Bowl Invitation on national television to play in the Fiesta Bowl on New Years Day against undefeated Utah.


Once immutable and now vulnerable

Like the cherry blossoms in the spring and loyalty to the Redskins, the power and influence of Fannie Mae are among those aspects of Washington that never seem to change - until now.


Space tourism industry takes off

One short flight for man, or the start of a long voyage for rich men. That #39;s one way of looking at Monday #39;s historic jaunt of the revolutionary spacecraft SpaceShipOne, which crossed the brink of space for the second time in six days.


Bald Eagles Rebound, Other Birds of Prey in Trouble

The bald eagle is out of the woods but other birds of prey are in trouble. An icon of conservationists, the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction in America #39;s lower 48


Talkback: Is Ripping a Crime? written by Patrick Norton on <b>...</b>

I own quite a few Coltrane CDs -- mad jazz saxophone player from the  #39;60s. Timeless. If you #39;ve never heard  quot;A Love Supreme, quot; well, you #39;ve missed out.


Microsoft Unveils News Version of MSN TV

Microsoft Corp. introduced on Tuesday a new version of its Internet TV service, seeking to broaden its appeal beyond a relatively small base of older, computer-phobic users.


American League Playoff Game Summary - Minnesota at New York

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Johan Santana threw seven shutout innings and Jacque Jones homered to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 2-0 victory over New York in the opener of a best-of-five American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.


Obsession; and Fury

Dennis Lillee is in little doubt. The India-Australia four-match Test series which begins at Bangalore tomorrow  quot;amounts to a world championship contest quot;.


Boro draw Lazio and Partizan

MIDDLESBROUGH have landed themselves with the most glamorous ties of the new-look Uefa Cup - but also face the most difficult opponents of the inaugural group phase of the competition.


Tiger roars  #39;I do #39; to model wife

By staff writers. TIGER Woods has stepped off the first tee on the life course that is marriage, saying  quot;I do quot; to his model fiancee Elin Nordegren overnight.


Gascoigne quits Boston post

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne announced Wednesday his resignation from Boston United as player-coach of the fourth division side.


Brazil condemns Israeli offensive on Gaza Strip

The Brazilian government on Tuesday condemned Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip that killed at least 70 Palestinians and injured 250.


Brazil  quot;important candidate quot; for expanded Security Council: Powell

US Secretary of State Colin Powellsaid Tuesday that Brazil will be an  quot;important candidate quot; for new permanent members of the United Nations Security Council should the council be expanded.


PeopleSoft Willing to Talk With Oracle (AP)

AP - PeopleSoft Inc.'s board is prepared to drop its ferocious resistance to Oracle Corp.'s hostile takeover bid and negotiate a price above the current  #36;7.7 billion offer if there's "high certainty" a deal can be done quickly, a company director said in court Tuesday.


Asian Shares Firm in Face of High Oil (Reuters)

Reuters - Asian shares shrugged off record oil\prices on Wednesday to hit five-month highs as key technology\issues cheered resilience in their U.S. peers, but concern\about the impact of high energy costs on firms' profits capped\gains.


Soros gives bigger role in his fund to 2 sons

NEW YORK George Soros is handing greater control of his \$12.8 billion money management firm to his sons, Robert and Jonathan, and spinning off his real estate, credit and buyout units, a memo sent to investors and staff said.


Oil teases \$51 a barrel as hurricanes hit output

London - Oil prices roared to new record highs yesterday, within a whisker of \$51 a barrel, on worries about supplies from the Gulf of Mexico, where almost 30 percent of production remains shut.


Howard University engineering programs get a boost

Industry giants are giving Howard University \$70.6 million in technology to help the school #39;s engineering and science programs.


Fannie Executives to Defend Accounting Practices

In their first response to regulators #39; allegations that the company manipulated its books, executives of mortgage funding giant Fannie Mae plan to defend its accounting and say the actions


San Francisco Hotels Lock Out Employees In Labor Dispute

OCTOBER 05, 2004 -- Ten leading San Francisco hotels this week locked out employees in sympathy with the four hotels impacted by last week #39;s strike by the local Unite Here branch of the AFL-CIO.


Endangered animals a business in south China

GUANGZHOU, China - In southern China, it doesnt matter if an animal is an endangered species. As long as it walks, wriggles or jumps, its good enough for the pot.


Yanks put in dicey spot

That #39;s a phrase the Yankees may need to keep telling themselves as this Division Series with the tiny-market Twins progresses.


Leader of British Tories is raising issue of trust

BOURNEMOUTH, England Conservative Party leader Michael Howard is trying to turn next year #39;s expected national elections in Britain into a battle of trust and credibility.


Freed Hostages to Arrive Home Soon

Laksamana.Net - Two Indonesian female migrant workers freed by militants in Iraq are expected to arrive home within a day or two, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Wednesday (6/10/04).


U.S. Stretches Out S. Korea Troop Cut Until 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States, under pressure  from South Korea, has agreed to stretch over an additional  three years until 2008 the withdrawal of 12,500 American  troops, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.


Japan More Confident on CITES Whale Vote

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Japan is confident it can secure the  votes needed to resume commercial trade in whale products and  that this would be a step toward lifting a ban on hunting the  marine giants, a Japanese official said Wednesday.


Subdued Afghanistan campaign ends

Afghanistan's presidential campaign draws to a close - a day after President Karzai holds his first rally.


Fannie Mae Execs Appear Before Congress

Fannie Mae #39;s chief executive and another top official are to appear before Congress to explain an accounting lapse at the mortgage giant amid regulators #39; allegations of earnings manipulation and management misdeeds.


Make or break for Bush? Employment numbers look shaky for re <b>...</b>

The Bush campaign is blowing on the dice and praying for good jobs data Friday. Recruitment firm Challenger, Gray  amp; Christmas tracks hiring and layoff announcements around the country.


'Fresh Start' vs. 'the Right Thing'

Vice President Dick Cheney defended the administration's record in Iraq, and Senator John Edwards offered pointed criticism in a highly contentious and personal matchup.


IBM tightens up WebSphere

IBM is expected to disclose on Wednesday features of the forthcoming version of its WebSphere application server, which will center on improving performance and administration.


Taking over Man U - Malcolm Glazer

The British soccer club Manchester United said on Monday that it had received a preliminary takeover offer, which one person close to the talks said was from the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Malcolm Glazer.


Spirit of St. Louis: Five home runs

Larry Walker is back in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, and he #39;s making the most of his second shot. In the Cardinals #39; playoff National League opener, the three-time batting champion led the hit parade.


Ricky wants to play again

He inquires about a return to the NFL but it #39;s doubtful he will play for Miami. DAVIE - After traveling the world, Ricky Williams has decided he would like to play football again.


Iran extends range of its ballistic missiles, former leader says

Iran said yesterday that its missiles now have a range of more than 1,200 miles, a substantial extension of their previously declared range.


Twins Top Yanks 2-0 With Dazzling Defense

NEW YORK - Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins' dazzling defense had the New York Yankees seeing double. Santana and the Twins escaped trouble with the help of a record-setting five double plays, Jacque Jones homered in his first start since the death of his father, and the Twins beat the Yankees 2-0 Tuesday night to win their eighth straight opener in a postseason series...


US, Iraqi forces start new move against insurgent areas

More than 3,000 US and Iraqi soldiers started a major operation yesterday against insurgent strongholds just south of Baghdad, their second mission in five days to take control from militants whose attacks threaten national elections seen as crucial to


Mercury Astronaut Gordon Cooper Dies

Pioneering astronaut Gordon Cooper has died in California, at age 77. He was one of the seven Mercury astronauts who led the way in the exploration of space.


Yahoo introducing new search engine tools

Internet giant Yahoo is introducing new search engine tools that will enable users to create personal folders and share their favorite links with others.


Barred From the Apple Store

To nurture a community vibe at its retail stores, Apple Computer encourages customers to hang out and play around with the equipment.


MLB: Minnesota 2, NY Yankees 0

Johan Santana and Jacque Jones were a dynamic duo Tuesday night as they led the Minnesota Twins to a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees.


Sox Beat: Schilling eager to live up to billing

It was a victory that occurred with all the subtlety of a bulldozer. The 9-3 thrashing that the Sox delivered in Anaheim proved so complete, so convincing, that it left few


Fannie Mae to Defend Action to Congress

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Managers of mortgage finance giant  Fannie Mae will defend themselves before Congress on Wednesday  against government findings that they broke accounting rules to  deliver steady earnings growth quarter after quarter.


Board Member of PeopleSoft Open to Merger

A PeopleSoft director testified on Tuesday that he would be open to considering Oracle's \$7.7 billion offer. But, PeopleSoft executives said the company remains opposed.


Pilots at US Airways Will Vote on Plan to Cut Pay and Benefits

The pilots will vote on US Airway's demand for \$300 million in wage and benefit concessions, their union said Tuesday night.


Pennington #39;s return inspires Jets offense

Chad Pennington, who missed the previous three games due to a rotator cuff injury on his right (throwing) shoulder, returned with a fury on Sunday.


Fannie Mae Chief Is Expected to Defend Accounting

Breaking his public silence since a federal regulator issued a scathing report last month, Franklin D. Raines, the chairman and chief executive of Fannie Mae, is expected


US firms announce deeper job cuts

WASHINGTON - American firms announced the steepest job cuts in eight months in September and also slashed hiring plans, a survey showed.


Australia off to patient start in Bangalore

Australia has made a slow but solid start to the first cricket Test against India in Bangalore. After seven overs, the tourists had reached 0 for 14, with Matthew Hayden on 5 and Justin Langer on 4. For up to date scores, visit our live scorecard.


Team India gets the Sunny touch

The cricket Board has appointed Gavaskar as consultant to the Indian team for the Test series beginning on Wednesday. His job, according to Gavaskar himself, is to help the players sort out their problems and advise them.


Football: England to face Wales in WC qualifier

England captain David Beckham is relishing the opportunity to face up to some of his former rivals from the English Premier League in an all-British World Cup qualifier against Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday.


Storm game at a glance

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Playing with a broken nose, Seattle point guard Sue Bird set a WNBA playoff record for assists with 14, also pumping in 10 points as the Storm claimed the Western Conference title last night.


US-Iraqi forces launch major operation against insurgent <b>...</b>

More than 3,000 US and Iraqi forces launched a major operation Tuesday against insurgent strongholds just south of Baghdad, their second


Update 4: Ex-Enron Treasurer to Testify at Trial

A former Merrill Lynch executive pointed to a verbal buyout agreement with Enron Corp. in saying he might support an  quot;unsecured deal quot; with another company, according to an e-mail presented to jurors in an ongoing conspiracy and fraud trial.


News Corp. May Strengthen Corporate Governance (Update1)

Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp. may strengthen its corporate governance provisions after investors and shareholder groups said they will vote against the company #39;s move to the US if shareholders rights are diminished.


Santana slips, slides out of trouble

NEW YORK - The Yankees went to work Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins wishing they could walk to the mound, pinch Johan Santana on the arm just to see if he #39;s human.


Cardinals come out slugging

One of the latest additions to St. Louis power-filled lineup helped turn home plate into a launching pad Tuesday at Busch Stadium.


MLB likely won #39;t punish Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield

NEW YORK - For all the fuss over reported admissions of steroid use by Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, Major League Baseball probably won #39;t discipline them.


Steam, Magma Building in Mount St. Helens (Reuters)

Reuters - Magma continued to push up into the Mount St. Helens volcano on\Tuesday, pushing up the lava crust and creating a boiling lake\in the crater, a government scientist said.


Blair Arrives in Sudan to Press for Darfur Peace (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain's Tony Blair arrived in\Khartoum Wednesday as the most senior yet in a parade of\Western government figures seeking to pressure Sudanese\officials over violence in Darfur province.


Opposing Views of Sage Grouse Danger

The panel that made the recommendation that the greater sage grouse was in no immediate danger of extinction was provided with two competing reviews of the available science.


Meeting Was Not First for Cheney, Edwards (AP)

AP - Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday that the debate against Democratic Sen. John Edwards marked the first time the two had met. In fact, the two had met twice previously.


Cheney, Edwards Controlled in Aggressive Debate (Reuters)

Reuters - Vice President Dick Cheney and\Democrat John Edwards wielded stilettos rather than clubs in\their vice presidential debate on Tuesday, keeping their\emotions under tight control while still delivering fierce\personal attacks on each another.


Tories take tough line on crime

A Tory government would take tough action on crime and introduce random drug-testing in schools, shadow home secretary David Davis will say.


IBM tightens up WebSphere

Big Blue beefs up its WebSphere 6 application server, promising better performance, reliability and simplified administration.


No White Flag Flying at PeopleSoft

Oracle may yet prevail, but not because its target is surrendering. Digging in for a long fight is more likely. When PeopleSoft #39;s board of directors fired Chief Executive Craig Conway on Oct. 1, Wall Street


Fannie Mae to Defend Action to Congress

Managers of mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae will defend themselves before Congress on Wednesday against government findings that they broke accounting rules to deliver


Fast-food operator beats target despite rising costs

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Yum Brands came in slightly ahead of Wall Street #39;s third-quarter forecasts with a 13 percent gain in earnings even as commodity prices rose.


J-Power makes strong market debut

Shares of J-Power, Japan #39;s biggest electricity wholesaler, made a strong debut on Wednesday, trading at a 5.2 percent premium over their offer price as the stock #39;s perceived low risk attracted investors.


One Secure Notebook

IBM announces one of its most secure notebooks to date, with the introduction of the T Series ThinkPad T42 with an integrated fingerprint reader (a \$50 option).


This Date in Baseball for Oct. 6 (AP)

AP - 1926  #151; Babe Ruth hit three homers to lead the Yankees to a 10-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth game of the World Series.


Assault in Anaheim: Sox bury Angels

Johnny Damon officially laid  quot;Cowboy Up quot; to rest as the Red Sox #39; identifying slogan prior to the start of their American League Division Series yesterday at Angel Stadium.


Walker lands two big ones in opener

It has become a bit of tradition for Larry Walker that when October comes around, he goes fishing.  quot;Normally, I #39;m up in my cabin in British Columbia with my brother and some buddies fishing for some salmon


Santana, Jones Lead Twins Past Yankees

NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Johan Santana threw seven  shutout innings and Jacque Jones homered to lead the Minnesota  Twins to a 2-0 victory over New York in the opener of a  best-of-five American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.


Just Weeks Into Retirement, Williams Wants Back in N.F.L.

Ricky Williams wants to rejoin the Miami Dolphins and has asked the N.F.L. how soon he can return, his agent said.


Earnhardt Fined for Checkered Language

Dale Earnhardt Jr. cursed on a nationally televised Nascar broadcast on Sunday, and it cost him the lead in a close race for the Nextel Cup drivers championship.


Bird Bounces Monarchs

Nursing a repaired nose, Sue Bird has 10 points and 14 assists to lead the Seattle Storm to the WNBA finals with an 82-62 win over the Sacramento Monarchs on Tuesday.


Staff layoff deal for Alitalia

Unions and executives at Italy's Alitalia reach a deal with the government on layoffs, opening the way for a wholesale restructuring.


A Look at the Toys of Christmas (Near) Future

As computers and hand-held electronic gadgets eat into sales, this holiday season promises to be an especially competitive one for toymakers.


Save the Trees, Save the Apes, Expert Says

A UN meeting on endangered species could help secure the survival one of humanity #39;s closest living relatives, the orangutan, by saving its forest home from loggers, a leading expert said on Tuesday.


Heat have 1 practice down, but long way to go

Summer games are over for the Heat. Coach Stan Van Gundy has the players now, and there will be no more freelancing offense and optional defense.


European press review

European papers on Wednesday have their eyes firmly focused eastwards, ahead of a key judgment by the European Commission on whether Turkey has met European Union criteria for accession talks.


135 arrested in telemarketing-fraud investigation

An international investigation has netted 135 arrests in connection with illegal telemarketing operations, many of which targeted  quot;the elderly, the needy and the vulnerable, quot; Attorney General John Ashcroft said yesterday.


Greenpeace protests Malaysia #39;s  #39;laundering #39; of ramin in RI forests

BANGKOK, Thailand (DPA): Activists from the Greenpeace environmentalist group on Wednesday handcuffed themselves to the gates of the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok to protest Malaysia #39;s  quot;laundering quot; of ramin, a protected hardwood found primarily in


Q amp;A: Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer was in the UK for barely 24 hours this week, squeezing in meetings with the recently-appointed head of egovernment Ian Watmore and Vodafone Group chief executive Arun Sarin.


Computer Assc positive about business climate

NEW YORK: Computer Associates International Inc. interim Chief Executive Kenneth Cron said on Tuesday he is positive about the current business environment, and maintained the software supplier #39;s earnings outlook for its just-ended fiscal quarter.


IBM: JBoss more of threat to BEA

Robert Sutor, IBM #39;s director of WebSphere Foundation Software, told ZDNet UK on Friday at a press briefing in Montpellier that the open-source application server JBoss was more of threat to BEA than to IBM #39;s own application server software WebSphere.


One down, one to go for Sox in Anaheim: Seven-run 4th helps <b>...</b>

Johnny Damon stats, news officially laid Cowboy Up #39; #39; to rest as the Red Sox stats, schedule #39; identifying slogan prior to the start of their American League Division Series yesterday at Angel Stadium.


Texas looks to overcome Red River losing streak

In the storied, almost century-long rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas, even legendary OU Coach Bud Wilkinson lost a few games in a row to the Longhorns.


Division series notebook: Sheffield admits to steroid use

Plenty of eyebrows were raised yesterday when it was learned Yankees MVP-candidate Gary Sheffield had essentially tossed himself, as well as home run king Barry Bonds, under the


At least three Palestinians dead as US vetoes UN resolution

At least three Palestinians were killed and others were wounded early Wednesday as Israeli tanks shelled houses in the northern Gaza Strip.


Afghanistan: Hamid Karzai campaigns with nephew in Mazar

ELEANOR HALL: While Australians will be heading to the polls on Saturday, on the other side of the world Afghans are voting this weekend in the first ever democratic election in their country.


UK Conservatives Pounce on Trust Issue

Oct. 5, 2004 - BOURNEMOUTH, England Conservative Party leader Michael Howard tried to turn next year #39;s expected national elections in Britain into a battle of trust and credibility, accusing Prime Minister


ITALY HALTS REFUGEE EXPULSION

Following a wave of criticism from opposition parties and human rights organisations, Italy has stopped its wholesale deportation from Lampedusa of more than 1,300 refugees to Libya, where Italy believes they have come from.


House defeats FDA proposal

House lawmakers yesterday killed a Senate proposal to give the Food and Drug Administration authority over the manufacture and marketing of tobacco.


Woods weds in Barbados: report

Golfing superstar Tiger Woods has reportedly wed girlfriend Elin Nordegren in a lavish sunset ceremony at a resort. People Magazine said Woods, 28, and the former Swedish nanny Nordegren, 24, exchanged marriage


Cards rout LA 8-3 in opener

St. Louis Cardinals Larry Walker follows through on his third inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday at Busch Stadium in St.


There #39;s nothing to suggest this club will repeat history

Maybe all you need to know about these Astros is that when someone mentioned the franchise #39;s history of first-round flameouts to Roger Clemens on Tuesday, he looked like he #39;d


Father bets son against Aussies

WELFARE authorities in the Solomon Islands have reacted with outrage after a local soccer fan reportedly offered his eight-year-old son as bait for a bet on the Solomons #39; clash with Australia.


Peterson caught in the middle

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is keeping freshman running back Adrian Peterson off limits to the media this week, as the Sooners prepare for the Red River Shootout.


Report May Undercut Bush's Iraq Rationale (AP)

AP - The final report of the chief U.S. arms inspector for Iraq was expected to undercut a principal Bush administration rationale for removing Saddam Hussein, that Saddam's Iraqi government had weapons of mass destruction.


Main points from the US vice presidential debate (AFP)

AFP - Main points from the vice presidential debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat John Edwards:


For Cheney and Edwards, Efforts to Improve on the Other Debate

Loyalists of both parties might think the No. 2 candidates were more slashing debaters than John Kerry and President Bush.


2 Big Law Firms to Merge

An American and a British law firm, both of which have expanded rapidly, announced a merger yesterday to form one of the largest corporate law firms.


Mystery of the Islamic Scholar Who Was Barred by the U.S.

Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss theologian of Egyptian descent, has been chased by allegations that his public face of moderation conceals an extremist core.


Auto technology keeps Power Mac cool

A desktop computer seems an unlikely place to find a car radiator. But open up the latest rendition of Apple Computer #39;s Power Mac and that is essentially what you #39;ll find.


Enron deals were sham, court told

HOUSTONMerrill Lynch  amp; Co. drafted a letter in mid-June, 2000, instructing Enron Corp. to wire \$7.5 million (US) to a specified account by the end of that month to buy out the brokerage #39;s \$7 million investment in three barges.


UPDATE 1-Sola says agrees to be sold for \$815 mln

Sola International (SOL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , an eyeglass lens maker, said on Sunday that it had agreed to be bought by Germany #39;s Carl Zeiss AG and European private equity firm EQT for about \$815 million in cash.


Soros winding down after good innings

George Soros was handing greater control of his \$12.8 billion (R82.7 billion) money management firm over to his sons and spinning off his property, credit and buyout units, said a memo sent yesterday to investors and staff.


Almond Growers Combat Dust Clouds

Almonds are one of California #39;s most valuable crops, worth \$1.5 billion a year. But harvesting them comes with its own high price, an estimated 11,220 tons of dust.


Future, past cross paths

In terms of space travel, one chapter opened and another closed in America on Monday. On the same day in which the future showed a glimpse of itself when a privately built rocket ship broke through Earth #39;s


Flight attendants union mails strike ballots

SF AIRPORT -- The nation #39;s largest union of flight attendants mailed 21,000 strike authorization ballots to United Airlines attendants Thursday, setting the stage for possible strikes nationwide.


Wal-Mart picks up expansion pace

Retail giant plans to build up to 250 supercenters in  #39;05 despite a rising tide of community opposition. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world #39;s largest retailer, plans to open more so-called supercenters next year


Alitalia, Unions Agree on Job Cuts; Rescue Proceeds (Update1)

Alitalia SpA, Italy #39;s largest airline, reached a government-brokered agreement with its labor unions that will allow the carrier to cut about 3,700 jobs and gain funding for a plan to reorganize the company.


Stocks edge up in morning

TOKYO - Tokyo stocks rose Wednesday morning as gains in such shares as technology and marine transport helped erase earlier losses prompted by an overnight fall in US blue-chip shares.


Stewart trial expert acquitted

NEW YORK -- A Secret Service ink expert was acquitted yesterday of lying on the stand at Martha Stewart #39;s trial, a case the homemaking expert seized on in her bid to have her conviction thrown out.


Wedding rumours abuzz in Barbados

SANDY LANE BEACH, BARBADOS -- Tiger Woods went scuba diving off a yacht yesterday morning amid reports he was to marry fiancee Elin Nordegren at a sunset ceremony.


Red Sox Nation thrives in California

Standing in his rhinestone-studded Elvis suit with a Massachusetts license plate dangling from his neck and a Boston Red Sox hat on


Braves #39; Wright bounces back

ATLANTA -- Jaret Wright couldn #39;t get much lower: Waived by a last-place team, he stood outside Houston #39;s Minute Maid Park with his luggage stacked beside him, waiting for a cab to the airport.


Jackson swears loyalty to team

Stephen Jackson already has made clear his willingness to do whatever it takes to be a part of a winning team again -- including coming off the bench behind Indiana Pacers veteran Reggie Miller.


US vetoes Arab resolution

United Nations - The United States on Tuesday vetoed an Arab-backed draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council, which would have called on Israel to end its deadly military operation in the Gaza Strip.


Megawati unlikely to contest poll loss

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri is unlikely to contest her defeat in last month #39;s presidential election race at the constitutional court.


Oz to establish regional spy school

ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) - A training school for counter-terrorist spies from Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific will be set up if the coalition is re-elected on Saturday, Prime Minister John Howard said Tuesday.


Fannie Mae to Defend Action to Congress (Reuters)

Reuters - Managers of mortgage finance giant\Fannie Mae will defend themselves before Congress on Wednesday\against government findings that they broke accounting rules to\deliver steady earnings growth quarter after quarter.


Phone scam probe nets 2

Two Gilbert brothers were arrested Monday as part of a worldwide crackdown on telemarketing schemes that have victimized more than 5 million people for an estimated \$1 billion in losses.


Update 5: Tokyo Stocks End Higher, Dollar Up

Tokyo stocks ended higher for the fifth straight session Wednesday on optimism for solid corporate earnings and hopes for economic recovery.


Cassell a no-show, Mourning a no-go, Pippen retires

Two things are certain in life: The sun will rise in the East, and Sam Cassell will be unhappy with his contract. Training camps opened Tuesday around the NBA, but Cassell declined to grace the Minnesota Timberwolves with his presence.


Israelis Kill Islamic Jihad Leader

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Oct. 6, 2004 - Israel stepped up airstrikes in its Gaza offensive, killing an Islamic Jihad leader and bringing to 75 the number of Palestinians killed in the operation to end rocket fire on Israeli towns.


Amnesty China Arrests, Jails Human Rights Defenders

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Human rights defenders face arrest and  torture in China, and the European Union should raise the issue  at a summit with Beijing's leaders this week, Amnesty  International said in a new report Monday.


Volcano Appears to Rest After Letting Off Steam

The earthquakes that have shaken the area for two weeks stopped almost entirely after Mount St. Helens let out a burst of steam and ash for the fifth straight day.


Money Now Sole Obstacle to Khmer Rouge Trials -UN (Reuters)

Reuters - Funding is the only obstacle to\U.N. approval for Cambodia to begin long-delayed trials of\former Khmer Rouge leaders blamed for some 1.7 million deaths,\the United Nations said on Friday.


Recent Winners of Nobel Prize in Chemistry (AP)

AP - Recent winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, and their research, according to the Nobel Foundation:


Sudan Calls Out U.S. on Genocide Claim (AP)

AP - Sudan's U.N. ambassador challenged the United States to send troops to the Darfur region if it really believes a genocide is taking place as the U.S. Congress and President Bush's administration have determined.


Bush to Hit at Kerry on Security, Economy (AP)

AP - After a shaky debate performance and new controversy over the war in Iraq, President Bush is stepping up his criticism of Sen. John Kerry on national security and the economy.


Spain Wins Davis Cup As Moya Tops Roddick (AP)

AP - Andy Roddick searched out Carlos Moya in the throng of jumping, screaming Spanish tennis players, hoping to shake hands.


Cheney, Edwards clash on Iraq in debate (AFP)

AFP - US Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic rival John Edwards clashed on Iraq, terrorism, and the economy in their only debate, trading frequently personal attacks 28 days before the November 2 election.


Corporate Tax Bill Nears Final Approval (AP)

AP - Supporters of a major rewrite of corporate tax law are optimistic they will be able to complete congressional action this week on legislation needed to end a bitter trade fight with Europe and shower  #36;130 billion in new tax breaks on businesses.


State Dept. Reports Increase in Refugees (AP)

AP - The number of refugees admitted to the United States nearly doubled over the past year, primarily due to more efficient screening procedures, the State Department said Monday.


This Fannie needs a serious spanking

Robert Reich, former secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, is the author of  quot;Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America.


Update 2: Reports: Alitalia Signs Deal With Italy

Struggling Italian flagship carrier Alitalia signed an agreement overnight with the government and labor unions on helping employees whose jobs will be slashed under a plan to save the airline, news reports said Wednesday.


Carphone enjoys  #39;buoyant #39; market

Demand for mobile phones remains  quot;robust quot; according to the latest update from retailer Carphone Warehouse. In the 13 weeks to 25 September, the firm saw connections grow by 25 on the same period a year ago to 1.55 million.


Ex-Enron exec makes deal, will plead guilty to fraud

Former Enron Corp. Assistant Treasurer Timothy Despain was charged in Houston federal court Tuesday with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating the company.


Soros gives US\$12B empire to his sons

A survivor of the Nazi regime and later the communists in his homeland of Hungary, the 74-year-old Mr. Soros has built his massive investment empire worth some US\$12.


Mass. fund to rehire Putnam

The state yesterday rehired the poster child for the mutual fund scandal and fired the industry #39;s current golden child. The Massachusetts state pension fund


INDUSTRY REPORT: Sotheby #39;s plans November sale

Sotheby #39;s Holdings Inc. almost quadrupled its guarantees to art collectors including Philip Berman #39;s heir and Hester Diamond in the last year as it gathered works for a November sale in New York and overtook


Editorial:The right stuff of imagination

In a scene from the film  quot;The Right Stuff, sunlight streams through the window of astronaut Leroy Gordon  quot;Gordo quot; Cooper #39;s Faith 7 spacecraft as it reaches orbit.


Yahoo unveils personalisation tool

Scouring the web using Yahoo is set to become a lot more personal following the unveiling of the beta version of a host of new tools that allow users to search and save results just they way they want to.


Ballmer:  #39;Bad guys #39; aren #39;t going away

According ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in August, application development is the last priority, but nonetheless an important one.


Video to DVD, Sans PC

You can archive old home movies onto DVD without ever touching a PC. We explore your options and offer some tips on doing it right.


New Sony computer boasts 1,000 gigabytes of storage; can record <b>...</b>

Sony Corp. will begin selling a computer and home-server system in Japan with a 1,000 gigabytes of hard-drive storage - enough to record seven TV channels for a week straight, the company said.


Slugger admits unwitting steroid use

Gary Sheffield signed with the Yankees to play in the postseason, and he said he won #39;t be distracted by a controversy stemming from his admission to unknowingly using a steroid two years.


LA starter Perez lost it in a hurry

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Odalis Perez learned just how quickly things can unravel against the potent St. Louis Cardinals. After allowing Albert Pujols #39;s first-inning


Local media confirm Woods marriage

BARBADOS, West Indies -- Tiger Woods married his Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren at a ceremony on the Caribbean island of Barbados, local media reported.


BECKS: OWEN #39;S GOT A REAL PROBLEM

DAVID BECKHAM last night backed Michael Owen to prove he deserves to be a Real Madrid galactico but admitted that his new club-mate will have to prove it himself.


FOOTBALL: WE JUST COULDN #39;T SAY NO TO 100M

ARSENE WENGER will finally sign a new three-year contract extension with Arsenal by the end of the week as the club prepare to face a fans #39; backlash over the naming of their new stadium.


UNITED: RIVALS LINE UP NEW BID

A RIVAL consortium last night declared war on US tycoon Malcolm Glazer #39;s bid to take control of Manchester United. Former Football League chairman Keith Harris is heading a team of  #39;red knights #39; to wrestle the club from dollar billionaire Glazer.


quot;Other quot; starters chip in for Storm

Even with its MVP forward and All-Star point guard, the Storm was a flawed team. It was predictable, relying too heavily on the tandem of Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird.


South Africa pushes ahead with its bid for a GP

South Africa is progressing with its plans to host a round of the F1 World Championship from 2007 onwards. South Africa last held a F1 grand prix in 1993, which was won by Alain Prost, and is now keen to return to the F1 fold.


Lewis may have to sit after guilty plea

The Baltimore Ravens expect Jamal Lewis to play Sunday night against the Washington Redskins. However, they already are preparing for the possibility an NFL suspension would take away their star running back for up to four games.


Body count grows in besieged Gaza camp

JABALIYA, Gaza StripThe harvest of death in this most dispossessed of refugee camps continued yesterday as the Israeli army finished its first week in a grim, open-ended manhunt for Palestinian militants, killing 10 people and wounding at least nine.


11 killed in latest Iraq bombings

BAGHDAD - At least eleven people, including two suicide bombers, were killed and dozens injured in Iraq yesterday as insurgents continued to target United States and Iraqi security forces using car bombs.


Bigley granted Irish passport

The Irish government has given Kenneth Bigley - kidnapped in Iraq - an Irish passport in a bid to stress his non-British roots. It was issued following appeals from his family and his dual citizenship means


Howard tries to kick-start Tories

Tory leader Michael Howard has kick-started his party #39;s gloomy General Election prospects with a key speech on crime and pensions.


China to 'phase out' measures aimed at cooling economy (AFP)

AFP - China will phase out measures aimed at reining in the overheating economy amid fears that the tough controls may lead to a hard landing, a press report said.


News Corp. May Boost Governance to Ease Vote

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. has  offered an olive branch to investors opposed to it moving its  main share listing to the United States, telling them it is  considering moves to enhance shareholder rights.


George Washington Upsets No. 12 Maryland (AP)

AP - George Washington's weekend has to rank among the best in school history. The Colonials beat two Top 25 teams in winning the BB amp;T Classic and have won five straight since a season-opening loss to top-ranked Wake Forest.


US Air Pilots to Vote on Pay-Cut Proposal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bankrupt US Airways took a crucial  step toward securing \$300 million in concessions from its  pilots union late on Tuesday when leaders of the labor group  said they would forward a plan to cut wages and benefits to all  pilots for a vote.


Crude oil price stays above \$50

Crude oil prices stay close to record levels at more than \$51 a barrel, amid production problems in the Gulf of Mexico.


For younger workers, family matters

Employers take heed: Baby boomers might have been content to put work above all else, but that's not necessarily true of Generations X and Y.


AT amp;T Wireless cranks up music service

You're at a dance club or shopping mall when you hear a great new song. So you pull out your cellphone, press a few keys, hold it up to the speakers, then press a few more keys. Now a digital recording of the song is on its way to your home computer, with the 99-cent charge added to your phone ...


Health costs expected to grow 8

Healthcare costs in employer-sponsored plans are expected to rise an average of 8 percent in 2005, the first time the increase has sunk to single digits in the last five years, a new survey said.


Director: PeopleSoft open to an Oracle deal

PeopleSoft Inc.'s board is prepared to drop its ferocious resistance to Oracle Corp.'s hostile takeover bid and negotiate a price above the current \$7.7 billion offer if there's ''high certainty quot; a deal can be done quickly, a company director said in court yesterday.


Oil sets new record on lengthy US supply outage

Oil prices hit a new record near \$51 a barrel yesterday as a prolonged US production outage following Hurricane Ivan attracted fresh speculative buying.


Unions clear way for Alitalia turnaround plan

Clearing the way for a do-or-die restructuring, unions at Italian airline Alitalia AZPIa.MI have agreed to unemployment packages for around 3,700 employees, union sources say.


UPS va racheter la division Menlo Worldwide Forwarding de CNF

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)5 Octobre 2004--CNF Inc (NYSE:CNF) a annonc aujourd #39;hui un accord dfinitif avec UPS. Selon les termes de l #39;accord UPS va racheter la division de fret Menlo Worldwide


IBM Rolling Out Biggest WebSphere Update in 2 Years

IBM late on Tuesday announced the biggest update of its popular WebSphere business software in two years, adding features such as automatically detecting and fixing problems.


73 membres pour la Blu-ray Disc Association

La Blu-ray Disc Association a publi hier un communiqu de presse donnant la liste exacte de ses membres. Cette dernire est assez impressionnante et ce sont 73 constructeurs, dveloppeurs, diteurs ou


Golfing superstar Tiger Woods gets married in Barbados

A lavish wedding ceremony was heldin Sandy Lane resort, Barbados on Tuesday for the former world number one golfer Tiger Woods and his girlfriend Elin Nordegren, aformer Swedish nanny, reported People Magazine.


US vetoes resolution calling for Israeli halt to Gaza operations

The United States vetoed an Arab-backed UN Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Last night #39;s vote in the 15-member Security Council was


Morning Briefing

The head of Fannie Mae is sure to come under fire when he testifies before Congress today. At a Capitol Hill hearing, Franklin Raines is scheduled to make his first public comments since an accounting scandal surfaced last month at the mortgage giant.


The whole lie and nothing but the lie

One of these days, a government expert will be punished for lying on a witness stand. Raising his right hand. Swearing to tell the truth.


WSJ: Adelphia May Reject Joint Bid

Bankrupt cable company Adelphia Communications Corp. may refuse to allow Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc. to make a joint bid for the cable company, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.